Ex Libris 
 K. OGDEN
 
 KEOiaAS ^S IL S Q; If . U.B. 
 
 nf Scdrr &: ':/ajT^.
 
 A 
 
 SHORT AND PLA.IN INSTRUCTION 
 
 VOR THE 
 
 BETTER UNDERSTANDING 
 
 OF 
 
 THE LORD'S SUPPER; 
 
 WITH 
 
 THE NECESSARY PREPARATION REQUIRED ; 
 
 ^'.K THE BENEFIT OF TOrSG COMJirNICANTS, AND OF SUCH AS HAVE 
 NOT ■WELl, CONSIDEEED THIS HOLT ORDINANCE : 
 
 TO WHICH IS ANNEXED, 
 
 t^t #f5a of ll^je l^olg €ommmxon, 
 
 WITH I ROPER HELPS AND DIRECTIONS FOR JOINING IN EVERT PART 
 THEREOF WITH UNDERSTANDING AND PROFIT. 
 
 THOMAS WILSON, D.D. 
 
 L.4TE tORD BISHOP OF 80D0R AND M.U« . 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for the 
 SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE 
 
 SOLD AT THE DEPOSITORIES, 
 
 GREAT QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS ; 
 
 4. KOVAL exchange; 16, HANOVER STREET, HANOVER SQUARE; 
 
 AND BY Art. EOOKSELLERS. 
 
 .] 1857.
 
 A 
 
 MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. 
 
 Bishop Wilson was born at Burton, in Cheshire, on the 
 20th December, 1663. To use his own words, " he was 
 descended from honest parents, fearing God, and had an 
 early right to the covenant of grace," being baptized on the 
 following Monday. At a suitable age he was placed under 
 the tuition of Mr. Harper, a learned Schoolmaster in the 
 city of Chester ; from whence he removed to Trinity College, 
 Dxiblin, where he contrived to maintain himself on an allow- 
 ance of twenty pounds a year. 
 
 In the year 1686, he was ordained Deacon, by the then 
 Bishop of Kildare, Dr. Moreton ; but he did not continue long 
 in Ireland, after his ordination, for in December of the same 
 year he was appointed to the curacy of the new Church at 
 Winwick, in Lancashire; his stipend as curate amounting 
 to only thirty pounds per annum. He fully experienced the 
 truth of one of his favourite maxims, " Nature wants little, 
 and grace wants less." Having been trained in the school 
 of that Master who "had not where to lay his head," his 
 desires were moderate, and his exigencies few. Small as his 
 income was, however, he set apart one-tenth of it to the 
 poor. 
 
 ■ On the 20th of October, 1689, he was ordained Priest, by 
 the then Bishop of Chester (Dr. Strafford) ; and in 1692 he 
 was appointed Domestic Chaplain to the Earl of Derby, and 
 
 JJC/'V/C^A
 
 IV MEMOIR OF TUE AUTHOR. 
 
 tutor to his son, Lord Strange. The fidelity with which 
 Mr. "Wilson discharged his duty as a chaplain was no less 
 conspicuous than his conduct as a tutor. To the fomiatiou 
 of the moral and religious character of his pupil he paid 
 particular attention. He laboured to qualify him to act an 
 useful and honourable part in society. He taught him to 
 regard his wealth and station as instruments of advancing 
 the happiness of those around him, and admonished him to 
 devote all his talents to the glory of the great Giver, and 
 the good of his fellow-creatures. Such were the sentiments 
 and views of Mr. Wilson, when an all-wise Providence was 
 pleased to call him to fill a higher station in the Christian 
 Church. The Bishopric of Sodor and Man had been vacant 
 since the death of Dr. Baptiste Levintz, who died in 1693. 
 The Earl of Derby, in whom the appointment lay, offered his 
 Chaplain this preferment. The offer, however, was modestly 
 but firmly rejected. "Whilst Mr. "Wilson thankfully acknow- 
 ledged the favour that was intended him, he at the same 
 time declared himself unworthy of so high an office, and 
 incapable of so arduous an undertaking. It appears that the 
 Earl of Derby was unwilling to appoint any other person to 
 the Bishopric ; which continued vacant for such a length of 
 time, that at last Archbishop Sharp complained to King 
 "William, that the See of "Man had been vacant four j'ears, 
 and urged the necessity of filling it without further delay. In 
 consequence of this complaint, the King sent for the Earl of 
 Derby, and insisted on an immediate nomination of a Bishop 
 for the See of Man ; and Lord Derby now importuned his 
 Chaplain to accept this preferment, and, as Mr. "Wilson ex- 
 presses it, he " was forced into the Bishopric." Accordingly he 
 was consecrated a Bishop on the 16th of January, 1697, atthe 
 Savoy Church, by Archbishop Sharp, assisted by the Bishops 
 of Chester and Norwich. Possessed of every endowment, 
 human and divine, which could qualify him for the discharge 
 of the episcopal functions, he arrived in his Diocese Aprils,
 
 MEMOIR OP THE AUTHOR. V 
 
 1697, and was installed in the Cathedral of St. German, in 
 Peel, on the 11th of the month. 
 
 Towards the close of the following year he married Mary, 
 daughter of Thomas Patten, Esq. This partner of his life 
 was in every respect suited to be his companion and help- 
 meet. By her he had four children, only one of whom 
 survived him ; who afterwards became Prebendary of West- 
 minster, &c. and died at Bath, 1784. The annual receipts 
 of his Bishopric did not exceed 300^. a year, yet out of this 
 moderate sum, he contrived to relieve, not only the poor of 
 the island, but many distressed and shipwrecked mariners. 
 Before, however, he administered relief to any, he required 
 a recommendation from the Parochial minister ; which he 
 kept regularly filed, and from these he entered the names and 
 circumstances of his poor petitioners in a large book, which 
 he denominated the " Register of the Poor." 
 
 It would be impossible to recount all the various deeds 
 of charitj which he performed, although with reference to 
 these, he with pious humility observes " that a very small 
 page will serve for the number of our good works, when vast 
 volumes will not contain our evil deeds." Besides his daily 
 good actions, he was a liberal subscriber to the erection of 
 several chapels and public libraries in the island, and re- 
 paired many of the vicarage ouses which had fallen into 
 ruin. 
 
 In the year 1734 the Bishop published the present work, 
 which has since passed through very numerous editions, 
 and has been universally esteemed for the simplicity of its 
 language, and its unaffected piety. Indeed, the marked 
 feature, in the writings of Bishop Wilson, is simplicity, pure, 
 genuine and unaffected — simplicity of sentiment and sim-
 
 VI MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. 
 
 plicity of language. He wrote like one who could have 
 written in a very different style of composition, if he had 
 not preferred utility to ornament. 
 
 In !751 and 1752 the Bishop held his last ordinations; and 
 in the following year he consecrated a Chapel at Ramsey, and 
 his son preached the consecration sermon. 
 
 But the hour was now approaching, when this truly pri- 
 mitive and excellent Bishop was to reap the reward of his 
 labours. His constitution, originally strong and vigorous, 
 began to show evident symptoms of decay; but his cheer- 
 fulness continued unabated, and his piety seemed to gather 
 strength as he approached his dissolution. A student who 
 slept in the room adjoining the Bishop's bed-chamber, fre- 
 quently overheard at midnight the prayers of this holy man. 
 He frequently heard him exclaiming, in the words of the 
 Psalmist, " I will arise at midnight and give thanks unto 
 Thee. Praise the Lord, O my soul." At others he selected 
 passages from the Te Deum, " Holy, holy, holy Lord God of 
 Hosts, heaven and earth are full of Thy glory." His death 
 took place on the 7th of March, 1755, in the ninety third 
 year of his age, and the fifty-eighth of his consecration. His 
 coffin was made from one of the elm-trees which he had 
 planted soon after his coming to the Isle of Man, and which 
 a few years before his death he ordered to be cut down and 
 sawn into planks, to be in readiness to receive his remains. 
 
 *♦* For a more full and interesting account of the life of 
 Bishop Wilson, the reader isreferredto the Rev. Mr. StoweVa 
 Life of the Bishop, published by Messrs. Rivington.
 
 A SHORT INTRODUCTION 
 
 FOR 
 
 THE BETTER UNDERSTANDING 
 
 OP 
 
 '^tt Horb's Supper; 
 
 WITH PREPARATORY DEVOTIONS, 
 
 INTENCED FOR 
 
 THE USE AND BENEFIT OF JOUNG COMMUNICANTS. 
 
 SECTION I. 
 
 There are two holy Ordinances, or Sacraments, 
 appointed by Jesus Christ as most especial means of 
 obtaining grace and salvation ; which no Christian 
 who hopes to be saved, must wilfully neglect. These 
 are, Baptism and the Lord's Supper. 
 
 It must be supposed, that you have already been 
 made partaker of one of these two Sacraments : viz. 
 That of Baptism, by which you w^ere admitted into 
 the congregation of Christ's flock, — were restored to 
 the favour of God, — and had the Holy Spirit com- 
 municated to you, for a principle of a new and 
 spiritual life ; in order to awaken you, and to direct 
 and assist that natural reason, with which God has 
 endued all mankind. 
 
