As soon as Thou scatterest them, they are even as a sleep; and fade away suddenly like the grass.

In the morning it is green, and groweth up; but in the evening it is cut down, dried up, and withered.

For we consume away in Thy displeasure; and are afraid at Thy wrathful indignation.

Thou hast set our misdeeds before Thee, and our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance.

For when Thou art angry, all our days are gone; we bring our years to an end, as it were a tale that is told.

The days of our age are threescore years and ten; and though men be so strong, that they come to fourscore years; yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow; so soon passeth it away, and we are gone.

2.

And now, Lord, what is my hope? truly my hope is even in Thee'.

I have sinned: what shall I do unto Thee, O Thou preserver of men "?

I will confess my wickedness, and be sorry for my sin".

I said, I will take heed unto my ways, that I offend not in my tongue'.

e Psal. xc. 4—10.

f Psal. xxxix. 8. s Job vii. 20.

h Psal. xxxviii. 18.

Psal. xxxix. 1.

And keep innocency, and take heed to the thing that is right; for that shall bring a man peace at the last *.

When Thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sin, Thou makest his beauty to consume away, like as it were a moth fretting a garment: every man therefore is but vanity'.

For man walketh in a vain shadow, and disquieteth himself in vain; he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them ".

Hear my prayer, O Lord, and with Thine ears consider my calling: hold not Thy peace at my tears.

For I am a stranger with Thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

O spare me a little, that I may recover my strength, before I go hence, and be no more

seen ".

For Thou art the God of my strength,

The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: Thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

Lord, be merciful unto me: heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee P.

O remember not against us our former iniquities: let Thy tender mercies speedily pre

vent us 9.

* Psal. xxxvii. 88.

n Ibid. ver. 13-15.

1 Psal. xxxix. 12. • Psal. xliii. 2. Psal. lxxix. 8.

m Ibid. ver. 7. P Psal. xli. 3, 4.

Help us, O God of my salvation, for the glory of Thy name: deliver us; and purge away our sins for Thy name's sake'.

Deal bountifully with Thy servant, that I may live, and keep Thy word '.

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom'.

Let me die the death of the righteous; and let my last end be like his ".

O send out Thy light and Thy truth; let them lead me, let them bring me unto Thy holy hill, and to Thy tabernacles *.

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

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

Our Father, Which art in Heaven &c.

Prayer for the forgiveness of our sins, and a happy death.

O most merciful God! Who, according to the multitude of Thy mercies, dost so put away the sins of those that truly repent, that Thou rememberest them no more, open Thine eye

r Psal. lxxix. 9.

s Psal. cxix. 17.

t Psal. xc. 12.

* Psal. xliii. 3.

u Numb. xxiii. 10.

of mercy upon me Thy servant, who most earnestly desire pardon and forgiveness. Renew in me, most loving Father, whatsoever hath been decayed by the fraud and malice of the devil, or by mine own carnal will and frailness: preserve and continue me in the unity of the Church consider my contrition: accept my humiliation increase my faith. And forasmuch as I put my full trust only in Thy mercy, impute not unto me my former sins; but strengthen me with Thy Blessed Spirit, that I may live the residue of my life to Thee, and be an instrument of Thy glory, by serving Thee faithfully, and doing good in my generation. And when Thou art pleased to take me hence, take me unto Thy favour, through the merits of Thy dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for peace and comfort in the hour of death.

O Almighty Lord, Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, our only help in time of need! I beseech Thee likewise to accept the devout prayers and supplications which I now offer up to Thy Divine Majesty with respect to the time of my greatest extremity, the last and most important conflict of my life. Do Thou then, O Lord, look graciously upon Thy

servant, and visit me with Thy salvation: send me help from above, and deliver me from the snares and terrors of the wicked one: sustain mine agonies with the peaceful comforts of a quiet and good conscience, and of perfect reconciliation with Thee my God. Lord, as Thou bringest me nearer to Thyself, so let my love and my desires of Thee be stronger. And oh! that it may please Thee in Thine abundant mercy, to afford me some sweet foretaste of future bliss, that I may triumph even in death itself.

But if in this I know not what I ask, yet at least suffer not my faith to be shaken, nor Thy loving-kindness to fail. And however Thou dealest with this corruptible body, let my soul, I beseech Thee, be precious in Thy sight; and the more the outward man decays, strengthen me so much the more continually with Thy grace and Holy Spirit in the inner man. Give me unfeigned repentance for all the errors of my life past, and stedfast faith in Thy Son Jesus, that my sins may be done away by Thy mercy, and my pardon sealed in Heaven before go hence and be no more seen.

I

In Thy mercy, O Lord, I put my full trust; in Thy mercy alone, and in the merits and sufferings of my crucified Saviour. So fit and prepare me, I beseech Thee, for the hour of