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of the Lord, laudable, glorious, and honourable, to the increase of glory and endless felicity; or else it be sent unto you to correct and amend in you whatsoever doth offend the eyes of your heavenly Father; know you certainly, that if you truly repent you of your sins, and bear your sickness patiently, trusting in God's mercy, for his dear Son Jesus Christ's sake, and render unto him humble thanks for his fatherly visitation, submitting yourself wholly unto his will, it shall turn to your profit, and help you forward in the right way that leadeth unto everlasting life.

If the Person visited be very sick, then the Curate may end his exhortation in this place, or else proceed.

TAKE therefore in good part the chastisement of the Lord: For (as Saint Paul saith in the twelfth chapter to the Hebrews) "whom the "Lord loveth he chasteneth, and " scourgeth every son whom he re"ceiveth. If ye endure chasten"ing, God dealeth with you, as "with sons; for what son is he, " whom the father chasteneth not? "But if ye be without chastisement, "whereof all are partakers, then are

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ye bastards, and not sons. Fur"thermore, we have had fathers of ❝ our flesh, which corrected us, and ་་ we gave them reverence: shall we "not much rather be in subjection ❝ unto the Father of spirits, and live? "For they verily for a few days "chastened us after their own plea"sure; but he for our profit, that "we might be partakers of his holi❝ness." These words, good brother, are written in holy Scripture for our comfort and instruction; that we should patiently, and with thanksgiving, bear our heavenly Father's correction, whensoever by any manner of adversity it shall please his gracious goodness to visit us. And

there should be no greater comfort to Christian persons, than to be made like unto Christ, by suffering patiently adversities, troubles, and sicknesses.

For he himself went not up to joy, but first he suffered pain; he entered not into his glory, before he was crucified. So truly our way to eternal joy is to suffer here with Christ; and our door to enter into eternal life, is gladly to die with Christ; that we may rise again from death, and dwell with him in everlasting life. Now, therefore, taking your sickness, which is thus profitable for you, patiently; I exhort you, in the Name of God, to remember the profession which you made unto God in your Baptism. And forasmuch as after this life there is an account to be given unto the righteous Judge, by whom all must be judged without respect of persons; I require you to examine yourself and your estate, both toward God and man; so that accusing and condemning yourself for your own faults, you may find mercy at our heavenly Father's hand for Christ's sake, and not be accused and condemned in that fearful judgment. Therefore I shall rehearse to you the Articles of our Faith; that you may know whether you do believe as a Christian man should, or no.

Here the Minister shall rehearse the Articles of the Faith, saying thus:

Dost thou believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth?

And in Jesus Christ his onlybegotten Son our Lord? And that he was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; that he suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; that he went down into hell, and also did rise again the third day; that he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; and from thence shall come again at the end of the world, to judge the quick and the dead?

And dost thou believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholic Church; the communion of saints; the remis sion of sins; the resurrection of the

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flesh; and everlasting life after death?

The sick Person shall answer,
All this I stedfastly believe.

Then shall the Minister examine whether he repent him truly of his sins, and be in charity with all the world; exhorting him to forgive, from the bottom of his heart, all Persons that have offended him: and if he hath offended any other, to ask them forgiveness; and where he hath done injury or wrong to any man, that he make amends to the uttermost of his porver. And if he hath not before disposed of his goods, let him then be admonished to make his Will, and to declare his Debts, what he oweth, and what is owing unto him; for the better discharging of his Conscience, and the quietness of bis Executors. But men should often be put in remembrance to take order for the settling of their temporal estates whilst they are in health.

These words, before rehearsed, may be said before the Minister begin his Prayer, as he shall see cause.

The Minister should not omit earnestly to move such sick Persons, as are of ability, to be liberal to the Poor.

Here shall the sick Person be moved to make a special Confession of his sins, if he feel bis Conscience troubled with any weighty matter. After which Confession the Priest shall absolve him (if he humbly and beartily desire it) after this sort: OUR Lord Jesus Christ, who hath

left

power to his Church to absolve all sinners who truly repent, and believe in him; of his great mercy forgive thee thine offences: and by his authority committed to me, I absolve thee from all thy sins, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

And then the Priest shall say the Collect following.

Let us pray.

