That even in the case of very great sins, and great judgments inflicted upon sinners, wise and good men have declared their sense to be, that God vindicated his justice in that temporal punishment; and so it was suppos-less reason still to despair. For if my sins ed to have been done in the case of Ananias, &c. that nothing can be more absurd than to think that so great and good a God, who is so desirous of saving all, as appears by his word, by his sending his Son, by his oaths and promises, by his very nature and daily overtures of mercy, should condemn any, without the greatest provocations of his majesty, and perseverance in them.

"bind up the broken-hearted," and to strength-| en the "bruised reed," of a good man's spirit, in so great and terrible a dejection. But as cases of this nature are very rare, so the arguments here made use of are rarely to be insisted upon; and never, but to well-disposed persons, or reformed penitents, or to such as in the general course of their life, have lived pretty strictly, and conformably to the rules of religion. For if the man be a vicious person, and hath gone on in a continual course of sin, to the time of his sickness, these considerations are not proper. Let him inquire, in the words of the first disciples after Pentecost, "Men and brethren, what shall we do to be saved?" And if we can but entertain so much hope, as to enable him to do as much of his duty as he can for the present, it is all that can be provided for him. And the minister must be infinitely careful, that he does not attempt to comfort vicious persons with the comfort of God's elect, lest he prostitute holy things, and encourage vice, and render his discourses deceitful; and the man unhappily find them to be so when he descends into the regions of darkness.

But because very few are tempted with too great fears of miscarrying, but the generality, even of the most profligate sort, are rather inclined to unwarrantable assurances of their future salvation, it will highly concern the ministers to prevent in time so great and reigning an imposition of the devil.

Wherefore, to the former considerations to Awaken the careless sinner and a stupid conscience, the following may be added, upon occasion to check the overweening thoughts of the presumptuous.

SECTION V.

glory of God;" but not so certain, that any one's repentance is real, and effective to salvation: that virtue and vice are oftentimes so near neighbours, that we pass into each other's borders without observation, and think we do jus tice, when we are cruel; or call ourselves liberal, when we are loose and foolish in our expenses, &c.

That the self-accusing publican was justified, rather than the self-confident Pharisee; that if Adam in Paradise, David in his house, Solomon in the temple, Peter in the family of Christ, Judas among the twelve apostles, and Nicholas among the Deacons, and if the angels in heaven itself, did fall so atrociously, then we have all the reason in the world "not to be high minded, but to fear ;" and when we are most confident of ourselves," to take heed lest we fall;" there being nothing so likely to occasion it, as pride and a great opinion of ourselves, which ruined the angels, which God resists, which all men despise, and which be. tray us into carelessness, and a wretched, undiscerning, and unwary spirit.

These are the main parts of ecclesiastical duties and offices in the visitation of the sick; which being severally performed, as occasion requires, it remains only that the minister pray over the sick, and remind him to do all the good actions he is capable of; to call upon God for pardon; to put his whole trust in him ; to be patient and resigned; and even to renounce every ill thought or word, or indecent action, which the violence of his sickness may have caused in him; to beg of God to give him his Holy Spirit to guide him in his agony, and to send his holy angels to guard him in his pas

sage.

Whatsoever is besides this, concerns the standers-by, that they do all in their respective offices diligently and temperately; that Considerations against Presumption. they join in prayer with the minister, with And here, let the bold and arrogant sinner much charity and devotion; that they make no further know, that a man cannot think too outcries or exclamations on the departure of meanly of himself, but may very easily run in- the soul, nor any positive judgment concerning to the contrary extreme: that the growths in the dying man, by his dying quietly or violentgrace are long, difficult, uncertain, often inter-ly, with great fears or a cheerful confidence, rupted, consisting of great variety, and almost with sense or without, like a lamb or like a lion, innumerable parts and distinctions, which a with convulsions and terrible agonies, or like careless person can never discover; that the the silent and well-spent flame of an expiring more a man presumes, the greater reason he taper. For these may happen severally, achath to fear; because the confidence of such cording to the constitution of the persons, and men is generally like that of children and young the nature of the distemper that befalls them; people, who have no other reason, but that they or else according as God pleases to dispense the understand not the dangers and follies of their grace, or the punishment, for reasons only self-conceits: that "the heart of man is deceit-known to himself. ful above all things, and desperately wicked;" Let us lay our hand upon our mouth, and deceiving itself, and deceiving others, in innumerable instances; and being often "in the gall of bitterness," when the man appears with the fairest outside to the world: that it is certain, all "have sinned and come short of the

adore the mysteries of the divine wisdom and providence, and pray to God to give the dying man rest and pardon; and to ourselves grace to live well, and the blessings of a holy and happy death.

