loctrine and holy life, that century. we may truly repent ac cording to his preaching; stantly speak the truth, The Epistle is taken from Isaiah's prophecy of the Baptist's ministry, and after his example con- and the Gospel narrates his birth. The boldly rebuke vice, and 24th of June is remarkable as being patiently suffer for the truth's sake; through typical of S. John's words, “He must Jesus Christ our Lord. increase, but I must decrease." S. Augustine says, "John was born to-day, Amen. and from to-day the days decrease." S. Peter's Day. O Almighty God, who by For the Collect (composed in 1549) thy Son Jesus Christ didst see Acts iv. 7--13, Gal. ii. 8, James i. give to thy Apostle Saint Peter manyexcellent gifts, 17, John xxi. 15—17, 2 Tim. iv. 2, Col. and commandedst him i. 27, 28, Heb. xiii. 7-17, 1 Pet. v. 2—4• earnestly to feed thy flock; Make, we beseech thee. This festival is of the highest antiquity, all Bishops and Pastors as commemorating S. Peter's martyrdom diligently to preach thy holy Word, and the peo- at Rome, A.D. 72. The Epistle is the ple obediently to follow the same, that they may account, from the Acts, of S. Peter's receive the crown of ever- release from prison. The Gospel is the lasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. account of S. Peter's confession of Christ. Amen. S. James' Day. Saint James, leaving his ent unto the calling of thy For the Collect (composed in 1549) Grant, O merciful God, see Matt. iv. 21, 22, 1 John ii. 15, Rev. that as thine holy Apostle xxii. 14, 1 Thess. v. 15. S. James, the father and all that he had, brother of S. John, was slain with the without delay was obedi- sword at the instance of Herod Agrippa. Son Jesus Christ, and fol- The account of his martyrdom, in the lowed him; so we, forsaking all worldly and carnal Acts, is appointed for the Epistle; and affections, may be ever- the Gospel relates the request of the commandments; mother of SS. James and John for them, through Jesus Christ our with our Lord's answer to it. more ready to follow thy holy Lord. Amen. S. Bartholomew's O Almighty and everlast mew grace truly to believe For the Collect (Sarum Miss. and Greg. Sac.) see Matt. x. 2-7, Mark vi. ing God, who didst give 12, Eph. v. 25, 26, James i. 21, 1 Thess. to thine Apostle Bartholo- ii. 13. S. Bartholomew is generally supand to preach thy Word; posed to be the same person as Nathaniel, Grant, we beseech thee, though the Fathers do not countenance unto thy Church, to love that Word which he be- this opinion. The Epistle is taken from lieved, and both to preach the account of the Apostle's miraculous through Jesus Christ our power, in the Acts; and the Gospel and receive the same; Lord. Amen. relates our Lord's reproof to the Apostles for striving which should be the greatest. S. Matthew's Day. For the Collect (composed in 1549) O Almighty God, who by see Matt. ix. 9, and x. 2-7, Luke xii. Matthew from the receipt 15, Ps. lxii. 10, 1 Tim. vi. 8—11, Ps. of custom to be an Apostle cxix. 36, Matt. xvi. 24—26. thy blessed Son didst call and Evangelist; Grant us The feast grace to forsake all covet- of S. Matthew is of ancient date. The ous desires, and inordinate love of riches, and to fol- Epistle teaches the self-denial and perlow the same thy Son severance of Christ's true ministers, which Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee S. Matthew's call so signally illustrated; and the Holy Ghost, one and the Gospel recounts the actual circumstances of his call. Church tradition declares that S. Matthew was martyred at Ethiopia. God, world without end. Amen. S. Michael and all For the Collect (Sarum Miss., Greg. Angels. Sacr., and English Version in 14th Cent. O Everlasting God, who Prymer) see Col. i. 16, Rev. xii. 7, Rev hast ordained and consti- vii. 11, Ps. lxviii. 17, Ps. civ. 4, Ps. ciii. angels and men in a won- 20, I Cor. xii. 28, Rev. v. 11, 12, Ps. derful order; Mercifully tuted the services of grant, that as thy holy XXXiv. 7, Ps. xci. 11, 12, Dan. vi. 22, Angels alway do thee ser- Acts xii. 7, Matt. xviii. 10. This feast is vice in heaven, so by thy appointment they may of ancient date, and in it our Church the ministry of holy succour and defend us on earth; commemorates through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Angels in general to the heirs of salvation, and their communion with us in the city of the living God. The Epistle contains the Apocalyptic account of S. Michael's war against the Dragon. In the Gospel our Lord bids us be humble, as little children, if we would be as the Archangels, the greatest in the kingdom of heaven; and also to beware how we offend one of those little ones, whose guardian angels ever behold the Father's face. S. Luke's Day. whose praise is in the For the Collect (composed in 1549) Col. iv. 14, 2 Tim. iv. 11, Rom. x. Rev. xxii. 1, 2, 1 Tim. vi. 3, 4, Jer. viii. 22, Mal. iv. 2, Is. liii. 5, Ps. ciii. 2, 3. This feast dates from the 4th century, that, by the wholesome and is the commemoration of S. Luke's delivered by him, all the martyrdom in Greece. The Epistle tells diseases of our souls may medicines of the doctrine be healed; through the US how S. Luke was S. Paul's faithful merits of thy Son Jesus companion on the eve of his martyrdom. Christ our Lord. Amen. The Gospel contains the sending