Mouths may shew forth thy praise Inspire them with holiness and diligence to preach and declare thâ— will by a Good Life and wise Discourses thâ— they may minister to the good of Souls and finâ— a glorious reward in the Day of the Lord Jesus Amen O Mercifull God Be mercifull in Succouring all that are in affliction Deliver the out-cast and poor Help them to right that Suffer wrong let the sorrowful sighing of the prisoners come before thee and according to the Greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to dye Be mercifull unto all who are just now breathing out their last Grant ease to those that are in pain Supply to those that Suffer want and To all wicked persons give thy Grace that they may Speedily repent and Live well and be saved through the merits of Jesus Christ Amen HAve mercy and pour down thy Blessings O God upon my Father Mother and all other my Relations Friends Benefactors Grant unto them whatsoever they want or wisely and holily desire Keep them forever in thy fear and favour and let their portion be in the Blessing and in the Service in the love and in the Kingdom of God for ever and ever Amen O Lord I beseech thee forgive my Enemies all their sins against thee and me and â—ive me that measure of thy Grace that for their hatred I may love them for their Cursing I may bless them for their injurys I may do them good and for their persecution I may pray for them Lord I pray for them Forgive them for they know not what they do Amen Finally O Lord I pray thee for all those who shall this day be my Companions at the Altar and for all others who do now Communicate in any part of Christendom that through this blood of the Cross we may all be cleansed from our sins and be presented pure and unblameable unreproveable in thy sight for the sake of Jesus Christ whom I adore whom I love and desire I may still more and more love and love for ever Amen Amen Our Father which art in Heaven c. But deliver us from Evil. Amen The Lord bless and preserve me in my going out and my coming in from this time forth for evermore Amen Having thus finished your Closet-Devotions you go forth to the Church or Chappel Fasting that so a Portion from Gods Table may be the first Morsel and remember to take something out of your Store to present at the Offertory When you enter into the Church kneel and pray Our Father which art in Heaven c. For thine is the Kingdom c. Lord I have loved the Habitation of thy House and the place where thine honour dwelleth I will wash my bands in Innocency O Lord and so will I go to thine Altar Having seated your self turn to the Psalms and Lessons Epistle and Gospel for the day that you may more freely attend the Priest in reading them Sermon ended you go up to the Altar and prostrate before it say Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honour and power for thou hast created all things and for thy wills sake they are and were created Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanks and honour and power be unto our God and unto the Lamb for evermore Amen Then whilst Others are coming up and the Priest preparing to read the Sentences pray ALmighty Lord who hast of thine infinite mercies vouchsas'd to ordain this Sacrament for a perpetual memory of that blessed Sacrifice which once thou madest for us upon the Cross grant me with such diligent remembrance and such due reverence to participate of this so holy and wonderful a mystery that I â—…y be made worthy by thy grace to obtain the â—…tue and fruits of the same with all the beneâ—…s of thy precious death and passion even the Remission of all my sins and the fulness of all thy graces which I beg for thy only merits who art my only Saviour God from everlasting and world without end Amen O Lord our Heavenly Father Almighty and everlasting God regard we beseech thee the devotions of thy humble Servants who do now celebrate the Memorial which thy Son our Saviour hath commanded to be made in remembrance of his most blessed Passion and Sacrifice that by the merits and power there of now represented before thy divine Majesty we and all thy whole Church may be made partakers of all other the benefits of his most precious Death and Passion together with his mighty Resurrection from the earth and glorious Ascention into Heaven who liveth and reigneth with thee and the holy Spirit ever one God world without end Amen BE pleased O God to accept this our bounden duty service and command that the prayers and supplications together with the Remembrance of Christs Passion which we do now offer up unto thee may by the ministery of thy holy Angels be brought up into thy Heavenly Tabernacle and that thou not weighing our merits but looking upon the blessed Sacrifice of our Saviour which was once fully and perfectly made for us all may'st pardon our offences and replenish us with thy grace and heavenly benediction through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Whilst upon your Knees you cast in your Offering stop and say Blessed Jesu who did'st accept the poor Widdows two Mites be pleased graciciously to accept this from thy unworthy Servant Amen The Prayers beginning again you must joyn with the Congregation and heeding every passage let your heart goe along with it keep your mind attentive not only to