Page images
PDF
EPUB

after his departure hence in peace, and in thy favor, his soul may be received into thine everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

FOR SUPPORT IN DEATH.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, in whose hands are the keys of life and death, whose infinite wisdom disposes all things for the best to them that love thee; behold, we beseech thee, thy servant whom thou hast cast upon the bed of sickness, and support with thy grace his afflicted spirit; strengthen his faith, increase his hope, perfect his love. Sanctify to him every circumstance of his sufferings, that he may pass through the valley of the shadow of death with safety, and be transported by thy holy angels into the mansions of bliss, where no fears shall trouble him, no pain torment him, nor any grief disturb the quiet of his mind, --- but perfect security, pure delight, and unspeak

able joys shall forever be established unto him, through our Lord Jesus Christ, world. without end. Amen.

FOR PEACE AND TRUST IN DEATH.

ALMIGHTY God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, be near to this thy servant in the parting moment. Speak peace to his soul. Breathe into his fainting spirit the refreshings of mercy. Raise his thoughts to thee. Disengage him from the world. May he know that if his earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved, he has a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Enable him, if it be only in sighs, to commend his soul into thy hands.

And when the solemn moment comes that he shall be removed hence, may he gently fall asleep in Jesus, to awaken in the arms of everlasting love, in that place where the sun shall be no more his light by day, nor

the moon by night, but where God shall be his everlasting light.

Grant unto him, and unto us, the pardon of our sins, an humble faith in Jesus Christ our Lord, and grace to walk in the way of thy commandments. Amen.

ON RECOVERY.

I THANK thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast heard my prayers, and given me some respite and hopes of recovery from my illness. Blessed be thy goodness, that I am likely to continue still in the land of the living. And, O thou Preserver of man! who hast begun to revive and quicken me again, go on to perfect my cure, and visit me, in the mean time, with thy heavenly consolation from above. Fill me with comfortable thoughts of thy love, and of the tender, compassionate care which our Lord Jesus promises to all thy afflicted servants. Endue me still with more patient submission, and enable me both quietly to wait upon thee till thou hast finished my recovery, and also to continue steadfastly resolved to serve thee more faithfully with my renewed strength; through Jesus Christ my Saviour. Amen.

GIVER and Preserver of Life! I desire with grateful heart to celebrate thy mercy to thy servant, whom thou hast been pleased to raise up from sickness, and restore to health and strength. Blessed be thy name, for thou hast heard my voice when I cried unto thee, and hast granted my prayer. 0 Father, may I henceforth employ in thy service those powers which thou hast originally bestowed, and dost continually preserve; and may I be enabled to show my thankfulness, by a cheerful and uniform compliance with thy will, and by a persevering fulfilment of all my various duties. In health and in sickness, in sorrow and in joy, in life and in death, may I remember thee, and be thou my consolation and great reward. All my prayers I present at thy throne, in the name and as the disciple of Jesus Christ; and through him ascribe unto thee all power and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

O THOU God of providence and grace, all my times are in thy hands. All diseases

« PreviousContinue »