we eat and drink our own damnation, not considering the LORD's body; we kindle GOD's wrath against us; we provoke him to plague us with divers diseases and sundry kinds of death. Judge therefore yourselves, brethren, that you be not judged of the LORD; repent you truly for your sins past; have a lively and steadfast 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 should always 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 blood-shedding 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.

DIRECTIONS.-Being thus called upon to make your humble Confession to Almighty God, be especially concerned that your heart be lifted up with your voice to the throne of Divine grace, and let it be your humble prayer that you may have a share in that pardon which is soon after to be pronounced by the Minister.

Y

Then shall the Priest say to them that come to receive the Holy Communion

E that 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 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.

DIRECTIONS. In this Confession of Sins, join with the Minister both in heart and voice, with the greatest humility, for you are therein equally concerned with him.

Then shall this general Confession be made in the name of all those that are minded to receive the Holy Communion, by one of the Ministers; both he and all the people kneeling humbly upon their knees, and saying,

A

LMIGHTY 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 burthen 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.

DIRECTIONS.-When the Absolution begins, then hold your peace, and attend to the Minister with all your heart; and, placed in an humble posture, beg earnestly of God that he will please to confirm in heaven the absolution of your sins pronounced at this time by his minister. But do not imagine that you are to repeat the Absolution word for word with the Minister, which would be at variance with its intention and design. He speaks here as an Ambassador for Christ, and it is the part of the People therefore to be silent and to attend, and to say nothing but a most earnest Amen, with a firm resolution to lead a new life. And therefore let me warn you in all the Public Prayers that you join audibly with the Minister where you are directed so to do; but on all other occasions, let your mind accompany his words in silence, and make them all your own by saying a hearty AMEN. The observance of order and decency in prayer tends much to edification; whereas, the contrary begets distraction, and disturbs both yourself and your neighbour. It much offends devout and understanding people to hear men and women say their prayers without due consideration on the subject, being silent where they should speak, and joining with the Minister aloud, where they should only hearken and say Amen; and thus appearing, however unconsciously, to encroach upon the priestly office in that which is its peculiar and exclusive character. "For whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them, and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained."

When the Absolution is over, attend diligently to the Sentences of Scripture which the Minister is to read; and when he bids you lift up your hearts to God, it must be your endeavour not only to do it in word, but in deed, and with great earnestness.

Then shall the Priest (or the Bishop, being present) stand up, and turning himself to the People, pronounce this Absolution:

A

LMIGHTY GOD, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all them that 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 Priest say,

Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith unto all that truly turn to him:

Come unto me all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. Matt. xi. 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. John iii. 16.