 But forasmuch as you have done many things 
 contrary to the promiae made in your name, when
 
 Z A SHORT INTRODUCTION 
 
 you were baptized, — and will stand in need of greater ; 
 degrees of grace and assistance to enable you to re- i 
 sist the temptation!? of the world, the flesh, and the ; 
 devil, and to do your duty in that state of life unto 
 which the providence of God shall call you ; You 
 are, therefore, now called upon to be partaker of 
 the other Sacrament, — That of the Lord's Supper ; 
 by which, upon your sincere repentance, you may 
 obtain the pardon of all your past sins, and such 
 other graces as you stand in need of, to bring you 
 to eternal life and happiness. 
 
 Take care, therefore, that you understand what 
 you are called to as well as you are able ; and God 
 expects no more. 
 
 For if you go to the Lord's Supper without con- 
 sidering the reason of that ordinance, and the very 
 great concern you have in it — without seeing the 
 necessity and blessing of a Eedeemer, you will go 
 with indifference, and return without such benefit 
 as you might otherwise hope for. 
 
 To prevent this, you should seriously consider 
 what account the Holy Scriptures have given us of 
 the condition we are in, both with respect to this 
 life, and the life which is to come. 
 
 That is — That we are by nature sinners ; and that, 
 as such, God cannot take pleasure in us : and that, 
 if we die before we are restored to His favour, we 
 shall be separated from Him and miserable for ever. 
 
 This will lead you to inquire, how the nature of 
 man came to be thus disordered, and prone to evil ; 
 for you must not imagine that God, who is infinitely 
 good, created man in such a state of corruption, as
 
 TO THE LORD S SUPPER. '6 
 
 you now see and feel him to be; but tliat he must 
 have fallen into this wretched condition, since he 
 came out of the hands of his Creator. 
 
 And so the Scripture informs us. — In the third 
 chapter of Genesis, we have this following account 
 of the state of man, before, and after the Fall: 
 
 That Adam and Eve, from whom sprang all 
 mankind, were created in the image of God, that is, 
 holy and innocent : having a perfect knowledge of 
 their duty, a command of their will and affections, 
 and a power, through the grace of God, to do what 
 they saw fit to be done. 
 
 In this condition they were placed in Paradise, 
 in a state of trial, with a promise of immortal life 
 and happiness, if they should continue to fear, to 
 love, to honour, and obey their Creator; as also with 
 an express warning of the dreadful consequence of 
 their disobedience. 
 
 E'otwithstanding which warning, they, through 
 the temptation of the devil, transgressed the com- 
 mands of God : and by doing so, they did not only 
 forfeit all right to the promise of eternal life and 
 happiness, but also contracted such a blindness in 
 the understanding, such a disorder in their will 
 and affections, as all their posterity feel to their 
 sorrow ; and became subject to sin, and the punish- 
 ment of sin, which is misery and death. 
 
 Concerning the nature and greatness of this sin, 
 we are to judge of it by the greatness of the punish- 
 ment inflicted upon them, and their posterity ;— 
 For God being infinitely just and holy, could not in- 
 flict a punishment greater than their sin deserved.
 
 4 A SUORT INTRODUCTION 
 
 Now this was the occasion of that universal cor- 
 ruption and wickedness which you see and hear of 
 in the world, and which you cannot but in some 
 measure feel in your own nature ; — For, as the 
 Scripture informs us, Gen. v. 3, Adam begat his 
 ch 'Idren hi his own likeness : that is, with such a 
 depraved nature as his was then become. 
 
 And now consider into what a sad condition 
 these unhappy offenders had brought themselves ; 
 and remember that this is your own condition, and 
 the condition of all their posterity. 
 
 The law of nature and reason was in full force, and 
 could not possibly be dispensed with. — At the same 
 time they found, by sad experience, that, as Si. Paul 
 describes the fallen state of man, the7~e was a law in 
 their members ivarring againstthelawoftheirmind; 
 so that the good which they would, they did not ; hut 
 the evil that they would not, that they did. Rom. vii. 
 
 There could not surely be a condition more de- 
 plorable than this: — To live only to 'contract evil 
 habits ; and, by doing so, — To increase their guilt, 
 — To displease their Creator, — and, To leave an 
 offspring as miserable as themselves. 
 
 This, therefore, gave occasion to God to manifest 
 another of His most glorious perfections, that is, 
 His infinite goodness and mercy. 
 
 For God, foreseeing this lamentable condition, 
 into which they had fallen by departing from their 
 obedience, his goodness had provided such a re- 
 medy, as that neither they nor any of their poste- 
 rity should, on account of their fall, be eternally 
 miserable, except through their own fault.
 
 TO THE LORDS SUPPER. 5 
 
 He, therefore, in consideration of a Redeemer, one 
 of the seed of the woman, who should make full satis- 
 faction to the Divine justice for the transgression, 
 and who should hruise the head, or break the power, 
 of that serpent (the devil), which tempted them to 
 sin ; — in consideration of this promised seed, God 
 entered into a new covenant Avith them by way of 
 remedy for what was passed, and could not be undone. 
 
 We have reason to believe that this new covenant 
 was more fully explained to Adam, than is set down 
 in this short account given us by Moses, and as it is 
 more fully explained in the Gospel : and which was 
 to this purpose; — That, on condition of their sincere 
 repentance, and sincere obedience afterwards, they 
 should be restored to the favour of God ; and after 
 death to that life and happiness, which in their state 
 of innocence Avas promised to them, without tasting 
 of death ; which favour they had forfeited by their 
 disobedience. 
 
 And when we consider, that our first parents, now 
 become sinners, stood in need of an atonement, with- 
 out which, while under the displeasure of God, their 
 very lives must be a burthen ; and it being decreed 
 by God, as it afterwards appeared, that without 
 shedding of blood there ivas to he no remission of 
 sin, i.e. without the death of the sinner, or some 
 one in his stead ; we do therefore conclude, that, at 
 this time, God did appoint sacrifices, or sin-offer- 
 ings, to make an atonement for the soul, and to 
 foreshow the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (which we now 
 commemorate), imtil He should be offered in behalf 
 of them, and all their posterity. 
 
 And this appears from what follows in the next
 
 6 A SHORT INTRODUCTION 
 
 chapter of Genesis, where we find Abel by faith (that 
 is, believing and depending upon this ordinance of 
 God, for the remission of sins, until the promised 
 Redeemer should come; we find him) olFering a 
 sacrifice which was acceptable to God, that is, a sin- 
 offering, which his brother not doing was rejected. 
 
 But here ta!:e notice, and remember that these 
 sacrifices could not take away sin, but only through 
 obedience to the ordinance of God, through faith 
 in the promised seed. 
 
 They were, indeed, very instructive and proper 
 to lead sinners to repentance, and amendment of 
 life, when they saw that their sins could not be 
 forgiven, but by the death of an innocent creature, 
 bleeding and dying before their eyes, to make an 
 atonement for sin. 
 
 And as all good men, before the coming of Christ, 
 did most religiously keep up the remembrance of the 
 promised seed, and obtain the pardon of their sins, 
 and acceptance with God, upon offering sacrifices 
 through faitii in a Redeemer which was to come; — 
 so all Christians, since the coming of that Redeemer, 
 are obliged, as they hope for pardon and favour 
 from God, to keep up the remembrance of God's 
 great mercy, in sending us a Redeemer, and of 
 what that Redeemer has done to save us ; and this 
 in the manner which He himself hath ordained. 
 
 Now, that you may be more sensible of, and 
 thankful to God for this His infinite loving-kind- 
 ness, and that you may be fully convinced of the 
 necessity and blessing of a Redeemer, you ought to 
 know and consider, that our Saviour and Redeemer 
 came not until man had been tried in all conditions.
 
 TO THE LORDS SUPPER. 7 
 
 — IN A STATE OP INNOCENCE, — UNDER THE GOVERN- 
 MENT OP HIS OWN REASON, — and UNDER THE LAW 
 
 GIVEN BY MosES : All wliicli metliods of Providence, 
 through the perverse will of man, had been ren- 
 dered ineffectual for the amendment of the world. 
 — Notwithstanding which, such was the goodness 
 of God, that He sent, after all. His own beloved 
 Son, to take our nature upon Him, and to assure 
 mankind of the tender lore which He had for His 
 poor creatures, which were ruining themselves, 
 without perceiving the danger they were in. 
 
 This was the promised seed ; — promised to 
 Adam, as He that should break the serpent's head, 
 or power of the devil ; promised to Abraham, as He 
 in whom all the nations of the earth should be blessed; 
 — promised to the people of Israel, as that prophet 
 whom they should hear and obey at their peril ; — 
 lastly, promised to David, as one whose kingdom 
 should have no end. — And indeed it was with this 
 promise, that God supported the spirits of all who 
 feared Him, and were in fear for themsel ves, until the 
 fulness of the time for his appearance should come. 
 
