39. The Patient relies upon the Omnipotence of God

EXHORTATION.

"O Lord, my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave; thou hast kept me alive that I should not go down to the pit." —Psalm xxx. 3, 4.

Nothing is more pleasing and consoling in times of misfortune, than to have a good friend of whom we know that he is able and willing to help us. In sickness, we cannot say this of any mortal man, but of God we know it with certainty. 1. This omnipotence of God is perceptible in the examples daily occurring around us. The dead are brought to life, the sick healed, and the almighty God who does all this, is living still. 2. The patient must remember that God is not without the means to aid us. At his word, the disease must vanish, his blessing will enable the most petty herb or simple to remove the ailment, and restore us to health. In view of this, a patient must be at peace in the Lord, must persevere in prayer, await the hour of God's coming, take physic, and avoid all superstitious rites, charms or mumbling, and rest assured that the Omnipotent will help him when his hour has arrived. THE OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD.

O my Lord and God! thou seest me encompassed with pain and suffering, and how a new trouble visits me every morning; my disease will not depart, and for all I know this bed may be my last. All this do I commit unto thy holy will; I will live and die when it is pleasing unto thee. My days are as a handbreadth before thee. My years are in thy hand; thou hast set my mark, and I shall not exceed it. In thy book didst thou number the days of my life, when not one of them had passed. Nevertheless, I do not repine, but lift up mine eyes unto the hills, whence my help cometh; my help cometh from the Lord. I know that thou art an almighty God, and that life and death are in thy hand. Aye, the Lord's hand is not yet shortened; the Helper in Israel can avert all sorrow; he can do vastly more than all we know or understand. He can deliver all who approach him. Therefore, upon this sick-bed, I do not look about me for the feeble help of man, not upon myself, who am sick and feeble, but above, to thee, my God and Lord. I say, with the nobleman, who believed, Lord, if thou speak but a single word, thy servant shall be made whole; aye, speak this one word, and I shall be cured of all my sufferings. I know that before the 23*

THE PATIENT RELIES UPON

Lord nothing is impossible. Lord, my God thou who didst heal the sick Hezekiah, thou who didst deliver the sick woman from her wretchedness, thou who didst heal the palsied, raise up the widow's son,—look upon me also in mercy, thou mighty defender of thy faithful! Help me also, have mercy upon me, make a sign in me, that it may be well with me, yet all as thou wilt; I know thou canst do so in thy omnipotence, and wilt do so in thy goodness, when it shall be well for my soul. Meantime, I pray to thee in faith and humbleness. In my dear Lord have I set my trust in all my tribulation; he can save me from all sorrow and distress; to end my misfortunes is in the hollow of his hand. Amen. 1. Trust the turn of your affairs

To the Lord's direction;

Give your troubles and your cares

Under his protection:

He alone is well aware

What is meet and needful,

Of your health, how, when and where,

To be fitly heedful.

2. Do not venture to dictate

Time or just occasion,

Nor insult his sovereign state

With inapt dictation;

THE OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD.

This is not his first essay

To assist and cheer you;

Not a pulse shall beat astray,

So you keep him near you.

3 Would ye counsel him who sways

Heaven in his balance,

Whose all-seeing eye surveys

Life in every valance,

How the little grains of sand

In your hour-glass shifted,

Should be made to fall and stand,

Overturned and lifted?

4. What his wisdom doth ordain

For all earth and heaven,

Every linklet of the chain

Must support and leaven,

And if ought appears awry

To our feeble senses,

'Tis that we cannot descry

All his hand dispenses.

5. God of wisdom! unto thee

Be all things commended;

Let thy goodness deal with me

As thou hast intended;

Lead me on from pole to pole

At thy own opinion;

I shall come, by thy control,

Into thy dominion.

THE PATIENT REMEMBERS