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FOR

THE VISITATION

When any person is sick, notice shall be given thereof to the Minister of the Parish; who, coming into the sick person's house, shall say,

PEACE be to this house, and to all that dwell in it.

When he cometh into the sick man's presence,

he shall say, kneeling down,

REMEMBER not, LORD, our iniquities, nor the iniquities of our forefathers; Spare us, good LORD, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood; and be not angry with us for ever. Ans. Spare us, good LORD.

Then the Minister shall say,

Let us pray. LORD, have mercy upon us. CHRIST, have mercy upon us. LORD, have mercy upon us. OUR Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name; Thy king dom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen.

OF THE SICK.

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 God 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 painful life ended, he may dwell with to take thy visitation, that after this thee in life everlasting, through JE.

SUS CHRIST our Lord. Amen.
Then shall the Minister exhort the sick person

after this form, or other like:

DEARLY beloved, know this, that ALMIGHTY GOD is the LORD of life and death, and of all things to them pertaining; as youth, strength, health, age, weakness, and sickness. Where fore, whatsoever your sickness be, Ans. And evermore mightily de-visitation. And for what cause soever know you certainly that it is GOD'S fend him.

Min. O LORD, save thy servant; Ans. Who putteth his trust in thee. Min. Send him help from thy holy place;

this sickness be sent unto you; wheMin. Let the enemy have no ad-ther it be to try your patience for the vantage of him;

Ans. Nor the wicked approach to

hurt him.

Min. Be unto him, O LORD, strong tower,

a

Ans. From the face of his enemy. Min. O LORD, hear our prayers; Ans. 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

example of others, and that your faith may be found, in the day of the LORD, laudable, glorious, and honorable, 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

If the person visited be very sick, then the
Minister may end his Exhortation in this place,

or else proceed:

the Faith, saying thus:

thanks for his fatherly visitation, sub-unto GOD in your baptism. And mitting yourself wholly unto his will, forasmuch as after this life there it shall turn to your profit, and help is an account to be given unto the you forward in the right way that righteous Judge, by whom all must leadeth unto everlasting life. be judged, without respect of persons; I require you to examine yourself, and your estate, both toward GOD and man; so that, accusing and TAKE therefore in good part the condemning yourself for your own chastisement of the LORD: for, as faults, you may find mercy at our Saint Paul saith in the twelfth chap-heavenly Father's hand for CHRIST'S ter to the Hebrews, Whom the LORD sake, and not be accused and con loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth demned in that fearful judgment. every son whom he receiveth. If ye Therefore I shall rehearse to you the endure chastening, GOD dealeth with articles of our faith; that you may you as with sons: for what son is he know whether you do believe as a whom the father chasteneth not? But Christian man should, or no. if ye be without chastisement, where- Here the Minister shall rehearse the articles of of all are partakers, then are ye basFurthermore, tards, and not sons. DOST thou believe in God the we have had fathers of our flesh, Father Almighty, Maker of heaven which corrected us, and we gave and earth 7 And in JESUS CHRIST his only. them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Fa-begotten Son our Lord? And that he ther of spirits, and live? For they was conceived by the HOLY GHOST, verily for a few days chastened us born of the Virgin Mary; that he after their own pleasure; but he for suffered under Pontius Pilate, was our profit, that we might be partakers crucified, dead, and buried; that he 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 And dost thou believe in the HOLY his gracious goodness to visit us. And there should be no greater com- GHOST; The holy catholic Church; fort to Christian persons, than to be The communion of saints: The remade like unto CHRIST, by suffering mission of sins; The resurrection of patiently adversities, troubles, and the flesh; and everlasting life after sicknesses. For he himself went not death? 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 remem ber the profession which you made

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?

The sick person shall answer,
All this I steadfastly 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 power.
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 discharg-
ing 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

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Let us pray.

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THE Almighty LORD, who is a O MOST merciful GOD, who, ac- most strong tower to all those who put cording to the multitude of thy mer- their trust in him, to whom all things cies, dost so put away the sins of in heaven, in earth, and under the those who truly repent, that thou re-earth, do bow and obey, be now and memberest them no more; open thine evermore thy defence; and make thee eye of mercy upon this thy servant, know and feel, that there is none other who most earnestly desireth pardon name under heaven given to man, in and forgiveness. Renew in him, most whom, and through whom thou mayloving Father, whatsoever hath been est receive health and salvation, but decayed by the fraud and malice of only the name of our Lord JESUS the devil, or by his own carnal will CHRIST. Amen. and frailness; preserve and continue this sick member in the unity of the Church; consider his contrition, accept his tears, assuage 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 favor, through the merits of thy most dearly beloved Son JESUS CHRIST our Lord. Amen.

T Then shall the Minister say this Psalm: Psalm 130. De Profundis. OUT of the deep have I called unto thee, O LORD; LORD, hear my voice. O let thine ears consider well the voice of my complaint.

If thou, LORD, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss; O LORD, who may abide it?

Here the Minister may use any part of the service of this Book, which, in his discretion, he shall think convenient to the occasion; 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.

Prayers which may be said with the foregoing service, or any part thereof, at the discretion of the Minister.

A Prayer for a sick Child.

O ALMIGHTY GOD and merci. ful Father, to whom alone belong the issues of life and death; look down from heaven, we humbly beseech thee, with the eyes of mercy upon this child, now lying upon the bed of sickness: Visit him, 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 instru ment of thy glory, by serving theo faithfully, and doing good in his ge neration or else receive him into O Israel, trust in the LORD, for those heavenly habitations, where the with the LORD there is mercy; and souls of those who sleep in the LORD with him is plenteous redemption. JESUS enjoy perpetual rest and feli

For there is mercy with thee: therefore shalt thou be feared.