 And now this promised Redeemer being come, 
 He first showed by His own example, recorded in 
 the Gospel, how men must live so as to please 
 God ; — and the law of nature, as well as the law of 
 Moses, having through sin been much obscured and 
 perverted. He explained them, and gave us such 
 other laws and rules as were absolutely necessary, — 
 to mend our nature, — to restore us to the image of 
 God, — to keep us from backsliding, and — to fit us 
 for heaven and happiness. 
 
 And because in the decrees of God, as was before
 
 iS A SHORT INTRODUCTION 
 
 observed, vntJiout shedding of blood there could he 
 no remission of sin ; and it being impossible that 
 the blood or life of any other creature, or of any- 
 mortal man, could take away the guilt and punish- 
 ment due to sin ; our gracious God, both to give to 
 mankind the greatest token of His love, and, at the 
 same time, to show how great His hatred to sin is, 
 by the greatness of the punishment it required. He 
 sent His own Son to he the propitiation for our 
 sins ; that is, to make satisfaction to his justice, 
 and to take off the just displeasure which He had 
 declared against sinners. 
 
 And his Son, (blessed for ever be his goodness !) 
 knowing how dreadfully sad the condition would 
 be of all such, who should live and die under the 
 displeasure of God, and what inconceivable happi- 
 ness they would deprive themselves of; He, there- 
 fore, moved with compassion for so great a calamity, 
 undertook to obtain their pardon. 
 
 In order to this, He clothed Himself with our 
 flesh, that, as man. He might suffer what our sins 
 had deserved ; and as He was the Son of God, He 
 might make a full and suitable satisfaction to the 
 Divine justice, offering Himself a sacrifice for the 
 sins of the whole world : and for the joy of deliver- 
 ing so many millions of souls from misery. He en- 
 dured the death of the cross, and all the afflictions 
 leading to it, which we find recorded in the Gospel. 
 
 And by this worthy sacrifice, all mankind are 
 restored to the favour of God, and put into a way 
 and state of salvation ; God having, for his Son's 
 sake, promised to pardon all such as shall repent and 
 forsake their sins, and bring forth fruits meet for
 
 TO THE LORLS SUPPER. 9 
 
 repentance ; As also to give His Holy Spirit to all 
 sucli as shall sincerely desire Him : — And, lastly, to 
 make them eternally happy after death, if during 
 this short state of trial, which is designed to mend 
 our corrupt and disordered nature, they endea- 
 voured to observe the rules which he has given 
 them, and which are absolutely necessary to make 
 them capable of heaven and happiness. 
 
 Stop here awhile — and adore the infinite good- 
 ness of God, who did not overlook lost mankind, 
 but sent his Son to redeem us. 
 
 He might in strict justice have required men to 
 have lived up to the law of nature and reason, given 
 in the state of innocence, on pain of being for ever 
 separated from his presence : But instead of that. 
 He has been graciously pleased to accept of our 
 sincere though imperfect obedience, and of our 
 sincere repentance, when we have done amiss, and 
 return to our duty. 
 
 Consider this seriously: — And you cannot but 
 express your thankfulness after some such manner 
 as this : 
 
 The Prayer. 
 
 Blesskb be God for ever, for this instance of His 
 love to fallen mankind, in committing the miserable 
 case of His unhappy creatures to no less a person 
 than his own Son ! — We are not worthy of all the 
 mercies which Thou hast showed thy servants. — 
 Grant, God, that this Avonderful love may not be 
 lost upon me : But that, knowing my sad condition 
 by nature I may be truly convinced of the necessity
 
 10 A SHORT INTRODUCTION 
 
 and blessing of a Redeemer ; and that I may, with 
 a heart full of gratitude, join with thy Church in 
 giving our devoutest thanks to Thee, and in keep- 
 ing up the remembrance of what thy blessed Son 
 has done and suffered for us ; to whom, with Thee 
 and the Holy Ghost, be all honour, praise, and 
 thanksgiving, for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 SECTION II. 
 
 The End and Institution of the Lord's Supper. 
 St. Paul concludes his first Epistle to the Corin- 
 thians with this remarkable direction ; —If any man 
 love not the Lord Jesus, let him he Anathema Ma- 
 ran-atha ; that is, — Let him be separated from your 
 communion, as one under the displeasure of God, 
 and, without a timely repentance, in no possibility 
 of being saved : — Nothing being more grievous in 
 the sight of God, than for a sinner to slight the 
 greatest instance of his mercy that was ever offered 
 to man, as well as the only means of his salvation. 
 
 To prevent this, and to hinder sinners from forget- 
 ting (which they are but too apt to do) this token of 
 God's infinite love, and to fix the love of Jesus Christ 
 more surely in our hearts and memory. He himself 
 hath taken care, that his love and mercy should 
 throughout all generations be remembered : He did 
 therefore ordain this sacrament as a memorial of our 
 redemption, and of his love for us ; — as a pledge to 
 assure us of it, — and as an outward means and sign 
 of testifying, as well as increasing, our love to Him, 
 
 The holy Apostles of Christ, who were present
 
 TO THE lord's SUPPER. 11 
 
 when He first administered this Sacrament, give us 
 the following account of its end and institution : 
 
 They signify to us, in the first place, that this Sa- 
 crament was ordained by Christ, the same night in 
 •which He was betrayed : and after they bad ob- 
 served the Passover, which had been ordained to 
 preserve the memory of their great deliverance 
 from the bondage of Egypt, and which did pre- 
 figure, and was a prophecy of a much greater de- 
 liverance, which Jesus Christ was to be the Author 
 of, not only for them, but for all mankind ; — And 
 which prophecy was surprisingly fulfilled by that 
 people, without knowing what they were doing, 
 when they crucified Jesus Christ, the true Paschal 
 Lamb, the very same month, the very same day of 
 the month, and the very same hour of the day, that 
 the Paschal Lamb was first ordained to be sacrificed. 
 
 Now, after the Paschal Supper, as the Apostles 
 relate it, Jesus Christ took bread and blessed it, and 
 brake it, and gave it to His disciples, saying. Take, 
 eat ; this is My body ivhich is given for you : this 
 do in remembrance of Me. He took also the cup, 
 and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 
 Drink ye all of this: for this is My blood of the 
 new covenant, which is shed for you, and for many, 
 for the remission of sins: this do, as oft as ye shall 
 drink it, in remembrance of Me. For as oft as ye 
 shall eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show 
 the Lord's death till He come. 
 
 In obedience, therefore, to this command of Jesus 
 Christ, who has delivered us from a much greater 
 bondage than that of Egypt,— the Christian Church
 
 12 A SHORT INTRODUCTION 
 
 keeps up the memory of his love, his sacrifice, and 
 his sufferings and death, after this solemn manner. 
 
 First, as an acknowledgment, that our lives, and 
 all that we eat or drink to preserve them, are owing 
 to the bounty of God, we present upon his table, 
 by the hands of his own minister, a portion of his 
 creatures, the best we have for the support and 
 comfort of our natural life, namely, bread and wine. 
 — After this the bread and wine are consecrated, the 
 bread is broken, and the wine poured out, to repre- 
 sent the death of Christ, whose body was broken, 
 and whose blood was shed for us. 
 
 Then the minister of God, as the steward of 
 Christ's household, applies these blessings to every 
 person, who receives this Sacrament, in this devout 
 prayer : — The body and blood of Christ, which were 
 given and shedjor thee, preserve thy body and soul 
 unto everlaMing life. 
 
 And we may be assured of it, that this Sacrament 
 will be to ever}' worthy communicant, what the tree 
 of life would have been unto Adam and Eve in 
 Paradise ; — and that as they, had they continued 
 obedient, would have been in no danger of temporal 
 death ; even so we, while we feed on his bread, 
 now endued with a life-giving spirit, and live as we 
 ought to do, are in no danger of death eternal. 
 
 These being pledges to assure us, that as certainly 
 as bread and wine do nourish our bodies, so do 
 these seal to us all the benefits which Jesus Christ 
 hath purchased for us by his sacrifice and death. 
 
 And when any Christian does wilfully, and for want 
 of faith, deprive himself of this spiritual food, he falls,
 
 TO THE lord's SUPPER. 13 
 
 as our first parents did, into a state purely natural, 
 and destitute of the means of grace and salvation. 
 
 For the happiness of the world, and of every 
 soul in it, depends upon the sacrifice of Christ ; of 
 which we are bound to keep up the remembrance 
 after this solemn manner : 
 
 That, whenever we pray for any favour or bless- 
 ing, we may remember to do it in his name : — That 
 whenever we are so unhappy as to have done any 
 thing which may displease God, we may remember 
 to pray to be forgiven for Christ's sake. 
 
 For God grants whatever we ask, and which He 
 sees to be for our good, when we ask in faith, that 
 is, in his Son's name ; and therefore the Church 
 concludes all her prayers in these most prevailing 
 words,— /or Jesus Chi'isVs sake. 
 
