Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. [Matt. vi, 19, 20.] Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. [Matt. vii, 12.] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. [Matt. vii, 21.] Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. [Luke xix, 8.] He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity, for God loveth a cheerful giver. [2 Cor. ix, 6, 7.] As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. [Gal. vi, 10.] Godliness with contentment is great gain; for we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. [1 Tim. vi, 6, 7.] Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. [1 Tim. vi, 17-19.] God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. [Heb. vi, 10.] To do good and to communicate forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. [Heb. xiii, 16.] Whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? [1 John iii, 17.] He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. [Prov. xix, 17.] Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. [Psa. xli, 1.] Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor. (Deut. xv, 11.] After which the Elder shall give the following Invitation, the People standing: If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. Wherefore ye that do truly and earnestly repent of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbors, 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, devoutly kneeling, make your humble confession to Almighty God. Then shall this general Confession be made by the Minister in the name of all those who are minded to receive the Holy Communion, both he and all the People devoutly kneeling, and saying: our Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men, we acknowledge and bewail 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. 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 honor and glory of thy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then shall the Elder say, Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of thy great mercy hast promised forgiveness of sins to all them that with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto thee, have mercy upon us; pardon and deliver us from all our sins; confirm and strengthen us in all goodness; and bring us to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Collect. Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy name through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then shall the Elder say, We do not presume to come to this thy table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy table. But thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy. Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that we may live and grow thereby; and that, being washed through his most precious blood, we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen. Then the Elder shall offer the Prayer of Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of thy tender mercy didst give thine only Son Jesus Christ to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption; who made there, by his oblation of himself once offered, a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world; and did institute, and in his holy Gospel command us to continue, a perpetual memory of his precious death until his coming again: hear us, O merciful Father, we most humbly beseech thee, and grant that we, receiving these thy creatures of bread and wine, according to thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ's holy institution, in remembrance of his death and passion, may be partakers of his most blessed body and blood; who, in the same night that he was betrayed, took bread; (1) and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave it to his disciTake, eat; this is my body (C) Here the Eld er may take the plate of bread in his hand. ples, saying, brance of me. (2) Here he may his hand. Likewise after supper he take the cup in took (2) the cup; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of this; for this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you, and for many, for the remission of sins; do this, as Then shall the Minister receive the Communion in both kinds, and proceed to deliver the same to the other Ministers, if any be present; after which he shall say: It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto thee, O Lord, holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God. Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious name, evermore praising thee, and saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts, heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Glory be to thee, O Lord most high! Amen. The Minister shall then proceed to administer the Communion to the People in order, kneeling, into their uncovered hands; and when he delivereth the Bread, he shall say: The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for thee, preserve thy soul and body unto everlasting life. Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for thee; and feed on him in thy heart by faith, with thanksgiving. And the Minister that delivereth the Cup shall say: The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for thee, preserve thy soul and body unto everlasting life. Drink this in remembrance that Christ's blood was shed for thee, and be thankful. [If the Consecrated bread or wine will be all spent before all have communed, the Elder may Consecrate more by repeating the Prayer of Consecration.] [When all have communed, the Minister shall return to the Lord's table and place upon it what remaineth of the Consecrated elements, covering the same with a fair linen cloth.] Then shall the Elder say the Lord's Prayer; the People kneeling, and repeating after him every petition. Our Father who 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, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. After which shall be said as followeth : O Lord our heavenly Father, we thy humble servants desire thy Fatherly good 1 Thou ness mercifully