goodnes toward vs, 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 euerlasting kingdome, by the merites of the most precious death and passion, of thy deare sonne. We therfore most humbly beseche thee, O heauenly father, so to assist vs with thy grace, that we may continue in that holy felowship, and doe all suche good woorkes, as thou hast prepared for vs to walke in, through Jesus Christe our Lorde, to whome with thee, and the holy goste, 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 (whiche passeth all vnderstandyng) kepe your heartes and mindes in the knowledge and loue of GOD, and of hys sonne Jesus Christe our lorde. And the blessing of God almightie, the father, the sonne, and the holy gost, be emonges you, and remayne with you alway.

Amen.

Then the people shall aunswere.

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 priuate houses: Then may be omitted, the Gloria in excelsis, the Crede, the Homily, and the exhortacion, beginning. Dearely beloued. &c.

Collectes to bee sayed after the Offertory, when there is no Communion, euery such day one.

A

SSIST vs mercifully, O Lord, in these our supplicacions

& praiers, and dispose the way of thy seruauntes, toward the attainement of euerlasting saluacyon, that emong all the chaunges and chaunces of thys mortall lyfe, they may euer bee defended by thy moste gracious and readye helpe: throughe Christe our Lorde. Amen.

ALMIGHTIE Lorde and euerlyuyng GOD, vouchesafe, we beseche thee, to direct, sanctifye and gouerne, both our heartes and bodies, in the wayes of thy lawes, and in the workes of thy cōmaundementes: that through thy most mightie protec

cion, both here and euer, we may be preserued in body and soule: Through our Lorde and sauiour Jesus Christ. Amen.

GR

RAUNT we beseche thee almightie god, that the wordes whiche we haue hearde this day with our outwarde eares, may throughe thy grace, bee so grafted inwardly in our heartes, that they may bring foorth in vs, the fruite of good liuing, to the honour and prayse of thy name: Through Jesus Christe our Lorde. Amen.

PREVENT

REUENT vs, O lorde, in all our doinges, with thy most gracious fauour, and further vs 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 euerlasting life. Through. &c.

LMIGHTIE God, the fountayn of all wisdome, which knowest our necessities beefore we aske, and our ignoraunce in asking: we beseche thee to haue compassion vpon our infirmities, and those thynges whiche for our vnwoorthines we dare not, and for our blindnes we can not aske, vouchsaue to geue vs for the woorthines of thy sonne Jesu Christ our Lorde. Amen.

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LMIGHTIE 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 vs that haue made nowe our prayers and supplicacions vnto thee, and graunte that those thynges whiche we haue 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.

Ο

For rayne.

GOD heauenly father, whiche by thy sonne Jesu Christ, hast promised to al the that seke thy kingdom, & the righteousnes thereof, al thinges necessary to the bodely sustenaunce: send vs (we beseche thee) in this our necessitie, such moderate rayne and showers, that we may receiue the fruites of the earth, to our comfort and to thy honor: Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

For fayre wether.

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 neuer to destroy it so agayn: We hubly beseche thee, that although we for oure iniquities haue woorthelye deserued this plague of rayne and waters, yet vpon our true repentaunce, thou wilt sende vs suche wether wherby we may receiue the fruites of the earth in due season, and learne both by thy punishment to amende our liues, and by the graunting of our peticion, to geue thee prayse and glory: Through Jesu Christ our Lorde.

Upon wednesdaies & frydaies, the English Letany shalbe said or song in all places, after suche forme as is appoynted by the kynges maiesties Iniunccions: Or as is or shal bee otherwyse appoynted by his highnes. And though there be none to communicate with the Prieste, yet these dayes (after the Letany ended) the Priest shall put vpon him a playn Albe or surplesse, with a cope, and say al thinges at the Altar (appoynted to bee sayde at the celebracyon of the lordes supper) vntill after the offertory. And then shall adde one or two of the Collectes afore written, as occasion shall serue by his discrecion. And then turning him to the people shall let them depart, with the accustomed blessing.

And the same order shall be vsed all other dayes, whensoeuer 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 the 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 receyuyng of the same) resort to theyr Parish Churche.

For aduoyding 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, vnleauened, and rounde, as it was afore, but without all maner of printe, and some thyng more larger and thicker then it was, so that it may be aptly deuided in diuers pieces: and euery one shall be deuided 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 receyued in parte, then in

the whole, but in eache of them the whole body of our sauiour 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 receyue the same) it is therefore ordred, that in recompence of suche costes and charges, the Parishoners of euerye Parishe shall offer every Sonday, at the tyme of the Offertory, the iuste 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 vse 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 therof, and to the vsage of the primatiue Churche: In all Cathederall and Collegiate Churches, there shal alwaies some Communicate with the Prieste that ministreth. And that the same may bee also obserued euery where abrode in the countrey: Some one at the least of that house in euery 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 prouide to offer for them, shall receiue the holye Communion with the Prieste: the whiche may be the better doen, for that they knowe before, when theyr course commeth, and maie therfore dispose themselues to the worthie receiuyng 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 hauyng alwaies some to communicate with him, maie accordingly solempnise so high and holy misteries, with all the suffrages and due ordre appoynted for thesame. And the Priest on the weke daie, shall forbeare to celebrate the Communion, excepte he have some that will communicate with hym.

Furthermore, euery man and woman to be bound to heare and be at the diuine seruice, in the Parishe churche where they be resident, and there with deuout prayer, or Godlye silence and meditacion, to occupie themselues. There to paie their dueties,

to communicate once in the yeare at the least, and there to receyue, and take all other Sacramentes and rites, in this booke appoynted. And whosoeuer willyngly vpon no iust cause, doeth absent themselues, or doeth vngodly in the Parishe churche occupie themselues: vpon proffe therof, by the Ecclesiasticall lawes of the Realme to bee excomunicate, or suffre other punishement, as shall to the Ecclesiastical iudge (accordyng to his discrecion) seme conuenient.

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 conueyghed the same secretelye awaye, kept it with them, and diuersly abused it to supersticion and wickednes: lest any suche thyng hereafter should be attempted, and that an vniformitie might be vsed, throughoute the whole Realme: it is thought conuenient the people commonly receiue the Sacrament of Christes body, in their mouthes, at the Priestes hande.

From the Edition of the first Common Prayer Book, "Imprinted at London in Fletestrete by Edward Whitchurche, the seventh daye of Marche, 1549." Folio.

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