XXXVIII.

FOR THE ATTENDANTS ON THE SICK.

MERCIFUL LORD, we beseech Thee to strengthen and support Thy servants who are called to tend the sufferer, and to watch beside the bed of sickness. Give them grace to fulfil their task with patient endurance and with loving tenderness. Comfort them in their weariness with the comfort of Thy blessed SPIRIT. Teach them how good and blessed a thing it is to be permitted to minister to the wants of the sick and suffering. May this season of selfdenying labour be a season of much spiritual welfare to their own souls. May they learn lessons which shall be blest to themselves. May they learn to number their days, and to seek the things above, and to choose the one thing needful, while health and strength are given to them: so that, when they shall in their turn be called to suffer and to die, they may be able, with lowly submission and loving trust, to commit themselves into Thy Hands to do with them what Thou wilt; through JESUS CHRIST, our LORD. Amen.

XXXIX.

IN PARTIAL RECOVERY.

O GOD, in Whose hands are life and death, and health and sickness, We heartily thank Thee for aiding this Thy servant with Thy mighty arm. We thank Thee for easing his pain, and

taking away his great danger, and granting him a longer time for drawing nigh unto Thee, and showing forth his thankfulness. Thou, LORD, knowest what is best for us; yet oh hear us for CHRIST'S sake, when we pray for a continuance of Thy mercy. Restore him to health, if it seem good to Thee. And let him never, O holy FATHER, forget the awful voice of this warning message of sickness; but, whether his time among us be long or short, let him live with a more constant thought of death and a better preparation for eternity; through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen.

XL.

A THANKSGIVING FOR THE BEGINNING OF
A RECOVERY.

"GREAT and mighty GOD, Who bringest down to the grave, and bringest up again; We bless Thy wonderful goodness for having turned our heaviness into joy, and our mourning into gladness, by restoring this our brother to some degree of his former health. Blessed be Thy Name that Thou didst not forsake him in his sickness; but didst visit him with comforts from above; didst support him in patience and submission to Thy will; and at last didst send him seasonable relief. Perfect, we beseech Thee, this Thy mercy towards him; and prosper the means which shall be made use of for his cure; that, being restored to health of body, vigour of mind, and cheerfulness of spirit, he may be able to go to Thine house, to offer Thee an oblation with great gladness, and to bless Thy holy Name for all Thy good

ness towards him; through JESUS CHRIST our SAVIOUR, to Whom, with Thee and the HOLY SPIRIT, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen." (American Prayer-Book.)

XLI.

THANKSGIVING FOR RECOVERY.

O MOST gracious and loving FATHER, we humbly fall down before Thee, and render unto Thee our heartfelt thanks for Thy great mercy to this Thy servant, in raising him up from the bed of sickness, and granting him the blessing of renewed health and strength. We are not worthy of the least of Thy mercies, yet Thou pourest Thy benefits upon us; glory to Thy Name! For all temporal mercies to Thy servant-for removal of danger, for ease of pain, for restoration to those near and dear to him -we bless Thee and praise Thee, O FATHER. But yet more for all spiritual blessings and mercies, for the precious lessons of the sick-bed, for the chastisement of Thy loving Hand, for the refining fire of trouble and suffering. O LORD, we thank Thee: help our unthankfulness. Make us more thankful for Thy great and undeserved mercies, and more deserving of them; through JESUS CHRIST our dear Redeemer. Amen.

N.B.-The General Thanksgiving may be fitly used for Recovery from sickness.

Holy Communion.

PRAYERS PREPARATORY TO HOLY

COMMUNION.

I.

BEFORE A FIRST COMMUNION.

(After neglect.)

O MERCIFUL JESUS, who didst give Thy most precious Body and Blood upon the Cross for our salvation; We thank Thee that Thou hast moved this Thy servant to draw nigh to that blessed Feast, in which Thou dost feed us with those holy mysteries. Grant, O LORD, that he may "with a true penitent heart and lively faith re"ceive that holy Sacrament." Forgive, we beseech Thee, his past disobedience to Thy loving command. May this and all his other sins-many and grievous-be atoned for by the all-prevailing Sacrifice offered for the sins of the whole world. Thou hast promised, "Him that cometh unto "Me I will in no wise cast out." Cast not out this Thy servant, who cometh unto Thee confessing his unworthiness, and seeking mercy and reconciliation. Oh! make him a partaker of all the benefits of the Sacrifice of Thy all-holy Death. May he discern the Lord's Body. May

he "spiritually eat the Flesh of CHRIST, and "drink His Blood," that so he may have eternal life abiding in him. Hear us, O blessed JESUS, Who livest and reignest with the FATHER and the HOLY GHOST, One GOD, world without end. Amen.

II.

BEFORE A FIRST COMMUNION.

(For a young person.)

O MERCIFUL SAVIOUR, Who not only didst die for us, but also dost give Thyself to be our spiritual food and sustenance, we pray Thee to look down in mercy upon this Thy child, [or servant,] who most earnestly desires to be admitted to Thy holy feast. Thou hast said that Thou wilt not cast out any that come unto Thee. Give Thy child [or servant] faith truly to come to Thee. Accept him, O blessed JESU, for Thine own merits' sake. Make him partaker of Thy priceless Sacrifice. Feed him with the Bread of Life, which cometh down from heaven, Cleanse him in the fountain of Thy Blood. Receive him into the fellowship of Thy saints. Make Thyself known to him in the Breaking of bread. O most gracious SAVIOUR, take Thy child [or servant] to Thyself, and let him never more be separated from Thee, in this world or in the world to come. Amen.

III.

We do not presume, &c. (The Prayer of 'Humble Access' in the Communion Office. See

p. 19.)

I