1786 Proposed Book of Common Prayer: Holy Communion · 1786 Proposed Book of Common Prayer: Preface

The Book of Common Prayer

	1786 Proposed U. S. Book of Common Prayer

The ORDER
for the Administration of the
Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion.
¶ When the Minister giveth warning
for the Celebration of the holy Communion, (which he shall always do upon
the Sunday, or some Holy-day immediately preceding) he shall read this
Exhortation following; or such thereof as in his discretion he may think
convenient.
DEarly
beloved, on — day next, I purpose, through God’s assistance,
to administer to all such as shall be religiously and devoutly disposed,
the most comfortable Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ; to be
by them received, in remembrance of his meritorious Cross and Passion;
whereby alone we obtain remission of our sins, and are made partakers
of the kingdom of Heaven. Wherefore it is our duty to render most humble
and hearty thanks to Almighty God our heavenly Father, for that he hath
given his Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, not only to die for us, but also
to be our spiritual food and sustenance in that holy Sacrament. Which
being so divine and comfortable a thing to them who receive it worthily,
and so dangerous to those who will presume to receive it unworthily; my
duty, is to exhort you in the mean season to consider the dignity of that
holy Mystery and the great peril of the unworthy receiving thereof; and
so to search and examine your own consciences, (and that not lightly,
and after the manner of dissemblers with God, but so) that ye may come
holy and clean to such a heavenly feast, in the marriage-garment required
by God in holy Scripture, and be received as worthy partakers of that
holy Table.
The way and means thereto is; First; to examine your
lives and conversations by the rule of God’s commandments and wherein
soever ye shall perceive your selves to have offended, either by will,
word, or deed; there to bewail your own sinfulness, and to confess your
selves to Almighty God, with full purpose of amendment of life. And if
ye shall perceive your offences to be such, as are not only again it 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 who 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 encrease
your condemnation. 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 ye of your sins, or else come not
to that holy Table.
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 Minister of God’s
word, and open his grief; that he may receive such godly counsel and advice,
as may tend to the quieting of his conscience, and the removing of all
scruple and doubtfulness.
¶ Or, in case he shall see the People
negligent to come to the holy Communion, instead of the former, he shall
use this exhortation.
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
who 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 my 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 communicate, because I am otherwise hindered
with worldly business. But 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 who 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.
Wherefore, 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 ourselves how great injury ye do unto God, and how
sore punishment hangeth over your heads for the same; when ye wilfully
abstain from the Lords 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 Gods 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.
¶ IF
among those who come to be partakers of the holy Communion, the Minster
shall know any to be an open and notorious evil liver, or to have done
any wrong to his neighbours by word or deed, so that the Congregation
be thereby offended; he shall advertise him, that he presume not to come
to the Lord’s Table, until he have openly declared himself to have
truly repented and amended his former evil life, that the Congregation
may thereby be satisfied; and that he hath recompensed the parties to
whom he hath done wrong; or at least declare himself to be in full purpose
to do, as soon as he conveniently may.
¶ The same order shall the Minister
use with those, betwixt whom he perceiveth malice and hatred to reign;
not suffering them to be partakers of the Lord’s Table, until he
know them to be reconciled. And if one of the parties so at variance,
be content to forgive, from the bottom of his heart all that the other
hath trespassed against him, and to make amends for that wherein he himself
hath offended; and the other party will not be perswaded to a godly unity,
but remain still in his forwardness and malice: the Minister in that case
ought to admit the penitent person to the holy Communion, and not him
that is obstinate. Provided that every Minister so repelling any, as is
herein specified, shall be obliged to give an account of the same to the
Ordinary as soon as conveniently may be.
¶ The Table at the Communion time having
a fair white linen cloth upon it, shall stand in the body of the Church,
or in the Chancel, where Morning and Evening Prayer are appointed to be
said. And the Minister standing at the north side of the Table, shall
say the Collect following; the People kneeling.
Collect.
