tihxaxy of t:he t:heolo0ical Seminar)) 
 
 PRINCETON • NEW JERSEY 
 
 Library of Dr* A*A. Hodge 
 
 BX 9185 
 
 .V562 
 
 1882 
 
 Vincent, 
 
 Marvin Richardson, 
 
 1834-1922. 
 
 
 The ministers' 
 
 handbook 
 
THE 
 
 MINISTERS' HANDBOOK 
 
 CONTAINING FORMS FOR 
 
 BAPTISM, MARRIAGE, THE LORD'S SUPPER, BURIAL, AND 
 
 THE ORDINATION OF ELDERS AND DEACONS, WITH 
 
 CLASSIFIED SELECTIONS OF SCRIPTURE FOR 
 
 THE SICK ROOM. 
 
 BY 
 
 MARVIN R.VINCENT, D.D. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 ANSON D. F. RANDOLPH & COMPANY, 
 
 900 Broadway, Cor. 2oth Strket. 
 
COPYRIGHT, 1882, BY 
 ANSON D. F. RANDOLPH & CO. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 EDWARD O. JENKINS, ROBERT RUTTEK, 
 
 Printer and Siereotyper, Binder^ 
 
 20 North William St. 116 and 118 East 14th Street. 
 
INTRODUCTORY. 
 
 Hmvever opinions may differ as to the use of forms ifi 
 public worship and in sacramental observances^ tJu de??iand 
 for such forms amo?ig ministers of the non-liturgical 
 churches is a grooving fact j and, in the Presbyteria?i 
 church, the demand has been distinctly a7id publicly formu- 
 lated by some of her most honored leaders and teachers- 
 
 The present Manual is an attempt to meet this deinand-, 
 in part at leasts on the side where it is most urgent ; 7iame- 
 ly, the administratioji of the sacraments^ and the special 
 services of marriage, burial, ajid the ordiiiation of the 
 members of church sessions. 
 
 The peculiarities of the " Handbook'' are maijily these : 
 I ■ The forms for the ordinatio7i of elders and deaco?is. 
 These are based upon the Presbyterian directory, and will 
 be found, it is hoped, not only convenient, but te^iding to 
 give more emphasis and character to these important offices 
 in the eyes of the people. 
 
 2. In the burial service, while the solemn lesson of 
 mortality is 7iot overlooked, it takes its place behind the 
 lessofis of divine consolation and hope, — /;/ the true Chris- 
 
4 IN TROD UC TOR Y. 
 
 tiaTi order of thought which ejnphasizes life and immortal- 
 ity and heavenly comfort above the sterol fact of nature 
 ivhich asserts itself so sharply in all the circuf?ista?ices of 
 the funeral occasion. 
 
 The scripture selectio?ts for funerals have been largely 
 increased in number. Death has other teachings besides 
 those of mortality and resurrection^ which are the two 
 principally contemplated in the Episcopal liturgy^ to say 
 nothing of the numerous cases in which the fifteenth of 
 First Corinthians is i^iappropriate. 
 
 These selections^ moreover^ are classified, and consist of 
 continuous lessons^, and not of single verses i7idiscriminately 
 strung together from every part of scripture. 
 
 3. For the celebratio?i of marriage, two forms are 
 given. Our pastors are so frequently asked to use the 
 Episcopal liturgy on such occasions that it has seemed best 
 to insert it entire j while for those who prefer a shorter 
 form, another has been added. 
 
 4. The selections for the sick-room have been arranged 
 with a view to the co7ivenience of pastors in their visita- 
 tions, and classified under those general topics which nat- 
 urally suggest themselves in connection with affliction. 
 
 Church of the Covenant, 
 March \^th, 1S82. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 The Baptism of Infants 
 
 The Form of Solemnization of Matrimony 
 The Solemnization of Matrimony 
 The Order of the Burial of the Dead 
 Selections of Scripture for the Sick Room 
 Form for the Ordination of Elders . 
 Form for the Ordination of Deacons 
 
 i6 
 
 57 
 
 103 
 
 The Order for the Administration of the Lord's 
 Supper 107 
 
THE BAPTISM OF INFANTS. 
 
 While the children are being brought to the font, the Minister 
 shall say : 
 
 " And they brought young children to Him that He 
 should touch them ; and His disciples rebuked those 
 that brought them. 
 
 " But when Jesus saw it He was much displeased, 
 and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come 
 unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom 
 of God. 
 
 " Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive 
 the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter 
 therein. 
 
 " And He took them up in His arms, put His hands 
 upon them and blessed them." — Mark x. 13-16. 
 
 Then shall the Minister exhort the parents as follows : 
 
 Beloved, ye hear in this gospel the words of our Sav- 
 iour Christ, that He commanded the children to be 
 brought unto Him; how He blamed those who would 
 have kept them from Him; how He exhorted all per- 
 sons to follow their innocency. Ye perceive how, by 
 His outward gesture and deed. He declared His good- 
 will toward them: for He embraced them in His arms, 
 He laid His hands upon them, and blessed them. 
 Doubt ye not, therefore, but earnestly believe, that He 
 will likewise favorably receive this present infant ; that 
 
8 THE BAPTISM OF INFANTS. 
 
 He will embrace him in the arms of His mercy, that He 
 will give unto him the blessing of eternal life, and make 
 him a partaker of His everlasting kingdom. Wherefore, 
 being thus persuaded of the good-will of our heavenly 
 Father toward this infant, let us humbly and devoutly 
 call upon Him. 
 
 Then shall the Minister offer prayer as follotveth : 
 
 Almighty God, Eternal Father, who by Thy holy 
 prophet hast taught us that children are an heritage 
 of the Lord, who also didst enjoin upon Thy chosen 
 people of Israel to teach their children Thy statutes 
 and ordinances ; and who, through Thine apostle, hast 
 assured us that the promise is unto us and to our chil- 
 dren, we beseech Thee receive this child into the cove- 
 nant of Thy mercy; take it into the embrace of Thy 
 protection and love, and so carefully guard it, O Thou 
 tender Shepherd of our souls, through all the trials and 
 temptations of this mortal life, that in the end it may 
 safely arrive at Thy blessed fold, the church of the first- 
 born in Heaven, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
 Christ. Amen. 
 
 The7i the Minister shall address the parents, saying : 
 
 Dearly beloved, we have prayed that our merciful 
 Father would vouchsafe to receive this child into His 
 flock, and give him the kingdom of Heaven and ever- 
 lasting life. As you desire this child to be received 
 into the fellowship of the faith, it is necessary that you 
 profess that faith into which he is to be baptized, and 
 in which you promise to instruct him. 
 
 Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker 
 of heaven and earth } 
 
THE BAPTISM OF INFANTS. g 
 
 And in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord, who 
 was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin 
 Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, 
 and buried ; He descended into hell; the third day He 
 rose from the dead ; He ascended into heaven, and sit- 
 teth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty ; 
 from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the 
 dead ? 
 
 Do you believe in the Holy Ghost ; the Holy Cath- 
 olic Church ; the communion of saints ; the forgiveness 
 of sins ; the resurrection of the body, and the life ever- 
 lasting ? 
 
 To this confession ye should add the promise of a 
 faithful Christian nurture, which, therefore, in the pres- 
 ence of God and of this congregation, I now demand 
 of you. 
 
 Will you bring up this child in the nurture and ad- 
 monition of the Lord ? Will you teach him from his ear- 
 liest years the nature of that covenant under the shelter 
 of which he stands, and do all that in you lies to bring 
 him to the knowledge and faith of his Saviour Christ ? 
 
 Will you be careful to fashion yourselves after the 
 rule and doctrine of Christ, and to make yourselves, 
 as much as lieth in you, wholesome examples to this 
 child? 
 
 Will you abound in prayer for this child, praying 
 always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, 
 and watching thereunto with all perseverance ? 
 
 TAen the Minister shall say : 
 
 O merciful God, grant that the old Adam in this child 
 may be so buried, that the new man may be raised up 
 in him ! Grant that all sinful affections mav die in him, 
 
lO THE BAPTISM OF INFANTS. 
 
 and that all things belonging to the Spirit may live and 
 grow in him. Grant that he may have power and 
 strength to have victory, and to triumph against the 
 devil, the world, and the flesh. Grant that he may 
 receive the fulness of Thy grace, and ever remain in 
 the number of Thy faithful children, through Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. Amex. 
 
 The7i the Minister shall say to the parents : 
 Name this child. 
 
 Andy naming it after them, he shall say : 
 
 I baptize thee into the name of the Father, and of the 
 Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 
 
 We receive this child into the congregation of Christ's 
 flock, in trust that hereafter he shall not be ashamed to 
 confess the faith of Christ crucified, and manfully to 
 fight under His banner against sin, the world, and the 
 devil, and to continue Christ's faithful soldier and serv- 
 ant into his life's end. 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 Almighty and most gracious God, who hast given us 
 the Spirit of adoption whereby we call Thee our Fa- 
 ther, we call upon Thee for Thy servants, the parents 
 of this child whom we have dedicated to Thee in Bap- 
 tism : that they, being led by Thy Holy Spirit, may live 
 as becometh Thy children and joint heirs with Christ: 
 that they may both perceive and know what is Thy 
 good and acceptable and perfect will, and have grace 
 and power faithfully to fulfil the same. Graciously as- 
 sist them, we beseech Thee, to bring up this child in 
 Thy fear, which is the beginning of wisdom, diligently 
 to instruct him in the doctrine which is according to 
 
THE BAPTISM OF INFANTS. 
 
 II 
 
 godliness, and both by precept and example to guide 
 his steps in the way of righteousness and peace ; that, 
 at the last, they with their children may be numbered 
 with Thy saints in glory everlasting, through Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of 
 God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us 
 all evermore. Amen. 
 
THE FORM OF SOLEMNIZATION 
 OF MATRIMONY. 
 
 ACCORDING TO THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER AS 
 
 USED BY THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH 
 
 IN THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 The persons to be married standing together, the man on the right 
 hand and the woman on the left, the Mi?iister shall say : 
 
 Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in 
 the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to 
 join together this man and this woman in holy matri- 
 mony; which is commended of St. Paul to be honor- 
 able among all men; and therefore is not by any to be 
 entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, dis- 
 creetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God. Into 
 this holy estate these two persons present come now to 
 be joined. If any man can show any just cause why 
 they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now 
 speak or else hereafter forever hold his peace. 
 
 Then shall the Minister say unto the persons who are to be 
 married : 
 
 I require and charge )'0U both as ye will answer at 
 the dreadful day of judgment when the secrets of all 
 hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any 
 impediment why ye may not be lawfully joined to- 
 gether in matrimony, ye do now confess it : for be ye 
 well assured, that if any persons are joined together 
 
 (12) 
 
SOLEMN I ZA TION OF MA TRIMONY. \ 3 
 
 otherwise than as God's word doth allow, their marriage 
 is not lawful. 
 
 The Minister, if he shall have reason to doubt of the lawfulness 
 of the proposed marriage, fnay demand sufficient surety for his 
 indemnification J but if no impediment shall be alleged, or sus- 
 pected, the Minister shall say to the man : 
 
 J/, ^^'ilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, 
 to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate 
 of matrimony ? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor, 
 and keep her, in sickness and in health ; and, forsaking 
 all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both 
 shall live ? 
 
 The 7nan shall answer : 
 
 I will. 
 Then shall the Afinister say unto the woman : 
 
 JY. Wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, 
 to live together after God's ordinance, in the holy estate 
 of matrimony ? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, 
 love, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in health ; 
 and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so 
 long as ye both shall live ? 
 
 The woman shall answer : 
 I will. 
 
 Then shall the Minister say : 
 Who giveth this woman to be married to this man 1 
 
 Then shall they give their troth to each other in this manner : 
 The Minister, receiving the woman at her father's or friend's 
 hands, shall cause the man, with his right hand, to take the 
 
 woman by her right hand, and to say after him as folloiveth : 
 
 I J/, take thee ^V. to mv wedded wife, to have and to 
 
14 SOLEMN IZA TION OF MA TRIM ON Y. 
 
 hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for 
 richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and 
 to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy 
 ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth. 
 
 Then shall they loose their hands, and the woman, with her right 
 hand takitig the nian by his right hand, should likewise say 
 after the Minister : 
 
 I N. take thee M. to my wedded husband, to have 
 and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, 
 for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, 
 cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to 
 God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth. 
 
 Theft shall they again loose their hands, and the man shall give 
 unto the woman a ritig, and the Minister, taking the ring, shall 
 deliver it unto the fnan to put it upon the fourth finger of the 
 wo7iia7i's left hand ; and the matt, holding the ring there, and 
 tatcght by the Minister, shall say : 
 
 With this ring I thee wed, and with all my worldly 
 goods I thee endow, in the name of the Father, and of 
 the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 
 
 Then the Minister shall say : 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy 
 name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done in earth 
 as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread ; and 
 forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who tres- 
 pass against us. And lead us not into temptation,, but 
 deliver us from evil. Amen. 
 
 O Eternal God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, 
 Giver of all spiritual grace, the Author of everlasting 
 life ; send Thy blessing upon these Thy servants, this 
 man and this woman whom we bless in Thy name, that 
 
SOLEMN I ZA TlOX OF MA TRIMONY. 
 
 15 
 
 as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully together, so these 
 persons may surely perform and keep the vow and cove- 
 nant between them made, (whereof this Ring given and 
 received is a token and pledge), and may ever remain in 
 perfect love and peace together, and live according to 
 Thy laws, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 Then shall the Minister join their right hands together and say : 
 
 Those whom God hath joined together let no man 
 put asunder. 
 
 Then shall the Miyiister speak unto the company : 
 
 Forasmuch as these persons have consented together 
 in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before 
 God and this company, and thereto have given and 
 pledged their troth each to the other, and have declared 
 the same by giving and receiving a ring, and by joining 
 hands ; I pronounce that they are Man and Wife, in the 
 name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy 
 Ghost. Amen. 
 
 And the Minister shall add this blessing : 
 
 God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, 
 bless, preserve, and keep you ; the Lord mercifully with 
 His favor look upon you, and so fill you with all spirit- 
 ual benediction and grace, that ye may so live together 
 in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life 
 everlasting. Amen. 
 
II. 
 
 THE SOLEMNIZATION OF 
 MATRIMONY. 
 
 THE FOLLOWING FORM WAS PREPARED BY THE REVEREND 
 
 GEORGE W. BETHUNE, D.D., FOR THE REVISED 
 
 LITURGY OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 
 
 The Minister shall say : ^ 
 
 God be merciful unto us, and bless us, and cause His 
 face to shine upon us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. 
 
 In the name of Almighty God, I demand of each of you 
 here present, that if ye know any good reason why these 
 persons, M. and N., should not be joined in marriage, 
 ye do now declare the same, as ye would answer before 
 the Searcher of Hearts. 
 
 If no answer he given, the Minister shall proceed : 
 
 God created man in His own image, and said, It is 
 not good that man should be alone: I will make a help- 
 meet for him. He brought unto the man the woman 
 whom He had made. And Adam said. This is now 
 bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh. Therefore 
 shall a man leave father and mother, and cleave unto 
 his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh. 
 
 Marriage, thus ordained of God in Eden, was con- 
 firmed at the wedding in Cana of Galilee by the gracious 
 (i6) 
 
SOLEMN I ZA TION OF MA TRIMONY. 
 
 17 
 
 presence and miraculous blessing of our Divine Lord 
 Jesus Christ ; who also hath said, What God hath joined 
 together, let not man put asunder. Moreover, His holy 
 apostle Paul has commended unto the husband the ex- 
 ample of Christ in loving His Church, and unto the 
 wife the willing subjection of the Church unto Christ as 
 her Head. Whence we learn that marriage is well pleas- 
 ing to God our Saviour, and most honorable to all who 
 maintain therein a mutual love and unshaken fidelity. 
 
 I therefore, a minister of the blessed Gospel, charge 
 and entreat you both to seek the help of God in all your 
 duties, that His grace may make your union fruitful of 
 comfort in this life, and a furtherance of your everlast- 
 ing salvation, to the glory of His holy name. 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 O most holy and most merciful Lord God, we beseech 
 Thee for these Thy servant and handmaid, that they 
 may, with a reverent trust in Thee, enter into the cove- 
 nant of marriage as they now purpose, and truly keep 
 all the vows which they are- about to make, according 
 to Thy word. Grant thic-, O our Father, with the for- 
 giveness of our sins, through Christ Thy Son. Amen. 
 
