parated from the Sovereign Good is assuredly the evil of all evils. Oh, that the Lord would deliver me from this evil! For the dead shall not praise thee, O Lord, nor any of them that go down to hell. The living, the living, he shall give praise to thee.
O Lord deliver my soul; for thou art a just and merciful Lord. Deliver my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling, that I may sing to thee a new canticle, and sacrifice to thee the Sacrifice of praise.
The Lord is my strength and my praise, and he is become my salvation.
The right hand of the Lord has wrought strength; the right hand of the Lord has exalted me, &c.
I shall not die, but live, and shall declare the works of the Lord.
The Lord chastising has chastised me; but he has not delivered me over to death.
Thou hast burst my bonds, and death is swallowed up in victory.
My soul has been delivered even as a sparrow out of the snare of the fowler. The snare is broken, and we are delivered.
I will give praise to the Lord, for he is good; for his mercy endures for ever. Amen. Amen.
CHAPTER X.
Exercises for the Sick.
PRAYER
FOR PATIENCE UNDER DISEASES AND BODILY SUFFERINGS.
I will speak to the Lord, whereas I am dust and ashes,4 a flying shadow, and a smoke that appears for a little while. Remember, Lord, what my substance is. Remember that thou hast formed me like the clay, and that thou wilt bring me back to dust again. Do not therefore contend with me with much strength; for what is my strength that I can hold out; or what is my end that I should keep patience? My strength is not the strength of stones, nor is my flesh of brass. Why, then, are the arrows of the Lord within me, the rage of which drinks up my spirit; and the terrors of the Lord war against me?
