THE DAY OF COMMUNION.

If possible, and if health permit, receive the Blessed Sacrament early, and be at the LORD's Table before you approach your own.

Remember that you are not only going to the LORD'S House, but that you are going to partake at His Holy Table of His own most Blessed Body and of His own most Precious Blood.

It is a solemn thing to pray. It is a solemn thing to go to Church.

But it is most solemn of all to receive the

Blessed Sacrament.

Think well, then, what you have before you. Rejoice that you are to communicate, but rejoice with trembling, lest you should communicate unworthily.

When you are preparing for Church, and while you are walking thither, you will do well to make use of ejaculatory prayers, such as the following, which may be committed to memory, and which may be said even without kneeling down :—

"Lord JESUS, I come unto Thee. Do Thou receive me graciously."

"Lord JESUS, I am a great sinner, but do Thou have mercy upon me."

"Lord JESUS, wash me in Thy Blood."

"Lord JESUS, sanctify me by Thy HOLY SPIRIT.?

"Lord JESUS, enable me to receive Thee worthily." "Lord JESUS, may Thy Flesh be unto me meat indeed, and Thy Blood drink indeed."

"Lord JESUS, fix my thoughts on Thee."

"Lord JESUS, make me Thine for ever.

These, and such like "ejaculatory prayers," which the HOLY SPIRIT may put it into your heart to say, will help you forward to the Table of the LORD.

Be in the Church for as long a time as you can before the Celebration begins, and while you are waiting remain kneeling upon your knees, if possible, and employ yourself in prayer.

O GOD, unseen yet ever near,

Thy Presence may we feel:
And Thus inspired with holy fear,
Before Thy Altar kneel.

Here may Thy faithful people know
The Blessings of Thy love,

The streams that through the desert flow,
The Manna from above.

We come, obedient to Thy Word,
To feast on heavenly Food;
Our meat the Body of the LORD,
Our drink His Precious Blood.

Thus may we all Thy Word obey,

For we, O GOD, are Thine;

And go rejoicing on our way,

Renewed with strength Divine. Amen.

DEVOTIONS IN CHURCH BEFORE THE
SERVICE.

As soon as you have taken your place in Church, kneel down and silently say as follows :—

In the Name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY GHOST. Amen.

OUR FATHER, Which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy

Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily Bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

Then say the following Hymn, which is a prayer to GOD the HOLY GHOST. For remember that without the help of the HOLY GHOST you cannot make a good Communion, nor do anything aright.

COME, HOLY GHOST, our souls inspire,
And lighten with celestial fire;
Thou the anointing SPIRIT art,
Who dost Thy sevenfold gifts impart :
Thy blessed unction from above
Is comfort, life, and fire of love;
Enable with perpetual light

The dulness of our blinded sight.
Anoint and cheer our soilèd face
With the abundance of Thy grace:
Keep far our foes, give peace at home:
Where Thou art Guide no ill can come.
Teach us to know the FATHER, SON,
And THEE, of Both, to be but ONE;
That through the ages all along
This may be our endless song,
Praise to Thy eternal merit,
FATHER, SON, and HOLY SPIRIT.

Amen.

During the rest of the time while you are waiting, you should pray secretly in your own words, or use any of the prayers in this book that you have already used during your preparation at home (see page 16). You may also turn to the Gospel for Good Friday in the Prayer Book, and read it if you have time. It is best to remain kneeling, unless you are feeble or infirm.

When the Priest has entered the Church and has gone up to the Altar, you will observe that he remains a short time in silence before beginning the Service. During this time he is confessing his sins and asking for pardon. You may join with him in spirit by saying the following prayer:

In the Name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY GHOST. Amen.

I CONFESS to GOD Almighty, the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY GHOST, that I have sinned grievously by thought, by word, and by deed,

O LORD our Heavenly FATHER, have mercy on me, and forgive me for JESUS' sake.

Grant that the offering of this Holy Sacrifice, in memory of the Death of Thy Dear SON JESUS CHRIST, may be acceptable unto Thy Divine Majesty, through Him who died and rose again, and Who is now the Propitiation for our sins, and our Advocate with Thee. Amen.

ONCE, only once, and once for all,
His precious life He gave ;
Before the Cross our spirits fall,
And own it strong to save.
"One offering, single and complete,"
With lips and heart we say ;
But what He never can repeat
He shows forth day by day.

For, as the Priest of Aaron's line
Within the Holiest stood,
And sprinkled all the mercy-shrine
With sacrificial blood;

So He, Who once atonement wrought,
Our Priest of endless power,
Presents Himself for those He bought
In that dark noontide hour.

His Manhood pleads where now it lives
On heaven's eternal Throne,
And where in mystic rite He gives
Its Presence to His own.

And so we show Thy death, O LORD,

Till Thou again appear;

And feel when we approach Thy Board,

We have an Altar here.

All glory to the FATHER be,

All glory to the SON,

All glory, HOLY GHOST, to Thee,

While endless ages run, Amen,