Instruct and assist him in this great work of preparation to die. Show him how to do it, and help him with good success to perform it; that when the time of his dissolution draweth near, he may have nothing else to do, but to resign himself willingly and cheerfully into thy hands, as into the hands of a merciful Creator, there to remain with thee for ever in that blessed place where sin and sickness and death shall be no more. Amen.

A commendatory Prayer for a sick Person at the point of Departure.

[Visitation Office.]

O ALMIGHTY God, with whom do live the spirits of just men made perfect, we humbly commend the soul of this thy servant our dear brother into thy hands, as into the hands of a faithful Creator and most merciful Saviour; humbly beseeching thee, that it may be acceptable in thy sight. And teach us, who survive, by this and other daily instances of mortality, to see how frail and uncertain our own condition is, and so to number our days that we may seriously apply our hearts to that holy and heavenly wisdom, which may bring us to life everlasting; through Jesus Christ thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

A Litany for a sick Person at the time of Departure. (From Bishop Andrews.)

O GOD, the Father of heaven,

Have mercy upon him:

Keep and defend him.

O God the Son, Redeemer of the world,

Have mercy upon him:

Save and deliver him.

O God the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son,

Have mercy upon him:

Strengthen and comfort him.

O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity,
Have mercy upon him.

Remember not, Lord, his offences; call not to mind the offences of his forefathers; but spare him, good Lord, spare thy servant, whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood, and be not angry with him for ever.

From thy wrath and indignation; from the fear of death; from the guilt and burden of his sins, and from the dreadful sentence of the last judgment;

Good Lord, deliver him.

From the sting of conscience; from impatience, distrust, or despair; and from the extremity of sickness or agony, which may any ways withdraw his mind from thee;

Good Lord, deliver him.

From the powers of darkness; from the illusions and assaults of our ghostly enemy; and from the bitter pangs of eternal death;

Good Lord, deliver him.

From all danger and distress; from all terrors and torments; from all pains and punishments, both of the body and of the soul;

Good Lord, deliver him.

By thy manifold and great mercies; by the manifold and great mercies of Jesus Christ thy Son; by his agony and bloody sweat; by his strong crying and tears; by his bitter cross and passion; by his resurrection and ascension; by his intercession and mediation; and by the graces and comforts of the Holy Ghost; Good Lord, deliver him.

In this time of extremity; in his last and greatest need; in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment; Good Lord, deliver him.

We sinners do beseech thee to hear us, O Lord God; that it may please thee to be his defender and keeper; to remember him with the favour thou bearest unto thy people, and to visit him with thy salvation:

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to save and deliver his soul from the power of the enemy, to receive it to thy mercy, and to give him a quiet and joyful departure;

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to be merciful, and to forgive all the sins and offences which at any time of his life he hath committed against thee:

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee not to lay to his charge, what, in the lust of the flesh, or in the lust of the eye, or in the pride of life, he hath committed against thee :

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee not to lay to his charge, what, in the fierceness of his wrath, or in vain and idle words, he hath committed against thee:

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to make him partaker of all thy mercies, and promises, in Christ Jesus:

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to grant his body rest and peace, and a part in the blessed resurrection of life and glory:

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to vouchsafe his soul the enjoyment of everlasting happiness, with all the blessed saints, in thy heavenly kingdom:

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

Son of God, we beseech thee to hear us.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world;

Grant him thy peace.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the

world;

Have mercy upon him.

O Saviour of the world, &c.

Unto thy gracious, &c.

as in p. 443.

Form of recommending the Soul to God, in her
Departure from the Body.

(From Bishop Cosins.)

INTO thy merciful hands, O Lord, we commend the soul of this thy servant, now departing from the body. Receive him, we humbly beseech thee, into the arms of thy mercy, into the glorious society of thy saints in heaven. Amen.

God the Father, who hath created thee; God the Son, who hath redeemed thee; God the Holy Ghost, who hath infused his grace into thee; be now and evermore thy defence, assist thee in this thy last trial, and bring thee to everlasting life. Amen.

(From Bishop Taylor.)

I.

O HOLY and most gracious Jesus, we humbly recommend the soul of thy servant into thy hands, thy most merciful hands: let thy blessed angels stand in ministry about thy servant, and protect him in his departure. Amen.

II.

LORD, receive the soul of this thy servant: enter not into judgment with him; spare him whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood, and deliver him from all evil and mischief, from the crafts and assaults of the devil, from the fear of death, and from everlasting condemnation. Amen.

III.

LORD, impute not unto him the follies of his youth, nor any of the errors of his life; but strengthen him in his agony, and carry him safely through the last distress. Let not his faith waver, nor his hope fail, nor his charity be diminished; let him die in peace, and rest in hope, and rise in glory. Amen.

O SAVIOUR of the world, who by thy cross and precious blood hast redeemed us, save and help this thy departing servant, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord. Amen.

UNTO thy gracious mercy and protection we commit him. O Lord, bless him, and keep him. Make thy face to shine upon him, and be gracious unto him. Lift up thy countenance upon him, and give him peace both now and evermore. Amen.

A consolatory Form of Devotion that may be used with the Friends or Relations of the Deceased.

SORROW not, brethren, for them which are asleep, even as others, who 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. 1 Thess. iv. 13, 14.

It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth good unto him. 1 Sam. iii. 18.

The righteous is taken away from the evil to come. Isaiah lvii. 1.

Though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest.

The honourable age is not that which standeth in length of days, nor that which is measured by number of years.

But wisdom is the grey hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age. Wisd. iv. 7-9.