Almighty God and so fulfil his appointment So the Constitutions whereby it is manifest not onely that such commemoration was made but that it was made upon the account of Divine institution In all the Liturgies ascribed to St. James St. Basil St. Chrysostom c. the like commemoration passeth currant For the Latines listen to St. Ambrose Sacerdos dicit ergo memores gloriosissimae ejus passionis ab inferis resurrectionis in coelum ascensionis Offerimus tibi c. The Priest sayes Therefore commemorating his most glorious passion resurrection from the Dead and Ascension into heaven we offer up unto thee c. Agreeable to which is the now Canon of the mass whence it is that the same Ambrose of the words do this in remembrance of me gives this paraphrase Mortem meam praedicabitis resurrectonem meam annunciabitis adventum sperabitis donec iterum ad-veniam ye shall set forth my death declare my resurrection and hope for my coming until I shall come again Indeed St. Paul himself seems so to interpret them saying For as often as ye shall eat this bread and drink this cup ye shew the Lords death till he come 1 Cor. 11. 26. implying that Annunciation or declaration of Christs passion was usually made at the celebrating the Eucharist which could no otherwise be then by verbal commemoration To the people in their hands so was the celebration observed by Christ himself and so the Primitive custome the scrupulous person mentioned before in Eusebius is said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to stretch out his hand for the receiving of the sacred food So St. Cyprian speaking of persons lapsed who intruded to the Communion before they had performed those solemnities of penance which the Church required saith Plus modo in Dominum manibus et ore delinquunt quam cum Dominum negaverunt They did more heinously offend God with their hands reacht out to take and their mouthes open to devour those pretious symbols then they the Jews did with their tongues when they denyed him To the same purpose this father elsewhere very often so also Clemens Alexandrinus Augustine who not In tract of time some indiscreet persons pretending greater reverence to the mysteries as if they were defiled with their hands were at the cost to provide certain saucers or little plates of gold why not as well golden mouths and stomacks to receive it until they were forbidden by the sixth Councel in Trullo Another abuse the Church of Rome brought in where the Priest puts it into the peoples mouth least a crum should fall beside which favouring Transubstantiation is by our Church discontinued Kneeling The antients made it their study to adorn the blessed Eucharist with all the Appellations of honour they could devise some called it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. the perfection of perfections some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the dreadful mysteries some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the exemplar of high mysteries The table on which it was said was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the holy Table 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the mysticnl Table 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the terrible and dreadful Table much cost to slender purpose if after all it be now be discovered they were in the wrong and that this Sacrament hath nothing of that veneration nothing of that dreadfulness which they imputed to it and that it is so same and despicable an Ordinance as will admit of any negligent posture and that kneeling is too good for it Miserable infatuation Good God how well mayest thou say to those missed souls as Augustus to him who entertained him meanly I did not think you and I had been so familiar Blessed Jesus wert thou so gracious to us wretches as to leave and bequeath us this mystery of our eternal redemption and great charter of all thy benefits and shall we dare to receive it in any other then the lowest and humblest posture What is if this be not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not to disdiscern the Lords Body and what the consequence of that in distinction is let all them consider who would avoid it But it may be said that Kneeling was not the gesture of the Primitive Church Confest generally it was not because their fashion was upon Communion days to pray standing Nevertheless the communicant was enjoyned to receive those mysteries 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bowing himself after the manner of veneâ—ation and Adoration Now can Augustines words be otherwayes truly interpreted Nemo carnem illam manducat nisi prius adoraverit Let none presume to eat that flesh until he hath done his Obeysance Nor was this Oecumenical and universal practise for Sozomen tells a story of a woman which to please her husband comming to the Communion took the bread when the Priest gave it her and kneeling down as if it had been to secret prayer conveyed it away her maid then by privily stealing a peece of common bread into her hands which she eat instead of the other whence it appeareth that kneeling was not then interdicted A gesture used by the Protestants of Bohemia upon whose custo me mentioned in their Confession the French and Dutch Churches passed this judgement In hoc ritu suam cuique Ecclesiae libertatem salvam relinquendam arbitramur As to this ceremony we hold it fit that every Church be left to her own liberty A gesture which by Beza's own confession olim potuit cum fructis usurpari might in times past have been used with edification In time past why not now as well yea much rather when as the fear of reverting to Popish Idolatry is altogether vain so the danger of Apostatizing from Christ is very great and no way sooner occasioned then by a sitting posture it being observed by the Polish Church that the men who lapsed