Prayer For A Dying Servant

O God the Father, Father of the spirits of all men; O God the Son, who has washed away our sins by his own blood, and who by his resurrection has brought life and immortality to light; O God the Holy Ghost, Regenerator, Sanctifier and Comforter of your saints—have compassion now, we ask you, upon the low estate of your servant lying in the extremity of sickness.

We commend unto you his soul as into the hands of a faithful Creator and most merciful Savior. Wash him in the blood of the Lamb from all guilt. Finish in him your perfect work of sanctification, enduing him plenteously with every grace, rendering him complete in all the fullness of Christ. Though his flesh and his heart fail, be the strength of his heart and his portion forever.

Give your peace to him, and do not let his heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Having gone and prepared a place for him, come now again and receive him unto yourself, that where you are there he may be also.

And graciously comfort us who mourn. Silence the murmurings of our rebellious hearts. Enable us to say with your servant of old, “The Lord gave, and the Lord takes away, blessed is the name of the Lord.” Make us mindful of our own mortality, and teach us so to number our days that we may seriously apply our hearts to that heavenly wisdom which may in the end bring us to life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, your only Son our Lord,

Amen.

A A Hodge