purpose of amendment of life. And if ye shall perceive your offences to be such as are not only against God, but also against your neighbours; then ye shall reconcile yourselves unto them; being ready to make restitution and satisfaction, according to the uttermost of your powers, for all injuries and wrongs done by you to any other; and being likewise ready to forgive others that have offended you, as ye would have forgiveness of your offences at God's hand: for otherwise the receiving of the holy Communion doth nothing else but increase your damnation. Therefore if any of you be a blasphemer of God, an hinderer or slanderer of his Word, an adulterer, or be in malice, or envy, or in any other grievous crime, repent you of your sins, or else come not to that holy Table; lest, after the taking of that holy Sacrament, the devil enter into you, as he entered into Judas, and fill you full of all iniquities, and bring you to destruction both of body and soul.

And because it is requisite, that no man should come to the holy Communion, but with a full trust in God's mercy, and with a quiet conscience; therefore if there be any of you, who by this means cannot quiet his own conscience herein, but requireth further comfort or counsel, let him come to me, or to some other discreet and learned Minister of God's Word, and open his grief; that by the ministry of God's holy Word he may receive the benefit of absolution, together with ghostly counsel and advice, to the quieting of his conscience, and avoiding of all scruple and doubtfulness.

113. Was there any such exhortation as this in the ancient Church?

No; there was no necessity for it. The daily, or at least weekly Communions, at which every one not under censure was expected to communicate, shew that there was then no solemn assembly without the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

114. To whom does the priest purpose to administer the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ?

To all such as are religiously and devoutly disposed. "Turn ye even unto me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning, and rend your hearts and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God." (Joel ii. 12, 13.)

115. In remembrance of what are they invited to receive the Sacrament?

In remembrance of Christ's meritorious Cross and Passion. "This do in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew forth the Lord's death till he come." (1 Cor. xi. 24. 26.)

116. What benefits do we obtain through Christ's death?

Remission of sins, and are made partakers of the kingdom of heaven. "By him all that believe are justified from all things, from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses."

(Acts xiii. 39.) "Being now justified through his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." (Rom. v. 9.)

117. For what are we to render hearty thanks to Almighty God?

For that He hath given his Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, not only to die for our sins, but also to be our spiritual food and sustenance in that holy Sacrament. "Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day; for my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed." (John vi. 54, 55.)

118. To whom is the holy Sacrament a comfort?

To those who receive it worthily. "Rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." (1 Pet. iv. 13.)

119. To whom is the holy Sacrament dangerous?

To those that receive it unworthily. "He that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not considering the Lord's body." (1 Cor. xi. 29.)

120. What ought those to do who desire to be worthy partakers of the holy Table ?

"Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup." (1 Cor. xi. 28.)

121. By what rule ought men to examine their lives and conversations?

By the rule of God's commandments. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Tim. iii. 16, 17.)

122. If, upon examination, a man find that he has offended against God, what should he do?

Confess his faults, with full purpose of amendment.

"I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and thou forgavest me the iniquity of my sin." (Ps. xxxii. 3.)

123. If he perceive that he has not only offended against God, but also against his neighbour, how should he act?

"If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way: first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." (Matt. v. 23. 26.)

124. Should the blasphemer, the slanderer, the adulterer, or those who are guilty of any grievous crime, come to the holy Table?

No; "Repent, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out." (Acts iii. 19.)

125. If a man cannot quiet his own conscience, but requireth further counsel, to whom should he go?

To the minister of God's Word. "The Lord hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary." (Isa. 1. 4.)

126. What benefits may he receive from the ministry of God's holy Word?

The benefits of absolution, together with ghostly counsel and advice. "Whose soever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them, and whose soever sins ye retain they are retained." (John xx. 22, 23.) "Comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient towards all men." (1 Thess. v. 14.)

127. Repeat the Exhortation which the minister is to use when he shall see the people negligent to come to the holy Communion.

