[79]

Let us (Romans xii.) indeed endeavour henceforth thoroughly to give ourselves to the service of Gon, now and evermore.

After shall be said as followeth.

LORD and heavenly Father, we thy humble servants entirely desire thy fatherly goodness mercifully to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; most humbly beseeching thee to grant, that by the merits and death of thy Son Jesus Christ, and through faith in his blood, we and all thy whole Church may obtain remission of our sins, and all other benefits of his passion. And here we offer and present unto thee, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and lively sacrifice unto thee;[79] humbly beseeching thee, that all we, who are partakers of this holy Communion, may be fulfilled 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 offences, through Jesus Christ our Lord; by whom, and with whom, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, all honour and glory be unto thee, O Father Almighty, world without end.

Amen.

[80]

How many Churchmen forget to live up to their privileges, and never realize that they are "heirs through hope of that everlasting kingdom," which GOD hath prepared for all that love Him.

[81]

We read (S. Matt. xxvi. 30) that, after the first Communion, JESUS and His disciples "sang an

A

Or this.

LMIGHTY and everliving God, we most heartily thank thee, for that thou dost vouchsafe to feed us, who have duly received these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ; and dost assure us thereby of thy favour and goodness towards us; and that we are very members incorporate in the mystical body of thy Son, which is the blessed company of all faithful people; and are also heirs through hope of thy everlasting kingdom, by the merits of the most precious death and passion of thy dear Son.[80] And we most humbly beseech thee, O heavenly Father, so to assist us with thy grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all such good works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

GLO

[81]

Then shall be said or sung, LORY be to God on high, and in earth peace, good will towards men. We praise thee, we bless thee, we wor

hymn." We are not quite sure what they sang, or how they sang: but it is almost certain, that, as to the "Hymn," it consisted of part of Psalms cxv. to cxviii.; and as to the mode, it is pretty certain it was that of chanting. Chanting has this advantage over Hymn or Psalm-singing, that the words of the Bible are unchanged, and the music is adapted to it; whereas, in the other plan, the words of the Bible are put into rhyme to suit our music. This hymn of praise (often known as the Gloria in excelsis) is most beautiful. Where all can join in singing it to a very simple chant, this seems to be the most scriptural, devotional, and beautiful way of using it. Otherwise it should be said aloud by all present. This "Gloria' consists in part of the carol of the angels on the birth of CHRIST; the remainder is believed to have been composed and used A.D. 129, and the whole was established as part of the Church-service in the fourth century.

[82]

The Holy Communion Office is the only Office in which the full Blessing is recognized as to be given before the congregation depart. The fact is seldom noticed, but it is full of significance. It ought not be used except at this Office.