the words and substance of the prayers and exhortations but also to every passage and particular Ceremony in the Consecration for as much as all of them have their meaning and reason Observe the Priest then breaking the Bread and remember how Christs B. Body was tor'n with nails upon the Cross Observe him pouring out the Wine and remember how his precious Blood was spilt likewise and then consider they were your sins which caused both which should work in you a great sorrow for them and then a great hatred and a firm resolution against them and withal ingage you to thankâ—…lness and love resolving to express it by an â—…niversal obedience in your Conversation Again Observe the People too taking and eating the Bread Taking and Drinking the Wine for it signifies their particular laying hold on Christ by Trust and Faith their flying to and apprehending him as the means of their Salvation and the pardon of their sins tender'd to them in this B. Sacrament When you have thus meditated If you have time while the Priest and others are Communicating use these or the like heavenly Aspirations I am now before the Altar of God even the God of my joy and gladness I will offer Thanksgiving unto my God and pay my Vows unto the most Highest O lamb of God that takest away the sins of the World Grant me thy Peace O Lamb of God that
takest away the sins of the World Have mercy upon me Grant me Gracious Lord so to eat the Flesh of thy Son and to drink his Blood that my sinful Body may be made clean by his Body and my Soul washed through his most precious Blood Amen O Lord I am not worthy not fit that thou should'st come under the filthy Roofe of the house of my Soul because it is wholly desolate and ruinous neither hast thou with me a fit place where to lay thy head But as thou did'st vouchsafe to be laid in a Stable and Manger of unreasonable Beasts as thou did'st not disdain to be entertain'd even in the house of SIMON the Leper As thou did'st not reject the Harlot a sinner like unto me coming unto thee and touching thee As thou did'st not abhor her foul and prophane mouth Nor yet the Thief on the Cross confessing thee Even so vouchsafe to admit me also an overwor'n miserable and out of measure sinful Creature to the Receiving and Communicating of the most pure quick'ning and saving mysteries of thy most holy Body and precious Blood Amen O Lord God how I received the Body and Blood of my most blessed Saviour Jesus Christ the price of my Redemption is the very wonder of my Soul yet my most firm and constant belief upon the words of my Saviour At this time they are graciously rend'red to me and my Faith Lord make me a worthy Receiver and a Partaker of all the benefits of this B. Sacrament Amen Thou hast said that he that eateth thy Flesh and drinketh thy Blood hath Eternal Life Behold the Servant of the Lord be it unto me according to thy Word Whilst you eat it say By thy Crucified Body deliver me from this Body of Death After Receiving By thine Agony and Bloody sweat by thy Cross and Passion Good Lord deliver me I have sworn and am stedfastly purposed to keep thy Righteous Judgments O hold thou up my goings in thy Paths that my footsteps slip not At the Receiving of the Cup say What reward shall I give unto the Lord for all the benefits that he hath done unto me I will take the Cup of Salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. After you have Received it say O my God thou art true and holy O my Soul thou art blessed and happy Oh the depth of the Wisdom and Knowledg of God! how incomprehensible are his judgments and his ways past finding out Praise the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me praise his Holy Name who saveth thy Life from Destruction and feedeth thee with the Bread of Heaven Glory be to God on high and on Earth Peace good Will towards Men. I worshiâ— thee O Lord and I magnifie thy Name 〈◊〉 ever who hast vouchsafed to fill my Soul wiâ—… gladness and to seed me with the Heavenly Mysteries of Christ's sacred Body and Bloud humbly beseeching thee that from henceforth I may walk in good Works and serve thee in Holiness and Pureness of Living to the Honour of thy Name Amen MOst Blessed Redeemer I do truly believe that thy Body was crucified and thy Bloud was shed out of thy Body as verily as I have received this Bread and this Wine set apart from the Bread and that for the Remission of my sins as well as any others And I do also believe that with this Bread and Wine I have really and spiritually received thy precious Body and Bloud whereby my sins are fully washed away and my Soul purified and refresh'd This O Lord I believe help thou my Vnbelief Amen Whilst others are Communicating Meditate and Say HAppy are those Servants whom when their Lord cometh he shall find thus doing Know yee not that ye are the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you If any one defile the Temple of God him will God destroy Behold thou art made whole sin no more lest a worse thing happen unto thee The hour cometh and now it is that the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth Be we followers of God as dear Children and walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself an Offering and a Sacrifice of a sweet savour unto God for us At the end of the Communion