Furthermore,

then are ye bastards, and not sons. we have had fathers of our flesh, which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection to 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 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. 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 an account to be given unto the righteous Judge, by whom all must be judged without respect of persons, I require you to examine yourself and your state both towards God and man; so that, accusing and condemning yourself for your own faults, you may find mercy at our Heavenly Father's hands for Christ's sake, and not be accused and condemned in that fearful judgment. Therefore I shall rehearse to you the Articles of our Faith, that you may know whether you believe as a Christian should, or no.

¶ Here the Priest shall rehearse the Articles of the Faith,

saying thus:

Dost thou believe in God the Father Almighty, 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 assended 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 the remission of sins; the resurrection of the flesh; and everlasting life after death?

The Sick Person shall answer,

All this I stedfastly believe.

Then (the company being withdrawn) the Priest shall examine the Sick Person, 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 offended any other, to ask their forgiveness: and where he hath done wrong or injury to any man, that he make amends to the uttermost 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 to him, for the better discharging of his conscience, and the quieting of his executors. But men should be often put in remembrance to take order for the settling of their temporal estates whilst they are in health.

The Priest should not omit earnestly to move such Sick Persons as are of ability, to be liberal to the poor.

¶Here shall the Sick Person make a special confession af his sins, the Priest assisting him by asking such questions as he shall think proper.

The foregoing Exhortation and Examination need not be re

peated every day, but only so often as the Priest shall see convenient.

When this Examination and Confession are over, the company may come in again, and then the Priest shall kneel down, and say:

REMEMBER not, Lord, our inipuities, 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.

Answer. Spare us, good Lord.

Priest. Lord, have mercy upon us.

Answer. Christ, have mercy upon us.

Priest. Lord have mercy upon us.

Our Father, &c. Amen.

Priest. O Lord, save thy servant ;

Ans. Who putteth his trust in thee. Priest. Send him help from thy holy place;

Ans. And evermore mightily defend him. Priest. Let the enemy have no advantage of him; Ans. Nor the wicked approach to hurt him. Priest. Be unto him, O Lord, a strong tower; Ans. From the face of his enemy.

Priest. O Lord, hear our prayers;

Ans. And let our cry come unto thee.

Then shall the Priest say the two Collects following.

O 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, defend him from the danger of the enemy, and keep him in perpetual peace and safety, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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 so to take thy visitation, that after this painful life ended, he may dwell with thee in life everlasting, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then the Priest shall stand up, and, laying his hand upon the Sick Person's head, he shall absolve him (if he humbly and heartily desire it) after this sort. And the same Form of Absolution shall be used in all private Confessions.

If the Sick Person is visited constantly, Absolution is to be repeated no oftener than as the Priest shall see just cause;

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