The 1549 Book of Common Prayer: Holy Communion · The 1549 Book of Common Prayer: Preface

The Book of Common Prayer

	The Book of Common Prayer - 1549

THE SUPPER
OF THE LORDE AND THE HOLY COMMUNION,
COMMONLY
CALLED THE MASSE.
SO
many as intende to bee partakers of the holy Communion, shall sygnifie
their names to the Curate, over night: or els in the morning, afore
the beginning of Matins, or immediatly after.
¶
And if any of those be an open and notorious evill liver, so that
the congregacion by hym is offended, or have doen any wrong to his neighbours
by worde or dede: The Curate shall call hym, and advertise hym, in any
wise not to presume to the lordes table, untill he have openly declared
hymselfe to have truly repented, and amended his former naughtie life:
that the congregacion maie thereby be satisfied, whiche afore were offended:
and that he have recompensed the parties, whom he hath dooen wrong unto,
or at the least bee in full Purpose so to doo, as sone as he conveniently
maie.
¶
The same ordre shall the Curate use, with those betwixt whom he perceiveth
malice, and hatred to reigne, not suffering them to bee partakers of
the Lordes table, untill he knowe them to bee reconciled. And yf one
of the parties so at variaunce, be content to forgeve from the botome
of his harte all that the other hath trespaced against hym, and to make
amendes for that he hymself hath offended: and the other partie will
not bee perswaded to a godly unitie, but remaigne still in his frowardues
and malice: The Minister in that case, ought to admit the penitent persone
to the holy Communion, and not hym that is obstinate.
¶
Upon the date and at the tyme appoincted for the ministracion of
the holy Communion, the Priest that shal execute the holy ministery,
shall put upon hym the vesture appoincted for that ministracion, that
is to saye: a white Albe plain, with a vestement or Cope. And where
there be many Priestes, or Decons, there so many shalbe ready to helpe
the Priest, in the ministracion, as shalbee requisite: And shall have
upon them lykewise the vestures appointed for their ministery, that
is to saye, Albes with tunacles. Then shall the Clerkes syng in Englishe
for the office, or Introite, (as they call it,) a Psalme appointed for
that daie.
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The
Priest standing humbly afore the middes of the Altar, shall saie the
Lordes praier, with this Collect.
ALMIGHTIE
God, unto whom all hartes bee open, and all desyres knowen, and from
whom no secretes are hid: clense the thoughtes of our hartes, by the
inspiracion of thy holy spirite: that we may perfectly love thee, and
worthely magnifie thy holy name: through Christ our Lorde. Amen.
Then
shall he saie a Psalme appointed for the introite: whiche Psalme ended
the Priest shall saye, or els the Clerkes shal syng,
iii.
Lorde have mercie upon us.
iii. Christ have mercie upon us.
iii. Lorde have mercie upon us.
Then
the Prieste standyng at Goddes borde shall begin,
Glory be to God on high.
The Clerkes. And
in yearth peace, good will towardes men.
We praise thee, we blesse thee, we worship thee,
we glorifie thee, wee geve thankes to thee for thy greate glory, O Lorde
GOD, heavenly kyng, God the father almightie.
O Lorde the onely begotten sonne Jesu Christe, O
Lorde GOD, Lambe of GOD, sonne of the father, that takest awaye the
synnes of the worlde, have mercie upon us: thou that takest awaye the
synnes of the worlde, receive our praier.
Thou that sittest at the right hande of God the father,
have mercie upon us: For thou onely art holy, thou onely art the Lorde.
Thou onely (O Christ) with the holy Ghoste, are moste high in the glory
of God the father. Amen.
Then
the priest shall turne him to the people and saye,
The
Lorde be with you.
The Aunswere. And with thy spirite.
The Priest. Let us praie.
Then shall folowe the Collect of
the daie, with one of these two Collectes folowynge, for the kyng.
ALMIGHTIE God,
whose kingdom is everlasting, and power infinite, have mercie upon the
whole congregacion, and so rule the heart of thy chosen servaunt Edward
the sixt, our kyng and governour: that he (knowyng whose minister he
is) maie above al thinges, seke thy honour and glory, and that we his
subjectes (duely consydering whose auctoritie he hath) maye faithfully
serve, honour, and humbly obeye him, in thee, and for thee, according
to thy blessed word and ordinaunce: Through Jesus Christe oure Lorde,
who with thee, and the holy ghoste, liveth and reigneth, ever one God,
worlde without ende. Amen.
ALMIGHTIE and
everlasting GOD, wee bee taught by thy holy worde, that the heartes
of Kynges are in thy rule and governaunce, and that thou doest dispose,
and turne them as it semeth best to thy godly wisedom: We humbly beseche
thee, so to dispose and governe, the heart of Edward the sixt, thy servaunt,
our Kyng and governour, that in all his thoughtes, wordes, and workes,
he maye ever seke thy honour and glory, and study to preserve thy people,
committed to his charge, in wealth, peace, and Godlynes: Graunt this,
O mercifull father, for thy dere sonnes sake, Jesus Christ our Lorde.
Amen.
The Collectes ended, the priest,
or he that is appointed, shall reade the Epistle, in a place assigned
for the purpose, saying,
The Epistle of sainct Paule, written in the
Chapiter
of
to the
The
Minister then shall reade thepistle. Immediatly after the Epistle ended,
the priest, or one appointed to reade the Gospel, shall saie,
The
holy Gospell, written in the
Chapiter of
The
Clearkes and people shall aunswere,
Glory
be to thee, O Lorde.
The
priest or deacon then shall reade the Gospel: After the Gospell ended,
the Priest shall begin,
I
BELEVE in one God.
The
clerkes shall syng the rest.
