¶ And the Bishop, keeping his hand still upon the Person's head, shall say:

DEFEND, O Lord, this thy child [or, this thy servant] with thy heavenly grace, that he may continue thine for ever, and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit more and more, until he come unto thine everlasting kingdom. Amen.

¶ And thus shall the Bishop do to every Person that is to be Confirmed, one after another; and then he shall say: The peace of the Lord be always with you; Answer. And with thy spirit.

Bishop. Let us pray.

¶ And all kneeling down, except the Bishop, he shall say the Lord's Prayer, and the two Collects following:

Our Father, &c. Amen.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who makest us both to will and to do those things which are good and acceptable unto thy divine Majesty: We make our humble supplications unto thee for these thy servants, upon whom (after the example of thy holy Apostles) we have now laid our hands, to certify them (by this sign) of thy favour and gracious goodness towards them. Let thy Fatherly hand, we

beseech thee, ever be over them; let thy Holy Spirit ever be with them: and so lead them in the knowledge and obedience of thy word, that in the end they may obtain everlasting life, through our Lord Jesus Christ; who, with thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth ever one God, world without end. Amen.

O ALMIGHTY Lord and everlasting God, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to direct, sanctify, and govern both our hearts and bodies in the ways of thy laws, and in the works of thy commandments: that through thy most mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

¶Then the Bishop shall bless them, saying thus:

THE blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Ghost, be upon you, and remain
with you for ever.
Amen.

When any Persons are Confirmed, who were of riper years when they were Baptized, and so answered for themselves; then the Preface at the beginning of this Office, and the Question which follows it, shall both be omitted: and the Bishop shall begin with, Our help is in the Name of the Lord.

¶And there shall none be admitted to the Holy Communion, until such time as he be Confirmed.

¶ Before the Bishop begins the Office of Confirmation, he shall take some Chrism, or Ointment; and putting it into a decent vessel, he shall stand and consecrate it in manner and form following, unless he hath some by him already consecrated :

Bishop. The Lord be with you;
Answer. And with thy spirit.

Bishop. Let us pray.

And the People kneeling, the Bishop shall say:

O LORD of mercies, and Father of lights, from whom every good and perfect gift proceedeth: Send down, we beseech thee, thine Holy Spirit to sanctify this ointment; and grant that all those who after Baptism shall be anointed therewith, may be cleansed and purified both in body and soul, be confirmed in godliness, and obtain the blessings of the Holy Ghost: who, with the Father and the Son, liveth and reigneth ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Then the People shall stand up, and the Bishop shall proceed to the Office.

The Matter of the Chrism, or Ointment for Confirmation, is sweet oil of olives, and precious balsam, commonly called Balm of Gilead.

THE

ORDER FOR THE VISITATION

OF THE SICK.

When any Person is Sick, notice shall immediately be given thereof to the Priest; that the Sick Person may be visited, and receive the assistance of the Church, before his strength be too far spent.

T The Priest, 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: Is any sick among you? let him call for the Elders [that is, the Priests] of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. James v. 14, 15.

Then shall the Priest 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 you 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) 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,