Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

an animal body, and there is a spiritual 45 body. Thus, indeed, it is written, The first man, Adam, attained to animal life' the last Adam was made a spirit 46 that had life in itself *. Nevertheless, that was not first which is spiritual; but 47 that which is animal; and afterwards that which is spiritual. The first man,, born of the earth, was composed of dust; the second man, from heaven, was hea. 48 venly. As was the earth-born man,

such are they also who are earth-born: and as is the heavenly, such will be they 49 also that are heavenly. And, as we

have borne resemblance to the earthborn, we shall also bear resemblance to the heavenly.

50 I mean this, brethren ;-that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of GOD; neither can corruption inherit 51 incorruption. Behold! I tell you a

mystery. All of us, indeed, shall not 52 sleep: but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for atrumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible;

*John v. 26.

and

53 and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must be clothed with incorruption, and this mortal mortal must be 54 clothed with immortality. But, when this corruptible shall be clothed with incorruption; and this mortal shall be clothed with immortality; then will 55 that scripture be fulfilled, "Death will be swallowed up for ever." (Isa. xxv. 8.) O death! where is thy sting? O 56 grave! where is thy victory? The sting of death, is sin: and the power of sin, 57 is the law. But thanks be to GOD, who giveth us victory, through Jesus 58 Christ our lord! Therefore, my belovcd brethren, be ye stedfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the lord; knowing, through the lord, that your labour will not be in vain.

When the persons who attend the body are come to the grave, and the corpse is laid into the earth, the minister shall say ;

MAN that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live, and is full of trouble he cometh up, and is cut down like a flower;

I 2

a flower; he fleeth like a shadow, and continueth not.

In the midst of life, we are in death: of whom may we seek for succour but of thee, O GOD! who, for our sins, art justly displeased?

Thou knowest, O JEHOVAH! the secrets of our hearts; mercifully hear our prayers; spare us, o most mighty, most holy, and most merciful GOD! thou supreme judge of all! suffer us not, at our last hour, to be without hope, or to fall from thee: neither deliver us unto future condemnation.

While the earth shall be cast upon the body by some person standing by, the minister shall say;

FORASMUCH as it hath pleased almighty GOD to take unto himself our brother, now departed; we, therefore, commit his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in a well assured hope that there will be to all those, who die in the fear and love of GOD, a joyful resurrection to eternal life, agreeably to the gospel of our

lord

lord Jesus Christ; when our mortal body will be changed, and made like unto his glorious body; and we shall become the subjects of his heavenly kingdom.

Then shall be said;

"HEARD a voice from heaven," saith the apostle John, "saying unto me; Happy are the dead, who die in the lord, henceforth! Even so, saith the spirit, in resting from their labours; and their works go with them." with them." Rev. xiv. 13.

Then the minister shall say;

OUR FATHER! who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us, day by day, our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those, who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Collect.

O MERCIFUL GOD! who, by the resurrection of our lord Jesus Christ, hast "brought life and immortality" more clearly "to light;" and hast also taught us, by the apostle Paul, "not to be sorry, as men without hope, for those, who sleep in him :" we humbly beseech thee, o father! to raise us from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness; that, when we shall depart this life, we may rest in the christian hope; and that, at the general resurrection, we may be found acceptable in thy sight, and receive that blessing, which he, whom thou hast appointed to judge the world in righteousness, shall then pronounce to all who love and fear thee, saying, "Come, blessed children of my father! receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world." Grant this, o heavenly father of thine infinite mercy and goodAmen.

ness.

MAY JEHOVAH bless us and preserve us ; may he be merciful unto us, and look favourably upon us, now and for evermore. Amen. Numb. vi. 24-26.

PRAYERS

« FöregåendeFortsätt »