THE ORDER FOR

¶ Here is to be noted, that the Office ensuing is not to be used for any unbaptized adults, any who die excommunicate, or who have laid violent hands upon themselves.

¶ The Minister, meeting the Corpse at the entrance of the Church-yard, and going before it, either into the Church, or towards the Grave, shall say or sing,

    I AM the resurrection and the life, saith the LORD: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die. St. John xi. 25, 26.
    I KNOW that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see GOD : whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another. Job xix. 25, 26, 27.
    WE brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the Name of the LORD. 1 Tim. vi. 7. Job i. 21.
 

¶ If the service is in the church, then shall be said or sung, after the above sentences, a part of the 39th and or the 90th Psalms (see the full Prayer Book,) with the Gloria Patri. After which is to read the lesson take out of the 15th chapter of the 1st Cor., at the 20th verse.

¶ When they come to the Grave, while the Corpse is made ready to be laid into the earth, shall be sung or said,

    MAN, that is born of a woman, hath but a short time to live, and is full of misery. He cometh up, and is cut down, like a flower; he fleeth as it were a shadow, and never continueth in one stay. 
    In the midst of life we are in death: of whom may we seek for succour, but of thee, O LORD, who for our sins art justly displeased? 
    Yet, O LORD GOD most holy, O Lord most mighty, O holy and most merciful Saviour, deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death. 
    Thou knowest, LORD, the secrets of our hearts; shut not thy merciful ears to our prayer; but spare us, LORD most holy, O GOD most mighty, O holy and merciful SAVIOUR; thou most worthy Judge eternal, suffer us not, at our last hour, for any pains of death, to fall from thee.

¶ Then, while the earth shall be cast upon the body by some standing by, the Minister shall say,

    FORASMUCH as it hath pleased Almighty God, in his wise providence, to take out of this world the soul of our deceased brother, we therefore commit his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; looking for the general Resurrection in the last day, and the life of the world to come, through our LORD JESUS CHRIST; at whose second coming in glorious majesty to judge the world, the earth and the sea shall give up their dead; and the corruptible bodies of those who sleep in him shall be changed, and made like unto his own glorious body; according to the mighty working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself.

¶ Then shall be said, or sung,

    I HEARD a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, From henceforth blessed are the dead who die in the LORD: even so saith the SPIRIT; for they rest from their labours. Rev. xiv. 13.

¶ Then the Minister shall say the Lord’s Prayer.

    OUR Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen.

¶ Then the Minister shalt say one or both of the following Prayers, at his discretion.

    ALMIGHTY GOD, with whom do live the spirits of those who depart hence in the Lord, and with whom the souls of the faithful, after they are delivered from the burden of the flesh, are in joy and felicity; We give thee hearty thanks for the good examples of all those thy servants, who, having finished their course in faith, do now rest from their labours. And we beseech thee, that we, with all those who are departed in the true faith of thy holy Name, may have our perfect consummation and bliss, both in body and soul, in thy eternal and everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

    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; who also hath taught us, by his holy Apostle Saint Paul, not to be sorry, as men without hope, for those who sleep in him; We humbly beseech thee, O FATHER, to raise us from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness; that, when we shall depart this life, we may rest in him; and that, at the general Resurrection in the last day, we may be found acceptable in thy sight; and receive that blessing, which thy well-beloved Son shall then pronounce to all who love and fear thee, saying, Come, ye blessed children of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. Grant this, we beseech thee, O merciful FATHER, through JESUS CHRIST, our Mediator and Redeemer. Amen.

    THE grace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and the love of GOD, and the fellowship of the HOLY GHOST, be with us all evermore. Amen.