[If thou hast given me riches, O God, grant me grace to employ them in works of beneficence and mercy, that thus they may be instrumental in advancing my eternal felicity.]

God is not unrighteous, that he will forget your works, and labour that proceedeth of love: which love ye have showed for his name's sake, who have ministered unto the saints, and yet do minister.-Heb. vi. 10.

[O blessed Lord, how great is thy goodness! All that I have is thine: and yet thou dost condescend to receive every act of charity to thy saints and servants, as if it were done unto thyself!]

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

[May our prayers and our alms ascend unto thee, O God! and do thou graciously accept them for Jesus Christ's sake.]

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

[O my God and Saviour! may I ever manifest my love and gratitude to thee, by acts of beneficence and kindness to my fellow men.]

Give alms of thy goods, and never turn thy face from any poor man; and then the face of the Lord shall not be turned away from thee. Tob. iv. 17.

[Grant me, O Lord, a lively compassion for the miseries of others, that thou mayest finally have compassion on me.]

Be merciful after thy power. If thou hast much, give plenteously. If thou hast little, do thy diligence

gladly to give of that little for so gatherest thou thyself a good reward, in the day of necessity.-Tob. iv. 8, 9.

[I thank thee, O God, that thou dost not judge or reward according to the greatness of the gift, but according to the disposition and ability of the giver. And after all, thy rewards infinitely exceed the merit of our most exalted acts of virtue.]

He that hath pity upon the poor, lendeth to the Lord and look, what he layeth out, it shall be paid him again.-Prov. xix. 17.

[Blessed be thy name, O God, that thou dost vouchsafe to regard my beneficence to the poor as a favour rendered unto thyself; and dost graciously promise to repay me from the exhaustless treasure of thine infinite mercies.]

Blessed be the man that provideth for the sick and needy the Lord shall deliver him in the time of trouble.-Psal. xli. 1.

[O Lord, may I carefully avoid all idle and vain expenses, that I may thus be always able to administer to the consolation and support of the sick and needy. May a principle of divine charity and love evermore animate and inspire me; that thus, in the time of trouble, in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment, I may with confidence flee to thee as my refuge and my portion.

Ejaculation to be used at offering our Alms. O Lord! from the bounties of thy Providence with which thou hast crowned my lot, I cheerfully and humbly devote a portion to

the service of thy altar-to the relief and comfort of the distressed members of Christ's mystical body. To thee be all the glory and all the praise, through Jesus Christ.-AMEN.]

Whilst these Sentences are in reading, the Deacons, Church-wardens, or other fit persons appointed for that purpose, shall receive the Alms for the Poor, and other Devotions of the People, in a decent Bason to be provided by the Parish for that purpose; and reverently bring it to the Priest, who shall humbly present and place it upon the Holy Table.

[Before the prayer for Christ's church militant, if an opportunity offer, use the following

prayer:

Saviour of the world! I come to thy altar to commemorate thy dying love; to plead the merits of thy cross and baptism; to testify my unshaken faith in thee; my communion with thy holy church; my charity with all mankind. Blessed Jesus! who hast called me to the participation of the sacred mysteries of thy altar, guide and aid me in my devotions; quicken my repentance; animate my faith and gratitude; fix my ardent contemplations on the eternal glories of thy mercy and grace. Nourished and strengthened by the sacred symbols of thy body and blood, may both my soul and body be prepared for that everlasting life which thou hast purchased by thy merits; and which thou dost bestow on all those who believe in thy saving name, and rely alone on thy mercy and power. Even so, blessed Jesus.AMEN.] X

¶ And the Priest shall then place upon the Table so much Bread and Wine, as he shall think sufficient. After which done, he shall say,

Let us pray for the whole state of Christ's Church militant.

*

accept our

Almighty and everliving God, who, by thy holy Apostle, hast taught us to make prayers and supplications, and to give thanks for all men: We humbly beIf there be no seech thee most mercifully [* to accept alms or oblati- our alms and oblations, and] to receive ons, then shall these our prayers, which we offer unto the words (to thy divine Majesty; beseeching thee to alms and ob- inspire continually the Universal Church lations, and) with the spirit of truth, unity, and conbe left unsaid. cord; and grant that all they who do confess thy holy Name may agree in the truth of thy holy word, and live in unity and godly love. We beseech thee also, so to direct and dispose the hearts of all Christian Rulers, that they may truly and impartially administer justice, to the punishment of wickedness and vice, and to the maintenance of thy true religion and virtue. Give grace, O heavenly Father, to all Bishops and other Ministers; that they may, both by their life and doctrine, set forth thy true and lively word, and rightly and duly administer thy holy Sacraments. And to all thy people give thy heavenly grace; and especially to this Congregation here present; that with meek heart, and due reverence, they may hear, and receive thy holy Word; truly serving thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life. And we most humbly beseech thee, of thy goodness, O Lord, to comfort and succour all those who, in this transitory life, are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity. And we also bless thy holy Name, for all thy servants departed this life in thy faith and fear; beseeching thee to give us grace so to follow

their good examples, that with them we may be partakers of thy heavenly kingdom: Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ's sake, our only Mediator and Advocate.-AMEN.

At the time of the celebration of the Communion, the Priest shall say this Exhortation.

Dearly beloved in the Lord, ye who mind to come to the holy Communion of the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ, must consider how St. Paul exhorteth all persons diligently to try and examine themselves, before they presume to cat of that Bread, and drink of that Cup. For as the benefit is great, if with a true penitent heart and lively faith we receive that holy Sacrament; so is the danger great, if we receive the same unworthily. Judge therefore yourselves, brethren, that ye be not judged of the Lord; repent ye truly for your sins past; have a lively and stedfast faith in Christ our Saviour; amend your lives, and be in perfect charity with all men: so shall ye be meet par takers 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 for 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,