Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A42296
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A guide to young communicants: or, The whole duty of the sacrament fitted for those that desire to be worthy receivers of the Lords Supper: with suitable prayers, for morning and evening. Also directions for a holy living and dying. A dialogue between a divine and a beggar. And a description of Christ's person when on earth. To which is added, Bishop Usher's prophecy.
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1695
(1695)
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Wing G2187B; ESTC R223701
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15,115
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performance of so holy a Duty to God which is call'd Habitual Preparation yet in regard of our daily Errors and Miscarriages we should prepare and examin our selves in a stricter way whenever we intend to receive And this is call'd Actual Preparation which is a serious Tryal and Examination of our State how we stand affected toward GOD and Man Q. 5. Wherein must we examin our selves A. In these Five Things viz. Knowledge Faith Repentance Charity and Obedience Q. 6. How must I examin my Knowledge A. I must try 1. Whether I understand the Nature of this Sacrament and the Necessity of Receiving it The Knowledge here requir'd is plain and easy and may be learnt from the Answers to the first and second Questions 2. I must examin how much I have profited grown in Grace and Knowledge and if I have not profited Whether 3. I am sorry for my want of Knowledge or Faith or other Heavenly Graces Q. 7. How must I examin my Faith A. I must try 1. Whether I rely on Christ alone for Salvation yet so as not to neglect my Endeavours and Whether I depend on him only in time of internal or external Temptation 2. Whether I believe that God on my Repentance will freely for Christ's sake forgive and blot out all my Sins 3. Whether I long for such a strong and lively Faith such a firm Belief of God's Word as may influence my Heart and Practice and transform me into the Image of Him who is the Author and Finisher of our Faith Q. 8. How must I examin my Repentance A. I must try 1. Whether I am sorry for my Sins past 2. Whether I am willing in good earnest to forsake 'em and live a better Life for the future aiming at the Life and Power of Religion 3. Whether I am willing to make Restitution for the Injuries I have done and for whatever I have unjustly taken from any because without this there can be no True Repentance 4. Whether I like those Sermons which reach to my Conscience and bring me to the sight of my Sins Q. 9. How must I examin my Charity A. I must try 1. Whether I forgive every one and bear no Malice nor Hatred in my Heart but wish my Enemies Repentance and Salvation 2. Whether I labour for Peace and neither seek nor give Occasion of Contention 3. Whether I love Good Men because they are Good Q. 10. How must I examin my Obedience A. I must try 1. Whether I make God's Word my Rule and frame my Life thereafter 2. Whether I am ready to obey all the Laws and Commands of God without keeping any darling Sin or Lust in my Soul Q. 11. What is requir'd of me at Receiving A. 1. To carry my self decently humbly and reverently 2. To fix my Heart and Thoughts on this Sacred Ordinance and the bitter Passion and Sufferings of Christ there represented to us 3. According to my Ability to give somewhat towards the Relief of the poor Members of Christ Q. 12. What is requir'd of me after my Receiving A. 1. To examin whether I receive Comfort by it 2. To be joyful and thankful to God for affording this blessed Opportunity of receiving Ps 116.13 3. To remember that I have now renew'd that Vow which at first in Baptism I made to God by my Sureties 4. To be careful to pay to GOD and Man what I have so vow'd 5. To shew my Love and Thankfulness to God by holiness of Life and Conversation by loving his Word i. e. by duly reading and meditating on it by a strict Observation of the Lord's Day spending it in Devotion especially attending on publick Prayer and Preaching being careful to remember of every Sermon I hear somewhat either for my Information or Reproof or that tends to the promoting Piety towards GOD or Charity to Men. And because we are not able of our selves to perform the least of these Duties here prescrib'd we ought therefore now and then to abstain from a Meals Meat and by Fasting Prayer and Humiliation to implore the Grace and Assistance of God's Holy Spirit to enable us to perform these Duties and keep us in the constant Practice thereof At such time of Abstinence it may be convenient to read and meditate on Psalms 25 39 130. Isaiah 55. Matth. 5. John 6. 15. Romans 8. and Hebrews 12. Thus I have done with the First Part that respects Knowledge or what we ought to know of this Duty Next follows what you are to practise On Sunday Morning get up betimes and Read a Chapter on your Knees wait or sit silent a little time casting all worldly Thoughts out of your Mind Then say this Preparatory Prayer for Sunday Morning at home MOST Great and Incomprehensible Lord God! Thou art worthy of all Praise and infinitely to be admir'd for thy Grace and Mercy in the Redemption of the World by the Body and Blood of thy Son whom thou hast given to be Meat and Drink to them that Fear and Obey Thee O Lord I design this Morning to receive of that Bread and Drink of that Cup that nourishes the Soul of all true Penitents Lord let the Inward and Spiritual Grace accompany the Bread and Wine that so my Body may not only be Refresh'd but my Soul also Refresh'd Comfortcd and Strengthen'd that I may evermore continue Obedient to thee Blessed Jesus O Lord I beseech thee send forth thy Light and thy Truth to Guide and Direct me O Establish me with thy free Spirit that thou givest freely to them that ask in Faith that Blessed Spirit that makes our Meditations of Thee to be sweet yea sweeter than Honey It makes the Soul to rejoyce more than in plenty of Corn Wine and Oil. This is that that made Shadrach Meshach and Abednego embrace a Fiery Furnace Daniel a Lyon's Den St. Peter a Crucifixion and John a Kettle of Boiling Oil St. Bartholomew to be Flead St. Bernard to cry out Hold hold for my Heart is not able to cantain these Joys which thou dost so liberally pour out upon me Blessed God let my Heart be thus tuned and then shall I receive Strength and Nourishment of Soul to Everlasting Life All which I beg through the Merits of Jesus Christ to whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit be all Glory and Praise now and evermore Amen Our Father which art in Heaven c. Then repair to Church c. And after Sermon is ended say this Prayer before the Sacrament MOST merciful and gracious Lord who didst Institute this Feast of Love for us vile and miserable Sinners utterly unworthy of the least of thy Favours be pleas'd to help me to approach it with that Devotion Reverence and Humility that befits a worthy Communicant at thy Table Lord I come out of a Sense of my want of that Food from Heaven to which thou most graciously dost invite me I come in Obedience to thy Commands to testifie my Faith in Thee and