perpetuated during the Middle Ages, when its use (by a
"_corrupt_[1] following of the Apostles") was practically limited to
the preparation of the dying instead of (by a _correct_ "following of
the Apostles") being used for the recovery of the living. In our 1549
Prayer Book an authorized Office was appointed for its use, but this,
lest it should be misused, was omitted in 1552. And although, as
Bishop Forbes says, "everything of that earlier Liturgy was praised by
those who {160} removed it," it has not yet been restored. It is "one
of the lost Pleiads" of our present Prayer Book. But, as Bishop Forbes
adds, "there is nothing to hinder the revival of the Apostolic and
Scriptural Custom of Anointing the Sick whenever any devout person
desires it".[2]

_Extreme Unction._

An unhistoric use of the name partly explains the unhistoric use of the
Sacrament. _Extreme_, or last (_extrema_) Unction has been taken to
mean the anointing of the sick when _in extremis_. This, as we have
seen, is a "corrupt," and not a correct, "following of the Apostles".
The phrase _Extreme_ Unction means the extreme, or last, of a series of
ritual Unctions, or anointings, once used in the Church. The first
Unction was in Holy Baptism, when the Baptized were anointed with Holy
Oil: then came the anointing in Confirmation: then in Ordination; and,
last of all, the anointing of the sick. Of this last anointing, it is
written: "All Christian men should account, and repute the said manner
of anointing among the other Sacraments, forasmuch as it is a visible
sign of an invisible grace".[3]

{161}

_Its Administration._

It must be administered under the Scriptural conditions laid down in
St. James v. 14-16. The first condition refers to:--

(1) _The Minister_.--The Minister is _the Church_, in her corporate
capacity. Scripture says to the sick: "Let him call for the Elders,"
or Presbyters, "of the Church". The word is in the plural; it is to be
the united act of the whole Church. And, further, there must be
nothing secret about it, as if it were either a charm, or something to
be ashamed of, or apologized for. It may have to be done in a private
house, but it is to be done by no private person.[4] "Let him call for
the elders."

(2) _The Manner_.--The Elders are to administer Sacrament not in their
own name (any more than the Priest gives Absolution in his own name),
but "in the Name of the Lord".

(3) _The Method_.--The si