tward.

279. The Woman, that cometh to give her Thanks, must offer accustomed
Offerings; and, if there be a Communion, it is convenient that she
receive the holy Communion.

The Service is intentionally concluded without a blessing, which
it is wrong to insert. The suggestion of the woman's receiving the
Holy Communion is aided by the incompleteness of the Service ending
abruptly with the Thanksgiving.

With regard to the time of the Service, there is no express
direction, provided that a congregation may be reasonably expected.

The offering of the woman is connected with her receiving the Holy
Communion, and should be made in that Service, if she comes to it.
In all cases, it is well that it should be formally received by the
Priest or an assistant, in an alms-bag or bason, and presented by
the Priest on the Altar.

It is to be observed that no mention is made of the condition of
the woman, as being in wedlock or not. When it was objected at the
Savoy Conference that some profession of humiliation ought to be
required of an unmarried or profligate woman before she was
admitted to the privilege of thanksgiving, the Bishops replied,
"that such a woman should do her penance before she was churched."

If the Priest, therefore, be privately cognizant of the penance of
such a woman, he is bound to admit her to the Service, without
requiring public profession of her humiliation.

Without such cognizance he could hardly admit such a woman to a
Service which expressly implies access to Communion.

A COMMINATION,

OR DENOUNCING OF GOD'S ANGER AND JUDGEMENTS

AGAINST SINNERS,

_With certain Prayers to be used on the First Day of Lent, and at
other Times, as the Ordinary shall appoint_.

280. After Morning Prayer, the Litany ended according to the
accustomed manner, the Priest shall, in the Reading-Pew or Pulpit,
say, Brethren, &c.

The 51st Psalm is directed to be said, not 'said or sung.' Singing,
therefore, appears to be excluded, as it was, in the similar place
in the old English Office, by the direction to say the Psalm _sine
nota_.

281. And the people shall answer and say. Amen.

282. Then shall they all kneel upon their knees, and the Priest and
Clerks kneeling (in the place where they are accustomed to say the
Litany) shall say this Psalm. Have mercy upon me, &c.

283. Then shall the people say this that followeth, after the
Minister. Turn Thou us, &c.

284. Then the Minister alone shall say,