Chatham.
* * * * *
_Prayer at the Healing_ (Vol. iii., p. 352.).--N. E. R. inquires whether
this prayer found a place in the prayer-books printed at Oxford or
Cambridge.
I have it before me in the folio Book of Common Prayer, "Oxford, printed
by John Baskett, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, and to
the University, MDCCXV." It is placed between the form of prayer for
Aug. 1. (the King's Accession) and the King's Declaration preceding the
Articles.
This form differs from that given by Sparrow, in his _Collection_, edit.
1684, p. 165., as follows:--
Sparrow gives _two_ Gospels: Mark, xvi. 14., St. John, i. 1., the
imposition of the King's hands taking place at the words "_they shall
lay_," &c. in the reading of the first, and the gold being placed at
reading the words "_that light_" in the second.
In Baskett's form, the _first_ Gospel only is used, with the collect
"_Prevent us, O Lord_," before it.
In Baskett's form, the supplicatory versicles and Lord's Prayer, which
agree in their own order with the earlier form, _follow_ this first
Gospel, and _precede the imposition and the suspension of the gold_,
during which (it is directed) the chaplain that officiates, _turning
himself to his Majesty_, shall say these words following:
"God give a blessing to this work, and grant that these sick persons,
on whom the king lays his hands, may recover through Jesus Christ our
Lord."
This does _not_ appear in Sparrow's form of 1684, _neither_ does the
following address, at the close, by the "chaplain, _standing with his
face towards them that come to be healed_."
"The Almighty God, 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 your defence, and make
you know and feel that there is none other Name under heaven given to
man, in whom, and through whom, you may receive health and salvation,
but only the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."
Objectionable as the ceremony was, there can be no doubt that a much
more Protestant character was given to it by these alterations.