If we have fown unto you fpiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your worldly things? 1 Cor. ix. 11. Do ye not know, that they who minifter about holy things, live of the facrifice? and they who wait at the altar, are partakers with the altar? Even fo hath the Lord alfo ordained, that they who preach the Gospel, fhould live of the Gofpel. Ver. 13, 14.

He that foweth little, fhall reap little: and he that foweth plenteously, fhall reap plenteoufly. Let every man do according as he is difpofed in his heart; not grudgingly, or of neceffity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Cor. ix. 6, 7.

Let him that is taught in the Word, minifter unto him that teacheth, in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatfoever a man foweth, that fhall reap. Gal. vi. 6, 7.

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While we have time, let us do good unto all men, and Specially unto them that are of the houshold of faith. Ver. 10. Godlinefs 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.

Charge them who are rich in this world, that they be ready to give, and glad to diftribute; laying up in fore for themfelves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may attain eternal life. Ver. 17, 18, 19.

God is not unrighteous, that he will forget your works and labour that proceedeth of love; which love ye have fhewed for his Name's fake, who have miniftered unto the faints, and yet do minifter. Heb. vi. 10.

To do good, and to diftribute, forget not; for with fuch facrifices God is well pleafed. Heb. xi. 16.

Whofo hath this world's good, and feeth his brother have need, and fhutteth up his compaffion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 1 St. 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. Tabit iv. 7.

Be merciful after thy power: If thou haft much, give plenteoufly; if thou haft little, do thy diligence gladly to

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give of that little: for fo gathereft thou thyself a good reward in the day of neceffity. Tobit iv. 8, 9.

He that hath pity upon the poor, lendeth unto the Lord; and look, what he layeth out, it fhall be paid him again. Prov. xix. 17.

Bleffed be the man that provideth for the fick and needy: the Lord fhall deliver him in the time of trouble. Pfalm xli. 1.

Whilst thefe Sentences are in reading, the Deacons, Churchwardens, or other fit Perfons appointed for that purpose, fhall receive the Alms for the poor, and other devotions of the people, in a decent Bafon, to be provided by the Parish for that purpose; and reverently bring it to the Priest, who fall humbly present and place it upon the

holy Table.

And when there is a Communion, the Priest fhall then place upon the Table fo much Bread and Wine as he fhall think fufficient. After which done, the Priest fhall fay, Let us pray for the whole state of Chrift's Church militant here in earth.

Whilst thefe fentences &c.] Thefe rubrics were fettled at the laft Review, 1662. In Edward VIth's first book the following rubricks occur: "When there be clerks, they fhall fing one or many of the fentences above written, according to the length or fhortnefs of the time that the people be offering. In the mean time, whilft the clerks do fing the offertory, fo many as are difpofed, fhall offer to the poor men's box, every one accord. ing to his ability and charitable mind; and at the offering days appointed every man and woman fhall pay to the curate the due and accustomed offerings. Then fo many as fhall be partakers of the Holy Communion fhall tarry ftill in the choir, or in fome convenient place nigh the choir, the men on the one fide, and the women on the other fide. All others that mind not to receive the faid Holy Communion, fhall depart out of the choir, except the Minifters and Clerks. Then fhall the Minister take fo much bread and wine as fhall fuffice for the perfons appointed to receive the Holy Communion, laying the bread upon the corporas, or elfe in the paten, or in fome other comely thing prepared for that purpose; and putting the wine into the chalice, or else into fome fair and convenient cup prepared for that purpofe, (if the chalice will not ferve) putting thereto a little pure water, he fhall fet both the bread and wine upon the altar." Then followed thefe fentences: "The Lord be with you; and with thy fpirit;" and that part of the Communion Service, "Lift up your hearts, &c." to "Glory be to thee, O Lord most high." After this came in the prayer "for the whole ftate of Chrift's Church," which was drawn up in words very fimilar to the prefent prayer, though with many additions; and comprizing alfo the prayer of confecration in it, as well as the poit Communion prayer, beginning, "O Lord and heavenly Father."

