Bed-rid Man after his Cure whom when Jesus found in the Temple he said to him Behold thou art made Whole Sin no more lest some worse thing chance to thee Jo. 5.14 CHAP. XIX Of Assisting Dying Persons Comfort him that lies a Dying in the Departure of his Spirit Ecclus 38.24 HE loves at all times that is a Friend and a Brother is proved in distresses Prov. 17.17 But no time is of greater Consequence than the Hour of Death and the Entrance into Eternity nor any Distress comparable to our last Agony Therefore he is our best Friend and kindest Brother who assists us most in those our greatest Extremities Now the best Service you can do an Agonizing Person is as follows § I. Admonish him to Pronounce often with a Contrite Heart the most Holy Name Jesus and Help him whilst he is able to make Acts of Faith Hope Charity and other Vertues after this manner I Believe firmly all the Articles of Faith which the Holy-Catholick-Apostolick and Roman Church Believes and Teaches I Hope that Christ our Lord for his Immense Goodness will be merciful to me and that I shall obtain Life Everlasting thro' the Merits of his most Holy Passion I Love God with my whole Heart and I desire above all things to Love him as the Angels and Saints in Heaven do Love him I am Sorry from my Heart for the Love of God that I ever Offended him or my Neighbour in any kind I Pardon from my Heart for the Love of God all my Enemies and those that have any way Molested me I Crave Pardon of all those I have at any time Offended either in Word or Deed. I Accept with Patience the Pain I Endure and the Anguish of my Sickness for God's sake in Punishment and Expiation of my Sins I Resign my self freely to the Pangs of Death for the Love of him that Died upon the Cross to Save me from â—â—dless Misery I Resolve if God Restores my Health to avoid Sin hereafter and to keep his Commandments as much as in me lies And I would rather Die in the State I now am in than Live to Offend my God any more § II. Exhort him to Pray at least in Heart as often as he 's able after this manner Have Mercy on me O God according to thy great mercy Psal 50.1 In thee O Lord have I hoped let me not be Confounded for ever Psal 30.2 Into thy hands O Lord I commend my Spirit thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of Truth Psal 30.6 O God incline unto my Aid O Lord make haste to help me Psal 69.2 Be thou Lord God to me a protector Psal 30.3 God be Merciful to me a Sinner Luk. 18.13 Most Sweet Lord Jesus in Virtue of thy Passion receive me into the Number of thy Elect. Lord Jesus Christ receive my Spirit Acts 7.59 Mary Mother of Grace Mother of Mercy protect us from the Enemy and at the Hour of Death receive us Angel-Guardian Assist me All ye Holy Angels and Saints Intercede for me and Succour me These and such like Prayers you may suggest to a Dying Person according to his Capacity § III. During his Agony sprinkle him with Holy Water offer him the Crucifix to Kiss by Efficacious words put him in hopes of Eternal Life and place the Crucifix before him that in beholding it he may conceive hopes of his Salvation thro' him who Died upon the Cross Admonish the Domesticks and By-standers to join with you in Prayer for the Dying Party and then on your Knees read Devoutly the Recommendation of a Soul departting as in the Manual But when the Soul is at the point of leaving the Body then all present must Pray most earnestly for its happy Departure and one of the Assistants applying his Mouth towards the Ear of the Person Dying must pronounce in a Hain and Comfortable Tone Jesu Jesu Jesu and as often as it shall seem fitting he may repeat that Sacred Name as also the following Sentences Into thy Hands O Lord I commend my Spirit Lord Jesus Christ receive my Spirit c. as before 4. As soon as the Soul is gone out of the Body Pray thus Succour speedily O ye Saints of God hasten O ye Angels of our Lord receive this Soul and offer it in Presence of the Highest May Jesus Christ who has call'd thee receive thee and may his Angels carry thee into Abraham's Bosom Eternal Rest give her O Lord and let perpetual Light shine unto her Lord have Mercy on us Christ have c. Lord have c. Our Father c. Vers And lead us not c. Resp But deliver us c. V. From the Gate of Hell R. O Lord deliver this Soul V. Let her rest in Peace R. Amen V. O Lord hear my Prayer R. And let my Cry come to thee We recommend to thee O Lord the Soul of thy Servant N. that being Dead to the World he or she may live to thee and the Sins he or she has committed thro' Frailty of Human Conversation do thou mercifully Pardon and Wipe away Thro' Christ our Lord. Amen In the Interim let thy Passing-Bell be rung according to the Custom of the Place that they who hear it may pray for the Soul newly departed Afterwards let the Corps be order'd handsomly and placed in a decent