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The matter of this sacrament is oil of olives blessed by a bishop; which is usually done on Maunday Thursday with many ceremonies. The form is the prayer of faith, which the priest pronounces, while he anoints the sick person. The minister is a bishop, or priest, who has the care of souls, as specified by St. James: Let them bring in the priests of the church, &c. The dispositions required in the receiver are, 1. A lively faith in the sacrament. 2. That he receive it with a pure desire to procure the health of his soul, and with good hope that it will restore him to health of body too, if it be expedient. 3. Perfect resignation to the will of God, to live or die. 4. Repentance for all his sins, as well remembered as forgotten. 5. Devotion, praying along with the priest, for the health of soul and body, which is the effect of this sacrament. 6. To abstract himself from all worldly things, and set his heart upon God and heaven.

As to the manner of administering extreme unction, the priest having instructed the sick person for it, comes to the place where he is, with the holy oils in his hands, and says, Peace be to this house, and to all that dwell therein; to signify, that the person who is to receive it, and all with him, ought to be in perfect peace with God and man. Then he extends his hands over him, and prays, In the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy ghost, &c. may all power of the devil be extinct in thee, by the imposition of our hands and by the invocation of all the angels and saints in heaven, &c. Then dipping his thumb' in the holy oil, he anoints the sick person in form of a cross, on the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, hands and feet with these words: May our lord, by this holy anointing, and his own most tender mercy pardon thee, whatever thou hast sinned by seeing, hearing, &c. He anoints these parts, where the organs of the senses are, as being the chief instruments by which we have admitted sin into the soul. A crucifix is also placed before the sick person, that he may be encouraged to die for and with his blessed redeemer.

As to the effects of this sacrament. 1. The grace of the holy ghost, which is signified by the sacred unc

tion, is infused into the soul thereby, as by all the sacraments of the new law. 2. It takes away the relicks of sin, or that spiritual weakness which sin has brought upon the soul. 3. If the sick person, at that time should happen to be in sins, which are hidden from his eyes, either through ignorance or forgetfulness, or the weakness of apprehension, provided he be truly contrite, they will be forgiven him, even mortal sins; for St. James speaks of sins in general, If he be in sins, his sins shall be forgiven him and where the scripture mentions sin in general, it commonly means mortal sin; and so the council of Trent seems to expound St. James. Hence extreme unction, by the ancients, was ever held to be the accomplishment and perfection of penance, as supplying all deficiencies therein, that are involuntary. 4. It raises his soul to a blessed hope in the mercy of God; Our Lord will lift him up: it comforts him against all despair; it gives him strength to support his sickness, as well as to resist the temptations of the devil, who assaults him more violently at the last hour, according to that: The devil is descended to you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but little time, Apoc. xii. Lastly, it brings him with safety to the port of eter nal happiness. The prayer of faith shall save the sick man. In a word, by the virtue of this sacrament, the sick recover sometimes health of body as well as soul; when the health of body is expedientfor the salvation of the soul. Coun. Trent. Sess. 14. c. 2.

EXHOR.-Learn, O christian, from this last, and most healthful sacrament, how much you are indebted to the great goodness of God, who does not leave you but is with you, by his sanctifying grace, from the first to the last moment of time. As he has appointed the other sacraments in order to a good life, this he has instituted particularly to a good death. If then we consider rightly the greatness of our infirmities, how great is our weakness at that time, and the great strength of our enemy, never ceasing to assault us with a variety of temptations to the last breath, in order to destroy us finally, and put us out of all hope of divine mercy; if we consider too the great want of divine grace, to comfort

us in our last moments, against our natural fear of death, and the anxiety of an approaching judgment, we shall be easily convinced of the necessity of this holy sacrament, and not defer it too late, as many have done.

