10- Selections of Scriptures Prayers
SELECTIONS OF SCRIPTURE USE OF THE PASTOR IN THE SICK-ROOM.
REPENTANCE FOR SIN.
PSALM LI. HAVE mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovkig-kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, arid 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. n 92 MANUAL OF FORMS.
Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bonea 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.
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not 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 show 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. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt-offering and whole burntoffering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
PATIENCE.
JOB XL. AND XLII.
Moreover the Lord answered Job and said, Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God let him answer it... Gird up iN THE SICK-KOOH. 93 thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? Wilt thou condemn me that thou mayest be righteous?
Then Job answered the Lord, and said, Behold I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth, I know that thou canst do everything, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I under stood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak, I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee: wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.
HEBREWS xn.
Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with BO great a cloud 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 ex hortation which speaketh unto you as unto children 94 MAJSTJAL OF FORMS. My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: for whon> the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth 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 with out 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; Jjut 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. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which ia lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
* * * * * For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto black ness, and darkness, and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more.
***** But ye are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an IN THE SICK-KOOM. 95 innumerable company of angels, to the general as sembly and Church of the first-born, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the me diator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprink ling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
See that ye refuse not him that speaketh: for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven: whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath prom ised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: for our God is a con suming fire.
FAITH.
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 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 whithei thou goest; and how car we know the way?
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Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, aud the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me, If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me, hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you, I speak not of myself: but the Father, that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else be lieve me for the very works sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto -my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.
If ye love me, keep my commandments: and I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my IN THE SICK-ROOM. 97
Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me, shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Judas saith unto him (not Iscariot), Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not, keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 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 iiot your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
PSALM xxm. 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.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths 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.
7 98 MANUAL OF FORMS.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; mj 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 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 front everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Re turn, 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 groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath ure 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 labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. IN THE SICK-ROOM. 99 Who knoweth the power of thine anger? e\en aci\>rding to thy fear, so is thy wrath. 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.
Oh 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.
PSALM cm.
Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle s. The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
100 MANUAL OF FORMS.
He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
He will not always chide; neither will he keep his anger for ever.
He hath not dealt with us after our sins; ncr re warded 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 pitieth 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 everlasting upon them that fear him, and his right eousness unto children’s children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that re member his commandments to do them. The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. IN THE SICK-ROOM. 101 Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, my soul.
Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
(It was Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Laz arus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Laz arus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judea again. His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go that I may awake him out of sleep.
Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Theh said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And 102 MANUAL OF FORMrf.
I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless, let us go unto him.
Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow-disciples, Let us also go, that we may dU with him.
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 com fort 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 com? into the world. And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is 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 IN THE SICK-ROOM. 103 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, fol lowed 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 say 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 sister 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 the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me, ana I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by, I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus 104 MANUAL OF FORMS. 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.
Then many of the Jews, which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, ind told them what things Jesus had done.
JOY AND HOPE.
ROMANS vm.
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. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness 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 spiritually minded is life and peace: because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not sub ject 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 IN THE SICK-ROOM. 105 d if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of gin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelt in you, He that raised up. Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 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 chil dren of God: and if children, then heirs: heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suf fer 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 willingly, 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, 106 MANUAL OF FORMS waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that ia seen, is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth lie 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 groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts kuoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we 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 ]>f 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, 1 hem 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 anything 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, IN THE SICK-KOOM. 107 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 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.
1 Corinthians 15:12-26 AND 39-58.
Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the lead, how say some among you that there is no resur rection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 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 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; afterward they that are Christ’s 108 MANUAL OF FORMS. 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 power. For he must reigri, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death...
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 celes tial 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 inoon, and another glory of the stars; for one star diflfereth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corrup tion, it is raised in incorruption: it is sown in dis honor, 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. Howbcit, 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 cor IN THE S1CK-KOOM. 109
^ji/tion inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a my&tery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the Itvst trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead ahall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be phangod. For this corruptible must put on incorruptioit, and this mortal must put on immortality. So whe.u this corruptible shall have put on incor ruption, and this mortal shall have put on immor tality, tlxen shall be brought to pass the saying that is written j Death is swallowed up in victory. 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.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unrnovable, alvays abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord, REVELATIONS xxn. And he ^nowed me a pure river of water of life, clear as c/ystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of 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 110 MANUAL OF FORMS.
