3.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.

Amen.

4.

The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always.

Amen.

5.

Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be with you, henceforth and for ever.

Amen.

304

XI.

Exhortation before the Holy Communion.

(Which may be used instead of that on page 173.)

AS we are now about to celebrate the Holy Com

munion of the body and blood of Christ, let us consider how St Paul exhorteth all persons to examine themselves before they eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For as the benefit is great, if with a truly penitent heart, and lively faith, we receive that holy Sacrament (for then we spiritually eat the flesh of Christ and drink His blood; then we dwell in Christ and Christ in us, we are one with Christ and Christ with us), so is the danger great if we receive the same unworthily, for then are we guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

Let us then examine ourselves as to our faith in the doctrines of the Gospel, set forth in the Apostles' Creed, as follows :

:

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the

dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.

Amen.

But as "faith without works is dead, being alone," let us further examine ourselves whether we truly bear the Christian character, and are living the Christian life.

The Christian character is described by our Lord Himself in the 5th chapter of St Matthew, at the 3d verse, where we read :

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

:

And the Christian life is set forth by St Paul in his Epistle to the Galatians, in the 5th chapter and at the 22d verse:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

U

Yet as we must all confess with sorrow that we have not lived thus, let us chiefly now remember the loving-kindness of the Saviour to all such as truly and heartily repented; how He turned not any away from Him; how He blessed the woman which was a sinner, and gave to the penitent thief on the cross the assurance of Paradise.

Let us hear also what comfortable words our Saviour thus saith unto all that truly turn to Him :—

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

And

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.

Hear also what St Paul saith in his First Epistle to Timothy (1 Tim. i. 15):

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Hear also what St John saith (1 John, ii. 1):

If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

And He is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Ye that do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbours, and purpose to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth

in His holy ways, draw near with faith and take this holy sacrament to your comfort, considering that the worthiness which the Lord requireth of us is, that we be truly sorry for our sins, and find our joy and salvation in Him. United to Him who is holy, even our Lord Jesus Christ, we are accepted of the Father, and invited to partake of those HOLY THINGS THAT

ARE FOR HOLY PERSONS.

THE END.