be found unto praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,—whom, having not seen, we love, in whom, though now we see him not, yet believing, we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Father, into thy hands we commit our spirits. PRAYER IN THE PROSPECT OF DEATH. My days, O Lord, are appointed,—the number of The Lord gave, and the Lord taketh away; O Lord, bow down thine ear, and hear: open * Job i. 21. + 2 Kings xix. 16. § Job vii. 3. + Lam. i. 21. Job xiii. 25. Lord, for good; and supply all my need, according to thy riches and glory, by Christ Jesus. Thou didst at first create man out of the dust of the earth, and madest him a living and immortal spirit; and, in thy good time, thou takest away his breath, and man returneth to the dust as he was, but the spirit unto God who gave it.* Blessed be thy name, that Christ is risen, as the first fruits of them that sleep;† and if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, them also that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.‡ Therefore, O my God, my flesh shall rest in hope. And blessed be thy name, that, according to thy promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness; for this corruptible shall put on corruption, and this mortal, immortality; and then shall be fulfilled the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory,-O Death, where is thy sting? O Grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be unto + 1 Cor. xv. 20. * Eccl. xii. 17. 1 Thess. iv. 14. God, who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.* Stretch forth thy hand, O Lord, and save me when my heart and my strength fail. And grant that I may receive consolation from the assurance, that neither suffering nor reproach, nor life nor death, nor things present nor things to come, shall ever be able to separate me from the love of God.+ the Thou, Lord, art my Shepherd, and thou hast led me by green pastures and still waters all my life long. Thou hast prepared a table before me in presence of mine enemies. Thou hast anointed my head, and made my cup to run over. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me, and thy rod and thy staff shall comfort me. Surely goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none on earth that I desire beside thee. My heart * 1 Cor. xv. 53-56. + Rom. viii. 38, 39. + Psalm xxiii. R |