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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 account to be given unto the righteous Judge, of whom all must be judged without respect of persons; I require you to examine yourself and your state, 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 shortly rehearse the Articles of our Faith, that you may know whether you do believe as a Christian man should, or no.

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

Dost thou believe in God the Father Almighty ? (And so forth, as it is in Baptism.)

Then shall the Presbyter or Minister examine whether he 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 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

afore disposed his goods, let him then make his will; and also declare his debts, what he oweth, and what is owing unto him, for discharging of his conscience, and quietness of his executors. But men must be oft admonished that they set an order for their temporal goods and lands, when they be in health. These words before rehearsed, may be said before the Presbyter or Minister begin his prayer, as he shall see cause.

The Presbyter or Minister may not forget nor omit to move the Sick person (and that most earnestly) to liberality towards the poor.

Here shall the Sick person make a special confession, if he feel his conscience troubled with any weighty matter. After which confession, the Presbyter shall absolve him after this sort: OUR Lord Jesus Christ, who hath left power to his Church to absolve all sinners which 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 Presbyter shall say this Collect following.

Let us pray.

O MOST merciful God, which, according to the multitude of thy mercies, dost so put away the

sins of those which 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 be seen 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 when the hour of his dissolution is come, take him unto thy favour, through the merits of thy most dearlybeloved Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

¶Then shall the Presbyter or Minister say this Psalm.

In te, Domine, speravi. Psal. lxxi.

In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust, &c.

Glory be to the Father, &c.

As it was in the beginning, &c. Amen.

Adding this:

O SAVIOUR of the world, save us, which by thy cross and precious blood has redeemed us; help us, we beseech thee, O God,

Then shall the Presbyter or 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.

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 Presbyters or Curates shall diligently from time to time, but specially in the plague-time, exhort their parishioners to the oft receiving (in the Church) of the holy Communion of the body and blood of our Saviour Christ : which if they do, they shall have no cause in their sudden visitation to be unquiet 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 knowledge over night, or else early in the morning, to the Presbyter or Curate, signifying also how many be appointed to communicate with

him. And having a convenient place in the Sick man's house, where the Presbyter or Curate may reverently minister, and a sufficient number (at least two or three) to receive the Communion with the Sick person, with all things necessary for the same, he shall there minister the holy Communion.

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY, everliving God, Maker of mankind, which dost correct those whom thou dost love, and chastisest 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 (that) whensoever his soul shall depart from his body, it may be without spot presented unto thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle. Heb. xii. 5.

My son, despise not thou, &c.

The Gospel. John v. 24.

VERILY, verily I say unto you, &c.

At the time of the distribution of the holy Sacrament, the Presbyter shall first receive the Communion himself, and after minister unto them that be appointed to communicate with the sick.

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