neither may we carry any thing out.

-1 Tim. vi.

Charge them who are rich in this world, that they be ready to give, and glad to distribute; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may attain eternal life.-1 Tim. vi.

God is not unrighteous, that He will forget your works, and labour that proceedeth of love; which love ye have shewed for His Name's sake, who have ministered unto the saints, and yet do minister. -Heb. vi.

To do good, and to distribute, forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.-Heb. xiii.

Whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? -1 St. John iii.

Give alms of thy goods, and never

turn thy face from any poor man ; and then the face of the Lord shall not be turned away from thee.Tobit iv.

Be merciful after thy power. If thou hast much, give plenteously: if thou hast little, do thy diligence gladly to give of that little: for so gatherest thou thyself a good reward in the day of necessity.-Tobit iv.

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

Blessed be the man that provideth for the sick and needy: the Lord shall deliver him in the time of trouble.-Psalm xli.

Whilst these Sentences are in reading, the Deacons, Churchwardens, or other fit person appointed for that purpose, shall receive the Alms for the Poor, and other Devotions of the people, in a decent bason to be provided by the Parish for that purpose; and reverently bring it to the Priest,

who shall humbly present and place it upon the holy Table. Here say privately :

Receive, O God, into Thy holy heaven, the Eucharistical praises of those that offer much or little, privately or openly, but have it not to offer; of those who have this day brought their offerings, receive them as Thou didst the gifts of Thy righteous Abel, the sacrifice of our father Abraham, the incense of Zecharias, the alms of Cornelius, and the widow's mite. Receive their offerings of praise and thanksgiving, and for their earthly things give them heavenly; for their temporal, eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

After the Offertory, according to an ancient custom, and one which indeed seems expressly countenanced by the rubric which directs that "the chancels shall remain as they have done in times past",1 some

1 The piscina is placed on the south side of the altar, either against the east or south walls. The ceremony of washing the hands is said by Tertullian to be in commemoration of Pilate's ablution before the delivery of our Lord (Tertullian, De Oratione, xiii). Dionysius says that it signifies that those who are engaged in holy offices "should have a special care of purity" (Dionysius de

priests wash their hands in token of purity. Whenever this ceremony is performed you may say the following portion of Psalm xxvi :

I will wash my hands in innocency, O Lord and so will I go to Thine altar.

That I may shew the voice of thanksgiving and tell of all Thy wondrous works. Lord, I have loved the habitation of Thy house and the place where Thine honour dwelleth.

:

O shut not up my soul with the sinners: nor my life with the blood-thirsty.

In whose hands is wickedness and their right hand is full of gifts.

Eccles. Hier. cap. iii, sec. ii, iii, tom. i, p. 242). And Durandus that the piscina or lavacrum denotes" the pity of Christ"; and that washing the hands therein signifies that "by baptism and penitence we are purged from the filth of sin" (Durandus i, cap. i, sec. 39). See also St. Cyril. Cat. Lect. Oxf. Trans. p. 273; Apostolical Const. b. viii, cap. xi.

"Cæteris rebus ordine gestis demum episcopus sacram mensam redit, lotisque manibus, pane fracto, vino in calicem effuso", &c.-Bishop Andrews' Form of Consecrating a Church.

"That it be decently adorned, chapel-wise, with an altar, fonts, palls, linen-coverings, demy-carpets, four surplices, candlesticks, tapers, chalices, patens, a fine towel for the prince, other towels for the household, a traverse of waters for the Communion, a bason and flagons, and two copes."-Rules for the celebration of Divine Service during Prince Charles's residence in Spain, Collier, ii, 726.

But as for me, I will walk innocently : O deliver me, and be merciful unto me.

My foot standeth right: I will praise the Lord in the congregations.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

And when there is a Communion, the Priest shall then place upon the Table so much Bread and Wine as he shall think sufficient ... putting into the latter "a little pure and clean water".1

The elements are taken from the prothesis or

credence, which is a side-table near the altar. The act ought to remind you of Jesus Christ being led as a lamb to the slaughter, when He was going to be offered

1 King Edward VI's First Book. See also Homilies,

and Article xxxiv.

"Cum vinum, quod prius effuderat, non sufficeret, episcopus de novo in calicem ex poculo quod in sacra mensa stabat effundit, admistaque aqua, recitat clare verba illa consecratoria." -Bishop Andrews' Form of Consecrating a Church.

"That the Communion be celebrated in due form with an oblation of every communicant, and admixing water with the wine; smooth wafer to be used for the bread.' -Rules for the celebration of Divine Service during Prince Charles's residence in Spain, A.D. 1623. Collier, ii, 726.