The 1559 Book of Common Prayer: Visitation of the Sick · The 1559 Book of Common Prayer: Act of Uniformity; Preface; and Of Ceremonies

The Book of Common Prayer

	The Book of Common Prayer - 1559

¶
THE ORDER FOR THE
VISITACION
OF THE SICKE.
	* "to"
	in early 1600's.
The Priest entryng into the sicke persones house, shall saye.
Peace be in* this house, and to all that dwel in it.
When
he commeth into the sicke mannes presence, he shall saye knelynge doune.
REMEMBRE
not Lorde oure iniquities, nor the iniquities of our forefathers. Spare
us good Lorde, spare thy people, whome thou hast redemed with thy most
precious bloude and bee not angry with us for ever.
Lorde have mercy upon us.
Christe have mercy upon us.
Lorde have mercy upon us.
¶ Our father whiche art in heaven. &c
And leade us not into temptacion.
Aunswere. But deliver us
from evel. Amen.
¶ Minister. O Lorde save
thy servaunt.
¶ Aunswere. Whiche putteth
his trust in the.
¶ Minister. Sende him helpe
from thy holy place.
¶ Aunswere. And
evermore myghtely defende him.
¶ Minister. Let
the enemy have none advauntage of him.
¶ Aunswere. Nor
the wicked approche to hurte him.
¶ Minister. Be unto
him O Lorde a strong Towre.
¶ Aunswere. From
the face of his enemy.
¶ Minister. Lorde
heare our praiers.
¶ Aunswere. And
let our crie come unto the.
¶
Minister,
O Lorde loke doune from Heaven, beholde, visite, and releve this thy servaunt.
Loke uppon him with the eies of thy mercye, geve him comforte and sure
confidence in the, defende him from the daunger of the enemy, and kepe
him in perpetual peace, and saufety: Through Jesus Christe our Lorde.
Amen.
HEARE
us almighty, and most mercifull God, and saviour, extend thy accustomed
goodnes, to this thy servaunt whiche is greved with syckenesse, visit
him O Lorde, as thou diddest visit Peters wifes mother, and the capiteines
servaunt. So visit and restore unto this sicke person his former health
(if it bee thy wil) or els geve him grace so to take thy visitation, that
after this painful life ended, he may dwell with the in life everlastyng.
Amen.
¶
Then shal the Minister exhorte the sicke person after this forme or
other lyke.
DERELY
beloved know this, that almighty god is the lorde of life and death, and
over al thinges to theym perteinyng, as youthe, strength, helthe, age
weaknesse, and sicknes, wherfore, whatsoever your syckenesse is, knowe
you certainlye, that it is Goddes visitacion. And for what cause soever
this sicknes is sent unto you: whether it bee to trie youre patience for
the example of other, and that your faith may be founde in the dai of
the lord laudable, glorious, and honorable, to the encrease of Glory,
and endles felicitie: Or els it be sent unto you, to correct, and amende	*If
in you whatsoever dothe offende the eies of our heavenly father: knowe	the person visited be very sicke then the Curate may ende his exhortacion
you certeinly, that yf you truly repent you of your sinnes, and beare	in thys place.
your sickenes patiently, trustyng in Gods mercy for his dere sonne Jesus
Christes sake, and rendre unto him humble thankes for his fatherly visitacion,
submittyng your selfe wholly to his will, it shall turne to your profite,
and helpe you forwarde in the right waye that leadeth unto everlastyng
life*. Take therfore in good worthe, the
chastemente of the lord, for whom the lord loveth he chastiseth. yea,
as S. Paul saith, he scourgeth every sonne which he receiveth : If you
endure chastisement, he offereth himself unto you as unto his own children.
What sonne is he that the father chastiseth not? If ye be not under correction
(whereof all true children are partakers) then are ye bastardes, and not
children. Therfore seying, that when our carnal fathers do correct us,
we reverently obey them, shal we not now muche rather be obedient to our
spirituall father, and so live? And they for a few daies do chastise us
after their owne pleasure, but he doth chastise us for our profit to thentent
he maye make us partakers of his holines. These wordes good brother, are
Gods wordes, and written in holy Scripture for our comforte and instruction,
that we sholde paciently and with thankesgeving, beare our heavenly fathers
Correction, whensoever by any maner of adversitie it shal please his gratious
goodnes to visite us. And there shoulde be no greater comforte to christien
persons, than to be made like unto christ, by sufferyng patiently adversities,
troubles, and Sickenesses. For he him selfe went not up to joye, but firste
he suffered paine : hee entred not into his glorye, before he was crucified:
So truly our way to eternall joye, is to suffer here with Christe, and
our doore to entre into eternall life: is gladly to die with Christ, that
we may ryse againe from death and dwell with him in everlastynge life.