 Then the Minister shall bid the man and the woman to join their 
 right hands, which being done, he shall say to the man : 
 
 Dost thou, , take this woman, , before 
 
 God and these witnesses, to be thy wife .'* 
 
 Dost thou promise to love her, honor her, defend her, 
 sustain and cherish her, in joy and in sorrow, in health 
 and in sickness, in prosperity and in adversity 1 Wilt 
 thou be faithful to her in all things as becometh a 
 good husband, and never forsake her, so long as ye 
 both do live } 
 
1 8 SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY. 
 
 The Minister shall then say to the zuoman : 
 
 Dost thou. , take this man, , before God 
 
 and these witnesses, to be thy husband ? 
 
 Dost thou promise to love him, honor him, cherish 
 and obey him, in joy and in sorrow, in health and in 
 sickness, in prosperity and in adversity ? Wilt thou be 
 faithful to him in all things as becometh a good wife, 
 and never forsake him as long as ye both do live ? 
 
 When a ring is used, the Minister shall say to the man : 
 
 What pledge dost thou give that thou wilt perform 
 these thy vows ? 
 
 The man shows the ring, and the Minister shall say to the woman : 
 
 Dost thou receive this ring in token of the same on 
 thy part ? , 
 
 Then the man, the Minister guiding his hand, shall place the ring 
 on the fourth finger of her left hand, and the Minister shall 
 say : 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 O God our heavenly Father, Thou hast heard these 
 promises of Thy servant and handmaid to each other. 
 Mercifully condescend to unite their hearts and lives by 
 all the grace and true affection of a happy marriage. 
 May their love never know change or doubt or decay. 
 Replenish them with Thy Holy Spirit, that they may 
 piously live together according to Thy divine will. May 
 they be blessed in each other, and both in the knowl- 
 edge of Christ Thy Son ; and may they at last enter 
 Thy blessed kingdom : through Jesus Christ our Re- 
 deemer. Amen. 
 
SOLEMNIZA TION OF MA TRIM ON Y. 1 9 
 
 Then the Minister^ taking their clasped hands between his, shall 
 
 say : 
 
 Now in the name of God, Father, Son, and Holy- 
 Ghost, whose servant I am, I pronounce you husband 
 and wife. 
 
 The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make 
 His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you. 
 The Lord lift up His countenanc-e upon you, and give 
 you peace. 
 
 Then, still holding their hands, he shall say to the co}7ipany of wit- 
 nesses : 
 
 What, therefore, God hath joined together, let not 
 man put asunder. Amen. 
 
THE ORDER FOR THE BURIAL 
 OF THE DEAD. 
 
 The Minister, meeting the Body at the entrance of the Churchy 
 a7td going before it into the Church, should say : 
 
 I am the Resurrection and the Life, saith the Lord ; 
 he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall 
 he live : and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall 
 never die. — St. John xi. 25, 26. 
 
 I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall 
 stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though 
 after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh 
 shall I see God ; whom I shall see for myself, and mine 
 eyes shall behold, and not another. — Job xix. 25-27. 
 
 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. — I Tim. vi. 7 ; Job i. 21. 
 
 After the body is placed ht the church, the Minister shall say : 
 
 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in 
 trouble. 
 
 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be re- 
 moved, and though the mountains be carried into the 
 midst of the sea ; 
 
 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, 
 though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. — 
 Ps. xlvi. 1-3. 
 
 For Thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to 
 (20) 
 
BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 21 
 
 the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a 
 shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones 
 is as a storm against the wall. — Isa. xxv. 4. 
 
 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all com 
 fort ; 
 
 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may 
 be able to comfort them which are in any trouble by 
 the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of 
 God. — 2 Cor. i. 3-4. 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, the comfort of the 
 sad, the strength of sufferers, let the prayers of those 
 who cry out of any tribulation come unto Thee, that all 
 may rejoice to find that Thy mercy is present with them 
 in their afflictions, through Christ our Lord. 
 
 O Eternal and ever-blessed God, clouds and darkness 
 are round about Thee, but justice and judgment are 
 the habitation of Thy throne ; mercy and truth go be- 
 fore Thy face. Our flesh and our heart fail ; but Thou 
 art the strength of our heart, and our portion forever. 
 Merciful God and heavenly Father, who hast taught us 
 in Thy holy Word that Thou dost not willingly afflict 
 or grieve the children of men, look with pity, we beseech 
 Thee, upon the sorrows of Thy servants, that while they 
 mourn they may not murmur or faint under Thy rod ; 
 but, remembering Thy unnumbered past and present 
 mercies, Thy promises, and all Thy love in Christ, may 
 resign themselves meekly into Thy hands, to be taught 
 and disciplined by Thee. Sanctify Thy fatherly cor- 
 rection to them. Endue their souls with patience under 
 their affliction, and with resignation to Thy blessed will. 
 
22 BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 Comfort them with a sense of Thy goodness and com- 
 passion ; and grant that, loosened from earthly ties, they 
 may cleave the more closely to Thee, who bringest life 
 out of death, and who canst turn their grief into eternal 
 joy, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 Here^ if desired, a hymn may be sung. 
 
 Then shall be read portions of the following lessons, at the discre- 
 tion of the Minister : 
 
 MORTALITY. 
 
 PSALM XXXIX. 
 
 Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure 
 of my days, what it is ; that I may know how frail I am. 
 
 Behold, Thou hast made my days as an handbreadth ; 
 and mine age is as nothing before Thee : verily every 
 man at his best state is altogether vanity. 
 
 Surely every man walketh in a vain shew : surely they 
 are disquieted in vain: He heapeth up riches, and know- 
 eth not who shall gather them. 
 
 And now, Lord, what wait I for 1 my hope is in 
 Thee. 
 
 Deliver me from all my transgressions ; make me not 
 the reproach of the foolish. 
 
 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because Thou 
 didst it. 
 
 Remove Thy stroke away from me: I am consumed 
 by the blow of Thine hand. 
 
 When Thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniqui- 
 ty. Thou makest his beauty to consume away like a 
 moth: surely every man is vanity. 
 
 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry ; 
 
BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 -3 
 
 hold not Thy peace at my tears : for 1 am a stranger 
 with Thee and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. 
 
 O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go 
 hence, and be no more. 
 
 PSALM xc. 
 
 Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling-place in all gen- 
 erations. 
 
 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever 
 Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from 
 everlasting to everlasting. Thou art God. 
 
 Thou turnest man to destruction ; and sayest. Return, 
 ye children of men. 
 
 For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yester- 
 day when it is past, and as a watch in the night. 
 
 Thou carriest them away as with a flood ; they are as 
 a sleep; in the morning they are like grass which grow- 
 eth up. 
 
 In the morning it flourisheth, and grovveth up ; in 
 the evening it is cut down, and withereth. 
 
 For we are consumed by Thine anger, and by Thy 
 wrath are we troubled. 
 
 Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee, our secret 
 sins in the light of Thy countenance. 
 
 For all our days are passed away in Thy wrath: we 
 spend our years, as a tale that is told. 
 
 The days of our years are threescore years and ten ; 
 and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet 
 is their strength labour and sorrow ; for it is soon cut 
 off, and we fly away. 
 
 Who knoweth the power of Thine anger } even ac- 
 cording to Thy fear, so is Thy wrath. 
 
24 BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply 
 our hearts unto wisdom. 
 
 Return, O Lord, how long ? and let it repent Thee 
 concerning Thy servants. 
 
 O satisfy us early with Thy mercy ; that we may re- 
 joice and be glad all our days. 
 
 Make us glad according to the days wherein Thou 
 hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen 
 evil. 
 
 Let Thy work appear unto Thy servants, and Thy 
 glory unto their children. 
 
 And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us : 
 and establish Thou the work of our hands upon us ; 
 yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it. 
 
 ECCLESIASTES XII. 1-8. 
 
 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, 
 while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, 
 when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them ; 
 
 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, 
 be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain : 
 
 In the day when the keepers of the house shall trem- 
 ble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the 
 grinders cease because they are few, and those that look 
 out of the windows be darkened. 
 
 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the 
 sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the 
 voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall 
 be brought low. 
 
 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, 
 and fears shall be in the way, and the almond-tree shall 
 flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and de- 
 
BURIAL OF TIJE DEAD. 
 
 25 
 
 sire shall fail : because man goeth to his long home, and 
 the mourners go al)out the streets: 
 
 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl 
 be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or 
 the wheel broken at the cistern. 
 
 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was : and 
 the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. 
 
 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity. 
 
 AFFLICTION SANCTIFIED AND COMFORTED. 
 
 HEBREWS XII. I-I3. 
 
 Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with 
 so great a ciloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, 
 and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run 
 with patience the race that is set before us, 
 
 Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our 
 faith ; who, for the joy that was set before Him, endured 
 the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the 
 right hand of the throne of God. 
 
 For consider Him that endured such contradiction 
 of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint 
 in your minds. 
 
 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against 
 sin. 
 
 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speak- 
 eth unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou 
 the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art re- 
 buked of Him : 
 
 For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourg- 
 eth every son whom He receiveth. 
 
 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as 
 
26 BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 with sons : for what son is he whom the father chasten- 
 eth not ? 
 
 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are 
 partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 
 
 Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which 
 corrected us, and we gave them reverence : shall we 
 not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of 
 spirits, and live ? 
 
 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their 
 own pleasure ; but He for our profit, that we might be 
 partakers of His holiness. 
 
 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joy- 
 ous, but grievous : nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the 
 peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are ex- 
 ercised thereby. 
 
 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and 
 the feeble knees ; 
 
 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which 
 is lame be turned out of the way ; but let it rather be 
 healed. 
 
 ISAIAH LIV. 7-12. 
 
 For a small moment have I forsaken thee ; but with 
 great mercies will I gather thee. 
 
 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a mo- 
 ment ; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy 
 on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. 
 
 For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I 
 have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go 
 over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be 
 wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. 
 
 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be re- 
 moved ; but my kindness shall not depart from thee. 
 
BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 27 
 
 neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, 
 saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. 
 
 O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not com- 
 forted ! behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, 
 and lay thy foundations with sapphires. 
 
 And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates 
 of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. 
 
 PSALM XXV. 
 
 Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 
 
 O my God, I trust in Thee : let me not be ashamed, 
 let not mine enemies triumph over me. 
 
 Yea, let none that wait on Thee be ashamed : let 
 them be ashamed which transgress without cause. 
 
 Shew me Thy ways, O Lord ; teach me Thy paths. 
 
 Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me : for Thou art 
 the God of my salvation ; on Thee do I wait all the day. 
 
 Remember, O Lord, Thy tender mercies and Thy 
 loving-kindnesses ; for they have been ever of old. 
 
 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my trans- 
 gressions : according to Thy mercy remember Thou me 
 for Thy goodness' sake, O Lord. 
 
 Good and upright is the Lord : therefore will He 
 teach sinners in the way. 
 
 The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek 
 will He teach his way. 
 
 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto 
 such as keep His covenant and His testimonies. 
 
 For Thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity ; 
 for it is great. 
 
 What man is he that feareth the Lord .? him shall He 
 teach in the way that he shall choose. 
 
28 BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 His soul shall dwell at ease ; and his seed shall inherit 
 the earth. 
 
 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him ; 
 and He will shew them His covenant. 
 
 Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord; for He shall 
 pluck my feet out of the net. 
 
 Turn Thee unto me, and have mercy upon me ; for I 
 am desolate and afflicted. 
 
 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring Thou 
 me out of my distresses. 
 
 Look upon mine affliction and my pain ; and forgive 
 all my sins. 
 
 Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they 
 hate me with cruel hatred. 
 
 O keep my soul, and deliver me : let me not be 
 ashamed ; for I put my trust in Thee. 
 
 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me ; for I wait 
 on Thee. 
 
 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles. 
 
 PSALM XLII. 
 
 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth 
 my soul after Thee, O God. 
 
 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God : when 
 shall I come and appear before God } 
 
 My tears have been my meat day and night, while 
 they continually say unto me, Where is thy God ? 
 
 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul 
 in me : for I had gone with the multitude, I went with 
 them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and 
 praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. 
 
 Why art thou cast down, O my soul .? and why art 
 
BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 29 
 
 thou disquieted in me ? hope thou in God : for I shall 
 yet praise Him for the help of His countenance. 
 
 my God, my soul is cast down within me : there- 
 fore will I remember Thee from the land of Jordan, and 
 of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. 
 
 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of Thy waterspouts : 
 all Thy waves and Thy billows are gone over me. 
 
 Yet the Lord will command His loving-kindness in 
 the day-time, and in the night His song shall be with me, 
 and my prayer unto the God of my life. 
 
 1 will say unto God my rock. Why hast Thou forgot- 
 ten me } why go I mourning because of the oppression 
 of the enemy .? 
 
 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach 
 me ; while they say daily unto me. Where is thy God .^ 
 
 Why art thou cast down, O my soul .? and why art 
 thou disquieted within me .? hope thou in God : for I 
 shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my coun- 
 tenance, and my God. 
 
 PSALM LXXVII. 
 
 I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with 
 my voice ; and He gave ear unto me. 
 
 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord : my sore 
 ran in the night, and ceased not : my soul refused to be 
 comforted. 
 
 I remembered God, and was troubled : I complained, 
 and my spirit was overwhelmed. 
 
 Thou boldest mine eyes waking : I am so troubled 
 that I cannot speak. 
 
 I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient 
 times. 
 
so 
 
 BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 I call to remembrance my song in the night : I com- 
 mune with mine own heart : and my spirit made dili- 
 gent search. 
 
 Will the Lord cast off for ever ? and will He be favour- 
 able no more ? 
 
 Is His mercy clean gone for ever ? doth His promise 
 fail for evermore ? 
 
 Hath God forgotten to be gracious ? hath He in an 
 ger shut up His tender mercies ? 
 
 And I said, This is my infirmity: but 1 will remem- 
 ber the years of the right hand of the Most High. 
 
 I will remember the works of the Lord : surely I will 
 remember Thy wonders of old. 
 
 I will meditate also of all Thy work, and talk of Thy 
 doings. 
 
 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great 
 a God as our God ? 
 
 Thou art the God that doest wonders : Thou hast de- 
 clared Thy strength among the people. 
 
 Thou hast with Thine arm redeemed Thy people, the 
 sons of Jacob and Joseph. 
 
 The waters saw Thee, O God, the waters saw Thee ; 
 they were afraid : the depths also were troubled. 
 
 The clouds poured out water : the skies sent out a 
 sound : Thine arrows also went abroad. 
 
 The voice of Thy thunder was in the heaven : the 
 lightnings lightened the world : the earth trembled and 
 shook. 
 
 Thy way is in the sea, and Thy path in the great 
 waters, and Thy footsteps are not known. 
 
 Thou leddest Thy people like a flock by the hand of 
 Moses and Aaron. 
 
BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 PSALM LXXXVIII. 
 
 31 
 
 Lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and 
 night before Thee : 
 
 Let my prayer come before Thee : incline Thine ear 
 unto my cry ; 
 
 For my soul is full of troubles : and my life draweth 
 nigh unto the grave. 
 
 1 am counted with them that go doAvn into the pit : 
 I am as a man that hath no strength : 
 
 Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the 
 grave, whom Thou rememberest no more : and they are 
 cut off from Thy hand. 
 
 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in 
 the deeps. 
 
 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and Thou hast afflicted 
 me with all Thy Avaves. 
 
 Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me ; 
 Thou hast made me an abomination unto them : I am 
 shut up, and I cannot come forth. 
 
 Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction : Lord, I 
 have called daily upon Thee, I have stretched out my 
 hands unto Thee. 
 
 Wilt Thou shew wonders to the dead .? shall the dead 
 arise and praise Thee } 
 
 Shall Thy loving-kindness be declared in the grave } 
 or Thy faithfulness in destruction 1 
 
 Shall Thy wonders be known in the dark .? and Thy 
 righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? 
 
