of bread and wine, according to thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ's holy institution, in remembrance of his death and passion, may be partakers of his most blessed Body and Blood:

(a) Here the Priest is to take the Paten into his hands.

(b) And here to break the Bread:

(c) And here to lay his hand upon all the Bread.

(d) Here he is to take the Cup into his hand:

who, in the same night that he was betrayed (a) took Bread; and, when he had given thanks, (b) he brake it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take, eat, (c) this is my Body which is given for you; Do this in remembrance of me. Likewise after supper he (d) took the Cup; and, when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of this; for this (e) is my Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins: Do this, as oft as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me. Amen.

(e) And here to lay his hand upon every vessel (be it Chalice or Flagon) in which there is any Wine to be consecrated.

226. For what did Almighty God give his only Son?

For our redemption. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John iii. 16.)

227. What did Christ make by his one oblation of Himself?

A full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction, for the sins of the whole world. "He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for our's only, but for the sins of the whole world." (1 John ii. 2.)

228. Shew that he commanded us to continue a perpetual memory of his precious death until his coming again.

"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. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come." (1 Cor. xi. 23-26.)

229. When we receive the bread and wine, what do we pray to be partakers of?

Of his most blessed body and blood.

230. How are we authorized to expect this?

We earnestly desire to be partakers in our Saviour, and in this manner He hath chosen to communicate Himself. Therefore we may cheerfully request, that by receiving this bread and wine which He hath chosen, we may become partakers of his most blessed body and blood. St. Paul assures us, that the bread thus blessed is the communion or communication of Christ's body. There needs no real

change in the substance of elements; for this participation is not by sense, but by faith.

231. Upon what night was the Sacrament instituted?

232. What did Christ do before He brake the bread?

233. What did He call the bread when he gave it to his disciples ?

234. In remembrance of whom were they to take it?

235. How many did He command to take the cup? 236. For what was Christ's blood shed?

237. Repeat the next Rubric.

Then shall the Minister first receive the Communion in both kinds himself, and then proceed to deliver the same to the Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, in like manner, (if any be present,) and after that to the people also in order, into their hands, all meekly kneeling. And, when he delivereth the Bread to any one, he shall say,

238. Does the custom of delivering the sacramental bread and wine to the bishops, priests, and deacons, first, and after that to the people, accord with the ancient practice?

Yes; it was formerly the custom for the clergy to communicate within the rails of the altar, and before the Sacrament was delivered to the people.

239. Why is it ordered that the elements shall be put into the hands of the people?

When the bread and wine was believed by the Roman Catholics to be the actual body and blood of Christ, a wafer was substituted for bread, and that was put into the mouth of the communicant, that no particle of what they believed to be the body of Christ should be lost. And, lest what they believe to be his real blood should be spilt, the cup was totally taken away from the people. At the Reformation the primitive practice was restored, and the communion in both kinds delivered into the hands of the people.

240. What does the priest say when he delivers the bread to any one?

THE Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life. Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for thee, and feed on him in thy heart by faith with thanksgiving.

241. What does Archdeacon Yardley say concerning the distribution of the elements?

"After the consecration of the elements, immediately follow the distribution of them: they still continue in their natural substances of bread and wine, though they are changed as to their virtue and efficacy into the sacramental body and blood of Christ."

242. What is the bread termed ?

The body of our Lord Jesus Christ. "For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life to the world." (John vi. 33.)

243. What does the priest pray may be the effect of receiving it?

That it may preserve the body and soul of the receiver unto everlasting life. "If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread that I give is my flesh, which I will give for the sins of the world." (John vi. 51.)

244. What are we exhorted to remember when we take and eat?

That Christ died for us. "Do this in remembrance of me." (1 Cor. xi. 24.)

245. How are we to feed upon Him? By faith, with thanksgiving. "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith." (Eph. iii. 17.) "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light." (Col. i. 12.)

246. What does the minister that delivereth the cup say?

THE Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life. Drink this in remembrance that Christ's Blood was shed for thee, and be thankful.

247. What effect does the minister pray may result from receiving the cup?

That the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ may preserve the body and soul of the receiver to everlasting life. "Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life." (John vi. 54.)

248. How ought we to feel when we drink the cup in remembrance that Christ's blood was shed for us?

We ought to feel thankful. "What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord." (1 Thess. v. 23.)

