Lord, let me know mine end and the number of my days, that I may be certified how long I have to live.

Behold, Thou hast made my days as it were a span long, and mine age is even as nothing in respect of Thee; and verily every man living is altogether vanity.

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

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

Deliver me from all mine offences, and make me not a rebuke unto the foolish.

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.

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.

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

Lord, Thou hast been our refuge: from one generation to another.

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever the earth and the world were made: Thou art God from everlasting, and world without end.

Thou turnest man to destruction: again Thou sayest, Come again, ye children of men.

For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday: seeing that is past as a watch in the night.

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 three score years and ten; and though men be so strong, that they come to four score years; yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow; so soon passeth it away, and we are gone.

O teach us to number our days: that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Jesus said,

(St. John 14: 1)

Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto Him, Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.

(Romans 8:14)

As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God; and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For

the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Here endeth the lesson.

O love that wilt not let me go,

I rest my weary soul in Thee;

I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

O Light that followest all my way,

I yield my flickering torch to Thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in Thy sunshine's blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain

That morn shall tearless be.

Amen.

O cross that liftest up my head,

I dare not ask to fly from thee,

I lay in dust life's glory dead,

And from the ground there blossoms red

Life that shall endless be.

One sweetly solemn thought

Comes to me o'er and o'er;

I am nearer home today

Than I've ever been before.

Nearer my Father's house,

Where the many mansions be;
Nearer the great white throne,
Nearer the crystal sea.

Nearer the bound of life,

Where we lay our burdens down;

Nearer leaving the cross!

Nearer gaining the crown!

But lying darkly between,

Winding adown through the night,

Is the silent, unknown stream,

That leads at last to the light.

Father, be near when my feet

Are slipping o'er the brink

For it may be I am nearer home-
Nearer now than I think.

Let us pray.

O merciful God and Heavenly Father, who hast taught us in Thy holy words that Thou dost not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men, look with Thy loving, tender pity upon the sorrows of these dear ones, and especially of her for whom our prayers are offered unto Thy tender, loving mercy. O may she ever know that, though she pass through

the waters, Thou wilt be with her; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow her; though she walk through the fire, she shall not be burned; neither shall the flames kindle upon her. For Thou art the Lord her God, the holy one of Israel, her Saviour.

Deal tenderly with her, gracious Father; have her in Thy holy keeping; and may she go from strength to strength under the benediction of that peace which the world can neither give nor take away, that peace which passeth understanding. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Lord, Jesus Christ, who by Thy death didst take away the sting of death, grant unto us Thy servants so to follow in faith where Thou hast led the way that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in Thee and awake after Thy likeness through Thy mercy, who liveth with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

O Almighty God, who hast knit together Thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of Thy Son, Christ our Lord, grant us grace so to follow Thy blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys which Thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love Thee. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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 noble and gracious example of our beloved friend, Thy servant, who hath but yesterday fallen on sleep. Grant that we, with all those who are departed in the true faith of Thy holy name, may have our perfect consummation and bliss in Thy eternal and everlasting glory. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, in whose embrace all creatures live in whatsoever world or condition they be, we beseech Thee for him, Thy blessed child, whose name and