(not merely upon the ministering priest at the altar, but) upon the heartiness and intelligence with which you and each member of the "royal priesthood" exercises his office. (See Exod. xix. 6; 1 S. Peter ii. 9; Rev. i. 6.; v. 10.) 5. When the time comes for Communicating, hold yourself in readiness to go up to the altar; and take off your gloves, vail, &c. 6. When your turn comes to receive, kneel quite upright, and prepare to receive your Lord's Body into the palm of your hand, by steadying your right hand on your left. Convey the sacred element to your mouth, saying to yourself "Amen" after the words. "everlasting life." This was the manner of receiving Christ's Body which was enjoined and practised in the Primitive Church.-S. CYRIL, Catechetical Lectures, xxiii. § 21. 7. When the Chalice is presented to you, take hold of the stem of the cup with both hands gently, but firmly, and guide it to your lips. Do not suddenly let go your hold of the Chalice; or attempt to take it entirely into your hands, if it be full or you are nervous. 8. After returning to your place, kneel (if possible) during the rest of the Administration; or stand, but do not sit. 9. Do not leave the Church before the vessels have been cleansed, and the Clergy have left the Chancel. 10. "Pray before you come to Church; pray before the Service begins; pray and praise in the interval of communicating of others; pray until the Clergy leave the Chancel; pray, and thank God for His gift when you reach home." II. After communicating "remember throughout the day that you have been with JESUS. You have a right to be cheerful, and bright, and happy; but do and say nothing to prevent others 'taking knowledge of you' that you have been with the LORD to-day."— S. J. STONE. IV. The Church's Warning of Holy Communion. Dearly beloved, on day next I purpose, through God's assistance, to administer to all such as shall be religiously and devoutly disposed the most comfortable Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ; to be by them received in remembrance of His meritorious Cross and Passion; whereby alone we obtain remission of our sins, and are made partakers of the Kingdom of heaven. Wherefore it is our duty to render most humble and hearty thanks to Almighty God our heavenly Father, for that He hath given His Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, not only to die for us, but also to be our spiritual food and sustenance in that holy Sacrament. Which being so divine and comfortable a thing to them who receive it worthily, and so dangerous to them that will presume to receive it unworthily; my duty is to exhort you in the mean season to consider the dignity of that holy mystery, and the great peril of the unworthy receiving thereof; and so to search and examine your own consciences, (and that not lightly, and after the manner of dissemblers with God; but so) that ye may come holy and clean to such a heavenly Feast, in the marriagegarment required by God in holy Scripture, and be received as worthy partakers of that holy Table. The way and means thereto is; First, to examine your lives and conversations by the rule of God's commandments; and whereinsoever ye shall perceive yourselves to have offended, either by will, word, or deed, there to bewail your own sinfulness, and to confess yourselves to Almighty God, with full purpose of amendment of life. And if ye shall perceive your offences to be such as are not only against God, but also against your neighbours; then ye shall reconcile yourselves unto them; being ready to make restitution and satisfaction, according to the uttermost of your powers, for all injuries and wrongs done by you to any other; and being likewise ready to forgive others that have offended you, as ye would have forgiveness of your offences at God's hand; for otherwise the receiving of the holy Communion doth nothing else but increase your damnation. Therefore if any of you be a blasphemer of God, an hinderer or slanderer of His Word, an adulterer, or be in malice, or envy, or in any other grievous crime, repent you of your sins, or else come not to that holy Table; lest, after the taking of that holy Sacrament, the devil enter into you, as he entered into Judas, and fill you full of all iniquities, and bring you to destruction both of body and soul. And because it is requisite, that no man should come to the holy Communion, but with a full trust in God's mercy, and with a quiet conscience; therefore if there be any of you, who by this means cannot quiet his own conscience herein, but requireth further comfort or counsel, let him come to me, or to some |