Lord God giveth them light: and they shak 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 show 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. And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to wor ship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things.
Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren the prophets and of them which keep the sayings of this book worship God. And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still, and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I an Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murder ers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you IN THE SICK-KOOM. Ill these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst, come: and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
He which tcstifieth these things saith, Surely, I come quickly; AMEN. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. AMEN.
PRAYERS SUITABLE FOR THE USE OF THE PASTOR IN THE CHAMBER OF THE SICK OR DYING, IN THE CASE OF ONE REPENTING OF SIN.
MOST merciful God, who according to the multitude of thy mercies dost so put away the sins of those who truly repent that thou rememberest them no more, open thine eye of mercy upon this thy servant, whc earnestly desireth pardon and forgiveness. Create in him a clean heart and renew a right spirit within him, 112 MANUAL OF FORMS. and restore whatever may have been decayed by the snares of Satan or by his own carnal will and frail ness. Consider his contrition, accept his tears, assuage his pain, comfort his heart, as shall seem to thee most expedient for him. And forasmuch as he trusteth only in the righteousness and promise of thy Son Je sus Christ, impute not unto him his former sins, but accept him as righteous in thy sight, and strengthen and endue him plenteously with every grace by thy blessed Spirit. And when thou art pleased to take him hence, take him into thy favor, through the merits of thy most dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN. IN THE CASE OF A SICK CHKISTIAN.
O BLESSED LORD, the Father of mercies and God of all consolation, we beseech thee look down with in finite pity and compassion upon this thy sick servant.
Remember the sharpness and weariness of his pains.
Break not the bruised reed nor quench the smoking flax, but make him to hear joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Deliver him from the snares and temptation of Satan; from all impatience and repining at thy chastisement; from all unbelief and distrust in thy mercies; from improper fears of death and immoderate desires for life. Grant unto him sincere repentance for his sins, and perfect assurance that they have been forgiven and his com plete salvation secured through the atoning sacrifice and effectual mediation of our Lord and Saviour Je sus Christ. Sanctify to him all his afflictions, and, though very grievous to the flesh, may they begin;
IIS THE SICK-BOOM. 113 even now, to work out for him a far more exceeding and an eternal weight of glory. Prepare him for all that thou hast prepared for him. Give him to see the desire of his heart in the well-being and the well-doing of all bound to him by the ties of natural affection. And at last give to him an abundant entrance into thy heavenly home.
O blessed Jesus, we cast ourselves upon thy mercy, by thy cross and passion, by thy precious death and burial, by thy glorious resurrection and ascension, and by the coming of the Holy Ghost, deliver us, O Lord, and hear our prayer. AMEN. IN THE CASE OF ONE ABOUT TO DIE.
O Goi> the Father, Father of the spirits of all men; O God the Son, who has washed away our sins by his own blood, and who by his resurrection has brought life and immortality to light; O God the Holy Ghost, Regenerator, Sanctifier and Comforter of thy saints, have compassion now, we beseech thee, upon the low estate of thy servant lying in the extremity of sick ness. We commend unto thee his soul as into the hands of a faithful Creator and most merciful Saviour.
Wash him in the blood of the Lamb from all guilt.
Finish in him thy perfect work of sanctification, en duing him plenteously with every grace, rendering dim complete in all the fullness of Christ. Though Ais flesh and his heart faileth, be thou the strength of hi* heart and his portion for ever. Give thy peace to him, and let not his heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Having gone and prepared a place for 8 114 MANUAL OF FORMS. kim, come now again and receive him unto thyself that where thou art there lie may be also. And graciously comfort us who mourn. Silence the murmurings of our rebellious hearts. Enable us to say with thy servant of old, “ The Lord gave, and the Lord taketh away, blessed is the name of the Lord.” Make us mindful of our own mortality, and teach us so to number our days that we may seriously apply our hearts to that heavenly wisdom which may in the end bring us to life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, thine only Son our Lord.
AMEN.