Time for performing the Service.

to the Book of Common Prayer. Neither shall any Minister, upon the like pain, under any pretence whatsoever, join any persons so licenced in marriage at any unseasonable times, but only between the hours of 8 and 12 in the fore-noon, nor in any private place, but either in the said Churches or Chapels where one of them dwelleth, and likewise in time of Divine Service, nor when the Banns are thrice asked, and no licence in that respect necessary, before the parents or governors of the parties to be married, being under the age of 21 years, shall either personally or by sufficient testimony signify to them their consents given to the said marriage."

The expression, "at any unseasonable time," refers to the time of day, not of the year. In the present Ecclesiastical Law of the English Church there is no express prohibition in respect of particular periods of the year; but the Constitutions collected by Lyndwood contain such a prohibition: "Solemnizatio non potest fieri a prima Dominica Adventus, usque ad Octavas Epiphaniæ exclusivè; et a Domínica LXX. usque ad primam Dominicam post pascha inclusivè; et a prima die Rogationum usque ad septimum diem Festi Pentecostes inclusivè, licet quoad vinculum his diebus contrahi possit."

FOURTH. THE ORDER FOR THE VISITATION
OF THE SICK.

All the editions contain the preliminary direction that the Priest on coming to the sick man's house is to say, "Peace," &c.

In the First Prayer Book this order began with the Psalm 143, "Domine exaudi," to be said by the Priest immediately upon entering the house. The Service then proceeds in the same manner in all the editions, with only verbal differences, till the rubric as to Confession, which varies considerably :

In the First and Second Books the Service usually ends with the prayer, "The Almighty Lord which," &c., all the rest being wanting. But in the First Book there is this special addition :—

¶ If the sick person desire to be anointed, then shall the Priest anoint him upon the forehead or breast only, making the sign of the cross, saying thus,

As with this visible oil thy body outwardly is anointed, so our heavenly Father, Almighty God, grant of his infinite goodness that thy soul inwardly may be anointed with the Holy Ghost, who is the spirit of all strength, comfort, relief, and gladness. And vouchsafe for his great mercy (if it be his blessed will) to restore unto thee thy bodily health and strength, to serve him; and send thee release of all thy pains, troubles, and diseases, both in body and mind. And howsoever his goodness (by his divine and unsearchable providence) shall dispose of thee; we, his unworthy ministers and servants, humbly beseech the eternal Majesty to do with thee according to the multitude of his innumerable mercies, and to pardon thee all thy sins and offences committed by all thy bodily senses, passions, and carnal affections; who also vouchsafe mercifully to grant unto thee ghostly strength, by his Holy Spirit, to withstand and overcome all temptations and assaults of thine adversary, that in no wise he prevail against thee; but that thou mayest have perfect victory and triumph against the devil, sin, and death; through Christ our Lord: who by his death bath overcome the prince of death; and with the Father and the Holy Ghost, evermore liveth and reigneth, God, world without end. Amen.

This is followed by the 13th Psalm and the "Gloria Patri."

Duty of the
Minister to

visit the sick.

In respect of the Visitation of the Sick, the 67th Canon enjoins :-"When any person is dangerously sick in any parish, the Minister or Curate having knowledge thereof shall resort unto him or her (if the disease be not known, or probably suspected to be infectious) to instruct and comfort them in their distress according to the order of the Communion Book, if he be no Preacher, or if he be a Preacher, then as he shall think most needful and convenient. And when any is passing out of this life a bell shall be tolled, and the Minister shall not then slack to do his last duty. And after the party's death, if it so fall out, there shall be rung no more than one short peal, and one other before the burial, and one other after the burial."

FIFTH. THE COMMUNION OF THE Sick.

The present order is much shorter than that found in the First Prayer Book, the difference, however, being occasioned as much by longer rubrics as by the lengthened form of the Service itself. The more convenient plan will be to give the Service in extenso as found in the First and Second Books, and comparison can then be made by the reader with the present form :

Forasmuch as all mortal men be subject to many sudden perils, diseases, and sicknesses, and ever uncertain what time they shall depart out of this life; therefore, to the intent they may be always in a readiness to die, whensoever it shall please Almighty God to call them, the Curates shall diligently from time to time, but specially in the plague time, exhort their parishioners to the oft receiving (in the church) of the holy communion of the body and blood of our Saviour Christ; which (if they do) they shall have no cause, in their sudden visitation, to be unquieted for lack of the same. But if the sick person be not able to come to the church, and yet is desirous to receive the communion in his house, then he must give knowledge over night, or else early in the morning, to the Curate, signifying also how many be appointed to communicate with him.

1549.

The Celebration of the Holy
Communion for the Sick.

O praise the Lord, all ye nations; laud him, all ye people: for his merciful kindness is confirmed towards us, and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, &c.

Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. Without any more repetition. The Priest. The Lord be with you.

Answer. And with thy spirit.

1552.

The Collect.

Let us pray. Almighty everliving God, Maker of mankind, which dost correct those whom thou dost love, and chastisest every one whom thou dost receive; We beseech thee to have mercy upon this thy servant visited with thy hand, and to grant that he may take his sickness patiently, and recover his bodily health (if it be thy gracious will;) and whensoever his soul shall depart from the body, it (pp) may without spot be presented unto thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle. Heb. xii.

My son, despise not the correction of the Lord, neither faint when thou art rebuked of him. For whom the Lord loveth, him he correcteth; yea, and he scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

The Gospel. John v.

Verily, verily I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, bath everlasting life, and shall not come unto damnation; but he passeth from death unto life.