 But unto Thee have I cried, O Lord ; and in the 
 morning shall my prayer prevent Thee. 
 
 Lord, why castest Thou off my soul } why hidest 
 Thou Thy face from me .'' 
 
32 
 
 BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up : 
 while I suffer Thy terrors I am distracted. 
 
 Thy fierce wrath goeth over me ; Thy terrors have 
 cut me off. 
 
 They came round about me daily like water ; they 
 compassed me about together. 
 
 Lover and friend hast Thou put far from me, and 
 mine acquaintance into darkness. 
 
 PSALM CXLIII. 
 
 Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplica- 
 tions : in Thy faithfulness answer me, and in Thy right- 
 eousness. 
 
 And enter not into judgment with Thy servant : for 
 in Thy sight shall no man living be justified. 
 
 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul ; he hath 
 smitten my life down to the ground ; he hath made me 
 to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. 
 
 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me ; my 
 heart within me is desolate. 
 
 I remember the days of old, I meditate on all Thy 
 works ; I muse on the work of Thy hands. 
 
 I stretch forth my hands unto Thee : my soul thirst- 
 eth after Thee, as a thirsty land. 
 
 Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth : hide 
 not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go 
 down into the pit. 
 
 Cause me to hear thy loving-kindness in the morn- 
 ing ; for in Thee do I trust : cause me to know the. way 
 wherein I should walk ; for I lift up my soul unto Thee. 
 
 Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies : I flee unto 
 Thee to hide me. 
 
BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 33 
 
 Teach me to do Thy will ; for Thou art my God : Thy 
 spirit is good ; lead me into the land of uprightness. 
 
 Quicken me, O Lord, for Thy name's sake : for Thy 
 righteousness* sake bring my soul out of trouble. 
 
 And of Thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy 
 all them that afflict my soul : for I am Thy servant. 
 
 RESURRECTION. 
 
 I COR. XV. 20-58. 
 
 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become 
 the first-fruits of them that slept. For since by man 
 came death, by man came also the resurrection of the 
 dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall 
 all be made alive. But every man in his own order : 
 Christ the first-fruits ; afterwards, they that are Christ's 
 at His coming. Then cometh the end, when He shall 
 have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Fa- 
 ther ; when He shall have put down all rule, and all 
 authority and power. 
 
 For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under 
 His feet. 
 
 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 
 
 For He hath put all things under His feet. But 
 when He saith all things are put under Him, it is mani- 
 fest that He is excepted which did put all things under 
 Him. 
 
 And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, 
 then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him 
 that put all things under Him, that God may be all 
 in all. 
 
 Else what shall they do, which are baptized for the 
 
34 BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 dead, if the dead rise not at all ? why are they then 
 baptized for the dead ? 
 
 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour ? 
 
 I protest by your rejoicing which 1 have in Christ 
 Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 
 
 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts 
 at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise 
 not ? let us eat and drink; for to-morrow we die. 
 
 Be not deceived : Evil communications corrupt good 
 manners. 
 
 Awake to righteousness, and sin not ; for some have 
 not the knowledge of God. I speak this to your 
 shame. 
 
 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up .? 
 and with what body do they come } 
 
 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened 
 except it die : 
 
 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that 
 body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of 
 wheat, or of some other grain : 
 
 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased Him, and 
 to every seed His own body. 
 
 All flesh is not the same flesh ; but there is one kind 
 of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, 
 and another of birds. 
 
 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial : 
 but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the 
 terrestrial is another. 
 
 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of 
 the moon, and another glory of the stars ; for one star 
 differeth from another star in glory. 
 
 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in 
 corruption, it is raised in incorruption : 
 
BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 35 
 
 It is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory : it is 
 sown in weakness, it is raised in power : 
 
 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. 
 There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 
 
 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a 
 living soul, the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 
 
 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that 
 which is natural ; and afterward that which is spiritual. 
 
 The first man is of the earth, earthy : the second man 
 is the Lord from heaven. 
 
 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy ; 
 and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are 
 heavenly. 
 
 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we 
 shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 
 
 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot 
 inherit the kingdom of God ; neither doth corruption 
 inherit incorruption. 
 
 Behold, I shew you a mystery ; we shall not all sleep, 
 but we shall all be changed, 
 
 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last 
 trump : for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall 
 be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 
 
 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and 
 this mortal must put on immortality. 
 
 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorrup- 
 tion, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then 
 shall be brought to pass 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. 
 
36 BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, 
 through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, un- 
 moveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, 
 forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in 
 the Lord. 
 
 JOHN XI. 17-44. 
 
 Then when Jesus came, He found that He had lain 
 in the grave four days already. 
 
 (Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen 
 furlongs off :) 
 
 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to 
 comfort them concerning their brother. 
 
 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was 
 coming, went and met Him : but Mary sat still in the 
 house. 
 
 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if Thou hadst 
 been here, my brother had not died. 
 
 But I know that even now, whatsoever Thou wilt ask 
 of God, God will give it Thee. 
 
 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 
 
 Martha saith unto Him, I know that He shall rise 
 again in the resurrection at the last day. 
 
 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the 
 life : he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet 
 shall he live : 
 
 And whosoever liveth, and believeth in me, shall never 
 die. Believest thou this } 
 
 She saith unto Him, Yea, Lord : I believe that Thou 
 art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into 
 the world. 
 
 And when she had so said, she went her way, and 
 
BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 37 
 
 called Mary her sister secretly, ^ying, The Master has 
 come, and calleth for thee. 
 
 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and 
 came unto Him. 
 
 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was 
 in that place where Martha met Him. 
 
 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and 
 comforted her, when they saw Mary that she rose up 
 hastily, and went out, followed her, saying. She goeth 
 unto the grave to weep there. 
 
 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and 
 saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying unto Him, 
 Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not 
 died. 
 
 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews 
 also weeping which came with her, He groaned in the 
 spirit, and was troubled. 
 
 And said. Where have ye laid him .? They said unto 
 Him, Lord, come and see. 
 
 Jesus wept. 
 
 Then said the Jews, Behold how He loved him ! 
 
 And some of them said. Could not this man, which 
 opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even 
 this man should not have died .'' 
 
 Jesus therefore again groaning in Himself cometh to 
 the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. 
 
 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sis- 
 ter of him that was dead, saith unto Him, Lord, by this 
 time he stinketh : for he hath been dead four days. 
 
 Jesus saith unto her. Said I not unto thee, that, if 
 thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of 
 God.? 
 
 Then they took away the stone from the place where 
 
38 BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up His eyes, and 
 said, Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast heard me. 
 
 And I knew that Thou hearest me always : but be- 
 cause of the people which stand by I said it, that they 
 may believe that Thou hast sent me. 
 
 And w^hen He thus had spoken, He cried with a loud 
 voice, Lazarus, come forth. 
 
 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and 
 
 foot with grave-clothes : and his face was bound about 
 
 with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and 
 
 let him go. 
 
 LUKE VII. 1 1-16. 
 
 And it came to pass the day after, that He went into 
 a city called Nain ; and many of His disciples went with 
 Him, and much people. 
 
 Now when He came nigh to the gate of the city, be- 
 hold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son 
 of his mother, and she was a widow : and much people 
 of the city was with her. 
 
 K\\^ when the Lord saw her. He had compassion on 
 her, and said unto her. Weep not. 
 
 And He came and touched the bier : and they that 
 bare him stood still. And He said. Young man, I say 
 unto thee, Arise. 
 
 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak, 
 And He delivered him to his mother. 
 
 And there came a fear on all : and they glorified God, 
 saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us ; and, 
 That God hath visited His people. 
 
 I THESSALOXIANS IV. 15-18. 
 
 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, 
 that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of 
 the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 
 
BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 30 
 
 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with 
 a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the 
 trump of God : and the dead in Christ shall rise first : 
 
 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught 
 uy) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord 
 in the air : and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 
 
 Wherefore, comfort one another with these words. 
 
 ACTS IX. 36-42. 
 
 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named 
 Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas ; this 
 woman was full of good works and alms-deeds which 
 she did. 
 
 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, 
 and died : whom when they had washed, they laid her 
 in an upper chamber. 
 
 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the 
 disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto 
 him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to 
 come to them. 
 
 Then Peter arose, and went with them. When he was 
 come, they brought him into the upper chamber : and 
 all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the 
 coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was 
 with them. 
 
 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and 
 prayed ; and turning him to the body, said, Tabitha, 
 arise. And she opened her eyes : and when she saw 
 Peter, she sat up. 
 
 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up ; and 
 when he had called the saints and widows, he presented 
 her alive. 
 
 And it was known throughout all Joppa : and many 
 believed in the Lord. 
 
40 BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 FUTURE GLORY AND ETERNAL UNION WITH 
 CHRIST. 
 
 ROMANS VIII. 18-39. 
 
 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time 
 are not worthy to be compared with the glory which 
 shall be revealed in us. 
 
 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth 
 for the manifestation of the sons of God. 
 
 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not wil- 
 lingly, but by reason of Him who hath subjected the 
 same in hope, 
 
 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered 
 from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty 
 of the children of God. 
 
 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and 
 travaileth in pain together until now. 
 
 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have 
 the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan 
 within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the 
 redemption of our body. 
 
 For we are saved by hope : but hope that is seen is 
 not hope : for what a man seeth, why doth he yet 
 hope for .? 
 
 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with 
 patience wait for it. 
 
 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities : for 
 we know not what we should pray for as we ought : but 
 the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groan - 
 ings which cannot be uttered. 
 
 And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is 
 the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession 
 for the saints according to the will of God. 
 
BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 4 1 
 
 And \vc know that all things work together for good 
 to them that love God, to them who are the called ac- 
 cording; to His purpose. 
 
 For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate 
 to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might 
 be the first-born among many brethren. 
 
 Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also 
 called : and whom He called, them He also justified : 
 and whom He justified, them He also glorified. 
 
 What shall we then say to these things ? If God be 
 for us, who can be against us .'* 
 
 He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him 
 up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely 
 give us all things.? 
 
 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect } 
 It is God that justifieth. 
 
 Who is He that condemneth? It is Christ that died, 
 yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right 
 hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 
 
 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ .'' shall 
 tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or 
 nakedness, or peril, or sword } 
 
 As it is written. For Thy sake we are killed all the 
 day long ; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 
 
 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors 
 through Him that loved us. 
 
 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor 
 angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things pres- 
 ent, nor things to come. 
 
 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall 
 be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in 
 Christ Jesus our Lord. 
 
42 BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 2 CORINTHIANS IV. 7-18. 
 
 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the 
 excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 
 
 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed ; 
 we are perplexed, but not in despair ; 
 
 Persecuted, but not forsaken ; cast down, but not de- 
 stroyed ; 
 
 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the 
 Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made 
 manifest in our body. 
 
 For we which live are always delivered unto death 
 for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made 
 manifest in our mortal flesh. 
 
 So then death worketh in us, but life in you. 
 
 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is 
 written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken ; we 
 also believe, and therefore speak ; 
 
 Knowing, that He which raised up the Lord Jesus, shall 
 raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. 
 
 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant 
 grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound 
 to the glory of God. 
 
 For which cause we faint not ; but though our out- 
 ward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day 
 by day. 
 
 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, 
 worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight 
 of glory ; 
 
 While we look not at the things which are seen, but 
 at the things which are not seen : for the things which 
 are seen are temporal ; but the things which are not 
 seen are eternal. 
 
BURIAL OF THE DEAD, 
 
 2 CORINTHIANS V. I-IO. 
 
 43 
 
 For we know that if our earthly house of this taber- 
 nacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an 
 house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 
 
 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed 
 upon with our house which is from heaven : 
 
 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found 
 naked. 
 
 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being 
 burdened : not for that we would be unclothed, but 
 clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of 
 life. 
 
 Now He that hath wrought us for the self-same thing 
 is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the 
 Spirit. 
 
 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, 
 whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from 
 the Lord : 
 
 (For we walk by faith, not by sight :) 
 
 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be ab- 
 sent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 
 
 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, 
 we may be accepted of Him. 
 
 For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of 
 Christ ; that every one may receive the things done in 
 his body, according to that he hath done, whether it 
 be good or bad. 
 
 REVELATION XXI. I-4, 22-27. 
 
 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth : for the 
 first heaven and the first earth were passed away ; and 
 there was no more sea. 
 
44 
 
 BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, com- 
 ing down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride 
 adorned for her husband. 
 
 And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Be- 
 hold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will 
 dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God 
 Himself shall be with them, and be- their God. 
 
 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes ; 
 and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor 
 crying, neither shall there be any more pain : for the 
 former things are passed away. 
 
 And I saw no temple therein : for the Lord God Al- 
 mighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 
 
 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the 
 moon, to shine in it : for the glory of God did lighten 
 it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 
 
 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk 
 in the light of it : and the kings of the earth do bring 
 their glory and honour into it. 
 
 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day : 
 for there shall be no night there. 
 
 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the na- 
 tions into it. 
 
 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that 
 defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or 
 maketh a lie ; but they which are written in the Lamb's 
 book of life. 
 
 REVELATION XXII. I-7. 
 
 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear 
 as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of 
 the Lamb. 
 
 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of 
 
BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 45 
 
 the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve 
 manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month : 
 and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the 
 nations. 
 
 And there shall be no more curse : but the throne of 
 God and of the Lamb shall be in it ; and His servants 
 shall serve Him : 
 
 And they shall see His face ; and His name shall be 
 in their foreheads. 
 
 And there shall be no night there ; and they need no 
 candle, neither light of the sun ; for the Lord God giv- 
 eth them light : and they shall reign for ever and ever. 
 
 And He said unto me. These sayings are faithful and 
 true. And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His 
 angel to shew unto His servants the things which must 
 shortly be done. 
 
 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth 
 the sayings of the prophecy of this book. 
 
 GODLY LIVING IN VIEW OF DEATH. 
 
 I PETER I. 13-25. 
 
 Wherefore gird up the loins of your m.ind, be sober, 
 and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought 
 unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ : 
 
 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves ac- 
 cording to the former lusts in your ignorance : 
 
 But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye 
 holy in all manner of conversation ; 
 
 Because it is written. Be ye holy ; for I am holy. 
 
 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of 
 persons judgeth according to every man'r, work, pass 
 the time of your sojourning here in fear : 
 
46 BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed 
 with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your 
 vain conversation received by tradition from your fa- 
 thers ; 
 
 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb 
 without blemish and without spot : 
 
 Who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation 
 of the world, but was manifest in these last times for 
 you. 
 
 Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up 
 from the dead, and gave Him glory ; that your faith and 
 hope might be in God. 
 
 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the 
 truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the 
 brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart 
 fervently: 
 
 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of in- 
 corruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abid- 
 eth for ever. 
 
 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as 
 the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower 
 thereof falleth away : 
 
 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And 
 this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto 
 you. 
 
 LUKE XII. 35-47. 
 
 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burn- 
 ing ; 
 
 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their 
 lord, when he will return from the wedding ; that, when 
 he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him im- 
 mediately. 
 
BURIAL OF TirE DEAD. 
 
 47 
 
 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he 
 cometh shall find watching : verily I say unto you, that 
 he sh ill gird himself, and make them to sit down to 
 meat, and will come forth and serve them. 
 
 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come 
 in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those 
 servants. 
 
 And this know, that if the good man of the house had 
 known what hour the thief would come, he would have 
 watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken 
 through. 
 
 Be ye therefore ready also : for the Son of man com- 
 eth at an hour when ye think not. 
 
 Then Peter said unto Him, Lord, speakest Thou this 
 parable unto us, or even to all .? 
 
 And the Lord said, Who then is tliat faithful and wise 
 steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his house- 
 hold, to give them their portion of meat in due season .? 
 
 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he com- 
 eth shall find so doing. 
 
 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler 
 over all that he hath. 
 
 But and if that servant say in his heart. My lord de- 
 layeth his coming ; and shall begin to beat the men- 
 servants, and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be 
 drunken ; 
 
 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he 
 looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not 
 aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him 
 his portion with the unbelievers. 
 
 And that servant which knew his lord's will, and pre- 
 pared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall 
 be beaten with many stripes. 
 