I look for the LORD, my soul doth wait for him; in his word is my trust. My soul fleeth unto the LORD, before the morning watch; I say, before the morning watch.'

And he shall redeem Israel from city: Grant this, O LORD, for thy all his sins. mercies' sake, in the same thy Son

our Lord JESUS CHRIST, who liveth | whatsoever defilements it may have and reigneth with thee and the HOLY contracted in the midst of this miseGHOST, ever one GOD, world with-rable and naughty world, through out end. Amen.

¶ A Prayer for a sick person, when there appear

eth but a small hope of recovery.

the lust of the flesh, or the wiles of Satan, being purged and done away, it may be presented pure and without survive, in this, and other like daily spot before thee. And teach us who 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 FATHER of mercies, and GOD of all comfort, our only help in time of need; we fly unto thee for succor in behalf of this thy servant, here ly ing 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 steadfast faith in thy Son JESUS, that his sins may be O BLESSED LORD, the Father done away by thy mercy, and his of mercies, and the GOD of all com pardon sealed in heaven, before he forts, we beseech thee, look down in hence, and be no more seen. We pity and compassion upon this thy know, O LORD, that there is no word afflicted servant. Thou writest bitter impossible with thee; and that, if thou things against him, and makest him wilt, thou canst even yet raise him to possess his former iniquities: thy up, and grant him a longer continu. wrath lieth hard upon him, and his ance amongst us: yet, forasmuch as soul is full of trouble: but, O merciin all appearance the time of his dis- ful GOD, who hast written thy holy solution draweth near, so fit and pre-word for our learning, that we, pare him, we beseech thee, against through patience and comfort of thy the hour of death, that after his de- holy Scriptures, might have hope; give parture hence in peace, and in thy him a right understanding of himself, favor, his soul may be received into and of thy threats and promises; thine everlasting kingdom; through the merits and mediation of JESUS CHRIST thine only Son, our Lord and

Saviour. Amen.

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that

he may neither cast away his confi. dence in thee, nor place it any where but in thee. Give him strength against all his temptations, and heal bruised reed, nor quench the smoking all his distempers: break not the flax shut not up thy tender mercies in displeasure; but make him to hear of

which thou hast broken may rejoice: joy and gladness, that the bones deliver him from fear of the enemy, and lift up the light of thy counte through the merits and mediation of nance upon him; and give him peace, JESUS CHRIST our Lord. Amen.

O ALMIGHTY GOD, with whom do live the spirits of just men made perfect, after they are delivered from their earthly prisons; 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; most humbly 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 end,

A Prayer which may be said by the Minister, in behalf of all present at the Visitation. GOD, whose days are without and whose mercies cannot be

numbered; make us, we beseech thee, honor of thy mercy through eternal deeply sensible of the shortness and ages, it may be to thy unspeakable uncertainty of human life; and let thy glory, that thou hast redeemed the HOLY SPIRIT lead us through this soul of this thy servant from eternal vale of misery, in holiness and right- death, and made him partaker of the eousness, all the days of our lives: everlasting life, which is through that, when we shall have served thee JESUS CHRIST our Lord. Amen. in our generation, we may be gath- A Thanksgiving for the beginning of a recovery. ered unto our fathers, having the testimony of a good conscience; in the bringest down to the grave, and bring GREAT and mighty GOD, who communion of the catholic Church; est up again; we bless thy wonderful in the confidence of a certain faith; goodness, for having turned our heain the comfort of a reasonable, reli- viness into joy and our mourning gious, and holy hope; in favor with into gladness, by restoring this our thee our GOD, and in perfect charity brother to some degree of his former with the world: All which we ask health. Blessed be thy name that through JESUS CHRIST our Lord. thou didst not forsake him in his sick

Amen.

A Prayer which may be said in case of sudden surprise and immediate danger.

ness; but didst visit him with comforts from above; didst support him in patience and submission to thy O MOST gracious Father, we fly will; and, at last, didst send him unto thee for mercy in behalf of this seasonable relief. Perfect, we be thy servant, here lying under the seech thee, this thy mercy toward sudden visitation of thine hand. If him; and prosper the means which it be thy will, preserve his life, that shall be made use of for his cure: there may be place for repentance: that being restored to health of body, but, if thou hast otherwise appointed, vigor of mind, and cheerfulness of let thy mercy supply to him the want spirit, he may be able to go to thine of the usual opportunity for the trim- house, to offer thee an oblation with ming of his lamp. Stir up in him great gladness; and to bless thy holy such sorrow for sin, and such fervent name for all thy goodness toward him, love to thee, as may in a short time through JESUS CHRIST our Saviour: do the work of many days: that to whom with thee and the HOLY among the praises which thy saints SPIRIT, be all honor and glory world and holy angels shall sing to the without end. Amen.

THE COMMUNION OF THE SICK.

Forasmuch as all mortal men are 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 readiness to die, whensoever it shall please Almighty God to call them, the Ministers shall diligently from time to time (but especially in the time of pestilence, or other infectious sickness) exhort their parishioners to the often receiving of the Holy Communion of the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ, when it shall be publicly administered in 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 Minister, signifying also how many there are to communicate with him (which shall be two at the least ;) and all things necessary being prepared, the Minister shall there celebrate the Holy Communion, beginning with the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel, here following:

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY everliving GOD, Maker of mankind, who dost correct those whom thou dost love, and chas

tise every one whom thou dost re-
ceive; we beseech thee to have mercy
upon this thy servant visited with
thine hand; and to grant
that he may

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