The Door of Heaven Part 5

Then shall the Priest say,

Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith unto all that truly turn to Him.

Come unto Me, all that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. _St. Matt._ xi. 28.

So G.o.d loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, to the end that all that believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. _St. John_ iii. 16.

Hear also what St. Paul saith.

This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 1 _Tim._ i. 15.

Hear also what St. John saith.

If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and He is the propitiation for our sins. 1 _St. John_ ii.

1, 2.

After which the Priest shall proceed, saying,

Lift up your hearts.

_Answer. We lift them up unto the Lord_.

_Priest_. Let us give thanks unto our Lord G.o.d.

_Answer. It is meet and right so to do_.

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Then shall the Priest turn to the Lord's Table, and say,

It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, *Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting G.o.d.

* _These words_ [Holy Father] _must be omitted on Trinity Sunday_.

Here shall follow the Proper Preface, according to the time, if there be any specially appointed: or else immediately shall follow,

Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Thy glorious Name; evermore praising Thee, and saying, _Holy, holy, holy, Lord G.o.d of Hosts, heaven and earth are full of thy glory: Glory be to thee, O Lord most High. Amen_.

PROPER PREFACES.

[These are used only at the Seasons named.]

Upon CHRISTMAS DAY, and seven days after.

Because Thou didst give Jesus Christ Thine only Son to be born as at this time for us; who, by the operation of the Holy Ghost, was made very man of the {34} substance of the Virgin Mary his mother; and that without spot of sin, to make us clean from all sin. Therefore with Angels, &c.

Upon EASTER DAY, and seven days after.

But chiefly are we bound to praise Thee for the glorious Resurrection of Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord: for He is the very Paschal Lamb, which was offered for us, and hath taken away the sin of the world; who by His death hath destroyed death, and by His rising to life again hath restored to us everlasting life. Therefore with Angels, &c.

_Upon_ ASCENSION DAY, _and seven days after_.

Through Thy most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who after his most glorious resurrection manifestly appeared to all his Apostles, and in their sight ascended up into heaven to prepare a place for us; that where He is, thither we might also ascend, and reign with Him in glory. Therefore with angels, &c.

_Upon_ WHIT SUNDAY, _and six days after_.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord; according to whose most true promise, the Holy Ghost came down as at this time from heaven with a sudden great sound, as it had {35} been a mighty wind, in the likeness of fiery tongues, lighting upon the Apostles, to teach them, and to lead them to all truth; giving them both the gift of divers languages, and also boldness with fervent zeal constantly to preach the Gospel unto all nations; whereby we have been brought out of darkness and error into the clear light and true knowledge of Thee, and of Thy Son Jesus Christ. Therefore with Angels, &c.

_Upon the Feast of_ TRINITY _only_.

Who art one G.o.d, one Lord; not one only Person, but three Persons in one Substance. For that which we believe of the glory of the Father, the same we believe of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, without any difference or inequality. Therefore with Angels, &c.

After each of which Prefaces shall immediately be sung or said,

Therefor with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Thy glorious Name; evermore praising Thee, and saying, _Holy, holy, holy, Lord G.o.d of Hosts, heaven and earth are full of Thy glory: Glory be to Thee, O Lord most high. Amen_.

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Then shall the Priest, kneeling down at the Lord's Table, say in the name of all them that shall receive the Communion this Prayer following,

We do not presume to come to this Thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in Thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under Thy Table. But Thou art the same Lord, Whose property is always to have mercy: Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the Flesh of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink His Blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by His Body, and our souls washed through His most precious Blood, and that we may evermore dwell in Him, and He in us. _Amen_.

[Now you are coming to the most solemn part of the whole Service--the Prayer of Consecration. The Priest is speaking for you to G.o.d, and is consecrating, or making sacred and holy, the Bread and the Wine you are going to receive. Try to follow every word most reverently, and join heartily in the "Amen" at the close.]

THE PRAYER OF CONSECRATION.

When the Priest, standing before the Table, hath so ordered the Bread and Wine that he may with the more readiness and decency break the Bread before {37} the people, and take the Cup into his hands, he shall say the Prayer of Consecration, as followeth:

Almighty G.o.d, our heavenly Father, who of Thy tender mercy didst give Thine only Son Jesus Christ to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption; who made there (by His one oblation of Himself once offered) a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction, for the sins of the whole world; and did inst.i.tute, and in His holy Gospel command us to continue, a perpetual memory of that His precious death, until His coming again; Hear us, O merciful Father, we most humbly beseech Thee; and grant that we receiving these Thy creatures of bread and wine, according to Thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ's holy inst.i.tution, in remembrance of His death and pa.s.sion, may be partakers of His most blessed Body and Blood: who, in the same night that He was betrayed, [_Here the Priest is to take the Paten into his hands:] took bread; and when He had given thanks, [_And here to break the Bread:] He brake it, and gave it to His Disciples, saying, Take, eat, [_And here to lay his hand upon all the bread_.] this is My Body which is given for you: Do this in remembrance of Me. Likewise after supper He [_Here he is to take to Cup into his hand_:] took the Cup; and when He had given thanks. He gave it to {38} them, saying, Drink ye all of this; for this [_And here to lay his hand upon every vessel_ (_be it Chalice or Flagon_) _in which there is any Wine to be consecrated_.] is My Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins: Do this, as oft as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of Me. _Amen_.

[You will have some time for private prayer, either before you go up to receive, or after you return to your place. Spend this time on your knees, speaking to G.o.d. Tell Him all about your difficulties--about the sin you find it so hard to conquer. Ask G.o.d to help you. When it is time for you to receive, go up quietly, and, as you kneel, think of Jesus Himself saying, "Whoso eateth My Flesh and drinketh My Blood, hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." Say secretly: "Lord, be merciful unto me: heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee.]

_The Minister, when he gives you the Bread, will say,_