henceforth I put off concerning my former Conversation the Old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful Lusts and be renewed in the spirit of my mind And that I put on the New Man which after thee is created in Righteousness and true Holiness to which purpose be pleased to watch over me for good to keep me both outwardly in my Body and inwardly in my Soul O God thou seest that I have no power of my self to help my self thou knowest me also to be set in the mid'st of so many and great dangers that by reason of the frailty of my Nature I cannot always stand upright grant to me such strength and protection as may support me in all dangers and carry me through all temptations through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Thou with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning let thy holy Spirit direct me in all things let thy grace always prevent and follow me and preserve me against all assaults of my spiritual enemys especially of my own treacherous heart which is deceitful above all things wicked desperately wicked O Lord thou knowest it how often hath it betray'd me to the breach of thy holy Laws to the violation of all these Vows and Promises which I have made to thee How often have I turned my back in the day of battle O let me no more thus start aside like a broken bow but be stedfast unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord resisting the Devill that he may flee from me subduing my flesh and bringing it into subjection Crufying and overcoming the World And therefore let those solemn Vows which I have now made to forsake my sins never depart from my mind but let the remembranee of them excite me to fight manfully under thy Banner and continue thy faithful Servant and Souldier unto my Life's end Amen O Lord I do here humbly present unto thee my Soul and Body to be a living holy and reasonable Sacrifice unto thee I beseech thee sanctifie my Body that from a polluted Dunghil it may become the Temple of God Sanctify my Soul and receive it for thy dwelling place the seat of thy Spirit and an house of Prayer and Holy Meditations Sanctifie me throughout that both my Body Soul and Spirit may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to whom with thee O Father and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory world without end Amen THus have you closed your Communion-Devotions It only remains that you bestow the greatest part of the Afternoon in Reading Praying Meditating good Conferences and the like and when your Condition calls you to your usual Converses you are still to remember you have a great business which lies upon your hands which is the performance of those promises you have now made to God to which purpose frequently recollect them to mind and let the remembrance of them be your refuge against all temptations to your old sins whenever they assault you knowing what a grievous thing it is to break that Vow which you have seal'd in your Saviours Blood to have that Blood through which only you can have pardon to witness against you which God forbid To your Evening Prayers that Sunday night immediately before the Blessing subjoyn this Collect. O Blessed JESUS who hast this day made me a Partaker of thy blessed Body and Blood thy Mercy hath given it and my Faith hath received it into my Soul O let me ever feel the happy virtue and effects of it Put thy fear into my heart to keep those Vows and Promises which I have on this solemnity tendred unto thee in my mind that I may not sin against thee enrich me with all those graces which come from this precious Body and Blood and hereafter bring me to thy everlasting glory for thy merits and mercies sake Amen THus not to detain you longer I have recommended to you the aforesaid Devotions to be us'd on the Friday in every moneth which precedes a Communion especially the Fridays before the three solemn times which our Church hath Consecrated to this Blessed purpose Christmas Easter and Whit-Sunday supposing that your health and important occasions will permit it otherwise you are not tyed to the strictness of them though you are oblig'd to receive this Sacrament whensoever an opportunity offers it self To capacitate you for a worthy Communication thereof at all times I do lastly and heartily advise you to maintain a constant course of daily Prayers at Morning and Evening throughout the year every Night recalling the Actions of the past-day and repenting for the sins of it the practice whereof will fit you for the Communion at any time when 't is occasionally tendered to you I mean when you are suddenly call'd to Communicate with a dying person or come accidentally into a Congregation where 't is to be received and all fit Guests are invited to it in those cases you are by no means to turn your back upon it but bestowing that little time which is before you in Recollecting Repenting Exerting your Faith Love