Room with Candle-Light and let a small Cross be set between the Hands join'd on the Breast of the Dead Body or for want of a Cross let its Hands be laid over one another in form of a Cross and let it be sprinkled with H. Water and whilst it remains in the House let all present pray for the Soul of the Party deceased CHAP. XX. Of Burying the Dead Blessed be you to our Lord who have shewn Mercy to your Lord Saul and have Buried him And now truly our Lord will render you Mercy c. 2 Kings 2.5 6. See Tob. 12.12 IN going to and assisting at Funerals there is offer'd you an Opportunity to exercise Three several Acts of Charity viz. Edifying of your self Comforting of the Sorrowful and Praying for the Dead And § I. As to Edifying of your self There is no better a Preservative against Sin than the Remembrance of Death and therefore 't is written In all thy Works remember thy last things and thou shalt not Sin Ecclus 7.40 Neither is there any livelier Memorial of Death than a Funeral Wherefore it is better to go to the House of Mourning than to the House of Banqueting for in that the end of all Men is signified and he that lives thinks what shall be Eccles 7.3 Hence at Funerals follow the Advice of Ecclesiasticus viz. Son upon the Dead shed Tears c. and according to Discretion cover his Body and neglect not his Burial Remember the last things and forget not Imagin the deceased Party says to thee Be mindful of my Judgment for thine also must be so To me Yesterday and to thee to Day Ecclus 38.16 c.
or abated by the Benefit of Indulgences For gaining of which 1. You must have true Repentance consisting of Hearty Sorrow for all your Sins and a firm Purpose of Amendment See Chap. 3. § 1. 2. You must perform with due Zeal all the Pious Works enjoin'd you that is you must Fast Pray give Alms visit Churches Confess Communicate c. according to the Intention of the Giver and the Tenor of the Grant of the Indulgence which commonly allows choice of Two Three or more things to be done as every one's Estate Ability Opportunity and other Circumstances require 3. You must do the last part at least of the said Works in the State of Grace that being a Disposition without which no Indulgence can be gain'd And tho' Faith assures us Conc. Trid Sess 25. c. 21. That the Power of granting Indulgences was given and left to the Pastors of the Church by Jesus Christ and that the use of them is wholsome and beneficial to Christians yet notwithstanding this general Warrant any particular Indulgence may be Invalid and Unbeneficial either for want of Authority in the Giver or thro' Deficiency in the Cause or by reason of Indisposition of the Receiver And therefore all well-advised Christians says Bellarmin so accept of Papal and Episcopal Indulgences as besides them to be careful to perform Works worthy of Penance and to make Satisfaction for their Sins by voluntary Mortifications and patient Sufferings As aforesaid Ch. III. § III. N. 5. CHAP. V. Of H. Communion Take ye and eat This is my Body c. Mat. 26.26 GReat and diligent Care is to be had in using all the Sacraments of the Catholick Church Religiously and Holily but most especially in receiving the most H. Sacrament of the Eucharist than which the Church of God has nothing more worthy nothing more Sacred and Admirable because in it is contain'd the principal and greatest Gift of God and the very Fountain and Author of all Grace and Holiness to wit Christ our Lord. Therefore be thou O Christian prepar'd to meet thy God For the Work is great neither is an Habitation to be prepar'd for Man but for God Amos 4.12 1 Par. 29.1 § I. Before Communion 1. Ponder well the Immense Difference betwixt Receiving Worthily or Holily and Unworthily or in the State of Mortal Sin Of the former Christ says My Flesh is Meat indeed and my Blood is Drink indeed He that cats my Flesh and drinks my Blood abides in me and I in him And he that eats me the same shall live by me He that eats c. has Life Everlasting and I will raise him up in the last Day and he shall live for ever John 6. From all which 't is plain that the Life of Grace here and of Glory hereafter is the happy Effect and Fruit of receiving Worthily Of the latter S. Paul assures us Whosoever shall eat the Bread or drink the Chalice of our Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the Body and Blood of our Lord. And again He that eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks Judgment to himself Therefore viz. for receiving Unworthily are there among you many weak and feeble in Body and Soul and many sleep i. e. Die both Temporally and Eternally 1 Cor. 11. O Dismal Guilt Judgment and Punishment of Unworthy Receiving But why should I wonder hereat since the Blood of Christ cries to Heaven for Vengeance like that of Abel against every Unworthy Communicant Gen. 4.10 who