_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.
_Answer_. 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 which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name, Thy kingdom
come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this
day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive
them that trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil. Amen.
_Minister_. O Lord, save thy servant;
_Answer_. Which putteth _his_ trust in thee.
_Minister_. Send _him_ help from thy holy place;
_Answer_. And evermore mightily defend _him_.
_Minister_. Let the enemy have no advantage of _him_;
_Answer_. Nor the wicked approach to hurt _him_.
_Minister_. Be unto _him_, O Lord, a strong tower;
_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 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 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 God 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 God'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 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
receiveth. If ye endure chastening, 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
ye bastards, 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 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 judgement. 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 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 hell, and also did rise again the third day;
that he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at 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 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 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 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 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, 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 favour, through the merits of thy most dearly
beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.
_Then shall the Minister say this Psalm_.
_In te, Domine, speravi_. Psalm lxxi.
In thee, O Lord, have I put my trust; let me never be put to
confusion: but rid me, and deliver me in thy righteousness;
incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
Be thou my strong hold, whereunto I may alway resort: thou hast
promised to help me; for thou art my house of defence, and my
castle.
Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the ungodly: out of the
hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
For thou, O Lord God, art the thing that I long for: thou art my
hope, even from my youth.
Through thee have I been holden up ever since I was born: thou art
he that took me out of my mother's womb; my praise shall alway be
of thee.
I am become as it were a monster unto many: but my sure trust is
in thee.
O let my mouth be filled with thy praise: that I may sing of thy
glory and honour all the day long.
Cast me not away in the time of age: forsake me not when my
strength faileth me.
For mine enemies speak against me, and they that lay wait for my
soul take their counsel together, saying: God hath forsaken him,
persecute him, and take him; for there is none to deliver him.
Go not far from me, O God: my God, haste thee to help me.
Let them be confounded and perish that are against my soul: let
them be covered with shame and dishonour that seek to do me evil.
As for me, I will patiently abide alway: and will praise thee more
and more.
My mouth shall daily speak of thy righteousness and salvation:
for I know no end thereof.
I will go forth in the strength of the Lord God: and will make
mention of thy righteousness only.
Thou, O God, hast taught me from my youth up until now: therefore
will I tell of thy wondrous works.
Forsake me not, O God, in mine old age, when I am gray-headed:
until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy
power to all them that are yet for to come.
Thy righteousness, O God, is very high, and great things are they
that thou hast done: O God, who is like unto thee?
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world
without end. Amen.
_Adding this_.
O Saviour of the world, who by thy Cross and precious Blood hast
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_.
_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 humbly 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_.
O 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 _his_ 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_.
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 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 _his_
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 and mediation of Jesus Christ
our Lord. _Amen_.
| _A Prayer for the recovery of a sick person_.
|
| Almighty and immortal God, giver of life and health; We beseech
thee to hear our prayers for thy servant _N_., for whom we implore
thy mercy, that by thy blessing upon _him_ and upon those who
minister to _him_ of thy healing gifts, _he_ may be restored,
if it be thy gracious will, to health of body and mind, and give
thanks to thee in thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
_Amen_.