A Prayer For A Clergyman, Poem by Rees Prichard

Behold, my gracious God! with pitying eye,
What dangers in my painful office lie,
Who never must, at any season, cease
To visit all, whatever's their disease.

There's not a man, or child, that is diseas'd,
Whether by the small-pox, or meazles seiz'd,
Or any other malady, that's worse,
But I am bund to visit him of course.

Be they or hectic heats, or pungent pains,
Or nauseous sweats, or if a fever reigns,
I must attend the dying Clinic still,
E'en though he of the plague itself were ill:

Which need smust be a most tremendous part
Unto a timid, and still-doubting heart,
Which, of itself, of ev'ry ill's afraid;
Unless supported by thy gracious aid.

Therefore on thee (who dost my life defend,
My sole Protector, and my only Friend)
Who, as thou pleasest, dost direct us, all,
For thy assistance and support, I call!

O Lord! thou canst, if it be thy blest will,
Preserve my soul from each impending ill,
Though now each ail might have it in its pow'r,
Without thy help, thy servant to devour :

And if thou dost not, of thy mercy, deign
To keep me, and those maladies restrain,
I can't myself divert their rage away,
But must to their attacks become a prey.

Lend then to me, Omnipotence! thine ear,
And save from the simplest of thy servants, here -
Save me, for thou to save canst never fail,
From the assaults of each infectious ail.

'Tis thou, O God! that givest wounds and pain,
'Tis thou, O God! that healest them again,
'Tis thou, that kill'st, and yet dost life afford,
'Tis thou, shall therefore punish us, O Lord!

Thy fostring pinions, o'er my favour'd head,
(That I may 'scape those horrid perils,) spread,
And give no dangerous distemper leave
Unto thy servant's earthly part to cleave.

O God, who didst thy servant Aaron screen,
When he the dead and living step't between,
Protect me with thy gracious favour still
From this disease, and ev'ry other ill!

As thou the fi'ry Furnace didst assuage,
And the three Children saved'st from its rage;
So, for Christ's sake, let it thy goodness please,
To save thy servant from this dire disease!

As thou didst from the fasting lions' jaw,
And dreary den, the prophet Daniel draw ;
So from this ail, and its afflictive rod,
Do thou preserve me safely, O my God!

So shall I glorify thy holy name,
And in each church or chapel praise the same,
And my best thanks (as long as e'er I live)
For all thy blessings and thy favours give.

Like Aaron, to thine altar, I'll repair,
Or to my room, like Daniel, and declare
Thy mercies, or like royal David sing
Thy praises, my Protector, and my King!