¶Whilst these sentenses are in reading, the deacons, churchwardens, or other fit person appointed for that purpose, shall receive the alms for the poor, and other devotions of the people, in a decent basin or plate, to be provided by the parish for that purpose; and reverently bring it to the priest, who shall humbly present and place it upon the holy table.

A prayer at offering your alms.

Thy prayers and thy alms are come up for a memorial before God. Acts x. 4.

Thy bounty, O Lord, is the fountain of all 1 possess; for it is from thee I have received all my worldly goods, and to thy holy name be the glory. Accept of this freewill offering of my hands, as an acknowledgment of thy right to all I enjoy, and as a testimony of that piety, love, and charity to my necessitous brethren, which thou requirest, and art pleased to take as done to thyself.

Therefore I will dedicate a part of those good things which thou hast bestowed upon me, to relieve the poor; because thou hast made it an evidence of my love to thee. And grant that all my almsdeeds may be performed with such purity of intention, and in such a proportion to what thou hast given me, that they may be acceptable in thy sight, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and saviour. Amen,

¶And when there is a communion, the priest shall then place upon the table as much bread and wine as he shall think sufficient. After which done, the priest shall say,

Let us pray for the whole state of Christ's church, miliant here on earth.

Directions.

Here the priest beginning the prayer for the whole state of

omitted.

Almighty and everliving Christ's church militant here on God, who by thy holy apos-in heart and spirit in the same, earth, you must join with him tle hath taught us to make and with the congregation in their prayers and supplications and attention, and. suy the Amen with to give thanks for all men; them, that you may reap the advan we humbly beseech thee tage of that common fer vency with most mercifully [to accept our which those prayers fly up to God. alms and oblations, and] to receive If there be no alms nor oblations these our prayers, which we offer unto then shall the words thy divine majesty, beseeching thee to in[to accept our alms and oblations] be spire continually the universal church with the spirit of truth, unity and soncord: and grant that all they that do confess thy holy name, may agree in the truth of thy holy word, and live in unity and godly love. We beseech thee also to save and defend all christian kings, princes, and governors; and especially thy servant GEORGE, our king, that under him we may be godly and quietly governed and grant unto his whole council, and to all that are put in authority under him, that they may truly and indifferently minister justice, to the punishment of wickedness and vice, and to the maintenance of thy true religion and virtue. Give grace, () heavenly Father, to all bishops and curates, that they may both by their life and doctrine, set forth thy true and lively word, and rightly and duly administer thy holy sacraments. And to all thy people give thy heavenly grace, and especially to this congregation here present, that with meek heart and due reverence, they may hear and receive thy holy word, truly serving thee in holiness and righteousness ali the days of their life. And we most humbly beseech thes of thy goodness, O Lord, to comfort and succour all them who in this transitory life are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity: and we also bless thy holy name for all thy servants departed this life in thy faith and fear, beseeching 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.

At the time of the celebration of the communion, the communicants being conveniently placed for the receiving of the holy sacra ment, the priest shall say this Exhortation.

Dearly beloved in the Lord, ye that mind to come to the

Directions.

is, with a true penitent heart, benefit of coming worthily, that and lively faith to this holy sacrament, and the great danger of coming unworthily, that is, without repenting of your sins, and mercy without trusting in God's through Christ.

You must seriously attend holy communion of the body to this exhortation, for it is full and blood of our saviour of excellent information and inChrist, must consider how struction; it shows you the great St. Paul exhorteth all persons diligently to try and exanine 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 to 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 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 pries! suy 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 lifted up to the throne of divine grace, and humbly pray, that share in that pardon, which is you may have a soon after to be pronounced by 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.

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,

Almighty God, father of our Lord Jesus Christ, maker

Directions.

In this confession of sins, of all things, judge of all men; join with the minister both in we acknowledge and bewail heart and voice, with the greatest our manifold sins and wicked-humility, for you are equally therein concerned with him. ness, 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 rement

brance of them is grievous unto us; the burden 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.

Then shall the priest (or the bishop, being present) stand up, and turning himself to the people, pronounce this Absolution. Almighty God, our hea-1 Directions. venly Father, who of his great When the absolution begins mercy hath promised for- then hold your peace and attend giveness of sius to all them to the minister with all your that with hearty repentance, posture, beg earnestly of God heart; and placed in an humble and true faith, turn unto that he will please to confirm in him; have mercy upon you, heaven the absolution of your sins, pardon and deliver you from pronounced at this time, by his all your sins, confirm and minister. But for any one to restrengthen you in all good-peat the absolution word for word with the minister, is very absurd, ness, and bring you to everand shows much ignorance: for lasting life; through Jesus the people's part here is to be Christ our Lord. Amen. 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 observance of order and decency in prayer tends much to edification; whereas the contrary begets distraction, and disturbs both yourself and your neighbour : it much offends devout and understanding people, to hear men and women say their prayers absurdly and indecently, being silent 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 a part 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 të do it in woord, but in deed, and with great earnestness.