A
PRAYER
FOR
The Afflicted in this Time of Calamity, for the Priſoners and thoſe Condemned to Die.
O Eternal GOD, who in thy Righteous Judgement haſt covered many among us with a Cloud in the Day of thy Anger, and haſt broken them ſore in the place of Dragons, look down upon them we earneſtly pray thee, with an Eye of tender Pity and Compaſſion; Let them know, that Afflictions cometh not out of the Duſt, nor doth Trouble ſpring out of the Ground, and that there is no Evil in the City, and the LORD hath not done it: That ſo they may with a perfect Reſignation ſubmit to the Will of GOD, without any murmuring Thought againſt Him, or having their Spirits in the least imbittered againſt the Providential Inſtruments of their preſent Calamity.
O LORD, Direct than in all their Difficulties, Comfort them under their Sadneſs, Support them under Temptation, Provide for them in all their Wants, Secure them in the midst of Dangers, and Cover them under the Shadow of thy Wings, till all theſe Calamities be overpaſt. What Time their Heart is overwhelmed, lead them to the Rock that is higher than they. And in the midſt oftheir Thoughts within them, let thy Comforts delight their Soul. Give them Beauty for Aſhes, the Oyl of Joy for Mourning, the Garment of Praiſe, for the Spirit of Heavineſs. Turn their Weeping into Joy. Put off their Sackloath, and Gird them with Gladneſs, to the End their Glory may ſing, and not be ſilent, and give thee Thanks for ever.
Enrich them with the Graces of thy Holy Spirit, and more eſpecially, Faith, Patience and Charity, Sanctify to them all their Afflictions, that however grievous they may be for the preſent, yet they may work in them the peaceable Fruit of Righteousness in this Life, and for them in the next, an Eternal Weight Of Glory.
And now O moſt Merciful Father, we earneſtly pray to thee, that thou wouldeſt ſet the Diſperſed and Solitary in Families again, Bring them forth that are bound in Chains, Proclaim an acceptable Year and Liberty to the Captives; Let the ſorrowful Sighing of the Priſoner come before thee, and according to the Greatneſs of thy Power, Preſerve thou thoſe that are appointed to die. And if in thy Providence thou thinkeſt fit to give Way to the Sentence of Death againſt them, We moſt earneſtly pray, that they may be every Way thoroughly prepared, for leaving this naughty and miſenbie World: Make them deeply Penitent for their Sins, and Abſolve them from the Guilt of them: May their Souls be waſhed in the Blood of their Redeemer, and ſo preſented to thee without Spot or Blemiſh. Mix we pray thee Comfort with their bitter Cup. Fortify them againſt the Fear of Death, by the Hope of the Mercy of GOD, a Joyful Reſurrecton from the Dead, and Life Everlaſting. And Good GOD, Preſerve them by thy Power, through Faith unto Salvation. All theſe Things Moſt Gracious GOD we beg of thee, for the Powerful Merits and Interceſſions Sake of JESUS CHRIST, our only Mediator and Advocat. Amen.
