When death is very near, the

COMMENDATORY PRAYER

should be used.

O Almighty GOD, with Whom do live, &c. (Visitation of the Sick, see p. 10.)

If life is prolonged, and the Minister remains with the dying per· son, he may use some of the following

EJACULATIONS,
standing.

RIGHT dear in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.

It is the LORD: let Him do what seemeth Him good.

Not my will, O GOD, but Thine be done.

The souls of the righteous are in the Hand of GOD, and there shall no torment touch them.

The righteous live for evermore: their reward also is with the LORD, and the care of them is with the Most High.

Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown, from the LORD'S Hand.

I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, From henceforth blessed are the dead which die in the LORD: even so saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labours.

FATHER, into Thy hand I commend my spirit.

LORD JESUS, receive my spirit.

The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away blessed be the Name of the LORD. Amen.

After a Death.

PASSAGES OF HOLY SCRIPTURE WHICH MAY BE READ WITH THE FAMILY OF THE ONE DEAD.

I Cor. xv. 20-58. (The Lesson in the Burial Service.)

I Thess. iv. 13-18.

Rev. vii. 9-17.

Rev. xxi. 1-7.

Rev. xxi. 21-xxii. 5.

Or the following, from

THE BOOK OF WISDOM.

THE Souls of the righteous are in the Hand of GOD, and there shall no torment touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die; and their departure is taken for misery, and their going from us to be utter destruction; but they are in peace. For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality. And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded; for GOD proved them, and found them worthy for Himself. As gold in the furnace hath He tried them, and received them as a burnt-offering. iii. 1-6.

The righteous live for evermore; and their reward also is with the LORD, and the care of them is with the Most High: Therefore shall

L

they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown, from the LORD'S Hand; for with His right Hand shall He cover them, and with His Arm shall He protect them. v. 15, 16.

Prayers.

I.

ALMIGHTY GOD, with Whom do live the spirits of them that depart hence in the LORD, and with Whom the souls of the faithful, after they are delivered from the burden of the flesh, are in joy and felicity; We give Thee hearty thanks for that it hath pleased Thee to deliver this our brother out of the miseries of this sinful world; beseeching Thee that it may please Thee, of Thy gracious goodness, shortly to accomplish the number of Thine elect, and to hasten Thy kingdom that we, with all those that are departed in the true faith of Thy holy Name, may have our perfect consummation and bliss, both in body and soul, in Thy eternal and everlasting glory; through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen. (Burial Service.)

II.

O MERCIFUL GOD, the FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, Who is the Resurrection and the Life; in Whom whosoever believeth shall live, though he die; and whosoever liveth, and believeth in Him, shall not die eternally; Who also

hath taught us, by His holy Apostle Saint Paul, not to be sorry, as men without hope, for them that sleep in Him: We meekly beseech Thee, O FATHER, to raise us from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness; that, when we shall depart this life, we may rest in Him, as our hope is this our brother doth; and that, at the general Resurrection in the last day, we may be found acceptable in Thy sight; and receive that blessing which Thy well-beloved Son shall then pronounce to all that love and fear Thee, saying, Come, ye blessed children of My FATHER, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. Grant this, we beseech Thee, O merciful FATHER, through JESUS CHRIST our Mediator and Redeemer. Amen. (Burial Service.)

III.

O MERCIFUL and loving FATHER, Who doest all things well, and of very faithfulness causest Thy children to be troubled; We bow beneath Thy holy will, and accept in humble submission the cross Thou givest us to bear. Thou wilt not blame our human sorrow; for JESUS wept for His friend. Yet suffer us not to be overwhelmed with grief. Give Thy servants a calm and lowly resignation. Help them to say from the heart, "It is the LORD; let Him do what seemeth "Him good." "The LORD gave, and the LORD "hath taken away; blessed be the name of the "LORD." Bless, O FATHER, this season of sorrow to Thy children's good. May the house of mourning be a school of heavenly learning. Soften by Thy grace the hearts that bleed, and

draw them unto Thyself. Wean them more from the world. Fix them more on heaven. And may Thy children know that it is good for them to have been troubled. Hear our prayer, O gracious FATHER, for JESUS CHRIST'S sake. Amen.

IV.

MERCIFUL JESU, Who didst weep by the grave of Lazarus, and Who knowest all human sorrows, be present with Thy sorrowing servants now. Bind up the wounds of their stricken hearts. Let the sunshine of Thy love break through the cloud of their affliction, and a heavenly hope bring light in their darkness. Thou hast loosened one link which bound them to earth: may it now bind them to heaven. Thou hast taken from them for a little while him whom they love. Oh, may it be to be united again for ever! Yet even now are they one in Thee. Death cannot sever from Thee. Death only brings Thy servants nearer to Thee. And we believe in the Communion of Saints. In Thee are we all united. In Thee do we all live evermore. Oh, beget in Thy servants a lively hope of the "inheritance incorruptible and "undefiled, and that fadeth not away." Fit us by Thy grace for the mansions of our FATHER'S house, where there can be partings no more. Bring us to our only true home. Take us to Thyself, to dwell for ever with all Thy Saints, and to reign with Thee, O JESU, our Saviour and our King, Who ever livest and reignest with the FATHER and the HOLY SPIRIT, one GOD, world without end. Amen.