 In one word, we do by this Sacrament keep up a 
 continual correspondence with our Lord in heaven ; 
 and hold communion with Him, and with all the 
 members of his body, which receive nourishment 
 and growth from Him, as the branches from the 
 tree in which they are grafted, and from which 
 when they are separated, they can bear no fruit, 
 and are only fit to be burned. 
 
 As every Christian is obliged, at the peril of his 
 soul, to observe it ; so the duty must be such, as 
 every one, even the most unlearned, may under- 
 stand, if it is not his own fault. 
 
 And so indeed it is: For as an Israelite, Lev. i. 4, 
 under the law, being obliged to lay his hand upon 
 the head of his sacrifice, confessing his sins, and 
 laying them, as it were, upon that creature— as he did
 
 14 A SHORT INTRODUCTION 
 
 easily understand that this was to show him that 
 death was the due reward of sin : that this ought to 
 humble him before God, and to give him the greatest 
 abhorrence of sin, which could not be pardoned but 
 by the loss of the life of an innocent creature : 
 
 As this was plain to the meanest Israelite, even 
 so the most unlearned Christian, when he con- 
 siders ; that our Lord Jesus Christ became a sacri- 
 fice for us, and that on Him all our sins were laid, — 
 on Him, who knew no sin ; he will easily under- 
 stand how sad our condition was, which required 
 such a sacrifice: — That this therefore ought to 
 humble us, — To lead us to repentance, — To make 
 us fearful of offending God, — And to abhor those 
 sins which cost Jesus Christ his life, before God 
 could be prevailed with to pardon them. 
 
 He will also easily understand, that the love of 
 Christ, and the remembrance of his death, ought 
 to be very dear to us ; and that the oftener we re- 
 member it in the manner He ordained, the more 
 graces we shall receive from God ; — the firmer will 
 be our faith, the surer our pardon, and the more 
 comfortable our hopes of meeting Him, not as an 
 enemy, but as a friend, at whose table we have been 
 so often entertained. 
 
 And now, if you have considered what you have read 
 
 with any degree of attention, you will pause awhile, 
 
 — until you have expressed your gratitude for this 
 
 mercy, after some such manner as this following : 
 
 The Prayer. 
 
 Jesus, who hast loved us, and washed us from 
 our sins, and purchased us by thy own blood, — and
 
 TO THE lord's SUPPER. 15 
 
 didst ordain this Sacrament, in order to secure us 
 to thyself by a grateful remembrance of what Thou 
 hast done and suffered for us, make me truly sen- 
 sible of thy love, and of our sad condition, which 
 did require such a sacrifice. 
 
 May I always receive this pledge of Thy love, — 
 The offers of mercy, pardon, and grace, tendered to 
 us in this holy ordinance, with a thankful heart, 
 and in remembrance of Thee, our great and best 
 Benefactor ; In remembrance of thy holy example, 
 — Of thy heavenly doctrine,— Of thy laborious life, 
 — Of thy bitter passion and death , — Of thy glorious 
 resurrection, — Of thy ascension into heaven, — And 
 of thy coming again to judge the world ! 
 
 And may I never forget the obligation Thou hast 
 laid upon us, to live as becomes thy disciples ; and 
 to forsake every course of life contrary to thy 
 Gospel ! Cease not, Lord, to love us ; and by 
 the grace vouchsafed in this ordinance, cause us to 
 love Thee with all our hearts. Amen. 
 
 SECTION III. 
 How a Christian ought to prepare himself for this 
 Sacrament. 
 As the above account of this holy ordinance is 
 easy to be understood, even by the most unlearned 
 Christian ; so the preparation required is such, as 
 will neither puzzle the understanding, nor burden 
 the memory, nor take up too much of the time of 
 those that are engaged in the most necessary em- 
 ployments of life.
 
 16 A SHORT INTRODUCTION 
 
 The Church had regard to all her members, when 
 she gave this short and plain direction to such as 
 prepare to go to the Lord's Supper. 
 
 That they examine themselves, 
 
 Whether they rej^ent them truly oftheirformer sins? 
 
 Whether they stedfastly purpose to lead a newlife ? 
 
 Whether they have a lively faith in God's mercy 
 through Christ ? 
 
 Whether they have a thanlcfid remembrance of 
 his death ? And, 
 
 Whether they he in charity with all men ? 
 
 Now, forasmuch as all Christians who are capable 
 of examining themselves and their own consciences, 
 are bound, as they hope for salvation through Christ, 
 to go to this Sacrament : And because young people 
 are often at a loss how to examine themselves upon 
 these several heads : here follow a few plain direc- 
 tions, which they that can read should read with 
 care; and they that cannot, if they have a true 
 concern for themselves, Avill find some good Chris- 
 tian, who will be glad to read it to them, and do 
 thereby a work which must be well-pleasing to God. 
 
 The First Head on which you are to examine your- 
 self, is concerning your Repentance. 
 
 By what you have already heard concerning the 
 Fall of Man, you understand how all men became 
 subject and prone to sin; and you cannot but feel 
 it to be so by sad experience. We are assured also, 
 and this by the Spirit of God, that without a sincere 
 repentance no man must hope to be saved.
 
 TO THE lord's SUPPER. 17 
 
 Now, by repentance you are to understand a man's 
 condemning himself for having done anything dis- 
 pleasing to God : — either such things as God has 
 forbidden, to keep us from ruining ourselves ; or 
 by omitting such duties as He has commanded, ia 
 order to fit us for happiness when we die. 
 
 So that if either the fear of God's displeasure, 
 or a love of Him who has been so good to you, will 
 weigh with you, you will most heartily condemn 
 yourself for everything you have done contrary to 
 His will and command. 
 
 You will also beg Him most earnestly to forgive 
 ycu what is past ; and you will promise and resolve, 
 through his grace and help, not wilfully to offend 
 Him again. 
 
 And, lastly, you will not forget to pray for his 
 grace every day of your life ; without which your 
 best resolutions will come to nothing. 
 
 This is that repentance concerning which you are 
 required to examine yourself, before you go id the 
 Lord's Supper. 
 
 Most people, it is true, are ready to own that 
 they are sinners, and cry. Lord, forgive us ; and this 
 too often without any great concern, or purposes of 
 amendment. 
 
 But this you will not think sufficient, when you 
 seriously consider that the end and punishment 
 of sin are not to be seen in this life. 
 
 If, therefore, you stand in any fear of the judg- 
 ment of God, set yourself seriously to consider your 
 past Jife ; see whether you have not lived, or do not
 
 18 A SHORT INTRODUCTION 
 
 now live, in any known sin, or evil habit ; Of lying 
 — for example; or swearing, — or drinking, — or 
 filthy talking ; Of uncleanness, — or keeping loose 
 and profane company, Of following unwarrantable 
 pleasures and diversions,— or of leading an idle, 
 useless, sinful life. 
 
 If this has been your case, resolve to break oflf 
 all these, and all such like evil ways, which are 
 displeasing to God; condemn yourself for having 
 so desperately broken the commands of One who 
 can destroy both body and soul in hell : — Consider 
 the vows that are upon you, — and despise not the 
 goodness and forbearance of God, which is designed 
 to lead you to repentance. 
 
 If you ask when you are to begin this necessary 
 work (if it is not already begun), the answer is 
 short : — The very moment you ask the question ; 
 — and this, because if you find an unwillingness in 
 yourself to set about it now, — that unwillingness 
 will every day increase ; very probably you will 
 never repent, unless God by his judgments, or by 
 the sight of death, shows you your sad error, when 
 it may be too late to be of any real use to you. 
 
 Ilv'ow, if these considerations affect your heart, 
 as sure they will, if you have any regard for your 
 salvation, represent your desires to God in some 
 such words as these following. 
 
 The Prayer, 
 Blessed be God, who by his grace, and by the 
 voice of his Church, hath called me to repentance ! 
 Discover to me, thou ^Searcher of hearts, the
 
 TO THE lord's SUPPER. 19 
 
 charge that is against me, that I may know, and 
 confess, and forsake the sins I have fallen into. — 
 Give me that true repentance, to which Thou hast 
 promised mercy and pardon, that I may amend 
 where I have done amiss, and that iniquity may not 
 be my ruin.— And, blessed Advocate, who ever 
 livest to make intercession for us, I put my cause 
 into thy hands ; let thy blood and merits plead for 
 me, and by thy mighty intercession procure for me 
 the pardon of my past offences : — That Thou mayest 
 say unto me, as Thou didst unto the penitent in the 
 Gospel, — Thy sins are forgiven, —%o that I may go 
 with a quiet conscience to thy holy table. Amen. 
 
 SECTION lY. 
 
 Concerning the purposes you are to make of leading 
 a New, that is, a Christian Life. 
 
 In the first place, take especial notice, that God 
 accepts of our repentance on this condition only, 
 that we may afterwards glorify Him by an holy 
 Christian life. 
 
 And as He delivered the people of Israel from 
 bondage, not that they might do what was right in 
 their own eyes, but that becoming an holy nation, 
 they might be an honour to their deliverer, Deut. 
 xiv. 2, — Even so Christ hath redeemed us from the 
 bondage of sin and Satan, that He might redeem 
 us from this present evil world, and purify unto 
 Himself a people zealous oj good works. 
 