say To the King Eternal the Immortal Invisible and only Wife God the ever blessed Trinity be all honour and glory now and for evermore Amen Arising and making your Reverence towards the Altar you depart with a glad heart and a cheerful countenance preserve good thoughts in your mind yet be not sullen or morose but salute any of your Christian Brethren you meet with As soon as you come home retire into your Closet and bless God with these Collects of Thanksgiving ALmighty God the Fountain of all goodness from whom every good and perfect gift proceedeth and to whom all glory and honour should be returned I do desire most heartily to thank thee for that thou hast vouchsafed to feed me who have received these holy mysteries with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ and do'st assure me thereby of thy favour and goodness towards me and that I am a very member incorporate in the mystical Body of thy Son which is the blessed Company of all Faithful people and am also an Heir through hope of thine everlasting Kingdom by the merits of the most precious Death and Passion of thy dear Son Oh the height and depth of that unspeakable mercy of thine who art pleased to admit me a sinful wretch to have any part in those inestimable benefits which I have so often despis'd and trampled under foot I am not worthy O Lord of that daily Bread whiâ—h sustains the body but thou hast made me partaket of that living Bread which came down from Heaven which nourisheth the Soul and of which whosoever eateth shall live for ever O grant that my Soul may rellish this divine food with spiritual ravishments and love great as the flame of Cherubims and grant that what thou hast given me for the Remission of my sins may not by any fault become the increase of them that this holy Communion prove not unto me unto Judgment and Condemnation but may support and preserve me in every temptation rejoyce and quiet me in every trouble in lighten and strengthen me in every good word and work comfort and defend me in the hour of my death against all oppositions of the Spirits of darkness and further me in the attainment of everlasting Salvation through Jesus Christ Amen MOst holy God who art of purer eyes then to behold iniquity grant I pray thee that no unclean thing may be in me who have now Received Thee into my heart and soul but let this Blood of Christ who through the Eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to thee purge my Conscience from dead works to serve thee the living God give me grace that from
Officium Eucharisticum A PREPARATORY SERVICE To a DEVOUT and WORTHY RECEPTION OF THE LORDS SUPPER Designed for a person of Quality and now made Publick for Common Use St. Luke xxiv 36. He was known to them in Breaking of Bread London Printed by T. Milbouâ—… 〈◊〉 Christopher Wilkinson at the Bâ—… 〈◊〉 over against St. Dunstans ' Churâ—… 〈◊〉 street 1673. Good Reader THis little Manual of Directions and Prayers for the Holy Communion First designed for a Private use now shews it self in Publique on presumption it may help thee in thy Closet-retirements towards a Pious preparation thereto and a worthy Reception thereof I omit to Preface it because I cannot call it Mine 'T is a Collection and recommends it self unto thee cloathed in the Language not of any Private Conception of such the world is already full But of Primitive Liturgies of that of our Holy Church and some of the most Devout Fathers of it Bishop Andrâ—… Bishop Cosins and that Great and 〈◊〉 Man Arch-Bishop LAUD who 〈◊〉 a Patron and dyed a Martyr of 〈◊〉 The Authour who e're he 〈◊〉 curious or Sollicitous to think How it may go down with a sort of People whose unweildy zeal hath transported them under a pretence of Spuing out Popery to disrellish and traduce any thing that is Primitive But the Sober and Devout Christian who lives in the Communion of This Church He is secure of And that it may further thee in the Attainment of our Common Salvation is his sincere and hearty desire in return to which he beggs thee nothing but to Recommend him now and then in these thy Private Addresses to the Throne of Grace A Preparatory Office For the H. COMMUNION THe nearest and most solemn Intimacy and Communion we have with God in this World is exhibited to us in the Blessed Eucharist that is to say the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper wherein according to our Church-Catechism the Body and Bloud of Christ are verily and indeed taken and received by the Faithful and hence it is called by St. Paul 1 Cor. 10.16 The Communion of his Body and the Comâ—…nion of his Bloud so that by a duâ—… 〈◊〉 worthy Participation hereof we are reâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…corporated into Christ we dwell in Châ—… 〈◊〉 Christ in us we are made One wiâ—… 〈◊〉 and Christ with us In regard of 〈◊〉 liable Priviledge as well as the great danger which attends the contrary now especially we are to heed our selves in our Addresses to it being careful to perform all Devotional Acts of Worship and Piety which may conduce to a good acceptable Celebration of so Divine a Mystery St. Paul hath comprehended them all under this One Word and Duty of Examination 1 Cor. 11.28 which includes more than we can readily conceive I shall not inlarge upon those Graces