A Prayer for the Afflicted in this Time of Calamity, for the Prisoners and those Condemned to Die

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.

 

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