Crucifying again to himself the Son of God and making him a Mockery has trodden the Son of God under Foot and esteem'd the Blood of the Testament polluted wherein he is sanctified Heb. 6.6 c. 10. v. 29. Whereas on the contrary Heb. 12.24 The Mediator of the New-Testament Jesus and the sprinkling of his Blood speak better than Abel and plead effectually both Mercy and Pardon in Behalf of worthy Communicants 2. You cannot be Partakers of the Table of our Lord and of the Table of Devils (a) 1 Cor. 10.21 For what Participation has Justice with Iniquity Or what Society is there between Light and Darkness And what Agreement with Christ and Belial (b) 2 Cor. 6.14 15. Therefore before Receiving Purge away the old Leaven of Mortal Sins and Affections thereto by the Sacrament of Penance that you may become a new Paste and let us Feast at the Table of our Lord not in the Leaven of Malice and Wickedness but in the Azims of Sincerity and Truth (c) 1 Cor. 5.7 8. And because a little Leaven corrupts the whole Paste (d) Gal. 5.9 to be wholly Clean and Unleaven'd you must purge your Souls likewise from Venial Sins and from all Affections to them and to Worldly Vanities This is what the Apostle insinuates saying Let a Man prove himself by Examining and Rectifying his Conscience and so let him eat c. 1 Cor. 11.28 3. You must not only lay away the old Man Eph. 4.24 c. who is corrupted according to the Desires of Error but you must also be renew'd in the Spirit of your Mind and put on the new Man who according to God is created in Justice and Holiness of the Truth That is besides the Cleansing of your Soul from Sins and Sinful Affections you must Adorn it with Holy Thoughts Affections and Acts of Vertue Put ye on therefore Col. 3.12 c. as the Elect of God Holy and Beloved the Bowels of Mercy Benignity Humility Modesty Patience supporting one another and pardoning one another if any one have a Quarrel against any Man as our Lord pardon'd us so you also But above all these things have Charity which is the Band of Perfection c. Lest after your Happiness in being call'd to the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb you become so unfortunate as to be cast into utter Darkness for coming without the Wedding-Garment of Charity Apoc. 19.9 and Mat. 22.11 c. Hence that your Inward Man may be adorn'd in a manner suitable to the Divine Guest you are to entertain say the Prayers before Receiving as in the Manual or Primer eliciting Acts of Faith Hope Charity Humility and other Vertues whilst you say them 4. Besides Purity and Piety of Soul you must bring along with you to the Table of our Lord Dispositions of Body agreeable thereto that is 1. You must be Fasting so as not to have eat or drunk any thing at least from the Midnight before you Communicate 2. Married Persons are advis'd by Mutual Consent to practise Continency some Days and Nights before they come to Holy Communion that they may give themselves to Prayer with more Freedom from Tribulation of the Flesh and with less Impediment in the Service of God 1 Cor. 7.5 28 35. Such Continency being a Disposition requir'd in those that were to eat the Hallowed Bread of the Old Law and much rather for them that by eating the Eucharistical Bread of the New Law are to partake of the
Delightfulness and the Sweetness of all Taste and serving every Man's Will was turn'd to that which every Man desired so and much more the H. Eucharist contains and confers to its worthy Receiver all Comfort and Contentment and fills the Soul of every-one with Graces suitable to his Condition and Necessities John 6. On this Truth S. Ambrose is most Divinely Eloquent saying Our Lord in the Eucharist is to us all in all If you will heal your Wounds he is the Medicine if you be Thirsty he is the Fountain if you be loaden with Sins he is Justice if you stand in need of Assistance he is Power if you fear Death he is Life if you will go to Heaven he is the Way if you fly Darkness he is the Light if you be Hungry he is Food Taste then and see how sweet our Lord is And looking upon this Communion as your last recollect your Thoughts and summon all the Affections of your Soul to entertain your Lord so that the Perfection of this may supply all the Defects of your former Communions and let your Intention be to Communicate that so you may be enabled to finish happily the great Journey which now you are entring upon between Earth and Heaven * ⎠* Read here to the Sick Party the Prayers before Receiving as in the Manual or Primer and after them what follows § II. At Receiving 1. As soon as the B. Sacrament enters your Chamber you must raise up your self as you are able and either on your Knees or with Humble Bowing of your Head adore your Lord and Saviour and with joyful Astonishment say to him What is Man that thou art mindful of him Or the Son of Man that