185. Why is it introduced here?

Because it is most proper for this most blessed Sacrament, that as every person in the Trinity concurred for our redemption, so every one may be adored in the memorial thereof.

186. Repeat that part of the Book of the Revelation of St. John, where the redeemed are represented singing with the angels the praises of God.

"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders, and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, Amen. Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen." (Rev. vii. 9 -12.)

187. What are the words of the Seraphic Hymn heard by the prophet Isaiah?

"Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory." (Isa. vi. 3.)

188. What are the Proper Prefaces?

They are to be used on or after particular festivals in the year; it being thought right that those who did communicate on those festivals should, at the Lord's Table, make a special memorial of the mercy proper to that day.

189. Repeat the Proper Preface for Christmas-day, and seven days after.

Upon Christmas-day, and seven days after.

BECAUSE thou didst give Jesus Christ thine only Son to be born as at this time for us; who, by the operation of the Holy Ghost, was made very man of the substance of the Virgin Mary his mother; and that without spot of sin, to make us clean from all sin. Therefore with Angels, &c.

190. Shew that Christ was at this time born for us.

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke ii. 11.)

191. Shew that He was very man of the substance of the Virgin Mary his mother.

"She brought forth her first-born Son: and called his name Jesus." (Matt. i. 25.) "The man Jesus Christ." (1 Tim. ii. 5.) 192. Shew that He was without spot of sin.

"Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth." (1 Pet. ii. 22.)

193. For what purpose did He come into the world?

To make us clean from all sin. "That we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Cor. v. 21.)

194. Repeat the Proper Preface for Easter-day.

Upon Easter-day, and seven days after.

BUT chiefly are we bound to praise thee for the glorious Resurrection of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord: for he is the very Paschal 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 Angels, &c.

195. What term is here applied to Christ?

The Paschal Lamb.

Where do we find the account of the Paschal Lamb?

In Exodus xii.

196. What has Christ taken away?

"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (John i. 29.)

197. What has He destroyed by his death?

He has destroyed death. "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. xv. 55. 57.)

198. What has He restored to us by his rising again?

He has restored to us everlasting life.

"Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." (Rom. iv. 25.)

199. Repeat the Proper Preface for Ascension-day.

Upon Ascension-day, and seven days 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 we might also ascend, and reign with him in glory. Therefore with Angels, &c.

200. What did Christ do after his most glorious resurrection?

He manifestly appeared to all his apostles, and in their sight ascended into heaven. "He led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them: and it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven." (Luke xxiv. 50, 51.)

201. Why has He ascended into heaven?

That where He is, thither we might ascend also. "I go to prepare a place for you: I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am there ye may be also." (John xiv. 2, 3.)

202. Did He ascend for any other purpose?

That we might reign with Him in glory, and "sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Luke xxii. 30.)

203. Repeat the Proper Preface for Whit-Sunday and six days after.

Upon Whit-Sunday, and six days after.

THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord; according to whose most true promise, the Holy Ghost came down as at this time from

heaven with a sudden great sound, as it had been a mighty wind, in the likeness 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 boldness with fervent zeal constantly to preach the Gospel unto all nations; whereby we have been brought out of darkness and error into the clear light and true knowledge of thee, and of thy Son Jesus Christ. Therefore with Angels, &c.

204. Prove that Jesus Christ promised to send the Holy Ghost upon his apostles.

"I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth." (John xiv. 16, 17.)

205. Describe the manner of his descent upon the apostles. "When the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place, and suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues, like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts ii. 1, 2, 3, 4.)

206. To what was the Holy Spirit to teach them and lead them?

To all truth. "When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, you into all truth." (John xvi. 13.)

207. What was given them by the same Spirit?

he shall guide

The gift of divers languages, and also boldness to preach the Gospel to all nations. "Yes, verily their sound went out into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world." (Rom. x. 18.)

208. What has been the consequence to us?

We have been brought out of darkness and error into the clear light and knowledge of God, and of his Son. "God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Cor. iv. 6.)

209. Repeat the Proper Preface for the Feast of Trinity.

Upon the Feast of Trinity only.

WHO art one God, one Lord; not one only Person, but three Persons in one Substance. For that which we believe of the glory of the Father, the same we believe of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, without any difference or inequality. Therefore with Angels, &c.

210. What confession do we here make?

We confess that we believe in the Holy Trinity.

211. Shew that there is one God, and one Lord.

"There is one God, and there is none other but he." (Mark xii. 23.) "The Lord our God is one Lord." (Deut. vi. 4.)

212. Shew that the three Persons in the Trinity are not only one Person, but three Persons in one substance.

"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one." (1 John v. 7.) 213. What difference or inequality do we make between the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost?

None; for that which we believe of the Father, the same we believe of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Thus, for instance, they are all true :

"He that sent me (i. e. the Father) is true." (John vii. 2.)

"These things saith he that is true" (i. e. the Son). (Rev. iii. 7.) "The Spirit (i.e. the Holy Ghost) is truth." (1 John v. 6.) Again, they are all called life :

"That thou mayest love the Lord thy God (i. e. the Father), for he is thy life." (Deut. xxx. 20.)

"When Christ (i. e. the Son), who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Col. iii. 4.) Again, they are all God :

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Eph. i. 3.)

"God was manifest in the flesh" (i.e. the Son is God). (1 Tim. iii. 16.)

"Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God" (i. e. the Holy Ghost is the same as God). (Acts v. 3, 4.)

214. What is to be sung or said after each of the Proper Prefaces?

The Seraphic Hymn before mentioned, because it contains the Eucharist, or giving of thanks and praise, and so does that which our Lord did before the distribution and reception of the bread and wine; and therefore the Church would by no means have it neglected.

215. What is the next part of the service?

Then shall the Priest, kneeling down at the Lord's Table, say in the name of all them that shall receive the Communion this Prayer following.

WE do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table. But thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy: Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that our sinful 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.

216. In what must we not trust when we come to the Lord's Table?

In our own righteousness. "The publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner." (Luke xviii. 13.)

217. In what ought we to rely?

In God's mercy.

"For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee." (Ps. lxxxvi. 5.)

218. What are we not worthy to do?

To gather up the crumbs under the Lord's Table. "I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies." (Gen. xxxii. 10.)

219. What is God's property?

Always to have mercy. "His mercy endureth for ever." (Ps. cxxxvi. 1.)

220. What effect do we pray the eating of the flesh of Christ, and the drinking his blood, may have upon us?

That our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood. "Ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Cor. vi. 11.)

221. How do we pray we may evermore dwell?

In Him, and He in us. "He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him." (John vi. 56.) 222. Repeat the next Rubric.

When the Priest, standing before the Table, hath so ordered the Bread and Wine, that he may with the more readiness and decency break the Bread before the people, and take the Cup into his hands, he shall say the Prayer of Consecration, as followeth.

223. Why is the Prayer of Consecration used?

As we do not eat our common food without first praying for a blessing on it, how much more then are we obliged before we eat and drink this bread and wine, by which Christ designed to set forth the mystery of his death, to consecrate it, and set it apart by a solemn prayer.

224. Has such a form been always used?

Yes; all Churches in the world, from the apostles' days, have used such a form, the essential part of which is the words of our Saviour's institution.

225. Repeat the Prayer of Consecration.

ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who of thy tender mercy didst give thine only Son Jesus Christ to suffer death upon the Cross 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 command us to continue, a perpetual memory of that his precious death, until his coming again; Hear us, O merciful Father, we most humbly beseech thee; and grant that we receiving these thy creatures