Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Charge them who are rich in this world, that they be ready to give,
and glad to distribute; laying up in store for themselves a good
foundation against the time to come, that they may attain eternal
life.
The King descended from his throne, supported and attended as before;
and went to the steps of the altar, and knelt down there.
And first the King offered bread and wine for the Communion, which were
brought out of king Edward's chapel, and delivered into his hands, the
bread upon the paten by the bishop that read the Epistle, and the wine
in the chalice by the bishop that read the Gospel; these were by the
archbishop received from the King, and reverently placed upon the altar,
and decently covered with a fair linen cloth, the archbishop first
saying this prayer:--
Bless, O Lord, we beseech thee, these thy gifts, and sanctify them
unto this holy use, that by them we may be made partakers of the
body and blood of thine only begotten Son Jesus Christ, and fed unto
everlasting life of soul and body: and that thy servant King GEORGE
may be enabled to the discharge of his weighty office, whereunto of
thy great goodness thou hast called and appointed him. Grant this, O
Lord, for Jesus Christ's sake, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.
Then the King kneeling, as before, made his second Oblation, offering a
mark weight of gold, which the treasurer of the household delivered to
the lord great chamberlain, and he to His Majesty. And the archbishop
came to him, and received it in the basin, and placed it upon the
altar. After which the bishop said:--
O God, who dwellest in the high and holy place, with them also who
are of an humble spirit; look down mercifully upon this thy servant
GEORGE, our King, here humbling himself before thee at thy
footstool; and graciously receive these oblations, which in humble
acknowledgment of thy sovereignty over all, and of thy great bounty
to him in particular, he has now offered up unto thee, through Jesus
Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.
Then the King returned to his chair, and knelt down at his faldstool;
the archbishop said:--
Let us pray for the whole state of Christ's church militant here on
earth.
Almighty and ever-living God, who by thy holy Apostle hast taught us
to make prayers and supplications, and to give thanks for all men:
we humbly beseech thee most mercifully to receive these our prayers
which we offer unto thy Divine Majesty, beseeching thee to inspire
continually the universal church with the spirit of truth, unity,
and concord: and grant that all they that 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 to save and defend all Christian kings,
princes, and governors; and especially thy servant GEORGE our King,
that under him we may be godly and quietly governed: and grant unto
his whole council, and to all that are put in authority under him,
that they may truly and indifferently minister 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 curates, 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 them 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.