Search my Soul so to the bottom that none of my wounds may fester but be all discovered and cured consider from whence I am fallen before and since the last Communion and repent and O that I may be so sensible of my sin and misery that I may be truly apprehensive of and thankful for infinite love and mercy I dare not presume to compass thine Altar most holy Lord before I have washed my hands in Innocency and purified my heart by Repentance and Faith in the blood of my Redeemer I will now therefore call my sins to remembrance and set them in order before mine eyes and remember mine own evil ways and my doings which have not been good and loath my self in my own sight for my iniquities and for my abominations O I am not able to reckon up or remember my innumerable breaches of thy most holy Commandments The 1. By not knowing acknowledging thinking remembring chusing believing esteeming adoring loving desiring fearing obeying of trusting joying in acquainting my self with not demeaning my self towards thee as God and my God but preferring sin self Satan the world any thing before thy self The 2. By mis-apprehensions gross conceits of thee not setting my whole delight in reposing all my confidence on expecting all my happiness from addressing all my complaints prayers praises unto thee not worshipping thee as to manner and means agreeable to thy word The 3. By not acknowledging or effectually remembring and delighting to speak of thee as I have had occasion to make thy praise glorious or doing it irreverently dealing falsly in my Covenant with thee not vindicating thy Honour not grieving for thy Dishonour weariness of thy commands non-observance distrust misapplication of thy providences unthankfulness for great mercies dejection impatience under small crosses insensibleness incorrigibleness under judgments and afflictions not using thy Name Attributes Ordinances Works every thing whereby thou may'st be known as is required The 4. By unmindfulness beforehand to prevent or avoid whatsoever might distract in the duties of the Sabbath not preparing my self not resting from needless thoughts words actions mis-spending it in idleness and vanity not performing publick and private duties of Prayer Reading Hearing Examination wheting thy Law upon my heart and others contemplating thy Word and Works with that care reverence sincerity spirtualness profit delight as I ought not calling the Sabbath a Delight Holy of the Lord Honorable The 5. By not behaving my self answerable to my several Relations with all due reverence and respect to my Natural Ecclesiastical Political Parents in heart word behaviour prayer thanksgiving for Superiours covering their infirmities in love not admonishing and encouraging Inferiours in well-doing not by a grave wise holy exemplary carriage procuring glory to thee and preserving the honour and authority thou hast put upon me not regarding the dignity and worth of my Equals or rejoycing in their gifts advancement prosperity as my own The 6. By sinful anger hatred secret grudges injurious thoughts excessive passions distracting cares immoderate use of diet labour rest recreation reviling saddening provoking grieving speeches falling short in maintaining mutual Friendship and in following peace with all men sowing discord among Brethren concealing their dangers unprofitable conversation quenching suppressing holy suggestions preferring things of time before eternity or by whatsoever may tend not to the health but prejudice of my own or others Soul or Bodies not weeping with them that weep being sensless hard-hearted unaffected at publick evils and others miseries The 7. By unchaste thoughts purposes affections looks company words actions or listening to them not labouring to quench my fleshly concupisence by watching over my senses heart and ways not shunning all occasions to or acts of uncleanness in or with my self or others not keeping my bodie and soul from all filthiness of flesh and spirit but making my heart a cage of impure thoughts my mind a stie of the unclean spirit The 8. By unbecoming arts in Bargaining not dealing with others as I would men should with me not endeavouring by all just means to procure preserve and further the welfare of others as well as my own withholding good from them to whom it was due suffering Christ to stand at and go away from my door hungry cold naked succourless and when the leanness of his cheeks pleaded pitie the hardness of my heart would shew no compassion The 9. By slandering backbiting detracting reviling harsh flattering misconstruing discouraging sinister intentions words and actions listening to and spreading the faults of others not charitable in my thoughts and speeches to them not freely acknowledging their gifts and graces not readily receiving a good report but willingly admitting an evil one not discouraging tale-bearers flatterers slanderers not loving desiring rejoycing in caring for defending and upholding their good name not sorrowing for and covering their infirmities but practising or not avoiding my self or not hindring what I can in others such things as raise jealousies and suspicions procure an ill name to my self or others The 10. By self-love evil thoughts covetousness inordinate prizing and affecting distrustful distracting solicitous care and study in getting keeping or using temporal things discontent with my own estate envying and grieving at my neighbours unlawful motions and affections to things that are his And to these I have added multitudes of sins against the Gospel by not as I ought labouring to acquaint my self with it Ignorance flighting of not sufficiently esteeming admiring thankful for that infinite love in my Redemption not loving rejoycing in Christ and him Crucified relying on owning of him in all his Offices accounting all things loss and dung for him not taking that pains I ought to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings and to be made conformable to his death if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead and be made perfect as my Father in Heaven is perfect Not claiming his promises as my heritage nor esteeming them the joy of my heart and as unsearchable riches exceeding great and precious not believing prizing embracing of hoping waiting for the good of them with so much readiness and steadfastness as their excelcellency and certainty requires and applying them as I ought to this and the next life not careful they have their due effects on my Soul in making me partaker of the divine nature not dying daily to sin nor acting growing in grace and in the knowledge of Christ not thirsting after righteousness and that poor mournful meek merciful pure Spirit that shall be blessed not confessing but being ashamed of Christ before men and my relation to him not denying my self taking up my Cross and following him Not doing all things to the glory of God nor rejoycing in him always Not receiving not doing the good nor improving time mercies judgments forein perturbations national discontents and divisions irreligious confusions domestick distinguishing favours as I ought Strangeness
for me but to forbid thy Memory to Dye in me O thou loving and Blessed above all Beloveds when thy passion is engraven by thy own hand in an Holy Mysterie for my mind to wear shall not I keep this memorial Shall I not wear thy Ring who am so ready to wear a Death's-head to preserve alive the memory of a dead Friend O that I may ever keep this Manna that came down from Heaven not in a Leaden but Golden pot not in a dull barren bareley contemplative but humble tender active pretious memory which moves all good affections to thee and promoves all good abilities for thee Such a memory will mind and do all Duty admire and love thee obey endure do and suffer for thee establish Faith excite Repentance inflame Love maintain Constancy I cannot but repent believe and love to the end if thou be in my mind If I fail payment of any duty to thee or man it is because I do not remember thee Of me Of my Death and your redemption by it This Sacrament then is an obelisk to the eternal memory of thy passion so oft as I neglect it what do I but pull down this Pyramid of everlasting date set up in the Church for a solemn memorial of thy death and bury thee and thy Merits as the Jews did thy Body but in a worser grave not in a Garden but Desart a grave of Oblivion Wretch am I that have need of such an help to my memory and spur to my Duty as both a Command and a Sacrament it casts reproach on me O Saviour that thou shouldst give thy Body for me and I scarce give my mind to thee that I should have so great a room in thy heart and thou so hardly get any in mine that thou shouldst be more ready to bleed for me then I to think of thee Dear Jesus thou didst empty all thy veins for me shall not I find a vessel to preserve thy precious Blood Do I not spill what thou shed if I let it run out of my memory yet art thou put to it to find me both blood and mind and when thou hast done all that out of remembrance of me lest it should be forgotten ordain'st a Sanction and Sacrament saying Do this in remembrance of me But more wretch I if I do not so do for Lord if I do thee honour dost thou not do me favour for it If I give thee glory is it more my duty then felicity to do it If thy Sacrament is it not my benefit Receive I not great honour in it Reap I not good benefits by it conveys it not the Blood Royal of Heaven into me Am I not related to Brother of Christ Heir and Prince of Heaven by vertue of that Blood Is not the Godhead bodily in him and is not this Body mystically in me and I near allyed to God by the Communion of that Body And can he want Demeans that is such a Prince Is not the Earth thy gift and Heaven in thy power O thou Son and Heir of all And have I not thy Spirit thy flesh to pledge for all the conveyance sealed in thy Blood and thy Merits made over and assured in thy Body O Lord I am so much concern'd in honour and estate to do what thou commandest that if I consider my self I shall do it to thy memory in remembrance of me as well as thee Wherever God hath bestow'd a vital principle Faith whereby the Just live he affords nourishment to sustain it and an inclination and attractive faculty towards it Christ Crucified is as the cause of our new birth so the food which sustains and preserves us in it unto whose Body and Blood there must needs be as proportionable an appetite in a new Christian as to Milk in an Infant that being more nourishable then milk and Faith more vital to desire it then Nature Oh! I know not what grace and comfort I have lost that others have found in the Consciencious use of this If there be any thing in the lively discoveries of the evil and desert of sin the wrath and love of God the cordials of the Gospel by frequenting it might it not have been much better with me in my Spiritual condition is not this great Hypecrisie and Dissimulation to complain of the hardness of my heart and not apply the Blood of Christ to soften it of the prevalencie of corruptions and not bring them to his Cross to subdue them of my timerous spirit and not come where God secures me and gives evidence for the discharge of his covenant and promise that God is departing when I stand at a distance and will not come nigh him is withdrawn from my Soul when I withdraw from my Dutie that I am a stranger to spiritual joy when I will not come to draw water out of the wells of Salvation of die weakness of grace and not use of all means of