there into the Arrian haeresie were all such as addicted themselves to that posture at the Communion The body of our Lord c. If you take a view of the elder formes as they stand lateral to the Common prayer you may perceive this constituted by the coupling and uniting of the other two which were before unhappily divorced For the first form in the â— Book excluding the words commemorative of Christs death and passion which those divine Mysteries were ordered to represent as it is the precise formula of the Masse-book so might it be suspected as overserviceable to the Doctrine of Transubstantion to which the Romanists applied it Again in the next Book the Commemoration being let in and the body and blood of Christ shut out that real Presence which all sound Protestants seem to allow might probably be implied to be denied Excellently well done therefore was it of Q. Elizabeth her Reformers to link them both together for between the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist and the Sacramental commemoration of his passion there is so inseparable a league as subsist they cannot unlesse they
sin we have an advocate with the father Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the propiciation for our sins After which the Minister shall proceed saying Lift up your hearts Answer We life them up unto the Lord. Minister Let us give thanks unto our Lord God Answer It is meet and right so to do Minister It is very meet right and our bounden duty that we should at all times and in all places give 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 follow Therefore with angels c. Proper Prefaces Upon Christmas day and seven dayes after BEcause thou didest give Jesus Christ thine onely son to be born as this day for us who by the operation of the holy Ghost was made very man of the substance of virgin Mary his mother and that without spot of sin to make us clean from all sin Therefore with c. Upon Easter day and seven dayes after BUt thiefly are we bound to praise thee for the glorious resurrection of thy son Jesus Christ our Lord for he is the very Pascal Lamb which was offered for us and hath taken away the sin of the world who by his death hath destroyed death and by his rising to life again hath restored to us everlasting life Therefore with c. Upon the Ascention day and seven dayes after THrough thy most dearly beloved son Jesus Christ our Lord who after his most glorious resurrection manifestly appeared to all his Apostles and in their sight ascended up into heaven to prepare a place for us that where he is thither might we also ascend and reign with him in glory Therefore with angels c. Upon Whitsunday and six dayes after THrough Jesus Christ our Lord according to whose most true promise the holy ghost came down this day from heaven with a sodain great sound as it had been a mighty winde in the likenesse of fiery tongues lighting upon the apostles to teach them and to lead them to all truth giving them both the gift of divers languages and also boldnesse with servent zeal constantly to preach the Gospell unto all nations whereby we are brought out of darknesse and errour into clear light and true knowledge of thee and of thy son Jesus Christ. Therefore with c. Upon the Feast of Trinity onely IT is very meet right and our bounden duty that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to thee O Lord almighty and everlasting God which art one God one Lord not one onely person but three persons in one substance For that which we beleeve of the glory of the father the same we beleeve of the son and of the holy Ghost without any difference or inequality Therefore with c. After which prefaces shall follow immediately THerefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laude and magnifie thy glorious name evermore praysing 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 Then shall the Minister 1 B. of Edw. 6. turning himself to Gods boord kneel down and kneeling down at Gods boord say in the name of all them that shall receive the Communion this Scot. Lit. Collect of humble accesse to the holy Communion as followeth prayer following WE do not presume to come to this thy table O merciful Lord trusting in our own righteousnesse but in thy manifold and great mercies We be not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbes under thy table But thou art the same Lord whose property is alwayes to have mercy Grant us therefore gratious Lord so to eat the flesh of thy dear son Jesus Christ and to drink his blood that our sinfull bodies may be made clean by his body and our souls washed through his most precious blood and that we may evermore dwell in him and he in us Amen Common Prayer Scot. Lit. Then the Minister standing up shall say as followeth Then the Presbyter standing up shall say the prayer of consecration as followeth but then during the time of Consecration he shall stand at such a part of the holy Table where he may with the more ease and decency use both his hands ALmighty God our heavenly Father which of thy tender mercy didst give thine onely son Jesus Christ to suffer death upon the crosse for our Redemption who made there by his one oblation of himself once offered a full perfect and sufficient sacrifice oblation and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world and did institute and in his holy Gospel commandus to continue a perpetual memory of that his precious death until his coming again Hear us O merciful Father we beseech thee Scot. Lit. 1 B. of Edw. 6. And of thy almighty goodnesse vouchsafe so to blesse and sanctifie with thy word and holy Spirit these thy gifts and creatures of bread and wine that they may be unto us the body and blood of thy most dearly beloved Son so that we receiving them according c. And with thy holy spirit and word vouchsafe to blesse and sanctifie these