ALmighty
God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no
secrets are hid; Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration
of thy holy Spirit; that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify
thy holy Name, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
¶ Then shall
the Minister; turning to the People, rehearse distinctly all the Ten Commandments;
and the People, still kneeling, shall after every Commandment, ask God
mercy for their transgression thereof for the time past, and grace to
keep the same for the time to come, as followeth.
Minister.
GOD spake
these words, and said, I am the Lord thy God: Thou shalt have none other
Gods but me.
People. Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our
hearts to keep this law.
Minister. Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven
image, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the
earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down
to them nor worship them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, and
visit the sins of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth
generation of them that hate me, and shew mercy unto thousands in them
that love me, and keep my commandments.
People. Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our
hearts to keep this law.
Minister. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord
thy God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltless, that takest
his Name in vain.
People. Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our
hearts to keep this law.
Minister. Remember that thou keep holy the sabbath-day.
Six days shalt thou labor, and do all that thou hast to do; but the seventh
day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God. In it thou shalt do no manner
of work, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, thy man-servant; and thy
maid-servant, thy cattle, and the stranger that is within thy gates. For
in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them
is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh
day, and hallowed it.
People. Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our
hearts to keep this law.
Minister, Honour thy father and thy mother; that thy
days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
People. Lord, have mercy upon us and incline our hearts
to keep this law.
Minister. Thou shalt do no murder.
People. Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our
hearts to keep this law.
Minister. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
People. Lord have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts
to keep this law.
Minister. Thou shalt not steal.
People. Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our
hearts to keep this law.
Minster. Thou shalt not bear false witness against
thy neighbour.
People. Lord have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts
to keep this law.
Minister. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s
house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his servant,
nor his maid, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is his.
People. Lord, have mercy upon us, and write all these
thy laws in our hearts, we beseech thee.
¶ Then shall
be said the Collect of the Day. And immediately after the Collect, the
Minister shall read the Epistle, saying, The Epistle [or, The
portion of Scripture appointed for the Epistle ], is written in the ---
Chapter of --- beginning at the --- Verse. And the Epistle ended, he
shall say, Here endeth, the Epistle. Then shall be read the Gospel
(the People all standing up) saying, The Holy Gospel is written in
the --- Chapter of --- beginning at the --- Verse.
¶ Then the Minister shall declare unto
the People what Holy-days, or Fasting-days, are in the Week following
to be observed. And (if occasion be) shall notice be given of the Communion.
¶ Then shall follow the Sermon; after
which, the Minister, when there is a Communion, shall return to the Lord’s
Table, and begin the Offertory; saying one or more of these Sentences
following, as he thinketh most convenient.
LEt your
light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify
your Father which is in heaven. St. Matth. 5. 16.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth; where
moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal;
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust
doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. St. Matth.
6. 19, 20.
Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,. even
so do to them; for this is the law and the prophets. St. Matth. 7.
12.
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall
enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father
which is in heaven. St. Matth. 7. 21.
Zaccheus stood forth and said unto the Lord, Behold,
Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have done any
wrong to any man, I restore four-fold. St. Luke 19. 8.
Who goeth a warfare at any time at his own cost? Who
planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? Or who feedeth
a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? 1 Cor. 9.7.
If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a
great matter if we shall reap your worldly things? 1 Cor. 9.11.
Do ye not know, that they who minister about holy things,
live of the sacrifice; and they who wait at the altar, are partakers with
the altar? Even so hath the Lord also ordained, that they who preach the
Gospel, should live of the Gospel. 1 Cor. 9. 13, 14.
He that soweth little, shall reap little; and he that
soweth plenteously, shall reap plenteously. Let every man do according
as he is disposed in his heart, not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God
loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Cor. 9.6, 7.
Let him that is. taught in the word, minister unto
him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived, God is not mocked:
for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he reap. Gal. 6. 6, 7.
While we have time, let us do good unto all men; and
specially unto them that are of the household of faith. Gal. 6.
10.