strengthening it can I refuse my food yet be nourished grow in grace and neglect the means not grow and be guiltless live in a known sin by neglecting a plain commanded Dutie and expect the rewards of obedience may not partial obedience to Gods commands well increase my doubts of his favour Is not this to slight and disesteem a firm conveyance of all Christs purchased benefits here offered and assured to Believers and then think not much Soul if thou go without them for ever who art also so unwilling to bind thy self to thankfulness and obedience for them Meals which are for nourishment must be often 't is not told me how often I should eat or drink the sense and feeling of the wants of my food directs me to makes me do it often Am I not apt to grow dull lukewarm cold to and in duty to contract guilt blot my evidences disturb my peace to forget him and his matchless love Is he so much in my serious thoughts as he deserves Is it enough to have some accasional thoughts of him Do I not complain that I love and think of him no more can apply him no better have so little of him am so insenble of his kindness and affection to his members Is it not a sin and shame I no more solemnly dwell in meditation upon him am no more in praising of rejoycing in him Do I not often need so great an help to soften my heart to renew my repentance to strengthen and confirm my Faith Hope and Resolutions to increase inflame my love and thankfulness fix my thoughts more solemnly upon him apply him get and maintain more intimate communion with him closer knit my soul to him and his members Is it not a sad sign I perform no Duties as and to those ends I ought but out of custom without expecting therefore without finding any great advantage from them Are the consolations of God small unto me is it not a sign when I was there I miss'd of the benefit Have I not cause to repent of
him a seal to the promise of pardon and eternal life though he did not testifie it by giving in extraordinary joys He looks not so much at fits of passion as at the steady bent and tenour of the Soul The truest Communion with God is to enjoy the Communication of his Graces whereby we are made conformable to him we may enjoy the saving influences of his Spirit when we cannot feel his more abundant consolations Though this Ordinance be not at present joyous yet may afterwards yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness to those that are conversant therein It cannot be well known what Grace we have received further measures of which are the holy Spirits accompanying those means being the great benefit we are apt to expect till we come to the exercise of it in duty and against temptation But oh how much cause have I to rejoyce in his love and goodness to render him hearty thanks who might have left me as well as others to my self for his quickning and refreshment for his satisfying me so abundantly with the fatness of his house and making me drink of the river of his pleasure especially now I find and oh that I could more and more such real benefit received by it my soul more deeply broken and humbled under the sense of sin and that become more loathsom hateful burdensom to me My heart truely thankful for what I have enjoyed and sorrowful I have enjoyed no more more strongly engaged and resolved to inward and universal holiness my Faith in Christ more encreased and setled my love to him more inflamed my Soul strengthned and emboldned to undergo any thing for him my spiritual delight and joy in him raised and lessened to other things my esteem and valuation of the Ordinance heightned my Graces in it exercised my desires after full enjoyment of God and Christ in Glory more enlarged If he were pleased to kill me he would not have received a burnt-offering and a Meat-offering at my hands neither would he have shewed me all these things nor as at this time have given me to experience such things as these Oh that I may always retain a thankful sense of all his benefits Oh how much am I beholden to thee my God I have been praising of thee but nothing to what I ought or what thou deserv'st Oh how can I cease to magnifie thee for what I am and have for the use of thy creatures and thy blessing with them for every crum much more for Christ that foundation mercy that hath all mercies folded up in him and entail'd unto him that sweetens and sanctifies every mercy for this Feast on his Body and Blood for the joys of thy house and the viands of heaven for any measure of life and affection raisedness and comfort grace and goodness Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his holy name While I live I will praise thee I will sing praise unto my God while I have a being and what is here wanting in thy due praise I will pay hereafter in everlasting Hallelujahs Rest not in the work done though done never so well Beware lest by spiritual pride and future negligence thou lose the things thou hast wrought Had I done all as well as was commanded me I would say I am an unprofitable servant I had done but my duty but O how short come I of it Oh let not the Lord lay to my charge my want of due preparation my coldness and indifferency distraction and unbelief my so many failings before and at the Ordinance that my heart was in no better frame that I took no more paines with it to fit it for thy self that it was no more broken for my sins when the Minister broke the Bread that when I took it I was so dull so dead and did no better reach forth the hand of Faith to lay hold on and apply Christ and his benefits so play'd the hypocrite before thee and my fellow Communicants that when the Wine was poured forth and I saw how Christ shed his Blood for sinners I scarce dropt a tear for the cause from a heart sensible of my sins and his love unto my Soul when I took and drank the Cup I did not remember him as I ought that my heart was not so seriously intent and reverent so deeply affected sutable to the importance and excellency of the duty and the Majesty of him with whom I had to do Spend some time in strengthning and confirming thy holy purposes and resolutions O that some fruit may be seen of this day till the solemnity return that the thoughts and meditations I had there may be so strongly so deeply fixed and rooted in the bottom of my heart that nothing may be able to pluck them up that I may be so sensibly possest with the perswasions that Christ is in and united to me that when a Temptation comes and knocks for enterance I may readily naturally say I am not he that I was before the property of the house is quite changed I live yet not I but Christ in me I was indeed a common Inne to entertain all-Comers but now I am become the sole Habitation of the High and Holy One he expects to be honourably treated like unto himself he will have no competitors or unclean thing in his house I cannot arise and open to you Oh how shall I treat him who hath taken up his abode with me shall I take the members of Christ and make them the members of an Harlot defile that body wherein he hath chosen to reside force him out of his habitation by any impurity offend him by any noysom thoughts or unsavoury breath out of my mouth shall those hands that have received the sacred Elements work deceit those Eyes that have been filled with tears at the Lords Table be fill'd with envy those teeth that have eaten Holy Bread â—grind the face of the poor those lips that have touched the Sacramental Cup salute an Harlot the mouth that hath drunk consecrated wine be full of rotten discourse shall I be so greedy of the World as to forget to retire to converse with my Saviour shall I so perplex my self in business as to omit to pray to meditate to sing praises unto thee No I am not at my own dispose I have sworn and I will perform that I will keep thy righteous judgments and often consider how deeply I am obliged to him that hath paid my debt Oh I can never parallel his love yet let me shew my self thankful I can do nothing satisfactory but let me do something gratulatory He gave himself a sin-offering for me let me give my self a thank-offering to him offer up my self a living facrifice unto my Redeemer who offered up himself a dying Sacrifice for my Redemption Beware of Crucifying Christ afresh To them that believe he is precious now I have begun to celebrate the Marriage oh let me never throw off the
solemnly to search purifie cleanse and cast out all the leaven to pray with greater appetite praise his Name with a more delightful relish To distaste all oher things to disburthen my self to lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets me to get as near Heaven as possible to render my mind more sensible of God and more fit to receive a deeper impression from his hand To excite the strongest acts of Faith the vehementest flames of love and longings after Christ and his blessings which prepares for the enjoyment Holy desires joy and thankfulness at the approach of so blessed an opportunitie To renew my resolutions and vows of holy obedience to mortifie my lesser irregularities and to bind the obligations faster that are upon my Soul To have a lively sense of the ends for which I go in what estate my Graces stand what I am to ask and for what I ought to plead the Blood of Christ voluntarily to offer more of my time and thoughts to Religious Exercises and to do that over again with a greater fervour which I have been doing since the last Communion To recover my self to the same or rather higher degrees of Zeal fervour and sublime admirations to apparel trim and dress up my mind with braver notions and brighter ornaments To get my manners carriage and behaviour rightly formed and handsomely composed for this Feast with die great King He that understands the excellencie and holiness of the mystery the glorie of the Guest the infinite benefit then designed and the increase of degrees by the exercise of those previous acts of Holiness the manner so contrarie as worthy and unworthy the effect of the Ordinance so much depending on the manner of receiving the advantage so great of Communion with Christs Bodie the danger no less then Damnation that it will set one forward and contribute very much to an happie or an unhappie eternitie a man cannot at all be supposed in any state wherein this thing will be indifferent to him will not be inquisitive into the just measure but do it heartilie devoutlie reverentlie and as much as he can put himself in to a meet disposition tobe so familiar with God Solemn Sequestration A Journey an unfixed Heart undischarg'd of earthly thoughts travelling up and down afar off unfits as well as a dead body or gross sins Earthly thoughts in the Temple if not driven away before will be buzzing pestring vexing me and corrupt the Sacrifice If I go with a loose ungirt spirit I cannot instantly entertain my Lord his work must stay untill I be ready I must be girding when I should be working or do it fumblingly and awakedly not with dexterity and activity Let your loins therefore be girt and you your selves like men that wait for their Lord that when he comes and knocks you may open to him immediately It concerns me now to put my self into that order and state of good things as if to morrow I were to dye to suppose my self seated before Gods Tribunal and to see whether I can reasonably hope my state is changed my sins pardoned and mortified to consider that unless I dare dye that day if God should call me there 's little reason I should dare to receive the Sacrament of â—ife or Minister