 And as the former perished, that is, all such as did
 
 20 A SHORT INTnoDUCTION 
 
 not answer the end of their deliverance, so most 
 surely shall we do, if "we do not obey our Kedeemer. 
 
 Your duty to God, your neighbour, and yourself, 
 you have known from a child: — Be assured of it, 
 you will meet with temptations from the devil, the 
 world, and your oAvn corrupt heart, both to neglect 
 and transgress the commands of God. 
 
 It will be absolutely necessary, therefore, that you 
 arm yourself betimes, both with holy resolutions, 
 and with this holy ordinance which you are pre- 
 paring to go to, that you may be able, through the 
 grace of God, to go on in the way of salvation. 
 
 Now your duty to God is — To believe in Him, to 
 fear and to love Him, with all your heart and soul : 
 forasmuch as you stand indebted to Him for all you 
 have, or value, or hope for, in this, or the next life. 
 
 Do but consider how you would behave yourself, 
 if you were but half so much obliged to any man 
 on earth ; — How dearly would you love him ! — 
 How often would you think of him ! — How would 
 you strive to please him ! — How would you be 
 grieved, if you should be so unhappy as to offend 
 him ! — How soon and earnestly would you beg his 
 pardon to be restored to his favour ! 
 
 Now, if you thus love God, it will appear in such 
 instances as these : You will have a verj-great regard 
 for every thing that belongs to Him : — You will not 
 use his name to any idle or wicked purpose : — You 
 will religiously observe the day consecrated to his 
 honour and service : — You will carefully attend the 
 house and worship of God : — and behave yourself 
 with reverence and devotion, while you are in his pre-
 
 TO THB lord's SUPPER, 21 
 
 sence : — You will hear his word with attention, and 
 have a great regard for his ordinances and for the per- 
 sons whom He hath appointed to administer them. 
 
 If you truly fear God, you will part with any- 
 thing as dear as a right hand, or a right eye, rather 
 than provoke Him who can destroy both body and 
 soul in hell. 
 
 If you believe Him to be the fountain of all good, 
 you will pray to Him daily. — And if you put your 
 whole trust in God, as it is your duty to do — you will 
 endeavour to be pleased with all his dealings with 
 you. — You will never murmur at the ways of his 
 providence, nor suffer your heart to fret against the 
 Lord.— And especially you will never attempt to 
 better or to secure your condition by any evil ways ; 
 — Believing assuredly that^od can and will make 
 you full amends in the next life, for what you want 
 or suffer in this, in submission to his will. 
 
 Lastly, Your duty is to be thankful to God, — The 
 way to be so is, to look upon every mercy you re- 
 ceive as the gift of God ; — Every danger you escape, 
 as owing to his care and providence; — Every good 
 thought, every good purpose, every occasion of doing 
 good, as the effect of his good Spirit. 
 
 Think, and act, and purpose thus : — And it will be 
 as natural to thank God for all the dispensations of 
 his providence, as it is for you to beg any blessing 
 from Him, which you stand in most need of. 
 
 Stop awhile— until you have considered these 
 things, and until you have expressed your sense of 
 them in the following prayer.
 
 -- A SHOKT INTRODUCTION 
 
 The Prayer. 
 
 This is indeed the first and great command, to 
 love Thee, God, with all our heart ; for on this 
 depends our salvation. For even this must be the 
 gift of thy grace : — For this grace I now apply to 
 Thee, to make my love and fear of Thee the 
 governing principle of my whole life : — That I may 
 always do what I believe will please Thee :— That I 
 may carefully avoid what I know will offend Thee : 
 — And that I may live as having Thee the constant 
 witness of my thoughts, words, and actions. 
 
 Give me a stedfast faith in thy word and pro- 
 mises; a firm trust in thy power.— Let the fear of 
 thy justice keep me from presumption, and a sense 
 of thy goodness from tdespair. — Defend me from 
 all those bewitching snares which destroy our love 
 of Thee ; from worldly cares ; from sensual and 
 sinful pleasures ; from evil company ; from foolish 
 diversions ; and from everything that may make 
 me forget, that Thou alone art worthy to be feared 
 and loved Grant me these mercies for thy Son 
 Jesus Christ his sake; — whose love and death we 
 are goin^ to commemorate. Amen. 
 
 SECTION Y. 
 
 Your duty to your Neighbour and Yourself. 
 
 This is the second great command, and will require 
 the most solemn resolutions you can make, before 
 you go to the Lord's Supper.
 
 TO THE lord's SUPPER. 23 
 
 Consider, therefore, whether you can sincerely 
 resolve as follows : 
 
 I dare not, I will not, be indifferent how I lead 
 my life. — I know what God has commanded me, 
 and I purpose sincerely to do it. 
 
 I will, in the first place, be obedient to the lawful 
 commands of my superiors, and especially to those 
 ivlio watch for my soul. — I do sincerely purpose in all 
 my dealings to remember the command given me 
 by my Saviour. — Thou shall love thy neighbour as 
 thyself, — And therefore I will make a conscience of 
 doing the least wrong to any man; — of using any 
 deceit, or fraud, or oppression; or of taking advan- 
 tage of the ignorance, mistakes, or necessity of my 
 neighbour ; knowing assuredly that he who wrongs 
 his neighbour, does the greatest injury to himself. — 
 And if at any time I am convinced that I have done 
 him any wrong, I will make him satisfaction as far 
 as I am able, without being forced by law, — To do 
 unto others lohat I would they shoidd do unto me. 
 
 To this end I will endeavour to live peaceably and 
 charitably with all people ; — avoiding all malice, and 
 revenge, and evil-speaking, and contention, as much 
 as possibly I can. — And I will speak truth at all 
 times, and especially when I am called to my oath, 
 whether it be for, or against my worldly interest. 
 
 As TO THE DUTY I OWE TO MYSELF. — I am con- 
 vinced that my first and great concern ought to 
 be, — To take care of my own soul. 
 
 I do therefore stedfastly purpose to lead a serious 
 life, as one under the sentence of death ought to
 
 ^ A SHORT INTRODUCTION 
 
 do : — to be sober, temperate, and chaste ; that when 
 I die, I may be admitted into the paradise of God, 
 where no unclean thing must enter. 
 
 To this end, I resolve to keep a watch over my- 
 self, that I may avoid all such company, such plea- 
 sures and diversions, as may make me lose the 
 remembrance of death, and the account I must 
 give, 
 
 I will endeavour to be content with my con- 
 dition, not coveting what is another man's, neither 
 envying the prosperity, nor taking pleasure in the 
 calamities, of my neighbour. 
 
 And forasmuch as a life of idleness and luxury is 
 baleful to God, I will strive to do my duty in the 
 state of life in which his providence has placed 
 me; not flattering myself that I do no evil, when 
 I do no good in my generation, — lest the sentence 
 upon the unfruitful tree be passed upon me, — Cut 
 it down, why cumbereth it the ground ] 
 
 These duties I will endeavour to perform, as a 
 proof of the love and reverence I bear to God, who 
 is so good as to accept of my repentance, and a 
 sincere though imperfect obedience. 
 
 And if, through weakness, temptation, or sudden 
 surprise, I shall be so unhappy as to forget any of 
 these resolutions, and fall into sin, I will, as soon 
 as I perceive it, beg God's pardon, and be more 
 careful for the time to come. 
 
 Kow if your conscience can witness for you that 
 you piously purpose to live after this manner, you 
 may safely go to the Lord's ta^de, and the blessing 
 of God will go along with you.
 
 TO THE LORD S SUPPER. 25 
 
 Go no further till you have considered those pur- 
 poses again; for they are to be the purposes of 
 your whole life, and of every day of your life. 
 
 And then address yourself to God, — that, through 
 his gracious assistance, they may make the more 
 lasting impression upon your mind. 
 
 Tlie Prayer. 
 
 Gracious God, who hast given us precepts, and 
 an example to walk by, let the remembrance of 
 them be always seasonably present with me.— Give 
 me grace to practise them conscientiously : — To re- 
 verence my betters and all that are in authority,— 
 and especially such as are ordained to pray for, and 
 to bless us in thy name. — Let my love for Thee, 
 and for my neighbour, keep me from all acts of in- 
 justice, or injury to his body, or good name :— Let 
 me never wilfully vex or trouble him ; — Never 
 covet what is his, or envy his prosperity. — May I 
 ever be ready to help and comfort all such as are 
 in distress i— Give me grace to be faithful in all 
 things committed to my trust ;— That I may never 
 pervert truth and justice; — Never propagate slan- 
 der, or raise evil reports, nor ever tempt others to 
 sin. Give me the spirit of temperance and chastity, 
 and grant that I may never provoke Thee by any 
 instance of uncleanness to shut me out of heaven, 
 where no unclean thing can enter. — Give me grace 
 so to order my conversation, that I may encourage 
 others to live as becomes the Gospel of Jesus 
 Christ; for whose sake I beg to be heard.
 