The father almightie, maker of heaven and yearth, and of all thinges
visible, and invisible: And in one Lorde Jesu Christ, the onely begotten
sonne of GOD, begotten of his father before all worldes, God of GOD,
light of light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, beeyng of
one substaunce with the father, by whom all thinges were made, who for
us men, and for our salvacion, came doune from heaven, and was incarnate
by the holy Ghoste, of the Virgin Mary, and was made manne, and was
Crucified also for us under Poncius Pilate, he suffered and was buried,
and the thirde daye he arose again according to the scriptures, and
ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hande of the father:
and he shall come again with glory, to judge both the quicke and the
dead.
And I beleve in the holy ghost, the Lorde and gever
of life, who procedeth from the father and the sonne, who with the father
and the sonne together, is worshipped and glorified, who spake by the
Prophetes. And I beleve one Catholike and Apostolike Churche. I acknowlege
one Baptisme, for the remission of synnes. And I loke for the resurreccion
of the deade: and the lyfe of the worlde to come. Amen.
¶ After the Crede ended, shall folowe the Sermon or Homely, or some
portion of one of the Homelyes, as thei shalbe herafter devided: wherein
if the people bee not exhorted to the worthy receivyng of the holy Sacrament
of the bodye and bloude of our savior Christ: then shal the Curate geve
this exhortacion, to those that be minded to receive ye same.
DERELY	* study in
beloved in the Lord, ye that mynde to come to the holy Communion of	some printings
the bodye and bloude of our savior Christe, must considre what S. Paule
writeth to the Corinthians, how he exhorteth all persones diligently
to trie and examine themselves, before they presume to eate of that
breade, and drinke of that cup: for as the benefite is great, if with
a truly penitent heart, and lively faith, we receive that holy Sacrament;
(for then we spiritually eate the fleshe of Christ, and drinke his bloude,
then we dwell in Christ and Christ in us, wee bee made one with Christ,
and Christ with us;) so is the daunger great, yf wee receyve the same
unworthely; for then wee become gyltie of the body and bloud of Christ
our savior, we eate and drinke our owne damnacion, not considering the
Lordes bodye. We kyndle Gods wrathe over us, we provoke him to plague
us with diverse dyseases, and sondery kyndes of death. Therefore if
any here be a blasphemer, aduouterer, or bee in malyce, or envie, or
in any other grevous cryme (excepte he bee truly sory therefore, and
earnestly mynded to leave the same vices, and do trust him selfe to
be reconciled to almightie God, and in Charitie with all the worlde),
lette him bewayle his synnes, and not come to that holy table; lest
after the taking of that most blessed breade, the devyll enter into
him, as he dyd into Judas, to fyll him full of all iniquitie, and brynge
him to destruccion, bothe of body and soule.
Judge therfore yourselfes (brethren) that ye bee
not judged of the Lorde. Let your mynde be without desire to synne,
repent you truely for your synnes past, have an earnest and lyvely
faith in Christ our savior, be in perfect charitie with all men, so
shall ye be mete partakers of those holy misteries. And above all
thynges: ye must geve moste humble and hartie thankes to God the father,
the sonne, and the holy ghost, for the redempcion of the worlde, by
the death and passion of our savior Christ, both God and man, who
did humble himself even to the death upon the crosse, for us miserable
synners, whiche laie in darknes and shadowe of death, that he myghte
make us the children of God: and exalt us to everlasting life. And
to thende that wee should alwaye remembre the excedyng love of our
master, and onely savior Jesu Christe, thus diyng for us, and the
innumerable benefites (whiche by his precious bloud-shedyng) he bath
obteigned to us, he hath left in those holy Misteries, as a pledge
of his love, and a continuall remembraunce of the same his owne blessed
body, and precious bloud, for us to fede upon spiritually, to our
endles comfort and consolacion. To him therfore, with the father and
the holy ghost, let us geve (as we are most bounden) continual thankes,
submittyng ourselfes wholy to hys holy wil and pleasure, and studying*
to serve hym in true holines and righteousnes, al the daies of our
life. Amen.
¶ In	* several
Cathedral churches or other places, where there is dailie Communion	printings have treasure
it shall be sufficient to read this exhortacion above written,
once in a moneth. And in parish churches, upon the weke daies it
may be lefte unsayed.
¶ And
if upon the Sunday or holydaye the people be negligent to come
to the Communion: Then shall the Priest earnestly exhorte his parishoners,
to dispose themselfes to the receiving of the holy communion more
diligently, saiyng these or like wordes unto them.