of death If I be mistaken about the truth of Grace now I am undone for ever without true Repentance by my unworthy going I bind the guilt of all my other sins upon my Soul and add this to all the rest guiltiness of the blood of Christ He that communicates worthily is justified from his sins and to him death can have no sting to whom the Sacrament brings life and health And if I judge Righteous Judgement I shall soon find what pinches most what makes me most afraid what most criminal and least mortified so shall learn to make provision accordingly Enter then my Soul into thy chamber solemnly sequester thy self from all other Avocations that we may tend upon the Lord without distraction Shut up set a watch at the gates of thy heart let it not be open till that solemn day be over If other thoughts be hankering and hanging about for entrance testifie against them rebuke and threaten them let thy spirit in a holy indignation rise up against them the only means that from that time forth they come no more in such a season Farewell my Wife and Children Friends and secular concerns abide you here at the foot of the Mount be husht and laid deadned and mortified all irregular earthly passions and affections I have something else to do you are a clog unto my soul tread not nor whisper in this solemn place where is no room but for God alone trouble me not the door is now shut I am about a great work I will not cannot open to you And Oh thou that lookest from Heaven that fashionest the hearts of men and considerest all their works enlighten enliven and convince me affect assist and prosper me own accept and bless me call in and restrain the loosness and wandrings of my thoughts Fix unite and fill my heart with an awe a dread and reverence of thee with suitable thoughts apprehensions and meditations to the present occasion and let my meditations be attended with sutable affections Let all flesh be silent before thee let thy spirit rest upon me let this season be improved not carelesly sloathfully or negligently but sincerely uprightly with my whole soul heart and strength to thy praise and my great advantage at thy Table and in the day when thou shalt judge the secrets of mens hearts by Jesus Christ Strict examination I Am about to sit at the Lords Table among his own Children I know before-hand the King attended with his glorious Angels will come in to see his guests Christ's garment covers only Christ's members he is too just to be bribed too great to be slighted too wise to be deceived too jealous to be provoked too good to be forfeited Oh what solemn provision shall I make for so sacred a presence but a serious diligent deep enquiry into with a full and awfull discussion of the particular present estate of my Soul whether I be such as may be assured he will bid me welcome being reconciled to him and endued with those vital qualifications which pre-dispose me for an Ordinance that supposes me within the Covenant it seals and to have spiritual life it sustains and nourishes by conveying that true food of life Christ Crucified I must be born before I can eat Vncircumcised persons were not to eat the Passeover The inward of Ordinances are only enjoyed by them that are inwardly Christians Those only that bring true Graces receive real Comforts we take Christ and then eat him none find any nourishment relish or sweetness in his blood but those who have receiv'd him and so have a propriety in a little to him and the nearer the Interest the greater sweetness He must be
mine first in claim and title then in fruition and comfort no juice or sap from the Vine except a branch in it no grace is there improved but what I have along with me I must prove my right to the purchase ere I can take possession 'T is high Treason to annex the Kings Broad Seal to forged Writings no receiving the benefit without showing the condition and my interest in the Covenant that 's sealed to them only that come up to the terms of it Now this is the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel â—aith the Lord I will put Jer. 31.31 c. my Law in their inward Heb. 8.10 c. parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be my people and they shall know me from the least unto the greatest and I will forgive their iniquities and remember their sins no more And Oh my Soul have I an inward right an actual interest in this Covenant Is the Law of God writ in my Heart A permanent that no Time Temptation Tribulation can obliterate universal counterpane answerable conformity legible by others in my Conversation and by my self in my Constitution of Soul strongly inclined disposed and perswaded to all cordial sincere entire chearful spiritual obedience out of a principle of love to God and to glorifie and enjoy him delighting meditating in it day and nights being renew'd according to his Image in Knowledge Righteousness and true Holiness Have I a Covenant-Relation to and Interest in God Am I one of his people by Federal profession not ashamed of but openly declaring and avouching my self to be his rejoycing and glorying therein as my great priviledge and happiness In all Covenant-Relations to God and Christ Do I fear love obey submit to depend upon him for direction provision and protection am I wholly at his dispose as my only wise faithful loving Father Do I forsake all other Corrivals and Competitors cleave only to him in all conjugal love and faithfulness Do I delight in am I unsatisfied without his presence as my Husband Do I purifie and keep clean his Temple demean my self towards him as my Inhabitant Esteem live upon and rest fully contented with him as my portion Am I his by Federal Appropriation not sin's Satan's the World's my own but entirely his In all I am Body and Soul are my Eyes his to behold his wonderful works my Ears to hear his Heavenly saving Word my taste and smell his to relish his surpassing sweetness in the Creatures my Tongue to proclaim and Triumph in his praise my Hands to work that which is good my Feet to walk in his ways all my senses and members abilities and faculties instruments of righteousness Is my understanding his to know discern contemplate upon him my Memory to treasure up and retain his councels and covenants promises and dispensations my Conscience his Deputy to accuse or excuse under him my Will his to will or nill in subordination to him my grief hatred and detestation to mourn for abhor and flie every thing offensive to him or obstructive of my delightful enjoyment of him my desire love and delight his to long for embrace acquiesce fully and contentedly in him Am I his in all I have Do I approve my self his in all my relations and stations inward qualifications and endowments outward goods and possessions In all I can do or procure undergo or endure for him Am I willing and ready to give my self to and for him taking up my Cross daily and following him rejoycing I am accounted worthy to suffer for his name Have I a sanctified knowledge of God as to his Essence Attributes Personal distinctions Word and Works of Man in his Creation Corruption Restauration and Perfection of Christ in his person Offices Estates of the Covenant of Grace and the Lords Supper in its efficient material formal and final cause And is this my Knowledge experimental heart purifying and humbling communicative growing affectionate efficatious and obediential Are mine iniquities forgiven and forgotten by God Do I groan under them as my greatest evil and heaviest burthen forsake them in affection and commission Have I sincerely confessed bewailed loathed them and my self for them unfeignedly striving against and desiring to be freed from the filth power dominion as well as the guilt and punishment of sin from a love and sence of Gods kindness and goodness to me Is my heart calmed and quieted through Faith in Christ being thereby at peace with God enlarged to bless him for pardon Am I earnest with him more and more for assurance of it purity of heart establishment in his ways Is there in me a hearty sincere disposition inclination and propensity to pardon the offences of others pitying and lamenting meekly reproving proving and covering their infirmities a readiness to help them rejoycing in their welfare as my own especially the demeanest Saints in whom is all my light Christ is not to be receiv'd of all comers (a) John 1.12 nor entertain'd by every guest (b) Can. 3.4 nor touched by every hand (c) Mat. 9.21.22 nor found by every enquiry (d) Can. 5.6 He is offered in the Gospel to all but gives himself here and is receiv'd by such alone as have and have I a spiritual hunger and thirst after him (e) Mat. 5.6 An ear to hear him (f) Mat. 13.9 An eye to see him (g) 1 Cor. 11.29 A foot to come to him (h) Mat. 11.28 A hand to take him (i) 1 Cor. 11.24 Arms to embrace him (k) Can. 3.4 A mouth and taste to eat and drink relish and digest him (l) Can. 2.3 Mat. 26.26 A breast to retain him (m) Eph. 3.17 Bowels of affection towards him and his members A Heart to mourn for my piercing of him to be truely thankful for and above all to prize him Are not these Infallible Scriptural Characters of Christs Disciples Can I appeal to God and say Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest it is thus with me or am I willing to venture my eternal condition my last gasp upon my present hopes Have I a solid ground of confidence when I shall appear naked before Gods Bar when the secrets of hearts shall be manifest will these pleas find acceptance in that day when all the world must be saved or damned by him Oh my Soul make nothing the foundation of thy peace but what God hath made the condition of thy Salvation let nothing satisfie us now but what will save us then for if our hearts condemn us God is greater then our hearts and knoweth all things but if our hearts condemn us not then have we confidence towards God Deep Humiliation BEfore I go for a full discharge I must narrowly look into the Book of my Conscience cast up my accounts and see how infinitely I am indebted to my God view my self in the glass of his Law and Gospel
