BOOK OF K. CHARLES II. 1662. SCOTCH LITURGY 1637. commandments, that at the day of the general resurrection, we and all they which are of the mystical body of thy Son, may be set on his right hand, and hear that his most joyful voice, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ's sake, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen. [For the Order of this Prayer in the New Communion Service of the Church of Scotland, See Appendix XXII. 18.] Or in case he shall see the People negligent to come to the holy Communion, instead of the former, he shall use this Exhortation. [In this Book the ordinary Exhortation takes precedence of the one employed in case of negligence on the part of the Communicants. They are transposed however in this place that they may be seen in juxtaposition with those of the other Books.] Dearly beloved brethren, on I intend by God's grace to celebrate the Lord's Supper: unto which in God's behalf, I bid you all that are here present; and beseech you for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, that ye will not refuse to come thereto, being so lovingly called and bidden by God himself. Ye know, &c. Then shall follow this Exhortation at certain times when the Presbyter or Curate shall see the people negligent to come to the holy Communion. [In this and our present English Book as in the II. B. of Edw. VI. except where otherwise stated.] I. BOOK K. EDW. VI. 1549. withdrawing of, 1629. that, Sc. Lit. salvation, 1629. ye, Eliz. 1559, Graf. ye, Eliz. 1559. you, James 1607. you, Eliz. 1559. of, Eliz. 1559. II. BOOK 1552. you take ye good heed, lest ye, withdrawing your- SCOTCH LITURGY 1637. BOOK OF K. CHARLES II. 1662. because I am otherwise hindered with worldly business, &c. wherefore then do ye not repent and amend? When God calleth you, are ye not ashamed to say, you will not come? When ye should return to God, will ye excuse yourselves, and say, ye are not ready? Consider earnestly with yourselves, how little such feigned excuses will avail before God, &c. I for my part shall be ready; and according to mine office, &c. And as the Son of God did vouchsafe to yield up his soul by death upon the cross for your salvation; so it is your duty to receive the Communion in remembrance of the sacrifice of his death, as he himself hath commanded Which if ye shall neglect to do, consider with yourselves, how great injury ye do unto God, and how sore punishment hangeth over your heads for the same; when ye wilfully abstain : And as the Son of God did vouchsafe to offer up himself by death upon the cross, for our salvation: even so it is our duty to celebrate and receive the holy Communion together in the remembrance of his death and sacrifice, as he himself commanded. Now if you will in no wise thus do, consider with yourselves, how great injury you do unto God, and how sore punishment hangeth over your heads for the same. no, I. BOOK K. EDW. VI. 1549. Eliz. 1559. not, in the other Books. thing, omitted 1629. others, 1629. ye, Eliz. 1559. ye, Eliz. 1559. II. BOOK 1552. municate, and be no partakers of the same yourselves. For what thing can this be accounted else, than a further contempt and unkindness unto God. Truly it is a great unthankfulness to say nay when ye be called; but the fault is much greater when men stand by, and yet will neither eat nor drink this holy communion with other. I pray you what can this be else but even to have the mysteries of Christ in derision? It is said unto all, Take ye, and eat; Take, and drink ye all of this; Do this in remembrance of me. With what face then, or with what countenance, shall ye hear these words? What will this be else but a neglecting, a despising, and mocking of the Testament of Christ? Wherefore, rather than you should do so, depart you hence, and give place to them that be godly disposed. But when you depart, I beseech you ponder with yourselves from whom you depart? Ye depart from the Lord's table, ye depart from your brethren, and from the banquet of most heavenly food. These things if ye earnestly consider, ye shall by God's grace return to a better mind: for the obtaining whereof we shall make our humble petitions, while we shall receive the holy Com munion. And if upon the Sunday or holyday the people be negligent to come to the communion, then shall the Priest earnestly exhort his parishioners to dispose themselves to the receiving of the holy communion more diligently, saying these or like words unto them. [For the Order of this Exhortation in the Book of 1549, see immediately before the Offertory.] Dear friends and you especially upon whose souls I have cure and charge, on next I do intend by God's grace, to ¶ And sometime shall be said this also at the discretion of the Curate. [In this column and the next to the right, the whole of each exhortation is given, but the sentences are disjoined in order to place them in juxtaposition with the First of Edw. VI. In the above Rubric the word for Curate in the Latin copies of Elizabeth is 'Presbyteri.'] Dearly beloved, forasmuch as our duty is to render to Almighty God our heavenly Father most hearty thanks, for BOOK OF K. CHARLES II. 1662. from the Lord's Table, and separate from your brethren, who come to feed on the banquet of that most heavenly food. These things if ye earnestly consider, ye will by God's grace return to a better mind: for the obtaining whereof, we shall not cease to make our humble petitions unto Almighty God our heavenly Father. [The above variations were made in 1662.] SCOTCH LITURGY 1637. And whereas you offend God so grievously in refusing this holy banquet, I admonish, exhort and beseech you, that unto this unkindness you will not add any more; which thing ye shall do, if ye stand by as gazers, and lookers on them that do communicate, and be not partakers of the same yourselves. For what thing can this be accounted else, than a further contempt and unkindness unto God. Truly it is a great unthankfulness to say nay when ye be called; but the fault is much greater when men stand by, and yet will not receive this holy sacrament which is offered unto them. I pray you, &c. [The remainder as in the II. Book of Edw.] When the Minister giveth warning for the celebration of the holy communion, (which he shall always do upon the Sunday, or some Holy-day immediately preceding) after the Sermon or Homily ended, he shall read this Exhortation following. [1662. See also Appendix No. XI. and XVI. 4.] And sometime shall this be said also, at the discretion of the Presbyter or Curate. Dearly beloved, on-day [The Scotch Liturgy follows the II. Book of next I purpose, through God's assistance, to administer to all such as shall be religiously and Edw VI. in this Exhortation, except where otherwise noted in the column of 1552.] |