DERE
frendes, and you especially upon whose soules I have cure and charge,
on next, I do intende
by Gods grace, to offre to all suche as shalbe godlye disposed, the
moste comfortable Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ, to be taken
of them in the remembraunce of his moste fruitfull and glorious Passyon:
by the whiche passion we have obteigned remission of our synnes, and
be made partakers of the kyngdom of heaven, whereof wee bee assured
and asserteigned, yf wee come to the sayde Sacrament, with hartie repentaunce
for our offences, stedfast faithe in Goddes mercye, and earnest mynde
to obeye Goddes will, and to offende no more. Wherefore our duetie is,
to come to these holy misteries, with moste heartie thankes to bee geven
to almightie GOD, for his infinite mercie and benefites geven and bestowed
upon us his unworthye servauntes, for whom he hath not onely geven his
body to death, and shed his bloude, but also doothe vouchesave in a
Sacrament and Mistery, to geve us his sayed bodye and bloud to feede
upon spiritually. The whyche Sacrament beyng so Divine and holy a thyng,
and so comfortable to them whiche receyve it worthilye, and so daungerous
to them that wyll presume to take the same unworthely: My duetie is
to exhorte you in the meane season, to consider the greatnes of the
thing, and to serche and examine your owne consciences, and that not
lyghtly nor after the maner of dissimulers [dissemblers]
with GOD: But as they whiche shoulde come to a moste Godly and heavenly
Banket, not to come but in the mariage garment required of God in scripture,
that you may (so muche as lieth in you) be founde worthie to come to
suche a table. The waies and meanes thereto is,
First, that you be truly repentaunt of your former
evill life, and that you confesse with an unfained hearte to almightie
God, youre synnes and unkyndnes towardes his Majestie committed, either
by will, worde or dede, infirmitie or ignoraunce: and that with inwarde
sorowe and teares you bewaile your offences, and require of almightie
God mercie and pardon, promising to him (from the botome of your hartes)
thamendment of your former lyfe. And emonges all others, I am commaunded
of God, especially to move and exhorte you to reconcile yourselfes to
your neighbors, whom you have offended, or who hath offended you, putting
out of your heartes al hatred and malice against them, and to be in
love and charitie with all the worlde, and to forgeve other, as you
woulde that god should forgeve you. And yf any man have doen wrong to
any other: let him make satisfaccion, and due restitucion of all landes
and goodes, wrongfully taken awaye or withholden, before he come to
Goddes borde, or at the least be in ful minde and purpose so to do,
as sone as he is able, or els let him not come to this holy table, thinking
to deceyve God, who seeth all mennes hartes. For neither the absolucion
of the priest, can any thing avayle them, nor the receivyng of this
holy sacrament doth any thing but increase their damnacion. And yf there
bee any of you, whose conscience is troubled and greved in any thing,
lackyng comforte or counsaill, let him come to me, or to some other
dyscrete and learned priest, taught in the law of God, and confesse
and open his synne and griefe secretly, that he may receive suche ghostly
counsaill, advyse, and comfort, that his conscience maye be releved,
and that of us (as of the ministers of GOD and of the churche) he may
receive comfort and absolucion, to the satisfaccion of his mynde, and
avoyding of all scruple and doubtfulnes: requiryng suche as shalbe satisfied
with a generall confession, not to be offended with them that doe use,
to their further satisfiyng, the auriculer and secret confession to
the Priest: nor those also whiche thinke nedefull or convenient, for
the quietnes of their awne consciences, particuliarly to open their
sinnes to the Priest: to bee offended with them that are satisfied,
with their humble confession to GOD, and the generall confession to
the churche. But in all thinges to folowe and kepe the rule of charitie,
and every man to be satisfied with his owne conscience, not judgyng
other mennes myndes or consciences; where as he hath no warrant of Goddes
word to the same.
¶
Then shall folowe for the Offertory, one or mo, of these Sentences
of holy scripture, to bee song whiles the People doo offer, or els one
of them to bee saied by the minister, immediatly afore the offeryng.
LET
your light so shine before men, that they maye see your good woorkes, and glorify
your father whiche is in heaven. Math. v.
Laie not up for yourselfes treasure upon the yearth, where
the rust and mothe doth corrupt, and where theves breake through and steale:
But laie up for yourselfes treasures* in heaven, where neyther ruste nor
mothe doth corrupt, and where theves do not breake through nor steale. Math. vi.
Whatsoever you would that menne should do unto you,
even so do you unto them: for this is the Lawe and the Prophetes. Math.
vii.
Not every one that saieth unto me, lorde, lorde,
shall entre into the kyngdom of heaven, but he that doth the will of
my father whiche is in heaven. Math. vii.
Zache [Zaccheus]
stode furthe, and saied unto the Lorde: Beholde, Lord, the halfe of
my goodes I geve to the poore, and if I have doen any wrong to any man,
I restore fourefold. Luc. xix.
Who goeth a warfare at any tyme at his owne cost?
Who planteth a vineyarde, and eateth not of the fruite thereof? Or who
fedeth a flocke, and eateth not of the milke of the flocke? 1
Cor. ix.
If we have sowen unto you spirituall thinges, is
it a great matter yf we shall reape your worldly thynges? 1
Cor. ix.
Dooe ye not knowe, that they whiche minister aboute
holy thinges, lyve of the Sacrifice? They whiche waite of the alter
are partakers with the alter? even so hath the lorde also ordained:
that they whiche preache the Gospell, should lyve of the Gospell. 1
Cor. ix.
He whiche soweth litle, shall reape litle, and he
that soweth plenteously, shall reape plenteously. Let every manne do
accordyng as he is disposed in his hearte, not grudgyngly, or of necessitie;
for God loveth a cherefull gever. 2 Cor. ix.
Let him that is taught in the woorde, minister unto
hym that teacheth, in all good thinges. Be not deceived; GOD is not
mocked. For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he reape. Gala.
vi.
While we have tyme, let us do good unto all men,
and specially unto them, whiche are of the houshold of fayth. Gala.
vi.
Godlynes is greate riches, if a man be contented
with that he hath: For we brought nothing into the worlde, neither maie
we cary anything out. 1 Tima. vi.
Charge them whiche are riche in this worlde, that
they bee ready to geve, and glad to distribute, laying up in stoare
for themselfes a good foundacion, against the time to come, that they
maie attain eternall lyfe. 1 Tima. vi.
GOD is not unrighteous, that he will forget youre
woorkes and labor, that procedeth of love, whiche love ye have shewed
for his names sake, whiche have ministred unto the sainctes, and yet
do minister. Hebre. vi.
To do good, and to distribute, forget not, for with
suche Sacrifices God is pleased. Hebre. xiii.
Whoso hath this worldes good, and seeth his brother
have nede, and shutteth up his compassion from hym, how dwelleth the
love of God in him? 1 John iii.
Geve almose [alms]
of thy goodes, and turne never thy face from any poore man, and then
the face of the lorde shall not be turned awaye from thee. Toby[Tobit]
iv.
