The Christian divinitie, contained in the divine service of the Church of England summarily, and for the most part in order, according as point on point dependeth, composed; and with the holy Scriptures plainly and plentifully confirmed: written for the furtherance of the peoples understanding in the true religion established by publike authoritie, and for the increase of vnitie in that godly truth eternall. By Edmund Reeve Bachelour in Divinitie, and vicar of the parish of Hayes in Middlesex.

CHAP. 65. Of visiting the sicke.

IN the Order for the Visitation of the sicke, at the beginning of the Service thereto, it is said: The Priest entring into the sicke persons house shall say:i Peace be to this house, and to all that dwell in it. And that when he commeth into the sicke mans presence, hee shall say kneeling down, Remēber not Lord our iniquities, &c. Then there is prescribed a very Divine Exhor∣tation divided into two parts, wherewith the Mi∣nister is to exhort the sicke person; the which is most profitable for all people to meditate on, when they feele themselves ill at ease, or in any adversitie. And the Exhortation being read, the Minister is to examine whether he continueth in beliefe of all the Ar∣ticles of the Christian faith, and whether he be in charity with all the world, &c. And to exhort him for to set his state in order: (whereto men, when they be in health, should be oft admonished) and earnestly to move him to liberalitie toward the poore, because it is the last Almes that ever hee shall give.

The Church hath ordained an Homily, an Ex∣hortation against the feare of death to be read unto the people. And if the sicke person can well indure to heare the reading of it, he may be much comfor∣ted by the same. The visitation of the sicke is one of thek sixe duties of Charitie, whereof Iesus Christ will speake when he sitteth to judge all Nati∣ons. That it is also a workel Ministeriall, S. Iames

in his Epistle plainely expresseth. It is the last kindnesse, that one can shew unto another, whiles being is in earthly Tabernacle. Man being in that misery desireth to be visited. And one reason is, that thereby hee hopeth either bodily or ghostly to receive the more comfort. Pure religion, and undefiled before God and the Father, is this, tom visite the fatherlesse and widowes in their af∣fliction, and to keepe himselfe unspotted from the world. It is written for our learning, That when Iobs three friends heard of his calamitie, they made an appointment together to come for ton mourne with him, and to comfort him. Saint Paul saith, blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and God of all com∣fort, who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able too comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith wee our selves are comforted of God. Iesus the sonne of Sirach saith: Bee not slow top visite the sicke: for that shall make thee to bee beloved. It is the duty of the sick to send for their Minister: as Saint Iames saith, Let him send for the Elders of the Church. And therefore it is said in Articles of our Church discipline: Whether doth your Minister visite the sicke, when he is thereunto desired, to comfort and instruct them?

Notes

• i

  Mat. 10.12, 13. Luke 10.5, 6, 9.
• k

  Mat. 25.35.26.
• l

  Iam. 5.14. with Heb. 5.1.2, 3, 4, 5.
• m

  Iam. 1.27.
• n

  Iob 2.11. Rom. 12.15.
• o

  2 Cor. 1.3.4.
• p

  Ecclus. 7.34, 35.
• Iam. 5.14.