Godliness is great riches, if a man be content with
that he hath: for we brought nothing into the world, neither may we carry
anything out. 1 Tim. 6.6, 7.
Charge them who are rich in this world, that they be
ready to give, and glad to distribute; laying up in store for themselves
a good foundation against the time to come, that they may attain eternal
life. 1 Tim. 6. 17, 18, 19.
God is not unrighteous, that he will forget your works,
and labour that proceedeth of love; which love ye have shewed for his
names sake, who have ministered unto the saints, and yet do minister.
Heb. 6. 10.
To do good, and to distribute, forget not; for with
such sacrifices God is well pleased. Heb. 13. 16.
Whoso hath this worlds good, and seeth his brother
have need, and shutteth up his compassion from him; how dwelleth the love
of God in him? 1 St. John 3. 17.
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. 4. 7.
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. 4.8, 9.
He that hath pity upon the poor, lendeth unto the Lord.
and look, what he layeth out, it shall be paid him again. Prov. 19. 17.
Blessed be the man that provideth for the sick and
needy: the Lord shall deliver him in the time of trouble. Psal.
41.1.
¶ Whilst
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 Bason to be provided
by the Parish for that purpose; and reverently bring it to the Minister,
who shall humbly present and place it upon the holy Table.
¶ And the Minister shall then place
upon the Table so much Bread and Wine, as he shall think sufficient. After
which done, he shall say,
Let us pray for the whole state of
Christ’s Church militant here in earth.
ALlmighty and everliving
God, who by thy holy Apostle hath taught us to make prayers and supplications,
and to give thanks for all men; We humbly beseech thee most mercifully [to
accept our alms and oblations, and] to receive these our prayers which
we offer unto thy divine Majesty; beseeching thee to inspire continually
the universal Church with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord, and
grant that all they who do confess thy holy Name, may agree in the truth
of thy holy word, and live in unity, and godly love. We beseech thee also
to direct and dispose the hearts of all Christian Rulers, and. especially
the Rulers and Governors of these states, that they may truly and impartially
administer justice, to the punishment of wickedness and vice, and to the
maintenance of thy true religion, and virtue. Give grace, O heavenly Father,
to all Bishops and other Pastors; that they may both by their life and
doctrine set forth thy true and lively word, and rightly administer thy
holy Sacraments. And to all thy people give thy heavenly grace and especially
to this Congregation here present; that with meek heart, and due reverence,
they may hear, and receive thy holy Word; truly serving thee in holiness
and righteousness all the days of their life. And we most humbly beseech
thee of thy goodness, O Lord, to comfort and succour all those, who in
this transitory life are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other
adversity. And we also bless thy holy Name, for all thy servants departed
this life in thy faith and fear; beseeching thee to give us grace so to
follow their good examples, that with them we may be partakers of thy
heavenly kingdom: Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake,
our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.
¶ Then,
the Communicants being conveniently placed for the receiving of the holy
Sacrament, the Minister shall say this Exhortation.
DEarly
beloved in the Lord, ye who mind to come to the holy Communion of the
Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ, must consider how Saint 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)
so is the danger great, if we receive the fame unworthily. For then we
are guilty of the body and blood of Christ our Saviour. Judge therefore
yourselves, brethren, that ye be not judged of the Lord; repent ye 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 would 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
bloodshedding he hath obtained to us; 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.
¶ Then shall the Minister say to those
who come to receive the holy Communion;
YE who
do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins, and are in love and charity
with your neighbours, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments
of God, and walking from henceforth in his holy way; Draw near with faith,
and take this holy Sacrament to your comfort; and make your humble Confession
to Almighty God, meekly kneeling upon your knees.
¶ Then shall
this general Confession be made, by the Minster and all those who are
minded to receive the holy Communion, humbly kneeling.
ALmighty
God Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all
men; We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which
we from time to time most grievously have committed, By thought, word,
and deed, against thy divine Majesty, Provoking most justly thy wrath
and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, And are heartily sorry
for these our misdoings; The remembrance of them is grievous unto us;
The burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon
us, most merciful Father; For thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake,
Forgive us all that is past; And grant that we may ever hereafter serve
and please thee in newness of life, To the honour and glory of thy name,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen.