Nowe therfore, taking your sickenesse, whiche is thus profitable for you
paciently: I exhorte you in the name of God, to rernembre the profession
whiche you made unto God, in your Baptisme. And forasmuche as after this
lyfe there is accompte [account]
to be geven unto the rightuous judge, of whome all must be judged without
respect of persons: I require you to examine your selfe and your state,
bothe towarde God and man, so that accusynge and condempning your self
for your owne faultes, you may fynde mercy at our heavenly fathers hande,
for Christes sake, and not be accused and condempned in that fearful judgement.
Therfore I shal shortly rehearse the Articles of our faith, that ye may
know whether you do beleve as a Christien man shoulde, or no.
¶
Here the minister shall rekerse the articles of the faith saieng thus
DOEST
thou beleve in God the father almighty.
And
so furth, as it is in Baptisme.
1559:
¶ Then
shal the minister examine whether he be in charitie, with all the worlde:	This may
exhortyng hym to forgive from the botome of his hart, al persons that	be done before the minister begin his praiers as he shal se cause.
have offended hym, and if he have offended other, to aske them forgevenesse;
And wher he hathe done injury or wrong to any man, that he make amendes
to the uttermost of his power. And if he have not afore disposed his goodes,
let him the make his wil. (But men must be oft admonished that they set
an order for their temporall goodes and landes,when they be in health.)
And also declare his debtes, what hee oweth, and what is owyng unto him,
for discharging of his conscience, and quietnes ofhis executours. The
minister may not forget, nor omitte to move the sicke person (and that
most earnestly) to liberalitie lowarde the poore.
From
late 1500's:
¶ Then shal the minister examine whether he be in charitie, with
all the world, exhorting him to forgive from the bottome of his heart
all persons that have offended him, and if he have offended other, to
aske them forgevenesse: and where hee hath done injury or wrong to any
man, that he make amends to the uttermost of his power. And if he have
not afore disposed his goods, let him the make his will, and also declare
his debts, what he oweth, and what is owing unto him, for discharging
of his conscience, and quietnesse of his Executors. But men must be oft
admonished that they set an order for their temporall goods and lands,
when they be in health.
¶ These words before rehearsed, may bee
said before the Minister begin his praier, as he shall see cause.
¶ The minister may not forget, nor omit to
moove the sicke person (and that most earnestly) to liberality loward
the poore.
¶ Here
shall the sicke persone make a speciall confession, if he feele hys conscience
troubled with any weighty matter. After whiche confession the priest shall
absolve him after this sorte.
OUR
Lorde Jesus Christ who hath left power to hys Churche to absolve all sinners,
whiche truly repente, and beleve in him: of hys greate mercie forgeve
thyne offences, and by his aucthoritie committed to me, I absolve the
from al thy synnes. In the name of the father and of the sonne &c.
Amen.
¶
And then the priest shal say the Collect folowyng.
¶
Let us praie.
O
MOST merciful God, whiche according to the multitude of thy mercies, dost
so put awai the sinnes of those whiche truly repent, that thou remebrest
them no more, open thy eie of mercy upon this thy servaunt, who most earnestly
desireth pardon, and forgevenes. Renue in him most lovying father, whatsoever
hath been decaied, by the fraud, and malice of the devel, or by his owne
carnall will, and frailnes, preserve, and continue this sicke membre in
the unitie of thy churche, consider his contricion, accept hys teares,
asswage his paine, as shalbe sene to thee most expedient for him. And
forasmuche as he putteth his full trust only in thy mercy, impute not
unto him his former sinnes, but take him to thy favour, through the merites
of thy moste derely beloved sonne Jesus Chriest. Amen.
¶
Then the Minister shal saie this Psalm.
IN
the, O Lorde have I put my trust, let me never bee put to confusion, but
ridde me, and deliver me into thy ryghtuousnesse, encline thine eare unto
me and save me.	In te, domine, spe. Psal. lxxi.
Be thou my strong holde wherunto I may alway resorte:
thou hast promysed to helpe me, for thou art my house of defence, and
my Castel.
Deliver me a my God out of the hande of the ungodly:
out of the hande of the unrightuous and cruell man.
For thou O lorde God art the thyng that I long for
: thou art my hope even from my youth.
Through the have I ben holden up ever sence I was borne:
thou art he that toke me out of my mothers wombe, my prayse shall alway
be of the.
I am become as it were a monster unto many: but my
sure truste is in the.
O let my mouth be filled with thy praise: (that I may
sing of thy glory) and honor all the daie longe.
Cast me not away in the tyme of age: forsake me not
when my strength faileth me.
For myne enemies speake againste me, and they that
laye wayte for my soule, take their counsail together, saiynge: God hath
forsaken hym, persecute hym, and take hym, for there is none to deliver
hym.
Go not farre from me, O God: my God, haste the to helpe
me.
Let them be confounded and perishe, that are against
my soule: let them be covered with shame and dishonoure that seke to do
me evill.
As for me, I will pacietly abide alwaie : and wil praise
the, more and more.
My mouthe shall dayely speake of thy righteousnes,
and salvacion: for I knowe no ende therof.
I will go furth in the strength of the Lorde God: and
will make mencion of thy righteousnesse onely.