Bee mercifull after thy power: if thou hast muche,
geve plenteously, if thou hast litle, do thy diligence gladly to geve
of that litle: for so gathereste thou thyselfe a good reward, in the
daie of necessitie. Toby iv.
He that hath pitie upon the poore, lendeth unto the
Lorde; and loke what he laieth out, it shal be paied hym again. Prov.
xix.
Blessed be the man that provideth for the sicke and
nedy, the lorde shall deliver hym, in the tyme of trouble. Psalm
xli.
Where there be Clerkes, thei shall
syng one, or many of the sentences above written, accordyng to the length
and shortenesse of the tyme, that the people be offeryng.
In
the meane time, whyles the Clerkes do syng the Offertory, so many as
are disposed, shall offer unto the poore mennes boxe every one accordynge
to his habilitie and charitable mynde. And at the offeryng daies appoynted,
every manne and woman shall paie to the Curate, the due and accustomed
offerynges.
Then
so manye as shalbe partakers of the holy Communion, shall tary still
in the quire, or in some convenient place nigh the quire, the men on
the one side, and the women on the other syde. All other (that mynde
not to receive the said holy Communion) shall departe out of the quire,
except the ministers and Clerkes.
Than
shall the minister take so muche Bread and Wine, as shalt suffice for
the persons appoynted to receive the holy Communion, laiyng the breade
upon the corporas, or els in the paten, or in some other comely thyng,
prepared for that purpose. And puttyng ye wyne into the Chalice, or
els in some faire or convenient cup, prepared for that use (if the Chalice
will not serve), puttyng thereto a litle pure and cleane water: And
settyng both the breade and wyne upon the Alter: then the Priest shall
saye.
The Lorde be with you.
Aunswere. And with thy spirite.
Priest. Lift up your heartes.
Aunswere. We lift them up unto the Lorde.
Priest. Let us geve thankes to our Lorde God.
Aunswere. It is mete and right so to do.
The Priest. It is very mete, righte, and our
bounden dutie, that wee shoulde at all tymes, and in all places, geve
thankes to thee, O Lorde holy father, almightie everlastyng God.
¶
Here shall folowe the proper preface accordyng to the tyme (if there
bee any specially appoynted), or els immediatly shall folowe, Therefore
with Angelles, &c.
PROPRE
PREFACES.
¶ Upon Christmas Daie.
BECAUSE
thou diddeste geve Jesus Christe, thyne onely sonne, to bee borne as
this daye for us, who by the operacion of the holy ghoste, was made
very man, of the substaunce of the Virgin Mari his mother, and that
without spot of sinne to make us cleane from all synne. Therefore &c.
¶ Upon Easter daie.
BUT
chiefly are we bound to praise thee, for the glorious resurreccion of
thy sonne Jesus Christe, our Lorde, for he is the very Pascall Lambe,
whiche was offered for us, and hath taken awaie the synne of the worlde,
who by his death hath destroyed death, and by his risyng to life againe,
hath restored to us everlastynge life. Therefore &c.
¶ Upon the Assencion Day.
THROUGH
thy most dere beloved sonne, Jesus Christ our Lorde, who after his moste
glorious resurreccion manifestly appered to all his disciples, and in
their sight ascended up into heaven, to prepare a place for us, that
where he is, thither mighte we also ascende, and reigne with hym in
glory. Therfore &c.
¶ Upon Whitsondaye.
THROUGH
Jesus Christe our Lorde, accordyng to whose moste true promise, the
holy Ghoste came doune this daye from heaven, with a sodain [sudden]
great sound, as it had been a mightie wynde, in the likenes of fiery
toungues, lightyng upon the Apostles, to teache them, and to leade them
to all trueth, gevyng them bothe the gifte of diverse languages, and
also boldnes with fervent zeale, constantly to preache the Gospell unto
all nacions, whereby we are brought out of darkenes and error, into
the cleare light and true knowlege of thee, and of thy sonne Jesus Christ.
Therfore &c.
¶ Upon the feast of the Trinitie.
IT
is very meete, righte, and oure bounden duetie, that we should at al
tymes, and in al places, geve thankes to thee O Lorde, almightye everlasting
God, whiche arte one God, one Lorde, not one onely person, but three
persones in one substaunce: For that which we beleve of the glory of
the father, the same we beleve of the sonne, and of the holy ghost,
without any difference, or inequalitie: whom the Angels &c.
After
whiche preface shalt falowe immediatly,
Therfore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the holy companye
of heaven, we laude and magnify thy glorious name, evermore praisyng
thee, and saying,
¶ Holy, holy, holy, Lorde God of Hostes: heaven
(& earth) are full of thy glory: Osanna, in the highest. Blessed is
he that commeth in the name of the Lorde: Glory to thee, O lorde in
the highest.
This
the Clerkes shall also syng.
¶
When the Clerkes have dooen syngyng, then shall the Priest, or Deacon,
turne hym to the people, and saye,
Let us praie for the whole state of Christes churche.