forth of the seventy disciples, which S. Luke alone records. on the foundation of the SS. Simon and Jude's Day. O Almighty God, who see Eph. ii. 19--22, Rev. xxi. 14, Eph. hast built thy Church up- iv. 3-13, Gal. i. 8, 2 John 10, 1 Cor. iii. Apostles and Prophets, 16, 17. This feast is of ancient date in Jesus Christ himself being the Western Church. The Epistle conthe head corner-stone; Grant us so to be joined tains S Jude's exhortation to defend the together in unity of spirit faith, and the Gospel our Lord's precept may be made an holy of Divine love as the Church's consolatemple acceptable unto thee; through Jesus Christ tion in suffering. For the Collect (composed in 1549) by their doctrine, that we our Lord. Amen. All Saints' Day. hast knit together thine For the Collect (composed in 1549) O Almighty God, who see 1 John i. 3, Eph. ii. 19, Eph. iii. 9, elect in one communion 15, I Cor. xii. 12, 13, Rom. xii. 4, 5, I John i. 6, 7, Heb. vi. 12, Heb. xii. 1, 2, I Cor. ii. 9, Is. xxxv. 10, Heb. xii. 22— This festival dates from the 6th 24. century, and is the Church's witness to unspeakable joys, which the communion of saints. The Epistle thou hast prepared for contains the number of the sealed in the them that unfeignedly and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord; Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those love thee; through Jesus Apocalypse, and the vision of the great Christ our Lord. Amen. multitude of the saints. The Beatitudes are chosen for the Gospel, as being the standard of Christian saintliness, and the pattern of the perfect man. 156 CHAPTER VI. THE ORDER OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER, OR HOLY COMMUNION. SECTION I. THE ANTE-COMMUNION TO THE NICENE Introductory So many as intend to be partakers of the holy Communion shall sig nify their names to the Curate, at least some time the day before. CREED. THE first three rubrics are intended to save the clergy And if any of those be excommunicate themselves. The " an open and notorious Or evil liver, or have done dinary" is the Bishop of the Diocese in any wrong to his neigh his judicial capacity. bours by word or deed, In Queen Eliza so that the Congrega beth's reign it was the custom amongst tion be thereby offended; the Puritanically affected of the clergy the Curate, having knowledge thereof, shall to carry the Holy Elements to the call him and advertise him, that in any wise people, who knelt in a body, and when he presume not to come the chancel was not large enough to hold to the Lord's Table, un least declare himself to til he hath openly de- the communicants it was permitted to clared himself to have truly repented and celebrate in the nave. The practice of amended his former moving the Holy Table led to irreverence naughty life, that the Congregation may and Puritanic notions on the Holy Comthereby be satisfied, which before were of munion, and so it was universally disconfended; and that he tinued in Charles I.'s reign, by the inhath recompensed the parties, to whom he junctions of Archbishop Laud, as contrary hath done wrong; or at to all primitive usage, and needless, since be in full purpose so to the Elements could be ministered just as conveniently, and far more reverently, at the Altar steps. The Altar should be The same order shall vested in a superfrontal, which may be those betwixt whom he crimson, and a frontal of the colour of perceiveth malice and the season. The legal ornaments of suffering them to be Altar Cross and Altar Lights should stand partakers of the Lord's Table, until he know on the Re-Table, and before the celebrathem to be reconciled. tion, to follow the judgment of Sir R. And if one of the parties so at variance be Phillimore (a duly-appointed Dean do, as soon as he conveniently may. the Curate use with hatred to reign; not content to forgive from of the bottom of his heart Arches), the two Altar Lights should be all that the other hath lighted. This primitive use obtains now trespassed against him, and to make amends at St. Paul's Cathedral. for that he himself hath offended; and the other party will not be persuaded to a godly unity, but remain still in his frowardness and malice: the Minister in that case ought to admit the penitent person to the holy Communion, and not him that is obstinate. Provided that every Minister so repelling any, as is specified in this, or the next precedent Paragraph of this Rubrick, shall be obliged to give an account of the same to the Ordinary within fourteen days after at the farthest. And the Ordinary shall proceed against the offending person according to the Canon. The Table, at the Com The North-side does not mean the munion-time having a North end. It means the North-side of fair white linen cloth upon it, shall stand in the front of the Altar, and represents the the Body of the Church, Sarum direction "in dextro cornu Altaris." or in the Chancel, where Morning and Evening The Priest should stand facing East at Prayer are appointed the North or Gospel side of the Altar. to be said. And the Priest standing at the North-side of the Table shall say the Lord's Prayer, with the Collect following, the people kneeling. The Lord's Prayer. The rubric in Mattins ordering the Our Father, which art in people always to join in the Lord's heaven, Hallowed be thy |