THE ORDER

FOR THE

VISITATION OF THE SICK.

¶ The Minister shall begin with saying, PEACE be to this house, and to all that

dwell in it.

¶And he may 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 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 whether 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

truly repent of your sins, and bear your sickness patiently, trusting in God's mercy declared by his Son Jesus Christ, 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 way that leadeth unto everlasting life.

¶ If he think fit, the Minister may proceed in his exhortation:

TAKE, therefore, in good part the chastisement of the LORD: for, as the scripture saith, 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 chas teneth not? Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh, who 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 may 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.

Then shall be said the following Prayers: 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; support him under all the trials of his present sickness, relieve his pains, if it seem good unto thee, and keep him in perpetual peace and safety, through thy great mercy in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God,

maker of mankind, who dost correct F 5

those

those whom thou dost love, and chastise every one whom thou dost receive: we beseech thee to have mercy upon this thy servant visited with thy hand, and grant that he may take thy visitation patiently; and fit him, O LORD, for whatever in thy wise and righteous providence thou hast appointed for him; that he may have cause to glorify thy name for his present sufferings, and find that thou, O God, of very faithfulness, hast caused him to be troubled. Hear our prayers, O LORD, and grant our requests, for thy mercies sake. 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 to take thy visitation, that, after this painful life ended, he may dwell with thee in life everlasting, ac

cording

cording to thy gracious promises by Christ Jesus our Lord.

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; deliver him in thy good appointed time from his bodily pain, and sanctify this thy fatherly chastisement to him, that, if it shall be thy pleasure to prolong his days here on earth, he may live to thee, and be an instrument to thy glory, by serving thee faithfully, and doing good in his generation: Or else receive him to thyself among those who have fallen asleep in the Lord Jesus, and who shall be raised by thee to endless life and happiness at the last day. Grant this, O LORD, of thine infinite mercy and goodness. Amen.

A Prayer for a sick person, when there ap peareth small hope of recovery.

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