The Minister. Directions. Lay not up for yourfelves ter and Churchwardens] you must treasures upon earth, where be very attentive, and with your the ruft and moth doth cor-eye, (not voice) read along with rupt, and where thieves break him: and be fure you make what through and fteal: but layport application you can to yourself up for yourselves treasures in of what is read; and wherein you have been wanting perceive you heaven, where neither ruft either in charity or justice to any nor moth doth corrupt, and one, and in particular of being juft where thieves do not break to thofe rusho are your fpiritual thro' nor steal. St. Matt. vi. guides, you will refolve to make 19, 20, up thoje defects for the time to come; Whatfoever ye would that for affure yourself, you will be men fhould do to you, even highly unjust if you detain from fo do unto them; for this is them what is their due. the law and the prophets. St. 111 Matt. vii. 12. When it comes to your turn to make your offering, do not let the Not every one that faith plate or bafon pass by you without unto me, Lord, Lord, fhall futting fomething into it: for this enter into the kingdom of reafon, amongst others, that you heaven; but he that doth the may join in that part of the prayer for the Church militant, wherewill of my father which is injin you befeech God to accept your heaven. St. Matt. vii. 21. alms, and you may depend upon it, Zaccheus ftood forth and he will accept them as given to faid unto the Lord, Behold, himself, if they bear a proportion to Lord, the half of my goods your ability, and are done in obegive to the poor; and if I have dience to his commands, and with done any wrong to any man, an eye to his glory, as a grateful I reftore fourfold. St. Luke acknowledgment of his mercies to xix. 8. yourfelf, and as a teflimony of your Whogoeth a warfare at a-dependance upon him for the continuance of them. With fuch reflectime of his own coft? who tions your prefent offering, and planteth a vineyard, and eat-all your other gifts to the fervices eth not of the fruit thereof of religion, and the uses of chaor who feedeth a flock, and rity ought to be accompanied. eateth not of the milk of the They that are poor and cannot flock? 1 Cor. ix. 7. Iflgive as they are disposed in their ny I hearte If we have fown unto youhearts, must remember that the fpiritual things, is it a great alms, given on this occafion, are matter if we should reap your not matter of neceflity, but a free. worldly things? 1 Cor. ix. 11. gift; and that their small contri butions will, like the poor wi Do you not know, that dow's two mites, be preferred to they who minifter about ho-the richest oblations of the weally things, live of the facri-thy. And even be that hath nofice and they who wait at thing at all to give, is invited the altar, are partakers with freely to partake of thefe fpiritu the altar? even fo hath the al blessings without money, and Lord alfo ordained, that they without price. i1 who preach the gofpel, fhould live of the gospel. 1 Cor. ix. RADITI ) 13, 14. He that foweth little, fhall reap little; and he that foweth plenteously shall reap plenteoufly. Let every mando according as he is difpofed in his own heart, not grudgingly, or of neceffity; for God loveth a chearful giver. 2 Cor. ix. 6, 7. Let him that is taught in the word minister to him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived, God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man foweth, that fhall he reap. Gal. vi. 6, 7. *MINA While we have time, let us do good unto all men, and efpecially unto them that are of the houshold of faith. Gal. vi. 10. Godliness is great riches, if a man be content with that he hath for we brought nothing into the world, neither may we carry any thing out. 1 Tim. vi. 6, 7. 1. Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be ready to give, and glad to diftribute, laying up in ftore for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may attain eternal life! 1 Tim. vi. 17, 18, 19. God is not unrighteous, that he will forget your works and labour that proceedeth of love; which love ye have fhew'd for his name's fake, who have miniftered into the faints, and yet do minifter. Heb. vi. ro To do good, and to diftribute, forget not; for with fuch facrifices God is well pleafed. Heb. xiii. 16. Who Whofo hath this worlds good, and feeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his compaffion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 1 John iii. 17. Give alms of thy goods, and never turn thy face