48 BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 I THESSALONIANS V. I-IT. 
 
 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have 
 no need that I write unto you. 
 
 For yourselves know perfectly, that the day of the 
 Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 
 
 For when they shall say, Peace and safety ; then sud- 
 den destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a 
 woman with child ; and they shall not escape. 
 
 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day 
 should overtake you as a thief 
 
 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of 
 the day : we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 
 
 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others ; but let us 
 watch and be sober. 
 
 For they that sleep, sleep in the night ; and they that 
 be drunken, are drunken in the night. 
 
 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on 
 the breast-plate of faith and love ; and for an helmet, 
 the hope of salvation. 
 
 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to ob- 
 tain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 
 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we 
 should live together with Him. 
 
 Wherefore, comfort yourselves together, and edify one 
 another, even as also ye do. 
 
 FOR THE FUNERAL OF A CHILD. 
 
 I KINGS XVII. 17-24. 
 
 And it came to pass after these things, that the son 
 of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick ; and 
 his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left 
 in him. 
 
BURIAL OF THE DEAD. ^g 
 
 And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with 
 thee, O thou man of God ? art thou come unto me to 
 rail my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son ? 
 
 And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he 
 took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a 
 loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed. 
 
 And he cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my 
 God, hast Thou also brought evil upon the widow with 
 whom I sojourn, by slaying her son ? 
 
 And he stretched himself upon the child three times, 
 and cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, I 
 pray Thee, let this child's soul come into him again. 
 
 And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah ; and the soul 
 of the child came into him again, and he revived. 
 
 And Elijah took the child, and brought him down 
 out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him 
 unto his mother : and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth. 
 
 And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know 
 that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the 
 Lord in thy mouth is truth. 
 
 2 KINGS IV. 18-37. 
 
 And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that 
 he went out to his father to the reapers. 
 
 And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And 
 he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother. 
 
 And when he had taken him, and brought him to his 
 mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. 
 
 And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man 
 of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out. 
 
 And she called unto her husband, and said. Send me, 
 I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, 
 that I may run to the man of God, and come again. 
 4 
 
50 BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to-day ? 
 it is neither new-moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It 
 shall be well. 
 
 Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, 
 Drive, and go forward ; slack not thy riding for me, ex- 
 cept I bid thee. 
 
 So she went and came unto the man of God to Mount 
 Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God 
 saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Be- 
 hold, yonder is that Shunammite : 
 
 Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her. 
 Is it well with thee .-^ Is it well with thy husband } 
 Is it well with the child ? And she answered. It is 
 well. 
 
 And when she came to the man of God to the hill, 
 she caught him by the feet : but Gehazi came near to 
 thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her 
 alone ; for her soul is vexed within her : and the Lord 
 hath hid it from me, and hath not told me. 
 
 Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord } did I 
 not say, Do not deceive me ? 
 
 Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take 
 my staff in thine hand, and go thy way : if thou meet 
 any man, salute him not ; and if any salute thee, an- 
 swer him not again : and lay my staff upon the face of 
 the child. 
 
 And the mother of the child said. As the Lord liveth, 
 and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he 
 arose, and followed her. 
 
 And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff 
 upon the face of the child ; but there was neither voice, 
 nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and 
 told him, saying, The child is not awaked. 
 
BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 51 
 
 And when Elisha was come into llie house, behold, 
 the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. 
 
 He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them 
 twain, and prayed unto the Lord. 
 
 And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his 
 mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and 
 his hands upon his hands : and he stretched himself 
 upon the child ; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. 
 
 Then he returned, and walked in the house to and 
 fro ; and went up, and stretched himself upon him : 
 and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened 
 his eyes. 
 
 And he called Gehazi, and said. Call this Shunam- 
 mite. So he called her. And when she was come in 
 unto him, he said. Take up thy son. 
 
 Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed her- 
 self to the ground, and took up her son, and went out. 
 
 2 SAMUEL XII. 15-21. 
 
 And Nathan departed unto his house. And the Lord 
 struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and 
 it was very sick. 
 
 David therefore besought God for the child ; and 
 David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the 
 earth. 
 
 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, 
 to raise him up from the earth : but he would not, neither 
 did he eat bread with them. 
 
 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the 
 child died. And the servants of David feared to tell 
 him that the child was dead : for they said, Behold, while 
 the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would 
 
52 
 
 BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 not hearken unto our voice : how will he then vex him- 
 self, if we tell him that the child is dead ? 
 
 But when David saw that his servants whispered, 
 David perceived that the child was dead : therefore 
 David said unto his servants, Is the child dead ? and 
 ihey said, He is dead. 
 
 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and 
 anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came 
 into the house of the Lord, and worshipped : then he 
 came to his own house ; and when he required, they 
 set bread before him, and he did eat. 
 
 Then said his servants unto him. What thing is this 
 that thou hast done ? thou didst fast and weep for the 
 child, while it was alive ; but when the child was dead, 
 thou didst rise and eat bread. 
 
 And he said. While the child was yet alive, I fasted, 
 and wept : for I said, Who can tell whether God will 
 be gracious to me, that the child may live ? 
 
 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast ? can I 
 bring him back again 1 I shall go to him, but he shall 
 not return to me. 
 
 MARK V. 35-42. 
 
 While He yet spake, there came from the ruler of the 
 synagogue's house certain which said. Thy daughter is 
 dead : why troublest thou the Master any further ? 
 
 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, 
 He saith unto the ruler of the synagogue. Be not afraid, 
 only believe. 
 
 . And He suffered no man to follow Him, save Peter, 
 and James, and John the brother of James. 
 
 And He cometh to the house of the ruler of the syna- 
 gogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and 
 wailed greatly. 
 
BURIAL OF THE DEAD. r^ 
 
 And when He was come in, He saith unto them, Why 
 make ye this ado, and weep ? the damsel is not dead, 
 but sleepeth. 
 
 And they laughed Him to scorn. But when He had 
 put them all out. He taketh the father and the mother 
 of the damsel, and them that were with Him, and enter- 
 eth in where the damsel was lying. 
 
 And He took the damsel by the hand, and said unto 
 her, Talitha cumi : which is, being interpreted. Damsel, 
 (I say unto thee) arise. 
 
 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked ; for 
 she was of the age of twelve years. And they were as- 
 tonished with a great astonishment. 
 
 And He charged them straitly that no man should 
 know it ; and commanded that something should be 
 given her to eat. 
 
 MATTHEW XIX, I3-16. 
 
 And they brought young children to Him, that He 
 should touch them ; and His disciples rebuked those 
 that brought them. 
 
 But when Jesus saw it He was much displeased, and 
 said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto 
 me, and forbid them not : for of such is the kingdom 
 of God. 
 
 Verily I say unto you. Whosoever shall not receive 
 the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter 
 therein. 
 
 And He took them up in His arms, put His hands 
 upon them, and blessed them. 
 
 MATTHEW XVIII. 1-6 ; IO-I4. 
 
 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, say- 
 ing. Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven } 
 
54 
 
 BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him 
 in the midst of them, 
 
 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be con- 
 verted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter 
 into the kingdom of heaven. 
 
 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this lit- 
 tle child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 
 
 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my 
 name, receiveth me. 
 
 But, whoso shall offend one of these little ones which 
 believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone 
 were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned 
 in the depth of the sea. 
 
 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little 
 ones : for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels 
 do always behold the face of my Father which is in 
 heaven. 
 
 For the Son of man is come to save that which was 
 lost. 
 
 How think ye } If a man have an hundred sheep, and 
 one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety 
 and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh 
 that which is gone astray } 
 
 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he 
 rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine 
 which went not astray. 
 
 Even so it is not the w^ill of your Father which is in 
 heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. 
 
 After the Scripture shall have been read, the Minister shall say : 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 Almighty God, with whom do live the spirits of those 
 who depart hence in the Lord, and with whom the souls 
 
BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 55 
 
 of the faitliful, after they arc dclisercd from the burden 
 f)f the flesh, are in joy and felicity, we give Thee hearty 
 thanks for the good examples of all those Thy servants, 
 who, having finished their course in faith, do now rest 
 from their labors : and we beseech Thee, that we, with 
 nil those who are departed in the true faith of Thy 
 holy Name, may have our perfect consummation and 
 bliss in Thy eternal and everlasting glory, in the habi- 
 tations of light and gladness, in the tabernacles of shade 
 and rest, in the harbor of life, where griefs, infirmities, 
 groans, and miseries fly, and where the weary and tem- 
 pest-tost rest together : in the life that knoweth not old 
 age, the good things that pass not away, the delights that 
 have no end. All this we ask through Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. 
 
 O merciful God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 who is the Resurrection and the Life, in whom whoso- 
 ever believeth shall live, though he die, and whosoever 
 liveth and believeth in Him shall not die eternally ; 
 who also hath taught us, by His holy apostle, not to be 
 sorry, as men without hope, for those who sleep in Him ; 
 we humbly beseech Thee, O Father, to raise us from the 
 death of sin unto the life of righteousness ; that, when 
 we shall depart this life, we may rest in Him ; and that, 
 at the general Resurrection in the last day, we may be 
 found acceptable in Thy sight, and receive that blessing 
 which Thy well-beloved Son shall then pronounce to all 
 who love and fear Thee, saying. Come, ye blessed chil- 
 dren of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for 
 you from the beginning of the world. Grant this, we 
 beseech Thee, O merciful Father, through Jesus Christ, 
 our Mediator and Redeemer. Amen. 
 Here a hymn may be sung. 
 
56 
 
 BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 Then the Minister, standing by the Body, shall say : 
 
 I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, con- 
 cerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even 
 as others which have no hope. 
 
 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even 
 so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with 
 Him. 
 
 At the Grave, after the Body shall have been laid in the earth, the 
 Minister shall say : 
 
 I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me. Write, 
 Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from hence- 
 forth : Yea, sailh the Spirit, that they may rest from 
 their labours ; and their works do follow them. 
 
 Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God, in His 
 wise providence, to take out of the world the soul of 
 our brother (or sister) departed, we therefore commit 
 his body to the ground ; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, 
 dust to dust ; looking for the general Resurrection in 
 the last day, and the life of the world to come, through 
 our Lord Jesus Christ ; at whose second coming in glo- 
 rious majesty to judge the world, the earth and the sea 
 shall give up their dead ; and the corruptible bodies of 
 those who sleep in Him shall be changed, and made like 
 unto His own glorious body ; according to the mighty 
 working whereby He is able to subdue all things unto 
 Himself. 
 
 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of 
 God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us 
 all evermore. Amen, 
 
 Where, as is so often the case in large cities, the Minister does 7ioi 
 accompany the Body to the place of burial, this form of com- 
 mittal may conclude the service at the church or residence. 
 
SELECTIONS OF SCRIPTURE FOR 
 THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 THE NEED AND PROMISE OF FORGIVENESS 
 OF SIN. 
 
 PSALM LI. I-17. 
 
 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lov- 
 ing-kindness : according unto the multitude of Thy ten- 
 der mercies blot out my transgressions. 
 
 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse 
 me from my sin. 
 
 For I acknowledge my transgressions : and my sin is 
 ever before me. 
 
 Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done 
 this evil in Thy sight : that Thou mightest be justified 
 when Thou speakest, and be clear when Thou judgest. 
 
 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity ; and in sin did my 
 mother conceive me. 
 
 Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts : and 
 in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 
 
 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean : wash 
 me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 
 
 Make me to hear joy and gladness ; that the bones 
 which Thou hast broken may rejoice. 
 
 Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine 
 iniquities. 
 
 Create in me a clean heart, O God ; and renew a 
 right spirit within me. 
 
 (57) 
 
58 THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 Cast me not away from Thy presence ; and take riol 
 Thy Holy Spirit from me. 
 
 Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation ; and up- 
 hold me with Thy free Spirit. 
 
 Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways ; and sin- 
 ners shall be converted unto Thee. 
 
 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou God 
 of my salvation : and my tongue shall sing aloud of Thy 
 righteousness. 
 
 O Lord, open Thou my lips ; and my mouth shall 
 shew forth Thy praise. 
 
 For Thou desirest not sacrifice ; else would I give 
 it : Thou delightest not in burnt-offering. 
 
 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit : a broken 
 and a contrite heart, O'God, Thou wilt not despise. 
 
 ISAIAH I. 16-18. 
 
 Wash you, make you clean ; put away the evil of your 
 doings from before mine eyes ; cease to do evil ; 
 
 Learn to do well ; seek judgment, relieve the op- 
 pressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. 
 
 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord ; 
 though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as 
 snow ; though they be red like crimson, they shall be 
 as wool. 
 
 MICAH VII. 18, 19. 
 
 Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniqui- 
 ty, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of 
 His heritage .'' He retaineth not His anger for ever, be- 
 cause He delighteth in mercy. 
 
 He will turn again, He will have compassion upon 
 us ; He will subdue our iniquities ; and Thou wilt cast 
 all their sins into the depths of the sea. 
 
THE SICIC-ROOM. 
 
 59 
 
 JOHN III. 14-18. 
 
 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, 
 even so must the Son of man be lifted up : 
 
 That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, 
 but have eternal life. 
 
 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. 
 
 For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn 
 the world ; but that the world through Him might be 
 saved. 
 
 He that believeth on Him is not condemned : but 
 he that believeth not is condemned already, because he 
 hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son 
 of God. 
 
 ACTS III. 19 ; IV. 12. 
 
 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins 
 may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall 
 come from the presence of the Lord. 
 
 Neither is there salvation in any other : for there is 
 none other name under heaven given among men, where- 
 by we must be saved. 
 
 ACTS XVI. 25-31. 
 
 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang 
 praises unto God : and the prisoners heard them. 
 
 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that 
 the foundations of the prison were shaken : and imme- 
 diately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands 
 were loosed. 
 
 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, 
 and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, 
 
6o THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 and would have killed himself, supposing that the pris- 
 oners had been fled. 
 
 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself 
 no harm : for we are all here. 
 
 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came 
 trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 
 
 And brought them out, and said. Sirs, what must I do 
 to be saved .? 
 
 And they said. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and 
 thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 
 
 ROMANS v. 6-1 1. 
 
 For when we were yet without strength, in due time 
 Christ died for the ungodly. 
 
 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die : yet 
 peradventure for a good man some would even dare 
 to die. 
 
 But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, 
 while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 
 
 Much more then, being now justified by His blood, 
 we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 
 
 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to 
 God by the death of His Son ; much more, being re- 
 conciled, we shall be saved by His life. 
 
 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our 
 Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the 
 atonement. 
 
 ROMANS VIII. i-io. 
 
 There is therefore now no condemnation to them 
 which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, 
 but after the Spirit. 
 
 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath 
 made me free from the law of sin and death. 
 
THE SICK-ROOM. 6 1 
 
 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak 
 through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the like- 
 ness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the 
 flesh : 
 
 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled 
 in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 
 
 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things 
 of the flesh ; but they that are after the Spirit, the 
 things of the Spirit. 
 
 For to be carnally minded is death ; but to be spirit- 
 ually minded is life and peace. 
 
 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God : for 
 it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 
 
 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 
 
 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be 
 that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man 
 have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. 
 
 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of 
 sin ; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 
 
 I JOHN I. 8-IO. 
 
 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, 
 and the truth is not in us. 
 
 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive 
 us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 
 
 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a 
 liar, and His word is not in us. 
 
 LUKE XV. 1-24. 
 
 Then drew near unto Him all the publicans and sin- 
 ners for to hear Him. 
 
 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying. This 
 man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. 
 
62 THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 And He spake this parable unto them, saying, 
 
 What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose 
 one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the 
 wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he 
 find it ? 
 
 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoul- 
 ders, rejoicing. 
 
 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his 
 friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with 
 me ; for I have found my sheep which was lost, 
 
 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven 
 over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety 
 and nine just persons, which need no repentance. 
 
 Either w^hat woman having ten pieces of silver, if she 
 lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the 
 house, and seek diligently till she find it ? 
 
 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends 
 and her neighbours together, saying. Rejoice with me ; 
 for I have found the piece which I had lost. 
 
 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence 
 of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. 
 