powder For my going aside from thee and defiling my self the wine that comforts and makes worthy Receivers fruitful in grace may be unto me as the water of Jealousie bitter within my bowels causing my belly to swell and my thigh to rot nd I may be a curse among the people His blood might be lay'd to my charge for my condemnation sealing up all my other fins instead of being sprinkled upon my Conscience to humble me for and cleanse me from all sin Behold I am vile viler then the earth but look upon me in thy Son and thou wilt love me and be well pleased with me mine only hope is in that grace and mercy made known in and thorow him I have broken thy commands but he hath fulfil'd them affronted thy Justice but he hath satisfied it deserved thy wrath but he hath endur'd it the chastisement of my peace was upon him let the merit of his righteousness be upon me and by his stripes let me be healed His Blood is my onely refuge oh let it be my Attonement or I perish eternally Wherefore didst thou shed it but to save sinners Remember not what I have done against thee but what he hath done and suffered for me Oh when I consider thy greatness and my unworthiness thy purity and my uncleanness thy glorie and my shame I am confounded and discouraged but when I consider thy mercy and wisdom bountie and goodness readiness to forgive and desire to impart thy self unto thy servants then I am encouraged to come with boldness unto thee Thou never despis'd him that call'd upon thee or forsook any that abode in thy fear It was never known that any who trusted in thee were ever confounded Oh respect not the greatness of my offences but of thy goodness though I have so often broken my part of that Covenant the Sacrament Seals yet be thou pleased to make good thine to be merciful to my unrighteousness and to remember my sins my iniquities no more Thou knowest how intolerable a thing it is to lie under thy wrath to all eternitie and therefore lovest to do miracles of mercie because thou lovest not that a sinner should perish Have mercie upon me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions wash me throughly from mine iniquities and cleanse me from all my defilements with the merit and virtue of that Blood which thou hast so abundantly shed for penitent sinners that I may with an undefiled soul eat of the purest sacrifice the Lamb slain from the beginning so I shall have no spot in me for which thou wilt judge me at thy Table or condemn me at thy Tribunal Being in Christ reconciled unto me oh give further evidences of thy fatherly affection by bestowing a double portion of thy grace upon me now thou callest me to this Ordinance and who is sufficient for these things I have neither a meet Sacrifice to offer nor a meet vessel to receive thee I know not what to say or do how to pray or receive prepare or behave my self not sufficient of my self to think any thing as of my self but my sufficiency is of thee the preparation of the heart and answer of the tongue is from thee the God the promiser the Giver of grace as well as glory that invites all to come unto thee with assurance of finding with and receiving from thee whatsoever is requisite for their refreshment support and comfort ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no money come ye buy and eat yea come buy wine and milk without monie and without price Thou preparest a table for us in this wilderness where we eat of thy own Bread and drink of thy own Cup omittest no expression of tender love to treat us as a most indulgent Father But shall the time of receiving come before thou come into my soul to stir up thy graces in me Ganst thou that so loved me who was of no worth while yet in my sins as to die for me neglect me in thee shall I whose only hope is to be saved by Christ be sent away with the guilt instead of the comfort of his Blood Oh of his fulness let me receive and grace for grace let thy Spirit help mine infirmities thy grace be sufficient for me thy strength be made perfect more eminently manifest in weakness Array me with the righteousness of the Saints put upon me the Lord Jesus let me be found having on the Wedding-garment at the Wedding-supper such a preparation of Soul as may qualifie me for it such a degree of reverence and humility saving knowledge godly sorrow renewed repentance new obedience lively faith unfeigned love joy and thankefulness holy desires self-denial sutable solemn heavenly meditations as becomes a worthy Communicant Oh thou true food of my Soul receive me who am to receive thee quicken me with thy Spirit feed me with thy Flesh satisfie me with thy Blood vouchsafe me thy Grace communicate to me thy Nature let me receive life from thee to act and live unto thee who measurest not thy gifts by our petitions or desertss but our wants and thy own mercy Earnest Supplication for Requisite Qualifications TO go to that Ordinance which requires all imaginable liveliness and activity with dull and cloudy affections will be my sin and an aggravation of it if through want of diligent endeavour to get my Soul affected and inflam'd by stirring up the graces of God in me and whither shall I go for this but unto thee the author and finisher of them how shall I do it but by thee Oh do it for me Holy Reveronce and Humility Affect my heart with an awful reverence and selfbasement upon my so near approach unto thee in this solemn Ordinance towards the greatness of thy Majestie with whom I there come to renew my Covenant towards the excellencie of thy Son whom I come to receive into my Soul towards the holiness of thy Spirit whose assiance I hope for and by whom I come there to be establisht in my Union and Communion with Christ and his Members Oh how durst I who am nothing but folly and infirmitie misery and sin shame and death presume to come so nigh for behold the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain thee unless thou hadst invited and commanded it If so much Sanctity Reverence and Devotion was requisite as to the Ark the Temple the receiving thy Law Oh how shall I behave my self now I go to receive thy very self or Communicate with thee that deserves not to come before thee Oh how Humble should I be who am to receive a gift of Free Grace Was he Humble that was all Purity and shall I be proud who am so defiled The high and lofty One dwells not in a haughty heart but with him that is of a contrite humble spirit not will he that humbled himself to the death be taken into a proud Soul Oh that I
so cause me to feed on digest improve his body and blood having the same expectation of Spiritual and Eternal life from him that I have of temporal life from my food Let me eat not only the Bread of the Lord but the Bread which the Lord that as by my senses I receive â—he Elements to my Corporal so by faith 〈◊〉 may receive and apply him to my Spiriâ—â—al nourishment Let the Ordinance be a â—â—vely resemblance remembrance and â—pplication of the sufferings and earnest of the Supper of the Lamb. Let Christ be 〈◊〉 lively set forth as if Crucified before by eyes dying for me that beholding â—mbracing and even putting my fingers â—nto the print of his nails and feet and â—hrusting my hand into his side so fully â—erswaded of his suffering for me that I â—â—ay not be faithless but believing saying â—y Lord and my God he loved me and â—ave himself for me my beloved is mine â—nd I am his O that I may so touch him â—s may find and feel strength peace virâ—ue come from him and be healed of all â—â—y uncleanness that they may not be â—nto death but unto the glory of thy â—ercyâ— in pardoning and grace in purifying 〈◊〉 polluted a Wretch That it may be he food the feast of my graces the poiâ—â—on the funeral of my corruptions Let â—â—e so feed on his blessed Bodie and bathe â—â—y soul in his pretious Blood that my Soul may magnifie the Lord and mâ—â— Spirit rejoyce in God my Saviour whoâ—â— having not seen I may love in whâ—â— though now I see him not yet believing 〈◊〉 may rejoyce with joy unspeakable and fuâ—â— of glory Circumcise my Heart to loâ—â— thee with all my Soul Love and witâ— all my strength Let my hearâ— be ravisht with this infinite merciâ—â— in thee to sinful miserable man in cotriving and giving so glorious a Reddeemer and Redemption to save him and now in presenting us with such special Seals of his love and admitting uâ—â—â— into so near so holy a Communion 〈◊〉 For this let me be dissolv'd into lovâ— to thee and thy Son and to man foâ— his sake and into a steadfast vow of lifâ— and death to thy service that I will give and forgive do and suffer any thing foâ— thee Let me be fill'd with holy raptures joys and hopes in so great a goodness who having done this will deâ—â— me nothing and maugre the rage and malice of hell not see my soul lost foâ— whom all this is done Oh let me meet with strong endearments of Affections melting and flowing over toâ—ards thee languishing with desires enjoy thee even turn'd into made 〈◊〉 of love for thee that I may be the â—isciple whom thou lovest and laid in â—y bosom Oh deal with me as thou â—ften dost with those that draw near to â—â—ee though I burn not with so hot a â—ame yet through thy grace I crave it â—f thee that I may participate with â—nd be numbred among such fervent â—overs If I cannot say I am sick of Love â—et am sick that I cannot love thee â—here wilt thou give me thy love â—dmission to more familiar fellowship â—earâ—r manifestation sensible feeling â—nd assurance of thy love and affectiâ—n unto me that I am beloved of â—hee Give me grace to love the Lord â—esus in sincerity let him dwell in my â—eart by Faith and Love that being â—â—oted and grounded in Love I may be â—ble to comprehend with all Saints â—hat is the breadth and length and â—epth and heighth and to know the â—ove of Christ which passes knowledge â—hat the remembrance of him may pierce â—e with grief transport me with love captivate my will engage all my affections to him and for him And let me knoâ— I am passed from death to life because love the Brethren Shed abroad thâ— love in my cold frozen heart and inflaâ—â— it with fervent affection to thee and thing While my love is burning towards thâ— self oh how can it chuse but be imparâ—â— to thy Friends who sincerely love theâ— and on whom thou hast set thy heart arâ—shed thy love thy spirit whereby the are made like unto thee They mâ—â— needs be lovely in my eyes to whoâ— Christ is pretious Oh let me not conâ—â— to this Love-feast with a bitter but chanâ—â— table spirit Purge out therefore tâ—â— old leven of malice which will sow the Ordinance to me Oh that our Fâ—ther in Heaven may look down upon 〈◊〉 children feasting together in mutual loâ—â— and delight in the remembrance of 〈◊〉 that love he hath shewn us and joyâ—â— expectation of what further he hath pâ—â—mised to us Let me not sit sad aâ— dejected Joy and Thanksgiving as if I liked 〈◊〉 the provision or though my self not welcom Maâ—â— this real magnificent solemn sumptuous Feast these Celestial Viands wherewith thou feedest thy people by thy gracious comfortable discoveries of thy self a spiritual banquet unto my soul a feast of fat things a feast of wine on the lees of fat things full of marrow of wine on the lees well refin'd Do not onely stand and knocks but open the door of my heart vouchsafe to come in and abide with me that there may be a chearful comfortable converse sup with me and let me sup with thee that I may be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house feel and find abundance of soul-satisfaction reached out to me in the Ordinance and do thou make me drink of the River of thy pleasure quench my thirst after carnal and let me be fill'd with Divine pleasures ravishments and contentments flowing from the inexhaustible fountain of Divine plentie Let my soul be satisfied as with marrow and fatness and my mouth praise thee with joyful lips Let me come before thee with thanksgiving and praise thee with my whole heart Let there be Angels work at Angels food make me joyful in thy house of prayer By and for him let me offer the Sacrifice of Praise to God the fruit of my lips giving thanks unto his Name in the great Congregation and Praise thee among much People Thou art ready to give bread to the hungry to fill them with good things Spiritual Thirst and the water of life to him that is athirst Thou art not straitned in thy self but I am straitned in my own bowels the desire and the meat the necessity and relief are all from thee Oh thou that providest Food give also a stomach bid and make me welcom say eat oh Friend drink yea drink abundantly oh Beloved Oh create and stir up in me earnest longings and a Spiritual appetite that I may come to be made partaker of the good things thou hast prepared for me with enlarged affections and longing desires after answerable to my need of the Ordinance and Christ offered in it as full nourishment for my Soul under the forms of Bread and Wine and with strong expectations to receive him and his benefits with desire let me desire to eat this Passeover