Almighty and everliving God, who, by thy holy

oblations, then shall the alms and oblations] be

Apostle, haft taught us to make prayers and fupplications, and to give thanks for all men; We humbly befeech thee, moft mercifully [ to accept if there be no alms or our alms and oblations, and] to receive words [of accepting our these our prayers, which we offer unto left unfaid. thy Divine Majefty; befeeching thee to infpire continually the univerfal Church with the fpirit of truth, unity, and concord: and grant that all they that do confefs thy holy Name, may agree in the truth of thy holy Word, and live in unity and godly love. We befeech thee alfo to fave and defend all Chriftian Kings, Princes, and Governors; and efpecially 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 wickednefs 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 Sacraments. And to all thy people give thy heavenly grace; and especially to this Congregation here prefent; that with meek heart, and due reve

Almighty &c. In the Liturgy of St. Chryfoftom, there is a prayer before the confecration, very fimilar to this. It was adopted into the communion fervice in its prefent drefs, in Edward VIth's fecond book, (to the petition, "And we alfo blefs &c." which was added 1662) and preceded by this rubric: "Then fhall the churchwardens, or fome other by them appointed, gather the devotion of the people, and put the fame into the poor man's box; and upon the offering days appointed every man and woman fhall pay to the curate the due and accustomed offerings."

Oblations] It is frequently a matter of doubt with the clergy, whether or not this word fhould be introduced or omitted by the minifter in the performance of the Holy Communion; thofe who omit it, confidering it to refer to the perquifites which the clergy anciently received for faying mafs, or, in other words, adminiftering the facrament; for till the fourth century the church had no fixed revenues, nor any other means of fubfiftence than the voluntary oblations which were offered for the fupport of its minifters, principally upon thefe occafions. But thofe clergymen are probably right who introduce the word, as it appears to apply to the elements themselves, which are oblata, or offered to the Lord; according to that injunction in the African Canons: "Ut in Sacramentis Corporis et Sanguinis Domini, nihil amplius offeratur, quam quod ipfe Dominus tradidit, hoc eft, panis et vinum aquá mixtum." Conc. Afric. Can. iv. Ap. Crab. tom. i. p. 595.

rence, they may hear and receive thy holy Word, truly ferving thee in holinefs and righteoufnefs all the days of their life. And we moft humbly befeech 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 Chrift's fake, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen. T When the Minister giveth warning for the celebration of the Holy Communion, (which he shall always do upon Sunday, or fome Holy-day, immediately preceding;) after the Sermon, or Homily ended, he shall read this Exhor tation following.

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EARLY beloved, on- day next, I purpose, through G God's affistance, to administer to all fuch as fhall be religioufly and devoutly difpofed, the most comfortable Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Chrift; to be by them received, in remembrance of his meritorious cross 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 Christ, not only to die for us, but also 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 Myftery,

When the minifter] This rubric was inferted at the laft review 1662. In Edward VIth's firft book, there were but two inftead of three exhor tations; the one which is now read at the celebration of the Communion, (which stands firft in order) and another fimilar in fenfe, but differing in words, to the first exhortation in our books; both thefe came immediately after the creed. The fecond exhortation was added at the review in Edward VIth's reign, 1552; but very differently worded to the prefent one. At the laft review in Charles lld's reign, 1662, they were both altered and arranged as they now ftand.

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 fcripture, 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 to Almighty God, with full purpofe of amendment of life. And if ye fhall perceive your offences to be fuch as are not only against God, but alfo against your neighbours; then ye fhall reconcile yourfelves unto them; being ready to make restitution and fatisfaction according to the uttermost of your powers, for all injuries and wrongs done by you to any other; and being likewife ready to forgive others that have offended you, as ye would have forgiveness of your offences at God's hand: for otherwife the receiving of the holy Communion doth nothing elfe but increase your damnation. 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 entered into Judas, and fill you full of all iniquities, and bring you to deftruction both of body and foul.

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, who by this means cannot quiet his own confcience herein, but requireth further comfort or counfel; let him come to me, or to fome other difcreet and learned Minifter God's Word, and open his grief; that by the miniftry of God's holy word, 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 doubtfulness.