THE

COMMUNION OF THE SICK.

$320. Forasmuch as all mortal men be subject to many sudden perils, diseases, and sicknesses, and ever uncertain what time they shall depart out of this life: Therefore to the intent they may be always in a readiness to die, whensoever it shall please Almighty God to call them, the curates! shall diligently from time to time, but specially in the plague time3, exhort their parishioners

to the oft receiving (in the church) of the holy Communion of the body and blood of our Saviour Christ: which if they do, they shall have no cause, in their sudden visitation, to be unquieted® for lack of the same. But if the sick person be not able to come to the church, and yet is desirous to receive the Communion in his house, then he must give knowledge over night, or else early in the morning to the curated, signifying also how many be appointed to communicate with him.

321. And if the same day there be a celebration of the holy Communion in the church, then shall the Priest reserve (at the open Communion) so much of the sacrament of the body and blood, as shall serve the sick person, and so many as shall communicate with him (if there be any); and so soon as he conveniently may, after the open Communion ended in the church, shall go and minister the same, first to those that are appointed to communicate with the sick (if there be any), and last of all to the sick person himself. But before the curate distribute the holy Communion, the ap pointed general confession must be made in the name of the communicants, the curate adding the absolution with the comfortable sentences of scripture following in the open Communion: and after the communion ended, the Collect®.

ALMIGHTY and everliving God, we most heartily thank thee, &c.

h

$322. But if the day be not appointed for the open communion in the church, then (upon convenient warning given) the curate shall come and visit the sick person afore noon.

And having a convenient place in the sick man's house (where he may reverently celebrate) with all things necessary for the same, and not being otherwise letted with the public service or any other just impediment; he shall there celebrate the holy communion after such form and sort as hereafter is appointed.

Scotch Liturgy, 1637.

THE COMMUNION OF THE SICK.

$320. Forasmuch as all mortal men, &c.

[Same as 1549.]

§ 322. And having a convenient, &c. [Same as 1552.]

Charles II. 1662.

THE COMMUNION OF THE SICK.

$320. Forasmuch as all mortal men, &c.

[Same as 1549, to]

to the often receiving of the holy Communion of the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ, when

The head-line in the sealed book (ed. 1662) is printed, "The Communion, &c.", but the "&c." is altered with a pen to "of the Sick."

In ed. 1578, the whole of these rubrics are omitted.

if the sick person be not able to come to the Church, and yet is desirous to receive the Communion 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) (§ 322) and having a convenient place in the sick man's house, with all things necessary so prepared, that the Curate may reverently minister, he shall there celebrate the holy Communion, beginning with the Collect, Epistle and Gospel here following.

This thanksgiving will be found, § 127, p. 257, but no direct reference is given. The Collect, with the preceding rubric, is wholly omitted in eds. 1552, and all eds. afterwards.

$323. THE CELEBRATION

of the Holy Communion for the Sick.

O PRAISE the Lord, all ye nations, laud him, all ye people : for his merciful kindness is confirmed toward us, and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, &c.

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Without any

more repetition.

The Priest. The Lord be with you.
Answer. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY everliving God, maker of mankind, which dost correct those whom thou dost love, and chastisest every one whom thou dost receive: we beseech thee to have mercy upon this thy servant visited with thy hand, and to grant that he may take his sickness patiently, and recover his bodily health

Second Edw. VI, 1552.

[323 and what follows is omitted in ed. 1552, and in all afterwards. ]

$324. The Collect.

ALMIGHTY everliving God, &c.

[Same as 1549.]
$325. The Epistle.

My son, despise not, &c.

§ 326. The Gospel.

VERILY, verily I say, &c. [Same as 1549, to]

from death unto life.

Elizabeth, 1559. $324. The Collects. ALMIGHTY everliving God, &c. [Same as 1552.] § 325. The Epistle. My son, despise not, &c.

In ed. 1662, "who."

1

In ed. 1604, and afterwards, "thine."

(if it be thy gracious will), and whensoever his soul shall depart from the body, it may without spot be" presented unto thee through Jesus Christ our Lord.

§ 325. The Epistle.

My son, despise not the correction of the Lord, neither faint when thou art rebuked of him: for whom the Lord loveth, him he correcteth, yea and he scourgeth every son, whom he receiveth.

§ 326. The Gospel.

VERILY, verily I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come unto damnation, but he passeth from death unto life.

$ 330. At the time of the distribution of the holy sacrament, the prist shall first receive the Communion himself, and after minister to them that be appointed to communicate with the sick (if there be any), and then to the sick person. And the sick person shall always desire some, either of his own house, or else of his neighbours, to receive the holy Communion with him; for that shall be to him a singular great comfort, and of their part a great token of charity.

§ 331. ¶ And if there be more sick persons to be visited the same day that the curate doth celebrate in any sick man's house: then shall the curate (there) reserve so much of the sacrament of the body and blood, as shall serve the other sick persons, and such as be appointed to communicate with them, (if there be any); and shall immediately carry it, and minister it unto them.

8332. But if any man either by reason of extremity of sickness, or for lack of warning given in due time to the curate', or by any other just impediment, do not receive the sacrament of Christ's body and blood; then3 the curate shall instruct him, that if he do truly repent him of his sins, and stedfastly believe that Jesus Christ hath suffered death upon the cross for him, and shed his blood for his redemption, earnestly remembering the

Second Edw. VI. 1552. $330. At the time of the distribution of the holy Sacrament, the Priest shall first receive the communion himself, and after minister unto them that be appointed

to communicate with the sick. [In ed. 1552, and all after, § 331 omitted.] § 332. But if any man, either by reason of extremity of sickness, or for lack of warning in due time to the Curate, or for lack of company to receive with him, or by any other just impediment, &c.

[Continued same as 1549.] § 333. When the sick person is visited, and receiveth the holy communion all at one time, then the priest for more expedition, shall cut off the form of the visitation at the Psalm, In thee, O Lord, have I put my trust, and go straight to the communion.

§ 337. In the time of plague,