dure the painful and shameful death of the cross, to recover me from the state of sin and misery: I admire thine infinite condescension, who was pleased to be made miserable, that 1 might be made happy; poor, that I might be enriched; and didst die that I might live for ever. With all my soul, O dear Jesus, I love and praise thee, for the stupendous expressions of thy bounty and goodness toward me: Olamb of God that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon me; O lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world, grant me thy peace. Amen. Lord Jesus. Amen. ¶ Then shall the minister first receive the communion in both kinds himself, aad then proceed to deliver the same to the bishops, priests, and deacons in like manner (if any be present) and after that to the people also in order, into their hands, all meekly kneeling. Directions. The first person that receives is the minister, who has a request to you in behalf of himself, namely, that as he prays for you with great fervency, you would comfort and encourage him with an hearty Amen upon your knees, to the petitions at his taking the holy elements: and in the interval between his receiving the bread and wine, use the following prayer. A prayer to be said when the priest is receiving the bread and wine. Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness: and let thy saints sing with joyfulness. Psalm cxxxii. 9. Give thy grace, O Lord, we humbly beseech thee, to all those who are called to any office or administration in thy church; and so replenish them with the truth of thy doctrine, and endue them with innocency of life, that they may faithfully serve before thee to the glory of thy great name, and benefit of thy holy church, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Directions. After the minister has received the communion in both kinds, and is proceeding to deliver the same to the people, lift up your heart to God in the following prayer. A prayer before receiving the holy sacrament. Behold, gracious Lord, I come to this holy table, as a sick man to the great physician of life; I beseech thee, O Lord, to cure my infirmities, and let me not only receive the outward and visible sign, but the inward and spiritual grace, the body and blood of thy son Jesus Christ, that so all carnal affections may die in me, and that all things belonging to the spirit may live and grow in me; that I may have power and strength, and victory, to triumph against the world, the flesh, and the devil; and also may be endued with all such heavenly virtues which are pleasing to thee, and which thou wilt eternally reward, for the merit of thy Son's death; to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen. Another prayer just before receiving the consecrated bread, if time will permit. If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift L before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Matt. v. 23, 24. Let it be thy pleasure, O God, to work in me whatsoever is wanting to fit me for thy divine acceptance, and a worthy receiving of these holy mysteries; give me repentance unto life, not to be repented of; endue me with a lively faith, a perfect love, and a universal charity; pity my weakness, and forgive my infirmities, that I may worthily receive these elements of bread and wine to my support and comfort in this life, and my eternal happiness in that which is to come. Amen, Directions, When the minister is drawing near you, and before you receive the bread, fix your thoughts upon Jesus Christ dying for the sins of the world. ¶ And when the priest delivereth the bread to any one, he shall say, Directions. When the minister comes to The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for thee, preserve thy body give you the consecrated bread and soul unto everlasting life. and wine, I would have you very Take and eat this in remem- but take great heed, lest while intent upon what you are about; bance that Christ died for you are striving to raise your thee, and feed on him in thyheart, you be not lost and bearlheart by faith with thanks-dered in your thoughts. Strive giving. rather for a serious and compos ed mind; let your devotion be rather regular and equal, than exalted and transported; attend gravely to what the minister says; and when he has repcated that excellent prayer-The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life.be sure you say softly a most hearty Amen; for is not that the thing you come for and desire? When he has said-Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for thee, and feed on him in thy heart by faith with thanksgiving-take it with your right-hand, and glove off, but without lolling with your elbows on the rails, or any other careless and indecent posture and while you are taking it say, O blessed Jesu! who, &c. as follows: After receiving the bread. O Blessed Jesu! who vouchsafest to be my food, nourish my soul to eternal life, create in me a mighty hunger after righteousness, and let this divine food instil into my weak and languishing soul new supplies of grace, new life, new vigour, and new resolutions; that I may never again faint, or droop, or tire in my duty. Directions. When the minister is drawing near you with the cup, fir your thoughts upon Jesus Christ dying for the sins of the world. Before receiving the cup. O Merciful God, grant that this cup, which I am now about to receive, may be unto me a cup of blessing. Sprinkle me with the blood of the ever blessed Jesus, that my soul, being cleansed from all corruptions, may attain to life everlasting. And the minister that delivereth the The blood of our Lord Je-! sus Christ, which was shed 'for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life. Drink this in remembrance that Christ's blood was shed for thee, and be thankful. cup to any one shall. Directions. say, When the minister delivers the cup, and says,--The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which bodyand soul unto everlasting life, was shed for thee, preserve thy --be sure you say, in heart,Amen. And when he has said-Drink tias in remembrance that Christ's blood was shed for thee, and be thankful,—take it, and drink very moderately, regarding neither thirst or pleasure in that draught. But let me remind you, that you do not pretend to repeat, either loud or softly, the words the minister uses in delivering the bread and wine; your business being to attend soberly to what he says, and then to say Amen. I tell you this, because an idle custom has prevailed of people repeating what the minister says, to the disturbance of the minister, and to the hindrance, I dare say, of their own devotions, which would be furthered by a grave and silent attention, which I take all occasions to recommend to you. And if these devotions do not hold to the end, you may listen to the minister delivering the bread and wine to the other communicants, and say a hearty Amen to each of them, for that is praying for the greatest blessing God can bestow on them, the preservation of their body and soul unto ever lasting life. "Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. John vi. 54, 55, 56. When you have received both kinds, say, I have done, O Lord, as thou hast commanded me, and let thy name be for ever blessed; O let me find the great benefits of this thy divine institution; pour down thy graces upon me, direct my goings in thy ways, and enable me by the power and strength of this divine food, to persevere in the practice of a holy and religious life, even to the last moment of my days; be thou my peace and refuge, and let my pleasure and safety depend on thee; be thou my portion and greatest treasure, and let my eternal happiness be fixed in the enjoyment of thee, who didst vouchsafe not only to take our nature upon thee, that thou mightest die |