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XXXII.

PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD.

That it was a common Jewish custom to offer prayers for the dead is made plain in II. Maccabees, xii. In the narrative in this chapter the army of Judas Maccabeus is represented as praying and offering doles for their fallen brethren. The ancient Jewish liturgies and tombstones contain many beautiful prayers for the departed, which illustrate the Hebrew conception of paradise.

The Saviour and his apostles do not allude to this custom, though mention is made in the Scripture of baptisms for the dead. Many writers suppose Onesiphorus, II. Tim., i. 16-18, to have been dead when Paul prayed: "The Lord grant unto him that

he may find the mercy of the Lord in that day." The early church composed many sublime prayers for the pious dead, which are found in nearly all ancient liturgies.

FROM THE LITURGY OF ST. CLEMENT.

“At thy spiritual and holy altar, O Lord, give rest, good memory, and happiness to all the bodies, souls and spirits of our fathers, brothers and sisters, whether of the flesh or of the Spirit; who, in whatever countries, cities, or states, have departed this life; whether they have been drowned in seas or rivers, or have died in their journeyings, and of whom no memorial remaineth in the churches existing upon earth. Grant those, O Lord, who have departed this life in the true faith, a good memory, company with the illustrious ones whose names are written in the Book of Life.

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"And to all of those who, having run their race in this world, have appeared perfect and righteous before Thee, and having been freed from the waves of transyression, have reached thy presence, our fathers and brethren of the flesh and of the spirit, grant, O Lord, in thy spiritual and mighty bower, eternal rest.

"In the dwelling-places of light and gladness, give them the spirit of joy.

"In the tabernacles of shadow and rest grant them the treasures of felicity.

"Whence every sorrow is excluded, and where the souls of the righteous, without labor, expect the first-fruits of eternal life, and where the spirits of just men, being made perfect, wait for the fruition of their promised reward.

"In that place where the laborers and the weary turn their eyes towards paradise, and they who are invited to the marriage supper look for the Bridegroom; where they who have been called to that feast wait until they go up to the same, and earnestly desire the new state of glory; where sorrows are banished away, and joys remain, through and for the sake of thine only begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Saviour."

Some of these prayers seem to imply a belief in an intermediate state of the dead, and many of them furnish glowing descriptions of the joys of paradise.

FROM THE ABYSSINIAN LITUGY.

"From the throne of thine unconceived glory,

vouchsafe, O Lord, to look with an eye of pity and compassion on the souls of the faithful departed, the works of thine own hands.

"Be merciful unto them, O great King, and forgive their transgressions, putting away the remembrance of former sins, because of thine own dear Son.

"Leave them not desolate in the place of darkness and trouble, but lift up their eyes to the land of paradise, and satisfy their longings with the waters of thy comfort.

"Protect them from the incursion of their foe, and shield them by the hand of thy Omnipotence.

"Call them, in their day of rejoicing, to delight in the glories of thy heavenly mansions, where light and peace and joy eternal are forever and ever.

"We ask this both for the quick and dead because of thy only-begotten Son, in whom continually we place our hope and trust.”

XXXIII.

POPE'S UNIVERSAL PRAYER.

"Father of all! in every age,

In every clime adored,

By saint, by savage, and by sage,

Jehovah, Jove, or Lord!

"Thou great First Cause, least understood,

Who all my sense confined

To know but this, that Thou art good,

And that myself am blind;

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