Imatges de pàgina
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¶ Then shall be read the Gospel, faying, The Holy Gofpel is written in the

ter of

beginning at the

Verse.

Chap

And then the People all ftanding up, shall fay, Glory be to thee, O Lord.

astying The Gospel ended, the Priest shall say,

Here endeth the Holy Gospel.

And the People hall answer, t

Thanks be to thee, O Lord.

Then shall be fung or faid the Creed following, the Priest and People ftanding with their faces towards the Altar, and faying,

Believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things vifible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jefus Chrift, the only begotten Son of God, Begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of very God, Begotten, not made, Being of one fubftance with the Father, By whom all things were made: Who for us men, and for our falvation, came down from heaven, And was incar nate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, And was made Man, And was crucified alfo for us under Pontius Pilate. He fuffered and was buried, And the third day he rofe again according to the Scriptures, And afcended into heaven, And fitteth on the right hand of the Father; And he fhall come again with glory to judge both C

the

the quick and the dead: Whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and giver of life, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who fpake by the Prophets. And I believe one Catholick and Apoftolick Church. I acknowledge one Baptifm for the remiffion of fins. And I look for the refurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Then the Curate fhall declare unto the People what Holy-days or Fafting-days are in the week following to be obferved. And then alfo (if occafion be) shall notice be given of the Communion and the Banns of Matrimony published; and Briefs, Citations, and Excommunications read. And nothing fhall be proclaimed or published in the Church, during the time of Divine Service, but by the Priest or Deacon; nor by them any thing, but what is prefcribed in the Rules Book, or enjoyned by the Bishop or the Ordinary of the Place.

Then shall follow the Sermon or Homily.

this

When the Priest giveth warning for the celebration of the Holy Communion, (which he shall always do upon the Sunday or Jome Holy-day immediately preceding) after the Sermon or Homily ended, he shall read this Exhortation following.

Note, this Exhortation fhall be read once in a month, or oftner, according to the difcretion of the Priest. Dearly

ᎠᎬ
DEarly beloved, on

I purpose, through God's affiftance, to adminifter to all fuch as fhall be religiously and devoutly difpofed, the most comfortable Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Chrift, to be by them received in remembrance of his meritorious crofs and paffion, whereby alone we obtain remiffion of our fins, and are made partakers of the kingdom of heaven. Wherefore, it is our duty to render most humble and hearty thanks to Almighty God our heavenly Father, for that he hath given his Son our Saviour Jefus Chrift, not only to die for us, but alfo to be our fpiritual food and fuftenance in that Holy Sacrament. Which being fo divine and comfortable a thing to them who receive it worthily, and fo dangerous to them that will prefume to receive it unworthily; my duty is to exhort you in the mean feafon to confider the dignity of that holy mystery, and the great peril of the unworthy receiving thereof, and fo to fearch and examine your own confciences, (and that not lightly, and after the manner of diffemblers with God; but fo) that ye may come holy and clean to fuch a heavenly Feaft, in the marriage-garment required by God in holy Scripture, and be received as worthy partakers of that holy Table.

The way and means thereto is: First, to examine your lives and converfations by the rule of God's commandments; and wherein foever ye fhall perceive yourselves to have offended, either by will, word, or deed, there to bewail your own finfulness, and to confefs yourselves with full purpose of amendment of life. And if ye C 2 fhall

fhall perceive your offences to be fuch, as are not only against God, but also against your neighbours, then ye shall reconcile yourselves unto them, being ready to make reftitution and fatiffaction, according to the utmost of your powers, for all injuries and wrongs done by you to any other; and being likewife ready to forgive all 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 elfe but increase your Condemna tion. Therefore if any of you be a blafphemer of God, an hinderer or flanderer of his word, an adulterer, or be in malice, or envy, or in any other grievous crime; repent you of your fins or else come not to that Holy Table, left after the taking of that Holy Sacrament, the Devil enter into you, as he entred into Judas, and fill you full of all iniquities, and bring you to deftruction both of body and foul.

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And because it is requifite, that no man should come to the Holy Communion, but with a full truft in God's mercy, and with a quiet confcience; therefore if there be any of you, whofe confcience is troubled or grieved in any thing, and requireth comfort or counfel; let him come to me or to fome other discreet and learned Prieft, and confefs and open his fin and grief, that of us (as of the Minifters of God) he may receive the benefit of Abfolution, together with ghoftly counsel and advice, to the quieting of his confcience, and avoiding of all fcruple and doubt fulnefs.

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Or in cafe the Prieft fhall fee the People negli gent to come to the Holy Communion, instead of the former he shall use this Exhortation. DEarly beloved brethren, on

I intend

by God's grace to celebrate the Lord's Supper unto which in God's behalf I bid you all that are here prefent, and befeech you for the Lord Jefus Christ's fake, that ye will not refufe to come thereto, being fo lovingly called and bidden by God himself. Ye know how grievous and unkind a thing it is, when a man hath prepared a rich feaft, decked his table with all kind of provifion, fo that there lacketh nothing but the guests to fit down, and yet they who are called (without any caufe) moft unthankfully refufe to come. Which of you in fuch a case would not be moved? Who would not think a great injury and wrong done unto him? Wherefore, most dearly beloved in Chrift, take ye good heed, left ye withdrawing yourfelves from this Holy Supper, provoke God's indignation against you. It is an eafy matter for a man to fay, I will not communicate, because I am otherwife hindred with worldly bufinefs. But fuch excuses are not eafily accepted and allowed before God. If any man fay, I am a grievous finner, and therefore am afraid to come: wherefore then do ye not repent and amend? When God calleth you, are ye not afhamed to fay you will not come? When should return to God, will ye excufe yourfelves, and say ye are not ready? Confider earneftly with yourfelves, how little fuch feigned excufes will avail before God. They that re

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