open my mouth wide that thou may'st fill it As the Hart panteth after the water-brook so let ray soul pant after thee O God The Evening Close AND now oh gracious God leave me not to the dulness the deadness the hardness the impenitency the unbelief â—he barrenness the earthliness the impoâ—â—ency the distraction of my own Heart Oh enrich the Ordinance with thy own â—resence While the King sitteth at his Taâ—le let my Spikenard send forth the smell â—hereof Descend into my heart by the exâ—â—tations of thy grace and influences of thy by and let me ascend unto thee by the exâ—â—cise of grace pious addresses Awake â—â—ou North wind and come thou South â—ow upon my Garden that the Spices â—â—ereof may flow out Make every grace 〈◊〉 my soul lively active fragrant by the â—eathings inspirations of thy Holy Spiâ—â—t O abide with me because it draweth â—wards the time of receiving what do I there thou be not there If thy presence go not â—â—ong with me carry me not hence Let Christ â—â—pear unto and be known of me in breaking of Bread let me carry away not only Bread but Light Life and Health that with open face beholding as in a glass the glory the love the mercy and goodness of the Lord I may be changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. O let me remember and do thou remember what thy Son hath suffered that I may be thankful and thou so sensibly gracious unto me that I maâ— taste and see how good the Lord is I am altogether unworthy of my desires 〈◊〉 but what thou dost for any is not becausâ— they are worthy but because it pleaseth thâ—â— to do for thine what they ask of thee according to thy will With what confidence go we to Market with money in our hand we doubt not returning withouâ— our errand Oh we would come as confidently expecting the giving out of gracâ— to us as if we were able to putchase it for thou hast bid us come buy Wine anâ— Milk without money and without price and hast promis'd and art more willing 〈◊〉 give the spirit to them that ask it thâ—â— Parents Bread to their Children whiâ—â— they cannot deny whatever shift thâ—â— make for it our love to our Children 〈◊〉 but hatred our compassion hardness our bowels rocks in comparison of thine to thine why then wilt thou not hear me Turnest thou a deaf ear to me Canst thou deny me Did any of the seed of Jacob seek thy face in vain Who ever approacht to this over-flowing Fountain of sweetness but carried away some drops â—or sat by so great a flame and receiv'd not some warmth from it why then lyes my Soul so cold so frozen so dead before thee O wilt thou not relieve a hungry beggar wilt thou not grant the request of an â—mportunate Petitioner Shall I go away â—mpty from an inexhaustible Treasure Hungry from a Feast Dry from a Fountain Cold from the Sun Sad and comâ—ortless from a Feast of Love Oh! â—ake it a type and earnest of our Eternal â—anquet Feed me to that by Faith and Love and seal me to it in Spirit and Conâ—ience let me enjoy thy lightsom reviâ—â—ng company in this state of absence and â—bscurity Away my Soul from this â—â—rk deceitful vexing world love not â—â—y Disease thy Fetters thy Calamities â—yn not with those that take up their rest 〈◊〉 this side Heaven saying it is good to be here Wo is me that I sojourn in Mesech that I dwell in the Tents of Kedar that I remain in this sinful polluting place among a strange people and am kept so long from my Fathers House Oh that I had wings like a Dove then would I slie away and be at rest lo then would I wander far off as legs and wings could carry me and remain in the wilderness I would live in the solitariest place of the Earth for my greater freedom from sin and enjoyment of my God This flattering vexing world should soon see me quit it my base heart should soon be 〈◊〉 of me rather than undergo their uncessant troubles I would hasten my escapâ— from the windy storm and tempest Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death 〈◊〉 Which so oft troubles grieves and over-clouds me distracts hinders me allureâ— and intangles me When shall I have done trifling and dallying roving and repining fretting and disputing Wheâ—â— shall I onely talk and walk with thee be composed and fixed Spiritual anâ— Heavenly love chuse and obey thee delight rejoyce joy and glory in thee Oh when wilt thou unloose the cords of this tottering Tent When shall this Mud-wall crumble into dust When shall my earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved When shall I be carried to those eternal mansions Why is his Chariot so long in coming Why tarry the wheels of his Chariot Hath he not sped Hath he not divided his gifts Hath he not obtained his purchase Hath he not prepared a place for me Shall I ever be at home in the bodie and absent from the Lord Make haste O thou whom my soul loveth and come in glorie as thou first camest in humilitie and conform them to thy self in glorie whom thou makest conformable to thy sufferings and humility Keep up our faith our hope and our love by the exercise of them let us have our Conversation with thee in Heaven and daily vouchsafe us some beams of thy directing consolatorie light in this our darkness and be not as a stranger to thy scattered Flock thy disconsolate Spouse in this distant state this desolate Wilderness O shew thy self more clearly to us testifie to our Souls that thou art our Head and Saviour that we abide in thee by the Spirit which thou hast given us abiding and overcoming in us and as thy Agent preparing us for eternal Life Let not our darkness nor thy strangeness feed our odious unbelief nor my corrupt habits choak or smother my new resolutions and sweet meditations These weak wavering thoughts these faint desires these sickly affections in my Soul will not live a night unless my gracious God interpose his Power preserve and cherish them Oh seeing thou hast given me to bestow some small pains on my Heart and to conceive some good hopes let them not be dasht in pieces in so short a moment spread the wings of thy goodness over me and maintain that which not I but thy Spirit hath wrought in me let me find all when I awake let me still be with thee O blessed Trinity to whom be ascribed Kingdom Power and Glory now and for ever Amen The Communion Morning Dress AH where am I what do I all the Children of the Bride-chamber are â—p and ready and I slumbring in my Bed Tell me ye Fairest what made you up so early and drest so soon Aâ—â—as our Lord was up before us all â—e call'd us up by
break of day and wondred we were not trimming our Lamps not decking our selves knowâ—ng with whom we were to meet to feast â—o day Our Beloved spake and said â—nto us Rise up my Love my Fair Ones and come away This is the day which the Lord hath made we will reâ—oyce and be glad in it How should we welcom it with suffcient joy thankfulness for the approach of so great a Blessing â—hat brings our Saviour so near unto us 'T is too too late I will arise and get â—e ready but where are my Cloths Oh â—ow poor how empty how naked am I Oh for the fairest sweetest robe of â—houghts and wishes out of my Fathers Wardrobe Oh for my silken golden twist of Faith to hang the Jewel of Godâ— sorrow and Humility Love and thankfulness upon I am never drest till they be on Oh where are they I saw them by me but just before I went to bed what was I then so long about but gathering tying raising them up Ah this vain World this envious Devil this evil deceitful Heart hath been ravelling stealing them out or hid them from me that now I am as far to seek as ever Oh whither shall I what shall I do to find them behold the Bridegroom cometh and I am not ready I cannot dare not go to day Now will my Lord be angry when he comes in to see his guests he looking over them will say where 's such a one was he not bidden I 'm sure I invited him If I go undrest he 'l ask how came I in not having on a Wedding Garment to either I shall be speechless Ah foolish 〈◊〉 careless heart to let Earthly so intangle thy Heavenly Thoughts thou knowest not now how to unloose them which heed and care might have prevented my horrible negligence and guiltiness makes mâ—â—tremble to go yet not dare to keep away for where should my polluted Soul be washt but in that Fountain set open for sin and for uncleanness Oh thou that wilt in no wise cast off him that cometh unto thee dis-intangle my thoughts from all things below and dress me up as pleaseth thee over-look my manifold weaknesses and imperfections in my preparation if I knew nothing by my self yet were I not thereby justified I have no Righteousness of my own and if I had I would not mention it before thee though I were Righteous and had the greatest fitness and perfection a creature is capable of yet would I not answer thee I would not plead but supplicate not stand upon my Right but petition thy Favour not expect thy Justice but crave thy pity I would make supplication to my Judge The Righteousness of man is not pleadable before a Righteous God if thou shouldest be extream to mark what is done amiss by the best men in the best actions O Lord who could stand we are all as an unclean thing and all our righteousness are as filthy rags my person is loathsom and abominable my preparation and best performances carry in them matter of my own death and indictment except thou oh cover them with the Robe of Christ's Righteousness and sprinkle them with his blood they can find no acceptance with thee And Oh thou who for our sake tookest upon thee our passions and sensibilities our weaknesses and sufferings so art become a merciful High Priest and pitiful to our infirmities receive a wearied sinner an overbur-thened Conscience an afflicted polluted Soul into thy care custody and cure The humility and sorrow love and purity of any Creature is not sufficient to make me worthy to be fed with thy Body nourisht with thy Blood united to thee to dwell and be one with thee but what I cannot be of my self let me be made of thee who of God art made unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption Oh weigh thine own not my merits that I may offer up an odour of a sweet smell a sacrifice acceptable well pleasing unto thee by Christ Jesus the life of them that believe and the Resurrection of the dead From him I hope for victory against my sins strength in Duty against my weakness succour in my life against temptation in my death against despair after death against damnation I presume upon thy help not because I â—ave deserv'd it for I have been an unprofitable servant but because thou hast redeemed me for thy Blood cannot be unprofitable Help me if not for my misery which I have deserved yet for thy mercies which thou hast promised for thy goodness is more ready to forgive then thy power to punish and thy Blood cries â—ouder for pardon then my sins for punishment Thou hast not yet forgiven so much as thou hast promised nor promis'd more than thou hast puchas'd Hath thy Blood satisfied for more sins than I can commit and shall it not satisfie for those 〈◊〉 have forsaken and do detest Hast thou purchased Mercy for more then repent and wilt thou not shew it on those to whom thou hast given Repentance Hast thou been so long calling that thou shouldest at last reject me so long promising Salvation that thou shouldst at last deny me I am thy Debtor for thy purchase but thou art mine for the promise 〈◊〉 could not oblige thee by my desert but thou hast obliged thy self by thy word I plead not the merit of my obedience but the mercy of the Covenant which thy Lâ—â—â— and mercy moved thee to make and thy Truth ties thee to perform Free grace made thee a promiser and thy promise hath made thee a Debtor Thou art not more Free in making promises then faithful in making them good a God that keepeth Covenant unto a thousand generations And oh that I could now laâ—â— aside my Body with my Business put off this outward man forâ— more naked The Soul Fixed inward spiritual sight that my mind might be rendred more sensible of him fit to receive 〈◊〉 deeper impression from his hand that nothing but him might enter in Away be gone ye wandring worldly vaiâ— thoughts for I am going to my God stiâ— not up nor disturb the Beloved of my Soul come not near I charge you make no noise to displease him or to call mâ— away from entertaining and enjoying oâ— him yea Lord bid them be gone and not dare to appear before thee It is the voice of my Beloved I hear him inviting me to his Table I see him coming to entertain me let all flesh therefore be silent and not be so bold as to whisper in his presence Welcom holy thoughts and pure desires Oh happy time wherein I may embrace my Saviour and solace my soul in the armes of my dearest Love Awake my Understanding Will and Affections awake my Glory and my Heart awake all ye Powers Faculties and Graces of my Soul and all that is within me be summon'd in stirred up and wholly bent to attend this service My costliest Box of Oyntment cannot be bestow'd better then on my