¶
Then the Priest, turnyng hym to the Altar, shall saye or syng, playnly
and distinctly, this prayer folowyng:
ALMIGHTIE
and everlivyng GOD, whiche by thy holy Apostle haste taught us to make
prayers and supplicacions, and to geve thankes for al menne: We humbly	The Mass, from a 15th C, Prymer
beseche thee moste mercyfully to receive these our praiers, which we	Here
offre unto thy divine Majestie, beseching thee to inspire continually	the priest must take the bread into his handes.
the universal churche with the spirite of trueth, unitie, and concorde:	Here
And graunt that al they that do confesse thy holy name, maye agree in	the priest shall take the Cuppe into his handes.
the trueth of thy holye worde, and live in unitie and godly love. Speciallye
we beseche thee to save and defende thy servaunt Edwarde our Kyng, that
under hym we maye be Godly and quietly governed. And graunt unto his
whole counsaile, and to all that he put in auctoritie under hym, that
they maye truely and indifferently minister justice, to the punishemente
of wickednesse and vice, and to the maintenaunce of Goddes true religion
and vertue. Geve grace (O henvenly father) to all Bishoppes, Pastors,
and Curates, that thei maie bothe by their life and doctrine set furthe
thy true and lively worde, and rightely and duely administer thy holy
Sacramentes: and to al thy people geve thy heavenly grace, that with
meke heart and due reverence they may heare and receive thy holy worde,
truely servyng thee in holynes and righteousnes all the dayes of their
life: And we most humbly beseche thee of thy goodnes (O Lorde) to coumfort
and succour all them, whyche in thys transytory life be in trouble,
sorowe, nede, syckenes, or any other adversitie. And especially we commend
unto thy mercifull goodnes, this congregacion which is here assembled
in thy name, to celebrate the commemoracion of the most glorious death
of thy sonne: And here we do geve unto thee moste high praise, and heartie
thankes, for the wonderfull grace and vertue, declared in all thy sainctes,
from the begynning of the worlde: And chiefly in the glorious and moste
blessed virgin Mary, mother of thy sonne Jesu Christe our Lorde and
God, and in the holy Patriarches, Prophetes, Apostles and Martyrs, whose
examples (O Lorde) and stedfastnes in thy fayth, and kepyng thy holy
commaundementes, graunt us to folowe. We commend unto thy mercye (O
Lorde) all other thy servauntes, which are departed hence from us, with
the signe of faith, and nowe do reste in the slepe of peace: Graunt
unto them, we beseche thee, thy mercy, and everlasting peace, and that,
at the day of the generall resurreccion, we and all they which bee of
the misticall body of thy sonne, may altogether be set on his right
hand, and heare that his most ioyfull voyce: Come unto me, O ye that
be blessed of my father, and possesse the kingdom, whiche is prepared
for you from the begynning of the worlde: Graunt this, O father, for
Jesus Christes sake, our onely mediatour and advocate.
O God heavenly father, which of thy tender mercie
diddest geve thine only sonne Jesu Christ to suffre death upon the crosse
for our redempcion, who made there (by his one oblacion once offered)
a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifyce, oblacion, and satysfaccyon,
for the sinnes of the whole worlde, and did institute, and in his holy
Gospell commaund us, to celebrate a perpetuall memory of that his precious
death, untyll his comming again: Heare us (O merciful father) we besech
thee; and with thy holy spirite and worde, vouchsafe to blesse and sanctifie these thy gyftes, and creatures of bread
and wyne, that they maie be unto us the bodye and bloude of thy moste
derely beloved sonne Jesus Christe. Who in the same nyght that he was
betrayed: tooke breade, and when he had blessed, and geven thankes:
he brake it, and gave it to his disciples, saiyng: Take, eate, this
is my bodye which is geven for you, do this in remembraunce of me.
Likewyse after supper he toke the cuppe, and when he had
geven thankes, he gave it to them, saiyng: drynk ye all of this, for
this is my bloude of the newe Testament, whyche is shed for you and
for many, for remission of synnes: do this as oft as you shall drinke
it, in remembraunce of me.
	These
	two images how the main portion of the Prayer of Consecration, as it appeared
	in the original 1549 Book. Clicking on an image will give a larger (100K+)
	readable version.
	* strength in some prinings
These
wordes before rehersed are to be saied, turning still to the Altar,
without any elevacion, or shewing the Sacrament to the people.
WHERFORE,
O Lorde and heavenly father, accordyng to the Instytucyon of thy derely
beloved sonne, our saviour Jesu Christ, we thy humble servauntes do
celebrate, and make here before thy divine Majestie, with these thy
holy giftes, the memoryall whyche thy sonne hath wylled us to make,
havyng in remembraunce his blessed passion, mightie resurreccyon, and
gloryous ascencion, renderyng unto thee most hartie thankes, for the
innumerable benefites procured unto us by the same, entierely desiryng
thy fatherly goodnes, mercifully to accepte this our Sacrifice of praise
and thankesgeving: most humbly beseching thee to graunt, that by the
merites and death of thy sonne Jesus Christ, and through faith in his
bloud, we and al thy whole church, may obteigne remission of our sinnes,
and all other benefites of hys passyon. And here wee offre and present
unto thee (O Lorde) oure selfe, oure soules, and bodies, to be a reasonable,
holy, and lively sacrifice unto thee: humbly besechyng thee, that whosoever
shalbee partakers of thys holy Communion, maye worthely receive the
most precious body and bloude of thy sonne Jesus Christe: and bee fulfilled
with thy grace and heavenly benediccion, and made one bodye with thy
sonne Jesu Christe, that he maye dwell in them, and they in hym. And
although we be unworthy (through our manyfolde synnes) to offre unto
thee any Sacryfice: Yet we beseche thee to accepte thys our bounden
duetie and service, and commaunde these our prayers and supplicacions,
by the Ministery of thy holy Angels, to be brought up into thy holy
Tabernacle before the syght of thy dyvine majestie; not waiyng our merites,
but pardonyng our offences, through Christe our Lorde, by whome, and
with whome, in the unitie of the holy Ghost: all honour and glory, be
unto thee, O father almightie, world without ende. Amen.
Let
us praye.
As
our saviour Christe hath commaunded and taught us, we are bolde to saye.
Our father, whyche art in heaven, halowed be thy name. Thy Kyngdome
come. Thy wyll be doen in yearth, as it is in heaven. Geve us this daye
our dayly breade. And forgeve us our trespaces, as wee forgeve them
that trespasse agaynst us. And leade us not into temptacion.