thy creatures and gifts of bread and wine that they may be unto us the body and blood of thy most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ who in the same night that he was c. And grant that we receiving these thy creatures of bread and wine according to thy son our Saviour Jesus Christs holy institution in remembrance of his death and passion may be partakers of his most blessed body and blood who in the same night that he was betrayed took bread and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to his disciples saying K Take eat this is my body which is given for you do this in remembrance of me Likewise after supper he took the Cup and when he had given thanks he gave it to them saying Drink ye all of this for this is my blood of the new Testament which is shed for you and for many for remission of sinnes do this as â—â—t as you shall drink it in remembrance of me Scot. Lit. 1 B. of Edw. 6. At these words took bread that Presbyter that officiates is to take the patten in his hand Here the Priest must take the bread into his hands At these words took the cup he is to take the chalice in his hand and lay his hand upon so much be it in the chalice or slaggon as he intends to consecrate Here the Priest shall take the cup into his hands Scot. Lit. 1 B. of Edw. 6. Immediately after shall be said this memorial or Prayer of Oblation as followeth These words before rehearsed are to be said turning still to the Altar without any elevation or shewing the Sacrament to the people Wherefore O Lord and heavenly Father according to the institution of
Curate give this exhortation to those that be minded to receive the same The Common Prayer DEarly beloved in the Lord ye that minde to come to the holy communion of the body and blood of our Saviour Christ must consider what Saint Paul writeth to the Corinthians how he exhorteth all persons piligently to try and examine themselves before they presume 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 spiritually eat the flesh of Christ and drink his blood then we dwell in Christ and Christ in us we be one with Christ Christ with us so is the danger great if we receive the same unworthyly For then we be guilty of the body and blood of Christ our Saviour we eat and drink our own damnation not considering the Lords body we kindle Gods wrath against us we provoke him to plague us with divers diseases and sundry kindes of death Therefore if any of you be a blasphemer of God an hinderer or slanderer of his word an adulterer or be in malice or envie or in any other grievous crime bewail your sins and come not to this holy table lest after the taking of that holy Sacrament the divil enter into you as he entred into Judas and fil you ful of all iniquities and bring you to destruction both of body and soul. Judge therefore your selves brethren that ye be not judged of the Lord. Repent you truely for your sins past Have a lively and stedfast faith in Christ our Saviour Amend your lives and be in perfect charity with all men so shall ye be meet partakers of those holy mysteries And above all things ye must give most humble and hearty thanks to God the father the son and the holy ghost for the redemption of the world by the death and passion of our saviour Christ both God and man who did humble him self even to the death upon the crosse for us miserable sinners which lay in darknesse and shadow of death that he may make us the 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 onely saviour Jesu Christ thus dying for us and the innumerable benefits which by his pretious blood-sheding he hath obtained to us he hath instituted and ordained holy mysteries as pledges of his love and continual remembrance of his death to our great and endlesse comfort To him therefore with the Father and the holy Ghost let us give as we are most bounden continual thanks submitting our selves wholly to his holy will and pleasure and studying to serve him in true holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of our life Amen 1. B. of Edw. 6. In Cathedral Churches or other places where there is dayly Communion it shall be sufficient to read this exhortation above written once in a moneth And in parish Churches upon the week day it may be left unsaid Then so many as shall be partakers of the holy Communion shall tary still in the Quire or in some convenient place nigh the quire B the men on one side and the women on the other side All other that minde not to receive the said holy Communion shall depart out of the quire except the Ministers and Clerks Then shall the Minister take so much Bread and Wine as shall suffice for the persons appointed to receive the holy Communion laying the Bread upon the Corporas or else in the pattin or in some other comely thing prepared for that purpose And putting the wine into the Chalice or else in some fair convenient cup prepared for that use if the Chalice will not serve putting thereto C a little pure and clean water And setting both the Bread and Wine upon the Altar Then the Priest shall say The Lord be with you Answer And with thy Spirit Priest Lift up your hearts c. to the end of the Prefaces Common Prayer 1 B. of Edw. 6. Then shall the Minister say to them that come to receive the holy Communion Scot. Lit. this Invitation Here the Priest shall turn him towards those that come to receive the holy Communion and shall say YOU that do truely and earnestly repent you of your sins 1 B. of Edw. 6. to Almighty God and be in love and charity with your nieghbours and intend to lead a new life following the commandements of God and walking from henceforth in his holy wayes D Draw near and take this holy Sacrament to pour comfort make your humble confession to almighty God before this congregation here gathered together in his holy name meekly kneeling upon your knees E Then shall