Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.o A Prayer when there appears small hope of recovery. O FATHER of mercies, and God of all comfort, our only help in time of need; We fly unto thee for succour in behalf of thy servant, here lying under thy hand in great weakness of body. Look graciously upon him, O Lord; and the more the outward man decayeth, strengthen him, we beseech thee, so much the more continually with thy grace and holy Spirit in the inner man. Give him unfeigned repentance, for all the errors of his life past, and stedfast faith in thy Son Jesus; that his sins may be done away by thy mercy, and his pardon sealed in heaven, before he go hence, and be no more seen. We know, O Lord, that there is no word e Visitation of the Sick. impossible with thee; and that, if thou wilt, thou canst even yet raise him up, and grant him a longer continuance amongst us: Yet, forasmuch as in all appearance the time of his dissolution draweth near, so fit and prepare him, we beseech thee, against the hour of death, that after his departure hence in peace, and in thy favour, his soul may be received into thine everlasting kingdom, through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, thine only Son, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.f A commendatory Prayer for a Sick Person at the point of departure. O ALMIGHTY God, with whom do live the spirits of just men made perfect, after they are delivered from their earthly prisons; We humbly commend the soul of thy servant, our dear brother, into thy f Visitation of the Sick. hands, as into the hands of a faithful Creator, and most merciful Saviour; most humbly beseeching thee, that it may be precious in thy sight. Wash it, we pray thee, in the blood of that immaculate Lamb, that was slain to take away the sins of the world; that whatsoever defilements it may have contracted in the midst. of this miserable and naughty world, through the lusts of the flesh or the wiles of Satan, being purged and done away, it may be presented pure and without spot before thee. And teach us who survive, in this and other like daily spectacles of mortality, to see how frail and uncertain our condition is; and so to number our days, that we may seriously apply our hearts to that holy and heavenly wisdom, which may in the end bring us to life everlasting; through the merits of Jesus Christ thine only Son our Lord. g Visitation of the Sick. H Amen. A Prayer for Persons troubled in Mind or in O BLESSED Lord, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; We beseech thee, look down in pity and compassion on thy afflicted servant: as thou hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of thy Holy Word, might have hope; Give him a right understanding of himself and thee: grant that he may neither cast away confidence in thee, nor place it anywhere but in thee. Give him strength against all his temptations, and heal all his diseases. Break not the bruised reed; quench not the smoking flax. Shut not up thy tender mercies in displeasure; but make him to hear the voice of joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may recjoice. Deliver him from fear of the enemy; lift up the light of thy countenance upon him; and give him peace, for Jesus Christ For a Member of the Family about to leave home permanently. LORD and heavenly Father, who appointest the bounds of our habitation, we would adore thy wisdom and love in all things. As it has pleased thee, in thy good providence, to fix elsewhere the abode of thy servant now about to leave us; we would commit him to thy heavenly care: Watch over him; bless and keep him in all his ways: prosper the work of his hands: preserve him from all evil: And grant that we may all so walk in one Spirit upon earth, that we may be at last united for ever in thy heavenly kingdom; grant this, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. |