Thankfulness c. Omiting nothing of the strictness which is required in the Act of Receiving and performing afterwards to your power what you secretly promis'd receive it with the rest in the name of God beginning with the Prayers afore mentioned page 68. which are to be said whil'st the Priest is preparing to read the Sentences Almighty God who hast of thine infinite mercies vouchsaf'd c. But this I advise on supposal you carry about with you such an habitual preparation which is acquired by keeping a strict course of daily private Devotions otherwise you sin sadly However be careful to Communicate whenever you are solemnly invited to it i. e. every moneth or oftner and with due remembrance of him whose death you do hereby shew forth till he come God Almighty make you a worthy participant of his Body and Blood here that you may for ever enjoy Him hereafter Amen Collects for particular Graces For Faith ALmighty God whom without Faith it is impossible to please grant me I beseech thee so perfectly to believe in thy Son Jesus Christ that my Faith in thy sight may never be reproved and being called to the knowledg of thy Grace and Faith in thee and admitted into the fellowship of Christs Religion I may eschew those things which are contrary to my Profession and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen For Hope BLessed Lord who hast caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning grant that I may in such wise hear them read mark learn and inwardly digest them that by Patience and Comfort of thy Holy Word I may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ and that I may therefore purifie my self even as he is pure that when he shall appear again with power
me to an Accompt for thaâ— and all other my sins c. From which Occasions you may easâ—…â—…ceive what remedies to use against it 1. To labour for a Grave and modest Carriage of my self considering my Age quality Degree c. 2. To avoid vain and light Persons or if that may not be done not heeding them or seriously rebuking them 3. To entertain all awful and Dreadful Apprehensions of the Great God who seeth what I doe and how I comport my self As also of the Holy Angels who may truly enough be Believed from the intimations of the Apostles St. John Revel viii and St. Paul 1 Cor. xi 10. to be present at Holy Mysterys To these may be added 4. Lifting up my Eyes to Heaven or fixing them on the Preist not in the least letting them loose on whatever objects may present themselves These I then Resolved to consider and practise and will therefore frequently Read them over Even soe Amen Lord Let thy Grace be â—…fficient for me Lead me not into Temptation 〈◊〉 Deliver me from evil Amen 〈◊〉 Kneeling down Pray for Devotion 〈◊〉 any other Grace the contrary sin 〈◊〉 you have now found your self guilty of and Resolved against You will find Prayers to this purpose at the latter-end of this Book As for Devotion Thus MOst Great God who hast not only permitted but invited us needy and miserable Creatures to present our Petitions to Thee Oh! let me set a true value on this most inestimable priviledge I come unto Thee O Lord as a Worm to my sovereigne Maker I come as an heinous offender to a just and severe judge Let I pray Thee my Addresses in thine House be with a Reverence someway answerable to thine awful Majesty Give me an hearty desire to pray and such a pure intention and sixedness of mind upon Thee that I may no more incur the Guilt of Drawing nigh unto Thee with my Lips when my heart is far from Thee But may so Ask that I may receive seek that I may find knock that it may be opened unto me that so from praying to Thee here I may be Translated to the Praising Thee Eternally in thy Glory hereafter through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen This exercise being finished about thre◠〈◊〉 the Clock the time appointed for the Evâ—… 〈◊〉 service At your Return from the Churc◠〈◊〉 Chappel if you have not fully satisfied yoâ—… own Conscience but require further Comfort or Counsell you are to goe to some Discreet and Learned Minister of Gods word especially to him under whose Ministry God hath placed you not being Curious or censorious in your choice as to this particular and open your Greif by Confession that so you may receive the benefit of Absolution together with Ghostly Counsel and advice to the quieting of your Conscience and the avoiding of all Scruple and Doubtfulness This being done as it ought to be with Submission and sobriety you may with Comfort Retire into your Closet and upon your Knees Say Our Father c Deliver us from evill Amen ALmighty God unto whom all hearts be open all desires known and from whom no secrets are hid cleanse the Thoughts of my heart by the Inspiration of thy Holy Spirit that I may perfectly love thee and worthily Magnifie thy Holy Name through Christ our Lord. Amen Then Read upon your Knees the Ten Commandments as they are set down