You must guard against the danger of coming carelessly and without preparation to Holy Communion; so make a rule to always examine yourself carefully before you come.
First kneel down and say:--
O G.o.d, Thou knowest everything that I have said, and thought, and done.
Help me now to examine myself, that I may see my sins and be sorry for them. Send Thy Holy Spirit into my heart to help me, for Jesus Christ"s sake. Amen.
Then ask yourself:--
1. Am I trying to love and serve G.o.d with all my heart?
2. Have I fallen into any special sin, which is troubling my mind, and keeping me back from G.o.d?
3. Have I said my prayers reverently and carefully every night and morning?
4. Have I been to Church every Sunday, and kept the rest of the day as I ought?
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5. Have I tried to forgive any who may have done me a wrong?
6. Have I done anything impure, or said anything impure, or encouraged any impure thought?
7. Have I been honest in everything?
8. Have I always told the truth?
9. Have I thought or spoken evil of another?
10. Have I quarrelled with any one, or lost my temper?
11. Is there any sin I am not willing to give up?
12. Have I been regular in my times of receiving the Holy Communion?
Whenever you find you have been wrong, confess your fault to G.o.d, and ask for his pardon; say:--
O Father Almighty, forgive me for this sin that I have committed, and send down Thy Holy Spirit into my heart that I may do better in the future, for Jesus Christ"s sake. Amen.
[_If you have any trouble in your mind, or cannot quiet your own conscience, either from some sin that you have committed, or from doubt as to whether you ought to come to Holy Communion, do not be afraid to go to your Clergyman, and ask him to help you_.]
_Also on Sat.u.r.day night or Sunday morning use the following Office of Preparation_:--
Kneel down and say:--
LORD, have mercy upon me.
CHRIST, have mercy upon me.
LORD, have mercy upon me.
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Our Father, which 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 trespa.s.ses, As we forgive them that trespa.s.s against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. Amen.
I am truly sorry, O Lord, that I have grieved Thee by my sins, and I wish that my sorrow was far greater. I am not worthy to be called Thy child, but Thou art still my most merciful Father. Make me to hate sin and to long for holiness: for Jesus" sake. Amen.
I love Thee, O my G.o.d, for all Thy mercy to me, and I desire to love Thee more and more. Let no earthly love possess my heart, so as to let me forget Thee. Give me Thy Holy Spirit that I may love Thee more truly, for Jesus Christ"s sake. Amen.
O Heavenly Father, I am about to draw near to the most Holy Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Thy dear Son. Have mercy upon me; have mercy upon me, for I am most unworthy. But, O my G.o.d, look not upon my sin, but look upon the Face of Thy Son. Thy dear Son hath died that we may come with boldness unto Thee. Therefore I come. Oh, may I so eat and drink that I may be partaker of the Body and Blood of Christ to the strengthening and refreshing of my soul, and may be one with Him through the power of the Holy Spirit. Hear me, and {17} accept me, O most merciful Father, for the sake of the same my crucified Saviour.
Amen.
[Ill.u.s.tration: BEARING THE CROSS. _Ary Scheffer_.]
May G.o.d the Father, G.o.d the Son, and G.o.d the Holy Ghost, be with me now and at the hour of death. Amen.
THE DAY OF COMMUNION.
_Be careful to be at Church in good time, and while waiting for the Service to begin, say one or more of these Prayers_:--
Cleanse Thou me, O Lord, from my secret faults, and mercifully pardon my sins, that I may receive Thy holy gifts with a pure mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty and everlasting G.o.d, I come to the holy Sacrament of Thy dear Son. I draw near weak, to the Giver of Strength; unclean, to the Fountain of Mercy; blind, to the Eternal Light; poor and needy, to the Lord of heaven and earth. I pray Thee, therefore, of Thy great goodness, to have mercy upon me, that so I may receive the King of kings, and Lord of lords, with such reverence and purity and faith, as shall be for the health of my soul. Let me now receive the Body and Blood of Jesus my Lord, that I may be one Body and one Spirit with Him, and ever remain among His members. Grant this for the same Jesus Christ"s sake. Amen.
I do not presume to come to Thy table, O merciful Lord, trusting in my own righteousness, but in {18} Thy manifold and great mercies. I am 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 me therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the Flesh of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink His Blood, that my sinful body may be made clean by His Body, and my soul washed through His most precious Blood, and that I may evermore dwell in Him and He in me. Amen.
_Or this_.
O Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ, not trusting in my own goodness, but in Thy great merits, I desire to receive the holy Sacrament of Thy Body and Blood. I am stained with many sins; do Thou wash me in Thy precious Blood. I am faint and weary in my strife against sin; do Thou refresh and strengthen me. Give me perfect purity of soul and body; drive from me all unholy thoughts, and keep me from every evil word and deed. Give me grace to draw near to this holy Sacrament with such reverence and fear, such holy joy and fervent love, such sorrow for sin and desires for holiness, that I may enjoy all the blessings and receive all the benefits which Thou hast obtained for us through Thy precious death. Amen.
_If you have any more time before the Service begins, you can use the Hymns at the end of the book_.
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THE ORDER FOR THE
ADMINISTRATION OF THE LORD"S SUPPER,
OR
HOLY COMMUNION.
[The parts of the Service which you are to repeat are printed in _italic_ letters.]