 26 SHORT INTRODUCTION 
 
 SECTION VI. 
 
 The next thing you are to inquire into is, Whether 
 you have a lively faith in God's mercy through 
 Christ. 
 
 Now, because so very much depends upon our 
 having such a faith, — the Holy Ghost has given us 
 all the arguments, — all the assurance, — that our 
 hearts can desire. 
 
 God so loved the world, that He spared not his own 
 Son (saith the Apostle), hut gave Mm up for us all. 
 Eom. viii. 32. — Can there be a greater, a surer 
 pledge of the love of God for his poor creatures ] — 
 He made Him to be sin (that is, a sin-offering) : — 
 He delivered Him to death in our stead : — Can we, 
 after this, doubt of, or distrust, the mercy of God ] 
 
 Observe the method St. Paul takes to confirm our 
 faith, by giving us the strongest proofs of our ac- 
 quaintance with God : — God, saith he, commended 
 his love to us, in that, while we were enemies, we 
 were reconciled to Him hy the death of his Son. 
 Much more, being reconciled, we shall he saved hy 
 his life, Eom. v. 10. — What may we not, after this, 
 hope from God ] 
 
 In short, Jesus Christ has redeemed us from the 
 curse of the law. — Through Him we have peace 
 u)ith God, Eom. v. 1. — This is the only foundation 
 of our faith, our hope, and confidence. — He is our 
 sacrifice, onr mediator, our advocate; the know- 
 ledge of which ought to remove all occasions of 
 despair, and fear, from the displeasure of God. 
 
 Indeed, if we should attempt to go to God, with-
 
 TO THE lord's SUITER. 27 
 
 out an interer;t in Christ, we could hope for nothing 
 but to be rejected; but when we go to Him as 
 redeemed by his own Son, — and represent to Him, 
 as we do in this holy Sacrament, what He has done 
 and suffered for us, we approach Him as entirely 
 reconciled to us. 
 
 But then you must remember that He gave 
 Himself for us, and hath redeemed us from the 
 power of the devil for this end; that He might pu- 
 rify unto Himself a people consecrated to his ser- 
 vice, — Consecrate, therefore, yourself to Jesus Christ, 
 and, with faithful Abraham, stagger not at the 
 promises of God ; but go to this Sacrament with a 
 full assurance of faith, that God will pardon your 
 sins, and give you all the graces you shall stand in 
 need of.- -Only remember, that this faith itself is 
 the gift of God, and must be prayed for, for Christ's 
 sake ; which you may do after this manner : 
 
 Tlie Prayer. 
 
 I BESEECH Thee, God, by that love which 
 moved Thee to give thine own Son for lost man- 
 kind, give me a faith in thy promises for his sake, 
 as firm as thy word, on which my faith is grounded: 
 And let me never presume upon thy gracious pro- 
 mises, without sincerely endeavouring to perform 
 the conditions on which they were made, and with- 
 out being zealous of good works, for which we were 
 redeemed. — May the remembrance of our Saviour's 
 love, and of thy great mercy, be ever seasonably 
 present with me, to keep me from despair ! — And 
 may my faith in thy promises support me in the
 
 28 A SHORT INTRODUCTION 
 
 hour of death ! — May my Eedeemer be my refuge, 
 his blood and merits plead for me, that I may have 
 my lot and portion with those -whom He hath pur- 
 chased with his most precious blood ! Amen. 
 
 SECTION YIL 
 
 "Whether you have a thankful Remembrance of 
 
 Christ's death : — This is the next thing you are 
 
 to inquire into. 
 Now this will always bear some proportion to the 
 sense you have of the evil He has delivered you 
 from, and the blessings He has by his death pro- 
 cured for you. 
 
 Consider therefore yourself as a poor, sinful, 
 lost, undone creature, without a Redeemer. — Con- 
 sider what that Redeemer has done for you ; — What 
 He did, and what He suffered, when He took upon 
 Himself to answer for the sins of men. 
 
 Consider that He was the Son of God ; that He 
 had do7ie no v:rong, neither was guile found in his 
 mouth : Notwithstanding this, being to answer for 
 sinners. He was treated and punished as a sinner 
 deserves to be : — He was despised. ! — set at nought ! 
 — persecuted and rejected by his own people, whom 
 He came to redeem ! 
 
 He was betrayed by his own disciple ; falsely ac- 
 cused ! — Unrighteously condemned ! — Unmercifully 
 scourged ! — Had a murderer preferred before Him ! 
 — Was crucified as a malefactor; and, in the very 
 midst of his torments, was most inhumanly reviled ! 
 
 Consider the reason of all this It was not only
 
 TO THE lord's SPPPER. 29 
 
 to satisfy the justice of God for the sins of men, and 
 procure their pardon upon their repentance and 
 future obedience : but also to show mankind, what 
 treatment sm and sinners, who have rebelled 
 against their Maker, do deserve ; — and to teach us, 
 when God orders or permits us sinners to undergo 
 such indignities and afflictions in this our state of 
 trial, that we ought to take our cross patiently 
 as our Redeemer did ; and be content, and even 
 pleased, to fulfil the will of God, in following his 
 example in his sufierings in this life, that we may 
 be partakers of his glory in the next. 
 
 In the next place, consider the blessings which 
 Jesus Christ hath by his death obtained for us. 
 He hath delivered us from the great power which 
 the devil had over mankind, by procuring us grace 
 to resist and overcome him. — He hath prevailed 
 with God, — to overlook the untowardness of our 
 nature ; — To pardon our greatest offences upon our 
 true repentance ; — And, being by his death recon- 
 ciled to God, we have, for his sake, free liberty to 
 apply to Him, as children to a father, for what we 
 stand in need of. 
 
 He has also obtained for us the assistance of an 
 Almighty Spirit, to ' enable us to know and to do 
 what is necessary to fit us for heaven and happi- 
 ness : — And He has prevailed with God that these 
 shall be our certain portion, if we are not wanting 
 to ourselves. — In one word, Jesus Christ has en- 
 tirely freed us from all fears of what may come 
 hereafter, if it is not purely our own fault.
 
 30 A SHOKT INTRODUCTION 
 
 The most unlearned Christian may know what 
 is required of him. 
 
 The greatest sinner may depend upon pardon, 
 on his repentance. 
 
 The weakest Christian may rely upon all neces- 
 sary assistance. And the meanest Christian is 
 sure not to be overlooked. 
 
 By all which you may perceive, what thanks you 
 owe to God for your great and good Redeemer; 
 and for what He has done and suffered for you : — 
 Which you will do well to express in some such 
 manner as this : 
 
 The Prayer. 
 
 Give me leave, God, to mention before Thee 
 the death of thy Son, and the infinite blessings I 
 have received thereby. Add this to all thy favours, 
 I beseech Thee, that I may never forget these 
 mercies -.—Never forget to be thankful for them : — 
 But that I may pi-eserve the remembrance of them 
 in the manner which He hath ordained.— I thank 
 Thee, God, for that word in which Thou hast 
 caused these thy mercies, and his example, to be 
 recorded. — Make me truly sensible of that love 
 which brought Him down from heaven ; — And how 
 sad our condition was, which required such a sacri- 
 fice. — May I learn by his patience, humility, self- 
 denial, and resignation, what virtues are most 
 acceptable to thy Divine Majesty ! — And may I 
 take Him for my Lord and Master, and Teacher 
 and Example ; and dedicate myself to Thee, and to 
 thy service, for his sake ! Amen.
 
 TO THE lord's SUPPER. 31 
 
 SECTION VIII. 
 
 The last inquiry you are to make is, Whether you 
 are in Charity with all the World. 
 
 Concerning which, take especial notice, that the 
 two great ends of this ordinance, mentioned in 
 Scripture, are : 
 
 The first, to keep up the remembrance of 
 Christ's death till his coming again. 
 
 The second, to be a solemn token of our com- 
 munion with Jesus Christ, and of our union and 
 charity with all his family. 
 
 To this end He has ordained, that as all Chris- 
 tians, high and low, rich and poor, shall make up 
 one bod}', of which He is the Head; — and one 
 family, of which He is the Master : — so they should 
 all eat at one table, of one bread, as a sign of that 
 love, and peace, and friendship, and readiness to 
 help one another, as occasion shall require, and as 
 members of the same body will naturally do. 
 
 And indeed your acceptance with God will very 
 much depend upon your hearty good will for every 
 Christian, and for all mankind. 
 
 Therefore you must take especial care, lest there 
 be any person with whom you are not at peace : — 
 Whom you cannot forgive, and pray for, and do him 
 all the good that can in reason be expected from 
 you ; — That you be disposed to make satisfaction to 
 any person that has been injured by you, or who may 
 have taken just offence at your words or actions ; 
 this being a duty which Jesus Christ Himself has
 
 32 A SHORT INTRODUCTION 
 
 commanded, Matt. v. 23. And that you be ready- 
 to forgive every person, who may have injured you, 
 as you expect forgiveness of God ; — Eemembering 
 the dreadful sentence mentioned in Matt, xviii. 
 Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all thy debt : 
 shouldest not thou have had compassion on thy 
 felloiv-servant, even as I had pity on thee ? And 
 the Lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tor- 
 mentors. 
 