Think how you ought to comfort yourself in sickness, and in these agonies of death: look on all, as the punishment of sin: take all, as from the holy hand of God, to prevent heavier punishments. When you first fall ill of a dangerous disease, take care to settle your temporal affairs with prudence and discretion; it is your duty, that there may arise no disputes and differences amongst friends, caused by your neglect: knowing then that you are about to leave all things behind, and that as you came naked into the world, so you will go naked out and carry nothing with you: let the salvation and good of body and soul then be the only object of your thoughts and desires Turn then your heart entirely from the world, friends, and possessions, and fix it on God and your last end. As sickness increases, your care must be to make your peace with God, by a timely, and, if requisite, a general confession. Do it with sincerity and integrity, as a preparation for judgment: time is yet your own; time, though short, is yet most precious; and as you are going a long voyage into eternity, provide, guard, and protect your soul, as Elias, with the Bread of Life, the holy Viaticum: He that eats thereof, worthily, shall live for ever. I am the resurrection and the life, he that liveth and believeth in me, shall not die for ever, and though he be dead, he shall live, John xi. 25.-As soon as you are in danger, call in the priests of the church, with a desire of extreme unction: receive it, if possible, while in your senses; look on him, as an angel sent to comfort you, as one came to comfort our Saviour in his agony the garden join with the priest in every part, and think of the blessed effects of this healing sacrament. O what more comfortable than to hear, The prayer of faith shall save the sick man; and if he be in sins, his sins shall be forgiven him. This is the last blessed indulgence which God gives you. While the priest is anointing each of your senses, beg pardon for what you have sinned thereby ; by your eyes, ears, mouth, hands and feet, and by your

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whole body. When your end draws near, make some short acts of faith, hope, and charity; die in peace with all the world, and freely forgive, as you hope to be forgiven.-Cast then your eyes on the cross, and see how you are to behave with your most blessed Saviour in death; his death is the comfort of all the dying. While you behold his agony in the garden, put on the same resignation as he. While you see him stripped of his garments, and hanging naked on the cross, forsake all affections to things of this world. While you hear him praying for his enemies, O! forgive all mankind. While discoursing with his mother, recommend yourself to her intercession. When you hear him say, It is finished, beg that the will of God, which is your salvation, may be accomplished in you and when you hear the last word he spoke, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit, give yourself with your last breath into the hands of your Creator and Father; and return yourself to him, from whom you received yourself; beseeching Jesus, your Redeemer, that you may receive the fruits of his death, and your redemption, which is life everlasting.

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Of the Sacrament of Holy Order.

WHA

HAT is Holy Order? A. A sacrament, by which power is given to the ministers of the church, to do their holy offices, and also grace to do them well. Q. To whom is this sacrament given? A. To such chiefly as are made bishops and priests, whose duty it is to conduct the faithful to eternal life: there are also inferior degrees of holy orders, as that of deacon and subdeacon.

INSTRUC.-Holy order is a sacrament, which God has ordained to the well-governing his church; and as there are in political states governors and higher powers, to preserve economy, and prevent confusion; so in spiritual states, there are some in power, to preserve the body of the church, to keep us in peace and unity, and conduct us in the way of life. These two temporal and spiritual states God appointed from the beginning. Under the law of nature, the priesthood descended by the

right of the primogeniture; thus, the ancient patriarchs were priests, and offered sacrifice, as we read of Abel, Noah, Abraham, Melchisedeck, Job, &c. Under the written law, it was fixed to Aaron and his family: under the new law, Christ being our high priest, from his person all spiritual power must be derived this he gave first to the apostles, and instituted the sacrament of Holy Order, by which they ordained bishops and priests to succeed themselves in the government of souls: and no one has power to do those holy offices, which concern the honour of God and salvation of souls, but such only as are lawfully ordained by this sacrament, by the hands of those who were lawfully ordained before them. Although a man is elected by the magistrates and all the people, he has no power to administer the sacraments and to preach, unless he is ordained by a bishop. As in baptism we are made Christians, to follow the life of Christ; in confirmation, soldiers of Christ, to defend his faith; so by holy order, we are made ministers of Christ to dispense his sacred mysteries to his people; and as such we receive God's mark in these three sacraments, which is a spiritual character in the soul, and is indelible, to remain for ever, to the glory or confusion of those who have received it.

Holy order is a true sacrament of the new law; for as a sacrament is a visible sign of invisible grace, instituted by Christ our Lord for our sanctification; so in holy order, the visible sign is the matter and form; and the invisible effect is the spiritual power which the ordained receive to do their holy offices, as to offer sacrifice, administer sacraments, &c. with sanctifying grace, which is in a special manner needful to those who hold that dignity in the church: and that it is of divine institution cannot be denied, for it is clear that our Saviour gave the apostles the power of priesthood to consecrate as he had done, at his last supper; to forgive sins, John xx. to preach the gospel, and baptize, Matt. ult. And the apostles administered this sacrament in the very infancy of the church; as when they ordained St. Paul and Barnaby at Antioch with the sacred ceremony of imposition of hands, Acts xiv. And St. Paul afterwards ordained Дi

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