The Evening After a Funeral

O Thou Father of mercies, and God of all comfort. Thou hast often invited us to thyself, by a profusion of kindnesses; and it manifests our depravity, that we tliinkof Thee so little in the hour of ease and prosperity. But we are now before Thee, in affliction and distress. Yet we rejoice to know, that Thou art a very present, and an all-sufficient help in trouble

Thou takest away and who can hinder Thee, or sny unto Thee, What doest Thou? Thou bust a rig-ht to do what thou wilt with thine own. Thou art a sovereign, and the reasons of tby conduct are often far above, out of our sight-, but thy work is perfect, thy ways are judgment. All thy dispensations are wise, and righteous, and kind — kind, even when they seem to be severe.

May we hear thy voice in thy rod, as well as in thy wordi and gathermg- from the corrections with which we are exercised, the peaceable fruit of rig-liteousness, be able to acknowledge, with all our suRering- brethren before us, It is good for me that 1 have been afflicted.

It is not the Scripture only, that reminds us of our living In a dying world, but all observation, and experience. Man is continually going to his long home, and the mourners daily go about the streets. And we are all accomplishing as an hireling, our day, and in a little time our neighbours, friends and relations, will seek us — and we shall noi be. Owf days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope. Thou hast made our days as an hand’s breadth, and our age is as nothing before Thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. For our days are not only few, but full of evil. Anxieties perplex us; dangers alarm u-^; infirmities oppress us; disappointments afflict US; losses impoverish us — we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled — O, shut not thy merciful ear to our prayers; but spare us, O Lord, most holy: O God, most mighty: O holy and most merciful Saviour: Thou most worthy Judge eternal, suffer us not, at our last hour, for any bitter pains of death, to fall from Thee.

We acknowledge, O God, with shame and sorrow, that the state of degradation and mortality, in which we groan, was not our original condition Thou madest man upright; but he sought out many inventions. Our first father sinned, and we have borne his iniquity. I?y ane man, sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death hath passed upon all men, for that all have sinned, T 2

And we bless Thee. that this is not our final state, u ‘he disccverles of faith, we see new heavens, and a new ?arfh, wherein dwelleth righteousness. We see the spires of just men made perfevt. We see our vile bodies chang-ed, and fashioned like the Saviour’s own g-lorious bodyi and man, the sinner, raised above the ang-els, who never sinned.

We bless Thee for this purpose of grace, formed before the world began, anc’ accomplished in the fulness of ti.iie, by the Son of thy love, who hath abolished death, and brought life andimmortility to light by the gospel: and who among the ravages of the grave, says, I am the resurrection, and the life; lie that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.

May it be our immediate and supreme concern to win Christ, and be found in Him: knowing that there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus; and that blessed are the dead that die in the Lord.

So teach us to nuaiber our d;lysthat we may apply our hearts unto wisdom — that wisdom which will lead us to prefer the soul to the body, and eternity to time; that wisdom which will le:id us to secure an interest in a better world before we are removed from this.

O, let not the trifles of time induce us to neglect the G.ie thing needful While eae-h of us is compelled to say, I know Thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house i*|>pointed for all living, may we be enabled also to say, I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him, against that day.

And, O, let not the solemnities we have this day witnessed, be ever forgotten; for often, our most serious impressions have worn off, and our goodness has been as the morning cloud and early dew, that soon passeth away.

Thou hast permitted death to invade our circle, and hast turned our dwelling into a house of mourning. May we find that it is better to be in the house of mourning, than in Ihe house of mirth By the siidness of the countenance may the heart be made better, more serious to reHect, and more softened to take impression

With the feelings of the creature, may we blend the views and the hopes of the christian. May we remember that Thou hast berjavrd us, not as an aggressor, but as a proprietor; resuming- w’nat was lent us for a season, but never ceased to be thine own. May we, therefore, be dumb, und open not our mouth, because Thou hast done it; or if we speak, may it be to acknowledge and pray — 1 know, O [.ord, that tlpy judgments are right, and that lliou in faithulness hast afflicted me; let thy loving-kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word untothy servant.

We bless Thee tor thy goodness to the deceased, and that we are not called to sorrow, as those who have no hope. We ascribe wluitever excellency was found in them to thy grace; and desire to be followers of them, as far as they also were of (Mu-ist.

Forgive us in whatever instances we failed in our duly towards them. Let the prayers they offered for us while on earth be answered; may we hold communion with them in our living Iledeemer; and look forwt, d to a period of renewed and improved intercourse, in which we shall be for ever with each other, and for ever with the Lord.

Now unto him that is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory, with exceeding joy. To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.