Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

the poor, then shall the words

of accepting our

unsaid.

our prayers,

which we alms be left out offer unto thy divine Majesty; beseeching thee to inspire continually the universal church with the Spirit of truth, unity, and concord; 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 specially thy servant 12 Elizabeth our Queen; that under 13 her we may be godly and quietly governed and grant unto her whole Council, and to all that be

When there is no

most precious death and sacrifice of thy Son and our Saviour Jesus Christ.] And we most humbly beseech thee of thy goodCommunion, these words thus ness, O Lord, to comfort and succour all them which in this inclosed [] are transitory life be in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other to be left out, adversity. And we also bless thy holy name for all those thy servants, who having finished their course in faith, do now rest from their labours. And we yield unto thee most high praise and hearty thanks for the wonderful grace and virtue declared in all thy saints, who have been the choice vessels of thy grace, and the lights of the world in their several generations; most humbly beseeching thee, that we may have grace to follow the example of their stedfastness in thy faith, and obedience to thy holy commandments, that at the day of the general resurrection, we, and all they which are of the mystical body of thy Son, may be set on his right hand, and hear that his most joyful voice, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ's sake our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen. [S. L.]

10 state [1552]
12 Edward our king [1552]

11

none [1552] 13 him [1552]

14 his [1552]

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

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 sity: Grant this, O Father, for Name for all thy servants departed Jesus Christ's sake, our only Mediathis life in thy faith and fear; be- tor and Advocate. Amen. seeching 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.

[blocks in formation]

1 which [1604]

2 be [1604] [S. L.]

3 through God's assistance, to administer to all such as shall be religiously and devoutly disposed the most comfortable Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ; to be by them received in remembrance of his meritorious Cross and Passion; whereby alone we obtain remission of our sins, 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 Jesus Christ, not only to die for us, but also to be our spiritual food and sustenance in that holy Sacrament. Which being so divine and comfortable a thing to them who receive it worthily, and so dangerous to them that will presume to receive it unworthily; my duty is to exhort you in the mean season to consider the dignity of that holy mystery, and the great peril of the unworthy receiving thereof; and so to search and examine your own consciences, (and that not lightly, and after the manner of dissemblers with God; but so) that ye may come holy and clean to such a heavenly feast, in the mar

1552

1559 put in authority under her, that they may truly and indifferently minister justice, to the punishment of wickedness and vice, and to the maintenance of God's true religion and virtue. Give grace, (O heavenly Father) to all Bishops, Pastors, 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 all the days of their life. And we most humbly beseech thee of thy goodness (O Lord) to comfort and succour all them which in this transitory life be in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity. Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ's sake, our only Mediator and Advocate.

Amen.

1549

4 him [1552]

riage-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 conversations by the rule of God's commandments; and whereinsoever ye shall perceive yourselves to have offended, either by will, word, or deed, there to bewail your own sinfulness, and to confess yourselves to Almighty God, with full purpose of amendment of life. And if ye shall perceive your offences to be such as are not only against God, but also against your neighbours; then ye shall reconcile yourselves unto them; being ready to make restitution and satisfaction, according to the uttermost of your powers, for all injuries and wrongs done by you to any other; and being likewise ready to forgive 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 else but increase your damnation. Therefore if any of you be a blasphemer of God, an hinderer or slanderer

1662

Or in case he shall see the people negligent | to come to the holy Communion, instead of the former he shall use this Exhortation.

[blocks in formation]

Then shall follow this Exhortation at certain times, when the Curate shall see the people negligent to come to the holy Communion.

