SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

The death of

All men equally subject to death. the righteous, a passage to a glorious immortality. A greater degree of glory appointed for those, who through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? Are not his days also like the days of an hireling"?

We are but of yesterday, and know nothing; because our days upon earth are a shadow b.

:. We dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth.

Wise men also die, and perish together, as well as the ignorant and foolish, and leave their riches for other d.

There is no man that hath power over the Spirit, to retain the Spirit: neither hath he power in the day of death; and there is no discharge in that war.

He cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness; and his name shall be covered with darkness f.

One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease, and quiet;

His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow:

And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.

They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them ".

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But I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of mine age: as for Thy years, they endure throughout all generations.

Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the work of Thy hands.

They shall perish; but Thou shalt endure: they all shall wax old as doth a garment...

And as a vesture shalt Thou change them, and they shall be changed; but Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail.

The children of Thy servants shall continue; and their seed shall be established before Thee".

I will ransom them from the power of the grave: I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction.

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints *.

Job xxi. 23-26.

h Psal. cii. 24-28. i Hos. xiii. 14. k Psal. cxvi. 15.

They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy'. And their inheritance shall be for ever ". And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away".

I beheld, and lo! a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands.

These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He That sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them P.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it1.

The same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the

book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels'.

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.

Remember not, Lord, mine offences, p. 177.

Lord have mercy upon me &c. p. 177.

Our Father, Which art in Heaven &c.

Prayer for a blessed death.

O ETERNAL and everliving God, Who didst at first breathe into man the breath of life; and when Thou takest away that breath he dies, and is turned again to his dust; look with compassion, I beseech Thee, upon me Thy creature; and let Thy good Spirit work in me whatsoever Thou seest wanting to fit and prepare me for the time of my dissolution.

Give me that sincere and earnest repentance, to which Thou hast promised mercy and pardon. Wean my heart from the world, and all its fading vanities; and make me to pant after

r Rev. iii, 5.

s Ibid. ver. 21.

those more excellent and durable joys which are at Thy right hand for ever. Lord, lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon me: and in all the pains of my body, and all the agonies of my spirit, let Thy comforts refresh my soul, and enable me patiently to wait till my change come.

And grant, O Lord, that when mine earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolved, I may have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens; and that for His sake, Who by His precious death hath purchased for all believers a sure and certain title to everlasting life, Jesus Christ, Thine only Son our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for a joyful resurrection to eternal life. O MERCIFUL God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the resurrection and the life; in Whom whosoever believeth shall live, though he die; and whosoever liveth and believeth in Him, shall not die eternally; I meekly beseech Thee, O Father, to raise me from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness, that when I shall depart this life I may rest in Him, as all Thy faithful departed do; and that at the general resurrection in the last day I may be found acceptable in Thy