this general confession be made in the name of all those that are minded to receive the holy Communion Scot. Lit. by the Presbyter himself or the Deacon either by one of them Lit. of Q. Eliz. or else by one of the Ministers or by the Priest himself or else by the Minister himself Scot. Lit. both he and all the people all kneeling humbly upon their knees ALmighty God father of our Lord Jesus Christ maker of all things judge of all men we knowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickednesse 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 be heartily sorry for these our misooings the remembrance of them is grievous unto us the burden of them is intolerable have mercy upon us have mercy upon us most merciful father for thy son our Lord Jesus Christs sake forgive us all that is past and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please thee in newnesse of life to the honour and glory of thy name through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Then shall the Minister or the Bishop being present stand up and turning him self to the people Scot. Lit. pronounce the Absolution as followeth say thus ALmighty God our heavenly father who of his great mercy hath promised forgivnesse of sins to all them which with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto him have mercy upon you pardon and deliver you from all your sins confirm and strength you in all goodnesse and bring you to everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Then shall the Minister also say Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith to all that truely turn to him Come unto me all that travail and be heavie laden and I shall refresh you So God loved the world that he gave his onely begotten son to the end that all that beleeve in him should not perish but have life everlasting Hear also what saint Paul saith This is a true saying and worthy of all men to be received that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners Here also what saint John saith If any man
abused to superstition and wickednesse Least any such thing hereater should be attempted and that an uniformity might be used throughout the whole Realm it is thought convenient the people commonly receive the Sacrament of Christs body in their mouths at the Priests hands Annotations upon CHAP. VII A. The Eucharist whence derived 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 different things and had different formes B. Men and women sate separate one from another C. Mixing of water with wine Ancient The reasons for it D. Draw neer when to be said Chancels anciently peculiar to the Clergy The Emperor onely privileged Laique Communion what why Chancels allotted to the Clergy onely The people usulaly received at the Chancel door E. Confession why necessary before the Communion The Priests posture at the Altar standing and why F. Sursum corda Ancient G. So also the Responces H. Proper Prefaces I. Trisagium Ancient Two hymnes so called K. Consecration not performed by the words of Primitive Institution The sense of the Fathers The Ancient custom of saying Amen to the concecration 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what in Justin Martyr L. Remembrance of Christs Passion at the Eucharist ought to be as well by verbal commemoration as by mental meditation The ancient formes M. The bread anciently delivered into the Communicants hands N. Kneeling in the act of receiving commended sometime used in Antiquity where practised since the Reformation O. The various formes of delivering the Eelements That of our Church justly preferred before the rest P. The Scotch order for saying Amen by the party receiving commended Singing of Psalms during the Communicating ancient Q. The Roman order defective in the most proper Sacrafice R. The Angelical hymn Difference betwixt an hymn and a Psalm The hymn mis-placed in the Mâ—sse-Book Our order more consonant to Antiquitie The Councel of Carthage cleared S. The Benediction by whom to be given The custome of bowing at it T. The second service when to be read V. A Rubrick unhappily Omitted W. The remains of the Consecrated Elements how anciently disposed X. To Receive thrice in the yevr an ancient practice AND above all things c. That the holy Communion even in the Apostolical age was celebrated at the same both table and time when Christians met for their ordinary repast at meals hath been said before No part of that either spiritual or temporal food was received without some religious application to God relative and directed to the ends for which those Collations were prepared which application whither it concerned the creature destined for bodily or for Mystical refreshment consisted of either two prayers distinct or two distinct members of one prayer The first was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thanksgiving to God for those benefits The second 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Invocation of his blessing upon them To speak appositly to the matter in hand when this application related to the elements seperated for the holy Communion Thanksgiving was made to God the Father much to the same effect of this that is for the redemption of the world by the death and passion of our Saviour Jesus Christ c. And from this very use the Communion contracted the name of Eucharist and not as hitherto hath been commonly supposed from any words constituting Consecration Consecration of the Elements was made indeed with thanksgiving not by it by blessing it was performed by blessing joyned with thanksgiving in one continued form of prayer or by blessing concomitant with thanksgiving in two distinct formes Clear it is though I grant the words were anciently used in a promiscuous sense these two thanksgiving and blessing as distinct things have in Antiquity several designes and also