from any poor man, and then the face of the Lord fhall not be turned away from thee. Tob. iv. 7. Be merciful after thy power. If thou haft much, give plenteously; if thou haft little, do thy diligence gladly to give of that little for fo gathereft thou thyfelf a good reward in the day of neceffity. Tob. iv.: 8, 9. I He that hath pity upon the poor, lendeth unto the Lord; and look what he layeth out, it shall be paid him again. Proverbs xix. 17. Bleffed be the man that provideth for the fick and needy: the Lord fhall deliver him in the time of trouble. Pf. xli. 1. Rubrick. Whilft thefe fentences are in reading, the deacons, churchwardens, or other fit perfon appointed for that purpose, shall receive the alms for the poor, and other devotions of the people in a decent bafon or plate, to be provided by the parish for that purpose; and reverently bring it to the priest, who fhall humbly prefent and place it upon the holy table, A prayer at offering our alms. Thy prayers and thy alms are come up for a memorial-before God: Alts x. 4. THY HY bounty, O Lord, is the fountain of all I poffefs; 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 ne neceffitous brethren, which thou requirest, and art pleased to take as done to thyself. Therefore I will dedicate a part of thofe good things which thou haft bestow'd upon me, to relieve the poor; because thou haft made it an evidence of my love to thee: And grant that all my alins-deeds may be performed with fuch purity of intention, and in fuch a proportion to what thou haft given me, that they may be acceptable in thy fight, through the merits of Jefus Chrift, my Lord and Saviour. Amen. Rubrick. And when there is a communion, the priest shall then place upon the table as much bread and wine as he fall think fufficient. After which done, the priest fall fay: The Minister. Directions. Let us pray for the whole Here the priest beginning ftate of Chrift's church, mi-the prayer for the whole state of litant here on earth. Chrift's church militant hereon earth, &c. you must join with him Almighty and ever liv- in heart and fpirit in the fame, ing God, who by thy and with the congregation in their holy apostle hath taught us attention, and fay the Amen with to make prayers and fuppli-them, that you may reap the adcations, and to give thanks vantage of that common fervency for all men; we humbly be-with which thofe prayers fly up to seech thee moft mercifully God. + If there be no alms nor oblations, then fhall the words [of accepting our alms and oblations] be left out un faid [to accept our alms and oblations, † and] to receive these our prayers, which we offer unto thy divine majefty,befeeching thee to inspire continually the univerfal church with the fpirit of truth, unity, and concord: and grant that all they that do confefs thy holy holy name, may agree in the truth of thy holy word, and live in unity and godly love. We beseech thee alfo to fave and defend all chriftian kings, princes, and governors; and especially thy fervant 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 minifter juftice, to the punishment of wickedness and vice, and to the maintenance of thy true religion and virtue. Give grace, O heavenly Father, to all bishops and curates, that they may, both by their life and doctrine, fet forth thy true and lively word, and rightly and duly adminifter thy holy facraments. And to all thy people give thy heavenly grace, and efpecially to this congregation here prefent, that with meek heart and due reverence, they may hear and receive thy holy word, truly ferving thee in holinefs and righteousness all the days of their life. And we most humbly beseech thee, of thy goodness, O Lord, to comfort and fuccour all them who in this tranfitory life are in trouble, forrow, need, ficknefs, or any other adverfity; and we alfo blefs thy holy name for all thy fervants departed this life in thy faith and fear, befeeching thee to give us grace, fo to follow their good examples, that with them we may be partakers of thy heavenly kingdom. Grant this, O father, for Jefus Christ's fake 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 facrament the priest fhall fay this EXHORTATION. Directions. The Minister. Dearly beloved in the You must feriously attend to this exhortation, for it is full of Lord, ye that mind to come excellent information and infruc to the holy communion of tion; it fhews you the great benethe body and blood of our Sa-fit of coming worthily, that is, viour Christ, must confider with a true penitent heart, and how lively |