of Faith Repentance and Charity about which it should be chiefly conversant but do immediately proceed to those Preparatory Acts of Devotion which should be exercised in order to a due Reception of this Blessed Sacrament I begin then as you should in this and all other Duties of Religion In the Name of God and Exhort that having received Notice from God's Priest of a Communion to be Celebrated the next Sunday you forthwith set your self to â—…is great Work of fitting your self for a right â—…cipation thereof Whatever you do let 〈◊〉 â—…er and anon be uppermost in your 〈◊〉 â—…ts that whole Week reflecting on your 〈◊〉 Estate and specially on that Time 〈◊〉 hath lent you from your last Reâ—… 〈◊〉 â—hat Graces you have Improved 〈◊〉 omitted What Sins committed And out of a hearty Resentment of them breath forth these or the like pious Ejaculations I have sinned What shall I do unto Thee O Thou Preserver of Man Lord I am not worthy to come under thy Roof But speak the Word onely and thy Servant shall be Healed Adding these two Collects to your Private Devotions both at Morning and Evening that whole Week ALmighty God who of thy tender Mercy didst give thine only Son Jesus Christ to suffer Death upon the Cross for our Redemption and didst institute and in thy Holy Gospel command us to continue a perpetual Memory of that his precious Death until his Coming again Hear me most merciful Saviour I most humbly beseech Thee and make my Groanings my Desires after this Holy Sacrament answerable to my needs of it But oh Lord How shall such a Wretch as I daâ—… to approach thy Holy Table I am a 〈◊〉 How shall I presume to take the Câ—… 〈◊〉 Bread I have often trampled those 〈◊〉 things under foot either carelesly neâ—… or unworthily receiving those Hâ—…â—…ries O Lord my horrible Guilâ—… 〈◊〉 me tremble to come and yet makes me not dare to stay away for Where shall this polluted Soul be washed but in this Fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness Hither then I come and Thou hast promised that him that cometh to Thee Thou wilt in no wise cast out Grant me therefore Gracious Lord so to eat the Flesh of thy Dear Son Jesus Christ and to drink his Bloud that my sinful Body may be made clean by his Body and my Soul washed through his most Precious Bloud Amen I Will not presume to come to thy Table O Merciful Lord trusting in my own Righteousness but in thy manifold and great Mercies declared unto Mankind in our Lord Jesus Christ for whose sake give me I pray Thee such a Preparation of Soul as may qualifie me for a worthy Approach thereunto To this end make me heartily sensible of my Sins and Unworthiness raise up my dull and earthy Mind from groveling here below and inspire 〈◊〉 with a Holy Zeal to seek those things that 〈◊〉 â—bove Let that infinite Love of Christ in 〈◊〉 for so wretched a Sinner inflame my 〈◊〉 â—nd kindle in me that Sacred fire of Love 〈◊〉 â—…ain and to all those whom He hath 〈◊〉 Command and Example to Love 〈◊〉 well as Friends and that for his sake Cloath me O Lord in the Wedding Garment and make me though of my self a most unworthy yet by thy Mercy an acceptable Guest at Thy Table that I may not eat or drink my own Damnation but Salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Having thus recommended your self unto God in your private Retirements I do earnestly exhort you to frequent the publique Prayers of the Church nothing but a charitable or some very urgent occasion can now or indeed should at any time excuse you and to attend them with all possible Devotion Heed your self this Week especially your Thoughts Words and Actions that they be not wicked nor vain or if at any time they should that you forthwith recall and check your self thus Lord have Mercy upon me Christ have Mercy upon me Lord have Mercy upon me I Said I will take heed to my ways that I offend not in my Tongue O God who knowest us to be set in the midst of so maâ—… and great Dangers that by reason
henceforth I put off concerning my former Conversation the Old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful Lusts and be renewed in the spirit of my mind And that I put on the New Man which after thee is created in Righteousness and true Holiness to which purpose be pleased to watch over me for good to keep me both outwardly in my Body and inwardly in my Soul O God thou seest that I have no power of my self to help my self thou knowest me also to be set in the mid'st of so many and great dangers that by reason of the frailty of my Nature I cannot always stand upright grant to me such strength and protection as may support me in all dangers and carry me through all temptations through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Thou with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning let thy holy Spirit direct me in all things let thy grace always prevent and follow me and preserve me against all assaults of my spiritual enemys especially of my own treacherous heart which is deceitful above all things wicked desperately wicked O Lord thou knowest it how often hath it betray'd me to the breach of thy holy Laws to the violation of all these Vows and Promises which I have made to thee How often have I turned my back in the day of battle O let me no more thus start aside like a broken bow but be