several formes Justin Martyr describing the Eucharist or thanksgiving in his time saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lord hath commanded that Withal we should give thanks to God for the Creation of the world and all things therein for the benefit of man And for his delivering us from the misery wherein We were born and overthrowing principalities and powers with a total defeat by him that suffered according to his Counsel For farther illustration of this place you must know that though the Agapae were now for the cause afore specified antiquated in the Greek Church yet in regard the Collations were so very bountiful as the Communion accommodations served there remained fair dole for the poor the Antient form of thanksgiving used at their ordinary meales was in part retained viz. that by which special recognisance was made to God as the Creator Lord and giver of all things After this relating to the creatures deputed for charitable and common use followeth the thanksgiving for the benefits of Christs redemption and passion and as he elsewhere addeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For that God did deigne them the favour of those gifts of bread und wine To the very same purpose is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Clementine Constitutions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. we give thee hearty thanks O our Father for the life thou hast given us by thy Son Jesus Christ c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whom thou sentest to become man for our salvation c. so gradually proceeding through the whole economy of his Mediatorship it concludeth thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We further thank thee O our father for the precious blood of Jesus Christ shed for us and for his precious body The antitypes whereof we now celebrate he having commanded us to shew forth his death Thus have I made it evident whence the word Eucharist is derived and that this thanksgiving was anciently distinct from the consecrating or blessing of the elements whereof the several formes are also as easily to be produced but I shall supersede them for the present having occasion anon to declare them The men on one side and the women on the other side Such was the Primitive practise The Clementine Constitutions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let it be their care speaking of Deacons to see that the people sit on one side with all stilnesse and order and that the women sit apart by themselves Nor did they onely sit in places distinct but in reference to those places had distinct officers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let the door keepers attend upon the entrance of the men and the Diaconisses upon the entrance of the women A little pure and clean water So was the ancient practise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bread is brought forth and wine and water saith the ancient Father This was in opposition to two contrary Sects first the Armenians who held that it was onely lawful to use wine alone without water Secondly against the Hydroparastatae who officiated with water unmixt with wine The reason of this mixture was partly in imitation of our Saviours act in the first institution of the Eâ—charist agreeable to the custome of that hot climate which constantly used
consist A sacramental verity of Christs body and blood there cannot be without the Commemoration of his death and Passion because Christ never promised his mysterious yet real presence but in reference to such Commemoration Nor can there be a true Commemoration without the body and blood exhibited and participated because Christ gave not those visible Elements but his body and blood to make that spiritual representation Here the party receiving shall say Amen This order is a peece of Reformation where in the Church of Scotland stands single and alone I call it a peece of Reformation because it is the reviving of a very ancient custome The same is the direction in the Constitutions ascribed to the Apostles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let the Bishop give the Oblation of bread saying The body of Christ and let him that receiveth it say Amen Then the Deacon having the cup and delivering it let him say The blood of Christ the cup of salvation and let him that drinketh say Amen By St. Augustine it should seem to have been of general usage saying Universa Ecclesia accepto sanguine Chirsti dicit Amen The universal Church at the Receiving of the blood of Christ answereth Amen Thus you see upon what tearmes of conformity the Scotch service in this particular stands with the ancient practise Though I have neither rule nor text in any one of the Liturgies I discourse upon engageing me to it yet is it no extravant vagary here to take into consideration the general fashion used in our Church of imploying the Congregation in singing during the time of Communicating whither that time can be better transacted and laid out then in Psalmes sutable to the subject of those blessed Mysteries not falling under dispute must passe in the negative this being so the onely concernment to which I am obliged is to shew that the custome floweth from the prescript of Primitive tradition whereof the ancient Liturgies are evidence enough that especially exhibited in the Constitutions above mentioned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let the thirty third Psalm be said whilst the rest Communicate For the African practise speaks St Augustine Mos caeparat apud Carthagenem ut hymni ad Altare dicerentur de Psalmorum libro sive ante Oblationem sive cum distribueretur populo quod fuisset Oblatum Hunc morem Hilarius Laicus maledica reprehensione ubicunque poterat laterabat asserens fieri non oportere A custome was begun at Carthage that hymns out of Davids Psalms both before the Oblation and at the distribution of it should be sung This fashion one Hillary a lay-man wheresoever he could envied against affirming it ought not to be done And here we offer and present c. This high and eminent place looketh big upon all those false clamors that our service is extracted from the Masse challenging the Authors thereof to exhibit where it is to be found in the Canon of that Masse No to the utter shame of the Romish party our Church upbraideth them that whereas they contend so much for the propriety of the sacrifice of their Masse the whole Canon of that Masse hath not one syllable of this most proper sacrifice this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 indivisible Sacrifice of both bodies and souls a sacrifice enjoyned by Apostolical precept Romans 12. 