This prayer, after such services as have been described, may well affect us with new feelings, leading us to call on our heavenly Father with a peculiar measure of the spirit of adoption. One of the two following prayers are then offered up. O 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 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 be 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. Or this, ALMIGHTY 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 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 Christ our Lord; to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen. These prayers petition for the confirmation of our forgiveness, and of all other benefits of Christ's passion, and ask for grace to continue in the holy fellowship to which we have been admitted. They are expressive of the feelings of a mind which came indeed with a load of guilt and bondage on the conscience, but goes away pardoned, peaceful, and free. There is an opposite danger to that of self-righteous dependance on the Sacrament, that of having too slight thoughts of its utility. Milner observes, "Welldisposed persons who often gain both spiritual comfort and strength through sermons, gain nothing from the Sacrament. Why is this? They are in too lazy a posture of soul; they do not reverently esteem, as they should, this precious means of grace, as the channel in which the comforts of salvation may be expected richly to flow. Our Reformers speak differently of the importance of this Institution. From the expression, '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,' it is evident that the blessing of assurance was, in their idea, connected with the right reception of this ordinance." Yet many who obtain not the full assurance of hope, seeking the Lord in earnest, still gain some increase of faith, hope, and love. The consecration here made of ourselves to be "a reasonable, holy, and lively sacrifice to God," comes with great propriety after the memorial of such mercies. It is according to that exhortation of St. Paul-I beseech you, therefore, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice. The love of God in Christ Jesus, when brought home to the heart by the Holy Spirit, never fails of its efficacy in influencing a man to give himself unreservedly to God. The concluding hymn of praise is the following sublime thanksgiving. Then shall be said or sung. towards men. We praise thee, GLORY be to God on high, we bless thee, we worship thee, and on earth peace, good will we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. O Lord, the only begotten 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, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen. This hymn seems to unite the seraphic praise of the glorified hosts above, with the deep abasement of the contrite heart on earth. We here copy the example of our Saviour, who sung an hymn after the institution of the Lord's Supper. O had we a due sense of our privileges as sons of God, and our prospects as heirs of his glory, with what rapturous emotions, joined to what deep humility, should we sing this song! The Minister closes the whole with this 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. This blessing seems to include the main benefits of both Dispensations; that of Moses, (Numb. vi. 24-26,) and that of the Lamb, (John xiv. 27 ; Phil. iv. 7.) It is a parting prayer that the benefits which we have just received and commemorated, may abide in our hearts for ever. Inquire then, Christian communicant, whether your feelings in some degree correspond with the holy sentiments of this service. Such an inquiry will be both humbling and profitable. "We would be far from denying the acceptableness of many a real communicant who may not come up to that full fervour of soul which is evidently the spirit of the institution," but by aiming at the highest degree of communion with our unseen but ever-present Lord and Saviour, we are best promoting our own edification and happiness. May divine grace so prevent and assist us, that we may never frequent this ordinance, dead to every spiritual sensation, go through the whole in a formal lifeless manner, and depart as cold and worldly as ever! And what shall we say to those who frequently, or altogether, deprive themselves of the benefits of this institution? They are like those who would prefer dwelling in a miserable and decaying hovel, when · they might reside in a king's palace. They are like those who had rather feed on husks with swine, than banquet at the table of a loving and bountiful father. Christians! neglect not the opportunities afforded you of receiving the pledges of a father's love. Can you too often remember the grace of a dying Saviour? Can you, more frequently than you desire, receive the assurance that God is reconciled to you: that his Spirit dwells in you, that you are his children, and that heaven is your home? These are the blessings you enjoy, when devoutly partaking of the Lord's Supper. CHAPTER VI. ON THE REMEMBRANCE OF CHRIST AT THE LORD'S TABLE. We have already considered, in the former part, the nature of that remembrance which is our duty at the table of the Lord, with a more immediate reference to his death; but this remembrance is so primary a part of our due receiving of the Lord's Supper, that it may be advantageous here to consider it again, devotionally and practically, in other views. How can we best remember our Divine Redeemer at his table? Gracious is the promise which he has made; the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. May that blessed Comforter assist us to remember Jesus in his person and offices, for our souls' comfort. Remember him first as IMMANUEL, God with us. This wonderful name includes his divine glory as God; his omnipotent power over all his enemies, and that powerfully engaged in behalf of his people and on their side. With us, implies what is elsewhere |