vant. Prepare him humbly to receive that sacrament of the body and blood of our Lord, in which thou art more immediately present, illuminating the faithful, and comforting and refreshing all that are weary and heavy laden with their sins. Help him, we beseech thee, O Lord, to fit and prepare himself for the due reception of these holy mysteries. Fill his soul with all reverence and godly fear; with earnest desires and longings after the divine life; with serious repentance for all his past sins; with holy resolutions of living for ever after unto Jesus, who died for him. O let him receive his Saviour with that broken and contrite heart, which thou hast promised not to despise. Raise his affections from earth to heaven, let him hunger and thirst after righteousness. As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so let his heart now pant after thee, O God. With humble and holy desires may he eat this passover, and be filled with all spiritual joys and consolations from henceforth for evermore. Amen. This may be added by the Priest who intends to give the Holy Eucharist to him. A ND to me, O Lord, whom thou hast called to this high honour of administering thy holy sacrament, give thy grace and heavenly benediction, that I may do all things as I ought through Christ strengthening me. Magnify thy power, O Lord, in my weakness. And thou that givest the increase, command a blessing, I pray thee, to descend upon the work of my ministry; that this sacrament, to be administered to thy servant, now crying mightily to thee for help, may turn to his everlasting benefit, as well as to the salvation of myself, and of all that shall charitably receive with him. Grant this, O blessed Lord, for the sake of that Jesus, whom we are about to commemorate in this holy ordinance. Amen. THE COMMUNION OF THE SICK. Forasmuch as all mortal men are subject to many sudden perils, diseases, and sicknesses, and ever uncertain what time they shall depart out of this life; therefore, to the intent that they may be always in readiness to die, whensoever it shall please Almighty God to call them, the Ministers shall diligently from time to time (but especially in the time of pestilence, or other infectious sickness) exhort their Parishioners to the often receiving of the Holy Communion of the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ, when it shall be publickly administered in the Church; that so doing, they may, in case of sudden visitation, have the less cause to be disquieted for lack of the same. But if the sick Person be not able to come to the Church, and yet is desirous to receive the Communion in his house; then he must give timely notice to the Minister, signifying also how many there are to communicate with him (which shall be two at the least;) and all things necessary being prepared, the Minister shall there celebrate the Holy Communion, beginning with the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel, here following: A The Collect. LMIGHTY everliving God, Maker of mankind, who dost correct those whom thou dost love, and chastise every one whom thou dost receive; we beseech thee to have mercy upon this thy servant visited with thine hand; and to grant that he may take his sickness patiently, and recover his bodily health, if it be thy gracious will; and that whensoever his soul shall depart from the body, it may be without spot presented unto thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle. Heb. xii. 5. M'Lord, nor mint when thou art rebuked of him. Y son, despise not thou the chastening of the For whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth; and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. VER The Gospel. St. John v. 24. ERILY, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth. my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. After which the Minister shall proceed according to the Form before prescribed for the Holy Communion, beginning at these words, Ye who do truly, &c. At the time of the distribution of the Holy Sacrament, the Minister shall first receive the Communion himself, and after minister unto those who are appointed to communicate with the sick, and last of all to the sick Person. But if a man, either by reason of extremity of sickness, or for want of warning in due time to the Minister, or for lack of company to receive with him, or by any other just impediment, do not receive the Sacrament of Christ's Body and Blood, the Minister shall instruct him, that if he do truly repent him of his sins, and steadfastly believe that Jesus Christ hath suffered death upon the Cross for him, and shed his Blood for his redemption, earnestly remembering the benefits he hath thereby, and giving him hearty thanks therefore, he doth eat and drink the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ profitably to his soul's health, although he do not receive the Sacrament with his mouth. When the sick Person is visited and receiveth the Holy Communion all at one time, then the Minister, for more expedition, shall cut off the Form of the Visitation at the Psalm, and go straight to the Communion. In the times of contagious sickness or disease, when none of the Parish or Neighbours can be gotten to communicate with the sick in their houses, for fear of the infection; upon special request of the diseased, the Minister alone may communicate with him. Then shall the Priest say to those who come to receive the holy Communion: YE E who 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, devoutly kneeling. Then shall this general Confession be made by the Priest and all those who are minded to receive the holy Communion, humbly kneeling. A LMIGHTY God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men; we acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, 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 remembrance of them is grievous unto us; the burthen 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 (the Bishop, if he be present) stand up, and turning to the People, say, A LMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all those who with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto him, have mercy upon you; pardon and deliver you from all your sins; confirm and strengthen you in all goodness; and bring you to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then shall the Priest say, Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith unto all who truly turn to him. NOME unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy COM laden, and I will refresh you. St. Matt. xi. 28. So God loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, to the end that all that believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. St. John iii. 16. Hear also what St. Paul saith. This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 1 Tim. i. 15. Hear also what St. John saith. If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins. 1 John ii. 1, 2. After which the Priest shall proceed, saying, Lift up your hearts. Answer. We lift them up unto the Lord. Then shall the Priest turn to the Lord's Table, and say, and out in all places, give T is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that thanks unto thee, O Lord, [* Holy Father,] Almighty, everlasting God. ¶ Here shall follow the proper Preface, according to the time, if there be any specially appointed; or else immediately shall be said or sung by the Priest and People, HEREFORE with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious name; evermore praising thee, and saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts; heaven and earth are full of thy glory: Glory be to thee, O Lord Most High. Amen. T PROPER PREFACES. ↑ Upon Christmas Day, and seven Days after. ECAUSE thou didst give Jesus Christ, thine only Son, to be born as at this time for us; who, by the operation of the Holy Ghost, was made very man, of the substance of the Virgin Mary his Mother; and that without spot of sin, to make us clean from all sin Therefore with Angels, &c. * These words, [Holy Father,] must be omitted on Trinity Sunday |