1. and which did in the Primitive times constitute an illustrious part of the Eucharistical office Glory be to God on high Antiquity called this the Angelical hymn and in truth being Angelical it must be an hymn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Chrysostom Angels and the Celestial Quire send forth hymns they sing not Psalms And so Clemens Alexandrinus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 let hymns be onely the prayses of God the reason is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psalmes contain all things both Divine and Moral Hymns onely the praises of God Called it is the Angelical hymn because the first part thereof is the Nativity-Carol mentioned Luke 2. 13. sung by the Angels the rest was composed by Ecclesiastical Doctors some think St. Hillary and the fourth Councel of Toledo seemeth to imply as much But the Constitutions of Clemens perswade me it was of earlier entrance it being there compleatly the same with ours in all materials but disposed in two several Prayers and is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that morning-hymn as I suppose to which Epiphanius a great follower of Clemens relateth in a place formerly cited Part it was of the Missa Catechumenorum in the Masse-book but worthily translated into the Communion service by our discreet Reformers it being formerly mis-laid this being its proper ubi or place for two reasons First because it is an hymn To sing an hymn after the distribution of the Elements is conformity to the mode of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. thou seeâ—t that the last prayer after the Eucharist is celebrated is made in imitation of our Saviours practise Again it is a compound peece made up partly of Donology partly of Prayer and of Prayer addrest to Jesus Christ the Lamb of God now it is improper to apply our selves to Christ before the action of participation is past the reason is because the blessed Eucharist is a sacrifice wherein our Saviour Christ is considered as an immaculate Lamb offered upon the Altar to God the Father for the Remission of our sins And this I take to be the meaning of the third Counsel of Carthage decreeing ut nemo in precibus vel Patrem pro Filio vel Filium prâ— Patre nominet cum altari assistitur semper ad Patrem airigatur oratio That no man name the Father for the Son nor the Son for the Father in publick prayers and when any officiate at the altar viz. before distribution of the Elements that the prayer be alwayes directed to the Father For which I can assigne no other reason but because Christ is then the great sacrifice and the Father is the person to be appeased The Peace of God This benediction is a peculiar of the Bishops office if present because the lesse is blessed of the greater Hebr. 7. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The principal Priest dismisseth the people with his blessing After this pronounced the Deacon usually said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Go in peace when the people received it they bowed down their heads 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let the Bishop give the benediction the people bowing down their heads This gesture imports a kinde of adoration Eccles. 50. 23. The Jewes are said to bow down themselves to worship the Lord. So in the Primitive Church the Energumenj were commanded to bow their heads and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in that fashion to perform their bodily reverence Upon the holidayes if there be no Communion Anciently upon holy-dayes Communions were constant and consequently oblations wherefore Proclus saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Festival is the poor mans harvest because he
O praise the Lord all ye nations laud him all ye people for his merciful kindnesse is confirmed towards us and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever Glory be to the Father c. Lord have mercy upon us without any more repetition Omitted by Bucer Christ have mercy upon us  Lord have mercy upon us  The Priest Omitted by Bucer The Lord be with you  Answer  And with thy Spirit   Mm Common-prayer The Colect 1 B. of Edw. 6. Let us pray ALmighty everliving God maker of mankinde which doest correct those whom thou doest love and chastisest every one whom thou doest receive we beseech thee to have mercy upon this thy servant visited with thy hand and to 〈◊〉 he may take his sicknesse patiently and recover his bodily health if it be thy gratious will and whensoever his soul shall depart from the body it may without spot be presented unto thee through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The Epistle MY son despise not the correction of the Lord neither faint thou when thou art rebuked of him for whom the Lord loveth him he correcteth yea and he scourgeth every son whom he receiveth The Gospel VErily verily I say unto you he that heareth my word and beleeveth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come unto damnation but he passeth