 And lastly, you are to take care, that you love, 
 not in word only, hut in deed, and in truth ; that 
 is, that you do good, as well as give good words ; 
 and relieve Jesus Christ in his poor members. 
 
 And believe it for a certain truth, that a charit- 
 able and forgiving temper is not near so beneficial 
 to any body, as to him that hath it ; it being more 
 blessed to give than to 7'eceive ; and to forgive than 
 to insist upon satisfaction for injuries and wrongs 
 done unto us. Acts xx. 35. 
 
 This being so necessary a grace, you will not fail 
 to beg of God most earnestly to vouchsafe it to you. 
 
 2Vie Prayer. 
 
 This is my commandment; That ye love one 
 another, as I have loved you. — Hear, my soul, 
 what thy Saviour has commanded thee ; — He who 
 loved us, and gave Himself an ofiering and a 
 sacrifice to God for us. 
 
 May this thy love, Jesus, be the motive and 
 pattern of my love and charity for all mankind ! — ■ 
 Where this hath not been my practice, I implore 
 thy gracious pardon, and beseech Thee to fortify
 
 TO THE LORDS SUPPER. 33 
 
 my soul against all suggestions of Satan, or my 
 corrupt nature and blind passions ; — That I may 
 always be prepared to go to thine altar with the 
 same charitable dispositions with which I desire 
 and hope to die. 
 
 Thou, Jesus, madest thine enemies thy friends, 
 by laying down thy life for them. — Be Thou my 
 advocate with the Father, for grace to follow thy 
 heavenly charity and example, that I may overcome 
 evil with good : that I, and all the members of thy 
 family, may love as brethren : — that we may always 
 meet at thy table as sincere friends, and part with 
 true love and affection as becomes thy disciples. 
 Ame7i. 
 
 SECTION IX. 
 
 By this time you see the reason of this institution; 
 the necessity, as well as the invaluable blessing, of ob- 
 serving it religiously; and the manner of preparing 
 yourself for it, as often as you have an opportunity. 
 
 And remember, that the oftener you look into 
 the state of your soul, in order to go to this ordin- 
 ance, the less trouble you will have to make your 
 peace with God when you come to die; and the 
 less danger you will be in of falling into a state 
 of sin and security, w^hich has been the ruin of an 
 infinite number of souls. 
 
 Besides this, you will have the greatest comfort 
 in life, when you perceive that you are still grow- 
 ing in grace, and tending to that perfection which 
 must fit you for heaven. 
 
 D
 
 34 A SHORT INTRODUCTION 
 
 On the other hand, if you turn your Lack upon 
 this ordinance, it must be because you will not be 
 at the pains to understand your duty, your interest, 
 and your danger. 
 
 You have not considered that there is no pardon, 
 no grace, no salvation to be hoped for, but by pleading 
 with God what his Son hath done, and suffered, and 
 merited for us, and in the manner He has ordained. 
 
 And if you will consult your own conscience, it 
 will tell you. That some of those are the true, 
 though most wretched, causes of your contempt of 
 this command of your Saviour. 
 
 Either you live in some known sin, or ungodly 
 way of life, which you cannot resolve to forsake : — 
 Or, you are not willing to renew your vows made in 
 baptism : — Or, which is generally the case, — You 
 have no real concern for your soul : only you delude 
 yourself with some faint purposes and hopes, that 
 some time or other you will become a new man. 
 
 In the mean time, you are guilty of a sin too like 
 the denying the Lord that bought you. — You bring 
 an evil report upon an ordinance of Christ, as if it 
 were not worth observing : you harden wicked people 
 in their infidelity, and neglect of their salvation, 
 by calling yourself a Christian, and living like an 
 heathen, in the contempt of one of the greatest 
 means of salvation : You live in a state in which 
 all your prayers, whether public or private, whether 
 for yourself or for others, will be rejected. 
 
 In short, you provoke God every day more and 
 more to withdraw his grace, — To leave you to your
 
 TO THE lord's SUPPER. 35 
 
 own corrupt way of living, till 3-011 have filled up 
 the measure of your sins, and prepared for your- 
 self a sentence not to be heard without trembling ; 
 — / tell you, that none of those men that were 
 hidden shall taste of my supper ; — The marriage 
 supper of the Lamb in heaven. 
 
 How great then must the sin of those be, who 
 neglect to administer, and of those who turn their 
 backs upon this ordinance, upon which our salva- 
 tion depends ! It being the blood of Christ which 
 must cleanse us froni all sin, 1 John i. 7. 
 
 After all, this is not to encourage any person to 
 go to the Lord's Supper without a wedding-garment, 
 without a due regard to the duty. — For a man may 
 go so unworthily, as to receive judgment, instead of 
 a blessing. For example. Such as live in any known 
 sin unrepented of; — Such as are not sincerely re- 
 solved to live and be governed by the known laws 
 of the Gospel ; — Such as live at variance with their 
 neighbours, without being willing to be reconciled ; 
 — Such as have done wrong, and will not make 
 satisfaction, as they are able ; — Lastly, Such as go 
 out of mere custom, without considering the end or 
 benefit of the ordinance ; and return to their usual 
 sinful liberties, as soon as the service is over. 
 
 All such ought to know, that they went un- 
 worthily ; and, if they have any true concern for 
 their souls, they will consider better, and lay them- 
 selves under stricter obligations, before they go 
 again to the Lord's Supper. 
 
 But then, let them not, at the peril of their souls
 
 36 A SHOET INTRODUCTION 
 
 deal deceitfully, and make this a pretence of neglect- 
 ing to go to this ordinance for the future ; lest they 
 provoke God to leave them to themselves, which is 
 one of the greatest judgments that can befal them. 
 
 On the other hand, let not any well-meaning 
 Christians be discouraged with fears of having gone 
 unworthily to the Lord's Supper; and so forbear, 
 because they do not find all the benefit and change 
 wrought in them, which they hoped for ; but let 
 them consider that a state of holiness and perfection 
 is not to be expected at once, but by degrees, and 
 as we make good use of the graces which the Holy 
 Spirit from time to time vouchsafes to us : 
 
 A good Christian not being one who has no in- 
 clination to sin, but one who, through the grace of 
 God, immediately checks, and suflfers not such in- 
 clination to grow into evil habits. 
 
 God who knows our infirmities, will accept our 
 sincere endeavours, though attended with imperfec- 
 tions and backslidings, provided we condemn our- 
 selves for them, and strive to amend. 
 
 And let us remember, for our comfort, that Jesua 
 Christ Himself pronounced all his disciples (the 
 traitor excepted) to be clean, that is, qualified to 
 receive this sacrament, which he was going to ad- 
 minister to them, although he knew them to be sub- 
 jectto very great failings and infirmities ; which soon 
 appeared, when they all forsook Him, contrary to 
 their solemn promises; but this they repented of, and 
 were forgiven by their compassionate Eedeemer. 
 
 If, therefore, you love God, and your neighbour, 
 though not so fervently as you could wish ; — If you
 
 TO THE lord's SUPPER. 37 
 
 have a real desire of being better than at present 
 you find yourself to be ; — If the fruits of the Holy 
 Spirit, though in a very low degree, do appear in 
 your life; — Lastly, if you do daily pray for God's 
 grace that you may, in his good time, be what He 
 would have you to be ; and do not live in any known 
 sin ; — By no means forbear to go to this ordinance 
 as often as you have an opportunity ; and depend 
 upon God's blessing, and an increase of his graces. 
 
 The Prayer. 
 
 Grant, God, that I may never draw down thy 
 judgments upon myself, either by turning my 
 back upon this oi'dinance, or by going to it without 
 thought, and unworthily. May thy mercy pardon 
 what is past, and give me grace for the time to 
 come, to consecrate my life to Thee, and to embrace 
 every occasion of remembering my Eedeemer's 
 love, and thereby securing thy favour and my 
 own salvation ! And if it be thy will, grant that 
 I may always find such comfort and benefit in this 
 ordinance, as may encourage me to observe it with 
 joy unto my life's end. 
 
 Give me leave to recommend to thine infinite 
 mercy the miserable condition of all such as neglect 
 so great means of grace and salvation ; — Awaken all 
 Christian people into a sense of this duty: Open their 
 eyes, and correct their mistakes, that they may be 
 convinced, that this is the only means of making 
 their peace with Thee, and of rendering their 
 persons and their prayers acceptable to thy Divine 
 Majesty, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
 38 A SHORT INTRODUCTION 
 
 SECTION X. 
 
 Every well-disposed Christian, after he has thus 
 far prepared himself for this Sacrament, will en- 
 deavour to keep the thoughts of his duty, and the 
 blessings he hopes for, warm in his heart until the 
 time of receiving. 
 
 Some of the following Scriptures, and meditations 
 upon them, may, through God's grace, answer that 
 end ; nor will they take up too much time, because 
 some or more of them, as occasion ofiers, may be 
 devoutly used in the midst of business. 
 
