XXIV. A SHORT SERVICE OF COMFORT AND HOPE FOR The Minister coming in shall say: After brief words of kindly greeting let him say: Brother, let me read you some words of comfort from the mind of God. Then he shall read one or more of the following: 2 Kings iv. 18-38 (for a child). 2 Kings v. 1-4, 9-15. Isa. xxxv. Isa. liv. 7-15. Isa. lxi. 11-18. St. Matt. vi. 25 to the end. St. Luke v. 18-33. St. Luke xiii. 11-18. St. James i. 12-22; v. 7-12. Before an operation, Ecclus. xxxviii. 1-14. Thanksgiving, 1 Sam. ii. 1-11; Isa. xxxviii. 9-21. Hosea xiv. Here may follow a meditation on the portion read. Then the Minister shall say: Let us praise God in the words of a Psalm. Then shall be read by the Minister alone, or alternately with others if they so desire, one or more of the following: Psalms 3, 11, 20, 23, 42, 91, 121, 126, 138, 146. Then kneeling down he shall say: O Lord, save Thy servant; Answer. Who putteth his trust in Thee. Send him help from Thy holy place. Answer. And let our cry come unto Thee. Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. Our Father. Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love. I believe in Thee, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, my Creator, and my Redeemer, and my Sanctifier; I believe that Thou art All-Holy, Just and Merciful. I believe that Thou art willing to pardon and to save me, if I repent and forsake my sins. O my God, strengthen and increase my faith, and grant me the grace of a true repentance, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. I hope in Thee, O my God, because Thou art Almighty, Faithful, and Long-suffering. I humbly trust that Thou wilt pardon my sins for the sake of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, who suffered and died for me upon the Cross; and that Thou wilt cleanse my sinful soul in His Precious Blood, and make me holy, and bring me safe to everlasting life. O Lord, in Thee have I trusted, let me never be confounded. Amen. I love Thee, O my God, above all things, because Thou hast been so good, so patient, so loving to me, notwithstanding all the sins by which I have so grievously offended Thee. I love Thee, O Blessed Jesus, my Saviour, because Thou didst suffer so much for love of me, an ungrateful sinner, and didst die on the Cross for my salvation. O make me love Thee more and more, and show my love to Thee by faithfully keeping Thy Commandments all the days of my life. Amen. Let us pray. O God of heavenly powers, who by the might of Thy command drivest away from men's bodies all sickness and all infirmity; Be present in Thy goodness to this Thy servant, that his weakness may be banished and his strength recalled, and his health being thereupon restored, he may bless Thy holy Name, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. O God, by whose command the moments of our life run their course; Receive our prayers for this Thy servant, on whose behalf we implore Thy mercy; that our fears on account of his danger may be turned into joy at his recovery; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Almighty and everlasting God, who succorest those that labor under perils and afflictions; We humbly beseech Thy Majesty, that it may please Thee to send Thy holy Angel to uphold with Thy comfort Thy servant N., who in this house is suffering distress and affliction; that he may both receive Thy present aid, and attain eternal healing; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O Sovereign Lord, our God, Almighty, we beseech Thee to save us all, Thou only Physician of souls and bodies. Sanctify us all, Thou that healest every disease; and heal also this Thy servant. Raise him up from the bed of pain by Thy tender, loving kindness; visit him in mercy and compassion; drive away from him all sickness and infirmity; that being raised up by Thy mighty hand, he may serve Thee with all thankfulness; and that we, being made partakers of Thine unspeakable goodness, may praise and glorify Thee, who doest works great and wonderful, and worthy to be praised. It is Thine to pity and to save; and to Thee would we ascribe glory, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, now and for ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Unto God's gracious mercy and protection we commit thee. The Lord bless thee, and keep thee. The Lord make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace, both now and evermore. Amen. Other prayers will be found on page 173 of this book. See also the Litany of the Sick, page 148. For a Dying Communicant. Rev. xix. 1, 4-10. St. Luke xxiii. 38-44. O Sovereign Lord, our God, Almighty, who willest that all men should be saved, and come to a knowledge of the truth; who desirest not the death of the sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live; We pray and beseech Thee, loose the soul of this Thy servant from every bond, and free it from every curse. For Thou art He that loosest the fettered; and raisest up the crushed, O Thou Hope of the hopeless! Command, therefore, O Lord, that the soul of Thy servant be released in peace, and go to rest in Thine eternal tabernacles with all Thy Saints, through Thine Only Begotten Son : with whom, and with Thy Holy and life-giving Spirit, Thou art blessed now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Almighty and everlasting God, who hast been pleased to breathe into man a soul according to Thy likeness; Do Thou, while at Thy bidding dust returns to dust, command Thine image to be associated with Thy Saints and elect in an everlasting home; and gently and tenderly receive it as it returns unto Thee, and send Thy holy Angels to meet it, and show it the way of righteousness, and open the gates of Thy glory. Amen. A Short Litany for the Dying. O God, the Father of Heaven; have mercy upon the soul of Thy servant. O God, the Son, Redeemer of the world; have mercy upon the soul of Thy servant. O God, the Holy Ghost; have mercy upon the soul of Thy servant. O Holy Trinity, One God; have mercy upon the soul of Thy servant. Thou who are Three and One; have mercy upon the soul of Thy servant. O God, the Holy of Holies; have mercy upon him. By Thy holy Nativity; By Thy holy Circumcision; By Thy holy Epiphany; By Thy holy Baptism; By Thy holy Passion; By Thy holy and most loving Death; By Thy holy Descent into hell; By Thy glorious Resurrection; By Thy wonderful Ascension; By the Coming of the Holy Ghost the Comforter; We sinners do beseech Thee to hear us: That it may please Thee to deliver the soul of Thy |