my heart, that all my affections and desires may be in lively exercise when I approach thy holy altar. There may I enjoy the manifestations of thy mercy -there may I experience that thou art infinitely gracious-that truly blessed are they who put their trust in thee. And oh! may the exalted joys of thy love, shed through my soul at thy holy table, awaken my ardent desires for the glorious consummation of bliss in thy heavenly kingdom, where there is fulness of joy; where there are pleasures for evermore. Even so, O my God, for the sake of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. Amen;

202

THE ORDER FOR THE

ADMINISTRATION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER,

OR

HOLY COMMUNION.

The excellent and affecting office for the Holy Communion, prescribed by the Church, is the best guide to his devotions at the altar that the communicant can possibly have, and renders almost unnecessary all other aid. It should be the business of the communicant seriously to attend to this service, and heartily and sincerely to join in it. As he goes up towards the chancel, let him secretly use the following ejaculations:

In the multitude of thy mercies, O Lord, do I now approach thine altar.

I will pay thee my vows now in the all thy people.

presence of

Thou art my God, and I will bless thee; thou art my God, and I will exalt thee.

God is the Lord, by whom we receive light; bind the sacrifice with cords, even to the horns of the altar.

When the minister reads the sentences of the Offertory, let the communicant offer up after each sentence, the short ejaculation annexed. When there is a communion, the minister shall return to the Lord's table, and begin the Offertory, saying one or more of these sentences fol lowing, as he thinketh most convenient.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. St. Matt. v. 16.

(O Almighty God, give me grace to honour thee by a life of holiness and active charity; and may those who are the objects of my beneficence, render their praises to thee, the gracious Father and Benefactor of mankind.)

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. St. Matt. vi. 19, 20.

(Free my soul, O God, from the inordinate love of riches; and dispose me earnestly to seek the satisfying treasures of thy heavenly kingdom.)

Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, even so do to them: For this is the law and the prophets. St. Matt. vii. 12.

(Give me grace, O God, ever sacredly to observe this rule of eternal justice.)

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. St. Matt. vii. 21.

(Grant, O God, that I may never build my hope of salvation upon an outward profession only, without a life of holiness and virtue.-May my faith in thy name produce the fruit of good living.)

Zaccheus stood forth, and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have done any wrong to any man, I restore four-fold. St. Luke xix. 8.

(If thou, O Lord, hast given me ability, give me a disposition also to be both just and charitable, that thou mayest say to me, as thou didst to this publican, Salvation is come to thy house.)

Who goeth a warfare at any time at his own cost? Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? 1 Cor. ix. 7.

(O God, may I cheerfully and readily give a portion of my worldly substance to the support of the

servants of the sanctuary, who labour in spiritual things.)

If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your worldly things? 1 Cor. ix. 11.

(May I evermore endeavour, by every mean in my power, to promote the temporal comfort and happiness of those who devote their time and their talents to ministering to my spiritual necessities.)

Do ye not know, that they who minister about holy things, live of the sacrifice; and they who wait at the altar, are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord also ordained, that they who preach the Gospel, should live of the Gospel. 1 Cor. ix. 13, 14.

(Since thou, O Lord, hast thus ordained-far be it from me to withhold from thy ministers the maintenance which is their just and inviolable due.)

He that soweth little, shall reap little; and he that soweth plenteously, shall reap plenteously. Let every man do according as he is disposed in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Cor. ix. 6, 7.

(May I ever proportion my alms to my ability, lest I provoke God to proportion his blessings to my alms.)

Let him that is taught in the word, minister unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived, God is not mocked: For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he reap. Gal. vi. 6, 7.

(There is no return, O God, which we can make to thy ministers, equal to the blessings which they bestow upon us: For they minister unto us the means of grace and salvation.)

While we have time, let us do good unto all men; and especially unto them that are of the household of faith. Gal. vi, 10.

(Blessed be God, that I have yet time! Lord,

give me a heart to do good before the night cometh, when no man can work.)

Godliness is great riches, if a man be content with that he hath: For we brought nothing into the world, neither may we carry any thing out. 1 Tim. vi. 6, 7. (Grant me, O God, a pious and contented mind; and for the rest-thy will be done!)

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. 1 Tim. vi. 17, 18, 19.

(If thou hast given me riches, O God, grant me grace to employ them in works of beneficence and mercy, that thus they may be instrumental in advancing my eternal felicity.)

God is not unrighteous, that he will forget your works, and labour that proceedeth of love; which love ye have showed for his name's sake, who have ministered unto the saints, and yet do minister. Heb. vi. 10.

(0 blessed Lord, how great is thy goodness! All that I have is thine; and yet thou dost condescend to receive every act of charity to thy saints and servants, as if it were done unto thyself.)

To do good and to distribute, forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Heb. xiii. 16. (May our prayers and our alms ascend unto thee, O God; and do thou graciously accept them for Jesus Christ's sake.)

Whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 1 John iii. 17.

(O my God and Saviour! may I ever manifest my love and gratitude to thee, by acts of beneficence and kindness to my fellow men.)