haft inftituted and ordained Holy Myfteries as Pledges of his Love, and for a continual Remembrance of his Death and Paffion, to our great and endlefs Comfort." Behold I do moft affectionately, and with all the Powers of my Soul ⚫and Body, return thee most hearty Praife and Thanksgiving for thy great Mercy and Tender Compaffion to me and all Mankind, in fending thine only Son into the World to redeem us from Sin and Mifery, and by his meritorious Death and Paffion, to purchase for us eternal Life. Grant, O Lord, that I may always moft gratefully remember this exceeding Love of my only Saviour Jefus Chrift, thus dying for me; and work in me all fuch holy and heavenly Affections, as may difpofe my Heart to be a worthy Guest at thy holy Table, prepared for the continual Remembrance of the Sacrifice of the Death of Chrift, and of thofe Benefits which we receive thereby. Praife the Lord, O my Soul, and forget not all bis Benefits, who forgiveth all thy Sins, and bealeth all thine Infirmities, who faveth thy Life from Deftruction, and crowneth thee with Mercy and Loving-kindness. See Pfal. ciii. 2, 3, 4.

A Prayer for the Grace of Charity.

0

'

Lord, who haft taught us that all our Doings without Charity are nothing worth; fend thy Holy Ghoft, and pour into my Heart that most excellent Gift of Charity, the very Bond of Peace, and of all Virtues, without which whofoever liveth is counted dead before thee;' more especially, when I am going to commemorate the unfpeakable Love of my Bleffed Saviour in dying for me, let not my Heart be deftitute of Love towards my Brethren; extend thy Mercy and Forgiveness to all mine Enemies, Perfecutors and Slanderers, and turn their Hearts; which I as fincerely beg for them, as I hope for Mercy and Forgiveness at thy Hands. Poffefs me with Kindness and Goodwill for all Mankind, that my Faith may work by Love, and difpofe my Heart, according to my Ability, to administer towards the Wants and Neceffitics of thofe who are any Ways afflicted or diftreffed in Mind, Body, or Eftate, and to do unto all Men as I would they fhould do unto me; and give

me

me that Charity which covereth a Multitude of Sins, that by doing Good for Evil, all Men may know that I am thy Difciple. Grant this for Jefus's Sake. Amen. See Pfal. 15. 133. 41. 112. Mat. xxv. 34, 41. Mat. xviii. 21. 1 Cor. xiii.

A Prayer the Morning you intend to communicate.

O

Moft gracious and Eternal Lord God, thou hast called all fuch who are weary and heavy laden to come unto thee by Faith and Repentance, and thou wilt refresh them. In affiance of this thy gracious Invitation, I will come to thy Heavenly Table, not trufting in mine own Righteoufnefs, but in thy manifold and great Mercies; and although I am not worthy fo much as to gather up the Crumbs that fall from thy Table, yet fince it is thy property always to have Mercy, I will not defpair of a kind Reception: For give my want of a due Preparation, and accept of my fincere Defire to perform an acceptable Service unto thee: Clothe me with the Wedding-Garment, even the Graces of the Gospel, and then 1 am fure I fhall be a welcome Guest at thy Table, when I fhall come thither in the likeness of thy Son Jefus Chrift, in whom thou art well pleafed. Poffefs my Soul with a lively Faith, profound Humility, filial Obedience, inflamed Affections, and univerfal Charity, that fo I may become a worthy Partaker of thofe holy Mysteries, to my great and endless Comfort. Grant this, O heavenly Father, if it be thy bleffed Will, through Jefus Chrift. Amen. Our Father, &c. See Pfal 23. 25. 26.

See Dr. Meriton's Family Companion; or Forms of Prayers for every Day in the Week, Morning and Evening. Alfo Prayers and Thankf givings upon feveral Occafions, as well for the Ufe of particular Perfons as Families.

Short

Short Prayers and Meditations before the Minifter at Church begins the Communion Service.

At going up to the Altar.

I

N the Multitude of thy tender Mercies, O Lord God, do I now approach thine Altar. O pardon my Sins, and look not upon my Unworthiness (for I am a fin ful Creature, O Lord) but upon thefe Motives which drew me hither, even my own Mifèries and thy tender Mercies; therefore help me to fupply in Humility what I want in Worthiness, and let my bended Knees and contrite Heart fhew that I durft not have adventured hither, had not thy Mercy held out the Golden Sceptre, and faid, Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. At giving your Alms.

cept of this little which I freely offer towards the Relief of any of thy poor Members, Mark xii. 42.

