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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 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 an 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.

RUBRICK.

And when the priest delivereth the bread to any one, he shall say,

THE MINISTER.

The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life. Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for thee, and feed on him in thy heart by faith with thanksgiving.

DIRECTIONS.

When the minister comes to give you the consecrated bread and wine, I would have you be very intent upon what you are about: but take great heed, lest while you are striving to raise your heart, you be not lost and bewildered in your thoughts.— Strive rather for a serious and composed mind: let your devotion be rather regular and equal, than exalted and transported;

attend gravely to what the minister says: and when he has repeated 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 remem"brance that Christ died for thee, and feed on him in thy "heart by faith and 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 whilst 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, fix 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.

RUBRICK.

¶ And the minister that delivereth the cup to any one shall say,

THE MINISTER.

The blood of our Lord Jesus 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.

DIRECTIONS.

When the minister delivereth the cup, and says,—“The "blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for thee, 66 preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life,”-be sure you say Amen. And when he has said" Drink this in re66 membrance 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's repeating what the minister says, to the disturbance of the minister, and to the hinderance, 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 the body and soul unto everlasting 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 thou hast 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 thy power and the 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 for our sins, but hast left us a perpetual memorial thereof in this holy sacrament.

Amen.

A Prayer of Thanksgiving as soon as we are retired from the Lord's Table.

I will sing of the Lord, because he hath dealt so lovingly with me: yea, I will praise the name of the Lord most highest. Psalm xiii. 5, 6.

ALL honour, glory, and power, might, majesty, and dominion, be unto him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the lamb that was slain, for ever and ever

I give thee most humble and hearty thanks, O Lord, that thou hast been pleased to admit me to renew my baptismal covenant with thee in this holy sacrament.

That thou hast vouchsafed to feed me with the spiritual nourishment of the body and blood of thy son Jesus Christ; and this not for any merits of my own, but for the sake of thy infinite goodness and mercy.

Unworthy though I am, yet thy bounty, O Lord, never fails; the love of my Saviour is not

diminished; and the virtue of his propitiation is never exhausted: Grant, therefore, I beseech thee, that this holy sacrament may never turn to my judgment and condemnation.

But that it may be health and recovery under all my weaknesses and infirmities;

Safety and defence against all the attacks of my spiritual enemies;

Vigour and strength to all my holy purposes and resolutions;

Comfort and support under all the afflictions and calamities of life;

Assistance and directions under all difficulties and doubts;

Courage and constancy under all dangers and persecutions, especially in times of sickness, and at the hour of death.

Finally, let it procure for me pardon and forgiveness in this life, mercy and favour at the day of judgment, and a never-fading crown of glory in thy heavenly kingdom; where with thy son Jesus Christ, and the blessed spirit, thou livest and reignest one God world without end.

RUBRICK.

If the consecrated bread or wine be all spent before all have communicated, the priest is to consecrate more according to the form before prescribed, beginning at [our Saviour Christ in the same night, &c.] for the blessing of the bread; and at [likewise after supper, &c.] for the blessing of the

cup.

DIRECTIONS.

When all have communicated, and the minister returns to the remaining part of the communion office, (by some called the post communion) be sure you be not unready to join with

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