Words of peace, light and healing to the afflicted. With Meditations, Prayers, and Hymns This little book is intended for those whom God has afflicted. My great aim is to show that sickness usually comes as a messenger of love; that it is sent to be a blessing, and may be made, by God's grace, a very great blessing to the soul. If by my words any suffering brother or sister shall receive comfort, if any careless one shall become awakened, or if any weak believer shall be helped on his way to Heaven, my end will be gained. I commend the following pages to the kindness and love of God; and pray that He may be pleased to use them for His own glory, and for the Reader's present and eternal good. CONTENTS: God's Purpose in Sending Sickness God's Purpose in Afflicting You How Affliction Should Be Received The Duties of the Sick-room Difficulties in Prayer The Bible the Best Companion Prolonged Illness The Holy Communion Near Home! Recovery; a Time for Encouragement and Caution A Week's Meditations for the Sick-room PRAYERS for the Sick Room 1. For one just taken ill. 2. For Thankful Submission. 3. Under much Suffering. 4. For one under Concern for his Soul. 5. For one under a lengthened illness. 6. For a Sick Person before receiving the Lord's Table. 7. For a Sick Person after receiving the Lord's Table. 8. A short Prayer for one in Danger. 9. Prayer for a dying Person. What are God's reasons for afflicting us? Is it to punish? Sometimes it is; but not, I think usually. "I have seen the wicked (says David) in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay-tree" - prosperous and happy. And, on the other hand, do we not constantly see the righteous suffering under the heavy hand of God? Do not take, then, so sad and gloomy a view of affliction as this. There must be another and truer reason why the Lord chastens. It is because He desires to do you some great good. The Gardener cuts and prunes his tree, to make it grow better, and bear more precious fruit; and God often uses His sharp knife for some gracious purpose. The wise and loving Father thwarts his child, and sometimes scourges it, for its good: and God uses His chastening rod for the very same reason. The skillful Physician, again, prescribes nauseous medicines to restore his patient's health: and God bids us take His medicines, though at the time they are very distasteful to us. Now, the Gardener, and the Parent, and the Physician all wish to do good, either to the plant, or the child, or the patient. And so, depend upon it, God wishes to do us good. This is the great object of His corrections - to do us good in our latter end. Here then is an answer to the question, Why does God afflict us? Because He loves us, and wishes to make us holy as He is holy, and happy as He is happy. For, as it has been well said, "Fiery trials make golden Christians."