and blood oh my soul drowned not his affections to us his Compassion brake through his passion in the same night which was so full of anguish and dolor to his Soul wherein he was betray'd when death was in sight and all those unspeakable fears and sorrows terrors and sufferings were ready to invade him when his Disciples were readie to betray forsake deny him injuries from men readie to load him and the Justice of God upon sin to be demonstrated on him he then even forgot his own misereies to remember and dispense his meries to us and provide this Banquet for us continually to present himself to us lest after he had endured so much for us we should forget or distrust his love unto us Oh how was he burned between two fires the fire of his Affections to us and that of his Afflictions for us At that time wherein men were designing the greatest cruelty against him was he bestowing the greatest courtesie and gift on us himself leaving us a Legacie a pledge at parting of his dearest love stronger then death that held him on the cross to finish our Salvation when death could not hold him in the grave Before he gave himself to be crucified for us he provides an ordinance the means of his communicating himself to us he gives us in the Sacrament what he did and gave prepared and purchased for us on the cross Oh the infinite love of God that he would give his own Son and of Christ that he would so graciously come and save us and leave us those remembrances and tokens of his love that he should die for us when he was on earth be so mindful of and nourish us with himself now he is in Heaven Oh wonderful misterie that the Bodie of Christ now reigning in Heaven should be laid upon the Table that the Author of life should become the Bread of life that under the broken form of bread and wine whole Christ should be conveyed to everie Believer His Personal Union is with the single nature but his Mystical with every Believer This Sacrament is the representative of the Substance the sign of a Covenant the seal of a Purchase the figure of a Body the witness of our Faith the earnest of our Hope the presence of things distant the sight of things absent the taste of things unconceivable the knowledge of things that are past knowledge a seal of our Saviours engraving whose superscription is Christ's loving us whose Image is Christ dying for us whose deed is Christs New Testament confirmed to us in the sign we have the Image in the seal the benefit of Christ's Body in the sign we see in the seal we by Faith receive him The Bread and Wine are but the dishes in which this Feast not of the belly but mind is served up not the Feast it self Faith eats not the Bread but the breaking of it drinks not the Wine but the pouring of it forth The eating Christs flesh and drinking his blood is nothing else but an act of Faith terminated upon him as our Mediator and Redeemer The participation of his Body and Blood for strength and refreshment sweet to Faith as meat and drink is to hunger could not be better shadow'd forth then by the staff of Bread and Wine comprising all sorts of Spiritual provision for our inner man and Faith is to the Soul what Natural hear is to the body by virtue of which the Nutritive Faculty turns the food into nourishment They present and confirm Christ to us as the most needful beneficial and perfect nourishment of the New man as Bread and Wine are such unto the Body i. e. that Christ crucified preserves us from Eternal death and is unto us the Fountain of Spiritual and Eternal life Believe and thou hast eaten Christ is present with but not in the Bread and Wine but to the faithful Receiver not in the Elements but to the Communicants not water but washing with it is Baptism not Bread and wine on the Table are a Sacrament but eating and drinking them which if they be acts of Faith the hand and mouth of the soul the Bread and Wine as really convey and unite whole Christ with the vital influences that proceed from him to the Soul as the hand doth them to the mouth or the mouth to the stomach Whatsoever we may expect of bodily strength or reparation from Bread and Wine we may expect from Christ for our Soul life maintained grace quickened deadness enlivened resolutions enabled hope erected faith strengthened lusts subdued which is consequent upon our union with Christ and interest in the Covenant renewed and ratified to his people by Christs death and sealed to them in the Sacrament In the Word we have a promise here a pawn or pledge of him Lift up your heads therefore O ye gates of my Soul and be ye lifted up ye everlasting doors and the King of Glorie shall come in And be assured such additions of grace as thou art fitted for and Infinite Wisdom sees meet to deal out shall be conferred upon thee Fear not I charge thee do not faint let not thy weakness thy povertie thy inabilitie discourage thee all have not Talents alike a Faith richly embroidered with love and delight is not given to all and expected onely from those to whom it is given Be thy attire whole sincere clean and white free from spots of the flesh and Spirit though not so perfumed with heaven as thy Brethren thou wilt be welcome Thy God and Saviour will not ask How camest thou hither not having on a Wedding-garment he knows thy heart and sees thou hast it He will not break the bruised Reed nor quench the smoking Flax till he send forth judgment unto victorys What manner of guests were those he commanded to be brought in to the Wedding Supper but such as were found in the streets and lanes the Hedges and high wayes the poor and the maimed the lame the halt and the blind hunger-starved forlorn undone lost wretches Oh blessed is the man whom thou chusest and causest to approach unto thee that they may dwell in thy Courts We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy House even of thy holy Temple At the Lords Table WHat shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits I will take the cup of Salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto him now in the presence of all his people Come forth oh my graces stir up your selves stand ye lively and active before the Lord. Awake my Faith and see the Attonement of my sins in the broken body of my Saviour the price paying the ransom laid down the thing in doing Awake Repentance and hear the strong cries and see the doleful Agonies of him that bore our chastisements Awake my Memory and call to mind that Egypt wherein I was and the Blood of the Passover which removed the Destroying Angel from my Soul Now
passing by so many offences and requirinâ— no satisfaction from us for such insufferable wrongs but transferring the punishment from us unto his own Son whoâ— love also was so great that he woulâ— bear our iniquities that we might be saved Oh how could he chuse a moâ—â— â—â—liging way of Redeeming us that hath â—us displayed the severest Justice and â—ghest Mercy the greatest hatred of sin â—â—e greatest love to sinners since by those â—equalled and unvaluable sufferings to â—hich he delivered up for us that Son â—ho is so near unto him that he is one â—ith him at once manifesting both how â—uch he hated sin which he so heavily â—nished in the person he most loved â—â—d how much he loved sinners by giâ—â—ng up what he so loved for a ransom 〈◊〉 those that were guilty of what he so â—â—ted And oh the miracle the amazing â—odigic of this Love that Heaven â—ould so condescend to Earth and that â—an should be so united to God! that â—â—od should dwell in flesh and that this â—sh should be our food That the Son of â—od should love us better then his life and 〈◊〉 the meat of Worms of Sinners of Eneâ—es that he should make himself preâ—nt to our Faith and as if he would do â—â—re then die for us desires to live for â—â—er in us and to be united to us Was â—â—er kindness like unto this was ever â—â—ch a furnace of love burning in any â—east can any heart freeze over such a fire Oh! who can abide the heat of thâ— love who can dwell in such flames aâ—â— not be consumed who can abide in 〈◊〉 great sense of this love and abide in thâ— body what instances can parallel whâ— words can be expressive what apprâ—hensions can commemorate what râ—ptures can be sufficient for the admiratioâ— of this so infinite love Be thou swâ—â— lowed up O my Soul in this depth 〈◊〉 Divine love and hate to spend thy though any more upon other things that hast suâ—â— a Saviour to take them up Oh! I shake I tremble am altogether confounded 〈◊〉 the approach of so great guest The Minister coming towards him Lord I am not wâ—â— thy that thou shouldest come under 〈◊〉 roof or to eat the crums that fall froâ— my own much less thy Table Oh wâ—â— am I that I should dare with my orignally actually desiled hands to receiâ—â— those high those holy Mysteries thâ— thou desirest to to come unto me be eâ—tertained by me what findest thou 〈◊〉 me that so much delights and invites thâ— to me art thou ignorant of my mâ—â—vile beginning and original I am not â—heruhim Seraphim or of the number of â—hat Celestial Hierarchy but dust and shes polluted dust and ashes Lord â—â—adst thou rather be at another mans â—cuse with dishonour then at thy own â—ith honour or if thou hast no respect â—o thine own honour if thou castest under â—ot all praise and renown if thou takest â—nto thee every vile sinner yet hast thou â—o regard to thy Greatness and Majesty Thou knowest my poverty my need my â—mpurity this poor place is a far unâ—eet habitation for thee Whence is this 〈◊〉 me that my Maker my Redeemer â—hould come unto mee thus favour thus â—ignifie me that thou shouldest be so â—elow thy self as to look upon so low so â—ain so miserable a thing as Man such a â—ead Dog as I am Why have I found grace in thy sight that thou shouldest take knowledge of me seeing I am a stranger Lord what am I that thou shouldest remember me be mindful of me visit me â—ast thine eye set thine heart upon me â—ome to marry thy self with me Whence â—omes it that thou who art in Heaven â—mongst them that know so well