Holy Communion. Part II. COMPANION. THIS HIS little book is meant to be used in Church at the time of Holy Communion. It is called a COMPANION," because it is to go with you, to help you to understand the Service and to use it to your profit. You will not use the Service to your profit unless you have prepared yourself well for it. The former part of this little book is meant to help you in that, and I shall take it for granted that you have tried, by self-examination, and confession, and very earnest prayer, to fit yourself for the high blessing and privilege you are now to enjoy. I must take it for granted. Yet I am almost Oh, so much depends on this the time of preparation is past. do now is to try to join in the afraid to do so. preparation! But What we have to holy Service as profitably as we can. Yet there may be time for something even now. Let me try to advise you how to spend these precious minutes. BEFORE THE SERVICE BEGINS. Come in good time to Church, kneel down, and say this short prayer :— O GOD, I am in Thy presence. Shut out the world and all worldly things from me. Send Thy Holy Spirit to help my infirmities, and bless to me this holy Service; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then ask yourself these short questions: Have I prepared myself well for this Communion? Have I examined myself carefully and thoroughly? Have I confessed my sins humbly and earnestly? Am I really sorry for having sinned? Do I really look to my Saviour in faith for mercy and pardon? Am I resolved to strive hard to do better? Then say very solemnly to God: LORD, I repent: help Thou mine impenitence. Lord, I believe help Thou mine unbelief. Lord, I love Thee help Thou my want of love. Amen. And now you must not be afraid. Surely you cannot be afraid of the Father who loves you more than the tenderest earthly father ever loved his child; or of the Saviour who loved you and gave Himself for you! No, you must not be afraid. Listen! Jesus speaks to you: "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Listen again! It is the same voice of love: "Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out." You cannot be afraid now. If you have time, you may use some of the following Psalms or Prayers or Hymns before the Service begins : PSALM 51. HAVE mercy upon me, O God, after Thy great goodness, &c. PSALM 130. OUT of the deep have I called unto Thee, O Lord, &c. PSALM 116. 11, 12, 14-16. WHAT reward shall I give unto the Lord for all the benefits that He hath done unto me? "I will receive the cup of salvation, and call upon the Name of the Lord. HOLY COMMUNION. Behold, O Lord, how that I am Thy servant; I am Thy servant, and the Son of Thine handmaid: Thou hast broken my bonds in sunder. I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the Name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord in the sight of all His people, in the courts of the Lord's house. even in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord. Glory be to the Father, &c. For Cleansing. CLEANSE Thou me, O Lord, from my secret faults, and mercifully pardon my presumptuous sins, that I may receive Thy holy gifts with a pure mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For Acceptance. O LORD, our God, the Bread of heaven and the Life of the world, I have sinned against heaven and before Thee, and am not worthy to share in this heavenly food. But do Thou, of Thy Divine tenderness, grant me so to eat Thy Flesh and drink Thy Blood that I may obtain remission of sins and eternal life; through Thine own perfect merits, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit art One God for ever and ever. Amen. |