stedfast unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord resisting the Devill that he may flee from me subduing my flesh and bringing it into subjection Crufying and overcoming the World And therefore let those solemn Vows which I have now made to forsake my sins never depart from my mind but let the remembranee of them excite me to fight manfully under thy Banner and continue thy faithful Servant and Souldier unto my Life's end Amen O Lord I do here humbly present unto thee my Soul and Body to be a living holy and reasonable Sacrifice unto thee I beseech thee sanctifie my Body that from a polluted Dunghil it may become the Temple of God Sanctify my Soul and receive it for thy dwelling place the seat of thy Spirit and an house of Prayer and Holy Meditations Sanctifie me throughout that both my Body Soul and Spirit may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to whom with thee O Father and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory world without end Amen THus have you closed your Communion-Devotions It only remains that you bestow the greatest part of the Afternoon in Reading Praying Meditating good Conferences and the like and when your Condition calls you to your usual Converses you are still to remember you have a great business which lies upon your hands which is the performance of those promises you have now made to God to which purpose frequently recollect them to mind and let the remembrance of them be your refuge against all temptations to your old sins whenever they assault you knowing what a grievous thing it is to break that Vow which you have seal'd in your Saviours Blood to have that Blood through which only you can have pardon to witness against you which God forbid To your Evening Prayers that Sunday night immediately before the Blessing subjoyn this Collect. O Blessed JESUS who hast this day made me a Partaker of thy blessed Body and Blood thy Mercy hath given it and my Faith hath received it into my Soul O let me ever feel the happy virtue and effects of it Put thy fear into my heart to keep those Vows and Promises which I have on this solemnity tendred unto thee in my mind that I may not sin against thee enrich me with all those graces which come from this precious Body and Blood and hereafter bring me to thy everlasting glory for thy merits and mercies sake Amen THus not to detain you longer I have recommended to you the aforesaid Devotions to be us'd on the Friday in every moneth which precedes a Communion especially the Fridays before the three solemn times which our Church hath Consecrated to this Blessed purpose Christmas Easter and Whit-Sunday supposing that your health and important occasions will permit it otherwise you are not tyed to the strictness of them though you are oblig'd to receive this Sacrament whensoever an opportunity offers it self To capacitate you for a worthy Communication thereof at all times I do lastly and heartily advise you to maintain a constant course of daily Prayers at Morning and Evening throughout the year every Night recalling the Actions of the past-day and repenting for the sins of it the practice whereof will fit you for the Communion at any time when 't is occasionally tendered to you I mean when you are suddenly call'd to Communicate with a dying person or come accidentally into a Congregation where 't is to be received and all fit Guests are invited to it in those cases you are by no means to turn your back upon it but bestowing that little time which is before you in Recollecting Repenting Exerting your Faith Love Thankfulness c. Omiting nothing of the strictness which is required in the Act of Receiving and performing afterwards to your power what you secretly promis'd receive it with the rest in the name of God beginning with the Prayers afore mentioned page 68. which are to be said whil'st the Priest is preparing to read the Sentences Almighty God who hast of thine infinite mercies vouchsaf'd c. But this I advise on supposal you carry about with you such an habitual preparation which is acquired by keeping a strict course of daily private Devotions otherwise you sin sadly However be careful to Communicate whenever you are solemnly invited to it i. e. every moneth or oftner and with due remembrance of him whose death you do hereby shew forth till he come God Almighty make you a worthy participant of his Body and Blood here that you may for ever enjoy Him hereafter Amen Collects for particular Graces For Faith ALmighty God whom without Faith it is impossible to please grant me I beseech thee so perfectly to believe in thy Son Jesus Christ that my Faith in thy sight may never be reproved and being called to the knowledg of thy Grace and Faith in thee and admitted into the fellowship of Christs Religion I may eschew those things which are contrary to my Profession and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen For Hope BLessed Lord who hast caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning grant that I may in such wise hear them read mark learn and inwardly digest them that by Patience and Comfort of thy Holy Word I may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ and that I may therefore purifie my self even as he is pure that when he shall appear again with power