Lof

OOK down, O Lord God, from thy holy Habitation, and from the glorious Throne of thy Kingdom, and fanctify usWhen you receive the Bread,

the Crumbs which fall from thy Table, and yet thou giveft unto me the Bread of Lue. Evermore give me this Bread, that I may eat hereof, and not die eternally, John vi. 34, 50.

When the Priest is fetting in Order the Elements to be confecrated

After the receiving of the Bread

NOT

OT unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name give the Praife, for thy loving Mercy, and for thy Truth's fake.

Before the receiving of the Cup.

WHAT

HAT Reward fhall I give unto the Lord for all the Benefits he hath done unto me; I will receive the Cup of Salvation, and call upon the Name of the Lord.

After

乾

After Drinking.

B

Leffed be God, the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, for his unfpeakable Gift, in whom we have Redemption through his Blood, even the Forgiveness of our Sins.

When you retire from the Altar.

BLESS

LESS the Lord, O my Soul, and all that is within me blefs bis holy Name; blefs the Lord, O my Soul, and forget not all bis Benefits; who forgiveth all thine Iniquities, and bealeth all thy Difeafes; who redeemeth thy Life from Deftruction, and crowneth thee with Loving kindness and tender Mer cies. O let that heavenly Food, which thou haft fo lately fed me with, transfufe new Life and new Vigour, into my Soul, and into the Souls of all thofe who have been Par takers with me of this Holy Communion, that our Faith, Hope, and Charity, may daily increase, and that we may all grow in Grace, and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. Amen, and Amen. See Pfalms 8. 23. 66. 103.

Prayers and Meditations, which may be joined to the former, where the Communions are large,

Afpirations for a devout Communicant.

E ever

the Light of Faith and Wisdom, that I may ever look un thee my Redeemer, as the Way, the Truth, and Life, which leadeth unto Eternal Life. What am I, Lord, and what is my Father's House, that thou should'st thus follow me with thy Bleffings? I was created by thee and for thee, and mayft thou ever be the Comfort of my Soul. Good Jefus, my Hope and only Refuge, 1 here render thee hearty Thanks for all thy Sufferings, and I beg that I may find Shelter in thy Wounds against all Enemies, Ghoftly and Bodily Imprint the Memory of them faft in my Heart, that I may love thee, and in all my Sufferings never want thy Divine Affiftance, or forget what thou haft fuffered for me. Take from me all Self-Love, and give me perfec Love for thee, the only true God, and Jefus Chrift whom thou

baf

haft fent, that I may now be more faithful in my Duty; and let nothing for the future put me out of my way: O that I could ever remember thee, think of thee, and delight in thee alone, and love thee only, who haft loved us, and, washed us with thy moft precious Blood from the Guilt of our Sins. O that my Senfes may ever be fhut against all Vanity and Sin, that my Mind being free from all fruitleis Solicitude and Fear, I may fix my Heart there where true Joys are only to be found. From henceforth I will only. feek thee, my only Good: my Affections and Defires thail be fixed on thee, in whofe Prefence there is Fulness of Joys, and at whofe Right-Hand there are Pleasures for evermore. My Will I now refign into thy Hands, defiring that thy Will may be mine, both now and for ever. Be thou my. Inftructor and Director in all Things, that I may never do or speak, defire or think, any thing but what is according to thy good Will.—

2. Am thy Servant, O Lord, O give me Understanding according to thy Word, that I may learn thy Commandments, and lay afide all Intereft, befide that of Heaven. O fweet Jefus, Fountain of all Goodness, guide my Feet in thy Paths and teach me to do thy Will: Difengage my Heart from all unprofitable Sollicitude and vain Affectation; and tho' I live here upon Earth, yet raise my Affec tions on Things above. How fweet, O Lord, is thy Spirit, how pleasant to my Lips are the Words of thy Mouth! O that I could ever be mindful of them to fulfil thy Laws! Make me die daily to the World and all its Concupifcences, and let the Greatness of thy Love make all that is earthly appear as nothing to me: Protect me against mine Enemies, and in all Dangers appear in my Defence; make hafte to help me, O God, and fay unto my Soul, I am thy Salvation. Remember thou art my Father, and have Compaffion on my poor diftreffed Soul; clothe it with all Virtues, and feed it with thy Grace, for it belongs to the Father to take care of his Children. In thee I live, fweet Jejus, for thy fake I defire to die, both living and dying I will ever profess that thou art good, and that thy Mercy endures for ever.

3. O That