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this congregation here pre-ers of the Kingdom of heasent; that, with meek heart ven. Wherefore it is our and due reverence, they may duty to render most humble hear, and receive thy holy and hearty thanks to AlWord; truly serving thee in mighty God our heavenly Faholiness and righteousness all ther, for that he hath given the days of their life. And his Son our Saviour Jesus we most humbly beseech thee Christ, not only to die for us, of thy goodness, O Lord, to but also to be our spiritual comfort and succour all them, food and sustenance in that who in this transitory life are holy Sacrament. Which be in trouble, sorrow, need, sick- ing so divine and comfortable ness, or any other adversity. a thing to them who receive And we also bless thy holy it worthily, and so dangerous Name for all thy servants de- to them that will presume to parted this life in thy faith receive it unworthily; my and fear; beseeching thee to duty is to exhort you in the give us grace so to follow mean season to consider the their good examples, that dignity of that holy mystery, with them we may be par- and the great peril of the untakers of thy heavenly king-worthy receiving thereof; dom: Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ's sake, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

When the Minister giveth warning for the

celebration of the holy Communion, (which he shall always do upon the Sunday, or some Holy-day, immediately preceding, after the Sermon or Homily ended, he shall read this Exhortation following.

DEA

and so to search and examine your own consciences, (and that not lightly, and after the manner of dissemblers with God; but so) that ye may come holy and clean to such a heavenly Feast, in the marriage-garment required by God in holy Scripture, and be received as worthy par takers of that holy Table.

EARLY beloved, on day next I purpose, through God's assistance, to administer to all such as shall be religiously and devoutly disposed the most comfortable Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ; to be by them received in remembrance of his meritorious Cross and Passion; whereby alone we obtain remission of our sins, and are made partak-confess yourselves to Al

The way and means thereto is; First, to examine your lives and conversations by the rule of God's commandments; and whereinsoever ye shall perceive yourselves to have offended, either by will, word, or deed, there to bewail your own sinfulness, and to

mighty God, with full purpose of amendment of life. And if ye shall perceive your offences to be such as are not only against God, but also against your neighbours; then ye shall reconcile yourselves unto them; being ready to make restitution and satisfaction, according to the uttermost of your powers, for all injuries and wrongs done by you to any other; and being likewise ready to forgive others that have offended you, as ye would have forgiveness of your offences at God's hand: for otherwise

the receiving of the holy

Communion doth nothing else but increase your damnation. Therefore if any of you be a blasphemer of God, an hinderer or slanderer of his Word, an adulterer, or be in malice, or envy, or in any other grievous crime, repent you of your sins, or else come not to that holy Table; lest, after the taking of that holy Sacrament, the devil enter into you, as he entered into Judas, and fill you full of all iniquities, and bring you to destruction both of body and soul.

And because it is requisite, that no man should come to the holy Communion, but with a full trust in God's mercy, and with a quiet conscience; therefore if there be

any of you, who by this means cannot quiet his own conscience herein, but requireth further comfort or counsel, let him come to me, or to some other discreet and learned Minister of God's Word, and open his grief; that by the ministry of God's holy Word he may receive the benefit of absolution, together with ghostly counsel and advice, to the quieting of his conscience, and avoiding of all scruple and doubtfulness.

Or, in case he shall see the people negligent

to come to the holy Communion, instead of the former, he shall use this Exhortation.

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EARLY beloved breI intend, by God's grace, to celebrate the Lord's Supper: unto which, in God's behalf, I bid you all that are here present; and beseech you, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, that ye will not refuse to come thereto, being so lovingly called and bidden by God himself. Ye know how grievous and unkind a thing it is, when a man hath prepared a rich feast, decked his table with all kind of provision, so that there lacketh nothing but the guests to sit down; and yet they who are called (without any cause) most unthankfully refuse to come.

Which of you in such a case would not be moved? Who would not think

your duty to receive the Communion in remembrance of the sacrifice of his death, as he himself hath commanded: which if ye shall neglect to do, consider with yourselves how great injury ye do unto God, and how sore punishment hangeth over your heads for the same; when ye wilfully abstain from the Lord's Table, and separate from your brethren, who come to feed on the banquet of that most heavenly food, These things if ye earnestly consider, ye will by God's grace return to a better mind: for the obtaining whereof we shall not cease to make our humble petitions unto Almighty God our heavenly Father.

a great injury and wrong done | did vouchsafe to yield up his unto him? Wherefore, most soul by death upon the Cross dearly beloved in Christ, take | for your salvation; so it is ye good heed, lest ye, withdrawing yourselves from this holy Supper, provoke God's indignation against you. It is an easy matter for a man to say, I will not communicate, because I am otherwise hindered with worldly business. But such excuses are not so easily accepted and allowed before God. If any man say, I am a grievous sinner, and therefore am afraid to come wherefore then do ye not repent and amend? When God calleth you, are ye not ashamed to say ye will not come? When ye should return to God, will ye excuse yourselves, and say ye are not ready? Consider earnestly with yourselves how little such feigned excuses will avail before God. They that refused the feast in the Gospel, because they had bought a

At the time of the celebration of the Com

munion, the Communicants being conveniently placed for the receiving of the holy Sacrament, the Priest shall say this Exhortation.

EARLY beloved in the

farm, or would try their yokes D Lord, ye that mind to

of oxen, or because they were married, were not so excused, but counted unworthy of the heavenly feast. I, for my part, shall be ready; and, according to mine Office, I bid you in the Name of God, I call you in Christ's behalf, I exhort you, as ye love your own salvation, that ye will be partakers of this holy Communion. And as the Son of God

come to the holy Communion of the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ, must consider how Saint 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 ively 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

us to everlasting life. And to the end that we should alway 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.

¶ Then shall the Priest say to them that come to receive the holy Communion,

E that do truly and ear

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 kneel

ye. be meet partakers of those Ynestly repent you of 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 himhelf, even to the death upon the Cross, for us, miserable sinners, who lay in darkness and the shadow of death;ing upon your knees. that he might make us the children of God, and exalt

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 kneel everlasting life; through Jé

ing humbly upon their knees, and saying,

ALMIGHTY God, Father sus Christ our Lord. Amen.

of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men; We acknowledge

and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we,

Then shall the Priest say, Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ

saith unto all that truly turn

to him.

NOME unto me all that den, and I will refresh you. travail and are heavy laSt. Matth. xi. 28.

So God loved the world,

from time to time, most griev-C ously have committed, By thought, word, and deed, Against thy Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly thy that he gave his only-begotwrath and indignation against ten Son, to the end that all us. We do earnestly repent, that believe in him should And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; The renot perish, but have everlastmembrance of them is grieving life. St. John iii. 16.

ous unto us; The burden of them is intolerable. Have

Hear also what Saint Paul

saith.

This is a true saying, and mercy upon us, Have mercy worthy of all men to be reupon us, most merciful Fa-ceived, That Christ Jesus ther; For thy Son our Lord came into the world to save Jesus Christ's sake, Forgive sinners. 1 Tim. i. 15.

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; Thro' Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then shall the Priest (or the Bishop, being present,) stand up, and turning himself to the people, pronounce this Absolution.

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LMIGHTY 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

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Hear also what Saint John saith.

Advocate with the Father, JeIf any man sin, we have an he is the propitiation for our sus Christ the righteous; and

sins. 1 St. John ii. 1.

After which the Priest shall proceed, saying, Lift up your hearts. Answer. We lift them up unto the Lord.

Priest. Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.

Answer. It is meet and right so to do.

Then shall the Priest turn to the Lord's
Table, and say,

our bounden duty, that we T is very meet, right, and

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