The aunswere. But
deliver us from evill. Amen.
Then
shall the priest saye.
The peace of the Lorde be alwaye with you.
The Clerkes. And
with thy spirite.
The Priest. Christ
our Pascall lambe is offred up for us, once for al, when he bare our
sinnes on hys body upon the crosse, for he is the very lambe of God,
that taketh away the sines of the worlde: wherfore let us kepe a joyfull
and holy feast with the Lorde.
Here
the priest shall turne hym toward those that come to the holy Comniunion,
and shall saye.
YOU
that do truly and earnestly repent you of your synnes to almightie God,
and be in love and charitie with your neighbors, and entende to lede
a newe life, folowyng the commaundementes of God, and walkyng from hencefurth
in his holy wayes: drawe nere and take this holy Sacrament to your comforte,
make your humble confession to almightie God, and to his holy church
here gathered together in hys name, mekely knelyng upon your knees.
Then
shall thys generall Confession bee made, in the name of al those that
are minded to receive the holy Communion, either by one of them, or
els by one of the ministers, or by the prieste himselfe, all kneeling
humbly upon their knees.
ALMYGHTIE
GOD father of oure Lord Jesus Christ, maker of all thynges, judge of
all men, we knowlege and bewaile our manyfold synnes and wyckednes,
which we from tyme to tyme, most grevously have committed, by thought,
word and dede, agaynst thy divine maiestie, provokyng moste justely
thy wrath and indignacion against us, we do earnestly repent and be
hartely sory for these our misdoinges, the remembraunce of them is grevous
unto us, the burthen of them is intollerable: have mercye upon us, have
mercie upon us, moste mercyfull father, for thy sone our Lorde Jesus
Christes sake, forgeve us all that is past, and grant that we may ever
hereafter, serve and please thee in neunes of life, to the honor and
glory of thy name: Through Jesus Christe our Lorde.
Then
shall the Prieste stande up, and turnyng himselfe to the people, say
thus,
ALMIGHTIE
GOD, our heavenly father, who of his great mercie hath promysed
forgevenesse of synnes to all them, whiche with hartye repentaunce
and true fayth, turne unto him: have mercy upon you, pardon and delyver
you from all youre sinnes, confirme and strengthen* you in all goodnes,
and bring you to everlasting lyfe: through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Then
shall the Priest also say,
Heare what coumfortable woordes our saviour Christ sayeth, to all
that truely turne to him.
Come unto me all that travell, and bee heavy laden,
and I shall refreshe you. So God loved the worlde that he gave his onely
begotten sonne, to the ende that al that beleve in hym, shoulde not
perishe, but have lyfe everlasting.
Heare also what saint Paul sayeth.
This is a true saying, and woorthie of all men to
bee received, that Jesus Christe came into thys worlde to save sinners.
Heare also what saint John sayeth.
If any man sine, we have an advocate with the father,
Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the propiciacion for our sinnes.
Then shall
the Priest turnyng him to gods boord, knele down, and say in the name
of all them, that shall receyve the Communion, this prayer folowing.
WE
do not presume to come to this thy table (o mercifull lord) trusting
in our owne righteousnes, but in thy manifold and great mercies: we
be not woorthie so much as to gather up the cromes under thy table:
but thou art the same lorde whose propertie is alwayes to have mercie:
Graunt us therefore (gracious lorde) so to eate the fleshe of thy dere
sonne Jesus Christ, and to drynke his bloud in these holy Misteries,
that we may continuallye dwell in hym, and he in us, that our synfull
bodyes may bee made cleane by his body, and our soules washed through
hys most precious bloud. Amen.
¶
Then shall the Prieste firste receive the Communion in both kindes
himselfe, and next deliver it to other Ministers, if any be there present,
(that they may bee ready to helpe the chiefe Minister,) and after to
the people.
¶
And when he delivereth the Sacramente of the body of Christe, he
shall say to every one these woordes.
The
body of our Lorde Jesus Christe whiche was geven for thee, preserve
thy bodye and soule unto everlasting lyfe.
And
the Minister delivering the Sacrament of the bloud, and geving every
one to drinke once and no more, shall say,
The bloud
of our Lorde Jesus Christe which was shed for thee, preserve thy bodye
and soule unto everlastyng lyfe.
If
there be a Deacon or other Priest, then shal he folow with the Chalice:
and as the Priest ministereth the Sacrament of the body, so shal he
(for more expedition) minister the Sacrament of the bloud, in fourme
before written.
In
the Communion tyme the Clarkes shall syng,
ii. O lambe of god, that takeste away the sinnes of the worlde : have
mercie upon us.
O lambe of god, that takeste away the synnes of the
worlde : graunt us thy peace.
Beginning
so soone as the Prieste doeth receyve the holy Communion, and when the
Communion is ended, then shall the Clarkes syng the post Communion.
¶ Sentences
of holy Scripture, to be sayd or song every daye one, after the
holy Communion, called the post Communion.
IF
any man will folowe me, let him forsake hymselfe, and take up his crosse
and folowe me. Math. xvi.
Whosoever shall indure unto thende, he shalbe saved.
Mar. xiii.
Praysed be the Lorde god of Israell, for he hath
visited and redemed hys people : therefore let us serve hym all the
dayes of our lyfe, in holines and righteousnes accepted before hym.
Luc. i.
Happie are those servauntes, whome the Lord (when
he cummeth) shall fynde waking. Luc. xii.
Be ye readye, for the sonne of manne will come at
an hower when ye thinke not. Luc. xii.
The servaunte that knoweth hys maisters will, and
hath not prepared himself, neither hath doen according to his will,
shalbe beaten with many stripes. Luc. xii.
