Part 52 (1/2)

_Answer_. From the face of _his_ enemy.

_Minister_. O Lord, hear our prayers.

_Answer_. And let our cry come unto thee.

_Minister_.

O Lord, look down from heaven, behold, visit, and relieve this thy servant. Look upon _him_ with the eyes of thy mercy, give _him_ comfort and sure confidence in thee, defend _him_ from the danger of the enemy, and keep _him_ in perpetual peace and safety; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.

Hear us, Almighty and most merciful G.o.d and Saviour; extend thy accustomed goodness to this thy servant who is grieved with sickness. Sanctify, we beseech thee, this thy fatherly correction to _him_; that the sense of _his_ weakness may add strength to _his_ faith, and seriousness to _his_ repentance: that, if it shall be thy good pleasure to restore _him_ to _his_ former health, _he_ may lead the residue of _his_ life in thy fear, and to thy glory: or else give _him_ grace so to take thy visitation, that, after this painful life ended, _he_ may dwell with thee in life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.

_Then shall the Minister exhort the sick person after this form, or other like_.

Dearly beloved, know this, that Almighty G.o.d is the Lord of life and death, and of all things to them pertaining, as youth, strength, health, age, weakness, and sickness. Wherefore, whatsoever your sickness is, know you certainly, that it is G.o.d's visitation. And for what cause soever this sickness is sent unto you; whether it be to try your patience, for the example of others, and that your faith may be found in the day 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 G.o.d'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 chastis.e.m.e.nt 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 receiveth. If ye endure chastening, G.o.d dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastis.e.m.e.nt, whereof all are partakers, then are ye b.a.s.t.a.r.ds, and not sons. Furthermore, 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 pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 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 G.o.d, to remember the profession which you made unto G.o.d 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 G.o.d 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 judgement. Therefore I shall rehea.r.s.e 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 rehea.r.s.e the Articles of the Faith, saying thus_,

Dost thou believe in G.o.d the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth?

And in Jesus Christ his only-begotten 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 h.e.l.l, and also did rise again the third day; that he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of G.o.d 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 Remission of sins; the Resurrection of the 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 have 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 power. And if he have 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 his 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 rehea.r.s.ed 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 his conscience troubled with any weighty matter. After which confession, the Priest shall absolve him_ (_if he humbly and heartily 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.

O most merciful G.o.d, who, according to the mult.i.tude 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, a.s.suage _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 this Psalm_.