THE ORDER

FOR THE

VISITATION OF THE SICK.

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.

Answ. 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 trespassess, 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.
Min. Send him help from thy holy place;
Answ. And evermore mightily defend him.
Min. Let the enemy have no advantage of

him;

Answ. Nor the wicked approach to hurt him.
Min. Be unto him, O Lord, a strong tower,
Answ. From the face of his enemy.
Min. O Lord, hear our prayers:
Answ. And let our cry come unto thee.

Minister.

O LORD, look down from heaven; behold, visit, and relieve this thy servant. Look up on 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.

in thy fear, and to thy glory: or else give him grace so to take thy visitation, that, after this painful life is 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 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 St. 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 had fathers of our flesh, which corrected us, and bastards, and not sons. Furthermore, we have 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 Scriptures for our comfort and instruction, that we should patiently and with thanksgiving bear our Heavenly Father's correction, whensoever, by any manner of adver. sity, it shall please his gracious goodness to visit us.

And there should be no greater comHEAR US, Almighty and Most Merciful God fort to Christian persons, than to be made like and Saviour; extend thy accustomed goodness unto Christ, by suffering patiently adversities, to this thy servant, who is grieved with sick-troubles, and sicknesses. For He himself went ness. 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

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

And then the Priest shall say the collect following
Let us pray.

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 O MOST merciful God, who, according to the made unto God in your baptism. And foras-multitude of thy mercies, dost so put away the much as, after this life, there is an account to sins of those who truly repent, that thou rebe given unto the righteous Judge, by whom memberest them no more; open thine eye of all must be judged without respect of persons; mercy upon this thy servant, who most earnestI require you to examine yourself and your ly desireth pardon and forgiveness. Renew in estate, both towards God and man; so that, him, most loving Father, whatsoever hath been accusing and condemning yourself, and your decayed by the fraud and malice of the devil, own faults, you may find mercy at your Hea- or by his own carnal will and frailness; prevenly Father's hand for Christ's sake, and not serve and continue this sick member in the be accused and condemned in that fearful unity of the church; consider his contrition, acjudgment. Therefore I shall rehearse to you cept his tears, assuage his pain, as shall seem the Articles of our Faith, that you may know to thee most expedient for him. And, foraswhether you believe as a Christian man should, much as he putteth his full trust only in th mercy, impute not unto him his former sins, but strengthen him with thy blessed Spirit and when thou art pleased to take him hence,

or no.

Here the Minister shall rehearse the Articles of the

Faith, saying thus:

DOST thou believe in God the Father Almigh

ty, 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 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 offend ed any other, to ask them forgiveness; and where he hath done injury or wrong to any man, that he make amends to the utmost 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 discharge of his conscience, and the quietness of his executors. But men should often be put in remembrance to take order for settling of their temporal estates, whilst they are in

health.

These words, before rehearsed, may be said before the Minister begins 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 authoritiy 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.

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 liver me in thy righteousness; incline thine never be put to confusion: but rid me, and de

ear unto me, and save me.

alway resort: thou hast promised to help me, Be thou a strong hold, whereunto I may for thou art my house of defence, and my castle.

the ungodly; out of the hand of the unrightDeliver me, O my God, out of the hand of

eous and cruel man.

For thou, O Lord, 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 always be of thee.

I am become as it were a monster to 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 always; 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

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, maker of Thou, O God, hast taught me from my youth mankind, who dost correct those whom thou up until now: therefore will I tell of thy won-dost love, and chastisest every one whom thou drous works.