The howre cummeth, and now it is, when true woorshippers
shall wurship the father in spirite and trueth. John
iiii.
Beholde, thou art made whole, sinne no more, lest
any wurse thing happen unto thee. John v.
If ye shall continue in my woorde, then are ye my
very disciples, and ye shall knowe the truth, and the truth shall make
you free. John viii.
While ye have lighte, beleve on the lyght, that ye
may be the children of light. John xii.
He that hath my commaundementes, and kepeth them,
the same is he that loveth me. John xiiii.
If any man love me, he will kepe my woorde, and my
father will love hym, and wee will come unto hym, and dwell with hym.
John xiiii.
If ye shall byde in me, and my woorde shall abyde
in you, ye shall aske what ye will, and it shall bee doen to you. John
xv.
Herein is my father gloryfyed, that ye beare much
fruite, and become my disciples. John xv.
This is my commaundement, that you love together
as I have loved you. John xv.
If God be on our syde, who can be agaynst us? which
did not spare his owne sonne, but gave him for us all. Roma.
viii.
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Goddes chosen?
it is GOD that justifyeth, who is he that can condemne? Roma.
viii.
The nyght is passed and the day is at hande, let
us therfore cast away the dedes of darkenes, and put on the armour of
light. Rom. xiii.
Christe Jesus is made of GOD, unto us wisedome, and
righteousnes, and sanctifying, and redempcion, that (according as it
is written) he whiche reioyceth shoulde reioyce in the Lorde. 1
Corin. i.
Knowe ye not that ye are the temple of GOD,
and that the spirite of GOD dwelleth in you? If any manne defile the
temple of GOD, him shall God destroy. 1 Corin. iii.
Ye are derely bought, therfore glorifye God in your
bodies, and in your spirites, for they belong to God. 1
Cor. vi.
Be you folowers of God as deare children, and walke
in love, even as Christe loved us, and gave himselfe for us an offeryng
and a Sacrifyce of a sweete savoure to God. Ephes.
v.
Then
the Priest shall geve thankes to God, in the name af all them that have
communicated, turning him first to the people, and saying.
The
Lorde be with you.
The aunswere. And with thy spirite.
The priest. Let us pray.
	* everlasting in some printings
ALMIGHTYE and
everlyvyng* GOD, we moste hartely thanke thee, for that thou hast
vouchsafed to feede us in these holy Misteries, with the spirituall
foode of the moste precious body and bloud of thy sonne, our saviour
Jesus Christ, and haste assured us (duely receiving the same) of thy
favour and goodnes toward us, and that we be very membres incorporate
in thy Misticall bodye, whiche is the blessed companye of all faythfull
people, and heyres through hope of thy everlasting kingdome, by the
merites of the most precious death and passion, of thy deare sonne.
We therfore most humbly beseche thee, O heavenly father, so to assist
us with thy grace, that we may continue in that holy felowship, and
doe all suche good woorkes, as thou hast prepared for us to walke
in: through Jesus Christe our Lorde, to whome with thee and the holy
gost, bee all honour and glory, world without ende.
Then
the Priest turning hym to the people, shall let them depart with this
blessing:
The peace of GOD (which passeth all understanding) kepe your hartes
and mindes in the knowledge and love of GOD, and of his sonne Jesus
Christ our Lorde: And the blessing of God almightie, the father,
the sonne, and the holy gost, be emonges you and remayne with you
alway.
Then
the people shall aunswere.
Amen.
Where there are no clerkes, there the Priest shall
say al thinges appoynted here for them to sing.
When the holy Communion is celebrate on the workeday,
or in private howses: Then may be omitted, the Gloria in excelsis, the
Crede, the Homily, and the exhortacion, beginning.
DEARELY beloved, &c.
¶
Collectes to bee sayed after the Offertory, when there is no Communion,
every such day one.
ASSIST
us mercifully, O Lord, in these our supplicacions and praiers, and dispose
the way of thy servauntes, toward the attainement of everlasting salvacion,
that emong all the chaunges and chaunces of thys mortall lyfe, they
maye ever bee defended by thy moste gracious and readye helpe; throughe
Christe our Lorde. Amen.
O ALMIGHTIE Lorde and everlyvyng
GOD, vouchesafe, we beseche thee, to direct, sanctifye, and governe,
both our heartes and bodies, in the wayes of thy lawes, and in the workes
of thy commaundementes: that through thy most mightie proteccion, both
here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soule: Through our Lorde
and saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
GRAUNT we beseche thee almightie
god, that the wordes whiche we have hearde this day with our outwarde
eares, may throughe thy grace, bee so grafted inwardly in our heartes,
that they may bring foorth in us the fruite of good living, to the honour
and prayse of thy name: through Jesus Christe our Lorde. Amen.
PREVENT [=go
before] us, O lorde, in all our doinges, with thy most gracious
favour, and further us with thy continuall helpe, that in al our woorkes
begonne, continued, and ended in thee: we may glorifye thy holy name,
and finally by thy mercy obteine everlasting life: Through, &c.
ALMIGHTIE God, the fountayn of
all wisdome, which knowest our necessities beefore we aske, and our
ignoraunce in asking: we beseche thee to have compassion upon our infirmities,
and those thynges, whiche for our unwoorthines we dare not, and for
our blindnes we cannot aske, vouchsave to geve us for the woorthines
of thy sonne Jesu Christ our Lorde. Amen.
ALMIGHTIE god, which hast
promised to heare the peticions of them that aske in thy sonnes name,
we beseche thee mercifully to inclyne thyne eares to us that have made
nowe our prayers and supplicacions unto thee, and graunt that those
thynges whiche we have faythfullye asked accordyng to thy will, maye
effectually bee obteyned to the reliefe of oure necessitye, and to the
settyng foorth of thy glorye: Through Jesus Christ our Lorde.