in Our Communion Service 〈◊〉 Spake these Words c. after each Comâ—…dwent Say Lord have mercy upon me and Incline my heart to keep this Law Thou shalt not Covet c. Lord have mercy upon me and write all these thy Laws in my heart I beseech thee O Almighty Lord and everlasting God vouchsafe I beseech thee to direct Sanctifie and Govern both my Soul and Body in the ways of thy Laws and in the works of thy Commandments that through thy most mighty Protection both here and ever I may be preserved both in Body and Soul through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Amen Then stand up and heartily repeat your Creed I believe in God c. After which Kneel again and pray Almighty everlasting God heavenly Father I give thee humble thanks that thou hast vouchsafed to bring me to the knowledge of this faith in thee and do beseech thee that thou wouldst keep me stedfast in this faith and evermore defend me from all adversities who livest and reignest one God World without end Amen Lord have mercy upon me Christ have mercy upon me Lord have mercy upon me OH Christ Hear me and Remember now that Hour in which thou didst once Commend thy Blessed Spirit into the hands of thy heavenly Father when with a Torn Body and a Broken Heart thou didst shew forth the Bowels of thy mercy and Dye for us I beseech thee O thou Brightness and Image of God Assist me by this thy most precious Death that being Dead unto the world I may live only unto Thee and at the last hour of my Departure from this mortal Life I may Commend my Soul into thine hands and thou mayst receive me into life immortal there to Reign with thee for ever and ever Amen Grant me in the mean time Gracious Lord a pure intention of heart and a stedfast resolution to despise all vanity to fight the Battels of the Lord manfully against the world the flesh and the Devil to spend my time religiously and usefully to speak gracious words to walk always in thy presence to preserve my Soul and and Body in holiness fit for the habitation of the Spirit of God Amen 〈◊〉 Lord and my God Give me I beseech 〈◊〉 wise a sober a patient an understandâ—…â—…evout a religious a Couragious heart 〈◊〉 â—…temperate reins and thoughts a soul full of Devotion to doe thee Service and do thou make my services acceptable to thee while I live and my soul ready for thee when I Dye Amen O Lord Increase in me Faith and Devotion replenish my heart with all Goodness and of thy Great mercy keep me in the same Give me true humility in prosperity patience in adversity and continual joy in the Holy Ghost Amen O Lord Give me Spiritual wisdom that I may discern what is pleasing to thee and follow what belongs unto my Peace and let the knowledg and Peace of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord be my Guide and my portion all the Days of my life Amen O Lord make me humble to my Superiors and friendly to my Equals thankfull to my Benefactors loving to my Relations and Charitable to my Enemies to be Gentle and easily entreated slow to anger and readily admonished fully prepared and throughly furnished for every Good word and work Amen O Lord Give me a peaceable Spirit 〈◊〉 quiet life free from Debt and deadly Sin give me Grace to abstain from all appearance of evil and to doe nothing but what is of good report to confess Christ and his holy Religion by an holy and obedient life and
takest away the sins of the World Have mercy upon me Grant me Gracious Lord so to eat the Flesh of thy Son and to drink his Blood that my sinful Body may be made clean by his Body and my Soul washed through his most precious Blood Amen O Lord I am not worthy not fit that thou should'st come under the filthy Roofe of the house of my Soul because it is wholly desolate and ruinous neither hast thou with me a fit place where to lay thy head But as thou did'st vouchsafe to be laid in a Stable and Manger of unreasonable Beasts as thou did'st not disdain to be entertain'd even in the house of SIMON the Leper As thou did'st not reject the Harlot a sinner like unto me coming unto thee and touching thee As thou did'st not abhor her foul and prophane mouth Nor yet the Thief on the Cross confessing thee Even so vouchsafe to admit me also an overwor'n miserable and out of measure sinful Creature to the Receiving and Communicating of the most pure quick'ning and saving mysteries of thy most holy Body and precious Blood Amen O Lord God how I received the Body and Blood of my most blessed Saviour Jesus Christ the price of my Redemption is the very wonder of my Soul yet my most firm and constant belief upon the words of my Saviour At this time they are graciously rend'red to me and my Faith Lord make me a worthy Receiver and a Partaker of all the benefits of this B. Sacrament Amen Thou hast said that he that eateth thy Flesh and drinketh thy Blood hath Eternal Life Behold the Servant of the Lord be it unto me according to thy Word Whilst you eat it say By