all school-boys must at least be aware of, to give a lad some help towards watching lest he fall into temptation, or yield to it when sorely pressed some help towards satisfying his own conscience, when preparing for Confirmation, and afterwards, from time to time, for Holy Communion, as to whether his religion is in any degree influencing his daily life and conduct, or whether, having a name to live, he is, after all, dead; walking after the lust of the flesh, and so bringing forth none of those fruits of the Spirit which are the only sure index of the life of the soul. If Saint Paul exhorteth all persons diligently to try and examine themselves, before they presume to eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup, it is well that this self-trial and self-examination should be conducted with seriousness and carefulness; not lightly, and after the manner of dissemblers with God, but in such a manner as to help us to accuse and condemn ourselves before Him, with hearty and sincere repentance, and full purpose of amendment. It were a shallow wisdom to suppose that while all other good habits must be formed gradually, by acts repeated in methodical and systematic order, religious habits either do not need to be formed at all, or else may be safely left to chance impulses and desultory effort. The solemn charge, Judge therefore yourselves, brethren, that ye be not judged of the Lord,' is a mere empty form of words to all who are not learning to deal honestly with themselves, and closely to examine their lives and conversations by the rule of God's Commandments. The help which a suitable form of self-examination supplies towards acquiring that habit, is only known to those who, in an honest and good heart, have tried it. The present work is little more than a compilation. The Instruction' on the Holy Communion has been, by the author's permission, extracted (with a few trifling changes and additions) from a little book called 'Preparation for Weekly Communion,' by the Rev. W. H. Ridley, M. A., Rector of Hambleden, Bucks. ; the directions and suggestions for Communicants are, in great measure, drawn from another work by the same writer, entitled 'Holy Communion.' The task of the Compiler has thus been principally confined to adapting to a special and particular use the simple, but excellent, words which the kindness of their author has placed at his disposal. The introductory matter on Confirmation is in part adapted from an excellent leaflet, published by Hodges, London, entitled 'Confirmation; Our Part: God's Part.' Its insertion, in the opening of a work treating of Holy Communion, may need a word of explanation. It seemed desirable not only to adapt the book for actual use from the very beginning of a boy's preparation for that Ordinance, but also, and chiefly, to provide him with a standing memorial of so solemn a crisis in his life. In most cases, the season of preparing for Confirmation and First Communion is the opportunity for influencing a boy for good; and anything that helps to carry on and deepen the impressions made by God's grace during that season, is plainly of the highest spiritual value and importance. Further, the close juxtaposition of instructions and devotions on Confirmation, with similar helps to the right reception of Holy Communion, seemed likely to be of service, in reminding boys how unmeaning a thing is Confirmation-the Ordinance of strengthening— if they are not ever afterwards regular attendants at that Holy Sacrament, which is the divinely appointed channel whereby their newly acquired strength may be nourished and sustained. For liberty to extract several copyright compositions from 'Hymns Ancient and Modern,' the Compiler is indebted to the courtesy of the Rev. Sir Henry W. Baker, Bart. Lent, 1872. |