how to â—ove and serve thee shouldest vouchsafe to descend to me who know little eâ—â—â— but how to offend thee Canst thou 〈◊〉 be content to be without me Did 〈◊〉 meer love draw thee from Heaven 〈◊〉 my sake and give thy self for me to 〈◊〉 deem me from my sins and dost thou sâ—â— give thy self to me to be the strength anâ— health of my Soul As if thou couldâ— never give thy self enough or be neâ—â—â— enough mine Oh how am I astonishâ—â— at this inconceivable love oh that I weâ— able to comprehend it Oh that I had 〈◊〉 thousand hearts to correspond with iâ— oh stay my gracious Lord for the â—â—mcasure of my love till thou hast maâ—â— me able to do nothing else but love theâ— But since thou art pleased to come anâ— offer thy self to me my soul thirsteth 〈◊〉 thee I humbly stretch out my hands uâ—to thee my longing gasping desires aâ— after thee I open my heart with aâ— humble thankfulness to receive thee nâ—ver to be separated from thee for ever 〈◊〉 adhere unto thee Oh enter in and stâ—â— with me satisfie my soul with thy selâ— say This day is Salvation come unto tâ— house Oh be not now offended at thâ— loathsom sights in a soul so sick and dieaâ—eâ— â—ased so full of filth of rottenness and â—orruption into which thou art entering Do not disdain me for those many Malaâ—ies but come and cure me The Bread SEE my soul thy Saviour in the Minister and the benefits that come by â—im in the Bread and Wine believing â—hose with himself are given thee by him â—â—s really as the Elements by his Embassaâ—our saying Take eat this is my Body which is broken for you by Faith reâ—eive apply appropriate me unto thy â—elf This Bread consecrated by me is â—he Sacrament of my Body offered as an Expiatory Sacrifice for you Hereby I â—mpute my righteousness impart my loâ—ing kindness make over and give unâ—o you my whole self God and Man as Mediator in my Blood and Merits Graâ—es and Spirit Virtue and Benefits Obeâ—ience Satisfaction Expiation Doings â—nd Sufferings in all I have am or have â—urchased for you I make yours by gift â—nd you by Faith as truly as if put into your very hand and mouth Mine were the pains the sufferings of Death yours the benefit mine the stripes yours the balm mine the thorns yours the Crown These are the holes in my hands and side the blood that issued from them yours the price mine yours the purchase See here in my wounds your safety in my stripes your healing in my anguish your peace in my Cross your Triumph I came out of my Fathers bosom that thou mightest lie in Abrahams Own me for thy Lord who have thus bought thee out of slavery accept me for thy Redeemer who have paid so dearly for thee follow me in the way I have shewen thee that I may bring thee to him I have reconciled to thee Do this in and for a remembrance of me who what for whom why for what end with what mind I suffered what I have done for yon and am unto you Dear Saviour biddest thou me Remember thee How should I forget thee how can I but remember but celebrate thee But oh that I could more affectionately
holes in his side Oh what fight a fire a flame of love did I see in his blessed Heart and my self pourtray'd upon it my name among the rest oh with what joy and comfort to my Soul he hath set me as a Seal upon his Heart love is strong as death many waters of affliction cannot quench it nor the floods of trouble or persecution drown it might all the pleasures profits honours of the world be given for it it would be utterly despised Oh how easie find I his yoke how light his burthen methinks I could watch or pray do or suffer more believingly more couragiously than ever It was the voice of my Beloved that knocked saying open unto me my Sister my Love my Dove my Undefiled he put in his hands by the holes of the door and my bowels were moved for him my Soul failed when he spake I sought him in every part of the Ordinance and he was found of me I called him and he gave me answer I sate under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my taste He brought me to the Banqueting house and his Banner over me was Love His left hand is under my head and his right hand doth embrace me A bundle of Myrrh is my Beloved unto me he shall lye all night betwixt my Breasts he shall be still in my heart by affection and Faith I will make him my continual joy comfort and refreshment and solace my self in him in all estates Oh that his name may be graven upon my heart and his Image remain fair and lively upon my Soul Oh that I may find a kind of unwillingness to admit of any other company when I come to converse with other things let me still be looking towards him as my only desire good and happiness let my heart be so filled with him that other objects may not come near or make any strong impression on me Oh that some lively coles of that holy fire kindled at the Ordinances may be still glowing in my Soul that the savour and tincture of it may be never done away Oh how can any other pleasure seem any more pleasant to me Can I desire the husks the Swine do eat when there is such Bread in my Fathers house no man having drunk old wine straightway desireth new for he saith the old is better Sure he hath been little affected nor had any taste of Gods sweetness presently to relish worldly things to wash off his palate the savour of spiritual with sensual or secular thoughts Abrupt chopings off from Holy Duties is such a quenching of the spirit as tends much to hardning the heart such sudden quenchings of spiritual heat got in an Ordinance cannot be without much danger to the Soul motions so quite opposite are as prejudicial as unbecoming Is it fit or seemly to leave the company of our Lord so soon as we have let him in and divert to other occasions associate our selves to other persons now we have newly given him our Faith and taken him as the Bridegroom of our Souls and not rather delight in the presence of our new love and keep our heart from cooling by laying on new fuel turning the remainder of this day into an after supper a second Communion In reviewing and being humbled for our coldness distractions miscarriages In blessing God for the liberty and opportunity of a Sacrament and the priviledges thereby confer'd upon us in ruminating on and retaining the savor of those pleasant things we have been entertained with exceedingly gladded in the sense of that love we have been tasting and celebrating in the belief of that pardon we have received in the hopes of that Grace and Glory that hath been assured to us In considering the obligations we have laid on our selves In heavenly discourses with our beloved in expressions of our love and affection towards him acts of desire after inseparable union with and greater likeness unto him in vows and promises we will alwayes be faithful and loyal to him in entertaining him with acts of love and delight thanks and praise with the best chear we are able to make our new our beloved guest in commending his beauty praising him for his kindness and favours extolling his riches admiring his perfections and graces talking with him about the affairs of our Soul in opening to him every room in it leading him into the most private recesses of our heart shewing him all the secrets of it acquainting him with all our wants and weaknesses spreading before him all our desires and fears hopes and griefs In praying for help and assistance to be steadfast in his Covenant interceding with him for all mankind especiall our Fellow Communicants In telling him again all we have is his in tying a new knot upon the band of the Covenant between us craving him pardon for our follies desiring him not to be offended at the dark and noisome hole into which we have brought him entreating him with all loves that he will not take exception at his poor entertainment even charming him to stay and dwell with us by all the songs of praise and thankfulness we can devise Subsequent Duties after the Sacrament AND now my utmost care and diligence is required to express the power and efficacy of the Ordinance in living more fruitfully religiously watchfully in making good my vows and promises at the Sacrament That heart and life therefore may be sutable to my Sacramentall obligations and may witness the good received in and by it oh my Soul Make a solemn reflection on thy self and entertainment How was my heart and behaviour before God what welcom did he give me Reflection is necessary after every duty what good have I got what warmth of affection what more love to desire after delight and confidence in God what greater ability and love to discharge duty to bear affliction to resist temptation to walk in Gods ways so especially after the Sacrament was my Heart hard dull indisposed I must then suspect my miscarriage in preparation or performance and labour to find out be truely sensible of greatly bewaile and humble judge and condemn my self and beg pardon for the cause earnestly importune him that he would now help me by Prayer and Humiliation to recover the benefit of the Ordinance that I may by an after act do that which I should have done before Sorrow for and sense of our senslesness is one fruit of Christs death we undoubtedly receiv'd in the Ordinance We may not judge of our gain by and profit in duty by our present feeling or that the only evidences of Communion and acceptance with God are our Souls lifted up and ravished with sensible joys our uprightness and sincerity in the performance of our duties and in our covenanting with God and continuing stedfast therein may administer most ground of comfort when we reflect upon it for we were then really acceptable to him that look'd down upon us and received from
unto and be a companion of all those that fear the Lord make the liveliest of them my most intimates and upon all occasions improve their fellowship to the best advantage O that I may henceforth behave my self as a stone of the same Building as a branch of the same Vine as a servant of the same Familie as a member of the same Body as a Son of the same Father oh merciful Eternal high Priest let that Sacrifice thou once offeredst on the Cross for the sins of the world which thou doest now and ever represent in Heaven to thy Father by thy never-ceasing intercession which this day hath been exhibited Sacramentally on hy holy Table obtain Mercy and Peace Faith and Love Truth and Unity Safety and establishment Grace Glory and all good things to thy whole Church and let not the gates of Hell ever prevail against it Chear up and comfort thy self against all discouragements Have I worthily received the Lords Supper whatsoever my miseries are this cannot but be a reviving cordial yet my sins are pardoned How little should I be dismayed at any inward or outward troubles let me be fed all my days with the bread and water of affliction I have another bread and cup to sweeten both let her not say she is sick her sins are forgiven I have received an all-sufficient Saviour and seek for nothing in but renounce my self having so much in him How can I any more walk dejectedly that am interested in the New Covenant which with all its promises and priviledges is ratified and confirmed to me what ever I need is to be had here health and recovery from sickness a competant maintenance and support peace deliverance from our enemies content and patience liberty and joy sanctified riches or a chearful poverty and whatsoever is a blessing is purchased for and secured to us And oh that this in all my troubles difficulties addresses to God may quiet me and strengthen my