THE INVITATION, AND THE CONFESSION OF SIN.

After this the Minister reminds the People of their sins and exhorts them to confession, in some Scriptural sentences of Invitation,

Then, the Congregation kneeling or humbly bowing, the Minister offers the Prayer of Confession and Absolution.

THE RECEIVING OF NEW COMMUNICANTS.

Here takes place, according to the Order given on page 28, the solemn Receiving to the Lord's Supper of such persons as may have been admitted by the Session.

THE HYMN.

After this service, or, if there be no persons to be received, then after the Confession, the Congregation, standing, sing with the Choir the Hymn My God accept my heart this day" (the 274th of this book), or some like selection from the Hymns appointed for this First Part of the service.

THE READING OF THE SCRIPTURES.

Then follows the reading of a portion of the Word of God by the Minister, the People sitting and devoutly attending.

The portion of Scripture for this reading is selected by the Minister according to his discretion; except that the Book of Psalms, being appointed for another part of the service, is not used here..

THE ANTHEM.

Here the Elders and Deacons take their places near the Communion Table. And any Clergymen, or Elders and Deacons of other churches, who may be present in the congregation, are invited to take places with them.

Then is sung by the Choir the Anthem Gloria in excelsis, as follows:

GLORY be to God on high,

And on earth peace, good will towards men.

We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee,

We glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory,

O Lord God, heavenly King,

God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ;

O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,

Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father,

Have mercy upon us.

For thou only art holy;

Thou only art the Lord.

Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost,
Art most high in the glory of God the Father.

THE READING OF THE PSALTER.

Then is read, by the Minister and the People responsively, the Forty-fifth Lesson of the Psalter (Ps. lxxii.) as given in this book; unless the Minister for special reason prefer another.

THE HYMN.

After the reading of the Psalter the Congregation, standing, sing with the Choir the Hymn " Now at the Lamb's high royal feast" (the 98th of this book), or some like selection from the Hymns appointed for this Second Part of the service.

THE COLLECTION.

Here is taken the Collection of the Alms and religious Offerings of the People; the Elders, Deacons, or other authorized persons receiving the gifts and placing them upon the Communion Table; while the Minister, in suitable words of Scripture, reminds the People of the duty and privilege of thus offering of their substance to the Lord, as a proper part of their offering of themselves to Him in the holy Communion.

THE EXHORTATION.

The Minister here announces what persons, if any, have been received into this church by letters from other churches; and what persons have been now for the first time admitted to the Communion; also giving any other notices which may be required.

And all members of other churches, who may be present, and desire to partake of the Communion, are invited so to do.

Then the Minister begins the administration of the Communion with the proper Exhortation; reminding the People of the holy nature and benefits of the ordinance, warning them against profaning it by approaching it in ignorance or thoughtlessness, or in the indulgence of any known sin; and inviting them to come to it in repentance, and in faith and love towards Christ, or with an unfeigned desire to be found in Christ and to depart from iniquity.-Larg. Catech., Q. 172.

THE COMMUNION PRAYER.

Then, the Congregation kneeling or devoutly bowing, the Minister offers the Prayers of Supplication, general and special Thanksgiving, Adoration, and Praise; the Prayer of Consecration, with the Words of Institution; and the Prayers of Self-Oblation and of general and special Intercession.

THE COMMUNION.

The People now being seated, the Minister proceeds to deliver the consecrated Elements; first the Bread, until all have received it, and afterwards the Wine. The Minister delivers the Communion to the Elders and Deacons, and they, for him, then deliver it to all the Communicants. The Minister himself receives the Communion before the Elders distribute it to the People.

While the People are receiving, or after all have communicated, the Minister solemnly repeats the sentences of sacramental instruction and admonition from the Scriptures, as appointed.

THE CLOSING PRAYER.

The Communion being ended, the People kneeling or reverently bowing, the Minister offers the Closing Prayer.

THE ANTHEM.

Then is sung by the Choir the Anthem Te Deum laudamus, as follows:

WE praise thee, O God;

We acknowledge thee to be the Lord.

All the earth doth worship thee,

The Father everlasting.

To thee all angels cry aloud,

The heavens and all the powers therein.

To the Cherubim and Seraphim

Continually do cry:

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Saboath;

Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of thy glory!
The glorious company of the apostles praise thee;

The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise thee;

The noble army of martyrs praise thee;

The holy church throughout all the world doth acknowledge thee,
The Father, of an infinite majesty; thine adorable, true, and only Son;
Also the Holy Ghost, the Comforter;

Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ;

Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.

When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man,

Thou didst humble thyself to be born of a Virgin.

When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death,

Thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father.

We believe that thou shalt come to be our Judge.

We therefore pray thee, help thy servants,

Whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood ;

Make them to be numbered with thy saints

In glory everlasting.

O Lord, save thy people, and bless thine heritage;

Govern them, and lift them up forever.

Day by day we magnify thee;

And we worship thy name ever, world without end.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.
O Lord, have mercy upon us, have

O Lord, let thy mercy be upon us,

As our trust is in thee.

O Lord, in thee have I trusted;

Let me never be confounded.

mercy upon us.

THE BENEDICTION.

Then, the People rising and reverently bowing the head, the Minister pronounces upon them the proper Benediction.

THE END OF THE COMMUNION SERVICE.

THE ORDER

FOR THE

ADMINISTRATION OF BAPTISM.

Baptism is always administered in the Church, at the time of some public service, unless neccssity require otherwise.

Parents intending to bring a Child to be baptized, are required to give notice thereof to the Minister before the time of Public Worship, and to give him, in writing, their own full names, and the name of the Child, and date of its birth.

The Child to be baptized is presented by one or both of the parents, immediately after the Prayer of Confession in either the Morning or the Evening Service.

THE INTRODUCTORY SENTENCE.

While the Parents are coming with the Child to the Font, the following Sentence is sung by the Choir:

SUFFER the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not;
For of such is the kingdom of God.

THE CHARGE TO THE PARENTS.

The Parents then standing, with the Child, before the Font, the Minister, standing by it, gives to them the Charge concerning the blessings and duties signified by holy Baptism, and demands of them a promise to be faithful thereto in behalf of their Child.

THE PRAYER BEFORE BAPTISM.

After this, the Congregation rising, the Minister offers the Prayer before the Baptism.