O God, Thou only Refuge of Thy children! who remainest true though all else should fail, and livest though all things die, cover us now when we fly to Thee. Rebuke within us all immoderate desires, all unquiet temper, all presumptuous expectations, all ignoble self-indulgence: and feeling on us the embrace of Thy Fatherly hand, may we meekly and with courage go into the darkest ways of our pilgrimage; anxious not to change Thy perfect will, but only to do and bear it worthily. May we spend all our days as in Thy presence, and meet our death in the strength of Thy promise, and pass hence into the nearer light of Thy knowledge and Thy love—Amen.

James Martineau.