HOLY SPIRIT. O fulfil Thy gracious promise to me; O give me that HOLY SPIRIT I pray for, to purify my corrupt nature, to strengthen my weakness, to comfort me in troubles, to help me in temptations, and to assist me in all parts of my duty, so that I may not fall back, but may render to thee a constant obedience to all Thy righteous laws.

But Thou, LORD, who knowest the heart, knowest the sin (or sins) I am most inclined to (here name it or them), and in this will lie my greatest danger of falling back; but O merciful LORD, I pray Thee for a double portion of Thy aid against it (or them), Hold Thou up my goings in Thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.

And for this end increase my knowledge of Thee, and grant me to believe in Thee: to fear Thee, to love Thee; and to trust in Thee; to worship Thee also, and to pray to Thee, with all my heart, and mind, and soul, and strength.

Create in me a holy reverence for Thy Name; a delight in Thy service; a love of Thy day, Thy house of prayer, Thy holy Word.

Give me grace to be humble and respectful to my superiors, and to all whom Thou hast set over me.

Make me gentle and patient towards others, tender-hearted and forgiving. Purify my thoughts; and make me sober and temperate, modest and chaste. Give me grace to be true and just in all my dealings, and grant me a contented and a peaceful spirit.

Bridle my tongue, O LORD, especially when I speak of others; and make me always truthful and charitable.

From pride, deceit, and envy; from idleness and sloth; from bad companions, and from all temptations to forsake Thee, Good LORD deliver me.

Hear me, O Heavenly Father, and conform my whole life to the example of my blessed SAVIOUR. Hear me, for His sake, in Whose holy words I sum up all my wants: Our Father, &c.

III.

You have examined yourself and confessed your sins, and, if you have done this honestly as in the sight of God, you have done the most important part of your preparation for the holy Sacrament. Your next step is, to consider whether you properly understand what the Sacrament is; then to ask yourself what your intention is, in going to it; and then to pray for God's grace to dispose you to a worthy receiving. What follows is intended to help you in this, and will be suitable for your use in the morning, before you go to the Sacrament. If you have time for more, it might be useful for you to look again at Part I. on the Institution of the holy Sacrament, and then to take what follows; or you may at once meditate thus:

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On the Outward Parts.

I adore Thee, O Blessed JESUS, my LORD and my GOD, when I consider what that Sacrament is, to which Thou now invitest me, and of what parts it consists of an outward and visible sign, and of an inward and spiritual grace. For Thou, LORD, knowest our infirmities, and how little able we are to understand things heavenly and spiritual; and in pity to our weakness Thou hast ordained outward and visible signs to represent to our minds Thy

grace which is inward and invisible. Thou hast ordained bread and wine, which is the food of our body, to represent to our faith the Food of our souls.

Of the inward part, or things signified.

I know, O my GOD, that I must look through the outward parts and fix my faith on that which they signify, and which is the inward and invisible grace, even Thy own blessed Body and Blood, 'which are verily and indeed taken and received by the faithful in the LORD's Supper.'

But, O gracious GOD, how canst Thou give us Thy flesh to eat?

LORD, Thou hast told me that Thy words,' they are spirit and they are life,' and are therefore not carnally to be understood. LORD, I believe, help Thou my unbelief.

I believe Thy Body and Blood to be as really present in the holy Sacrament, as Thy Divine power can make it, though the manner of Thy mysterious presence I cannot understand.

LORD, I believe that the bread which we break, and the cup that we drink, are not bare signs only, but the real communication of Thy Body and Thy Blood, and pledges to assure me of it; and I verily believe that, if with due preparation I come to this holy Sacrament, as certainly as I receive the outward signs, so certainly shall I receive the thing signified, even Thy most blessed Body and Blood, to receive which most precious blessing, O most merciful Lord, do Thou fit and prepare me. Amen. Amen.

E

Who instituted it?

I adore Thee, O blessed JESUS, my LORD and my GOD, when I consider that this holy Sacrament was Thy own institution, for it was Thou, LORD, who in the night Thou wast betrayed didst take bread, and after that the cup, and didst bless them, and give them to Thy disciples. O blessed SAVIOUR, let Thy Divinity thus stamped upon it strike into my soul a holy reverence in approaching it: O create in me heavenly dispositions to celebrate so heavenly an institution. Amen. Amen.

For what end?

I adore Thee, O blessed JESUS, my LORD and my GOD, when I consider for what end Thou didst institute Thy holy Sacrament; for Thou didst command, 'Do this in remembrance of Me.'

But what need of this command, O gracious LORD? Is it possible for me ever to forget Thee, my SAVIOUR, Who hast done so great things for me? Alas! alas! my own sad experience tells me it is; every temptation, every vanity, is apt to make me forget Thee, though Thy own dying words bid me remember Thee.

But, O blessed LORD, for thy mercies' sake, pardon my past forgetfulness and ingratitude; and create in me now such a thankful remembrance of Thy dying for me, as may make me give up myself entirely to Thee, as Thou didst give up Thyself on the Cross for me. Amen. Amen.

A Thanksgiving for Christ's sufferings.

All thanks to Thee, my crucified SAVIOUR, for causing Thy sufferings to be written in the Gospel, that I may read and remember the wonders of Thy almighty love. I remember, O gracious LORD, how Thou didst humble Thyself to come down from Heaven, to be born of a woman, and to lead a life of poverty and humiliation; and all for our salvation !

I remember, LORD, how Thou, who art higher than the angels, didst submit Thyself to reproaches and contradictions, to blasphemies and persecutions; and all for our salvation!

I remember, LORD, how Thou didst endure a most bitter agony, and didst sweat great drops of blood, falling to the ground; how Thou wast treacherously betrayed, and apprehended, and bound as a malefactor; how Thou wast set at nought by Herod ; forsaken by Thine own disciples; and denied by Peter; and all for our salvation!

I remember how Thou, Who art Truth itself, wast accused by false witnesses; how Thou, Whom all the angels adore, wast blindfolded, and buffeted, and mocked, and spit upon, and stripped naked and scourged; and all for our salvation !

I remember, LORD, how Thou that art the great Judge of Heaven and earth, wast Thyself dragged to the judgment seat, and condemned; how Thou, O King of Heaven, wast crowned with thorns, and oppressed with the weight of Thy own Cross; and all for our salvation!

I remember, O blessed SAVIOUR, how Thou, Who art the Lord of Glory, and the only Author of Life,