But

DEARLY beloved brethren, on I intend, by God's grace, to celebrate the Lord's Supper: unto which, in God's behalf, I bid you all that are here present; and beseech you, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, that ye will not refuse to come thereto, being so lovingly called and bidden by God himself. Ye know how grievous and unkind a thing it is, when a man hath prepared a rich feast, decked his table with all kind of provision, so that there lacketh nothing but the guests to sit down; and yet they who are called (without any cause) most unthankfully refuse to come. Which of you in such a case would not be moved? Who would not think a great injury and wrong done unto him? Wherefore, most dearly beloved in Christ, take ye good heed, lest ye, withdrawing yourselves from this holy Supper, provoke God's indignation against you. It is an easy matter for a man to say, I will not communicate, because I am otherwise hindered with worldly business. such excuses are not so easily accepted and allowed before God. If any man say, I am a grievous sinner, and therefore am afraid to come: wherefore then do ye not repent and amend? When God calleth you, are ye not ashamed to say ye will not come? When ye should return to God, will ye excuse yourselves, and say ye are not ready? Consider earnestly with yourselves how little such feigned excuses will avail before God. They that refused the feast in the Gospel, because they had bought a farm, or would try their yokes of oxen, or because they were married, were not so excused, but counted unworthy of the heavenly feast. I, for my part, shall be ready; and, according to mine Office, I bid you in the Name of God, I call you in Christ's behalf, I exhort you, as ye 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 Cross for your salvation; so it is your duty to receive the Communion in remembrance of the sacrifice of his death, as he himself hath commanded: which if ye shall neglect to do, consider with yourselves how great injury ye do unto God, and how sore punishment hangeth over your heads for the same; when ye wilfully abstain from the Lord's Table, and separate from your brethren, who come to

feed on the banquet of that most heavenly food. These things if ye earnestly consider, 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.

128. After the minister has made known the day upon which the Lord's Supper will be celebrated, whom does he invite to the feast?

He invites all that are present. "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat." (Isa. lv. 1.)

129. What do those who withdraw themselves from the Lord's table provoke?

God's wrath and indignation against them. "If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." (Heb. x. 38.)

130. Are the excuses which men generally make for not communicating, allowed before God?

No; "the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent." (Acts xvii. 30.)

131. How were those treated who refused to come to the feast mentioned in the Gospel?

They were considered unworthy of the heavenly feast. "None of those men that were bidden shall taste of my supper." (Luke xiv. 24.)

132. In remembrance of what ought we to receive the Communion?

In remembrance of the sacrifice of Christ's death. "The Lord Jesus the same night that he was betrayed took bread; and when he had given thanks he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me." (1 Cor. xi. 23, 24.)

133. What hangs over the heads of those who wilfully abstain from the Lord's table?

A sore punishment. "He that despised Moses' law died without mercy before two or three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the covenant wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite to the Spirit of grace?" (Heb. x. 28, 29.)

134. If we earnestly consider these things, to what shall we by God's grace return?

To a better frame of mind. "Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord." (Lam. iii. 40.)

135. How does the minister promise to help forward this conversion?

By making humble petitions to Almighty God. "Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you." (1 Sam. xii. 23.)

136. At the time of the celebration of the Communion, the communicants being conveniently placed for the receiving of the holy Sacrament, what shall the priest say?

DEARLY beloved in the Lord, ye that mind to come to the holy Communion of the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ, must consider how St. Paul exhorteth all persons diligently 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 are one with Christ, and Christ with us ;) so is the danger great, if we receive the same unworthily. For then we are guilty of the Body and Blood of Christ our Saviour; we eat and drink our own damnation, not considering the Lord's body; we kindle God's wrath against us; we provoke him to plague us with divers diseases, and sundry kinds of death. Judge therefore yourselves, brethren, that ye be not judged of the Lord; repent you truly 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 himself, even to the death upon the Cross, for us, miserable sinners, who lay 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 should alway remember the exceeding great love of our Master, and only Saviour, Jesus Christ, thus dying for us, and the innumerable benefits which by his precious blood-shedding he hath obtained he hath instituted 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 Ghost, let us give (as we are most bounden) continual thanks; submitting ourselves wholly to his holy will and pleasure, and studying to serve him in true holiness and righteousness all the days of our life. Amen.

to us;

137. Repeat the exhortation which St. Paul makes to those who partake of the communion of the body of Christ.

"Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup." (1 Cor. xi. 28.)

138. What benefit shall we enjoy, if with a true penitent heart, and lively faith, we receive the holy Sacrament?

We spiritually eat the flesh of Christ, and drink his blood. "Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day." (John vi. 54.)

139. What is the consequence of receiving unworthily?

"He that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.” (1 Cor. xi. 29.)