249. Repeat the next Rubric.

If the consecrated Bread or Wine be all spent before all have communicated, the Priest is to consecrate more, according to the Form before prescribed; beginning at [Our Saviour Christ in the same night, &c.] for the blessing of the Bread; and at [Likewise after Supper, &c.] for the blessing of the Cup.

250. When all have communicated, how does the service proceed?

When all have communicated, the Minister shall return to the Lord's Table, and reverently place upon it what remaineth of the consecrated Elements, covering the same with a fair linen cloth.

¶ Then shall the Priest say the Lord's Prayer, the people repeating after him every Petition.

251. What is that part of the service which now follows called? It is called the Post-communion, because it comes after the receiving the Communion.

252. Is it proper to use the Lord's Prayer in this place?

Yes; our Saviour concluded this feast with prayers and hymns, and all Churches have followed his example. And if we rise not

from our common meals without prayer and thanksgiving, surely we must more solemnly use them before we depart from the Lord's Table.

253. Repeat the prayer in the Post-communion that follows first after the Lord's Prayer.

After shall be said as followeth.

O LORD and heavenly Father, we thy humble servants entirely desire thy fatherly goodness mercifully to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; most humbly beseeching thee to grant, that by the merits and death of thy Son Jesus Christ, and through faith in his blood, we and all thy whole Church may obtain remission of our sins, and all other benefits of his passion. And here we offer and present unto thee, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and lively sacrifice unto thee; humbly beseeching thee, that all we, who are partakers of this holy Communion, may be fulfilled with thy grace and heavenly benediction. And although we be unworthy, through our manifold sins, to offer unto thee any sacrifice, yet we beseech thee to accept this our bounden duty and service; not weighing our merits, but pardoning our offences, through Jesus Christ our Lord; by whom, and with whom, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, all honour and glory be unto thee, O Father Almighty, world without end. Amen.

254. What do we pray our heavenly Father to accept? Our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. 66 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." (Heb. xiii. 15.)

255. What do we pray that we, and all the whole Church, may obtain through the merits of Christ? "And

Remission of our sins, and all other benefits of his passion. you that were sometime alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy, and unblameable, and unreproveable in his sight." (Col. i. 21, 22.)

256. What do we offer ourselves to be?

A reasonable, holy, and lively sacrifice unto God. "I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." (Rom. xii. 1.)

257. With what do we beseech God to fill us?

With his grace and heavenly benediction. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." (Eph. i. 3.)

258. What renders us unworthy to offer any sacrifice to God? Our manifold sins. "There is not a just man upon earth that doeth good, and sinneth not." (Eccl. vii. 20.)

259. What do we term this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving which we have now made?

Our bounden duty and service. "When ye shall have done all

those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done all that which was our duty to do." (Luke xvii. 10.)

260. Why do we beseech God not to weigh our merits ?

Because we have none. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Rom. iii. 23.)

261. Through whom do we pray our offences may be pardoned? Through Jesus Christ our Lord. "For he is the propitiation for our sins, and not for our's only, but for the sins of the whole world." (1 John ii. 2.)

262. To whom do we, at the conclusion of this prayer, ascribe honour and glory?

To the holy Trinity, from every person whereof we have now received peculiar testimonies of grace and favour.

263. Repeat the second prayer in the Post-communion.

2. T

ALMIGHTY and everliving God, we most heartily thank thee, for that thou dost vouchsafe to feed us, who have duly received these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ; and dost assure us thereby of thy favour and goodness towards us; and that we are very members incorporate in the mystical body of thy Son, which is the blessed company of all faithful people; and are also heirs through hope of thy everlasting kingdom, by the merits of the most precious death and passion of thy dear Son. And we most humbly beseech thee, O heavenly Father, so to assist us with thy grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all such good works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

264. For what do we heartily thank God?

That He hath vouchsafed to feed us with the spiritual food of the most precious body and blood of his Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. "The precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." (1 Pet. i. 19.)

265. Of what does God assure us by the sacrifice of his Son?

Of his favour and goodness towards us. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John xv. 13.)

266. In what are those who receive the sacrament worthily members incorporate?

In the mystical body of Christ, which is the blessed company of all faithful people. "For as we have many members in one body, so we, being many, are one body in Christ." (Rom. xii. 4, 5.)

267. Of what are we heirs through hope?

Of his everlasting kingdom. "That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus iii. 7.)