THE blessed body and blood of CHRIST, received as it ought to be, with a quick and lively faith, will most certainly have its desired effect. But it operates for the most part upon our souls, as our ordinary food doth upon our bodies, insen. sibly and by degrees. We eat and drink every day; and by that means our bodies grow to their full stature, and are then kept up in life, health, and vigour, though we ourselves know not how this is done, nor perhaps take any notice of it. So it is with this spiritual meat and drink which God hath prepared for our souls. By partaking frequently of it, we grow by degrees in grace, and in "the knowledge of our LORD and Saviour JESUS CHRIST," and still continue stedfast and active in the true faith and fear of GoD, though we may be no way sensible how this wonderful effect is wrought in us, but only as we find it to be so in our own experience. And if we do that, we have no cause to complain that we get nothing by it; for we get more than all the world is worth, being strengthened in the inward man, and so made. more fit for the service of GOD, more constant in it, and more able to perform it; or at least are kept from falling back, and preserved from many sins and temptations, which otherwise we might be exposed to; and this surely is enough to make any one that really minds the good of his soul to hunger and thirst after this bread and water of life, and to eat and drink it as often as he can, although he do not presently feel the happy effect of it, as some have done, and as he himself sometimes may, when GoD seeth it necessary and convenient for him.BISHOP BEVERIDGE.

or

loving Father, I cannot give thee thanks worthily enough, according to the desire of my mind, for the treasure of this heavenly food which thou hast now given me in this heavenly mystery, the true bread of heaven, that everlasting meat that abideth for ever, thy blessed Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, in whom I have obtained, by the gift of this holy communion, an assured pledge of an inheritance to come. Grant, O Lord, that I may daily profit in virtue and godliness, that this sacred union with Christ my Redeemer may be of such force in me, that, rejecting all evil ways, I may go forward in piety towards God, chastity

towards myself, and charity towards my neighbour, to thy good pleasure, through the same our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. DR. SUTTON.

II.

O almighty God and heavenly Father, I return thee thanks and praise for all thy mercies vouchsafed unto me; and particularly for the opportunity which thou hast this day given me of receiving that holy sacrament which thy Son Jesus Christ has appointed in remembrance of his death and sufferings, and for the spiritual nourishment and support of our souls. I confess, O Lord, that I have not received it with a suitable degree of love and devotion towards thee, nor am I sufficiently sensible of the greatness of those blessings which the performance of this duty has called to my remembrance. Forgive, O Lord, the weaknesses and imperfection of this and of all my other services; increase my faith, warm and enliven my heart with a constant and most thankful affection towards thee, and enable me, by the grace of thy Holy Spirit, to fulfil the promises of obedience which I have now made to thee. Make me watchful over my thoughts, words, and actions; and grant that I may lead a strictly honest, sober,

chaste, and godly life, following the example of my blessed Master Jesus Christ, and placing my whole trust in his precious death and blood for the pardon of my sins; that when he shall come to judge the world, I may be found clothed with his righteousness, and be received into thy heavenly kingdom. Amen.

III.

BISHOP KEN.

O gracious Author of my salvation, and of these mysteries which express it, bestow on me these two blessings which this sacrament shews together-grace for grace, mercy, and strength to keep mercy. Hosanna, O Son of David, save and preserve. Save me, that I may not fall under the hand of the destroyer; and preserve me, that after this salvation I never fall by my own hand: but keep and set forward in me, notwithstanding all mine infirmities, the work of thy faithful mercies. Grant that I may not increase my guilt by abusing what thou givest. My Saviour, my Preserver, give me always what thou givest once. Create a new heart within me; but bless and keep what thou createst, and increase more and more what thou plantest. O Son of God, and tree of life, feed with

thy sap this tender branch, which without thee cannot but wither; and strengthen thou a bruised reed, which without thee cannot but fall. Father of everlasting compassions, forsake not in the wilderness a feeble Israelite, whom thou hast brought a little way out of Egypt; and let not this poor soul, which thou hast helped a while, ever faint and fall from the right way. Thou art as able to perfect me with the blessings out of thy throne, as to redeem me by thy sacrifice on the cross. O Jesu, author, object, and truth of what thou biddest me take, perform in me what thou dost exhibit. Give me eternal life by those sufferings, for here is the body broken; give also strength and nourishment for this same life, for here is the bread of heaven.

IV.

Amen.

DEAN BREVINT.

Grant, O Lord, that I may bring the good purposes with which I came this day to thy holy table to good effect. I know I am light and inconstant, turned with every blast, diverted by every allurement, and ready to yield to every temptation; but do thou, O God, who art the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever, do thou graciously impart some of thy unchange