Thou (O God) haste taughte me from my youthe up untill
nowe: therefore I will tell of thy wonderous workes.
Forsake me not (O God) in myne olde age, when I am
gray headed: until I haue shewed thy strength unto this generacion, and
thy power to all them that are yet for to come.
Thy righteousnesse (O God) is very hygh, and great
thinges are they that thou haste done: O God, who is lyke unto the?
O what great troubles and adversities hast thou shewed
me? and yet diddest thou turne and refreshe me, yea, and broughtest me
from the depe of the earth agayne.
Thou hast broughte me to great honour: and comforted
me on every side.
Therfore will I prayse the and thy faythefulnes (O
God) plaiynge upon an instrument of Musicke: unto the will I synge uppon
the Harpe, O thou holy one of Israell.
My lippes will be faine, when I sing unto the: and
so will my soule whome thou hast delivered.
My tongue also shal talke of thy righteousnesse al
the day long : for thei are confounded and brought unto shame, that seke
to do me evill.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Sonne, and to the
holy Ghoste.
As it was in the begynnynge, is nowe and ever shalbe
worlde without ende. Amen.
Addyng
thys.
O
SAVIOUR of the worlde, save us, whyche by thy crosse and precious bloude
hast redemed us, helpe us we beseche the, O God.
¶
Then shal the Minister saye.
THE
almightie Lord; whiche is a moste strong tower to all them that put their
trust in him, to whom all thinges in heaven, in earthe, and under the
earthe doe bowe and obey, be now; and evermore thy defence, and make the
knowe and fele, that there is no other name under heaven geven to man,
in whome, and throughe whome thou mayest receyve healthe and salvacion,
but onely .the name of oure Lorde Jesus Christe. Amen.
¶
THE
COMMUNION
OF THE SICKE.
Forasmuche as al mortal men be subjecte to many soubdein perilles, diseases,
and sicknesses, and ever uncertaine what time they shal departs out of
this lyf. Therfore to thentent they may be alwaies in a readines to die,
whensoever it that please Almightie God to cal them: The Curates shal
diligently from tyme to tyme, but specially in the plague time, exhort
their Parishioners to the oft receivyng in the Churche, of the holy Communion
of the body and bloude of our saviour Christ. Whiche (if thei do) thei
shal have no cause in their soubdeine visitation to be unquieted for lacks
of the same. But if the sicke persons be not able to come to the Churche,
and yet is desirous to receive the Communion in his house, then yee must
give knowledge over night, or elles early in the Morning to the Curate,
signifying also how many be appoincted to communicate with him. And havyng
a convenient place in the sicke mans house, where the Curate may reverently
minister, and a good nomber to receive the Communion with the sicke persons,
with all thynges necessary for the same, he that there minister the holy
Communion.
The
Collect.
ALMIGHTIE
everlivyng God, maker of mankynde, whiche doest correcte those whom thou
doest love, and chastisest every one whome thou doest receive, we beseche
the to have mercie upon this thy servaunt visited with thy hande, and
to graunt that he may take his sickenesse paciently, and recover his bodily
helth (yf it be thy gracious wil), and whensoever his soule shal depart
from the body, it may bee without spot presented unto the: Throughe Jesus
Christe our Lorde. Amen.
The
Epistle.	Hebr. xii.
MY
sonne, despise not the correction of the Lorde, neither faint when thou
art rebuked of hym. For whome the Lorde loveth, him he correcteth : yea,
and he scourgeth every sonne whom he receiveth.
The
Gospel.	John v.
VERELY,
verely I say unto you, he that heareth my worde, and beleveth on hym that
sent me, hath everlastyng life, and shall not come unto dampnacion, but
he passeth from death unto lyfe.
¶ At
the time of the distribucion of the holy Sacrament, the Priest shal flrst
receive the Communion hymselfe, and after minister unto them that be appoincted
to communicate with the sicke.
¶ But
if any man, either by reason of extremitie of sickenes, or for lacke of
warnyng in due time to the Curate, or for lacke of company to receive
with hym, or by any other just impediment, do not receive the Sacrament
of Christes body and bloud, then the Curate shall instruct hym, that if
he do truely repent hym of his synnes, and stedfastly beleve that Jesus
Christe hath sufred death upon the crosse for him, and shed his bloud
for his redempcion, earnestly remembryng the benefites he hath therby,
and geving him hartie thankes therfore, he doth eate and dryncke the body
and blonde of our saviour Christe, profitably to his soules health, although
he doe not receive the Sacrament with his mouthe.
¶ When
the sicke person is visited, and receiveth the holy Communion al at one
time, then the Priest, for more expedicion, shal cut of the fourme of
the visitacion at the Psaime, In the, O Lorde have I put my trust,
and go streight to the Communion.
¶ In
the time of plague, Swette, or such other like contagious tymes of sickenesses
or diseases, when none of the Paroshe or neighbours can be gotten to communicate
with the sicke in their houses, for feare of the infection, upon speciall
request of the diseased, the minister may alonly communicate with hym.

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