obedience to our Lord's command to worship as Christians, and to show that we do believe in Him who by His Blood made the New Covenant* with all the world.

SECTION III.-The Christian Sacrifice.

Jesus was "the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world" (St. John i. 29), to which the ancient Jewish sacrifices pointed forwards; because it was "not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sin" (Heb. x. 4). And by His death upon the cross Jesus"offered one sacrifice for sins for ever (Heb. x. 12).

Therefore when Jesus speaks of His Blood of the New Covenant shed for the remission of sins (St. Matt. xxvi. 28), and says, "This do in remembrance of Me," it is clear that He bids us look back to His sacrifice and make a memorial of His precious death.

Holy Communion is

*Notice the division of the Bible into Old and New Testament. A Testament is a Covenant; and the Bible is so named because the Old Testament describes God's dealings with men under the Old Covenant made with the Jews; and the New Testament describes God's dealings with men under the New Covenant made with all the world in Christ.

"for the continual remembrance of the sacrifice of the death of Christ."

It therefore follows that we are invited to come to Holy Communion filled with the remembrance of Christ's death, to plead it before God, trusting to nothing of our own, that we do or feel, but hiding behind the merits of our Lord. For hereby we show the Lord's death" (1 Cor. xi. 26). And we may be sure if we do this that Almighty God will accept us. For we are pleading only-Jesus died for me-and that not in words which might be mixed with error, or not be fitting ones; but pleading in deed, by doing that which Christ Himself appointed.

SECTION IV.-The Communion.

When the people crowded round Jesus in the synagogue at Capernaum, on the day after He fed the five thousand, He told them of better food which He would give, even Bread from Heaven; and then He spoke of this Heavenly Food as His Flesh and Blood (St. John vi. 27, 51, 53).

Months passed away, and no explanation of these mysterious words was given. Until at the Last Supper, the disciples saw Him solemnly take bread into His hands and bless it, and break it, and give it to them as He had done on that

occasion when He fed the five thousand. But Jesus did not now give the bread to feed the bodies of hungry men. He was giving the true Bread of Souls. And He said, "Take, eat; this is My Body." And He took the cup, saying, “Drink ye all of it; for this is My Blood" (St. Matt. xxvi. 26, 28).

The Holy Communion is a mystery. The wisest of men cannot understand exactly how Jesus gives Himself to us in this Holy Sacrament. Our senses have no idea what spirit is. And herein Jesus gives us spiritual food, having expressly warned us that His words must be understood in a spiritual and not in a carnal, earthly sense (St. John vi. 63).

Therefore, without trying to look too deeply into mysteries which God does not enable us to understand, we believe that what Jesus says He most certainly performs; and that in the Holy Communion He still makes good His promise and gives Himself to His faithful people.

Does any one ask, What does God give to men in the Holy Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ? The answer is, Communion with Jesus. The term "Holy Communion" as applied to this Holy Sacrament exactly describes what it is. It is a real communion with Jesus; according to His own words, "He that eateth My Flesh, and

drinketh My Blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him " (St. John vi. 56).

And if we have communion with Jesus, all things are within our reach. Hear Him saying, "I am the Door" (St. John x. 9); in Him and through Him we find the open way to life. Hear Him saying again, "I am the Resurrection and the Life" (St. John xi. 25); in Him we partake in the Resurrection, and share in His Eternal Life. "Whoso eateth My Flesh, and drinketh My Blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day" (St. John vi. 54). And accordingly the words are said to every communicant, "The Body and Blood of Christ preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life."

15

CHAPTER II.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR HOLY COMMUNION.

THE

HE Church Catechism gives very plain instructions how to prepare for Holy Communion. Question.-What is required of them who come to the Lord's Supper?

Answer. --To examine themselves, whether they repent them truly of their former sins, steadfastly purposing to lead a new life; have a lively faith in God's mercy through Christ, with a thankful remembrance of His death; and be in charity with all men.

Three points are thus pressed upon us as necessary: 1, repentance; 2, faith; 3, charity. And we are urged to examine ourselves upon them, in accordance with the words of St. Paul: "Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup" (1 Cor. xi. 28).

In this work of self-examination, we need to remember that the warnings of St. Paul (1 Cor. xi. 27-34) against communicating unworthily apply to such as should presume to come in a careless spirit, as if to partake of common food,