CONSECRATION PRAYER.

[This Prayer is pronounced by the Minister standing at the head of the Communion-Table, to which he has now descended from the Pulpit. And the Addresses to the Communicants are all afterwards delivered successively at this place.]

"ETERNAL JEHOVAH! Lord of the heavens and of the earth, God of glory, we bend before thy throne. Thy children prostrate themselves with holy adoration at thy foot-> stool. The heavens are bright with thy glory. The earth is full of thy praise. The great universe is thy temple. Thy name is JEHOVAH, who alone hast, of thyself, being and immortality.

“Thou mightest have continued for ever alone, in the enjoyment of thine own perfections, though angels and men had never been. But to extend life, to communicate happiness, and to diffuse joy, thou didst rise from thy throne, thou raisedst thine arm over the void, thou spakest this earth into existence, thou madest us after thine own image, and hast watched over us from the beginning of time, even until this day.

"When we transgressed against thy com

mandments, and lost our original innocence, thy mercy forsook us not. forsook us not.

Thou hadst com

passion upon the offspring of Adam. Thine eye looked with pity; thou didst lay our help upon One who was mighty to save. Him, in the fulness of time, the Ambassador of peace and reconciliation, and love, thou didst send. Our ears have heard the joyful sound; our eyes have seen the salvation of our God. This is a day of the Son of Man!

Glory be to God, that peace is proclaimed on earth, and good-will to the children of men! Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed be he who came in the name of the Highest to save us! Halleluiah, Halleluiah, to him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever!

"God of the patriarchs! who saw afar off this day which we now commemorate: God of the prophets! who foretold its arrival: God of the righteous men! who desired its approach: God of the evangelists and apostles! who first beheld the day of the Messiah: God of the martyrs and confessors! 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! descend now, make thyself known to us, and fill this house with thy glory.

cross,

"Father Almighty! Creator of the world, great Parent and Preserver of men, who didst contrive the mystery of our redemption, which we now come to commemorate: Son of the Most High! Redeemer of the world, Intercessor, Friend, and Patron of the human race, who by thy death upon the didst 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 dost apply to the penitent the benefits of that redemption which we now come to commemorate,-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! God blessed for ever; be now present; be now propitious, and hear the prayers of thy people.

"Thou hast 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 pass before us. Open unto us the fountain of life, that we may drink and live.

Now

command the blessing, even life for ever

more.

66

May these elements of bread and wine, which, in the name, and by the authority, of the Lord Jesus Christ, we now set apart to represent 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 thirst again. Hear, O God, these our humble praises and prayers. May they now ascend before thee with acceptance from this table, upon which are the emblems of the Lamb sacrificed, 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.'

ADDRESS TO COMMUNICANTS

BEFORE AND AFTER THE SERVICE OF THE TABLES.

[Service of Tables, is the homely phrase which has been long used, and is still retained upon this occasion. It strict

ly refers to the distribution of the Elements by the Elders. It has been improperly extended to the Addresses made by the Minister; for the Minister, in reality, only gives the Elements to the Communicants who sit nearest on each hand. The Elders administer them to the rest.

At the First Table, the Minister, immediately upon concluding the Consecration Prayer, usually proceeds to read the words of the Institution, and, without adding more, to distribute the Elements. But before the Service of the succeeding Tables, Addresses at some length are made to the Communicants.]

TABLE FIRST.

[Before the Service.]

“COMMUNICANTS! I now proceed, after the example, and in the words of our Lord, to distribute among you the symbols of his body broken, and of his blood shed. The sacred warrant was received of the Lord, and has been delivered unto us.

[Service.]

"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 brake it, and gave it unto his "disciples, saying, Take, eat;" (Here the