MOST merciful God, who according to the multitude of thy mercies dost so put away the sins of those who truly repent, that thou rememberest them no more; Open thine

eye of mercy upon this thy servant, who most earnestly desireth pardon and forgiveness. Renew in him, most loving Father, whatsoever hath been decayed by the fraud and malice of the devil, or by his own carnal will and frailness; preserve and continue this sick member in the unity of the Church; consider his contrition, accept his tears, asswage his pain, as shall seem to thee most expedient for him. And forasmuch as he putteth his full trust only in thy mercy, impute not unto him his former sins; but strengthen him with thy blessed Spirit; and when thou art pleased to take him hence, take him unto thy favour, through the merits of thy most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then shall the Minister say the 71st Psalm,

ante 328,

Adding this:

OSAVIOUR of the world, who by thy Cross and precious Blood hath redeemed us; save us, and help us, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord.

Then shall the Minister say,

THE Almighty Lord, who is a most strong tower to all them that put their trust in him; to whom all things in heaven, in earth, and under the earth, do bow and obey, be now and evermore thy defence, and make thee know and feel, that there is none other name under heaven given to man, in whom, and through whom, thou mayest receive health and salvation, but only the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

And after that shall say, UNTO God's gracious mercy and protection we commit thee. The Lord bless thee, and keep thee. The Lord make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace, both now and evermore. Amen.

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A Prayer for a sick Child. O ALMIGHTY God, and merciful Father, to whom alone belong the issues of life and death; Look down from heaven, we humby beseech thee, with the eyes of mercy upon this Child, now lying upon the bed of sickness: Visit him, O Lord, with thy salvation; deliver him in thy good appointed time from his bodily pain, and save his soul for thy mercies' sake: That if it shall be thy pleasure to prolong his days here on earth, he may live to thee, and be an instrument of thy glory, by serving thee faithfully, and doing good in his generation; or else receive him into those heavenly habitations, where the souls of them that sleep in the Lord Jesus enjoy perpetual rest and felicity: Grant this, O Lord, for thy mercies' sake, in the same thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

A Prayer for a sick Person, when there

appeareth small hope of recovery.

FATHER of mercies, and God of all comfort, our only help in time of need; We fly unto thee for succour in behalf of this thy servant, here lying under thy hand in great weakness of body. Look graciously upon him, O Lord; and the more the outward man decayeth, strengthen him, we beseech thee, so much the more continually with thy grace and Holy Spirit in the inner man. Give him unfeigned repentance for all the errors of his life past, and stedfast faith in thy Son Jesus; that his sins. may be done away by thy mercy, and bis pardon sealed in heaven, before he go hence, and be no more seen. We know, O Lord, that there is no word impossible with thee; and that if thou wilt, thou canst even yet raise him up, and grant him a longer continuance amongst us: Yet forasmuch as in all appearance the time of his dissolution draweth near; so fit and

prepare him, we beseech thee, against the hour of death; that after his departure hence in peace, and in thy favour, his soul may be received into thine everlasting kingdom, through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ thine only Son, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

A commendatory Prayer for a sick Person at the point of departure.

ALMIGHTY God, with whom do live the spirits of just men made perfect, after they are delivered from their earthly prison; We humbly commend the soul of this thy servant, our dear brother, into thy hands, as into the hands of a faithful Creator and most merciful Saviour; mosthumbly beseeching thee, that it may be precious in thy sight. Wash it, we pray thee, in the blood of that immaculate Lamb, that was slain to take away the sins of the world; that whatsoever defilements it may have contracted in the midst of this miserable and naughty world, through the lusts of the flesh, or the wiles of Satan, being purged and done away, it may be presented pure and without spot before thee. And teach us, who survive, in this and other like daily spectacles of mortality, to see how frail and uncertain our own condition is; and so to number our days, that we may seriously apply our hearts to that holy and heavenly wisdom, whilst we live here, which may in the end bring us to life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ thine only Son our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer for Persons troubled in mind or

in conscience.

O BLESSED Lord, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comforts; We beseech thee, look down in pity and compassion upon this thy afflicted servant. Thou writest bitter things against him, and makest him to possess his former iniquities; thy wrath lieth hard upon him, and his soul is full of trouble: But, O merciful God, who hast written thy holy

Word for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of thy holy Scriptures, might have hope; give him a right understanding of himself, and of thy threats and promises; that he may neither cast away bis confidence in thee, nor place it any where but in thee. Give him strength against all his temptations, and heal all his distempers. Break not the bruised reed, nor quench the

smoking flax. Shut not up thy tender mercies in displeasure; but make him to hear of joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Deliver him from fear of the enemy, and lift up the light of thy countenance upon him, and give him peace, through the merits aud mediation of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE

COMMUNION OF THE SICK.

