shown you at the beginning (see page 39), only when you say, "Hallowed be Thy Name," you will specially thank God for His goodness to you in letting you partake of this Holy Sacrament; and when you say, "Forgive us trespasses," you will specially think of your own our coldness and wandering of thought in the Service. Do not forget to notice that the Doxology ("For Thine is the kingdom' &c.) is here used, giving to the prayer a character of praise and thanksgiving. THE AFTER PRAYERS. LORD and heavenly Father, we Thy humble servants entirely desire Thy Fatherly goodness mercifully to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; most humbly beseeching Thee to grant that by the merits and death of Thy Son Jesus Christ, and through faith in His Blood, we and all Thy whole Church may obtain remission of our sins, and all other benefits of His passion. And In this prayer (1) we pray God to accept 66 our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving." This is a fitting description of the whole Service, which should be an offering to God of glad and joyous worship. This is what is meant by the word "Eucharist." (2) We pray that all the benefits of Christ's passion (that is, of His suffering) may be granted not only to us but to the whole Church-to all God's faithful servants. (3) We offer to God another sacrifice, namely, that of "ourselves. our souls, and bodies." (4) We ask God to accept this sacrifice, not because we are worthy to offer it, nor because it is worthy to be offered, but here we offer and present unto Thee, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and lively sacrifice unto Thee; humbly beseeching Thee, that all we, who are partakers of this Holy Communion, may be fulfilled with Thy grace and heavenly benediction. And although we are unworthy, through our manifold sins, to offer unto Thee any sacrifice, yet we beseech Thee to accept this our bounden duty and service; not weighing our merits, but pardoning our offences, through Jesus Christ our Lord; by whom, and with whom, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, all honour and glory be unto Thee, O Father Almighty, world without end. Amen. ALMIGHTY "O GOD, this is all I have to offer. It is most unworthy. Yet take it, and make it more fit to be offered, and let me never take back what I now give to Thee. Amen. Or this, and ever living God, we most heartily thank Thee, for that Thou dost vouchsafe to feed us, who have duly received these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious This prayer is (1) a thanksgiving, and (2) a prayer for perseverance. (1) We thank God for feeding our souls with the spiritual food of Christ's most precious Body and Blood, as well as for the pledge and assurance God gives us in this Sacrament of His favour and goodness, and Body and Blood of Thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ; and dost assure us thereby of Thy favour and goodness towards us; and that we are very members incorporate in the mystical body of Thy Son, which is the blessed company of all faithful people; and are also heirs through hope of Thy everlasting kingdom, by the merits of the most precious death and passion of Thy dear Son. And we most humbly beseech Thee, O heavenly Father, so to assist us with Thy grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all such good works as Thou hast prepared for us to walk in ; through Jesus . of our being one with His dear Son, and heirs of His everlasting kingdom. No doubt the Church in these words would remind us of the wonderful sayings of our Lord: "He that eateth My Flesh, and drinketh My Blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him"; and "Whoso eateth My Flesh, and drinketh My Blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."-St. John vi. 56 and 54. (2) We ask God for the grace of perseverance, that we may continue in the holy fellowship of His saints, and serve Him in all good works. Here you may pray in your heart : "MAKE me to go in the path of Thy Commandments: for therein is my desire." O God, may I "watch and pray that I enter not into temptation." O my Father, help me to "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Amen. Christ our Lord, to whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen. THE "GLORIA IN EXCELSIS." GLORY be to God on high, and in earth peace, good will towards men. We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory, O Lord God, Heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. O Lord, the onlybegotten Son Jesu Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us. For Thou only art holy; Thou only art the Lord; Thou only, Now we raise our hearts and voices to the highest pitch of praise, and once more join with Angels in their heavenly songs, breaking forth with the words in which the multitude of the heavenly host praised God for the birth of the Saviour which was Christ the Lord. O dull sluggish hearts, lift yourselves up yet once again! Rise from earth and earthly things, and adore your God and King. "Osing praises,. sing praises unto our God: O sing praises, sing praises unto our King." And yet it is not all joy and gladness of heart: not all a canticle of praise and triumph. See how after our first outburst of praise, we come down, as it were, from heaven to earth, as we remember our sins and our need of mercy. In this poor sinful world we cannot always sing Alleluia. So our song of joy takes for a moment a sadder tone, as we think how poor and unworthy, after all, our Service has been, and we cry, "O Lord God, Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us." Yet we cannot end with words of sadness: so once more we lift up our hearts, and crown our Service with an outburst of holy praise to Him who hath redeemed us O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen. with His Blood, and who is One with the Father and the Holy Ghost in the glory of the ever blessed and glorious Trinity. THE BLESSING. 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. Try to think of Jesus saying, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (St. John xiv. 27). You have come to your Saviour for healing and life and salvation; and He has surely granted your heart's desire, and is now bidding you depart in peace. A holy calm, a sweet sense of resting in the Lord, should come to you as you hear these words. And you will feel that God is with you, and that you go forth with the blessing' of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, upon you. Once more look up, and say : "THANKS be unto God for His unspeakable gift!" Amen. |