¶
For rayne.
O
GOD heavenly father, whiche by thy sonne Jesu Christ, hast promised
to al them that seke thy kingdom, and the righteousnes therof, al thinges
necessary to the bodely sustenaunce: send us (we beseche thee) in this
our necessitie, such moderate rayne and showers, that we may receive
the fruites of the earth, to our comfort and to thy honor; Through Jesus
Christ our Lord.
For
fayre wether.
O
LORDE God, whiche for the sinne of manne didst once drowne all the worlde,
except eight persons, and afterwarde of thy great mercye, didste promise
never to destroy it so agayn: We humbly beseche thee, that although
we for oure iniquities have woorthelye deserved this plague of rayne
and waters, yet, upon our true repentaunce, thou wilt sende us suche
wether wherby we may receive the fruites of the earth in due season,
and learne both by the punishment to amende our lives, and by the graunting
of our peticion to geve thee prayse and glory: Through Jesu Christ our
Lorde.
¶
Upon wednesdaies and frydaies the English Letany shalbe said or song
in all places, after suche forme as is appoynted by the kynges majesties
Injunccions: Or as is or shal bee otherwyse appoynted by his highnes.
And thoughe there be none to communicate with the Prieste, yet these
dayes (after the Litany ended) the Priest shall put upon him a playn
Albe or surplesse, with a cope, and say al thinges at the Altar (appoynted
to be sayed at the celebracyon of the lordes supper), untill after the
offertory. And then shall adde one or two of the Collectes aforewritten,
as occasion shall serve by his discrecion. And then turning him to the
people shall let them depart with the accustomed blessing. And the same
order shall be used all other dayes whensoever the people be customably
assembled to pray in the churche, and none disposed to communicate with
the Priest.
Lykewyse in Chapelles annexed, and all other places,
there shalbe no celebracion of the Lordes supper, except there be some
to communicate with the Priest. And in suche Chapelles annexed where
ye people hath not bene accustomed to pay any holy bread, there they
must either make some charitable provision for the bering of the charges
of the Communion, or elles (for receyvying of the same) resort to theyr
Parish Churche.
For
advoyding of all matters and occasyon of dyscencyon, it is mete that
the breade prepared for the Communion, bee made, through all thys realme,
after one sort and fashion: that is to say, unleavened, and rounde,
as it was afore, but without all maner of printe, and somethyng more
larger and thicker than it was, so that it may be aptly devided in divers
pieces: and enery one shall be devided in two pieces, at the leaste,
or more, by the discrecion of the minister, and so distributed. And
menne muste not thynke lesse to be receyved in parte then in the whole,
but in eache of them the whole body of our saviour Jesu Christ.
And
forsomuche as the Pastours and Curates within thys realme shal continually
fynd at theyr costes and charges in theyr cures, sufficient Breade and
Wyne for the holy Communion (as oft as theyr Parishioners shalbe disposed
for theyr spiritual comfort to receyve the same) it is therefore ordred,
that in recompence of suche costes and charges, the Parishioners of
every Parishe shall offer every Sonday, at the tyme of the Offertory,
the juste valour and price of the holy lofe (with all suche money, and
other thinges as were wont to be offered with the same) to the use of
theyr Pastours and Curates, and that in suche ordre and course, as they
were woont to fynde and pay the sayd holy lofe.
Also,
that the receiving of the Sacrament of the blessed body and bloud of
Christ, may be most agreable to the institucion thereof, and to the
usage of the primitive Churche: In all Cathederall and Collegiate Churches,
there shal alwaies some Communicate with the Prieste that ministreth.
And that the same may bee also observed every where abrode in the countrey:
Some one at the least of that house in every Parishe to whome by course
after the ordinaunce herein made, it apperteyneth to offer for the charges
of the Communion, or some other whom they shall provide to offer for
them, shall receive the holy Communion with the Prieste: the whiche
may be the better doen, for that they knowe before, when theyr course
commeth, and maie therfore dispose themselves to the worthie receivyng
of the Sacramente. And with hym or them who doeth so offre the charges
of the Communion; all other, who be then Godly disposed thereunto, shall
lykewyse receive the Communion. And by this meanes the Minister havyng
alwaies some to communicate with him, maie accordingly solempnise so
high and holy misteries, with all the suffrages and due ordre appoynted
for the same. And the Priest on the weke daie shall forbeare to celebrate
the Communion, excepte he have some that will communicate with hym.
Furthermore,
every man and woman to be bound to heare and be at the divine service,
in the Parishe churche where they be resident, and there with devout
prayer, or Godlye silence and meditacion, to occupie themselves. There
to paie their dueties, to communicate once in the yeare at the least,
and there to receyve, and take all other Sacramentes and rites, in this
booke appoynted. And whosoever willyngly upon no just cause, doeth absent
themselves, or doeth ungodly in the Parishe churche occupie themselves:
upon proffe [proof]
therof, by the Ecelesiasticall lawes of the Realme to bee excommunicate,
or suffre other punishement, as shall to the Ecclesiastical judge (accordyng
to his discrecion) seme convenient.
And
although it bee redde in aunciente writers, that the people many yeares
past received at the priestes handes the Sacrament of the body of Christ
in theyr owne handes, and no commaundement of Christ to the contrary:
Yet forasmuche as they many tymes conveyghed the same secretelye awaye,
kept it with them, and diversly abused it to supersticion and wickednes:
lest any suche thynge hereafter should be attempted, and that an uniformitie
might be used, throughoute the whole Realme: it is thought convenient
the people commonly receive the Sacrament of Christes body, in their
mouthes, at the Priestes hande.

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