from death unto life 1 B. of Edw. 6. The Preface The Lord be with you Answer And with thy spirit Lift up your hearts c. unto the end of the Canon Common-Prayer At the time of the distribution of the holy Sacrament the Priest shall first receive the Communion himself and after minister to them that be appointed to communicate with the sick 1 B. of Edw. 6. if there be any and then to the sick person and the sick person shall alwayes desire some either of his own house or else of his neighbours to receive the holy Communion with him for that shall be to him a singular great comfort and of their part a great token of charity And if there be moe sick persons to be visited the same day that the Curate doth celebrate in any sick mans house then shall the Curate there reserve so much of the Sacrament of the Body and blood as shall serve the other sick persons and such as be appointed to Communicate with them if there be any And shall immediatly carry it and minister it unto them But if any man either by reason of extremity of sicknese or for lack of warning in due time to the X Curate or for lack of company to receive with him or by any other just impediment do not receive the Sacrament of Christs body and blood then the Curate shall instruct him that if he do truely repent him of his sins and stedfastly beleeve that Jesus Christ hath suffered death upon the crosse for him and shed his blood for his redemption earnestly remembring the benefits he hath thereby and giving him hearty thanks therefore he doth eat and drink the body and blood of our Saviour Christ profitable to his souls health although he do not receive the Sacrament with his mouth Common Prayer 1 B. of Edw. 6. When the sick person is visited and receiveth the holy Communion all at one time then the Minister for more expidition shall cut of the form of the visitation at the Psalm In thee O Lord have I put my trust and go streight to the Communion When the sick person is visited and receiveth the holy Communion all at one time then the Priest for more expedition shall use this order at the visitation The Anthem Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Our Father which art in heaven c. And lead us not into temptation Answer But deliver us from evil Amen Let us pray O Lord Look down from heaven c. With the first part of the exhortation and all other things unto the Psalm In thee O Lord have I put my trust c. And if the sick person desire to be anointed then shall the Priest use the appointed prayer without any Psalm Common Prayer In the time of plage sweat or such other like contagious times of sicknesses or diseases when none of the Parish or neighbors can be gotten to Communicate with the sick in their houses for â—eaâ— of the infection upon special request of the diseased the Minister may aloâ—â— Communicate with him The order for the burial of the dead Y The Minister meeting the Corps at the Church stile shall say Or else the Ministers and Clarks shall sing And so go either unto the Church or toward the grave Z I Am the resurrection and the life saith the Lord He that beleeveth in me yea though he were dead yet shall he live And whosoever liveth and beleeveth in me shall not die for ever I Know that my redeemer liveth and that I shall rise out of the â—arth in the last day and shall be covered again with my skin 〈◊〉 shall see God in my flesh yea and I my self shall be hold him not with other but with these same eyes WE brought nothing into this world neither may we carry anything out of this world The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away Even as it pleaseth the Lord so cometh things to passe Blessed he the name of the Lord. When they come at the grave whiles the corps is made ready to be laid into the earth the Minister shall say or the Minister and Clerks shall sing MAn that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live and is full of misesery he cometh up and is cut down like a flour He fleeth as it were a shadow and never continueth in one stay In the midst of life we be in death Of whom may we seek for succor but of thee O Lord which for our sins justly are displeased Yet O Lord God most holy O Lord most mighty O holy and most merciful Saviour deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death Thou knowest Lord the secrets of our hearts shut not up thy merciful eyes to our prayers But spare us Lord most holy O God most mighty O holy and merciful Saviour thou most worthy Judge eternal suffer us not at our last hour for any pains of death to fall from thee Common Prayer 1 B. of Edw. 6. Then while the earth shall be cast upon the body by some standing by the Minister shall say Then the Priest casting earth upon the Corps shall say Forasmuch as it hath pleased almighty God of his great mercy to take unto himselfthe soulof our dear brother here departed we therefore commit his body to the ground earth to earth ashes to ashes dust to dust Z in sure and certain hope of resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile Body that it may be like to his glorious Body according to the