thou visitest him (a) Ps 8.5 Whence is this to me that my Lord comes to me (b) Luk. 1.43 2. With a Contrite Heart say or hear the Confiteor and receive the Priest's Absolution and Blessing with a fervent Desire of the Remission of your Sins and Hopes of being restored to the Grace and Favour of God 3. When the Priest holds up the B. Sacrament towards you saying Ecce Agnus Dei c. Behold the Lamb of God c. Jo. 1.29 Humble your self in the Presence of Christ and say in Heart To the Lamb that was slain be Blessing and Honour and Power for ever and ever Apoc. 5.12 13. At the Repetition of Domine non sum Dignus c. acknowledge your great Unworthiness and beseech our Lord to make you Worthy of him saying Lord I am not Worthy c. But c. as before Chap. V. § II. Num. 3. 4. With great Reverence and Devotion open your Mouth and Heart to receive the Bread of Life and at the same time say in Spirit The Viaticum of the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ keep me from my Ghostly Enemy and bring me to Life Everlasting Amen § III. After Receiving Desire the Sick Person to let his Thoughts and Affections accompany your Words and then read what follows I have found c. My Soul bless c. O Sacred Banquet c. as before Chap. V. § III. Almighty and merciful God vouchsafe I beseech thee to strengthen me thy Unworthy Servant with thy Grace by vertue of this Sacrament that in the Hour of my Death the Enemy may not prevail against me but with thy Angels I may have a happy Passage to Eternal Life thro' Christ our Lord. Amen Thou hast prepared in my Sight a Table against them that trouble me (a) Ps 22.5 O grant for thy Mercy sake that I may walk in the Strength of this Food unto the Mount of God (b) 3 Kin. 19.8 where I shall not Hunger nor Thirst any more c. (c) Apoc. 7.16 but shall be Inebriated with the Plenty of thy House c. (d) Ps 35.9 and shall have the Happiness to sit in the Beauty of Peace and in the Tabernacles of Confidence and in wealthy Rest (e) Isa 32.18 for all Eternity After this you may either leave the Sick Man to his own Thoughts or go on with reading the Prayers after Receiving as in the Manual or Primer CHAP. VIII How often the H. Eucharist is to be received Really and Spiritually SUch is the necessity of H. Communion that unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood you shall not have Life in you Jo. 6.53 Hence the Church commands under pain of Excommunication all and every one of the Faithful after they come to Years of Discretion and can sufficiently discern the Body of our Lord from ordinary Food to receive the H. Sacrament of the Eucharist Reverently at least once every Year and that at Easter intending by this Decree to prevent farther delaying a Duty on which the Soul 's Spiritual Life so absolutely depends And besides which Precept the Church Counsels and Admonishes such as are capable of understanding and relishing this Sacrament to receive the same holily and frequently especially on the more Solemn Feasts of the Year that by so doing they may not only Preserve but also Improve and Augment Spiritual Life and Health And tho' Christ in the Text above-cited mentions Communion in both Kinds yet both before and after it he attributes all that can be desired to Communion in one Kind saying He that eats this Bread shall live for ever Jo. 6.51 58. Consequently as a thing indifferent 't is left to the Church to determine the Administration of it either way according to Discretion See Luke 24. v. 30 31 35. Acts 3.42 c. 20. v. 7 11. Besides Communicating Sacramentally and Really at the Times aforesaid there is a way of Communicating Spiritually and in Desire by uniting your Heart to the quickning Flesh of our Blessed Saviour with Ardent Affections and Acts of Faith Hope and Charity relating to Christ as present in the H. Eucharist And it is to be used of Necessity when one should receive Sacramentally but cannot either thro' Indisposition or for want of Opportunity In which Cases God Almighty requires and accepts of the Will for the Work It may also be used at Pleasure and with much Profit as often as you hear Mass and are present when others Communicate really c. * ⎠* For farther Directions with Prayers both before and after Confession Communion and Confirmation I refer you to a Treatise entitled Instructions for Confession and Communion CHAP. IX Of Extreme Unction To be read to the Sick after he has received his Viaticum Is any Man sick amongst you Let him bring in the Priests of the Church and let them Pray over him Anointing him with Oyl in the Name of our Lord And the Prayer of Faith shall save the sick Man and our Lord will raise him up and if he be in Sins they shall be forgiven him James 5.13 c. THE H. Sacrament of Extreme Vnction thus recommended by S. James was Instituted by Christ our Lord * Mar. 6.13 as an Heavenly