FORASMUCH as all mortal men be subject to many sudden perils, diseases, and sicknesses, and ever uncertain what time they shall depart out of this life; therefore, to the intent they may be always in a readiness to die, whensoever it shall please Almighty God to call them, the Curates shall diligently from time to time (but especially in the time of pestilence, or ather infectious sickness) exhort their Parishioners to the often receiving of the Holy Communica of the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ, when it shall be publickly administered is the Church; that so doing, they may, in case of sudden visitation, have the less cause to be disquieted for lack of the same. But if the sick Person be not able to come to the Church, and yet is desirous to receive the Communion in his house; then he must give timely notice to the Curate, signifying also how many there are to communicate with him, (which shall be three, or two at the least ;) and having a convenient place in the sick Man's house, with all things necessary so prepared, that the Curate may reverently minister; he shall there celebrate the Holy Communion, beginning with the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel, bere following.

The Colle&t.

ALMIGHTY,everliving God, Maker of mankind, who dost correct those whom thou dost love, and chastise every one whom thou dost receive; We beseech thee to have mercy upon this thy servant visited with thine hand; and to grant that he may take his sickness patiently, and recover his bodily health, if it be thy gracious will; and whensoever his soul shall depart from the body, it may be without spot presented unto thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

My

The Epistle. Heb. xii. 5.

son, despise not thou the chas tening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

The Gospel. John v. 24. VERILY, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

After which the Priest shall proceed according to the form before prescribed for the Holy Communies, beginning at these words [Ye that do truly repent, &c.]

At the time of the distribution of the Holy Sacrament, the Priest shall first receive the Communion his self, and after minister unto them that are appointed to communicate with the Sick, and last of all i the sick Person.

But if a man, either by reason of extremity of sickness, or for want of warning in due time to the Curate, or for lack of company to receive with him, or by any other just impediment, do not receive

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the Sacrament of Christ's Body and Blood; the Curate shall instruct him, that if he do truly repent him of his sins, and stedfastly believe that Jesus Christ hath suffered death upon the cross for him, and shed his Blood for his redemption; earnestly remembering the benefits he hath thereby, and giving him hearty thanks therefore; he doth eat and drink the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ profitably to his soul's health, although he do not receive the Sacrament with his mouth.

When the sick Person is visited, and receiveth the Holy Communion all at one time, then the Priest, for more expedition, shall cut off the Form of the Visitation at the Psalm [In thee, O Lord, have I put my trust, &c.] and go straight to the Communion.

In the time of the Plague, Sweat, or such other like contagious times of sickness or diseases, when none of the Parish or Neighbours can be gotten to communicate with the Sick in their houses, for fear of the infection; upon special request of the diseased, the Minister may only communicate with him.

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24.

THE ORDER FOR

THE BURIAL OF THE DEAD.

HERE is to be noted, That the Office ensuing is not to be used for any that die unbaptized, or excommunicate, or have laid violent hands upon themselves.

The Priest and Clerks meeting the Corpse at the entrance of the Church-yard, and going before it, either into the Church, or towards the Grave, shall say, or sing,

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(a) "Now," &c. St. Paul had been
noticing the objection," that there is no
"resurrection of the dead;" and had ob-
served," that if the dead rise not, then
"had not Christ risen ;" and here he
asserts triumphantly that Christ is risen,
and concludes from thence, that the dead
shall also rise.

9.23. (b)" Afterwards they that are Christ's
"at his coming: then cometh the end,"
&c. There are many passages which
seem to import that the Apostles had an
expectation that before the generation of
men then living should all be gone, at the
time so often referred to, as
"the com-

Name of the Lord. 1 Tim. vi. 7.
Job i. 21.

After they are come into the Church, shall be read the 39th and 90th Psalms, or one of them.

Then shall follow the Lesson, taken out of the fifteenth Chapter of the former Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians.

I Cor. xv. 20.

Now (a) is Christ risen from the

dead, and become the first-fruits of
them that slept. For since by man 21.
came death, by man came also the
resurrection of the dead. For as in 22.
Adam all die, even so in Christ shall
all be made alive. But every man in 23.
his own order: Christ the first-fruits;
afterward they that are Christ's at
his coming. Then cometh the end (b), 24.

"ing," or "day of the Lord," they should receive some signal mark of glory, the final judgment should take place, and the world should end. According to Matt. xxiv. 3. our Saviour was asked "what should be the sign of his coming, "and of the end" (as we translate it) "of the world ;" and in his answer he says, among other things, "this Gospel "of the kingdom shall be preached in "all the world for a witness unto all "nations, and then shall the end come," Matt. xxiv. 14. and after other characteristics which clearly looked forward to the time of the destruction of Jerusalem,

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