8. PRAYER FOR THE AGED

     O Lord God, our Dwelling-place in all generations, our Life and our Increase of years, in whose hands is our time, the years have drawn nigh of which I say, "I have no pleasure in them," for my strength is fast declinging in my advanced age, while manifold ailings and frailties are increasing.  I humbly pray Thee, who hast so graciously led me from my earliest infancy and hast been my constant Hope from the days of my youth, do not forsake me now in my old age, when I am weak and my hair has turned gray, but bear me up and sustain me to the day of my happy death.  But above all I would pray Thee, O Father of all grace, to rule and guide me with Thy Holy Spirit that I may wholly consecrate myself to Thee for the remaining days of my life by a Christian walk, by prayer and supplication.  And grant to me, the longer, the more, a state of Christian readiness, that whether the time of my departure be to-day or to-morrow, it may be as peaceful as Simeon's of old and that I may enter life eternal.  Amen.