perfect charitie, &c.-He hath lefte those holy misteries, as a pledge of his love, and a continual remembrance of the same his own blessed body, and precious blood, for us to fede upon spiritually, to our endless comfort and consolacion. To him therefore, &c.

I In Cathedral Churches or other places, where there is dailie Communion, it shall be sufficient to read this Exhortation above-written, once in a moneth. And in Parish Churches, upon the weke dayes it may be left unsaied. And if upon the Sonday or Holy Daie the people be negligent to come to the Communion, then shall the Prieste earnestly exhorte his parishioners, to dispose themselves to the receyving of the Holy Communion more diligently, saiyng these or like wordes unto them. Dere friends; and you especially upon whose soules I have cure and charge, onnext, I do intende by God's grace, to offre to all suche as shalle be godlie dispos'd, the most comfortable Sacrament of the Body and Bloude of Christe to be taken of them, in the remembraunce of his moste fruitfull and glorious passion, by the which passion, we have obteigned remission of our synnes, and be made partakers of the kyngdom of Heaven, whereof wee be assured, and asserteigned, if we come to the said Sacrament, with heartie repentaunce for our offences, stedfaste faith in Goddes mercie, and earnest mynde to obeye Goddes will, and to offende no more. Wherefore our duetie is to come to these holy mis

teries, with most heartie thankes to bee geven to Almightie God, for his infinite mercie, and benefites geven and bestow'd upon us his unworthie servauntes, for whom he hath not only given his Body to death, and shed his Bloude, but also doth vouchsafe in a Sacrament and mistery, to give us his said Body and Blood to feede upon spiritually *. The whiche Sacrament being so divine and holy a thinge, and so comfortable to them which receive it worthilye, and so daungerous to them that wyll presume to take the same unworthely: My duty is to exhorte you in the meane season to consider the greatnes of the thing, and to serche and examine your own consciences, and that not lyghtly, nor after the manner of dissimulers with God: but as they which shoulde come to a moste godlie and heavenly banket, not to come but in the marriage garment requir'd of God in Scripture, that you maye (so much as lieth in you) be found worthie to come to suche a table. The waies and means thereto is,

First, That you be truly repentant of your former evil Lyfe, and that you confesse with an unfayned hearte to Almightie God, your synnes and unkyndnes towardes his Majestie committed either by wylle, worde, or dede, infirmitie or ignoraunce, and that with inward sorrowe and teares you bewaile your offences, and require of Almightie God, mercie and pardon, promising to him (from the bottome of your heartes) the amendment of your former life. And emongs all

See the first Exhortation.

others,

others, I am commaunded of God, especially to move and exhorte you, to reconcile your selfes to your neighbours, whom you have offended, or who hath offended you, putting out of your heartes all hatred and malice against them, and to be in love and charitie with all the worlde, and to forgeve other, as you would that God should forgeve you. And yf any man hath doen wrong to any other, let him make satisfaccion, and due restitucion of all landes and goodes, wrongfully taken away or withholden, before he come to Goddes borde, or at the leste be in fulle mynd and purpose so to doe, as sone as he is able, or else let him not come to this holy table, thinking to deceive God who seeth all mens heartes. For neyther the absolucion of the Priest can any thinge avayle them*, nor the receyvyng of this Holy Sacrament doth any thing but increase their damnacion. And yf there bee any of you, whose conscience is troubled and grieved in any thing, lackyng comfort or counsayll, let him come to me, or to some other discrete and learned Priest, taught in the lawe of God, and confesse and open his sinne and griefe secretly, that he maye receyve such ghostly counsayl, advise, and comfort, that his conscience may be releved: and that of us (as of the Ministers of God and of the Churche) he maye receyve comforte and absolucion, to the satisfaccion of his mind, and avoyding of all scruple and doubtfulnes, requiryng such as shall be satisfyed with a general confession, not to be offended with them that doe use,

See the Discourse on Absolution, in this volume.

to

to their farther satisfyinge, the auriculer and secrete confession to the Priest: nor those also which think needfull or convenient, for the quietness of their own consciences, particulerly to open their sinnes to the Prieste; to be offended with them that are satisfyed, with their humble confession to God, and the general confession to the Churche. But in all thinges to followe and kepe the rule of charitie, and every man to be satisfied with their owne consciences, not judgeing other mennes mindes or consciences, wheras he hath no warrant of Goddes Worde to the same.

Then shall folowe for the Offertorie, one or more of these sentences of holy Scripture, to be song while the people doe offer, or els one of them to be saied by the Minister, immediately afore the offeryng.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven, &c. &c.

Blessed be the man that provideth for the sicke and nedy, the Lorde shall deliver hym in the tyme of trouble.

Where there be Clearkes, thei shall sing one or many of the sentences above written, according to the length and shortness of the tyme, that the people be offeryng.

In the meane tyme, whyles the Clearkes do sing

the Offertory, so many as are dispos'd, shall offer to the poore mens boxe every one accordynge to his habilitie and charitable mynde. And at the offerynge daies appointed, every manne

and

and woman shall paie to the Curate, the dua and accustomed offerynges.

Then so many as shall bee partakers of the Holy Communion, shall tarye still in the quire, or in some conveniente place nigh the quire, the men on the one side, and the women on the other side. All other (that mynde not to receyve the Holy Communion) shall depart out of the quire, except the Ministers and Clearkes.

Then shall the Minister take so muche breade and
wine, as shall suffice for the persons appointed
to receive the Holy Communion, laiyng the
breade upon the corporal, or els in the paten, or
in some other comely thyng, prepared for that
purpose: And putting the wine into the chalice,
or els in some faire or conveniente cup, pre-
pared for that use (if the chalice will not serve)
puttyng thereto a little pure and cleane water;
And setting forth the bread and wine upon the
alter Then the Priest shall saye.
The Lord be with you.

Aunswere. And with thy Spirite.
Priest. Lift up your heartes, &c.

It is very mete, righte, and our bounden dutie, that we should at all tymes, and in all places, geve thankes to thee, O Lorde, Holy Father, Almightie everlastinge God.

¶ Here shall folowe the proper preface, accordyng to the tyme (yf there bee any specially appointed) or else immediately shall followe. Therefore with angels, &c.

Propre