If it be thy will, let this sickness not be unto death, but spare me yet a little longer, that I may recover my spiritual strength before I go hence, and am no more seen. If thou seest it best, let this affliction immediately pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but thy will be done. Only sweeten it, O LORD, with a sense of thy love, and strengthen me with thy mighty power in the inner man. Let thy grace be sufficient for me. Magnify thy strength in my weakness, and under the shadow of thy almighty wings, let my soul take refuge till this day of thy visitation be overpast. Shew me, O LORD, wherefore thou contended with me. For I know of very faithfulness thou hast caused me to be thus troubled. Make thou my bed in my sickness, and let thy rod as well as thy staff, comfort me. In patience, grant I may possess my soul. And though this affliction at present be not joyous, but grievous; yet grant, O LORD, I may be so exercised thereby, that it may bring forth in me the peaceable fruits of righteousness. Let tribulation, O LORD, work patience, patience experience, experience hope, even that hope which maketh not ashamed, and whereby thy love, O GOD, may be shed abroad in my heart. Give me, O LORD, in this, and in every thing to give thanks, and enable me to suffer, as well as to do thy will, even like the angels in heaven. O! for thine infinite mercy’s sake, let not Satan get any advantage over me, by tempting me to charge thee foolishly. Let not such a wretch as I am, ever complain for this punishment of my sin, knowing that I receive the due reward of my crimes. O suffer me not to cry out with wicked _Cain_, “My punishment is greater than I can bear;” but let me sanctify thee the LORD GOD in my heart, and rejoice in this tribulation, knowing that whom thou lovest thou chastenest, and scourgest every son whom thou receivest. Blessed be thy name O LORD, that thou hast not yet given me over to a reprobate mind. Blessed be thy name, that thou hast not cursed me, as I most justly deserve, as thou didst the barren fig-tree. Blessed be thy name, that thou still dost condescend to dig and dung round me. O purge, purge me for thy mercy’s sake, and grant that I may henceforward bring forth fruit unto thee. O let me not forget this day of my visitation: and if it be thy good pleasure, that I shall not die, but live, grant that I may constantly declare thy works, O LORD. Whenever I am cleansed, let me immediately return and give thanks. With thy servant _Hezekiah_, may I go up into thy house, O LORD, and pay thee my vows, which I now make whilst I am in trouble. Suffer me to sin no more, lest a worse evil befal me: and as thou wast pleased to reveal thyself in the temple to the poor man, whom thou didst cure in the days of thy flesh, be pleased, for thy mercy’s sake, to reveal thyself to me. Then shall I shew forth my thankfulness, not only with my lips, but with my life, by giving myself up to thy service, who didst die for our sins, and rise again for our justification; to whom with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and for ever. _Amen._
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_A Prayer for a Woman lately married to a believing Husband._