Glory be to God, that peace is proclaimed on earth, and good will to the children of men! Hofannah to the Son of David! Bleffed be he who came in the name of the Higheft to fave us! Halleluiah, Halleluiah to him that fitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever!

"God of the patriarchs! who faw afar off this day which we now commemorate: God of the prophets! who foretold its arrival: God of the righteous men! who defired its approach: God of the evangelifts and apostles! who first beheld the day of the Meffiah: God of the martyrs and confeffors! who honoured it with their blood: God of our fathers! who within these walls, have kept it in remembrance: God of our children! who will commemorate it when we shall sleep in the dust : God of time! God of eternity! defcend now, make thyfelf known to us, and fill this house with thy glory.

"Father Almighty! Creator of the world, great Parent and Preferver of men, who

who didft contrive the mystery of our redemption, which we now come to commemorate Son of the Moft High! Redeemer of the world, Interceffor, Friend and Patron of the human race, who by thy death upon the crofs, didft accomplish the mystery of our redemption, which we now come to commemorate: Eternal Spirit! proceeding from the Father and the Son, Author of the divine life, Comforter of the faithful, Inhabitant of the temple of a pure heart, who doft apply to the penitent, the benefits of that redemption which we now come to commemorateFather, Son, and Holy Spirit! God blessed for ever; be now prefent; be now propitious, and hear the prayers of thy people.

"Thou haft brought us to thy holy mountain, make us joyful in thy house of prayer. We have come to thy temple; may we behold thy glory; may the beauty of our God be upon us; and make all thy goodness to pafs before us. the fountain of life, that

Open unto us

we may drink

and live. Now command the bleffing,

even life for evermore.

"May

66

May thefe elements of bread and wine, which in the name, and by the authority of the Lord Jefus Christ, we now fet apart to reprefent his body and blood, convey to the faithful, the grace of the new covenant. May the bread become the bread of life; may the fruit of the vine, be a foretaste of that wine which is for ever new in the kingdom of the Father. Eating of this bread, and drinking of this cup, may we never after hunger or thirft again. Hear, O God, thefe our humble praifes and prayers. May they now afcend before thee, with acceptance from this table, upon which are the emblems of the Lamb facrificed, to the throne of the Lamb reigning in glory. Now, to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be all glory and honour, dominion and power, time without end. Amen."

ADDRESSES

ADDRESSES TO COMMUNICANTS,

BEFORE AND AFTER THE

SERVICE of the TABLES *.

TABLE FIRST.

[BEFORE THE SERVICE.]

• COMMUNICANTS! I now proceed, after the example, and, in the words of our Lord, to diftribute among you, the sym

bols

* Service of Tables, is the homely phrafe which has been long used, and is ftill retained upon this occafion. It strictly refers to the diftribution of the Elements by the Elders. It has been improperly extended to the Addreffes made by the Minister; for the Minister, in

reality,

bols of his body broken, and of his blood fhed. The facred warrant was received of the Lord, and has been delivered unto

us.

[SERVICE.]

66

"THE LORD JESUS, THAT NIGHT ON WHICH HE WAS BETRAYED, TOOK BREAD, AND HAVING GIVEN THANKS," (as we have already done in his name,) HE 66 BRAKE IT, AND GAVE IT UNTO HIS DISCIPLES, SAYING, TAKE, EAT;" [Here the Minifter gives the Bread,] THIS IS MY "" BODY WHICH WAS BROKEN FOR YOU; << THIS DO, IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME."

[After

reality, only gives the Elements to the two Communicants, who fit nearest him on each hand. The Elders adminifter them to the reft.

At the firft Table, the Minifter immediately upon concluding the confecration Prayer, usually proceeds to read the words of the Inftitution, and without adding more, to diftribute the Elements, But before the Service of the fucceeding Tables, Addreffes at fome length, are made to the Communicants.