lively sacrifice unto Thee." Their daily walk contradicts such an avowal of self-surrender. Another hindrance to a worthy reception of the Lord's Supper is indicated by our Lord's words, If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. We ought to be in charity with all men. Only let us observe that it is not if we have ought against our brother, i.e. any just cause of complaint against him, but if he has ought against us. If another has wronged us, and we from our heart forgive the injury he has done us, but he refuses to accept our overtures of reconciliation, though our spirit may be sorely bruised and grieved within us, this is no reason why we should absent ourselves from the table of our Lord. But if we have done wrong to another, and refuse to acknowledge it and ask his forgiveness; if we ourselves are cherishing an unforgiving temper for any wrong he has done us; if we are nursing a grudge against him, as Esau against Jacob for having deprived him of his birthright and of his father's blessing, then we cannot come worthily to the Lord's Supper, which is a feast of love, and speaks of our being all children of One Father, and bought with the blood of One Saviour, and dwelt in by One Spirit. Let us from the heart forgive every one his brother their trespasses, a Matt. v. 23, 24. and so gather round our common board. Father's But further, our Catechism reminds us that it is required of those who come to the Lord's Supper "to examine themselves whether they repent them truly of their former sins, steadfastly purposing to lead a new life, have a lively faith in God's mercy through Christ, with a thankful remembrance of His death, and be in charity with all men." These are the workings and actings of Divine life in the soul of the believer. If, then, these be wholly absent, there can be no life in us. These graces may be very feeble, and then the heavenly food of the Lord's Supper may be the very sustenance required. But what if there be no faith, no penitence, no hunger and thirst after holiness, no thankfulness, no love? Surely, then, there can And then to come to be no life to Godward. the Lord's table would be as useless as putting choice viands and costly wine to the lips of a corpse. The Lord's Supper is food for a living soul. "Awful is that life of Thine Which the Spirit's breath inspires, Which each new-born soul desires." The Lord's table is for the Lord's people. The Father's board is for the Father's children. Only let us come in simplicity of childlike trust, confessing our sins in time past, and seeking for more grace in time to come, and we shall prove on earth the truth of that promise which eternity will not exhaust, "I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, saith the Lord." " a “This do in remembrance of Me.”—LUKE xxii. 19. This will I do, my dying Lord, Thy body, broken for my sake, Can I Gethsemane forget? Or there Thy conflict see, When to the Cross I turn mine eyes, And rest on Calvary, O Lamb of God, my Sacrifice, I must remember Thee. Remember Thee and all Thy pains, Yes, while a breath, a pulse remains, And when these failing lips grow dumb, When Thou shalt in Thy kingdom come, Jesu, remember me. a Jer. xxxi. 13, 14. J. MONTGOMERY. THE CONFESSION. Then shall the Priest say to them that come to receive the holy Communion, YE that do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbours, and intend 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; and make your humble confession to Almighty God, meekly kneeling upon your knees. ¶Then shall this general Confession be made, in the name of all those that are minded to receive the holy Communion, by one of the ministers; both he and all the people kneeling humbly upon their knees, and saying, ALMIGHTY God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men; We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, By thought, word, and deed, Against Thy Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly Thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; The remembrance of them is grievous unto us; The burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; For Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake, Forgive us all that is past; And grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please Thee In newness of life, To the honour and glory of Thy Name; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE few weighty words before the Confession are addressed to those who are truly penitent for the past, who are living in brotherly love now, and who purpose to walk with God henceforth. Such are invited to draw near with faith and take the holy Sacrament of their Redeemer's body and blood to their comfort, after that pastors and people together have humbly confessed their sins. to Almighty God. How solemn it must have been when Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up to Mount Sinai; when they saw the God of Israel afar off, and there was under His feet a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in its clearness; when they saw God and did eat and drink!" How solemn it must have been when Aaron and his sons entered on their priestly office with the sin-offering and the burnt-offering and the peace-offerings and the meat-offering, and all the congregation drew near and stood before the Lord; and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people, and there came out a fire from before the Lord and consumed the burnt-offering upon the altar! How solemn it must have been when the high priest, alone, once a year, went into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled the blood upon the mercy-seat, and saw the Shechinah glory through the cloud of incense ! But surely our access to the throne of grace by faith exceeds in glory. It is closer and clearer and calmer. For we have boldness to enter into the Holiest by the a Exod. xxiv. 9-11. ¿ Lev. ix. c Lev. xvi. |