Page:Medicine and the church; being a series of studies on the relationship between the practice of medicine and the church's ministry to the sick (IA medicinechurchbe00rhodiala).pdf/253

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In the third part is a most welcome recognition of the position in the Church of that profession which the Evangelist of the Nativity followed.

'The Committee believes that medical science is the handmaid of God and His Church, and should be fully recognised as the ordinary means appointed by Almighty God for the care and healing of the human body. The Committee believes that discoveries in the region of medicine and surgery come to man through Him who is the Light and the Life, the Divine Word.'

Then we have a brief recommendation that there should be an 'addition to the office for the Visitation of the Sick of more hopeful and less ambiguous petitions for the restoration of health, always subject to the Will of God . . .; and that these petitions be used in close connection with prayer for pardon and peace.' And these prayers 'may be fitly accompanied by the Apostolic act of the Laying on of Hands.'

In the final paragraph the Committee considers the suggestion 'that these prayers should be accompanied by the anointing of the sufferer with oil,' and after a brief historical résumé, concludes:

'In view of this evidence and the conditions