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thy hand in great weakness of body. Look graciously upon him, O LORD; and the more the outward man decayeth, strengthen him, we beseech thee, so much the more continually with thy merciful aid in the inner man. Give him unfeigned repentance for all the errors of his life past, and a firm reliance on thy great mercies in Christ Jesus our Lord; that his sins may be done away by thy mercy, and his pardon sealed in heaven, before he go hence, and be no more seen. We know, O LORD, that there is no work impossible with thee; and that if thou wilt, thou canst even yet raise him up, and grant him a longer continuance among us. Yet forasmuch as in all appearance the time of his dissolution draweth near; so fit and prepare him, we beseech thee, against the hour of death, that after his departure hence in peace, and in thy favour, he may in thy appointed time be received into thine everlasting kingdom, which thou hast promised by Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ A commendatory Prayer for a sick person at the point of departure.

O ALMIGHTY God and Father of mankind, with whom just men made

perfect

perfect shall live for ever; we humbly commend the life of this thy servant, our dear brother, into thy hands, as into the hands of a faithful Creator and most merciful Saviour; most humbly beseeching thee that it may be precious in thy sight. And teach us who survive, in this, and other like daily spectacles of mortality, to see how frail and uncertain our own condition is; and so to number our days, that we may seriously apply our hearts to that holy and heavenly wisdom, whilst we live here, which may in the end bring us to life everlasting, according to thy gracious promises by Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

¶A Prayer for persons troubled in mind or in

conscience.

BLESSED LORD, the Father of mer

cies, and the God of all comforts, we beseech thee, look down in pity and compassion upon this thy afflicted servant. Thou writest bitter things against him, and makest him to possess his former iniquities; thy hand lieth hard upon him, and his soul is full of trouble. But, O merciful God, who hast caused thy holy word to be written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the

holy

holy scriptures might have hope; give him a right understanding of himself, and of thy threats and promises: that he may neither cast away his confidence in thee, nor place it any where but in thee. Give him strength against all his temptations, and heal all his troubles. Break not the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax. Shut not up thy tender mercies in displeasure; but make him to hear of joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Deliver him from all disquieting fears, and lift up the light of thy countenance upon him, and give him peace, for thy mercies sake in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Concluding Prayer.

UNTO God's gracious mercy and protection we commit thee. O LORD, bless him and keep him. O LORD, make thy face to shine upon him, and be gracious unto him. O LORD, lift up the light of thy countenance upon him, and give him peace both now and for evermore. Amen.

THE

THE ORDER

FOR THE

BURIAL OF THE DEAD.

I

The Minister meeting the corpse at the entrance of the church-yard, or when it is brought into the church, shall say,

AM the resurrection and the life, saith the LORD he that believeth in me, though he die, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die. John xi. 25, 26.

We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out: The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. 1 Tim. vi. 7. Job i. 21.

¶ Afterwards shall be read one or both of the following Psalms, viz.

I

Psalm XXXIX.

SAID I will take heed to my ways, that
I offend not with my tongue.

2. I will keep my mouth as it were with a bridle, while the wicked are in my sight. 3. I held my tongue and spake nothing;

I kept silence, yea, even from good words; but it was pain and grief to me.

4. My heart grew hot within me; and while I was thus musing, the fire kindled, and at the last I spake with my tongue.

5. LORD, make me to know my end, and how short the number of my days; that I may know how frail I am.

6. Behold, thou hast made my days as a hand-breadth; and mine age is even as nothing in respect of thee: verily, every man living is altogether vanity.

7. Surely, every man pursueth a vain shadow; and disquieteth himself in vain : he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall inherit them.

8. And now, O LORD, what is my hope? Truly, my whole hope is in thee. 9. O acquit me from all my transgressions, and suffer me not to be the reproach of the fool.

10. I was dumb, and opened not my mouth; for it was thy doing.

11. Remove thy stroke away from me; I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.

12. When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sin, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity.

13. Hear

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