ir own
upper room, the first Christian Church, as well as in their constant
attendance on the daily "Prayers" and praises still offered up in the
Temple. Of the conduct of the first Christians towards each other we
are told twice over, immediately after the Outpouring of the Day of
Pentecost, and again after that increase of "boldness," which was
granted to the earnest cry of the Church on the approach of
persecution[29].

{14}

[Sidenote: and towards man.]

Both these accounts speak to us of their full realization of the
doctrine of the Communion of Saints. They "were together;" they "were
of one heart and of one soul:" the need of one was the need of all;
each felt his brother's wants, as if he himself suffered; and so great
was the liberality of those who had "possessions and goods," that there
was not "any among them that lacked." "They had all things common," as
to the daily use of God's worldly gifts.

[Sidenote: The Holy Eucharist as a Sacrifice]

The Holy Eucharist was to the Church then, as it is still, the chief
act and centre of Divine worship. In this new Sacrifice the Apostles
showed forth and pleaded before God, the One Sufficient Sacrifice,
which they themselves had seen "once offered," with unspeakable
sufferings, and all-prevailing Blood-shedding upon the Cross of
Calvary. [Sidenote: and a means of union with Christ.] In it they
adored Him, Whom they now acknowledged with every faculty of their
souls to be indeed their "Lord" and their "God;" in it they found again
the Real and continual, though invisible, Presence of the Master and
Friend for Whose sake they had forsaken all earthly ties; and by it
they were brought into closer union with Him, than when of old they had
walked and talked with Him beside the Galilean Sea, or beneath the
olive-trees of Gethsemane; for now, they were indeed "nourished and
cherished" by Him and made more and more "members of His Body, of His
flesh, and of His bones[30]." [Sidenote: Thankfulness of the first
converts.] What wonder, then, that we read of the "gladness and
singleness of heart" of the {15} Apostles and their converts thus
living in the constant joy and presence of their Lord, and that
"praising God" is mentioned as one of their distinguishing marks:--

"By 'Deo gratias,' as they pass'd,
The faithful folk were surest known;
That watchword for the daily strife
Might well their thoughts and tongues employ,
Who made the Church transform the