holiness." And I cannot conceive anything more beautiful in His sight than a congregation of holy worshippers offering up their prayers and praises to the great Father of us all-offering them, not with cold hearts and dumb voices, but with all the lowliness of those who feel their sins, and with all the thankfulness of those who can rejoice in God's pardoning mercy.

こ

>

121

CHAPTER VII.

THE COMMUNION OFFICE.

We use the First Part of this Service every Sunday Morning, and on other Holy Days, whether the Communion is administered or not. But we must bear in mind that it was originally intended that the whole Service should be used, and that the Lord's Supper should be administered, on every Sunday and Holy Day. Yes, it was the intention of our Church that her children should gather around the Saviour's Table much oftener than they now do.

The Service begins with THE LORD'S PRAYER. This is followed by a short but very beautiful COLLECT, in which we ask that the thoughts of our hearts may be cleansed "by the inspiration (or breathing into them) of the Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly

love him, and worthily magnify (that is, glorify or honour) his holy name.'

'And have we not much need of cleansing, before we draw near to the Table of our Lord? David felt that he needed it, when he said, "I will wash mine hands in innocency, O Lord, and so will I go to thine altar."

Then THE TEN COMMANDMENTS are read out, and after each the People ask God to have mercy upon them as regards the past, and to incline their hearts henceforth to keep the particular commandment which has just been rehearsed to them. After the reading of the Tenth and last Commandment the words of the Prayer are a little changed, and we beseech God to write all His laws in our hearts.

We next have A PRAYER FOR THE QUEEN. Two are given us, either of which we may

use.

In the First one we pray for mercy upon the whole Church-that is, upon all God's people. We then ask Him to rule the heart

of our Sovereign; so that she may honour Him, remembering that she is God's minister, or servant, and accountable to Him for all she does. We further pray that we may

serve, honour, and obey her in thee, and for thee "that means, in thy sight, and for thy sake.

In the Second Prayer we acknowledge that the hearts of kings are in God's power, and that He can dispose and turn them, as it seemeth best to His godly wisdom." This is taken from those words of Solomon in Prov. 21. "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water. turneth it whithersoever he will." Since our Sovereign then is in God's hands, we beseech Him to guide and direct her, so that she may ever seek His honour and glory, and the good of His people.

He

You will see that the word "Wealth" is used here with just the same meaning as it has in the Litany. In both places it signifies welfare or well-being.

After the Prayer for the Queen, we again use THE COLLECT FOR THE Day, with THE

EPISTLE AND GOSPEL belonging to it. These Epistles and Gospels are choice portions of God's word, which have been specially selected as suitable readings for the day.

You have, I dare say, remarked that we set greater store by the Gospel than by the Epistle. And this we show by exclaiming, as soon as it is given out, "Glory be to thee, O God"; and further by standing up when it is read. Our reason for this is that the Gospels contain the very words of Christ Himself; and we wish to honour the words of the Master more than the words of His servants.

Having read the Gospel, we remain standing, and then repeat THE NICENE CREED. This is one of the Three Creeds which have already been spoken of. It is somewhat fuller than the Apostles' Creed, but speaks in the same way of the Holy Trinity-of God the Father, and of God the Son, and of God the Holy Ghost.

Respecting God the Son, it declares that He is "God of God"-that is to say, He is God Himself, and proceeded or came from