Page:The church manual (Church of the Brethren 1916).djvu/48

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
CHURCH MANUAL.
47

the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 15: 41-58.

When convenient and practicable, a suitable hymn may be sung while the grave is being filled.

After the grave has been filled, or at the time of the dismission from the grave, the minister will say:

"Forasmuch as it has pleased Almighty God in his wise providence to remove from us the soul of the departed, we therefore commit—body to the ground, earth to earth, and dust to dust, looking for the general resurrection in the last day, and the life of the world to come, through our Lord Jesus Christ, at whose second coming in glorious majesty to judge