Prayer for a Peaceful End

Merciful and gracious God! I perceive that the time of my departure has come, and the hour is at hand when I shall depart in peace, and lay me down to rest. My eyes fail, my strength is gone, and soon, it seems, I shall pass away. Therefore I come to Thee, and utter a last prayer: I commend my body and soul to Thee O Lord; grant me a blessed end for Jesus Christ’s sake. Lord God, heavenly Father, who hast created me, preserved me, and sustained me till now, graciously receive my soul. O Jesus, who hast redeemed and washed me with Thy blood, let me now in true faith, trusting in Thy merit and atonement, die blessed. O Lord Jesus, into Thy hands I commend my spirit. O blessed Holy Spirit, my Comforter and Stay, forsake me not, but give me peace and the comforting assurance that I am an heir of everlasting life. Pray in me and with me; make intercession for me with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Behold, I am ready to leave the earth, and long only for Thee, and to be with Thee, O Triune God. As Israel had its year of jubilee, when every slave received back his freedom and his inheritance; so, O God, when I die, my year of Jubilee begins, and I shall be freed from the service of sin and from every cross, and attain to the perfect freedom of the children of God in eternal life, my Jesus, open for me the door of heaven; guide and lead me to life eternal, to the assembly of the saints in light.

O my God, give me a rational end; let me remain in the possession of my senses till the last moment of my life. Keep me occupied with good and holy thoughts, that I may always keep Christ before me. And if my eyes should fail me soon, refresh me in my soul with Thy heavenly comfort and light. Let Jesus ever be present to my soul. Let me rejoice in His blood that was shed for me, seek shelter in His opened side, comfort myself with His merit, and grasp His righteousness in true faith.

If it be Thy will, grant me a quiet death. Preserve me from irrational conduct, temptations, and distracting thoughts. Let my heart, which has been Thy dwelling here, gently cease to beat. Let me die peacefully in Thy arms. Give me a blessed end, and let me soon behold Thy holy face with joy. O Triune God, bless my departure from this mortal state, and my entrance upon the joyful eternity. The Lord bless me and keep me; the Lord make His face shine upon me and be gracious unto me; the Lord lift up His countenance upon me, and give me peace. In the name of the Triune God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, I live and I die. In His name I close my eyes; to Him and His grace I commend my soul. Amen.