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fused the Feast in the Gofpel, because they had bought a farm, or would try their yokes of oxen, or because they were married, were not fo excufed, but counted unworthy of the heavenly Feaft. I for my part fhall be ready; and accor ding to mine office, I bid you in the Name of God, I call you in Chrift'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 to yield up his Soul by death upon the crofs for your falvation: fo it is your duty to receive the Communion, in remembrance of the facrifice of his death, as he himself hath commanded: Which if you fhall neglect to do, confider with yourselves, how great injury ye do unto God, and how fore punishment hangeth over your heads for the fame; when ye wilfully abftain from the Lord's Table, and feparate from your brethren, who come to feed on the banquet of that most heavenly food. These things if ye earnestly confider, ye will by God's grace return to a better mind; for the obtaining whereof, we shall not cease to make our humble petitions unto Almighty God our heavenly Father.

At the time of the Celebration of the Communion, the Communicants ftanding with their faces towards the Altar, the Priest being turned to them Shall fay this Exhortation.

In Cathedral Churches or other Places, where there is daily Communion, it shall be fufficient to read this Exhortation only on Sundays and Holy-days.

Dearly

DEarly beloved in the Lord, ye that mind to come to the Holy Communion of the Body and Blood of our Saviour Chrift, muft confider how Saint Paul exhorteth all perfons diligently to try and examine themfelves, before they prefume to eat of that Bread, and drink of that Cup. For as the benefit is great, if with a true penitent heart and lively Faith we receive that Holy Sacrament; (for then we fpiritually eat the flesh of Chrift, and drink his Blood; then we dwell in Chrift, and Chrift in us; we are one with Chrift and Chrift with us:) fo is the danger great, if we receive the fame unworthily. For then we are guilty of the body and blood of Chrift our Saviour; we eat and drink a judgment against ourselves, not confidering the Lord's body; we kindle God's wrath against us; we provoke him to plague us with divers diseases, and fundry kinds of death. Judge therefore yourselves, brethren, that ye be not judged of the Lord; repent you truly for your fins paft; have a lively and ftedfast Faith in Christ our Saviour; amend your lives, and be in perfect charity with all men; fo fhall ye be meet partakers of those Holy Mysteries. And above all things, ye must give moft humble and hearty thanks to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghoft, for the redemption of the world by the death and paffion of our Saviour Chrift, both God and Man, who did humble himself even to the death upon the Cross for us miferable Sinners, who lay in darkness and the fhadow of death, that he might make us the

Children

Children of God, and exalt us to everlasting life. And to the end that we should alway remember the exceeding great love of our Master and only Saviour Jefus Chrift thus dying for us, and the innumerable benefits, which by his precious blood-fhedding he hath obtained to us; he hath inftituted and ordained Holy Mysteries, as pledges of his love, and for a continual remembrance of his death, to our great and endless comfort. To him therefore, with the Father and the Holy Ghoft, let us give (as we are most bounden) continual thanks, fubmitting ourselves wholly to his Holy will and pleasure, and ftudying to ferve him in true holiness and righteousness all the days of our life. Amen.

Then Shall the Priest begin the Offertory, Saying one or more of thefe Sentences following, as he thinketh most convenient in his difcretion, the People kneeling with their faces towards the Altar.

IN

N procefs of time it came to pafs, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord and Abel, he alfo brought of the firftlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had refpect unto Abel, and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering he had not refpect. Gen. iv. 3,4, 5•

Speak unto the children of Ifrael, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart, ye fhall take my of fering. Exod. xxv. 2,

They

They mall not appear before the Lord empty: every man shall give as he is able, according to the bleffing of the Lord your God, which he hath given you. Deut. xvi. 16, 17.

Bleffed, is he that confidereth the poor, the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. Pfal. xli. r. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts. Pfal. xcvi. 8.

He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given, will he pay him again. Prov. xix. 17.

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and ruft doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and fteal: but lay up for yourfelves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor ruft doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. Matth. vi. 19,

20.

Not every one that faith unto me, Lord, Lord, fhall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matth. vii. 21.

Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? Or, who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? I Cor.

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If we have fown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we fhall reap your carnal things? 1 Cor. ix. II.

Do ye not know, that they which minifter about holy things, live of the things of the Temple? And they which wait at the Altar, are parD

takers

takers with the Altar? Even fo hath the Lord ordained, that they which preach the Gospel, fhould live of the Gofpel. 1 Cor. ix. 13, 14.

He which foweth fparingly, fhall reap fparingly and he which foweth bountifully, fhall reap bountifully. Every man according as he purpofeth in his heart, fo let him give; not grudgingly, or of néceffity: for God loveth a cheartul giver. 2 Cor. ix. 6, 7.

Let him that is taught in the word, communicate unto him that teacheth, in all good things. Be not deceived, God is not mocked: for whatfoever a man foweth, that shall he also reap. Gal.

vi. 6, 7.

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to diftribute, willing to communicate: laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 1 Tim. vi. 17, 18, 19.

God is not unrighteous, to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have fhewed toward his name, in that ye have miniftred to the Saints, and do minifter. Heb. vi. 10.

To do good and to communicate forget not, for with such facrifices God is well pleased. Heb. xiii. 16.

• Whilst thefe Sentences are in reading, the Deacons, Church-wardens, or other fit perfon appointed for that purpofe, fhall receive the devotions

of

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