I. The Examination on the Tenth D , Ost thou rest contented in that Condition or State of Life, wherein God hath placed thee? Or haft thou at any time inordinately lusted after that which belongs to Others ? 2. Hast thou entertained fecret Covetings in thy Thoughts, with any Delight or Complacency? Or, haft thou laboured to reftrain them, and quench them in their first Beginnings? When the Sick Man hath distinctly read, and feriously confidered these several Articles; let him then thus make Application. 1. When his Confcience accuseth him, he may say thus. I confess my Guilt. And, O my God, wash it away in the Blood of Jefus: and be merciful to me a Miserable Sinner. 2. When he doubts, and is in suspence, he may say thus. O God, enlighten me, and cleanse me from my Secret Faults. 3. When : From 3. When his Conscience acquits him, he may say thus. Lord, I bless thee, for keeping me from this Sin. A Prayer after Examination. Lord God, I have now by thy assistance confidered my evil Ways. O thou who only knowest the Heart, and who only canst change it; create in me such a broken and contrite Heart, (which thou hast promifed not to despise) and so deep a sense of my own Sin and Misery; that my Repentance may bear some proportion to my Guilt. O my God, pardon all my Tranfgreffions; and perfect that good Work thou hast begun in me, for the Merits of Jefus my Saviour. Amen. The Lord's-Prayer is always to Conclude the Sick Christian's Private Devotions. The The Sick Man's Communicating. T HE Sick Man having thus Examined himself, is next to consider his Receiving the H. Communion. Which is called the Dying Christian's Viaticum, to fit and prepare him for his last and longest Journey. For, 1. This H. Sacrament is God's Seal of Pardon, to all that Receive it with Faith and Repen tance. 2. This arms the Dying Christian against the Fear of Death: by setting Jesus before him, who Died for him, and hath pulled out the Sting of Death. 3. This assures him of his own Resurrection. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. Joh. 6.54. 4. Here4. Hereby the Sick Man declares, he doth Dye in the Peace and Communion of the true Church. And yet 'tis pertinent to Observe; That tho the Church of England doth allow of Private Sacraments, yet it is with certain Limitations and Restrictions. For, 1. The Sick Person must give timely notice to the Curate. It being not decent, that so Solemn an Action as this, should be done in a hurry. 2. He must fignify, how many there are to Communicate with him; (Which shall be Three, or Two at the least.) 3. There must be a convenient Place in the Sick Man's House, with all things neceffary So prepared; that the Curate may Reverently Administer. These These Directions being observed, and not otherwise, the Sick Man (who is not able to come to the Church, and yet is defirous to receive it in his own House;) may have the H. Communion privately Administred. Comme But if it so happen, (as the Church instructs us) That a Man, nion of - either by reason of extremity of the Sick. Sickness, or for want of due Warning to the Curate, or for lack of Company to Receive with him; or by any other just Impediment, do not Receive the Sacrament of Christ's Body and Blood; yet if he truly repent of his Sins, and stedfastly believes that Chrift hath fuffered Death upon the Cross for him, and Shed his Blood for his Redemption; earnestly remembring the Benefits he hath thereby, and giving him hearty Thanks for them: He doth then Eat and Drink the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ, profi- P |