 And he said, A certain man had two sons : 
 
 And the younger of them said to his father. Father, 
 give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And 
 he divided unto them his living. 
 
 And not many days after the younger son 'gathered 
 all together, and took his journey into a far country, 
 and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 
 
 And w^hen he had spent all, there arose a mighty 
 famine in that land ; and he began to be in want. 
 
 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that 
 country ; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 
 
THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 63 
 
 And he would fain liavc filled his belly with the husks 
 that the swine did eat : and no man gave unto him. 
 
 And when he came to himself, he said, How many 
 hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to 
 spare, and I perish with hunger ! 
 
 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto 
 him. Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before 
 thee. 
 
 And am no more worthy to be called thy son : make 
 me as one of thy hired servants. 
 
 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he 
 was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had 
 compassion, and ran, and fell on his nee!', and kis^sed 
 him. 
 
 And the son said unto him. Father, I have sinned 
 against Heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more 
 worthy to be called thy son. 
 
 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the 
 best robe, and put it on him ; and put a ring on his 
 hand, and shoes on his feet : 
 
 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it ; and let 
 us eat, and be merry : 
 
 For this my son was dead, and is alive again ; he was 
 lost, and is found. 
 
 MONITIONS OF AFFLICTION. 
 
 DEUTERONOMY VIII. 2-6. 
 
 And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord 
 thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to 
 humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in 
 thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep His command- 
 
64 
 
 THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 And He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, 
 and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neith- 
 er did thy fathers know ; that He might make thee know 
 that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word 
 that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man 
 live. 
 
 Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy 
 foot swell, these forty years. 
 
 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a 
 man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth 
 thee. 
 
 Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the 
 Lord thy God, to walk in His ways, and to fear Him. 
 
 JOB XI. 13-20. 
 
 If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine 
 hands toward Him ; 
 
 If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let 
 not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. 
 
 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot ; yea, 
 thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear : 
 
 Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember 
 it as waters that pass away : 
 
 And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday ; 
 thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning. 
 
 x\nd thou shalt be secure, because there is hope ; 
 yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy 
 rest in safety. 
 
 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee 
 afraid ; yea, many shall make suit unto thee. 
 
 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall 
 not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of 
 the ghost. 
 
THE SICK-ROOM. 65 
 
 JOB XXXVI. 5-12. 
 
 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any : He is 
 mighty in strength and wisdom. 
 
 He preserveth not the life of the wicked : but giveth 
 right to the poor. 
 
 He withdraweth not His eyes from the righteous : 
 but with kings are they on the throne ; yea. He doth 
 establish them for ever, and they are exalted. 
 
 And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in 
 cords of affliction ; 
 
 Then He sheweth them their work, and their trans- 
 gressions that they have exceeded. 
 
 He openeth also their ear to discipline, and command- 
 eth that they return from iniquity. 
 
 If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their 
 days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. 
 
 But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, 
 and they shall die without knowledge. 
 
 PSALM Lxxviii. 32-35. 
 
 For all this they sinned still, and believed not for His 
 wondrous works. 
 
 Therefore their days did He consume in vanity, and 
 their years in trouble. 
 
 When He slew them, then they sought Him : and 
 they returned and inquired early after God. 
 
 And they remembered that God was their Rock, and 
 the high God their Redeemer 
 
 PSALM LXXXIX. 30-33. 
 
 If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my 
 judgments ; 
 5 
 
66 THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 If they break my statutes, and keep not my command- 
 ments ; 
 
 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and 
 their iniquity with stripes. 
 
 Nevertheless my loving-kindness will I not utterly 
 take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. 
 
 LUKE XIII. 6-9. 
 
 He spake also this parable : A certain man had a fig- 
 tree planted in his vineyard ; and he came and sought 
 fruit thereon, and found none. 
 
 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Be- 
 hold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig- 
 tree, and find none : cut it down ; why cumbereth it 
 the ground .'' 
 
 And he answering, said unto him, Lord, let it alone 
 this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it : 
 
 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that 
 thou shalt cut it down. 
 
 BLESSINGS OF AFFLICTION. 
 
 JOB v. 17-26, 
 
 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth : 
 therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Al- 
 mighty : 
 
 For He maketh sore, and bindeth up : He woundeth, 
 and His hands make whole. 
 
 He shall deliver thee in six troubles : yea, in seven 
 there shall no evil touch thee. 
 
 In famine He shall redeem thee from death : and in 
 war from the power of the sword. 
 
 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue : 
 
THE SICK-ROOM. 6/ 
 
 neither sbalt thou be afraid of destruction when it 
 Cometh. 
 
 At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh : neither 
 shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth. 
 
 For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the 
 field : and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with 
 thee. 
 
 And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in 
 peace ; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt 
 not sin. 
 
 Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and 
 thine offspring as the grass of the earth. 
 
 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a 
 shock of corn cometh in in his season. 
 
 JOHN XV. I, 2. 
 
 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 
 
 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh 
 away : and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth 
 It, that it may bring forth more fruit. 
 
 ROMANS v. 1-5. 
 
 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with 
 God through our Lord Jesus Christ : 
 
 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace 
 wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of 
 God. 
 
 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also ; 
 knowing that tribulation worketh patience ; 
 
 And patience, experience ; and experience, hope : 
 
 And hope maketh not ashamed ; because the love of 
 God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost 
 which is given unto us. 
 
68 THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 2 CORINTHIANS IV. 6-18. 
 
 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of 
 darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of 
 the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the 
 excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 
 
 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed ; we 
 are perplexed, but not in despair ; 
 
 Persecuted, but not forsaken ; cast down, but not de- 
 stroyed ; 
 
 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the 
 Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made 
 manifest in our body. 
 
 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for 
 Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made 
 manifest in our mortal flesh. 
 
 So then death worketh in us, but life in you. 
 
 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is 
 written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken ; we 
 also believe, and therefore speak ; 
 
 Knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus 
 shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us 
 with you. 
 
 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant 
 grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound 
 to the glory of God. 
 
 For which cause we faint not ; but though our out- 
 ward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day 
 by day. 
 
 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, 
 worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight 
 of glory ; 
 
THE SICK-ROOM^ 
 
 69 
 
 While we look not at the things which are seen, but 
 at the things which are not seen : for the things which 
 are seen are temporal ; but the things which are not 
 seen are eternal. 
 
 2 CORINTHIANS XII. 7-IO. 
 
 And lest I should be exalted above measure through 
 the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me 
 a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet 
 me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 
 
 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it 
 might depart from me. 
 
 And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee : 
 for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most 
 gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, 
 that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 
 
 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, 
 in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's 
 sake : for when I am weak, then am I strong. 
 
 I am become a fool in glorying ; ye have compelled 
 me : for I ought to have been commended of you : for 
 in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though 
 I be nothing. 
 
 HEBREWS XII. 3-1 1. 
 
 For consider Him that endured such contradiction 
 of sinners against Himsdf, lest ye be wearied and faint 
 in your minds. 
 
 Ye have yet not resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 
 
 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speak- 
 eth unto you as unto children, My son, despise not 
 thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou 
 art rebuked of Him : 
 
70 
 
 THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourg- 
 eth every son whom He receiveth. 
 
 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with 
 sons ; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth 
 not ? 
 
 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are par- 
 takers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 
 
 Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which 
 corrected us, and we gave them reverence : shall we not 
 much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, 
 and live ? 
 
 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their 
 own pleasure ; but He for our profit, that we might be 
 partakers of His holiness. 
 
 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be 
 joyous, but grievous : nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth 
 the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which 
 are exercised thereby. 
 
 I PETER I. 3-9. 
 
 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, which according, to His abundant mercy hath 
 begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection 
 of Jesus Christ from the dead, 
 
 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and 
 that fadeth not a\vay, reserved in heaven for you, 
 
 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto 
 salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 
 
 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, 
 if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temp- 
 tations : 
 
 That the trial of your faith, being much more pre- 
 cious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with 
 
THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 71 
 
 fire, might be found iml"o prai^^e, and honour, and glory, 
 at the appearing of Jesus Christ : . 
 
 Whom having not seen, ye love ; in whom, though 
 now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy 
 unspeakable and full of glory : 
 
 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of 
 your souls. 
 
 PATIENCE AND TRUST. 
 
 PSALM III. 1-8. 
 
 Lord, how are they increased that trouble me ! many 
 are they that rise up against me. 
 
 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help 
 for him in God. 
 
 But Thou, O Lord, art a shield for me ; my glory, and 
 the lifter up of mine head. 
 
 I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and He heard 
 me out of His holy hill. 
 
 I laid me down and slept ; 1 awaked ; for the Lord 
 sustained me. 
 
 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that 
 have set themselves against me round about. 
 
 Arise, O Lord ; save me, O my God : for Thou hast 
 smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone ; Thou 
 hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. 
 
 Salvation belongeth unto the Lord : Thy blessing is 
 upon Thy people. 
 
 PSALM xvin. 1-19. 
 
 I will love Thee, O Lord, my strength. 
 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliv- 
 erer ; my God, my strength, in whom 1 will trust : my 
 
72 THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high 
 tower. 
 
 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised : 
 so shall I be saved from mine enemies. 
 
 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods 
 of ungodly men made me afraid. 
 
 The sorrows of hell compassed me about : the snares 
 of death prevented me. 
 
 In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried 
 unto my God : He heard my voice out of His temple, 
 and my cry came before Him, even into His ears. 
 
 Then the earth shook and trembled ; the foundations 
 also of the hills moved and were shaken, because He 
 was wroth. 
 
 There went up a smoke out of His nostrils, and fire 
 out of His mouth devoured : coals were kindled by it. 
 
 He bowed the heavens also, and came down : and 
 darkness was under His feet. 
 
 And He rode upon a cherub, and did fly : yea, He 
 did fly upon the wings of the wind. 
 
 He made darkness His secret place ; His pavilion 
 round about Him were dark waters and thick clouds 
 of the skies. 
 
 At the brightness that was before Him His thick 
 clouds passed ; hail-stones and coals of fire. 
 
 The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the 
 Highest gave His voice ; hail-stones and coals of fire. 
 
 Yea, He sent out His arrows, and scattered them ; 
 and He shot out lightnings, and discomfited them. 
 
 Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foun- 
 dations of the world were discovered at Thy rebuke, O 
 Lord, at the blast of the breath of Thy nostrils. 
 
THE SICK-ROOM. 73 
 
 He sent from above, He took me, He drew me out 
 of many waters. 
 
 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from 
 them which hated me : for they were too strong for me. 
 
 They prevented me in the day of my calamity : but 
 the Lord was my stay. 
 
 He brought me forth also into a large place ; He de- 
 livered me, because He delighted in me. 
 
 PSALM XX. 
 
 The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble ; the name 
 of the God of Jacob defend thee ; 
 
 Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen 
 thee out of Zion ; 
 
 Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt 
 sacrifice. 
 
 Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil 
 all thy counsel. 
 
 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of 
 our God we will set up our banners : the Lord fulfil all 
 thy petitions. 
 
 Now know I that the Lord saveth His anointed ; He 
 will hear him from His holy heaven with the saving 
 strength of His right hand. 
 
 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses : but we 
 will remember the name of the Lord our God. 
 
 They are brought down and fallen : but we are risen, 
 and stand upright. 
 
 Save, Lord : let the King hear us when we call. 
 
 PSALM xxin. 
 The Lord is my shepherd ; I shall not want. 
 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures ; He 
 leadeth me beside the still waters. 
 
74 
 
 THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 He restoreth my soul : He leadeth me in the patha 
 of righteousness for His name's sake. 
 
 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. 
 
 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of 
 mine enemies : Thou anointest my head with oil ; my 
 cup runneth over. 
 
 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the 
 days of my life : and I will dwell in the house of the 
 Lord for ever. 
 
 PSALM XXVII. 
 
 The Lord is my light and my salvation ; whom shall 
 I fear.? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom 
 shall I be afraid 1 
 
 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, 
 came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 
 
 Though a host should encamp against me, my h^eart 
 shall not fear : though war should rise against me, in 
 this will I be confident. 
 
 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek 
 after ; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the 
 days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and 
 to inquire in His temple. 
 
 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His 
 pavilion : in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide 
 me ; He shall set me up upon a rock. 
 
 And now shall my head be lifted up above mine ene- 
 mies round about me : therefore will I offer in His 
 tabernacle sacrifices of joy ; I will sing, yea, I will sing 
 praises unto the Lord. 
 
 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice : have mercy 
 also upon me, and answer me. 
 
THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 75 
 
 When Thou saidst, Seek ye my face ; my heart said 
 unto Thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek. 
 
 Hide not Thy face far from me ; put not thy servant 
 away in anger : Thou hast been my help ; leave me not, 
 neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. 
 
 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the 
 Lord will take me up. 
 
 Teach me Thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain 
 path, because of mine enemies. 
 
 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: 
 for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as 
 breathe out cruelty. 
 
 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the good- 
 ness of the Lord in the land of the living. 
 
 Wait on the Lord : be of good courage, and He shall 
 strengthen thy heart : wait, I say, on the Lord. 
 
 PSALM XLII. 
 
 As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth 
 my soul after Thee, O God. 
 
 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God : when 
 shall 1 come and appear before God ? 
 
 My tears have been my meat day and night, while 
 they continually say unto me. Where is thy God 1 
 
 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul 
 in me : for I had gone with the multitude, I went with 
 them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and 
 praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. 
 
 Why art thou cast down, O my soul 1 and why art 
 thou disquieted in me "^ hope thou in God : for I shall 
 yet praise Him for the help of His countenance. 
 
 O my God, my soul is cast down within me : there- 
 fore will I remember Thee from the land of Jordan, and 
 of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. 
 
76 
 
 THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of Thy water- 
 spouts : all Thy waves and Thy billows are gone over me. 
 
 Yet the Lord will command His loving-kindness in 
 the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with 
 me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. 
 
 I will say unto God my rock. Why hast Thou forgot- 
 ten me ? why go I mourning because of the oppression 
 of the enemy ? 
 
 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach 
 me ; while they say daily unto me. Where is thy God ? 
 
 Why art thou cast down, O my soul ? and why art 
 thou disquieted within me ? hope thou in God : for I 
 shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my counte- 
 nance, and my God. 
 
 PSALM cxxi. 
 
 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence 
 cometh my help. 
 
 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven 
 and earth. 
 
 He will not suffer thy foot lo be moved : He that 
 keepelh thee will not slumber. 
 
 Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber 
 nor sleep. 
 
 The Lord is thy keeper : the Lord is thy shade upon 
 thy right hand. 
 
 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon 
 by night. 
 
 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil : He shall 
 preserve thy soul. 
 
 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy com- 
 ing in from this time forth, and even for evermore. 
 
THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 MATTHEW VI. 25-34. 
 
 71 
 
 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your 
 life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink ; nor yet 
 for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life 
 more than meat, and the body than raiment ? 
 
 Behold the fowls of the air : for they sow not, neither 
 do they reap, nor gather into barns ; yet your heavenly 
 Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than 
 they .? 
 
 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit 
 unto his stature .? 
 
 And why take ye thought for raiment .? Consider the 
 lilies of the field, how they grow ; they toil not, neither 
 do they spin : 
 
 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon, in all his 
 glory, was not arrayed like one of these. 
 
 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, 
 which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, 
 shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith } 
 
 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we 
 eat 1 or. What shall we drink ? or. Wherewithal shall 
 we be clothed 1 
 
 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek :) for 
 your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all 
 these things. 
 
 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His right- 
 eousness ; and all these things shall be added unto you. 
 
 Take therefore no thought for the morrow : for the 
 morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Suf- 
 ficient unto the day is the evil thereof. 
 
78 THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 HEBREWS X. 35-38. 
 
 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath 
 great recompense of reward. 
 
 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done 
 the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 
 
 For yet a little while, and He that shall come will 
 come, and will not tarry. 
 
 Now the just shall live by faith : but if any man draw 
 back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 
 
 JAMES I. 2-7. 
 
 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers 
 temptations ; 
 
 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh 
 patience. 
 
 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may 
 be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 
 
 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that 
 giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not ; and it 
 shall be given him. 
 
