The works of William Paley

Our bodies shall soon lie down in the grave, and our souls be summoned to appear before the tribunal of Christ, to receive our everlasting doom; and yet, O Lord, how do the generality of mankind live in this world, as if they were never to leave it! How unmindful are we all of our departure! how improvident of our time! how careless of our souls, and negligent in our preparations for eternity! so that thou mightest justly cut us off in the midst of our sins, and our unpreparedness to appear before thee. But, O God of all comfort and mercy, remember not our sins against thee, but remember thy own love to us in Jesus Christ, and thy tender mercies which have been ever of old. O, remember how short our time is, and "so teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."

In the days of our health and prosperity, let us, from the example of our brother's weakness, remember our own approaching fate; and let him, from the sudden change of health to sickness, consider how few and evil all his days have been, and that there is no satisfaction in any thing, but in knowing thee, O God. Lord, what have we to do in this world, but to devote ourselves wholly to thy service, and to make ready for the world to come? O, that we may all of us be mindful of this "one thing necessary," that we may finish our "work," before we finish our "course."

Quicken thy servant, O Lord, into a powerful and serious consideration of these things, now thou hast brought him into more intimate acquaintance with them. Instruct and assist him in this great work of preparation to die. Shew him how to do it, and help him with good success to perform it; that when the time of his dissolution draweth near, he may have nothing else to do, but to resign himself willingly and cheerfully into thy hands, as into the hands of a merciful Creator, there to remain with thee for ever in that blessed place where sin and sickness and death shall be no more. Amen,

A commendatory prayer for a sick person at the point of departure.

(Visitation Office.)

O ALMIGHTY God, with whom do live the spirits of just men made perfect; we humbly commend the soul. of this thy servant our dear brother into thy hands, as into the hands of a faithful Creator and most merciful Saviour; humbly beseeching thee, that it may be acceptable in thy sight. And teach us, who survive, by this and other daily instances of mortality, to see how frail and uncertain our own condition is, and so to number our days that we may seriously apply our hearts to that holy and heavenly wisdom, which may bring us to life everlasting; through Jesus Christ thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

A litany for a sick person, at the time of departure.
(From Bishop Andrews.)

O God, the Father of heaven,

Have mercy upon him:

Keep and defend him.

O God the Son, Redeemer of the world,

Have mercy upon him:

Save and deliver him.

O God the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son,

Have mercy upon him:

Strengthen and comfort him.

O holy, blessed and glorious Trinity,

Have mercy upon

him.

Remember not, Lord, his offences; call not to mind the offences of his forefathers; but spare him, good Lord, spare thy servant, whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood, and be not angry with him for ever.

From thy wrath and indignation; from the fear of death; from the guilt and burden of his sins, and from the dreadful sentence of the last judgment;

Good Lord, deliver him.

From the sting of conscience; from impatience, distrust, or despair; and from the extremity of sickness or

agony, which may any ways withdraw his mind from thee;

Good Lord, deliver him.

From the powers of darkness; from the illusions and assaults of our ghostly enemy; and from the bitter pangs of eternal death;

Good Lord, deliver him.

From all danger and distress; from all terrors and torments; from all pains and punishments, both of the body and of the soul;

Good Lord, deliver him.

By thy manifold and great mercies; by the manifold and great mercies of Jesus Christ thy Son; by his agony and bloody sweat; by his strong crying and tears; by his bitter cross and passion; by his resurrection and ascension; by his intercession and mediation; and by the graces and comforts of the Holy Ghost;

Good Lord, deliver him.

In this time of extremity; in his last and greatest need; in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment; Good Lord, deliver him.

We sinners do beseech thee to hear us, O Lord God; that it may please thee to be his defender and keeper; to remember him with the favour thou bearest unto thy people, and to visit him with thy salvation;