E be come together at this

DEARLY beloved, brethres W time, (dearly beloved breth

2

intend, by God's

grace, to celebrate the Lord's Sup- ren) to feed at the Lord's Supper; per: unto which, in God's behalf, unto the which, in God's behalf, I bid you all that are here present; and beseech you, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, that ye will not refuse to come thereto, being so lovingly called and bidden by God himself. Ye know how grievous and unkind a thing it is, when a man hath prepared a rich feast, decked his table with all kind of provision, so that there lacketh nothing but the guests to sit down; and yet they who are called (without any cause) most unthankfully refuse to come. Which of you in such a case would not be moved? Who would not think a great injury and wrong done unto him? Wherefore, most dearly beloved in Christ, take ye good heed, lest ye, withdrawing yourselves from this holy Supper, provoke God's indignation against you. It is an easy matter for a man to say, I will not communicate, because I am otherwise hindered with worldly business. But such excuses are not so easily accepted and allowed before God. If any man say, I am a grievous sinner, and therefore am afraid to come; Wherefore then do 'ye not repent and amend? When God calleth you, 7 are ye not ashamed to say you will not come? When 'ye should return to God, will ye excuse yourselves, and say ye are not ready? Consider earnestly with yourselves, how little such feigned excuses 10 will avail before God. They that refused the feast in the Gospel, because they had bought a farm, or would try their yokes of oxen, or because they were married, were not so excused, but counted unworthy of "the heavenly feast. 12I, for my part, shall be ready; and, according to mine office, I bid you in the Name of God, I call you in Christ's behalf, I exhort you, as you love your own salvation, that` ye will be partakers of this holy Communion. And as the Son of God did vouchsafe 13 to yield up his soul by death upon the cross for 14 your salvation; so it is your duty to receive the Communion in remembrance of the sacrifice of his death, as he himself hath commanded: Which if ye shall neglect to do, consider with yourselves how

9

together in the remembrance of his 15 death, as he himself commanded. Now, if you will in no wise thus do, consider with yourselves how

of his Word, an adulterer, or be in malice, or envy, or in any other grievous crime, Repent you of your sins, or else come not to that holy Table; lest, 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 destruction both of body and soul.

And because it is requisite, that no man should come to the holy Communion, but with a full trust in God's mercy, and with a quiet conscience; therefore if there be any of you, who by this means cannot quiet his own conscience herein, but requireth further comfort or counsel, let him come to me, or to some other discreet and learned Minister of God's Word, and open his grief; that by the ministry of God's holy Word he may receive the benefit of absolution, together with ghostly counsel and advice, to the quieting of his conscience, and avoiding of all scruple and doubtfulness. 2 be [1604] [S. L.]

Presbyter or Curate [S. L.]

[blocks in formation]

Then shall follow this Exhortation at certain times, when the Curate shall see the people negligent to come to the holy Communion.

E be come together at this

WE

time, dearly beloved brethren, to feed at the Lord's supper; unto the which, in God's behalf, I bid you all that be here present; and beseech you, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, that ye will not refuse to come thereto, being so lovingly called and bidden of God himself. Ye know how grievous and unkind a thing it is, when a man hath prepared a rich feast, decked his table with all kind of provision, so that there lacketh nothing but the guests to sit down; and yet they which be called (without any cause) most unthankfully refuse to come. Which of you

in

such a case would not be moved?
Who would not think a great injury
and
wrong done unto him? Where-
fore, most dearly beloved in Christ,
take ye good heed, lest ye, with-
drawing yourselves from this holy
Supper, provoke God's indignation
against you. It is an easy matter
for a man to say, I will not com-
municate, because I am otherwise
letted with worldly business. But
such excuses be not so easily ac-
cepted and allowed before God. If
any man say, I am a grievous sinner,
and therefore am afraid to come;
Wherefore then do 16 ye not repent

3 of [1604] [S. L.]

5 letted [1604] [S. L.]

4 which be [1604] [S. L.]

6

you [1604]

7 be not you ashamed to say you will not, &c. [1604] be you not ashamed to say you will not, &c. [S. L.]

8

you [1604] [S. L.]

9 yourself, and say that you be not [1604] [S. L.]

10 shall [1604] [S. L.]

11 that [S. L.J

12 I for my part am here present, and according, &c. [1604] [S. L.]

13

to offer up himself by death upon the cross for our salvation; even so it is

our duty to celebrate and receive the holy [S. L.]

14

your health; even so it is your duty [1604]

15 death and sacrifice, as &c. [S. L.].

16 you [1552]

« AnteriorContinuar »