CHAPTER XLIX.

THE ORDER FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER

+The Elder shall read one or more of these sentences, during the reading of which the stewards shall take up the collection for the poor:+

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.—Matt. v. 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.—Matt. vi. 19, 20.

Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.—Matt. vii. 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.—Matt. vii. 21.

Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him four-fold.—Luke xix. 8.

He which soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver.—2 Cor. ix. 6, 7.

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.—Gal. vi. 10.

Godliness with contentment is great gain; for we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.—1 Tim. vi. 6, 7.

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate, laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 1 Tim. vi. 17, 18, 19.

God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.—Heb. vi. 10.

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

Whoso hath this world's goods, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?—1 John iii. 17.

He that hath pity upon the poor, lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.—Prov. xix. 17.

Blessed is he that considereth the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.—Psalm xli. 1.

+Then shall the elder read this invitation+

Ye that do truly and earnestly repent of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbors, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in his holy ways, 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 the general confession be made by the minister, in the name of all those who are minded to receive the holy communion, both he and all the people kneeling humbly upon their knees and saying:+

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. 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 honor and glory of thy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

+Then shall the Elder say:+

O Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, who of thy great mercy hast promised forgiveness of sins to all them that with hearty repentance and true faith turn to thee; have mercy upon us; pardon and deliver us from all our sins, confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, and bring us to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

THE COLLECT

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts be 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 Elder 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.

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.

+Then shall the Elder say:+

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 souls and bodies may be made clean by his death, and washed through his most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us.

Amen.

+Then the Elder 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 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 took bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you: do this in remembrance of me. Likewise after supper he took the cup; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them saying, Drink ye all of this; for this 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 other minister in like manner, if any be present. Then shall he say the Lord's Prayer, the people still kneeling and repeating after him every petition:+

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on 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, forever and ever.

Amen.

+Then a hymn may be sung, and the communicants shall be invited to the table. The minister shall deliver both kinds to the people unto their hands. When he delivereth the bread he shall say:+

The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for =thee=, preserve =thy soul= and =body= 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 shall say:+

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

+When all have communed, the minister shall return to the Lord's table, and place upon it what remaineth of the consecrated elements, covering the same with a fair linen cloth.+

+The minister may then say as followeth:+

O Lord and Heavenly Father, we thy humble servants 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 thy whole Church may obtain remission of our sins. 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 filled 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 offenses, through Jesus Christ our Lord: by whom, and with whom, in the unity of the Holy Ghost all honor and glory be unto thee, O Father Almighty, world without end.

Amen.

+Then may be said:+

Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, good-will toward 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, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that 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 Elder, if he see it expedient, may put up an extemporaneous prayer; and afterwards shall let the people depart with this blessing:+

May 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 among you, and remain with you always.

Amen.

+If the Elder be straitened for time, he may omit any part of the service except the prayer of consecration.+

+If the consecrated bread or wine be all spent before all have communed, the Elder may consecrate more, by repeating the prayer of consecration.+

+Let those who have scruples concerning the receiving of the communion kneeling, be permitted to receive it either standing or sitting; but no person shall be admitted to the Lord's Supper among us who is guilty of any practice for which we would exclude a member of our Church.+