Part 43 (1/2)

Almighty G.o.d, the fountain of all wisdom, who knowest our necessities before we ask, and our ignorance in asking: We beseech thee to have compa.s.sion upon our infirmities; and those things, which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask, vouchsafe to give us for the worthiness of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.

Almighty G.o.d, who hast promised to hear the pet.i.tions of them that ask in thy Son's Name: We beseech thee mercifully to incline thine ears to us that have made now our prayers and supplications unto thee; and grant that those things, which we have faithfully asked according to thy will, may effectually be obtained, to the relief of our necessity, and to the setting forth of thy glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.

| PRAYERS FOR CERTAIN FESTIVALS AND SEASONS | | _Which may be said immediately before the Blessing at holy_ | _Communion, or before the conclusion of other services_.

| | _Advent_.

| | Grant, O almighty G.o.d, that as thy blessed Son Jesus Christ at | his first advent came to seek and to save that which was lost, so | at his second and glorious appearing he may find in us the fruits | of the redemption which he wrought, who liveth and reigneth, with | thee and the Holy Spirit, one G.o.d, world without end. _Amen_.

| | _Christmas-day, and seven days after_.

| | O G.o.d, who hast given us grace at this time to celebrate the | birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ: We laud and magnify thy | glorious Name for the countless blessings which he hath brought | unto us; and we beseech thee to grant that we may ever set forth | thy praise in joyful obedience to thy will; through the same | Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.

| | _Epiphany, and seven days after_.

| | Almighty G.o.d, who at the baptism of thy blessed Son Jesus Christ | in the river Jordan didst manifest his glorious G.o.dhead: Grant, | we beseech thee, that the brightness of his presence may s.h.i.+ne | in our hearts, and his glory be set forth in our lives; through | the same Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.

| |_Easter-day, and seven days after_.

| | O Lord G.o.d Almighty, whose blessed Son, our Saviour, Jesus | Christ, did on the third day rise triumphant over death: Raise | us, we beseech thee, from the death of sin unto the life of | righteousness, that we may seek those things which are above, | where he sitteth on thy right hand in glory. And this we beg for | the sake of the same, thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.

| | _Ascension-day, and seven days after_.

| | Almighty G.o.d, whose blessed Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ | ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things: | Mercifully give us faith to perceive that according to his | promise he abideth with his Church on earth, even unto the end of | the world; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.

| | _Whitsunday, and six days after_.

| | O almighty G.o.d, who on the day of Pentecost didst send the Holy | Ghost the Comforter to abide in thy Church unto the end: Bestow | upon us and all thy faithful people his manifold gifts of grace, | that with minds enlightened by his truth, and hearts purified by | his presence, we may day by day be strengthened with power in | the inward man; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and | the same Spirit liveth and reigneth, one G.o.d, world without end.

| _Amen_.

| | _Trinity Sunday_.

| | O Lord G.o.d Almighty, Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, the mysteries | of whose being are unsearchable: Accept, we beseech thee, our | praises for the revelation which thou hast made of thyself, | Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, three Persons, and one G.o.d; and | mercifully grant, that ever holding fast this faith we may | magnify thy glorious Name; who livest and reignest, one G.o.d, | world without end. _Amen_.

| | _Two other prayers_.

| | O almighty Father, wellspring of life to all things that have | being, from amid the unwearied praises of Cherubim and Seraphim | who stand about thy throne of light which no man can approach | unto, give ear, we humbly beseech thee, to the supplications of | thy people who put their sure trust in thy mercy, through Jesus | Christ our Lord. _Amen_. (_From the_ Book of Deer.) | | O Lord Jesus Christ, before whose judgement-seat we must all | appear and give account of the things done in the body: Grant, | we beseech thee, that when the books are opened in that day, the | faces of thy servants may not be ashamed, through thy merits, O | blessed Saviour, who livest and reignest with the Father and the | Holy Spirit, one G.o.d, world without end. _Amen_. [_From the_ | Altus _of_ St Columba.]

_Upon the Sundays and other Holy-days_ (_if there be no Communion_) _shall be said all that is appointed at the Communion, until the end of the general Prayer_ [For the whole state of Christ's Church militant here in earth] _together with one or more of these Collects last before rehea.r.s.ed, concluding with the Blessing_.

_And there shall be no Celebration of the Lord's Supper, except there be a convenient number to communicate with the Priest, according to his discretion_.

_And if there be not above twenty persons in the Parish of discretion to receive the Communion: yet there shall be no Communion, except four_ (_or three at the least_) _communicate with the Priest_.

_And in Cathedral and Collegiate Churches, and Colleges, where there are many Priests and Deacons, they shall all receive the Communion with the Priest every Sunday at the least, except they have a reasonable cause to the contrary_.

_And to take away all occasion of dissension, and superst.i.tion, which any person hath or might have concerning the Bread and Wine, it shall suffice that the Bread be such as is usual to be eaten; but the best and purest Wheat Bread that conveniently may be gotten_.

_And if any of the Bread and Wine remain unconsecrated, the Curate shall have it to his own use: but if any remain of that which was consecrated, it shall not be carried out of the Church, but the Priest, and such other of the Communicants as he shall then call unto him, shall, immediately after the Blessing, reverently eat and drink the same_.

_The Bread and Wine for the Communion shall be provided by the Curate, and the Church-wardens at the charges of the Parish_.

_And note, that every Paris.h.i.+oner shall communicate at the least three times in the year, of which Easter to be one. And yearly at Easter every Paris.h.i.+oner shall reckon with the Parson, Vicar, or Curate, or his or their Deputy or Deputies; and pay to them or him all Ecclesiastical Duties, accustomably due, then and at that time to be paid_.

_After the Divine Service ended, the money given at the Offertory shall be disposed of to such pious and charitable uses, as the Minister and Church-wardens shall think fit. Wherein if they disagree, it shall be disposed of as the Ordinary shall appoint_.