His glorified and glorious body, and receive us with Himself into eternal life. Amen.

Our Father who art in heaven, &c. Amen.

Confirm us also, by this holy supper, in the catholic, undoubted christian faith, of which we make confession with heart and mouth, saying:

I believe in God, &c. Amen.

And now, Beloved in the Lord, that we may be fed with the true heavenly bread, Jesus Christ, let us not permit our hearts to cleave unto this external bread and wine, but lift them up in faith unto heaven, where Jesus Christ our advocate sitteth at the right hand of His heavenly Father, whither also the articles of our Christian faith direct us, not doubting that our souls shall be fed with His body and blood, through the operation of the Holy Ghost, as certainly as we receive the sacred bread and wine in remembrance of Him.

(The minister shall now exhort the communicants to approach the table of the Lord with becoming order and seriousness, publicly to confess and confirm their faith, and then he shall break the bread of the Lord and place it in each one's hand, saying :) The bread which we break is the communion of the body of Christ.

(The other minister in presenting the cup shall say :)

The cup of blessing which we bless, is the comunnion of the blood of Christ.

(The administration of the communion being completed, the minister shall say :)

Beloved in the Lord, Inasmuch as the Lord hath now fed our souls at His table, let us praise His name with united thanksgiv ing, each one saying in his heart :

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name. Ble-s the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will He keep His anger forever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pitieth His children, so the

Lord pitieth them that love Him. Who hath not spared His own Son, but hath delivered Him up for us all wherefore should He not with Him also freely give us all things. Wherefore God sheweth His love toward us, in that while we were sinners Christ died for us. Much more then being justified by His blood, shall we be saved from wrath, through Him. For if, whilst we were enemies, we were reconciled unto God by the death of His Son much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by His life. Wherefore my lips and heart shall shew forth His praise, from henceforth forevermore. Amen.

OR THUS:

Almighty, and most Merciful God and Father, we give Thee hearty thanks, that of thine infinite mercy, Thou has given thine only begotten Son to be our Mediator, and the propitiation for our sins, and also our meat and drink unto eternal life; and dost also grant us true faith, whereby we become partakers of these Thy benefits, for the confirmation of which faith, Thy beloved Son has instituted His holy supper. We beseech Thee, most faithful God and Father, by the operation of the Holy Ghost, to ble-s this commemoration of our Lord Jesus Christ, and showing forth of His death unto our daily growth in true faith and in fellowship with Him, for the sake of Thy beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(The minister shall then pronounce the benediction :)

The Lord bless thee and keep thee. The Lord let the light of His countenance shine upon thee, and be merciful unto thee. The Lord lift His countenance upon thee, and grant thee His

Of the Power of the Keys, and Christian Discipline.

Whereas the proper and christian administration and use of the holy sacraments requires not only that they be observed in such form as has been appointed of God, but also that they be not allowed to such persons as are excluded therefrom by the word of God; it is necessary that christian excommunication shall be exercised in the church not merely in word but in very deed. If therefore there should be any in the congregation, who are guilty of blasphemous doctrines, or of grievous sins, they shall not be admitted to the Lord's supper until they show amendment.

The Papal And whereas urgent necessity requires that the bann. Schristian church be freed from the intolerable pre

sumption, and terrible tyranny of the papish bann, whereby the Pope and his crew cast every thing under his feet; and whereas not only that which is evil should be eradicated and torn up, but also that which is good should be planted instead thereof; it is no less necessary that a christian and appropiate discipline should be instituted in christian congregations, according to the injunction of our Lord (Matth. xviii: 17, 18), and for the good of the church.

The elders of the church, & not the minis

ters alone,

have the pow

er of the keys

in the case of open sins.

But to prevent this exclusion from the use of the sacraments from falling into abuse and disorder, as in Popery; proper order and moderation shall be maintained, as is directed by Christ and the Apostle Paul. And above all this power shall not be vested in one or several church officers, or other individuals, but in the entire christian congregation, to whom the ministers as well as the humblest member of the church are subject. For if every preacher might put under bann whomsoever he would, at his own pleasure, the discipline would not be that instituted by Christ, but of Antichrist's devising.

