an assist at it, in union with the ordained Priest who
is actually celebrating. They can say their _Amen_ at the Eucharist,
or "giving of thanks," and give their responding assent to what he is
doing in their name, and on their behalf.

And this answers another question. "If I am a Communicant, but have
not been confirmed, ought I to present myself for Confirmation?"
Surely. The Prayer Book is quite definite about this. First, it
legislates for the normal case, then for the abnormal. First it says:
"None shall be admitted to Holy Communion until such time as they have
been Confirmed". Then it deals with {99} exceptional cases, and adds,
"or be willing and desirous to be confirmed". Such exceptional cases
may, and do, occur; but even these may not be Communicated unless they
are both "ready" and "desirous" to be confirmed, as soon as
Confirmation can be received. So does the Church safeguard her
Sacraments, and her children.

"But would you," it is asked, "exclude a Dissenter from Communion,
however good and holy he may be, merely because he has not been
Confirmed?" He certainly would have very little respect for me if I
did not. If, for instance, he belonged to the Methodist Society, he
would assuredly not admit me to be a "Communicant" in that Society.
"No person," says his rule, "shall be suffered on any pretence to
partake of the Lord's Supper _unless he be a member of the Society_, or
receive a note of admission from the Superintendent, which note must be
renewed quarterly." And, again: "That the Table of the Lord should be
open to all comers, is surely a great discredit, and a serious peril to
any Church".[5] And yet the Church, the Divine Society, established by
Jesus Christ Himself, is blamed, and called narrow and {100} bigoted,
if she asserts her own rule, and refuses to admit "all comers" to the
Altar. To give way on such a point would be to forfeit, and rightly to
forfeit, the respect of any law-abiding people, and would be--in many
cases, is--"a great discredit, and a serious peril" to the Church. We
have few enough rules as it is, and if those that we have are
meaningless, we may well be held up to derision. The Prayer Book makes
no provision whatever for those who are not Confirmed, and who, if able
to receive Confirmation, are neither "ready nor desirous to be
Confirmed".

(III) WHOM IT IS FOR.

Confirmation is for the Baptized, and none other. The Prayer-Book
Title to the service