1

address on approaching the Lord's Table, and in the general confession, we are taught and commanded to draw near.

But, it is when we kneel down at that holy Table, when the whole man, body, soul, and spirit, is bowed, in lowly prostration, before the altar, that this preparation is embodied in one short, but inimitable prayer: a Collect, which, whether we consider the fewness of the words, or the depth and fulness of the sense, may justly be pronounced, a model of "fervent, energetic prayer:" We do not presume to come, to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are 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 us, therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in Him, and He in us.'

But, while we are here taught to humble ourselves, in the immediate presence of our God, it is only that He may exalt us in due season. This deep self-abasement is not only compatible with,

it is the ring ware and fontain of all peogrew and perfection; it is the spirit whieh akoe can bear our affections Leavenward; it is the winged harbinger, of a still higher communion. even of our partnership in that blessed harmony, which fills the Jerusalem above with immortal strains of praise and joy. In our CommunionService, accordingly, this lowly petition is prefaced by a thanksgiving, which transports the faithful worshipper within the courts of heaven, and which might seem not unworthy to swell the hallelujahs of those blessed abodes: 'Therefore, with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious name; evermore praising Thee, and saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of. thy glory; glory be to Thee, O Lord most High!’

Thus it is, that the deepest humility, is not only consistent with the happiest assurance, but actually produces that assurance: for, it is certain, that, the more entirely we distrust ourselves, the more victoriously shall we "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might;" in*much s "His strength is made perfect in

The happy union of Christian lowliness, with Christian exaltation, presented to our our minds

and hearts in this part of the office, is every where to be met with throughout the New Testament; and is ever most strikingly exemplified, in the most highly honoured servants of God. This spirit it was, that dwelt in the heart, and breathed from the lips, of her who was highly favoured among women, the Virgin Mother of our Lord. When the Roman centurion, with like self-abasement, exclaimed, "Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof," then it was, the blessed Jesus answered, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel." And when Saint Paul himself was caught up into the third heaven," and saw and heard unutterable things; the sense of humiliation was divinely awakened in the breast of the holy apostle, "lest," as he tells us," he should be exalted above measure." With what mingled emotions, therefore, of faith and fear, of prostrate, at once, and of uplifted adoration, should we approach the house, the services, the altar, of our God? With what holy, humble zeal, should we not learn from our Church services, "to serve the Lord with fear; and rejoice before Him with reverence?"

66

But, like the blessed Gospel, on which her whole services are formed, the lessons of our Church are not meant only for the matured, ad

vanced, confirmed worshipper: her attention is equally directed to the infirm, the weak, the young in faith. To lead on to spiritual progress, is her great aim: but, with this object in view, "she despises not the day of small things;" she accounts no thought, no wish, no effort, towards recovery or improvement, valueless; even these infant beginnings of the Christian life are precious in her sight. With this view, she is full of tenderness for weak Christians. It is her delight, to lead such gently by the hand for she well remembers, that Christ gave commission, not only to feed his sheep, but also to feed his lambs. Even in her holiest mystery, hers is no exclusive spirit: she does not require long-confirmed habits of holiness, in order to admission to the Table of the Lord: in all communicants, she desires, indeed, to see the best fruits of Christianity, but not as indispensable pre-requisites to Communion. To qualify for this high privilege, she looks, only, for sincerity, for faith, for a mind in love and perfect charity with all men, for a heart truly desirous to serve and please God for the future, in newness of life wherever such dispositions exist, there, according to her teaching, exists, also, a fitness for worthily receiving that holy Sacrament; and wherever such dispositions continue to exist,

there must be advancement, sometimes more gradual, sometimes more rapid, but always in conformity with our blessed Lord's example, and in participation of his Spirit. While, if we habitually come to the sacred Table, in spirit, and in truth, each attendance will be blessed to us, by fresh communications of heavenly virtue, and by increase of the grace and power formerly received; until the efficacy of this blessed Sacrament shall become eventually such, that "we all beholding, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, shall be changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

This, brethren, is that "perfection," to which the text exhorts us to aspire, and which our Church, in all her services, would affectionately lead us to attain. It has been already defined, in this concluding discourse on our Liturgy, as a state of calm and continual progress in the love of God and man. With the love of God and man, accordingly, the Church opens that magnificent doxology, in which she would prepare and qualify all those who have duly received these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious body and blood of our Saviour Christ,' to receive her blessing, and depart in peace; inviting us, with one voice,