The booke of common prayer, and administration of the sacraments and other rites and ceremonies of the Church of England.

The Communion of the sicke.

FOrasmuch as all mortall men bee subiect to many sud∣den perils, Diseases, and sicknesses, and euer vncertaine, what time they shall depart out of this life, therefore to the intent they may bee alwayes in a readinesse to die whensoeuer it shall please Almightie God to call them, the Curates shall diligently from time to time, but specially in the plague time exhort their Parishioners, to the oft receiuing (in the Church) of the holy Communion of the body and blood of our Sauiour Christ: which if they doe, they shal haue no cause in their sudden visitation to be vnquiet for lack of the same. But if the sicke person be not able to come to the Church, & yet is desirous to receiue the Communion in his house, then he must giue knowledge ouer night, or else early in the morning, to the Curate, signifying also how many bee ap∣pointed to communicate with him: And hauing a conuenient place in the sicke mans house, where the Curate may reuerently minster, and a good number to receiue the Communion with the sicke per∣son, with all things necessarie for the same, hee shall there minister the holy Communion.

The Collect.

ALmightie euerliuing God, maker of mankinde, which doest corect those whome thou doest loue, and chastisest euery one whome thou doest receiue: wee beseech thee to haue mercie vpon this thy seruant, visited with thine hand, and to graunt that hee may take his sicke∣nesse patiently, and recouer his bo∣dily health (if it bee thy gracious will) and whensoeuer his soule shall depart from the body, it may bee without spot presented vnto thee. through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle.

MY sonne, despise not the correction of the Lord, nei∣ther faint when thou art rebuked of him. for whom the Lord loueth, him hee correcteth: Yea, and he scourgeth euery sonne whom he receiueth.

The Gospel.

VErely, verely I say vnto you, Hee that hea∣reth my word, and beleeueth on him that sent mee; hath euerlasting life, and shall not come vnto damnation, but hee passeth from death vnto life.

¶ At the time of the distribution of the holy Sacrament, the Priest shall first receiue the Communion himselfe, and after minister vnto them that be appointed to communicate with the sicke.

¶ But if a man either by reason of extremitie of sickenesse, or for want of warning in due time to the Curate, or for lacke of com∣panie to receiue with him, or by any other iust impediment, doe not receiue the Sacrament of Christes body and blood: then the Curate shall instruct him, that if hce doe truely repent him of his sinnes, and stedfastly beleeue that Iesus Christ hath suffered death vpon the Crosse for him, and shed his blood for his redemption, earnestly remembring the benefites he hath thereby, and giuing him heartie thankes therefore, he doth eate and drinke the body and blood of our Sauiour Chrift profitably to his soules health, although he doe not receiue the Sacrament with his mouth.

¶ When the sicke person is visited, and receiueth the holy Commu∣nion all at one time, then the Priest for more expedition, shal cut off the forme of the visitation at the Psalme, In thee, O Lord, haue I put my trust, and goe straight to the Communion.

¶ In the time of Plague, Sweat, or such other like contagious times of sicknesses, or diseases, when none of the Parish or neighbours can be gotten to communicate with the sicke in their houses, for feare of the infection, vpon speciall request of the diseased, the Minister may alonely communicate with him.

Notes

• Heb. 12.
• Iohn. 5.