which we have expressly declared unto us in the Word of God *.' PRAYER. Almighty and everlasting God, heavenly Father, we give thee humble thanks, for that thou hast vouchsafed to call us to the knowledge of thy grace, and faith in thee.' Yea, we heartily thank thee, O heavenly Father, that thou hast called us to this state of salvation through Jesus Christ our Saviour 2.' O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us, and grant us,' this, thy salvation. O Lord, save thy people, and bless thine inheritance a.' And, O merciful God, who hast made all men, and hatest nothing that thou hast made, nor wouldest the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live; have mercy upon all Jews, Turks, Infidels, and Heretics, and take from them all ignorance, hardness of heart, and contempt of thy word; and so fetch them home, blessed Lord, to thy flock", that thou mayest make thy ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all nations. O, may it please thee, of thy gracious goodness,' thus shortly to accomplish the number of thine elect, and to hasten thy kingdom ".' 6 6 And we most humbly beseech thee, O heavenly Father, so to assist us with thy grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all such good works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in; and that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found";' that we may ever remain in the number of thy faithful and elect children, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen ' 43 SECTION XII. OF DEATH, RESURRECTION, AND THE JUDGMENT. . 6 As Christ died for us, and was buried,' so it is appointed unto us, likewise, to 'pass through the grave and gate of death'.' For man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live, and is full of misery. He cometh up, and is cut down like a flower; he fleeth, as it were a shadow, and never continueth in one stay ;' so that in the midst of life we' may be said to be 'in death.' But, as Christ,' after he had suffered for our salvation, and died for our sins,' the third day",' for our justification,' 'did truly rise again from death P;' so we I believe in the resurrection of the body, and when 'it pleases Almighty God, of his great mercy, to take unto himself the souls of our departed' relatives, we therefore commit their bodies to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, in sure and certain hope of the resurrection. For as Christ did truly rise again from death, and took again his body, with flesh, bones, and all things appertaining to the perfection of man's nature; wherewith He ascended into heaven, and there sitteth until He return to judge all men at the last day:' so, at His coming, all men shall rise again with their bodies,' and, in that last day, when He shall come in his glorious Majesty to judge both the quick and the dead",' they shall give account for their own works; and they, that h Article 3. * Burial Service. 6 m Collect, First Sunday after Easter. First Sunday after Easter. 9 Apostles' Creed. * Article 4. Collect, First Sunday in Advent. i Collect, Easter Even. Athanasian Creed. Apostles' Creed. P Article 4. r Burial Service. t Athanasian Creed. have done good, shall go into life everlasting; and they, that have done evil, into everlasting fire *!" · But who may abide the day of His coming? who shall be able to endure when He appeareth?' who to answer at the dreadful day of Judgment, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed!' 'It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God! For then He shall pour down rain upon the sinners, snares, fire and brimstone, storm and tempest; this shall be their portion to drink! For, lo, the Lord' will then come out of his place to visit the wickedness of such as dwell upon the earth.' His fan' will be, as it were, 'in his hand, and He will purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the barn, but He will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire!' This day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night; and when men shall say, Peace, and all things are safe, then shall sudden destruction come upon them, as sorrow cometh upon a woman travailing with child, and they shall not escape. Then shall appear the wrath of God in the day of vengeance, which obstinate sinners, through the stubbornness of their heart, have heaped unto themselves, which despised the goodness, patience, and long-sufferance of God, when He calleth them continually to repentance. Then shall they call upon me (saith the Lord) but I will not hear; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me; and that, because they hated knowledge, and received not the fear of the Lord, but abhorred my counsel, and despised my correction. Then shall it be too late to knock, when the door shall be shut; and too late to cry for mercy, when it is the time of justice. O terrible voice of most just judgment, which shall be pronounced upon them, when it shall be said unto them, Go, ye cursed, into the fire everlasting, which is prepared for the devil and his angels!' But until the axe be put unto the root of the trees, so that every tree, that bringeth not forth good fruit, be hewn down and cast into the fire a," we may be delivered from God's wrath, and from everlasting damnation,' through the merits and death of his dear Son Jesus Christ our Lord .' By his cross and passion we may be brought unto the glory of his resurrection d,' even to eternal life, through' Him, who shall change our vile body, that it may be like unto his glorious body, according to the mighty working, whereby He is able to subdue all things to himself. For, although we have sinned, yet have we an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and He is the propitiation for our sins. For He was wounded for our offences, and smitten for our wickedness; and is the merciful receiver of all true penitent sinners.' We may, therefore, assure ourselves that He is ready to receive us, and most willing to pardon us, if we come unto Him with faithful repentance; if we will submit ourselves unto Him, and from henceforth walk in his ways; if we will take his easy yoke, and light burden upon us, to follow Him in lowliness, patience, and charity, and be ordered by the governance of his Holy Spirit; seeking always his glory, and serving Him duly in our vocation with thanksgiving. This if we do, Christ will deliver us from the curse of the law, and from the extreme malediction which shall light upon them that shall be set on the left hand; and He will set us on his right hand, and give us the gracious benediction of his Father, commanding us to take possession of his glorious kingdom','' say d Annunciation of the Virgin Mary. f Commination. ing, Come, ye blessed children of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world!' Therefore, take we heed betime, while the day of salvation lasteth; for the night cometh when none can work but let us, while we have the light, believe in the light, and walk as children of the light, that we be not cast into utter darkness, where is weeping and gnashing of teeth"!' PRAYER. I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, From henceforth, blessed are the dead which die in the Lord; even so saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labours .' O, Almighty God, with whom do live the spirits of them that 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 appoint a time to deliver us out of the miseries of this sinful world .' Yet, O Lord God most holy, O Lord most mighty, O holy and most merciful Saviour, deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death!'' but spare us, Lord most holy,' and grant, that, as we are baptized into the death of thy blessed Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, so, by continual mortifying our corrupt affections, we may be buried with Him, and that, through the grave and gate of death, we may pass to a joyful resurrection";' even to be made partakers of HIS resurrection "," that when He shall appear again with power and great glory, we may be made like unto Him in his eternal and glorious kingdom °!' Prayer, Burial. k Prayer, Burial. 1 Burial. h Commination. |