and blood spiritually to feed and drink upon The which Sacrament being so divine and holy a thing and so comfortable to them which receive it worthily and so dangerous to them that will presume to take the same unworthily my duty is to exhort you in the mean season to consider the greatness of the thing and to search and examine your own consciences and that not lightly nor after the manner of dissemblers with God But as they which should come to a most godly and heavenly banket not to come but in the marriage garment required of God in Scripture that you may so much as lieth in you be found worthy to come to such a table The waies and means thereto is First that you be truely repentant of your former evil life and that you confess with an unfained heart to almighty God your sins and unkindness towards his Majesty committed either by will word or deed infirmity or ignorance and that with inward sorrow and teares you bewaile your offences and require of Almighty God mercy and pardon promising to him from the bottom of your hearts the amendment of your former life And amongst all others I am commanded of God especially to move and exhort you to reconcile your selves to your neighbours whom you have offended or who hath offended you putting out of your hearts all hatred and malice against them and to be in love and charity with all the world and to forgive other as you would that God should forgive you And if there be any of you whose conscience is troubled and grieved in any thing lacking comfort or counsel let him come to me or some other discreet and learned Priest taught in the Law of God and confess and open his sinne and grief secretly that he may receive such ghostly counsel advise and comfort that his conscience may be relieved and that of us as a Minister of God and of the Church he may receive comfort and absolution to the satisfaction of his mind and avoiding of all scruple and doubtfulness requiring such as shall be satisfied with a general confession not to be offended with them that doth use to their further satisfying the auricular and secret confession to the Priest nor those also which think needful or convenient for the quietness of their own consciences particularly to open their sinnes to the Priest to be offended with them which are satisfied with their humble confession to God and the general confession to the Church But in all these things to follow and keep the rule of Charity and every man to be satisfied with his own conscience not judging other mens minds or acts whereas he hath no warrant of Gods Word for the same The time of Communion shall be immediatly after that the Priest him self hath received the Sacrament without the varying of any other rite or ceremony in the Masse until other order shall be provided but as heretofore usually the Priest hath done with the Sacrament of the body to prepare less and consecrate so much as will serve the people so it shall yet continue still after the same manner and form save that he shall bless and consecrate the biggest Chalice or some fair and convenient cup or cups full of wine with some water put unto it And that day not drink it all up himself but taking one onely sup or draught leave the rest upon the Altar covered and turn to them that are disposed to be partakers of the Communion and shall thus exhort them as followeth Dearly beloved in the Lord ye comming to this holy Communion must consider what S. Paul writeth to the Corinthians how he exhorteth all persons diligently to trie and examine themselves or ever they presume to eate of this bread and drink of this cup for as the benefit is great if with a truly penitent heart and lively faith we receive this holy Sacrament for then we spiritually eate the flesh of Christ and drink his bloud Then we dwell in Christ and Christ in us we be made one with Christ and Christ with us So is the danger great if we receive the same unworthily for then we become guiltie of the body and blood of Christ our Saviour we eat and drink our own damnation because we make no difference of the Lords body we kindle Gods wrath over us we provoke him to plague us with divers diseases and sundry kindes of death Judge therefore your selves brethren that ye be not judged of the Lord. Let your minde be without desire to sinne Repent you truly for your sinnes past have an earnest and lively Faith in Christ our Saviour be in perfect Charity with all men so shall ye be meet partakers of these holy Mysteries But above all things you must give most humble and hearty thanks to God the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost for the Redemption of the world by the death and passion of our Saviour Jesus Christ both God and man who did humble himself even to the death upon the Cross for us miserable sinners lying in darkness and the shadow of death that he might make us the children of God and exalt us to everlasting life And to the end that we alway should remember the exceeding love of our Master and Saviour Jesus Christ thus doing for us and the innumerable benefits which by his precious blood shedding he hath obtained to us he hath left in these holy Mysteries as a pledg of his love and a continual remembrance of the same his own blessed body and precious blood for us spiritually to feed upon to our endless comfort and consolation To him therefore with the Father and the Holy Ghost let us give as we are bound continually thanks submitting our selves wholly to his holy will and pleasure and studying to serve him in true holiness and righteousness all the daies of our life Amen Then the Priest shall say to them that be ready to take the Sacrament If any man here be an open Blaspemer Advouterer in malice or envy or any other notable crime and be not truly sorry therefore and earnestly minded to leave the same vices or that doth not trust himself to be reconciled to Almighty God and in charity with all the world let him yet a while bewail his sinnes and not yet come to this holy Table least after the taking of this most blessed bread the Devil enter into him as he did into Judas to fulfill in him all iniquity and to bring him to destruction both of body and soul. Here the Priest shall pause a while to see if any man will withdraw himself and if he perceive any so to do then let him commune with him privily at convenient leasure and see whether he can with good exhortation bring him to grace and after a little pause the Priest shall say You that do truly and earnestly repent you of your sinnes and offences committed to Almighty God and be in love and charity with your neighbours and intend