 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering : for he 
 that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the 
 wind and tossed. 
 
 For let not that man think that he shall receive any 
 thing of the Lord. 
 
 JAMES V. 7-1 1. 
 
 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the 
 Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the pre- 
 cious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, 
 until he receive the early and latter rain. 
 
 Be ye also patient ; establish your hearts : for the 
 coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 
 
THE SICK-ROOM. 79 
 
 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be 
 <ondemned : behold, the Judge standeth before the door. 
 
 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in 
 the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering afflic- 
 tion, and of patience. 
 
 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have 
 heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of 
 the Lord ; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender 
 mercy. 
 
 I PETER IV. 12, 13. 
 
 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery 
 trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing 
 happened unto you : 
 
 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's 
 sufferings ; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye 
 may be glad also with exceeding joy. 
 
 T PETER V. 6-1 T. 
 
 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand 
 of God, that He may exalt you in due time : 
 
 Casting all your care upon Him ; for He careth for 
 you. 
 
 Be sober, be vigilant ; because your adversary the 
 devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he 
 may devour : 
 
 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the 
 same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that 
 are in the world. 
 
 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His 
 eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered 
 a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 
 
 To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. 
 
 A MEN. 
 
8o THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 DIVINE MERCY AND SYMPATHY. 
 
 PSALM XXV. 12-22. 
 
 What man is he that feareth the Lord ? him shall He 
 teach in the way that He shall choose. 
 
 His soul shall dwell at ease ; and his seed shall in- 
 herit the earth. 
 
 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him ; 
 and He will shew them His covenant. 
 
 Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord ; for He shall 
 pluck my feet out of the net. 
 
 Turn Thee unto me, and have mercy upon me ; for 
 I am desolate and afflicted. 
 
 The troubles of my heart are enlarged : O bring Thou 
 me out of my distresses. 
 
 Look upon mine affliction and my pain ; and forgive 
 all my sins. 
 
 Consider mine enemies ; for they are many ; and they 
 hate me with cruel hatred. 
 
 O keep my soul, and deliver me : let me not be 
 ashamed ; for I put my trust in Thee. 
 
 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me ; for I wait 
 on Thee. 
 
 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles. 
 
 PSALM xxxiv. 15-22. 
 
 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and 
 His ears are open unto their cry. 
 
 The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to 
 cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 
 
 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and deliver- 
 eth them out of all their troubles. 
 
THE SICK-ROOM. 8 1 
 
 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken 
 heart ; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 
 
 Many are the afflictions of the righteous : but the 
 Lord delivereth him out of them all. 
 
 He keepeth all his bones : not one of them is broken. 
 
 Evil shall slay the wicked : and they that hate the 
 righteous shall be desolate. 
 
 The Lord redeemeth the soul of His servants : and 
 none of them that trust in Him shall be desolate. 
 
 PSALM cm. 10-18. 
 
 He hath not dealt with us after our sins ; nor rewarded 
 us according to our iniquities. 
 
 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great 
 is His mercy toward them that fear Him. 
 
 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He 
 removed our transgressions from us. 
 
 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord piti- 
 eth them that fear Him. 
 
 For He knoweth our frame ; He remembereth that 
 we are dust. 
 
 As for man, his days are as grass : as a flower of the 
 field, so he flourisheth. 
 
 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone ; and the 
 place thereof shall know it no more. 
 
 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to ever- 
 lasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness 
 unto children's children ; 
 
 To such as keep His covenant, and to those that re- 
 member His commandments to do them. 
 
82 THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 ISAIAH XL. 25-31. 
 
 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal ? 
 saith the Holy One. 
 
 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath cre- 
 ated these things, that bringeth out their host by num- 
 ber : He calleth them all by names, by the greatness of 
 His might, for that He is strong in power ; not one 
 faileth. 
 
 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, 
 My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is 
 passed over from my God .<* 
 
 Hast thou not known } hast thou not heard, that the 
 everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of 
 the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary } there is no 
 searching of His understanding. 
 
 He giveth power to the faint ; and to them that have 
 no might He increaseth strength. 
 
 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the 
 young men shall utterly fall : 
 
 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their 
 strength ; they shall mount up with wings as eagles ; 
 they shall run, and not be weary ; and they shall walk, 
 and not faint. 
 
 ISAIAH XLIII. 1-2. 
 
 But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O 
 Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not : for 
 I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name ; 
 thou art mine. 
 
 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with 
 thee ; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow 
 t'lee : when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt 
 
THE SICK-ROOM. 83 
 
 not be burned ; neither shall the flame kindle upon 
 thee. 
 
 ISAIAH Liii. 3-12. 
 
 He is despised and rejected of men ; a man of sor- 
 rows, and acquainted with grief : and we hid as it were 
 our faces from Him ; He was despised, and we esteemed 
 Him not. 
 
 Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sor- 
 rows : yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, 
 and afflicted. 
 
 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was 
 bruised for our iniquities : the chastisement of our peace 
 was upon Him ; and with His stripes we are healed. 
 
 All we like sheep have gone astray ; we have turned 
 every one to his own way ; and the Lord hath laid on 
 Him the iniquity of us all. 
 
 He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He 
 opened not His mouth : He is brought as a lamb to the 
 slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, 
 so He openeth not His mouth. 
 
 He was taken from prison and from judgment : and 
 who shall declare His generation 1 for He was cut off 
 out of the land of the living : for the transgression of 
 my people was He stricken. 
 
 And He made His grave with the wicked, and with 
 the rich in His death ; because He had done no violence, 
 neither was any deceit in His mouth. 
 
 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him ; He hath put 
 Him to grief: when thou shalt make His soul an offer- 
 ing for sin. He shall see His seed. He shall prolong His 
 days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His 
 hand. 
 
84 
 
 THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be 
 satisfied : by His knowledge shall my righteous servant 
 justify many ; for He shall bear their iniquities. 
 
 Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great,, 
 and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because 
 He hath poured out His soul unto death : and He was 
 numbered with the transgressors ; and He bare the sin 
 of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. 
 
 ISAIAH Liv. 7-12. 
 
 For a small moment have I forsaken thee ; but with 
 great mercies will I gather thee. 
 
 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a mo- 
 ment ; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy 
 on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. 
 
 For this is as the waters of Noah unto m.e : for as I 
 have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go 
 over the earth ; so have I sworn that I would not be 
 wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. 
 
 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be re- 
 moved ; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, 
 neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith 
 the Lord that hath mercy on thee. 
 
 O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not com- 
 forted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours^ 
 and lay thy foundations with sapphires. 
 
 And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates 
 of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. 
 
 JOHN XIV. 25-27. 
 
 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present 
 with you. 
 
THE SICK-ROOM. 85 
 
 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom 
 the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you 
 all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, 
 whatsoever I have said unto you. 
 
 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you : 
 not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your 
 heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 
 
 JOHN XV. 15-16. 
 
 Henceforth I call you not servants ; for the servant 
 knoweth not what his lord doeth :. but I have called you 
 friends ; for all things that I have heard of my Father I 
 have made known unto you. 
 
 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and 
 ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, 
 and that your fruit should remain ; that whatsoever ye 
 shall ask of the Father in my name, He may give it you. 
 
 HEBREWS IV. 14-16. 
 
 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is 
 passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us 
 hold fast our profession. 
 
 For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched 
 with the feeling of our infirmities ; but was in all points 
 tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 
 
 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, 
 that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in 
 time of need. 
 
86 THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 RECOVERY. 
 
 PSALM XXX. 
 
 I will extol Thee, O Lord ; for Thou hast lifted me 
 up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me, 
 
 O Lord my God, I cried unto Thee, and Thou hast 
 healed me. 
 
 Lord, Thou hast brought up my soul from the 
 grave : Thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go 
 down to the pit. 
 
 Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of His, and give 
 thanks at the remembrance of His holiness. 
 
 For His anger endureth but a moment ; in His fa- 
 vour is life : weeping may endure for a night, but joy 
 cometh in the morning. 
 
 And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved. 
 
 Lord, by Thy favour Thou hast made my mountain 
 to stand strong : Thou didst hide Thy face, and I was 
 troubled. 
 
 1 cried to Thee, O Lord ; and unto the Lord I made 
 supplication. 
 
 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to 
 the pit ? Shall the dust praise Thee } shall it declare 
 Thy truth } 
 
 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me : Lord, be 
 Thou my helper. 
 
 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing : 
 Thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with 
 gladness ; 
 
 To the end that my glory may sing praise to Thee, 
 and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks 
 unto Thee for ever. 
 
THE SICK-ROOM. 8/ 
 
 PSALM XXXIV. i-io ; 17-22. 
 
 I will bless the Lord at all times : His praise shall 
 continually be in my mouth. 
 
 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord : the hum- 
 ble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 
 
 magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His 
 name together. 
 
 1 sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered 
 me from all my fears. 
 
 They looked unto Him, and were lightened : and their 
 faces were not ashamed. 
 
 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and 
 saved him out of all his troubles. 
 
 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them 
 that fear Him, and delivereth them. 
 
 O taste and see that the Lord is good : blessed is the 
 man that trusteth in Him. 
 
 O fear the Lord, ye His saints ; for there is no want 
 to them that fear Him. 
 
 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger : but they 
 that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. 
 
 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and deliv 
 ereth them out of all their troubles. 
 
 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken 
 heart ; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 
 
 Many are the afflictions of the righteous : but the 
 Lord delivereth him out of them all. 
 
 He keepeth all his bones : not one of them is broken. 
 
 Evil shall slay the wicked : and they that hate the 
 righteous shall be desolate. 
 
 The Lord redeemeth the soul of His servants : and 
 none of them that trust in Him shall be desolate. 
 
88 THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 PSALM CXVI. 
 
 I love the Lord, because He hath heard my voice and 
 my supplications. 
 
 Because He hath inclined His ear unto me, therefore 
 will I call upon Him as long as I live. 
 
 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains 
 of hell gat hold upon me : I found trouble and sorrow. 
 
 Then called I upon the name of the Lord ; O. Lord, 
 I beseech Thee, deliver my soul. 
 
 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous ; yea, our God 
 is merciful. 
 
 The Lord preserveth the simple : I was brought low, 
 and He helped me. 
 
 Return unto thy rest, O my soul : for the Lord hath 
 dealt bountifully with thee. 
 
 For Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine 
 eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. 
 
 I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. 
 
 I believed, therefore have I spoken : I was greatly 
 afflicted : 
 
 I said in my haste. All men are liars. 
 
 What shall I render unto the Lord for all His bene- 
 fits toward me } 
 
 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the 
 name of the Lord. 
 
 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the pres- 
 ence of all His people. 
 
 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His 
 saints. 
 
 O Lord, truly I am Thy servant : I am Thy servant, 
 and the son of Thine handmaid : Thou hast loosed my 
 bonds. 
 
THE SICK-ROOM. 89 
 
 1 will offer to Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and 
 will call upon the name of the Lord. 
 
 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the pres- 
 ence of all His people, 
 
 In the courts of the Lord's house, in the midst of 
 Thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord. 
 
 ISAIAH XXXVIII. 9-20. 
 
 The writing of Hezekiah, king of Judah, when he had 
 been sick, and was recovered of his sickness : 
 
 I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the 
 gates of the grave : I am deprived of the residue of my 
 years. 
 
 I said, I shall not see the Lord, even the Lord, in the 
 land of the living : I shall behold man no more with 
 the inhabitants of the world. 
 
 Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a 
 shepherd's tent : I have cut off like a weaver my life : 
 He will cut me off with pining sickness : from day even 
 to night wilt Thou make an end of me. 
 
 I reckoned till morning, that, as a lion, so will He 
 break all my bones : from day even to night wilt Thou 
 make an end of me. 
 
 Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter : I did 
 mourn as a dove : mine eyes fail with looking upward : 
 O Lord, I am oppressed ; undertake for me. 
 
 What shall I say } He hath both spoken unto me, 
 and Himself hath done it : I shall go softly all my years 
 in the bitterness of my soul. 
 
 O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these 
 things is the life of my spirit : so wilt Thou recover me, 
 and make me to live. 
 
go THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 Behold, for peace I had great bitterness ; but Thou 
 hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of cor- 
 ruption : for Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy 
 back. 
 
 For the grave cannot praise Thee, death cannot cele- 
 brate Thee : they that go down into the pit cannot hope 
 for Thy truth. 
 
 The living, the living, He shall praise thee, as I do 
 this day : the father to the children shall make known 
 Thy truth. 
 
 The Lord was ready to save me : therefore we will 
 sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days 
 of our life in the house of the Lord. 
 
 MARK V. 18-20. 
 
 And when he was come into the ship, he that had 
 been possessed with the devil prayed Him that he might 
 be with Him. 
 
 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, 
 Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things 
 the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion 
 on thee. 
 
 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis 
 how^ great things Jesus had done for him : and all men 
 did marvel. 
 
 ROMANS XII. I, 2. 
 
 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of 
 God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, 
 acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 
 
 And be not conformed to this world : but be ye trans- 
 formed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may 
 
THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 9^ 
 
 prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect 
 will of God. 
 
 EPHESIANS VI. IO-18. 
 
 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in 
 the power of His might. 
 
 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able 
 to stand against the wiles of the devil. 
 
 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against 
 principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the 
 darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in 
 high places. 
 
 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, 
 that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and 
 having done all, to stand. 
 
 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with 
 truth, and having on the breast-plate of righteousness ; 
 
 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel 
 of peace ; 
 
 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye 
 shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 
 
 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of 
 the Spirit, which is the word of God : 
 
 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the 
 Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and 
 supplication for all saints. 
 
 PHiLippiANS II. 25-30. 
 
 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphro- 
 ditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellow- 
 soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to 
 my wants. 
 
92 
 
 THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, 
 because that ye had heard that he had been sick. 
 
 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death : but God 
 had mercy on him ; and not on him only, but on me 
 also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 
 
 I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when 
 ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the 
 less sorrowful. 
 
 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness ; 
 and hold such in reputation : 
 
 Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto 
 death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of 
 service toward me. 
 
 FOR CHRISTIANS APPOINTED TO DIE. 
 
 PSALM XVI. 8-1 1. 
 
 I have set the Lord always before me : because He is 
 at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 
 
 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth : 
 my flesh also shall rest in hope. 
 
 For Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell ; neither wilt 
 Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption. 
 
 Thou wilt shew me the path of life : in Thy presence 
 is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures 
 for evermore. 
 
 JOHN XIV. 1-6 ; XVII. 24. 
 
 Let not your heart be troubled : ye believe in God, 
 believe also in me. 
 
 In my Father's house are many mansions : if it were 
 
THE SICK-ROOM. g^ 
 
 not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place 
 for you. 
 
 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come 
 again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, 
 there ye may be also. 
 
 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 
 
 Thomas saith unto Him, Lord, we know not whither 
 Thou goest ; and how can we know the way ? 
 
 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, 
 and the life : no man cometh unto the Father, but by 
 me. 
 
 Father, I will that they also whom Thou hast given 
 me be with me where I am ; that they may behold my 
 glory which Thou hast given me : for Thou lovedst me 
 before the foundation of the world. 
 
 ROMANS VIII. 15-23 ; 35-37. 
 
 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again 
 to fear ; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, 
 whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 
 
 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that 
 we are the children of God : 
 
 And if children, then heirs ; heirs of God, and joint 
 heirs with Christ ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that 
 we may be also glorified together. 
 
 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time 
 are not worthy to be compared with the glory which 
 shall be revealed in us. 
 
 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for 
 the manifestation of the sons of God. 
 
 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not wil- 
 
94 
 
 THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 lingly, but by reason of Him who hath subjected the 
 same in hope ; 
 
 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered 
 from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty 
 of the children of God. 
 
 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and 
 travaileth in pain together until now. 
 
 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the 
 firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within 
 ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemp- 
 tion of our body. 
 
 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ ? shall 
 tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or 
 nakedness, or peril, or sword ? 
 
 As it is written, For Thy sake we are killed all the 
 day long ; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 
 
 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors, 
 through Him that loved us. 
 
