Office for the Burial of the Dead.

in the evening it is cut down, dried up and withered.

For we consume away in thy displeasure, and are afaid at thy wrathful indignation.

Thou hast set our misdeeds before thee, and our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.

For when thou art angry, all our days are gone; we bring our years to an end, like a tale that is told. The days of our age are threescore years and ten; and though men be so strong that they come to fourscore years, yet is their strength then but labor and sorrow; so soon passeth it away, and we are gone.

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Then shall be read the following Lesson.

1 Corinthians xv. 20. 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 Father; 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 manifest that he is excepted which did

Office for the Burial of the Dead.

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 who are baptized for the 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 I 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 which 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 its 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; it is sown in dishonor, 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

Office for the Burial of the Dead.

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 afterwards 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 show 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 incorruption, 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, who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

The Minister may add any of the following Prayers, saying,

Let us pray. O God and merciful Father, who despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart, nor the desire of those who are visited with sorrow, mercifully hear the prayers which we offer before thee in all our troubles and adversities. Look, we humbly

Office for the Burial of the Dead.

beseech thee, upon our infirmities; and, for the glory of thy name, turn from us all those evils which we most justly have deserved; and grant that in all the troubles and afflictions which thou, in thy unerring wisdom, seest it fitting to lay upon us, we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercy, and continually serve thee in holiness. and pureness of living, to thy honor and glory, through our only mediator and advocate, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, who, through thine only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life, quicken us, we beseech thee, by thy Holy Spirit, and raise our thoughts and desires to thee; that, among all the sorrows, and the manifold changes of this world, our hearts and hopes may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found. Strengthen our faith by the knowledge of Christ, and the power of his resurrection; dispose our ways towards the attainment of everlasting salvation, that in all the trials of this mortal life thy grace may be our help and comfort, through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

O 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, who, on this occasion, are called to mourn for the death of a near relative and dear friend. It has seemed good to thy unerring wisdom to visit them with sorrow, and to bring this great distress upon them. Remember them, O Lord, in mercy; sanctify this affliction to their spiritual benefit. Endue their soul with patience under their suffering, and with resignation to thy holy will. Comfort

Office for the Burial of the Dead.

them with a sense of thy goodness; lift upon them the light of thy reconciled countenance, and give them peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty and everliving God, the giver and the preserver of our lives; the aid of all who need; the helper of all who fly to thee for succor; the life of those who believe, and the resurrection of the dead, with reverence and adoration we desire to approach thy throne. Assist us, we beseech thee, in our supplications and prayers. Mercifully look upon our infirmities, and comfort and support us in all the various changes and sorrows of this mortal, sinful state. We know, and acknowledge, that all things in heaven and on earth are at thy wise and just disposal, and that not a sparrow falls except the Lord permit. Sickness, and pains, and death, are the dispensations of thy righteous hand, and are less than our sins deserve. Grant us grace, in every affliction, to confide in thy merciful goodness. Make us duly thankful that, in the gospel of Jesus Christ, life and immortality are brought to light; and that thou hast prepared, for those who love thee, such good things as pass man's understanding. Raise our affections and our desires from the world to thee, and our souls from the death of sin to a life of righteousness.

Sanctify, O Lord, we beseech thee, this instance of mortality to all of us who, through thy forbearing mercy, still survive. May it awaken in our minds serious thoughts upon our latter end, and quicken our diligence in preparing for the same important change. May we find, from blessed experience, that it is better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting; and when it shall please thee to call us hence, may we die the death of the righteous, and our last end be like his.

Accept, O Lord, of our humble intercessions for