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which thou wilt not despise; and this is yet a further instance of thy goodness, that thou expected no other testimony of thy gratitude, but my sincere affection, in serving thee, the only true God, thro' Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer to be used as soon as the Sermon is ended,

O that Men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness, and declare the wonders that he doth for the children of men. Psalm cvii. 20, 21.

Eternal and Almighty God, by whose

O bounty and goodness I have now an

opportunity offered me of approaching thy table, and of pleading before thee the prevailing merits of the death and passion of thy Son Jesus Christ; I am sensible, O Lord, of my great unworthiness; but the positive command of my blessed Saviour, when he was about to lay down his life for my sake, has made it absolutely necessary; and the many spiritual wants I labour under, oblige me to apply to this sovereign remedy, for the healing of those wounds, my sinful follies have made in my soul,

Therefore, assist me, O Lord, with thy Holy Spirit, in the great duty and service I am about to perform; grant that nothing, during the time of this holy action, may

make

and

ma

make me unmindful of that reverence respect, which I owe unto thy Divine jesty, or of that attention, which becomes the celebration of these holy mysteries. Fill my heart with such an awe of thy presence, as may fix my wandering thoughts, compose my disorderly affections, and excite my faint and cold desires, that I may feel the power and taste the sweetness of this divine banquet.

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O Lord, grant, that I may have such a sense of my Saviour's sufferings, as may fill my soul with love and gratitude towards him for those inestimable benefits he hath purehased for me; that I may have such a sight of my sins, which occasioned all his sorrows, as heartily to bewail and detest them; such a faith in that perfect oblation and satisfaction made upon the cross for the sins of the world, that I may so importunately plead the merit of it in this commemoration of that sacrifice, as to render thee gracious and propitious to me a miserable sinner; such a conviction of my own weakness and insuf ficiency, as may procure thy gracious aid and assistance; such longing desires of begni made conformable to thy holy will and pleasure, as may transform me into thy divine image, and fix me to continue thy faithful servant all the days of my life; through the merits and mediation of thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen,

THE

THE

COMPANION

FOR THE

ALTAR.

DIRECTION.

"I would advise the DEVOUT COMMUNICANT by "all means to read over the following COMPANION FOR THE "ALTAR, with the DIRECTIONS and PRAYERS Some time "before he goes to the SACRAMENT, that he may with "the more readiness and devotion go along with, and

have his part in the COMMUNION SERVICE; which "with very little pains he will be able to do, especially after his FIRST Communicating."

M

OST gracious God, I come to thine Altar, to renew my baptismal covenant, of which this Sacrament is a Seal. O heavenly Father, I come to testify my sense of thy love in so loving the world, as to give up thy Son to die for it. O blessed Saviour, I come to testify my Faith unto thee, and my love towards thee, and thankfully to commemorate thy wonderful love in dying for me. -O Lord, I come to testify my stedfastness in the Communion of thy Church, and my Charity to all the world,O Lord, I

come

come to this thy table out of the sense I have of the want of that spiritual food to which thou invitest me in this holy Sacrament. I know there is no support can so strenghten my soul as the influence of thy grace, conveyed to me in the worthy receiving of these emblems of thy passion, and which thou hast directed to be received, as perpetual remembrance of thy body crucified, and thy blood shed for the redemption of mankind.

O gracious Lord grant that I and all who communicate with me, may be fed, refreshed, and nourished in our souls to life everlasting Amen.

"NOW, laying aside all fears and desponden"cies proceed to the Communion Service, and "then to the Sacrament, with as much joy and "satisfaction, as a guilty criminal would go to plead his pardon at an earthly tribunal.

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"At your approach into the Chancel lift up your Soul to your Saviour in these words:

Will wash my hands in innocence, O Lord, and so will I compass thy altar, that I may shew the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.

RUBRICK.

"Then shall the priest return to the Lord's " Table and begin the Offertory, saying one or more of these sentences following, as he thinketh "most convenient and necessary.

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The

THE MINISTER.

The Offertory.

Let your light so shine before men, that

your

they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven. St.Matt. v. 16. Lay not up for selves treasures upon earth, where the rust and moths do corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither rust nor moth doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break thro' and steal: St. Matt. vi. 19. 20.

Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do unto them; for this is the Law and the Prophets. St. Matt. vii. 12.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into

DIRECTIONS.

When the MINISTER begins to read the OrFERTORY, [which chiefly relates to the duty of BENEFICENCE to all men by our ALMS and CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS which are to be disposed of to PIOUS and charitable USES, at the discretion of the MINISTER and CHURCH-WARDENS,] you must be very attentive, and with your EYE, (not voice) read along with him: and besure make what short application you can to your

self of what is read; and wherein you perceive you have been wanting either in CHARITY OF JUSTICE to any one, and parti cularly in being Just to those who are our SPIRITUAL GUIDES, you will resolve to make up those defects for the time to come; or assure your

self, you will be highly unjust if you detain from them what is their due,

the

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