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this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

A few verses of an appropriate hymn.

Extemporaneous prayer adapted to the occasion.

¶ Distribution of the bread and wine.

¶ Collection for the poor, if one be taken.

4 hymn of thanksgiving and the benediction.

SECTION III.

A short service for communion with the sick.*
¶ Read one or both of the following:
Luke xxii. 14–20.

AND when the hour was come, he sat down,

and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: for I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: for I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you:

*Whenever practicable, it is always well to have several Christians present upon such occasions, in whom the sick person has confidence, and also to have singing, as indicated in this service.

this do in remembrance of me.

Likewise also

the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for

you.

1 Cor. xi. 23-26.

NOR I have received of the Lord that which

FOR

also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

A few verses of an appropriate hymn.

Then let the following or an extemporaneous prayer be offered:

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FATHER of mercies, and God of all comfort, our only help in time of need; we fly unto thee for succor in behalf of this thy servant, here lying under thy hand in great weakness of body. Look graciously upon him, O Lord; and the more the outward man decayeth, strengthen him, we beseech thee, so much the more continually with thy grace and Holy Spirit, in the inner man. Give him unfeigned repentance for all the errors of his past life, and steadfast faith in thy Son Jesus; that his sins may be done away by thy mercy, and

his pardon sealed in heaven, before he go hence, and be no more seen. We know, O Lord, that there is no word impossible with thee; and that, if thou wilt, thou canst even yet raise him up, and grant him a longer continuance amongst us : Yet, forasmuch as in all appearance the time of his dissolution draweth near, so fit and prepare him, we beseech thee, against the hour of death, that after his departure hence in peace, and in thy favor, his soul may be received into thine everlasting kingdom; through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ thine only Son, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

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ALMIGHTY God, our Heavenly Father, who of thy great mercy hast promised forgiveness of sins to all them that with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto thee; have mercy upon us, pardon and deliver us from all our sins, confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, and bring us to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

WE

E do not presume to come to this thy table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much. as to gather up the crumbs under thy table. But thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy; grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that our sinful souls and bodies may be made clean by his death, and washed through his most precious

blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us.

Amen.

Then let the bread and wine be given first to the other Christians present, and last of all to the sick person.

¶ If the invalid be not too ill, or too much exhausted, let another hymn be sung, and the service concluded with the benediction.

MAY the peace of God, which passeth all

understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.

CHAPTER VI.

THE VISITATION OF THE SICK.

SECTION 1.

Appropriate Scripture Lessons.

2 Kings xx. 1-11.

N those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying, I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him saying, Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.

And

And

I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. And Isaiah said, Take a lump

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