Wherefore several honest and god-fearing men shall be selected from every congregation, as occasion and necessity may require, who on behalf-and in the name of the whole congregation, shall in connection with the ministers, take notice of such persons as are offensive either in consequence of dangerous errors in faith, or of sinful lives; (such as whoremongers, misers, idolaters, slanderers, drunkards, or of otherwise disorderly conduct,) so that they may be admonished, once, twice, or thrice, according to circumstances, to amend their ways. And should they then not change their lives, they shall be separated from the congregation, by forbidding them the holy sacrament, until they promise and give proof of amendment.

(Thus closes the third part of the Liturgy. The next gener al division contains a number of interesting and instructive services for various occasions. Of these we shall translate several in their regular order.)

IV.

OF OTHER CHURCH CUSTOMS AND SERVICES.

Of festivals and holy-days.

Holy-days shall be kept in the same manner as Sabbath.
The following days shall be regularly observed.

All Sabbath-days,

Christmas with the day following. New year's day. Easter with the day following. Ascension day. Whitsuntide with the following day.

The scriptures to be preached upon on each of these festivals, have already been designated.

1. Of Church-psalmody and Garments.

In reference to the singing of Psalms, the Apostle Paul admonishes it to be done not only with the mouth, but with the heart, and that all shall be done to the edification of the church. But since the heart cannot praise God with what it does not understand; we herewith enjoin that no other but German psalms be sung in our churches, and that the same be selected with reference to the occasion and doctrine. Furthermore ministers shall use genteel and plain apparel, in the discharge of their official duties, as on other occasions.

2. Direction concerning the publication of marriages, and introductory form.

Whereas marriage is acceptable to God, and honorable in all, it is proper that it should be entered upon in the fear of God, sacredly and honorably. Wherefore it is a commendable christian rule that those recently betrothed, should be publicly announced in the church, and so be introduced into this holy state. Thus may they, and others, previously united in matrimony, receive profitable instruction from the word of God, concerning their relation and duties, and also be encouraged under the trials common to their state, and receive the prayers of the whole congregation, for God's blessing upon them.

This shall be done in the following manner: The minister shall admonish and strictly insist upon it that persons betrothed,

shall call upon with him several mutual friends as witnesses, in order to announce their intention to him a sufficient length of time before the rite is solemnized in the church, to enable him to ascertain whether they may be scripturally and lawfully united, lest their marriage should cause scandal and offence, and it should be found necessary to divorce them.

Wherefore henceforth every intended marriage shall be announced three times, or three several Sabbaths, in the church before the pulpit, in the presence of the assembled congregation.

Form of publishing a marriage.

N. and N. desiring to be united in holy matrimony according to due christian order, ask the prayers of the congregation; that they may be enabled to enter upon this holy state in the name of God, and maintain it to His praise. S ould any person therefore have aught to object in the matter, he is requested to announce it in due time, or ever thereafter keep silence, and withhold all hindrance. God grant unto them His blessing. Amen.

Furthermore the names of the betrothed, and their witnesses, shall be recorded in a particular book, kept for the purpose in every church. Having been thus published for three Sabbaths, and presented themselves on the appointed wedding-day in the Choich, (which however may not be on a Sabbath or Holy-day, so that persons may not be kept from the regular service by the marriage festivities;) they shall stand in the front pews until called out by the minister, who shall place himself before the sacramental table, and there address them with the following exhortation:

(Then follows a marriage-ceremony, which to the parties addressed would doubtless in our day seem exceedingly long and tedious, and altogether too theological for such an occasion; but which nevertheless is highly in cresting, solemn, and instructive, and deserving of frequent perusal, and careful study by all married persons. Its delivery would, if carefully read, occupy fifteen or twenty minutes at least. As a full and accurate translation of it may be found in the Liturgy of the Reformed Dutch Church, we shall omit it here, and pass on to the next office for which our Old Liturgy provides.)