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yet there fhall be no Communion, except four, or
three at the least, communicate with the Prieft.
-i And in Cathedral and Collegiate-Churches and
Colleges, where there are many Priests and Dea-
cons, they fhall receive the Communion with the
Prieft every Sunday at the leaft, except they
have a reafonable caufe to the contrary."

d And the moft refrefhing (not heady) Pure red wine. Gen.

4. 4.

And to take away all occafion of diffenfion, and fuperftition, which any perfon hath, or might have concerning the Bread and Wine d; it fhall fuffice that the Bread be fuch as is ufual to be eaten, but the Beft and Pureft wheat bread that conve`niently may be gotten.

• But with a special

care of fober and reverent use. No impenitent Perfon fhould taft of it; because it has been upon the holy Table. f Exod. 12. 10, 46. g Not now after the Bleffing, as the Sacrament, but only as that to which a Reverence is due. For the Bread and Wine

are confecrated only for the use of the pre

And if any of the Bread and Wine remain unconfecrated, the Curate fhall have it to his own ufe e. But if any of that remain which was confecrated, it fhall not be carried out of the Church f: but the Prieft, and fuch other of the Communicants as he fhall then call unto him, fhall immediately after the Bleffing, reverently eat and drink the fame g.

fent Communion. Therefore what remains of them is no more a Sacrament, than the fanctified water of Baptifm, after the prefent ufe of it. The Grace-cup after Supper, (which Chrift made the Sacrament of his Blood) after it was bleffed with giving thanks, every one fealed the thanksgiving with drinking a little of it. This being done, if any of it remain'd, it was, or might be then, as other wine. In the old Rubrick, all that reImain'd of the Bread and Wine, was given, without distinction, to the use of the Curate.

However the remainder of the confecrated Bread and Wine

N 3

fhould

с

Alts 2. 42, 46. Ch 20.7.

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fhould be eaten and drank with thankful remembring Chrift's Body broken, and his Blood shed for us.

But immediately after the Bleffing, or immediately before it, it would be well done to have fome imitation of the ancient Apoftolical Feafts of Charity, mention'd Acts 2. 46, and Jude 12; which, together with the Sacrament, are call'd the Lord's Supper 1 Cor. 11. 20. St. Paul would not have thofe Feafts laid afide, because they were abus'd; but he would have the abuse of them reform'd.

Therefore a Sober diftribution of the fame Bread and Wine, of which part was confecrated, would help us to think of The Strengthning and refreshing of our fouls by the Body and Blood of Christ, as our bodies are by the Bread and Wine; and fo ftir us up to bless God for the fame.

The bread and wine for the Communion, shall be provided by the Curate and the Churchwardens, at the Charges of the Parifh.

b Eafter must be one of the times; because at that time Chrift Di

ed; and becaufe this Sacrament is instead of the Paffover, which was kept at Eafter, as, a Type of Chrift's Death. 1 Cor. 5. 7. But we may not content our felves with communicating only at Eafter: as the Remembrance of the Sacrifice of Chrift's Death,and of

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the Benefits which we receive thereby, is not to be only at that time. By what is faid Acts 2. 42, 46. Ch. 2o. 7, and 1 Cor. 11. 20, we cannot well think that the Apostles and firft Chriftians did partake of this Sacrament feldomer than every Lord's

day,

day, and other holy Feaft-day. And that they and we should do fo, is intimated by our Saviour's confecrating the Gracecup after fupper, us'd in all the Jews Feafts. See the Lord's Supper, 17 2 br

Therefore we ought to endeavour after fuch holiness of life, as that we may be fit to partake of it as often as they did; when by our fo often coming to it, we do not leffen, but increase our Reverend Esteem of it.

In the mean time they must be without excufe, who neglect to partake of it as often as the Church requires.

Care ought to be taken that holy alms be given to fuch good

Chriftians as are fit to have them.

And in giving these and other alms, the good of Souls is first to confider'd. Nothing can be better done than to put poor children to

After the Divine Service ended, the money given at the Offertory fhall be difpofed of to fuch pious and charitable ufes i, as the Minifter and Churchwardens fhall think fit: wherein if they disagree, it fhall be difpofed of as the Ordinary fhall appoint.

fchool. And except in great neceffity, no alms fhould be given to any, but those that endeavour to live as Chriftians ought. By this means how much good might a rich man do among his neighbours!

k Thank

ful.

Whereas it is ordain'd in this Office for the Administration of the Lord's Supper, that the Communicants fhould receive the fame kneeling; which Order is well meant, for a fignification of our humble and grateful k acknowledgment of the Benefits of Chrift therein given to all worthy recei- /Who then vers, and for the avoiding of fuch profanation pray, and as might otherwise enfue: Yet least the fame kneel- therefore ing fhould, by any perfons, either out of igno-pray kneelought to rance and infirmity, or out of malice and obfti- ing, for nacy, be misconstrued and depraved m; it is here the fame declared, That thereby no adoration n is intended, Benefits. or ought to be done, either unto the Sacramental " Worship. Bread and Wine there bodily received, or unto

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any

mSlander'd.

Bodily. any corporal o prefence of Chrift's natural Flesh and Blood. For the Sacramental Bread and Wine remain in their very natural fubftances, and therefore may not be adored p: for that were idolatry, ? Wor- to be abhorred of all faithful Chriftians. And the shipped.

natural Body and Blood of our Saviour Chrift are in heaven, and not here; it being against the truth of Christ's natural Body, to be at one time in more places than one.

Matth.28. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghaft.

19.

THE

DIVINE INSTITUTION

OF

CONFIRMATION,

AND

The HONOUR due to it;

Very plainly fhewing what Confirmation was in the Days of the Apostles:

That the fame, notwithstanding the Ceafing

of Miraculous Gifts, is Ordain'd of God for the Means of a Plenteous Increase of Grace to all Chriftians:

And what Preparation and Reverence it requires, both of Those who are to be Confirm'd, and of Parents, Mafters, Ministers, &c.

Alfo the Deplorable Decay of True Chriftianity through the Contempt of Confirmation.

Heb. xii. 28..

Let us have grace, whereby we may ferve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear.

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