to accept this our sacrifice of the Father, that takest away the sins of praise and thanksgiving; most humbly of the world, have mercy upon us. beseeching thee to grant, that, by the merits that takest away the sins of the world, and death of thy Son Jesus Christ, and 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 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 filled 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 offenses, through Jesus Christ our Lord; by whom, and with whom, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, all honor and glory be unto thee, O Father Almighty, world without end. Amen. Then shall be said or sung : Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will toward men! We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, 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 Jesus Christ: O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son art the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen. an Then the Elder, if he see it expedient, may put up extemporary Prayer; and afterward shall let the People depart 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 among you, and remain with you always. Amen. N. B. If the Elder be straitened for time in the usual administration of the Holy Communion, he may omit any part of the service except the Invitation, the Confession, and the Prayer of Consecration; and in its administration to the Sick he may omit any part of the service except the Confession, the Prayer of Consecration, and the usual sentences in delivering the Bread and Wine, closing with the Lord's Prayer, extempore supplication, and the Benediction. HISTORY OF THE OFFICIAL HYMN BOOKS OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. UNTIL recently great obscurity has rested upon the origin of the official hymn books. The late David Creamer, author of Methodist Hymnology, to whom the Church is greatly indebted, supposed that the first book was compiled by Bishops Coke and Asbury. Many errors are found in the literature of the denomination on the subject. A few years ago the author of Hymn Studies undertook to investigate the matter, and at length succeeded in discovering the true history of the book. The facts were first reported in Zion's Herald, April 25, 1883. They were also published in the Christian Advocate of April 30, 1885 : "The first official hymn book of the Methodist Episcopal Church was substantially a reprint of an English book published by Robert Spence, of York. The American edition was slightly edited by some one, probably by Bishop Coke. Some obscurity still rests upon the first editions, but the tenth edition, with an address 'To the members and Friends of the Methodist Episcopal Church' by Bishops Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury, appeared in 1790. This book retained its English title: A Pocket Hymn Book Designed as a Constant Companion for the Pious. Collected from Various Authors. "The second book was entitled The Methodist Pocket Hymn Book, Revised and Improved, Designed as a Constant Companion for the Pious of all Denominations. Collected from Various Authors. "It was copyrighted by Ezekiel Cooper, March 22, in the 26th year of the Independence of the United States that is, 1802. This book was published in the interim of the General Conference, 'agreeably to the concurrent resolution of the Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York Conferences.' It was probably edited by the Rev. Ezekiel Cooper, the then 'Book Steward' of the Church. The Episcopal Address was signed by Bishops Coke, Asbury, and Whatcoat. "A third book was published in New York in 1808. It bore the following title: A Selection of Hymns, from Various Authors, Designed as a Supplement to the Methodist Pocket Hymn Book, Compiled under the Direction of Bishop Asbury and Published by Order of the General Conference. "This book was edited by Bishop Asbury and Daniel Hitt. Though designed as a supplement to the last-mentioned book it deserves a distinct enumeration, for two reasons: First, it was larger than the book it was intended to supplement; second, it was published and circulated as a distinct volume. Many editions of the last two books were bound up together and formed the famous 'Double Hymn Book' that a few of the fathers still living well remember. "The next book, the fourth of the series, was published in 1821. It was edited by the Rev. Nathan Bangs, D.D. A radical change was made in the title, which was as follows: A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the Methodist Episcopal Church, principally from the collection of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A., late fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford. "In 1836 the buildings of the Book Concern were consumed by fire, and the plates of the last-mentioned book were destroyed. It was reprinted, however, the same year, with a supplement prepared by Dr. Bangs. This may be called the fifth official hymn book of the Church. "The General Conference of 1848 appointed a committee, composed of five ministers and two laymen, 'to prepare a Standard Edition of the Methodist Hymn Book.' The committee were: Rev. D. Bailey, Rev. J. B. Alverson, Rev. James Floy, Rev. David Patten, Rev. F. Merrick, Mr. Robert A. West, and Mr. David Creamer. The book was published in 1849, with the title: Hymns for the Use of the Methodist Episcopal Church. "Our present excellent Hymnal is, therefore, the seventh official book. It was prepared by an able committee appointed by the General Conference of 1876, and published in 1878. "The York book was very popular in England and in America, and deservedly so; notwithstanding all the editing the book has received the York book is found in every edition; two thirds of its hymns are still found in our Hymnal, and it has stamped its character upon the series." A biographical sketch of Robert Spence, editor and publisher of the York Pocket Hymn Book, appeared in The Christian Advocate of July 30, 1885. |