Then the Priest, casting earth upon the corpse, shall say, I COMMEND thy soul to God the Father Almighty, and thy body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in sure and certain hope of resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change our vile body, that it may be like to his glorious body, according to the mighty working, whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself. Then, while the earth shall be cast upon the body by some standing by, the Priest shall say, FORASMUCH as it hath pleased Almighty God of his great mercy to take unto himself the soul of our dear brother here departed, we therefore commit his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in sure and certain hope of resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change our vile body, that it may be like to his glorious body, according to the mighty working, whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself. Then shall be said or sung, I HEARD a voice from heaven, saying unto me, y Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord: even so saith the Spirit; that they rest from their labours. Apoc. xiv. y Write, From henceforth blessed are the dead 1552. ceptable in thy sight, and receive that blessing which thy well-beloved Son shall then pronounce to all that love and fear thee, saying, Come, ye blessed children of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you before the beginning of the world. Grant this, merciful Father, for the honour of Jesu Christ our only Saviour, Mediator, and Advocate. Amen. This prayer shall also be added. ALMIGHTY God, we give thee hearty thanks for this thy servant, whom thou hast delivered from the miseries of this wretched world, from the body of death, and all temptation; and, as we trust, hast brought his soul, which he committed into thy holy hands, into sure consolation and rest. Grant, we beseech thee, that at the day of judgment his soul, and all the souls of thy elect, departed out of this life, may with us, and we with them, fully receive thy promises, and be made perfect altogether; through the glorious resurrection of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. These Psalms, with other suffrages fol- Dilexi, quoniam. Psalm cxvi. That he hath inclined his ear unto me therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. The snares of death compassed me round about and the pains of hell gat hold upon me. I shall find trouble and heaviness, and I shall call upon the name of the Lord (O Lord) I beseech thee, deliver my soul. Gracious is the Lord, and righteous: yea, our God is merciful. The Lord preserveth the simple I was in misery, and he helped me. : eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the Lord: in the land of the living. I believed, and therefore will I speak; but I was sore troubled I said in my haste, All men are liars. What reward shall I give unto the Lord: for all the benefits that he hath done unto me? I will receive the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows now in the presence of all his people: right dear in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. Behold (O Lord) how that I am thy servant : I am thy ser morning and remain in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there also shall thy hand lead me and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Peradventure the darkness shall cover me: then shall my night be turned to day. Yea, the darkness is no darkness with thee, but the night is all clear as the day: the darkness and light to thee are both alike. For my reins are thine : thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks unto thee, for I am fearfully and wondrously made: marvellous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well. My bones are not hid from thee: though I be made secretly, and fashioned beneath in the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect: and in thy book were all my members written; Which day by day were fashioned when as yet there was none of them. : How dear are thy counsels unto me, O God: O how great is the sum of them. If I tell them, they are more in number than the sand: when I wake up I am present with thee. Wilt thou not slay the wick |