Imatges de pàgina
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COMMUNION.

that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.

For Thou only art holy; Thou only art the Lord; Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

RUBRIC.

Then the Priest (or Bishop if he be present) shall let them depart with this blessing :*

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peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord: and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always! Amen.

Receive this blessing, as coming from God Himself, with all imaginable devotion. The solemn blessing, with which the Priest dismissed the people after the daily sacrifice, by God's especial order, [Numb. vi. 24,] was this-The Lord bless thee, and keep thee! The Lord make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee! The Lord lift up the light of His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace!

And with what devotion they received this blessing, we are told, (Ecclus. 1. 21.) The Priest lifted up his hand over the congregation, to give the blessing of the Lord with his lips; and they bowed themselves down, that they might receive the blessing from the Most High.

And, lest any one should think too lightly of this blessing, because pronounced by a poor mortal like himself, it is added (Numb. vi. 27), I (the Lord) will bless them: shewing that the effect of the blessing does not depend upon man, but upon the Ordinance of God, from the mouth of His own Minister, whom God hath chosen to bless in the name of the Lord. (Deut. xxi 5.)

COLLECTS.

ASSIST us mercifully, O Lord, in these our supplica

tions and prayers, and dispose the way of Thy servants towards the attainment of everlasting salvation that among all the changes and chances of this mortal life, they may ever be defended by Thy most gracious and ready help; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ALMIGHTY Lord, and everlasting God, vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, to direct, sanctify, and govern, both our hearts and bodies in the ways of Thy laws, and in the works of thy commandments; that through Thy most mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

GRANT, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that the

words, which we have heard this day with our outward ears, may through Thy grace be so grafted inwardly in our hearts, that they may bring forth in us the fruit of good living, to the honour and praise of Thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PREVENT us, O Lord, in all our doings with Thy

most gracious favour, and further us with Thy continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in Thee, we may glorify Thy holy Name, and finally by Thy mercy obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

COLLECTS.

ALMIGHTY God, the Fountain of all wisdom, who

knowest our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking; we beseech Thee to have compassion upon our infirmities; and those things, which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask, vouchsafe to give us, for the worthiness of Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ALMIGHTY God, who hast promised to hear the

petitions of them that ask in Thy Son's Name; we beseech Thee mercifully to incline Thine ears to us that have made now our prayers and supplications unto Thee; and grant that those things, which we have faithfully asked according to Thy will, may effectually be obtained, to the relief of our necessity, and to the setting forth of Thy glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

COMMUNION.

RUBRIC.

And note, that every parishioner shall communicate, at the least, three times in the year, of which Easter to be one, &c.

OBSERVATIONS.

THREE TIMES A YEAR. -God forbid that any good Christian should make this an excuse for receiving no oftener, if he has an opportunity! And Woe be to that Pastor, who will not give the well-disposed part of his flock more frequent opportunities of testifying their love to Jesus Christ; of increasing their graces, and securing their pardon and salvation.

PRIVATE DEVOTIONS

After the Sacrament,

EITHER IN THE CHURCH OR AT HOME.

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FTER you have received, and are returned to your seat, you may (as you have time) continue your devotions.

And remember, that now is the proper season to beg of God the graces and blessings you most desire; whether for yourself, for your friends, or for your enemies, who should always have a place in your

prayers.

And be not under any concern for suitable words to make known the desires of your heart: God is our Father, and will understand His children's meaning, however imperfectly expressed. You know how the humble publican was heard, though he said no more than-God be merciful unto me a sinner!

The following Scriptures, and the meditations upon them, may help your devotions either now, or at any other time, to obtain the graces you stand in need of; to preserve in your heart a spirit of piety; or to keep mind the vows that are upon you.

in your

A SHORT FORM OF THANKSGIVING.*

1 Thess. v. 18. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God.

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LORD and Father, I am not worthy of the least of

all the mercies which Thou hast showed Thy servant; neither can I render due thanks and praise for them but, O God, accept of this my sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. For this, and for all Thy known and unobserved favours of nature and of grace, I bless Thy good providence; beseeching Thee to pardon my ingratitude, and that I have passed so many occasions without observing, and without acknowledging, Thy great goodness to Thy unworthy servant. For when I consider my dependence upon Thee, for my life, for my preservation, for my redemption, and for the means of grace and salvation which Thou hast afforded me, I cannot but be very thankful. As long therefore as I live, I will praise Thee. Glory be to God, my Creator, Glory be to Jesus, my Redeemer, Glory be to the Holy Ghost, my Sanctifier, my Guide, and Comforter! All love, all praise and glory, be to God most high. Amen.

St. John xvi. 23. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My Name, He will give it you.

N all humility, O heavenly Father, lay claim to

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this Thy Son's most faithful promise, confirmed by His oath. In His name, and for His sake, I beseech Thee

If Christians would but accustom themselves to render to God the glory of His mercies, to take notice of and to give Him thanks for, the many favours, deliverances, visitations or chastisements, they every day meet with, they would most surely engage the Divine goodness and providence to multiply those blessings upon them, which they put a stop to by their ingratitude.

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