 For I amx persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor 
 angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, 
 nor things to come, 
 
 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall 
 be able to separate us from the love of God which is in 
 Christ Jesus our Lord. 
 
 I CORINTHIANS XV. I9-26 ; 53-57. 
 
 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of 
 all men most miserable. 
 
 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become 
 the firstfruits of them that slept. 
 
 For since by man came death, by man came also the 
 resurrection of the dead. 
 
THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 95 
 
 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be 
 made alive. 
 
 But every man in his own order : Christ the first- 
 fruits ; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming. 
 
 Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered 
 up the kingdom to God, even the Father ; when He 
 shall have put down all rule, and all authority and 
 powder. 
 
 For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under 
 His feet. 
 
 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 
 
 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and 
 this mortal must put on immortality. 
 
 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorrup- 
 tion, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then 
 shall be brought to pass 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 to God, which giveth us the victory 
 through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 2 CORINTHIANS V. 1-8. 
 
 For we know that, if our earthly house of this taber- 
 nacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house 
 not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 
 
 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed 
 upon with our house which is from heaven : 
 
 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found 
 naked. 
 
96 
 
 THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being 
 burdened : not for that we would be unclothed, but 
 clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of 
 life. 
 
 Now He that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing 
 is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the 
 Spirit. 
 
 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, 
 whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from 
 the Lord : 
 
 (For we w^alk by faith, not by sight :) 
 
 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be ab- 
 sent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 
 
 PHiLippiAXS I. 20-23. 
 
 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, 
 that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all 
 boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magni- 
 fied in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 
 
 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 
 
 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour : 
 yet what I shall choose I wot not. 
 
 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to 
 depart, and to be with Christ ; which is far better. 
 
 PHILIPPIANS III. 20, 21. 
 
 For our conversation is in heaven ; from whence also 
 we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ : 
 
 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be 
 fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the 
 working whereby He is able even to subdue all things 
 unto Himself. 
 
THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 2 TIMOTHY IV. 6-8. 
 
 97 
 
 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my 
 departure is at hand. 
 
 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, 
 I have kept the faith : 
 
 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of right- 
 eousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give 
 me at that day : and not to me only, but unto all them 
 also that love His appearing. 
 
 HEBREWS II. 14, 15. 
 
 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh 
 and blood. He also Himself likewise took part of the 
 same ; that through death He might destroy him that 
 had the power of death, that is, the devil ; 
 
 And deliver them, who through fear of death were all 
 their lifetime subject to bondage. 
 
 I JOHN III. I, 2. 
 
 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath be- 
 stowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of 
 God : therefore the world knoweth us not, because it 
 knew Him not. 
 
 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not 
 yet appear what we shall be : but we know that, when 
 He shall appear, we shall be like Him ; for we shall see 
 Him as He is. 
 
FORM FOR THE ORDINATION 
 OF ELDERS. 
 
 While the newly-elected Elders are comi7ig forward, there may be 
 read, or chanted by the choir, the following sentences : 
 
 " Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of 
 my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my 
 strength and my Redeemer." — Ps. xix. 14. 
 
 "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord, or who 
 shall stand in His holy place ? 
 
 " He that hath clean hands and a pure heart ; who 
 hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn de- 
 ceitfully." — Ps. xxiv. 3, 4. 
 
 Then shall the Minister say . 
 
 Dearly Beloved, it has pleased this congregation to 
 call you to the office of Ruling Elder : and in presenting 
 yourself to be set apart thereto, it is fitting that the 
 duties of your office should, first, be clearly set before 
 you. 
 
 In the first place, the office of Elders is, together with 
 
 the Ministers of the Word, to take the episcopacy or 
 
 oversight of the church which is committed to them. 
 
 In the discharge of their duties, they are to admit to its 
 
 (98) 
 
ORDiyA TIOX OF ELDERS. 
 
 99 
 
 communion such as profess faith in Christ and repent- 
 ance for their sins ; diligently to look whether every one 
 properly deports himself in his doctrine and life ; .to ad- 
 monish those who behave disorderly ; to prevent, as 
 much as possible, the Sacrament from being profaned ; 
 to exercise the discipline of the church against such as 
 offend ; and to receive them again, when penitent, to 
 the household of faith. 
 
 Secondly. Since the Apostle enjoineth that all things 
 shall be done decently and in order, therefore it is also 
 the duty of the Elders to pay regard to all Christian or- 
 dinances, and in all things which relate to the welfare of 
 the church, to assist the Ministers of the Word with 
 good counsel, to visit the sick, comfort the afflicted, and 
 to be faithful advisers of all the flock committed to their 
 care. 
 
 Thirdly. It is their duty particularly to have regard 
 unto the doctrine and life of the Ministers of the Word, 
 that all things may be directed to the edification of the 
 church ; and that no strange doctrine be taught ; ac- 
 cording to that which we read where the Apostle ex- 
 horted the Elders to watch diligently against the wolves 
 who might come into the sheepfold of Christ ; for the 
 performance of which the Elders are in duty bound 
 diligently to search the Word of God, and to meditate 
 on the mysteries of the faith. 
 
 And now, beloved brother, you shall answer to the 
 following questions : 
 
 Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New 
 Testaments to be the Word of God, the only infallible 
 rule of faith and practice ? 
 
 Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of 
 
lOO ORDINA TIO.V OF ELDERS. 
 
 Faith of this Church, as containing the system of doc- 
 trine taught in the Holy Scriptures ? 
 
 Do you approve of the government and discipline of 
 the Presbyterian Church in these United States? 
 
 Do you accept the office of Ruling Elder in this con- 
 gregation, and promise faithfully to perform all the 
 duties thereof? 
 
 Do you promise to study the peace, unity, and purity 
 of the church ? 
 
 The Elder elect, having answered these questions in the affir7native, 
 the Minister shall address to the members of the church the fol- 
 lowing question : 
 
 Do you, the members of this church, acknowledge 
 and receive this brother as a Ruling Elder, and do you 
 promise to yield him all that honor, encouragement, and 
 obedience in the Lord, to which his office, according to 
 the Word of God and the constitution of this church, 
 entitles him ? 
 
 The inenibers of the church having answered this question in the 
 affirmative by holding up their right hands, the Minister shall 
 proceed to set apart the candidate, by prayer, to the office of 
 Ruling Elder: 
 
 PRAYER. 
 
 Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, the giver of all 
 good gifts, who hast ordained Rulers and Helpers by 
 whom Thy Church may be preserved in peace and pros- 
 perity, we call upon Thee for this Thy servant, elected 
 by this congregation to be a Ruling Elder in Thy 
 church. We beseech Thee so to replenish him with the 
 grace of Thy Holy Spirit, that he may walk before this 
 flock in all lowliness and meekness, in authority, cour- 
 age, and wisdom. Fill him, we pray Thee, with sound 
 
OR DIN A TION OF ELDERS. I o I 
 
 discretion to administer the trust committed to him. 
 Help him, O Lord, to rule with diligence, to confer with 
 wisdom, to reprove with meekness, and to chastise with 
 love. Make him zealous to win souls, abundant in 
 godly counsel to the ignorant, and fruitful in heavenly 
 consolations to the afflicted. And to this end we pray 
 Thee grant him, O Lord, the inspiration and light of 
 Thy Spirit in the study of Thy word, that he may 
 thoroughly know Thy testimonies, and be so prepared 
 to guard the ministration of Thy word that no grievous 
 wolves enter in and devour Thy flock. 
 
 And, Father, we beseech Thee to grant Thy Divine 
 grace to this people, that they may willingly submit them- 
 selves unto the godly admonitions of Thy servant, cheer- 
 fully render unto him all necessary aid, and esteem him 
 very highly in love for his work's sake. 
 
 And now, O Lord, most holy, Thou King eternal, 
 immortal, invisible ; O Christ, the Head of the Church 
 which Thou has redeemed with Thy precious blood ; 
 O Holy Spirit, the Comforter, dispenser of all wisdom, 
 and power, and inspiration, we solemnly set apart 
 Thy servant unto this office. May it please Thee to 
 vouchsafe now unto us Thy ratification of our choice. 
 Endue this Ruling Elder with a double portion of Thy 
 Spirit. Enable him, through constant and humble de- 
 pendence upon Thee, to prove himself worthy of this 
 great trust, and bountifully to enrich Thy church by his 
 administration thereof. Give him, in this world, knowl- 
 edge of Thy truth, and in the world to come, life ever- 
 lasting, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. 
 Amen. 
 
 Then shall be said, by the Minister aftd People, " The Lord's 
 Prayer^': 
 
I 02 ORDINA TION OF ELDERS. 
 
 Our Father, which art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy 
 Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earthy 
 as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. 
 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 
 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from 
 evil ; for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the 
 glory, forever. Amen. 
 
 Then shall the Minister say : 
 
 Inasmuch as it hath pleased this congregation to 
 choose A, B. unto the office of Ruling Elder, and he 
 has, in the presence of the congregation, assumed the 
 vows appertaining to that office, and has been duly set 
 apart thereto by prayer, 1 declare him duly constituted 
 a Ruling Elder of this church. 
 
 " Take heed unto yourself, and to all the flock over 
 the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseer, to 
 feed the Church of God, which He hath purchased with 
 His own blood." 
 
 The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, 
 keep your heart and mind in the knowledge and love of 
 God, and of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord : and the 
 blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the 
 Holy Ghost, be upon you and remain with you always. 
 Amen. 
 
FORM FOR THE ORDINATION 
 OF DEACONS. 
 
 While the newly-eleded Deacons are coming forward, there may be 
 read the following sentences : 
 
 "Pure religion, and undefiled before God and the 
 Father, is this : To visit the fatherless and widows in 
 their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the 
 world." — James i. 27. 
 
 " For ye have the poor always with you, but me ye 
 have not always." — Matt. xxvi. 11. 
 
 " Is not this the fast that I have chosen ? .... Is it 
 not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring 
 the poor that are cast out to thy house.? when thou 
 seest the naked that thou cover him ; and that thou 
 hide not thyself from thine own flesh." — Isa. Iviii. 6, 7. 
 
 Then shall the Minister say : 
 
 Dearly beloved, we invite your attention to the dec- 
 laration of the Word of God respecting the office and 
 duties of Deacons. 
 
 Of the origin and institution of their office we may 
 read in the sixth chapter of the Acts : where we find 
 that the Apostles themselves did, in the beginning, 
 
 (103) 
 
104 
 
 ORDINATION OF DEACONS. 
 
 serve the poor ; for at their feet was brought the price 
 of the things that were sold, and distribution was made 
 unto every man according as he had need. But after- 
 wards, when a murmuring arose because the widows of 
 the Grecians were neglected in the daily ministration, 
 men were chosen, by the advice of the Apostles, who 
 should make the service of the poor their peculiar busi- 
 ness, to the end that the Apostles might continually give 
 themselves to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 
 
 Thus we gather that it is the duty of the Deacons, 
 first : to collect and preserve, with the greatest fidelity 
 and diligence, the alms which are given to the poor, and 
 that they endeavor that sufficient means be provided for 
 the same. The second part of their office consists in 
 distribution : wherein not only is godly discretion re- 
 quired, to bestow the alms only on the proper objects of 
 charity, but also cheerfulness and simplicity, to assist the 
 poor with becoming sympathy, hearty affection, and also 
 with comfortable words from Scripture. 
 
 And now, beloved brother, that you may be duly set 
 apart to this honorable office to which this congregation 
 has called you, you shall answer to the following ques- 
 tions : 
 
 Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New 
 Testaments to be the Word of God, the only infallible 
 rule of faith and practice .'' 
 
 Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of 
 Faith of this church, as containing the system of doctrine 
 taught in the Holy Scriptures } 
 
 Do you approve of the government and discipline of 
 the Presbyterian Church in these United States .'* 
 
 Do you accept the office of Deacon in this congrega- 
 
ORDINA TION OF DEACONS. [05 
 
 tion, and promise faithfully to perform all the duties 
 thereof? 
 
 Do you promise to study the peace, unity, and purity 
 of the Church ? 
 
 The Deacon electa having answered these questiojis in the affirma- 
 tive, the Minister shall address to the tnembers of the church the 
 following questions : 
 
 Do you, the members of this church, acknowledge and 
 receive this brother as a Deacon, and do you promise to 
 give him all that honor and encouragement in the Lord, 
 to which his office, according to the Word of God and 
 the constitution of the Church, entitles him ? 
 
 The mejubers of the church havifig answered this question in the 
 affirmative by holdiytg up their right hands, the Minister shall 
 proceed to set apart the candidate, by prayer, to the offce of 
 Deacon. 
 
 PRAYER. 
 
 Almighty God and Heavenly Father, who, in the per- 
 son of Thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, didst commit 
 Thy poor to the charge of Thy church, saying, "The 
 poor ye have always with you," we call upon Thee for 
 Thy special blessing upon this Thy servant, chosen by 
 Thy church to be its almoner. Endue him with a 
 tender heart, with a liberal disposition, and with a quick 
 and intelligent sympathy, that he, like our great High 
 Priest, may be touched with the feeling of his brethren's 
 infirmities. May his exhortations ever prevail with this 
 people to bestow liberally of their goods to feed the 
 poor ; and may he have sound discretion to distribute 
 the alms committed to him. Grant, O Lord, that both 
 by his life and doctrine he may show forth Thy praises. 
 Give, moreover, we pray, unto the poor, grateful hearts 
 
I06 ORDINATION OF DEACONS. 
 
 toward those who help and serve them, to the end that 
 every one acquitting himself of his duty, Thy Holy 
 Name may thereby be magnified, and the kingdom of 
 Thy Son Jesus Christ enlarged. Accept now and ratify 
 this solemn consecration of Thy servant to the office of a 
 Deacon in Thy church. Enable him, through constant 
 and humble dependence on Thee, to prove himself a 
 worthy steward of the Lord. Give him, in this world, 
 knowledge of Thy truth, and in the world to come, life 
 everlasting, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 Then shall be said, by the Minister and people, ' ' The Lord's 
 Prayer ": 
 
 Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy 
 Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth 
 as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. 
 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 
 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from 
 evil ; for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the 
 glory, forever. Amen. 
 
 Then shall the Minister say : 
 
 Inasmuch as it hath pleased this congregation to 
 choose A. B. unto the office of Deacon, and he has, in 
 the presence of the congregation, assumed the vows ap- 
 pertaining to that office, I declare him duly constituted 
 a Deacon of this church. 
 
 Then shall the Minister say : 
 
 " The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, 
 keep your 'heart and mind in the knowledge and love of 
 God, and of His Son, Jesas Christ our Lord. And the 
 blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the 
 Holy Ghost, be upon you and remain with you always." 
 Amen. 
 
THE ORDER FOR THE ADMINIS- 
 TRATION OF THE LORD'S 
 SUPPER. 
 
 If the communion shall immediately follow the preaching service, 
 the Minister, at the close of the prayer after the sermon, shall 
 request non-communicants to withdraw with order and silence, 
 and shall dismiss them with a benediction ; after which a 
 hymn shall be stmg, and the alms for the poor received. 
 
 If the administration of the communion shall be a distinct service, 
 it shall be introduced by the singing of a hyjnn, an appropriate 
 lesson of Scripture, and prayer as followeth : 
 
 Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all de- 
 sires known, and from whom no secrets are hid, cleanse 
 the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Thy 
 Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love Thee, and wor- 
 thily magnify Thy Holy Name ; through Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. 
 
 Lord, Jesus Christ, very God and very man, who 
 changest not, but art holy in all Thy works, turn away 
 from us the unbelief of a doubtful mind, and fill our 
 hearts with the gifts of Thy grace ; that we may believe 
 Thee to be very God, who, by miracles and mighty 
 works, art proved to be the Saviour of all ; and we be- 
 seech Thee continually to strengthen us by a sincere 
 faith in Thine Incarnation, that the crafty enemy may 
 never be able to overcome us who are established in the 
 
 (107) 
 
I08 THE LORDS SUPPER. 
 
 love of Thee. Thou who art true Peace and Love 
 Eternal, enlighten our souls with the brightness of Thy 
 peace, and purify our consciences with the sweetness of 
 Thy love, that all we who have been redeemed by the 
 mystery of Thine Incarnation may remain united in the 
 fellowship of perpetual peace ; and by Thy light shed 
 forth in our souls, may be filled with Thine own sweet- 
 ness, and embrace our friends in Thee, and our enemies 
 for Thy sake. 
 
