(O my God and Saviour! may I ever manifest my love and gratitude to thee, by acts of beneficence and kindness to my fellow men.)

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. Tob. iv. 7.

(Grant me, O Lord, a lively compassion for the miseries of others, that thou mayest finally have compassion on me.)

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. Tob. iv. 8, 9.

(I thank thee, O God, that thou dost not judge or reward according to the greatness of the gift, but according to the disposition and ability of the giver. And after all, thy rewards infinitely exceed the merits of our most exalted acts of virtue.)

He that hath pity upon the poor, lendeth to the Lord and look, what he layeth out, it shall be paid him again. Prov. xix. 17.

(Blessed be thy name, O God, that thou dost vouchsafe to regard my beneficence

selves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may attain eternal life. 1 Tim. vi. 17, 18, 19.

(If thou hast given me riches, O God, grant me grace to employ them in works of beneficence and mercy, that thus they may be instrumental in advancing my eternal felicity.)

God is not unrighteous, that he will for. get your works, and labour that proceedeth of love; which love ye have showed for his name's sake, who have ministered unto the saints, and yet do minister. Heb. vi. 10.

(O blessed Lord, how great is thy goodness! All that I have is thine; and yet thou dost condescend to receive every act of charity to thy saints and servants, as if it were done unto thyself.)

To do good and to distribute, forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Heb. xiii. 16.

(May our prayers and our alms ascend unto thee, O God; and do thou graciously accept them for Jesus Christ's sake.)

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 John iii. 17.

(O my God and Saviour! may I ever manifest my love and gratitude to thee, by acts of beneficence and kindness to my fellow men.)

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. Tob. iv. 7.

(Grant me, O Lord, a lively compassion for the miseries of others, that thou mayest finally have compassion on me.) 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. Tob. iv. 8, 9.

(I thank thee, O God, that thou dost not judge or reward according to the greatness of the gift, but according to the disposition and ability of the giver. And after all, thy rewards infinitely exceed the merits of our most exalted acts of virtue.)

He that hath pity upon the poor, lendeth to the Lord and look, what he layeth out, it shall be paid him again. Prov. xix. 17.

(Blessed be thy name, O God, that thou dost vouchsafe to regard my beneficence

to the poor as a favour rendered unto thy. self; and dost graciously promise to repay me froin the exhaustless treasure of thine infinite mercies.)

Blessed be the man that provideth for the sick and needy: the Lord shall deliver him in the time of trouble. Psalm xli. 1.

(O Lord, may I carefully avoid all idle and vain expenses, that I may thus be always able to administer to the consolation and support of the sick and needy. May a principle of divine charity and love evermore animate and inspire me, that thus, in time of trouble, in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment, I may with confidence flee to thee as my refuge and my portion.

¶ Ejaculation to be used at offering our alms.

O Lord, from the bounties of thy Providence with which thou hast crowned my lot, I cheerfully and humbly devote a portion to the service of thy altar-to the relief and comfort of the distressed members of Christ's mystical body. To thee be all the glory and all the praise, through Jesus Christ. Amen.)

While these sentences are in reading, the deacons, church-wardens, or other fit persons appointed for

that purpose, shall receive the alms for the poor, and other devotions of the people, in a decent basin, 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.

¶ Before the prayer for Christ's church militant, if an opportunity offer, use the following prayer:

Saviour of the world! I come to thy altar to commemorate thy dying love; to plead the merits of thy cross and passion; to testify my unshaken faith in thee; my communion with thy holy church; my charity with all mankind. Blessed Jesus! who hast called me to the participation of the sacred mysteries of thy altar, guide and aid me in my devotions; quicken my repentance; animate my faith and grati tude; fix my contemplations on the eternal glories of thy mercy and grace. Nourished and strengthened by the sacred symbols of thy body and blood, may both my soul and body be prepared for that ever lasting life which thou hast purchased by thy merits; and which thou dost bestow on all those who believe in thy saving name, and rely alone on thy mercy and power. Even so, blessed Jesus. Amen.)

And the priest shall then place upon the table so much bread and wine as he shall think sufficient. After which done, he shall say