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Prayers after a Death.

I.

ALMIGHTY GOD, with whom do live the spirits of those who depart hence in the LORD, and with whom the souls of the faithful, after they are delivered from the burden of the flesh, are in joy and felicity; We give Thee hearty thanks for that it hath pleased Thee to deliver this our brother out of the miseries of this sinful world; beseeching Thee that it may please Thee, of Thy gracious goodness, shortly to accomplish the number of Thine elect, and to hasten Thy kingdom that we, with all those that are departed in the true faith of Thy Holy name, may have our perfect consummation and bliss, both in body and soul, in Thy eternal and everlasting glory; through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen. (Burial Service.)

II.

O MERCIFUL GOD, the FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, who is the Resurrection and the Life; in whom whosoever 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 Saint Paul, not to be sorry, as men without hope, for them that sleep in Him: We meekly beseech Thee, O FATHER, to raise us from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness; that, when we shall

part this life, we may rest in Him, as our hope this our brother doth; and that, at the general Resurrection in the last day, we may be found cceptable in Thy sight; and receive that blessng which Thy well-beloved SoN shall then pronounce to all that love and fear Thee, saying, Come, ye blessed children of MY FATHER, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. Grant this, we beseech Thee, Ŏ merciful FATHER, through JESUS CHRIST Our Mediator and Redeemer. Amen. (Burial Service.)

III.

O MERCIFUL and loving FATHER, who doest all things well, and of very faithfulness causest Thy children to be troubled; we bow beneath Thy holy will, and accept in humble submission the cross Thou givest us to bear. Thou wilt not blame our human sorrow; for JESUS wept for His friend. Yet suffer us not to be overwhelmed with grief. Give Thy servants a calm and lowly resignation. Help them to say from the heart, "It is the LORD; let Him do what seemeth Him good." "The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." Bless, O FATHER, this season of sorrow to Thy children's good. May the house of mourning be a school of heavenly learning. Soften by Thy grace the hearts that bleed, and draw them unto Thyself. Wean them more from the world. Fix them more on heaven. And may Thy children know that it is good for them to have been troubled. Hear our prayer, O gracious FATHER, for JESUS CHRIST's sake. Amen.

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IV.

MERCIFUL JESU, who didst weep by the grave of Lazarus, and who knowest all human sorrows, be present with Thy sorrowing servants now. Bind up the wounds of their stricken hearts. Let the sunshine of Thy love break through the cloud of their affliction, and a heavenly hope bring light in their darkness. Thou hast loosened one link which bound them to earth: may it now bind them to heaven. Thou hast taken from them for a little while him whom they love. Oh, may it. be to be united again for ever! Yet even now are they one in Thee. Death cannot sever from Thee. Death only brings Thy servants nearer to Thee. And we believe in the Communion of Saints. In Thee are we all united. In Thee do we all live evermore. Oh, beget in Thy servants a lively hope of the "inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away. Fit us by Thy grace for the mansions of our FATHER'S house, where there can be partings no more. Bring us to our only true home. Take us to Thyself, to dwell for ever with all Thy Saints, and to reign with Thee, O JESU, our Saviour and our King, who ever livest and reignest with the FATHER and the HOLY SPIRIT, one GOD, world without end. Amen.

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V.

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"O GOD, whose days are without end, and whose mercies cannot be numbered; Make us, we beseech Thee, deeply sensible of the shortness and uncertainty of human life; and let Thy HOLY SPIRIT lead us through this vale of misery in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life:

that, when we shall have served Thee in our generation, we may be gathered unto our fathers, having the testimony of a good conscience; in the communion of the Catholic Church in the confidence of a certain faith; in the comfort of a reasonable, religious, and holy hope; in favour with Thee our GOD, and in perfect charity with the world. All which we ask through JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD." Amen. (American PrayerBook.)

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Prayers for Sick Children.

I.

O GRACIOUS FATHER, whose love is greater than the love of earthly fathers, have mercy upon Thy little child, and in all his pain and sickness support and comfort him, and make him to lie still in Thine everlasting arms; through JESUS CHRIST Our LORD. Amen.

II.

O MOST merciful and loving FATHER, who knowest our weakness, and wilt not lay upon Thy children more than they are able to bear, look with pity upon this Thy child, upon whom Thou hast sent this sickness. Strengthen him to bear it patiently, and by all the sufferings Thou appointest for him draw him nearer to Thyself, and make him fitter for Thy glorious kingdom; through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen.

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III.

"O LORD GOD, we cry unto Thee in behalf of this child whom Thou hast visited with sickness. To Thee in faith and trust we wholly resign him; for from Thee alone come healing, and comfort, and strength. O LORD, deliver him from all fretfulness and impatience, strengthen him in weakness, sustain him in pain, and soothe him in restlessness. If it be Thy good pleasure to spare his life, hasten,

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