Of the The visitation of the sick Sick.

good appointed time from his bodily pain and saue his Soul for thy mercies sake. That if it shall be thy pleasure to prolong his dayes/ 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 enioy perpetual rest and felicity. Grant this, Lord, for thy mercies sake, in the same thy son our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and raineth 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 ffather of mercies, and God of all omfort, our onely help in time of need; We fly vnto thee for succour in behalf of this thy servant, here lying vnder thy hand in great weakness of body. Look graciously vpon him, ô 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 vnfeigned 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 mercie, and his pardon sealed in
heaven, before he go hence, and be no more
seen. We know, ô Lord, that there is no word
impossible with thee; and that if thou wilt,
thou canst even yet raise him vp, and grant him
a longer continuance amongst vs; et, foras-
much as in all appearance the time of his disso-
lution draweth neer, so fit and prepare him, we

a

beseech thee, gainst the hour of death that
after

his departure hence in peace, and in thy favour,
his soul may be received into thine everlasting
Tingdome, through the merits and mediation of
Jesus Christ thine onely Son, our Lord and
Saviour. Amen.

A Commendatory prayer for a sick person at
the point of departure.

O almighty God, with whom do liue the Spirits
of iust men made perfect, after they are deliuered
from their earthly prisons; we humbly com-
mend the Soul of this thj servant, our dear

1. 14. The 320th page of the MS. Book commences with the word "his". 1. 24. "thj" sic orig.

Brother, into thy hands, as into the hands of

u

a most faithful Creator and most mercifull Saviour; Most humbly beseeching thee that it may be preious in thy sight. Wash it, we pray thee, in the bloud of that imaculate Lamb that was slain to take away the sins of the World; that whatsoever defilements it may haue 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 dayly spectacles of mortality, to see, how frail and vncertain our own Condition is; and so to number our daycs, that we may seriously apply our hearts to that holy, and heavenly wisdome, whilst we liue here, which may in the end bring us to life everlasting, through the merils of Jesus Christ thine onely son our Lord. Amen.

A prayer for persons troubled in mind or in

conscience.

O Blessed Lord, the ffather of mercies, and the

God of all omforts, wee beseech thee look

1. 2. In "faithful", the "l" written upon "11".

1. 2. In "merciful", the "l" apparently written upon an "l".

1. 3.

After "Saviour", a comma altered into the semicolon.

1. 15. In "number", the "b" defaced, seemingly by accident, with darker ink. 1. 17. In "whilst", the "P" written in different ink.

317

down in pitty and Пompassion vpon this thy afflicted servant. Thou writest bitter things against him, and makest him to possesse his

i

former Iniquities; thy wrath lyeth hard vpon

him, and his soul is full of trouble! But, D mercifull God, who hast written thy holy word for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of thy holy Scriptures might haue hope; giue him a right Understanding of himself, and of thy threats and promises,

that

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

r

bruised eed, nor quench the smoaking flax. Shut not vp ~ 'thy tender mercies in displeasure; but make him to hear of ioy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Deliver him from fear of the enemy, and lift vp the light of thy countenance vpon him, and give him peace, through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen :

1. 12. The 321st page of the MS. Book commences with the word "that".

The Communion of the Sick.

fforasmuch as all mortall men be subject to many sudden perills, deseases and sicknesses, and ever vncertaine what time they shall depart out of this life; therefore, to the intent they may be alwaies in a readiness to dye whensoever it shall please almighty God to call them, The Curates shall diligently from time to time (but especially in the time of pestilence, or other infectious sicknesse) Exhort their Parishioners to the often receiueing of the holy Comunion of the body and blood of our Saviour Christ, when it shall be publiquely administred in the Church; that so doing, they may in case of sudden visitation, haue the lesse 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 receiue the Comunion in his house; then he must give timely notice to the Curate, signifying also how many there are to communicate with him (which shall be three, or two at the least) and having a convenient place in the sick mans house, with all things necessary so prepared, that

1. 3. After "deseases", a blot, as if to obliterate a point. 1. 19. After "house", a comma altered into the semicolon.