XXII.

FOR HELP IN DELIRIUM.*

but in all

Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, I come unto Thee for help and guidance in a time of need. My strength faileth me, my mind is wandering: it is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed; and I know not the words that may come from my lips, the outpourings of mine anguish; but be Thou nigh at hand, O Lord. Keep Thou the door of my lips, that they may utter no evil thing: let no profane or vain babblings sully them; my extremity may I glorify Thee. Put holy and blessed thoughts into my soul, and help Thou my infirmities. Let the Spirit of Him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in me and quicken my mortal body, and lead me to speak that which is right and holy, and pure and good. Let the word of faith be nigh me, even in my mouth and in my heart. Keep my tongue from evil, and my lips from speaking guile. Let my tongue mutter no perverseness: let me bless the Lord at all times: let His praise be continually in my mouth. Instruct me and teach me in the way that I should go. Impute not iniquity to me. Forsake me not, O Lord. O my God, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation. I am feeble

and sore broken, I am ready to halt. I can take no more heed to my ways, but be Thou with me, Thou art my Father; I am the clay, Thou art the Potter. Take heed for me, that I sin not with my tongue; keep my mouth with a bridle.

Withhold not Thou Thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let Thy loving-kindness and Thy truth continually preserve me. In the night that darkens my soul, let Thy song be with me, and my prayer be unto the God of my life: let me not be cast down and disquieted within me: let me still hope in Thee and praise Thee, the health of my countenance and my God. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and uphold me with Thy free Spirit. the power of the grave. let me trust in Thee.

Redeem my soul from What time I am afraid,

Save and deliver me, O Lord God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with me, now and ever. Amen.

ХХІІІ.

FOR HELP IN RESTLESSNESS.

In Thee, O Lord, have I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion, but rid me and deliver me in Thy righteousness.

I have trusted in Thee, O Lord, I have rested in Thee, and in Thee my soul rests now. My

soul is silent before Thee, O Lord; but my spirit is grieved because of this restlessness, and that I am so often tossing to and fro, and seeming to those about me as if my heart were disquieted within me. Lord, Thou knowest all things, Thou knowest that my spirit is at rest, though the flesh is weak. But man looketh on the outward appearance, and cannot tell how much I desire that even the quietness of my body should show forth Thy praise.

I would lie still, but I cannot do this of myself; Thou canst enable me to do it; Thou canst keep me from saying, in the morning, Would God it were evening! and in the evening, Would God it were morning! Thou canst keep me from that restlessness which distresses me, and which makes me wish so often to change my posture, and to change my place, if it were possible. I cannot resist this alone; I have not strength even to hide from others the pain that I feel. Be Thou my stronghold, whereunto I may alway resort; Thou hast promised to help me, for Thou art my house of defence and my castle. Go not far from me, O God! My God, haste Thee to help me. O help me to abide patiently, and to praise Thee ever more and more. Thou art my only help in time of need; help me to fly unto Thee for succour, whenever this restlessness comes on. The more the outward man decayeth, so much the more, O Lord, I shall

need that Thou wouldst strengthen me continually with Thy grace and Holy Spirit in the inner man. To him that hath no might, Thou hast promised to increase strength. O my Father, when the last hour draws near, I pray Thee in great mercy then help me to lie still, and to feel the everlasting arms underneath me, supporting, and strengthening, and comforting me. If I speak, grant that they may be peaceful and holy words; if I am silent, may I rest wholly in Thee, and then I shall not be confounded. Hear my prayer, also, O Lord, for all who suffer in this way, and grant to them the blessings which I have asked for myself, in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

XXIV.

IN THE PROSPECT OF AN OPERATION.*

Jesu, my Redeemer, my Saviour, Thou who didst not despise the Cross, but didst yield Thyself to the tormentors, who didst drink of the cup of sorrow willingly, yet didst taste of its bitterness, be Thou with me in the hour of my agony; strengthen me to bear all that shall be laid upon me: in every pang may my spirit still have power to say with Thee, Not my will, but Thine be done.

For the thing which I greatly feared is come

upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. But I will cast my burden upon Thee; O Lord, do Thou sustain me. From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Give me grace, O Lord, to yield up my will into Thy hands, to trust in Thee, in Thy might, and in Thy providence, rather than in the skill of man. Do Thou bless it, Lord, if so it seemeth good in Thy sight, for my relief; but if not, if it should be in vain, let me still bless and praise Thee, and submit my. self to Thy good pleasure. Let me go to this trial in the strength of the Lord God, committing myself to Him that judgeth righteously. Lord, it may be that this remedy shall fail; then, let patience have its perfect work in me. It may be that it shall open to me the gates of life, that this light affliction, which is but for a moment, may work for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Even so, Father, if so it seemeth good in Thy sight.

Only, whether I live or die, let me be Thine, O Lord, and know Christ and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself. Into Thy