Faith to apprehend him as in Covenant with me that hath engaged himself to be with me in all estates and conditions and to order all things for my advantage I have resigned up my self to him let him do with me what seemeth him good He cannot deny himself all his words are oaths for their certaintie and all his promises the sure mercies of David This Sacrament is that to my particular person which it is in it self and by design to all the world If I receive worthily I shall receive any of those blessings according as God shall chuse for me which shall be not onely with more wisdom but more affection then I can for my self Let me but be void of all care but onely to preserve my Fathers love and I cannot want He whom Almighty Wisdom and Goodness takes a Fatherly care of engages to feed cannot but have enough All things are yours and you are Christ's and Christ is God's Nothing is excluded where he is included Keep up earnest longings after this and the eternal Supper of the Lamb. Oh when will the opportunitie return when shall I come again and appear before God when shall I see his power and his glory taste his love and goodness as I have in the Sacrament O that I may still be feasting my Soul on those Heavenly Dainties those spiritual Viands those satisfying pleasures at his Table I think the time long to that day of gladness and rejoycing The King of Glory hath now espoused me to himself by Proxy by his Embassadour the day is hastening when the Marriage shall be publickly triumphantly solemnized and compleated Mount up my Soul and ever stand wishly looking for his appearance never slack thy Watch nor let thy Expectation cool till he take thee to himself where we shall be gathered together where the Bodie is and his Glory presented without an umbrage where he shall lay aside his veil and his amiable countenance be chequer'd with no intermingled frowns intervening clouds or obscure mediums where mysteries shall be turned into revelations the translation into the original commemoration into vision espousal into mutual fruition and embraces sighs and tears into nuptial songs and festivities transient glances into the direct beams of the ever radiant Sun of Righteousness a moments work into an eternity of rest where is satiety without nauseating perfect happiness without care or incumbrance envy or successor alteration or end for every chain a ray of light every tear a pearl every prison a palace every loss the purchase of a Kingdom every affront in Gods Service an eternal honour every hour of sorrow a thousand years of comfort multiplyed with a never ceasing Numeration Where Jobâ— that sate on the Dunghil sits among the Angels Lazarus that lay among the Dogs is lodged in Abrahams bosom the Saints heretofore among the pots walk in white where are riches and pleasures truâ— and real adequate and sutable solid and satisfying lasting and durable where I shall see thee oh infinite Sweetness and Delight without a Veil and live upon thee without a Figure where I shall have not a Sacramental but a Beatificalâ— Communion not wear thy ring but see thy face not remember but behold thee not in Faith but clear and full Fruition Come Love come Lord and that long day For which I languish come away When this dry Soul those Eyes shall see And drink the unseal'd source of thee When Glory's Sun Faith's shade shall chace Then for thy Veil give me thy Face AN APPENDIX TO THE Devout Communicant CONTAINING More particular Directions and Meditations for the time of Receiving with a Prayer before and after A Prayer at home before the Sacrament ETernally Blessed and infinitely Glorious Lord God! Thou art greatly to be feared in the Assembly of thy Saints and to be had in reverence of all that draw nigh unto thee Look down from Heaven the habitation of thy Holiness and Glory in much mercy pity and tender compassion upon me A vile sinful despicable Creature prostrate at thy Footstool unworthy to look up unto thy Throne or to receive any thing at thy hands but thy wrath and severe displeasure I am less then the least of all thy Mercies and liable to the severest of thy Judgments by reason of the pollution and sinfulness of my Nature Heart and Life I am of the degenerate Posterity of fallen Adam and have all the powers faculties and members of my Soul and Body defiled with sin I have sinned in every Age in every Relation in every Condition in every imployment of my Life I have distrusted thy Word disregarded thy Calls slighted thy Judgments abused thy Mercies turned thy Grace into Wantonness rejected the tenders of thy Love resisted the motions of thy Holy Spirit the checks of my own Conscience and followed the motions of my own evil Heart I have dishonoured thy Name prophaned thy Sabbaths polluted thy Ordinances been unthankful for thy Benefits impatient under Afflictions unfaithful to my promises mis-spent my time neglected
my Duty walked unanswerable to those multiplied obligations laid upon me broken all thy holy Commandments by many and great transgressions made and judged my self unworthy of everlasting life * Here mention your particular failings so that nothing might remain unto me but a fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation to devour me But thou delightest in mercy and not in the death of a sinner art not willing any should perish but that all should come to repentance Oh take not counsel of thy just indignation but of thy native goodness thy satisfi'd justice Wilt thou destroy him that presents himself to be punished and thy Son to have satisfied that desires not to live unless it be by the benefit of thy mercy and his sufferings Wilt thou not spare me for thy Son who sparedst not thy Son for me Is there not enough in his Merits and Sacrifice to expiate all my sins and to justifie my person in thy sight O suffer not thy self to be deprived of the glory of my forgiveness and salvation as well as of my creation and redemption Save me whom thou hast hitherto spared and forgive me eternal death which I have so often merited by my great offences Bury them all in the bottomless Ocean of thy own Mercy and forgetfulness and my Saviours Blood lay them upon him who is able to bear them and cloath me with his righteousness that is able to cover me Oh free me from the guilt and stain the power and penalty the reign and dominion of sin that nothing may separate me from thy love nor from the sensible discoveries of it at thy Table That I may be a meet and worthy Receiver accept me into thy favour let thy mercy pardon my sins thy grace sanctifie my soul thy goodness supply my wants thy merits inrich my poverty thy precious blood wash away all my spots thy Holy Spirit prepare and direct and assist me Take away my filthy garments my spiritual filthiness and cloath me with the best robe the Lord our righteousness Oh think me worthy for his sake and make me worthy for thy mercy-sake Deal not with me according to my deserts but thy great goodness and my great necessity Let me so remember my sins that thou mayest forget them set them so before my face that thou mayest cast them behind thy back Give me such a lively steadfast Faith in Christ for forgiveness that thou mayest seal it up unto my soul Let me love him and all his members with a pure heart fervently at thy holy Communion and ever after without dissimulation So enlarge my Soul with spiritual affections and desires that it may even break for the longings it hath unto that Ordinance and unto thy Testimonies at all times Remove far from me all blindness of mind hardness of heart unrelenting affections deadness and indisposedness earthliness and distraction irreverence unbecoming apprehensions whatsoever may hinder the blessing and efficacy of that soul-nourishing refreshing Ordinance thy gracious presence my eternal salvation Create in me an understanding heavenly clean heart O God and renew an humble contrite right spirit within me prepared for thee Oh be not as a stranger unto me hide not thy self from me lift up the light of thy countenance upon me Let me feel the comfortable breathings of thy Holie Spirit in my Soul at thy Ordinance sanctifie it to me and me to receive it acceptably with due preparation and apprehensions reverence and humility repentance and faith love and charity joy and thankfulness a deep sense of thy inexpressible love and my own unworthiness And oh that all of us who this day approach thy Table may so eat his flesh which he hath given for the life of the World that we may live for ever and so drink his blood that it may be to us for remission of sins Meet us not in our selves in thy justice as a consuming fire but a reconciled Father in thy righteous and beloved Son whom thou gavest who gave himself for us when we were thy enemies Let us depart thence more under the power of thy love and grace and under greater resolutions and abilities to do thee faithful service all our dayes through Jesus Christ our Sacrifice and Redemption Hope and Confidence Surety and Advocate the Food and Health the Life and Salvation of our Souls who hath taught us when we pray to say Our Father c. As soon as ever the Sermon is ended look towards the Lords Table and say within your selves THis Sacrament I am going to is a standing Memorial of my Saviour's Passion wherein he once offered up Himself to God and a Sign of that nourishing and strengthning Grace which he now offers to me under the notion of Food It is the true meanes and instrument of conveying on me those Blessings and signifies that which by its proper Institution it represents In the making and ordering of those Elements see consider O my Soul the heavy Blows and Bruises the Pressures Piercings Pains and Sufferings of thy Saviour from his Father and wicked men The malice and violence of his Murderers crucified Him as a Malefactor and the fierie wrath of God made him a Burnt Sacrifice and under both these Sufferings He is become to me Meat indeed and Drink indeed the stay and support the comfort refreshment and life of my Soul nourishing and preserving it to eternal life That Bread and Wine could never sustain and nourish me if the one had not fallen into the Earth under the Sickle the Flail the Mill-stone and the Fire the other under the Hook and the Press of the Husbandman nothing less then the Cross the Wounds the Death of my Lord my God of his dearest Son made me a Saviour and by this Sacrament assures me I shall be kept up and fed with a supplie of all necessarie Blessings as certainlie as he gives me to taste that Bread and Wine the ordinarie meanes for preserving my life and strength Whilest we condemned Creatures were passing on to our Execution the Son of God looked upon us and took our Condemnation upon Himself and under it died in our stead Thus by the death and satisfaction of this Sacrifice Justice gave way to my Release God the Father forgave my Sin and God the Son procured my Life Then fall upon your Knees with all imaginable Reverence and say LEt the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight O Lord my strength and my Redeemer Most gracious God who of thy great goodness hast ordained this Ordinance for a continual Remembrance ofâ— hat ever prevailing Sacrifice which thy infinite Wisdom and Love hast appointed and accepted upon the Cross for us vile helpless wretched Sinners make us truely sensible of all our offences against thee and of his Love and Sufferings for us and accept us in Him to the Praise of thy Grace Rebuke all unseasonable thoughts and imaginations stir up and act in us