 Take away from us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, all our 
 iniquities, and the spirit of pride and arrogance which 
 Thou resistest, and fill us with the spirit of fear, and 
 give us a contrite and humble heart, which Thou dost 
 not despise, that we may be enabled, with pure minds, 
 to enter into the Holy of Holies ; through Jesus Christ 
 our Lord. 
 
 O God of light. Father of life, Author of grace, who 
 givest to the weak-hearted who trust in Thee those 
 things into which the angels desire to look ; who hast 
 raised us from darkness to light, hast given us life from 
 death and freedom from bondage, and hast dissolved in 
 us the darkness of sin by the coming of Thine only be- 
 gotten Son ; illuminate the eyes of our understanding 
 by the visitation of Thy Holy Spirit, that we may with- 
 out condemnation partake of this heavenly food. Re- 
 ceive Thy Church approaching Thee through Christ ; 
 fulfil for each of us whatever is good for him ; bring us 
 all to perfection, and make us meet for the grace of Thy 
 sanctification, uniting us together in Thy holy Church 
 which Thou hast purchased with the precious blood of 
 Thine only begotten Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
 Christ ; to whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be 
 glory forever. Araen. 
 
'1 HI: LORirs SUPPER. IO9 
 
 Then shall the Minister say : 
 
 Dearly beloved, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, 
 who, though He was rich, yet, for our sake, became 
 poor, hath committed His poor to the care of His 
 Church. Wherefore, at this time especially, when ye 
 are about to commemorate in this Holy Sacrament His 
 adorable love and condescension, it is meet that ye give 
 alms of such things as ye have, knowing that, inasmuch 
 as ye show mercy unto one of the least of His brethren, 
 ye do it unto Him. 
 
 Then the alms shall be received, and the Minister meanwhile may 
 read one or more of the folhnoing sentences : 
 
 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall 
 enter into the kingdom of heaven ; but he that doeth the 
 will of my Father who is in heaven. — Matt. vii. 21. 
 
 Give, and it shall be given unto you ; good measure, 
 pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, 
 shall men give into your bosom. For with the same 
 measure that ye meet withal, it shall be measured to 
 you again. — Luke vi. T)'^. 
 
 Zaccheus stood and said unto the Lord, Behold, 
 Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor ; and if I 
 have taken anything from any man by false accusation, 
 I restore him fourfold. — Luke xix. 8, 
 
 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges .5* 
 Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit 
 thereof.? Or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the 
 milk of the flock.? — i Cor. ix. 7. 
 
 He who soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly ; 
 and he who sow^eth bountifully shall reap also bounti- 
 fully. Every man according as he purposeth in his 
 
no 1 HE L ORD'S S UPPER, 
 
 heart, so let him give ; not grudgingly, or of necessity ; 
 for God loveth a cheerful giver. — 2 Cor. ix. 6, 7. 
 
 Let him that is taught in the Word communicate unto 
 him that teacheth in all good things. — Gal. vi. 6. 
 
 Be not deceived, God is not mocked ; for whatsoever 
 a man soweth, that shall he also reap. — Gal. vi. 7. 
 
 As we have opportunity, let us do good unto all men ; 
 especially unto them who are of the household of faith. 
 — Gal. vi. 10. 
 
 Godliness with contentment is great gain ; for we 
 brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can 
 carry nothing out. — i Tim. vi. 6, 7. 
 
 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they do 
 good, that they be rich in good works, ready to dis- 
 tribute, willing to communicate ; laying up in store for 
 themselves a good foundation against the time to come, 
 that they may lay hold on eternal life. — i Tim. vi. 17, 
 18, 19. 
 
 To do good, and to communicate, forget not ; for 
 with such sacrifices God is well pleased. — Heb. xiii. 16. 
 
 Whoso hath this world's goods, and seeth his brother 
 have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion 
 from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him } — i 
 John iii. 17. 
 
 Let us not love in word, neither in tongue ; but in 
 deed and in truth. — i John iii. t8. 
 
 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the 
 Lord ; and that which he hath given will He pay him 
 again. — Prov. xix. 17. 
 
 Blessed is he that considereth the poor ; the Lord 
 will deliver him in time of trouble. — Psalm xli. i. 
 
THE LORD'S SUPPER. HI 
 
 God is not unrighteous, to forget your work and labor 
 of love, which ye have showed toward His Name, in 
 that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 
 — ^Heb. vi. TO. 
 
 Then the Minister shall say : 
 
 Hear the words of the Institution of this Holy Supper 
 of our Lord, as they are given by His Apostle Paul : 
 
 For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered 
 unto you : how that the Lord Jesus, in the night in which 
 He was betrayed, took bread : 
 
 And when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said : 
 This is my body, which is for you : this do in remem- 
 brance of me. 
 
 In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying. This 
 cup is the new covenant in my blood : this do, as oft as 
 ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 
 
 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, 
 ye proclaim the Lord's death till He come. 
 
 And he shall proceed as followeth : 
 
 Dearly beloved in the Lord, ye that mind to come to 
 the holy communion of the body and blood of our 
 Saviour Christ : repent you truly for your sins past ; have 
 a lively and steadfast faith in Christ our Saviour ; amend 
 your lives, and be in perfect charity with all men ; so 
 shall ye be meet partakers of those holy mysteries. And 
 above all things, ye must give most humble and hearty 
 thanks to God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy 
 Ghost, for the redemption of the world by the death and 
 passion of our Saviour Christ, both God and man ; who 
 did humble Himself even to the death upon the cross, 
 for us, miserable sinners, who lay in darkness and the 
 shadow of death ; that He might make us the children 
 
112 
 
 THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 of God, and exalt us to everlasting life. And to the 
 end that we should alway remember the exceeding 
 great love of our Master, and only Saviour, Jesus Christ, 
 thus dying for us, and the innumerable benefits which, 
 by His precious blood-shedding. He hath obtained to 
 us ; He hath instituted and ordained holy mysteries, as 
 pledges of His love, and for a continual remembrance 
 of His death, to our great and endless comfort. To 
 Him, therefore, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, let 
 us give (as we are most bounden) continual thanks ; 
 submitting ourselves wholly to His holy will and pleas- 
 ure, and studying to serve Him in true holiness and right- 
 eousness all the days of our life ; and let us, with one 
 voice, now confess the faith of His holy Church uni- 
 versal, saying : 
 
 Kere the congregation shall audibly repeat with the Minister the 
 Apostles' Creed : 
 
 I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of 
 heaven and earth : 
 
 And in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord, who 
 was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin 
 Mary ; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, 
 dead, and buried ; He descended into hell ; the third 
 day He rose from the dead ; He ascended into heaven, 
 and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father 
 Almighty ; from thence He shall come to judge the 
 quick and the dead. 
 
 I believe in the Holy Ghost ; the Holy Catholic 
 Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of 
 sins ; the resurrection of the body, and the life ever- 
 lasting. Amen. 
 
THE LORD'S SIP PER. II3 
 
 Then shall the Minister invite to the Holy Sacrament^ saying : 
 
 Ye that do trul)' and earnestly repent you of your 
 sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbors, 
 and intend to lead a new life, following the command- 
 ments of God, and walking from henceforth in His 
 holy ways ; draw near with faith, and take this holy 
 sacrament to your comfort; and make your humble 
 confession to Almighty God, meekly saying : 
 
 Or this : 
 
 Ye who, being sensible of your lost and helpless state 
 of sin, depend upon the atonement of Christ for pardon 
 and acceptance with God, and who, by the gospel doc- 
 trine are duly instructed to discern the Lord's body, 
 and desire to renounce your sins, and are determined to 
 lead a holy and godly life, draw near, etc. 
 
 Here the congregation shall audibly repeat zvith the Minister^ this 
 confessio7i : 
 
 Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 Maker of all things. Judge of all men ; we acknowledge 
 and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, which we, 
 from time to time, most grievously have committed by 
 thought, word, and deed against Thy Divine Majesty, 
 provoking most justly Thy wrath and indignation against 
 us. We do earnestly repent and are heartily sorry for 
 these our misdoings. The remembrance of them is 
 grievous unto us. Have mercy upon us, have mercy 
 upon us, most merciful Father ; for Thy Son. our Lord 
 Jesus Christ's sake, forgive us all that is past, and grant 
 that we may ever hereafter serve and please Thee in 
 newness of life, to the honor and glory of Thy name, 
 through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
I 14 THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 And the Minister shall offer this prayer for those who confess 
 their sins : 
 
 O Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father, who 
 for us wast slain, the innocent for the ungodly, remem- 
 ber the price of Thy blood, and blot out the sins of all 
 Thy people. 
 
 Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who hast prom- 
 ised forgiveness of sins to all those that with hearty re- 
 pentance and true faith turn unto Thee, have mercy 
 upon Thy servants. Deal not with them after their 
 sins, nor reward them according to their iniquities, but 
 according to Thy gentleness and ineffable love, blotting 
 out the handwriting that is against them, deliver them 
 from all their sins ; give life to Thy servants whose 
 death Thou dost in no wise desire, and plant in them 
 the fear of Thy blessed commandments, that they may 
 say and do always such things as shall well please Thee, 
 and come at last to Thine eternal joy, through Jesus 
 Christ, our only Mediator and Redeemer. Amen. 
 
 Then the Minister may say : 
 
 Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ 
 saith unto all who truly turn unto Him : 
 
 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, 
 and I will give you rest. — Matt. xi. 28. 
 
 God so loved the world that He gave His only be- 
 gotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should 
 not perish, but have everlasting life. — John iii. 16. 
 
 Hear also what the Apostle Paul saith : 
 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all accepta- 
 tion, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save 
 sinners. — i Tim. i. 15. 
 
THE LOKiyS SUPPl'R. \ \ 5 
 
 And the Apostle John also saith : 
 
 If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, 
 Jesus Christ the righteous ; and He is the propitiation 
 for our sins. — i John ii. i, 2. 
 
 Then the Minister shall say : 
 
 It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty to give 
 thanks unto Thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, 
 Everlasting God, for all Thy bounties known and un- 
 known ; but chiefly are we bound to praise Thee that 
 Thou hast ransomed us from eternal death, and given 
 us the joyful hope of everlasting life through Jesus 
 Christ Thy Son, whom Thou didst send into the world 
 to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption. 
 Thee, God the Father unbegotten : Thee, the only be- 
 gotten Son : Thee, the Holy Spirit, the Comforter: the 
 holy, undivided Trinity, we confess and praise with 
 heart and mouth ; saying, with angels and archangels, 
 and all the company of Heaven, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord 
 God of Hosts, Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory : 
 Glory be to Thee, O Lord Most High. 
 
 And the Minister shall proceed, saying: 
 
 We do not presume to come to this Thy table, O 
 merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in 
 Thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy 
 so much as to gather up the crumbs under Thy table. 
 But Thou art the same Lord, vvhose property is always 
 to have mercy ; grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so to 
 eat the flesh of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink 
 His blood, that our sinful souls and bodies may be 
 cleansed through His most precious body and blood, 
 and that we may evermore dwell in Him, and He in us. 
 
Il6 THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 And we most humbly beseech Thee, O merciful 
 Father, vouchsafe of Thine infinite goodness to bless 
 and sanctify with Thy Word and Holy Spirit, these Thy 
 creatures of bread and wine, that we, receiving them ac- 
 cording to our Saviour Christ's institution, in thankful 
 remembrance of His death and passion, may by faith be 
 made very partakers of His body and blood, to our sal- 
 vation and the glory of Thy holy name. 
 
 Andy after a pause y the Minister shall say : 
 
 Lamb of God, who takest away the sin of the world, 
 look upon us and have mercy upon us. By Thine 
 agony and bloody sweat ; by Thy cross and passion ; by 
 Thy precious death and burial ; by Thy glorious resur- 
 rection and ascension ; and by the coming of the Holy 
 Ghost : save those whom Thou hast redeemed, O 
 Saviour of the world, who art with the Father and the 
 Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen. 
 
 Then the Minister, breaking the bread before the people, shall say : 
 
 Our blessed Lord, the same night in which He was 
 betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, 
 He brake it and gave it to His disciples, saying : " Take, 
 eat ; this is my body which is broken for you; this do 
 in remembrance of me." Ministering in His name, I 
 give this bread unto you. 
 
 Here the bread is to be distributed j and after all have partaken, the 
 Minister shall take the cup, saying : 
 
 After the same manner also He took the cup when 
 He had supped, and after giving thanks, as hath been 
 done in His name. He gave it to the disciples, saying : 
 Drink ye all of this ; for this cup is the new covenant 
 
THE LORD'S SUPPER. II7 
 
 in my blood, which is shed for many for the remission of 
 sins. This do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance 
 of me. 
 
 After all have received the bread and wine, the Minister shall say. 
 Let us pray. And the congregation shall audibly Join in repeat- 
 ing the Lord's Prayer : 
 
 Our Father which art in heaven, 
 Hallowed be Thy name : 
 Thy kingdom come : 
 
 Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven : 
 Give us this day our daily bread : 
 And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors : 
 And lead us not into temptation, 
 But deliver us from evil : 
 
 For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the 
 glory, forever. Amen. 
 
 And the Minister shall continue : 
 
 O Lord and heavenly Father, we, Thy humble serv- 
 ants, entirely desire Thy fatherly goodness mercifully 
 to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; 
 most humbly beseeching Thee to grant that, by the 
 merits and death of Thy Son Jesus Christ, and through 
 faith in His blood, we and all Thy whole Church may 
 obtain remission of our sins, and all other benefits of 
 His passion. And here we offer and present unto Thee, 
 O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reason- 
 able, holy, and living sacrifice unto Thee, humbly be- 
 seeching Thee, that we who are partakers of this holy 
 communion may be filled with Thy grace and heavenly 
 benediction. And although we are unworthy, through 
 our manifold sins, to offer unto Thee any sacrifice, yet 
 we beseech Thee to accept this our bounden duty and 
 
Il8 THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 service ; not weighing our merits, but pardoning our 
 offences, through Jesus Christ our Lord ; by whom and 
 with whom, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, all honor 
 and glory be unto Thee, O Father Almighty, world 
 without end. 
 
 O Lord, who blessest them that bless Thee, and 
 sanctifiest them that put their trust in Thee, save Thy 
 people and bless Thine inheritance. Guard with care 
 Thy holy Church throughout the world ; hallow those 
 that love the beauty of Thine house. Give Thy peace 
 to Thy churches. Thine inspiration to Thy ministers, 
 and Thy heavenly wisdom and benediction to Thy 
 servant, the President of these United States, and to all 
 who are in authority. Comfort and succor all who are 
 in any wise afflicted, and to any who are departing this 
 life, be present in the hour w^hen heart and flesh fail, 
 giving them patient hope and confidence, and receiving 
 them into Thy rest. 
 
 Almighty God, who hast given us grace, at this time, 
 with one accord to make our common supplications 
 unto Thee ; and dost promise that, when two or three 
 are gathered together in Thy name. Thou wilt grant 
 their requests ; fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and peti- 
 tions of Thy servants, as may be most expedient for 
 them ; granting us in this world knowledge of Thy 
 truth, and, in the world to come, life everlasting, through 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 Then shall be said or sung : 
 
 Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, good- 
 will towards men. We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we 
 worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee, 
 for Thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God 
 the Father Almighty. 
 
THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 19 
 
 O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ ; O Lord 
 God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest 
 away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou 
 that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon 
 us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, re- 
 ceive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand 
 of God the Father, have mercy upon us. 
 
 For Thou only art holy ; Thou only art the Lord ; 
 Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most 
 high in the glory of God the Father. Amen. 
 
 Then the Minister shall pronounce this blessing : 
 
 The peace of God which passeth all understanding, 
 keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love 
 of God, and of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord ; and 
 the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and 
 the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you 
 always. Amen. 
 
 Or this : 
 
 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the 
 dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 
 through the blood of the everlasting covenant. 
 
 Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, 
 working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, 
 through Jesus Christ ; to whom be glory forever and 
 ever. Amen. 
 
I 
 
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