Prayer for the forgiveness of our sins, and a happy death. O MOST merciful God, Who according to the multitude of Thy mercies dost so put away the sins of those that truly repent, that Thou rememberest them no more, open Thine eye of mercy upon me Thy servant who most earnestly desire pardon and forgiveness. Renew in me, most merciful Father, whatsoever hath been decayed by the fraud and malice of the devil, or by my own carnal will and frailness: preserve and continue me in the unity of the Church: accept my humiliation and contrition: increase my faith. And forasmuch as I put my full trust only in Thy mercy in Christ Jesus my Lord, impute not unto me my former sins; but strengthen me with Thy Blessed Spirit, that I may live the residue of my life to Thee, and be an instrument of Thy glory by serving Thee faithfully, and doing good in my generation. And when Thou art pleased to take me hence, take me unto Thy favour, through the merits of Thy dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen, Prayer for peace and comfort in the hour of death. O ALMIGHTY Lord, Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, our only help in time of need, I beseech Thee likewise to accept the devout prayers and supplications which I now offer up to Thy Divine Majesty with respect to the time of my greatest extremity, the last and most important conflict of my life. Do Thou then, O Lord, look graciously upon Thy servant, and visit me with Thy salvation; send me help from above, and deliver me from the snares and terrors of the wicked one: sustain my agonies with the peaceful comforts of a quiet conscience, and of reconciliation with Thee my God. Lord, as Thou bringest me nearer to Thyself, so let my love and my desires of Thee be stronger. And O that it may please Thee in Thine abundant mercy to afford me some sweet foretaste of future bliss, that I may triumph even in death itself. But if in this I know not what I ask, yet at least suffer not my faith to be shaken, nor Thy lovingkindness to fail. And however Thou dealest with this corruptible body, let my soul, I beseech Thee, be precious in Thy sight; and the more the outward man decays, strengthen me so much the more continually with Thy grace and Holy Spirit in the inner man. Give me unfeigned repentance for all the errors of my life past, and stedfast faith in Thy Son Jesus; that my sins may be done away by Thy mercy, and my pardon sealed in heaven before I go hence and be no more seen. In Thy mercy, O Lord, I put my full trust; in Thy mercy alone, and in the merits and sufferings of my crucified Saviour. So fit and prepare me, I beseech Thee, for the hour of death, that my departure hence may be in peace and in Thy favour, and my soul may be received into those heavenly habitations, where the souls of them that sleep in the Lord Jesus enjoy perpetual rest and felicity; and that at the resurrection of the just my body may be reunited to my soul, and fashioned like unto Christ's glorious body; and I may be admitted into the everlasting kingdom of glory; through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, Thine only Son, our Lord and Saviour. Amen. O Almighty Lord, Who art &c. p. 104. WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. The uncertainty of the time of our death: life and immortality brought to light through the Gospel : the judgment of the last day universal. I MUST work the works of Him that sent me while it is day 1. Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness, and the shadow of death. A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order; and where the light is as darkness". The night cometh when no man can work3. Man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in a snare, so are the sons of men snared in an evil time when it falleth suddenly upon them*. 5 He said I will say to my soul, soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee, then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided? O God, Thou knowest my foolishness, and my sins. are not hid from Thee'. Remember, I beseech Thee, that Thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt Thou bring me into dust again? I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause 9. Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him ". For He hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee ". 11 1 John ix. 4. Eccles. ix. 12. 7 Psalm lxix. 5. 2 Job x. 20-22. 3 John ix. 4. The Lord killeth, and maketh alive; He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up1. God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death2. What time I am afraid I will trust in Thee 3. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me*. For I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day 3. Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began; but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, Who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive'. For God so loved the world that He gave His Only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life 8. And this is the Father's will Which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. I am He that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell, and of death 10. Death is swallowed up in victory ". And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea 1 1 Sam. ii. 6. 2 Psalm xlviii. 14. 10 Rev. i. 18. 3 Ibid. lvi. 3. 11 1 Cor. xv. 54. gave up the dead which were in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them; and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire '. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire 2. The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death 3. But he that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son *. Remember not, Lord, mine offences &c, p. 102. Lord have mercy upon me &c. p. 102. Our Father, Which art in heaven &c. Prayer for a blessed departure out of this life; and for spiritual strength and comfort in the hour of death. O ALMIGHTY God, with Whom do live the spirits of just men made perfect, after they are delivered from their earthly prisons; I humbly commend my sinful soul 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. Wash it, I pray Thee, in the blood of the Lamb Which was slain to take away the sins of the world; that whatsoever defilement it may have contracted in the midst of a miserable and naughty world, through the lusts of the flesh or the wiles of Satan, being purged and done away, it may at its departure out of the body be presented pure, and without spot before Thee. And grant, O Lord, that the daily spectacles of 1 Rev. xx. 12-14. 2 Ibid. ver. 15. |