thy Crucified Body deliver me from this Body of Death After Receiving By thine Agony and Bloody sweat by thy Cross and Passion Good Lord deliver me I have sworn and am stedfastly purposed to keep thy Righteous Judgments O hold thou up my goings in thy Paths that my footsteps slip not At the Receiving of the Cup say What reward shall I give unto the Lord for all the benefits that he hath done unto me I will take the Cup of Salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. After you have Received it say O my God thou art true and holy O my Soul thou art blessed and happy Oh the depth of the Wisdom and Knowledg of God! how incomprehensible are his judgments and his ways past finding out Praise the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me praise his Holy Name who saveth thy Life from Destruction and feedeth thee with the Bread of Heaven Glory be to God on high and on Earth Peace good Will towards Men. I worshiâ— thee O Lord and I magnifie thy Name 〈◊〉 ever who hast vouchsafed to fill my Soul wiâ—… gladness and to seed me with the Heavenly Mysteries of Christ's sacred Body and Bloud humbly beseeching thee that from henceforth I may walk in good Works and serve thee in Holiness and Pureness of Living to the Honour of thy Name Amen MOst Blessed Redeemer I do truly believe that thy Body was crucified and thy Bloud was shed out of thy Body as verily as I have received this Bread and this Wine set apart from the Bread and that for the Remission of my sins as well as any others And I do also believe that with this Bread and Wine I have really and spiritually received thy precious Body and Bloud whereby my sins are fully washed away and my Soul purified and refresh'd This O Lord I believe help thou my Vnbelief Amen Whilst others are Communicating Meditate and Say HAppy are those Servants whom when their Lord cometh he shall find thus doing Know yee not that ye are the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you If any one defile the Temple of God him will God destroy Behold thou art made whole sin no more lest a worse thing happen unto thee The hour cometh and now it is that the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth Be we followers of God as dear Children and walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself an Offering and a Sacrifice of a sweet savour unto God for us At the end of the Communion say To the King Eternal the Immortal Invisible and only Wife God the ever blessed Trinity be all honour and glory now and for evermore Amen Arising and making your Reverence towards the Altar you depart with a glad heart and a cheerful countenance preserve good thoughts in your mind yet be not sullen or morose but salute any of your Christian Brethren you meet with As soon as you come home retire into your Closet and bless God with these Collects of Thanksgiving ALmighty God the Fountain of all goodness from whom every good and perfect gift proceedeth and to whom all glory and honour should be returned I do desire most heartily to thank thee for that thou hast vouchsafed to feed me who have received these holy mysteries with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ and do'st assure me thereby of thy favour and goodness towards me and that I am a very member incorporate in the mystical Body of thy Son which is the blessed Company of all Faithful people and am also an Heir through hope of thine everlasting Kingdom by the merits of the most precious Death and Passion of thy dear Son Oh the height and depth of that unspeakable mercy of thine who art pleased to admit me a sinful wretch to have any part in those inestimable benefits which I have so often despis'd and trampled under foot I am not worthy O Lord of that daily Bread whiâ—h sustains the body but thou hast made me partaket of that living Bread which came down from Heaven which nourisheth the Soul and of which whosoever eateth shall live for ever O grant that my Soul may rellish this divine food with spiritual ravishments and love great as the flame of Cherubims and grant that what thou hast given me for the Remission of my sins may not by any fault become the increase of them that this holy Communion prove not unto me unto Judgment and Condemnation but may support and preserve me in every temptation rejoyce and quiet me in every trouble in lighten and strengthen me in every good word and work comfort and defend me in the hour of my death against all oppositions of the Spirits of darkness and further me in the attainment of everlasting Salvation through Jesus Christ Amen MOst holy God who art of purer eyes then to behold iniquity grant I pray thee that no unclean thing may be in me who have now Received Thee into my heart and soul but let this Blood of Christ who through the Eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to thee purge my Conscience from dead works to serve thee the living God give me grace that from