we also bless thy holy name for all thy servants departed this life in thy faith and fear, besceching thee to give us grace, so to follow their good examples, that with them we may be partakers of thy heavenly kingdom. Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ's sake, our only mediator and advocate. Amen. RUBRICK. At the time of the celebration of the communion, the communicants being conveniently placed for the receiving of the holy sacrament, the priest shall say this exhortation. DIRECTIONS. You must seriously attend to this exhortation; for it is full of excellent information and instruction; it shews you the great benefit of coming worthily, that is, with a true penitent heart, and lively faith to this koly sacrament, and the great danger of coming unworthily, that is, without repenting of your sins, and without trusting in God's mercy thro' Christ. THE MINISTER. Dearly beloved in the Lord, ye that mind to come to the holy communion of the body and blood of our Saviour Christ, must consider how St. Paul exhorteth all persons diligently to try and examine themselves before they presume to eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For as the benefit is great, if with a true penitent heart, and lively faith, we receive that holy sacrament (for then we spiritually eat the flesh of Christ, and drink his blood; then we dwell in Christ, and Christ in us; we are one with Christ, and Christ with us) so is the danger great if we receive the same unworthily: for then we are guilty of the body and blood of Christ our Saviour; we eat and drink our own damnation, not considering the Lord's body; we kindle God's wrath against us; we provoke him to plague us with divers diseases, and sundry kinds of death: judge therefore yourselves, brethren, that ye be not judged of the Lord; repent you truly for your sins past; have a lively and stedfast faith in Christ our Saviour; amend your lives, and be in perfect charity with all men, so shall ye be meet partakers of those holy mysteries; and above all things, ye must give most humble and hearty thanks to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, for the redemption of the world by the death and passion of our Saviour Christ, both God and man, who did humble himself even unto the death upon the cross for us miserable sinners, who lay in darkness, and the shadow of death, that he might make us the children of God, and exalt us to everlasting life. And to the end that we should always remember the exceeding great love of our master, and only Saviour Jesus Christ, thus dying for us, and the innumerable benefits which by his precious blood shedding he hath obtained to us: he hath instituted and ordained holy mysteries as pledges of his love, and for a continual remembrance of his death to our great and endless comfort. To him, therefore, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, let us give (as we are most bounden) continual thanks, submitting ourselves wholly to his holy will and pleasure, and studying to serve him in true holiness and righteousness all the days of our life. Amen. RUBRICK. Then shall the priest say to them that come to receive the holy communion. DIRECTIONS. Being thus called upon to make your humble confession to Almighty God, be sure to let your whole heart be lift up to the throne of divine grace, and humbly pray, that you may have a share in that pardon, which is soon after to be pronounced by the minister. THE MINISTER. Ye that do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins," and are in love and charity with your neighbours, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in his holy ways: draw near with faith, and take this holy sacrament to your comfort, and make your humble confession to Almighty God, meekly kneeling upon your knees. RUBRICK. Then shall this general confession be made in the name of all those that are minded to receive the holy communion, by one of the ministers, both he and all the people kneeling humbly upon their knees, and saying, DIRECTIONS. In this confession of sins, join with the minister both in heart and voice, with the greatest humility, for you are equally therein concerned with him. THE MINISTER. Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, maker of all things, judge of all men; we acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, which we from time to time most grievously have committed, by thought, word, and deed, against thy divine majesty, provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, and are heartily sorry for these our misdoings: the remembrance of them is grievous unto us; the burthen of them is intolerable; have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us most merciful Father; for thy son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake, forgive us all that is past, and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please thee in newness of life, to the honour and glory of thy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. RUBRICK. Then shall the priest (or bishop being present) stand up, and turning himself to the people, pronounce this ABSOLUTION. DIRECTIONS. When the absolution begins then hold your peace, and attend to the minister with all your heart; and placed in an humble posture, beg earnestly of God that he will please to confirm in heaven the absolution of your sins, pronounced at this time, by his minister. But for any one to repeat the abso lution word for word with the minister, is very absurd and shews much ignorance: for the people's part here is to be silent and to attend, and to say nothing but a most earnest amen, with a firm resolution to lead a new life. And therefore let me warn you in all the public prayers, that you join with the minister where you are bid, and at all other times be silent, attend and make it your own by saying a hearty amen. The observing order and decency in prayer tends much to edification; whereas the contrary begets distraction, and disturbs both yourself and your neighbour; it offends devout and understanding people mightily, to hear men and women say their prayers absurdly and indecently, holding their tongues where they should speak, and joining with the minister aloud, where they should only hearken and say amen. But what can be more improper than to hear them promiscuously absolve themselves, and one another, and taking the priestly office on them in apart of it which is one of the most distinguishing he has? When the absolution is over, attend diligently to the sentences of scripture, which the minister is to read: and when he bids you lift up your hearts to God, you must be sure not` only to do it in word, but in deed, and with great earnestness. THE MINISTER. Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all them that with hearty repentance, and true faith, turn unto him; have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and bring you to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then shall the priest say, Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith unto all that truly turn to him. Come unto me all ye that travel and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. Matt. xi. 28. So God loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, to the end that all that believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John iii. 16. Hear also what Saint Paul saith. This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 1 Tim. i. 15. Hear also what Saint John saith. If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sins. 1 John ii. 1. After which the priest shall proceed, saying, Lift up your hearts. Answ. We lift them up unto the Lord. Priest. Let us give thanks unto our Lord God. ¶ Then shall the priest turn to the Lord's table, and say, It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks to thee, O Lord, Holy Father Almighty, everlasting God. + These words [Holy Father] must be omitted on Trinity Sunday. Here shall follow the proper préface, according to the time, if there be any especially appointed; or else immediately shall follow, Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious name; evermore praising thee, and saying, holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Glory be to thee, O Lord, most high. Amen. Proper Prefaces. Upon Christmas-Day, and seven Days after. Because thou didst give Jesus Christ thine only Son to be born, as at this time, for us; who by the operation of the Holy Ghost was made very man, of the substance of the Virgin Mary his mother, and that without spot or sin, to make us clean from all sin. Therefore with angels, &c. ¶ Upon Easter-Day, and seven Days after. But chiefly we are bound to praise thee for the glorious resurrection of thy son Jesus Christ our Lord: for he is the very paschal lamb, which was offered for us, and hath taken away the sin of the world; who by his death hath destroyed death, and by his rising to life again hath restored us to everlasting life. Therefore, with angels, &c. Upon Ascension-Day, and seven Days after. Through thy most dearly beloved son Jesus Christ our Lord, who after his most glorious resurrection manifestly appeared to all his apostles, and in their sight ascended into heaven to prepare a place for us, that where he is, thither we might also ascend, and reign with him in glory. Therefore, with angels, &c. Upon Whit-Sunday, and six Days after. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, according to whose most true promise the Holy Ghost came down as at this time from heaven, with a sudden great sound, as if it had been a mighty wind, in the likeness of fiery tongues, lighting upon the apostles, to teach them and lead them into all truth, giving them both the gift of divers languages, and also boldness with |