ment and mediation of our blessed Saviour, and the comfortable assistance of the Holy Spirit. After these observations, we proceed to explain the office, which our Church has so properly appointed for the visitation of the sick, and which is justly considered the most full and useful service, which is employed in any Church, on this occasion. THE ORDER FOR THE VISITATION OF THE SICK. T When any person is sick, notice shall be given thereof to the Minister of the Parish; who, coming into the sick person's house, shall say, PEACE be to this house, and to all that dwell in it. (1) ¶ When he cometh into the sick man's presence he shall say, kneeling down, REMEMBER not, Lord, our iniquities, nor the iniquities of our forefathers. (2) Spare EXPLANATION. (1) Peace be to this, &c.] These are the words which Christ ordered his disciples to use, when he sent them to convert sinners, to preach repentance, and to heal the diseases both of their bodies and souls. St. Luke, chap. x. 5. It is a pious wish for the health and prosperity of all that dwell in the house; and Christ has promised, that if duly received, it shall procure a blessing. (2) Remember not, Lord, our, &c.] It is natural to supplicate God not to remember our iniquities; and us, good Lord; spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood, and be not angry with us for ever. Answer. Spare us, good Lord. ¶ Then the Minister shall say, Let us pray. Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. EXPLANATION. we, at the same time, justly pray to him not to remember those of our fathers, because we are too apt to imitate them, and because we learn from the second commandment, that God will visit the sins of the fathers upon the children, to the third and fourth generation of them that hate him. In this prayer we also earnestly offer our petitions to the Father of all goodness, that in his unbounded mercy he will spare us, because his blessed son Jesus Christ redeemed us with his precious blood, and not be angry with us for ever; or, in other words, to deliver us from his eternal wrath, to which we should all have been subject, without the redemption of mankind by our Lord Jesus Christ. We are told by the holy Psalmist, Psalm cxlv. 8, that "the Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger, and of great mercy;" and again, " He will not always chide, neither will he keep his anger for ever." Ps. ciii. 9. OUR Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen. (3) us. Minister. O Lord, save thy servant; Answer. Which putteth his trust in thee. Minister. Send him help from thy holy place; Answer. And evermore mightily defend him. Minister. Let the enemy have no advantage of him; EXPLANATION. (3) Our Father, &c.] Nothing can be more properly introduced on this occasion than the Lord's Prayer, which our Church has adopted in several parts of the service, from the consideration that no form of petition to God can be so perfect as that delivered to mankind by our blessed Saviour himself. |