them pray over him,") or because he fears lest, if he should of his own accord obtrude, he might be an unwelcome visitor, or might come at an inconvenient time; yea, rather, lest he should seem to them to be framing excuses, and seeking a pretence for inactivity, let him of his own accord pay at least one visit to the sick; and if he shall find himself an unwelcome visitor, and shall clearly perceive that he will not be likely to benefit the sick, then, and not before, can the Curate absent himself without any mark of negligence.

Thus far has been shown after what manner he who has the cure of souls ought to be furnished, in order that he may discreetly enter on, and serviceably discharge the arduous employment of visiting the sick; he also now requires that I should point out the method to be observed towards the sick themselves in his visitations: and this the following rules will declare.

First Rule.

ought, in the

first place, when visit

ing, to express his

Rules included under the Second Division.

It will become the Curate, when first he The Curate approaches the sick, to express for him some commiseration by his voice and countenance, and to inquire kindly respecting the nature of commisera the malady with which he is oppressed, its symptoms and duration; for as these are evidences of his love and good will, so do they render more acceptable the things which he is about to speak.

tion for the

sick.

Second Rule.

The sick

should be

be submis

sive under

God's hand.

Then may the Curate intimate, that he has hope that the sick person will submit his own exhorted to will to the Divine, and bear (as becomes a dutiful child) the parental correction of his Heavenly Father; for the present correction, though it may appear heavy, may nevertheless be far short of that which he deserves; for although it is commonly reckoned among the number of things which are evil, yet it will be productive of good to him, if he shall bear it with a quiet mind, and consider that it is sent, even as all other afflictions are, from God, in

By what

arguents should per

the Curate

suade him to do this.

order to prove and examine the patience of the sick; the Curate may add, that impatience does

not remove, does not lighten, but increases the evil; forasmuch as every trouble presses more heavily upon any one in proportion as he less willingly endures it.

instruct him

uncer

tainty of

sickness, neither to

The Curate may, moreover, show him that Third Rule. the issue of diseases is uncertain, and, there- He should fore, he should not so despair of recovery as by reason of to reject the medicines which, under God's blessing, are able to remove the malady; on the contrary, so hope as to venture to bodily repromise himself another season for repentance, or think it safe to postpone to another soul. day that work so essentially necessary.

nor, despair of

covery, nor to delay the care of his

of the Order

Then, on his knees, he should supplicate Fourth Rule. God in behalf of the sick, according to the Prayers out order appointed in the Liturgy; and prayer for Visiting being in a little while interrupted, let him said." arise and

the Sick to be

should now

Proceed to that exhortation which is con- Fifth Rule. tained in the Book of Common Prayer, or if The Curate he shall judge it more convenient, to some proceed to other exhortation, such as I have already composed.

address him.

Sixth Rule.

And point out to him the necessity of a right faith.

Seventh Rule.

In what

faith should

The exhortation being ended, he may show him how impossible it is without faith to please God, and, therefore, of how much consequence it is to ascertain whether his be a right faith.

And that this inquiry may be rightly permanner his formed, the Curate should rehe..se, with a be examined, clear and distinct voice, all the Articles of the Apostles' Creed, and (as our Church appoints) ask the sick, with respect to each of them. whether he heartily assents to the same, and if he shall perceive him to hesitate in any one article, then he should take upon him to strengthen him in the faith.

Eighth Rule.

should be

taken with respect to

articles of faith.

And since certain of the articles of our Especial care faith are so essential that they cannot, without loss of salvation, remain entirely unknown, or fundamental be accounted untrue, the Curate should at least endeavour, as far as relates to them, that the person visited should rightly underThe circum stand and give his assent thereto; neither sick having should the Curate hesitate to discourse with any one about giving his assent to the same, on the ground that he has for a long while been a frequenter at Church; for from defect

stance of the

been a fre

quenter of Church should not deter the

inquiring

by which

have or

they have

knowledge of Christian

tinctly to

the same.

of timely instruction it falls out that many of Curate from very advanced years neither understand that into his faith. which is necessary to be known, nor assent to that which is necessary to be believed. But it The methods may perhaps be convenient to proceed in ano- those who ther way with respect to those who really have, imagine that or imagine at they have a greater degree of a greater knowledge, and to lead them, if they shall ap-faith may be pear to need a more perfect knowledge of any led more disarticles of faith, to a clearer perception thereof, understand either by means of commendation, or dedication, or supplication, or some expression of gratitude, or by exciting hope; and by advising the sick (the Curate leading the way) that he commend himself to the Holy and Divine Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; to the Father as Creator of all things visible and invisible; to the Son, born from everlasting of the Father by an eternal and ineffable generation, who in the fulness of time for the salvation of man was sent into the world, conceived by the operation of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered, died, was buried, descended into the abode of departed