Then shall the Minister humbly say this Prayer of Preparation, first in behalf of himself, then of the Congregation. O Lord God, who, in mercy and great compassion, dost consider thy people, and hast given unto us, thy unworthy servants, miserable sinners, confidence and commandment to present ourselves before thee at thy holy table to represent a holy, venerable, and unbloody sacrifice for our sins, and for the errors and ignorances of all thy people, look upon me, the meanest and most polluted of all them that approach to thy sacred presence. Pity me, O God, and wash away all my sins. Cleanse my heart and my hands, my head and my lips from all impurities of the flesh and spirit and remove far from me all irreverence and undecency, all foolish imaginations and vain reasonings; and, by the power of the Holy Ghost, make me worthy for this ministry, accepting this service for his sake, whose sacrifice I represent, and by whose commandment I minister, even our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. ! Have mercy upon this thy people, who with hungry and thirsty souls, come to be refreshed and comforted by the divine nutriment of thy holy body and blood. Pity our infirmities, despise not our unworthiness, curse not our follies, and take not from thy servants thy grace and the light of thy divine countenance, but, according to the multitude of thy great mercies, do away all our offences, that, without self-condemnation, we may appear before thy glory, covered with the veil of Jesus, adorned with the robe of his righteousness, and illustrated with the brightness of thy Divine Spirit; that we may live by thy grace, and feel thy mercy and pardon in this world and in the world to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then shall the Minister, rising up, rehearse, with a loud voice, the Minister. Our Lord Jesus, seeing the multitudes, went up into a mountain; and he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 1. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. People. Lord, pardon our faults, and incline our hearts to obey thee, that we may inherit this blessing. Minister. 2. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. People. Lord, pardon our faults, and incline our hearts to obey thee, that we may inherit this blessing. Minister. 3. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. People. Lord, pardon our faults, and incline our hearts to obey thee, that we may inherit this blessing. Minister. 4. Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. People. Lord, pardon our faults, and incline our hearts to obey thee, that we may inherit this blessing. Minister. 5. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. People. Lord, pardon our faults, and incline our hearts to obey thee, that we may inherit this blessing. Minister. 6. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. People. Lord, pardon our faults, and incline our hearts to obey thee, that we may inherit this blessing. Minister. 7. Blessed are the peace-makers: for they shall be called the children of God. People. Lord, pardon our faults, and incline our hearts to obey thee, that we may inherit this blessing. Minister. 8. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. People. Lord, make us ready in heart and body to obey thee in every thing, that we may inherit all these blessings in the kingdom of our Lord Jesus. Amen. Let us pray. O Lord God, our Creator, who hast given us life and being, and hast shown unto us the way of salvation, vouchsafing to us the revelation of heavenly mysteries, and hast commanded to us this service in the power of the Holy Ghost, and obedience of the Lord Jesus; be thou well pleased, O Lord, with this our service and duty, and grant that with a holy fear, and a pure conscience, we may finish this service, presenting a holy sacrifice holily unto thee, that thou mayest receive it in heaven, and smell a sweet odour in the union of the eternal sacrifice, which our blessed Lord perpetually offers; and accept us graciously as thou didst entertain the gifts of Abel, the sacrifice of Noah, the services of Moses and Aaron, the peace-offering of Samuel, the repentance of David, and the incense of Zacharias: and as from the hands of thy holy apostles thou didst accept this ministry; so vouchsafe, by the hands of us miserable sinners, to finish and perfect this oblation, that it may be sanctified by the Holy Ghost, and be accepted in the Lord Jesus; that we,-being adopted into the society and participation of his holiness and sufferings, admitted to his service, incorporated to his body, united to his purity, made partakers of his intercession, pardoned by his mercy, sanctified by his grace, confirmed by his strength, professing his religion, believing in his word, hoping in his promises, and keeping all his commandments, may receive the reward of faithful and wise stewards in the day of thy righteous judgment. Grant this, O God, for his sake, who is the food of our souls, and the joy of our hearts, the object of our faith and hope, and the great example of charity and all excellencies, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. Then, all arising from their knees, shall be read some portions of 1 Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians, chap. xi. from verse 23 to the end. The Gospel according to St. Mark, xiv. 2. unto verse 26. Or, 1 Epistle of St. Paul written to the Corinthians, chap. x. from verse 1 to verse 18. Gospel according to St. Matthew, chap. xxvi. from verse 17 to verse 30. Sometimes one of these may suffice; but never above two are to be used at once, one out of the Epistles, one out of the Gospels. Then shall follow this Eucharistical Hymn, all standing up, reciting the verses interchangeably. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that I will seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to visit his temple. For, in the time of trouble, he shall hide me in his pavilion; in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me, and set me upon a rock. Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing and speak praises unto the Lord. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Examine, O Lord, and prove me: try my reins and my heart. For thy loving-kindness is before my eyes: and I will walk in thy truth. I have not sat with vain persons; neither will I go in with dissemblers. I will wash my hands in innocency: and so will I compass thine altar, O Lord, That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man, that trusteth in him. Look at the generations of old and see, did ever any trust in the Lord, and was confounded? or did any abide in his fear, and was forsaken? or whom did he ever despise, that called upon him? For the Lord is full of compassion and mercy, longsuffering and very pitiful, and forgiveth sins, and saveth in time of affliction. Ye, therefore, that fear the Lord, believe him: and your reward shall not fail. They that fear the Lord, will seek that which is wellpleasing unto him: and they that love him, shall be filled with the law. They that fear the Lord, will prepare their hearts, and humble their souls in his sight. For as his majesty is, even so is his mercy. What shall I render unto the Lord for all the benefits, which he hath done unto me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. Return unto thy rest, O my soul: for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and call upon the name of the Lord. The Lord hath been mindful of us, and he will bless us; he will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great. Blessed be the name of our God, from this time forth for evermore. Praise the Lord. Glory be to the Father, &c. As it was in the beginning, &c. Then shall the Minister, with a loud voice, pronounce this Commination. "Thus saith the Lord Jesus, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandment, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs and sorcerers, whoremongers and murderers. The idolaters and the filthy, the fearful and the unbelieving, the hypocrite and the liars, the drunkards and the envious, the hinderers of God's word, and the slanderers of their neighbours, the swearers, and the covetous, the impenitent and the uncharitable, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone. And behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and offspring of David, and the bright and morning star: and the Spirit and the Bride say, Come,' and let him that heareth, come: and let him that is athirst, come; and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely "." But first cleanse your hands and purify your hearts, repent you truly of all your sins past, retain no affection to any thing that displeases God: resolve against all sin, strive against all, pray against all, watch against all, and so shall ye be meet partakers of this holy table: but if any of you here present live in any known sin, of which ye have not truly repented, and which ye do not mean presently and utterly to forsake; in the name of Jesus Christ, I pronounce every such person to be unworthy of these holy mysteries, and that he cannot receive them but to his condemnation, |