¶ Then shall the Minister (the Bishop,
if he be present) stand up, and turning to the People, say,
ALmighty
God, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness
of sins to all those who with, hearty repentance and true faith turn unto
him; Have mercy upon you; pardon and deliver you from all your sins; confirm
and strengthen you in all goodness, and bring you to everlasting life,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
¶Then shall the Minister say,
Hear what comfortable words our Saviour
Christ saith unto all who truly turn to him.
COme unto me, all ye that
travel and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. St. Mat. 11.
28.
So God loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, to the end that all that believe in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life. St. John 3. 16.
Hear also what St. Paul saith. This is a true saying,
and worthy, of all men to be received, that Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners. 1 Tim. 1. 15.
Hear also what St. John saith.
If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins. 1
St. John 2. 1, 2.
¶ After which, the Minister shall proceed, saying,
Lift up your hearts.
Answer. We lift them up unto the Lord.
Minister. Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.
Answer. It is meet and right so to do.
¶ Then shall the Minister turn to the
Lord’s Table, and say,
IT
is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times,
and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, * [Holy Father,] Almighty
Everlasting God.
¶ Here shall follow the proper Preface,
according to the time, if there be any specially appointed, or else immediately
shall follow.
THerefore
with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven we laud
and magnify thy glorious Name; evermore praising thee; and saying, Holy,
holy, holy Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of thy glory:
Glory be to thee, O Lord most, High. Amen.
¶ PROPER PREFACES.
¶ Upon Christmas-day, and seven Days after.
BEcause
thou didst give Jesus Christ thine only Son to be born 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 without spot of sin, to make us clean
from all sin. Therefore with Angels, &c.
¶ 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.
¶ 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.
¶ Upon Whitsunday, 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.
¶ 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.
¶ Then shall the Minister, kneeling down at
the Lords Table say in the name of all those who 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.
¶ When the Minister, 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:
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
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: 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
(d) he 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.
¶ Then shall the Minister first receive
the Communion in both kinds himself, and then proceed to deliver the same
to the Bishops, Presbyters 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,
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.
¶ And the Minister that delivereth the
Cup to any one shall 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.
¶ If the consecrated Bread or Wine be all spent
before all have communicated, the Minister 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.
¶ When all have communicated, the Minister
shall return to the Lords Table, and reverently place upon it what remaineth
of the consecrated Elements, covering the same, with a fair Linen Cloth.
¶ Then shall the Minister, say the Lords Prayer, the
People repeating after him every Petition.
OUR Father,
who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name; Thy kingdom come; thy will be
done in earth, As it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; And
forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us;
And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil: For thine is
the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
¶ 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.
¶ Or this.
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.
¶ Then shall be said or sung.
GLory
be to God on high, and in earth peace, good will, towards men. We praise
thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks
to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father
Almighty.
O Lord, the only begotten Son Jesus Christ; O Lord
God, Lamb of God, who hast taken away the sins of the world, and now sittest
at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.
For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou
only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God
the Father. Amen.
¶ Then the Minister (the Bishop, if he be present)
shall let them depart with this Blessing.
THe peace
of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in
the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. And
the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost,
be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen.
¶ Upon the Sundays and other Holy-days
(if there be no Communion) shall be said all that is appointed at the
Communion, until the end of the Gospel; concluding with the Blessing:
And if any of the consecrated Bread and Wine remain after the Communion,
it shall not be carried out of the Church; but the Minister and other
Communicants shall, immediately after the Blessing, reverently eat and
drink the same.
¶ The Bread and Wine for the Communion
shall be provided by the Church-Wardens, at the charges of the Parish.
¶ And note, That it is the Duty of every
Parishioner to communicate at the least three times in the year, of which
Easter to be one.

Return to 1786 Proposed Book of Common Prayer

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