 And this method of devotion is here proposed, 
 to lead Christians to make proper reflections 
 upon other parts of Scripture which they read or 
 hear. 
 
 Eev. iii. 17. Thou sayest, I am rich, and have need 
 of nothing ; and knowest not that thou art wretched, 
 and miserable, and, jooor, and blind, and naked. 
 
 This is the sad condition to which, as sinners, 
 we are subject ; and it is of thy mercy, God, that 
 any of us are sensible of it. Presence me, I beseech 
 Thee, fi*om that blindness which would hinder me 
 from seeing my own misery; and from that pride, 
 which would keep me from acknowledging it before 
 Thee, who alone canst help me. give me a 
 true sense of the maladies I labour under, and help 
 me for thy mercies' sake, and for the sake of Jesus 
 my Redeemer.
 
 TO THK lord's SUPPEH. 39 
 
 Psalm li. 17. The sacrifice of Godisahrohen spirit; 
 a hrohen and contrite heart God will not despise. 
 
 But most unfit is mine to be to God presented, 
 until I have obtained his pardon for the many sins 
 by which it has been defiled. 
 
 Jer. iii. 12, 13. / am merciful, saith the Lord, 
 and I loill not keep anger for ever. Only acknow- 
 ledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed 
 against the Lord thy God. 
 
 I do acknowledge my sin unto Thee, God, 
 and mine iniquities will I not hide ; I do therefore 
 implore thy pardon, and plead thy gracious pro- 
 mise, with full purpose of heart, never again to 
 return to folly. 
 
 Jer. xvii. 9. The heart is deceitful, and desjye- 
 rately wicked : who can knoio it ? 
 
 I cannot, indeed, answer for my own heart ; but 
 there is nothing, Lord, impossible with Thee : In 
 Thee I do put my trust ; let me never be put to 
 confusion ;— keep it ever in my heart, what an evil 
 thing, and hitter, it will be to forsake the Lord. 
 
 1 John iii. 8. He that committeth sin (who aban- 
 dons himself to live in known sin) is of the devil; 
 — is under his power and government. 
 
 Preserve me, gracious God, from so fatal a blind- 
 ness, to choose Satan for my lord and governor 
 instead of thy blessed Son, who laid down his life 
 to redeem us from the dreadful tyranny of the 
 devil.
 
 40 A SHORT INTRODUCTION 
 
 1 John ii. 25. This is the promise that He hath 
 'promised us, even eternal life. 
 
 How infinitely good is God, to give us so great 
 encouragement to save ourselves from ruin ! — Give 
 me, I beseech Thee, a firm faith in this promise, — 
 that no fears may terrify me, — no pleasures may 
 corrupt my heart, — no difficulties may discourage 
 me from serving Thee. 
 
 Matt. xvi. 24. If any man will come after me, 
 let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and 
 follovj me. 
 
 my Saviour ! who pleasedst not Thyself, but 
 tookest upon Thee the form of a servant ; let me 
 not profess to follow Thee without endeavouring 
 to follow the blessed steps of thy holy life, — Thy 
 patience, meekness, and humility : — Thy great dis- 
 regard for the world, its pleasures, profits, and all 
 its idols : — Thy sensible concern for the miseries of 
 men : — Thy unweariedness in doing good : — Thy 
 constancy in prayer, and resignation to the will of 
 thy Father. — Let me part with any thing as dear 
 as a right hand, or a right eye, rather than not 
 follow Thee. 
 
 Matt. vi. 24. iVo man can serve two masters. — 
 You cannot serve God and mammon. 
 
 May I never set up any rival, God, with Thee 
 in the possession of my heart ! May I never attempt 
 to reconcile thy service with that world vrhich is 
 enmity with Thee! — Give me, I beseech Thee, the 
 eyes of faith, that I may see the world, what in 
 truth it is : — The danger of its riches, — The folly of
 
 TO THE lord's SUPPER. 41 
 
 its pleasures, — The multitude of its snares, — The 
 power of its temptations, — Its deadly poison, and 
 certain danger of drawing my heart from the love 
 of Thee. 
 
 Matt. xxii. 37, 39. Tliou slidlt love the Lord thy 
 God with all thy heart, — and thy neighbour as thy- 
 self. 
 
 that the love of God may be the commanding 
 principle of my soul; and that 1 may have this 
 comfortable proof of his love abiding in me, that 
 I study to please Him, and to keep his command- 
 ments !— That my love to my neighbour may be such 
 as God has commanded ; that I may give, and forgive, 
 and love, as becomes a disciple of Jesus Christ ! 
 
 1 John iii. 14. We Tcnoio that we have passed 
 from death unto life, because v)e love the brethren. 
 
 "What it is to love my neighbour as myself, Thou, 
 Lord, hast taught me in thy holy word : — Never 
 to wrong or deceive him ; — Never to grieve him, or 
 without a cause to create him trouble ; — Never to 
 treat him with contempt and scorn; — Never to be 
 pleased with his misfortunes and foults : — But to 
 rejoice in his happiness, and help him in his wants. 
 Give me, Lord, this proof of my having passed 
 from death unto life. 
 
 Gal. iii. 13. Christ hath redeemed us from the 
 curse of the law, being made a curse for us : — that 
 is, he was treated as one under the curse of the 
 law, Deut. xxi. 23. 
 
 Blessed God, how great was our misery ' How
 
 42 A SHORT IKTRODUCTION 
 
 great was thy mercy ! when nothing could save us 
 from ruin, but the death of thy Son — I see by this, 
 how hateful sin is to Thee. — Make it so to me, I 
 beseech Thee. May I never flatter myself that thy 
 mercy will spare me if I continue in sin, when 
 Thou sparedst not thine own Son, when He put 
 Himself in the place of sinners ! — May I never 
 provoke thy justice ! May I never forget thy 
 mercies, and what thy Son has done for me ! 
 
 Tit. ii. 14. He gave himself for us, that He 
 might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto 
 himself a peculiar j^eople, zealous of good works. 
 
 Blessed be God, that I am united to his people 
 by baptism ! Grant that I may never disgrace 
 Thee, or my Christian profession, by an ungodly 
 life. Thou, who hast redeemed us from sin and 
 death, cause me to understand, to value, and ever 
 remember thy great love ; and to show that I do 
 so, by a life consecrated to thy service. 
 
 2 Tim. ii. 12. If we deny Him, He vnll also 
 deny us. 
 
 How many deny Thee, Jesus, without thought 
 and without dread ! Do they know what they do, 
 who lightly turn their backs upon this ordinance ] 
 — Who make a mock of sin, which cost Thee thy 
 life? — ^Yho are ashamed of Thee, and of thy 
 Gospel, out of regard to men 1 — Who by their un- 
 christian lives do renounce thy service]— Do they 
 consider what it is to be denied by Thee] — That it 
 is to have no interest in thy death, thy merits, and
 
 TO THE lord's SUPPER. 43 
 
 mediation?— Gracious God, deliver me from this 
 dreadful sin and judgment. 
 
 Matt. xxvi. 35. Peter said, Tliourjh I should 
 die with Thee, yet will I not deny Tliee. 
 
 Preserve me, gracious Lord, from a presump- 
 tuous opinion, and dependence on my own strength, 
 without the aids of tliy grace : Let me see, in this 
 sad instance, my Aveakness without thy assistance, 
 and my ruin without thy help. 
 
 Luke xxii, 61, 62. And the Lord iiirned, and 
 looked upon Peter; and Peter remembered the 
 words of Christ ;— and ivent out, and wept bitterly. 
 
 Jesus, look upon me with the same eye of 
 compassion, whenever I shall do amiss, that I may 
 see my fault, and forthwith return to my duty. Let 
 this instance of thy mercy be our comfort, since so 
 great and repeated a crime did not exclude this 
 penitent from thy mercy ; but let not this make us 
 fearless of offending Thee, lest we never repent. 
 
 Luke xxii. 3, 4, 5. Then entered Satan into 
 Judas; and he communed icith the chief priests, 
 how he might betray Him unto them. — And they 
 covenanted to give him money, d-c. 
 
 If I should provoke Thee, God, by resisting 
 thy Holy Spirit, to leave me to my own natural 
 corruption, and to the power of Satan, I see in this 
 wretched man what wickedness I am capable of. 
 Lord God, abandon me not to my own choice : — 
 Shut my heart against that covetousness which was
 
 44 A SHORT INTRODUCTION, &C. 
 
 the root of so great a sin. Keep me from 'presump- 
 tuous sins, lest they get the dominion over me; and 
 secure me under the conduct of thy Holy Spirit, 
 for Jesus Christ's sake. 
 
 Deut. xvi. 16, 17. They shall not appear before 
 the Lord empty. Every man shall give as he is 
 ahle, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God, 
 which He hath given thee. 
 
 Shall I appear before Thee, God, worse than a 
 Jew ] — Can I give any thing to thy poor, but what 
 I have received from Thee 1 How can I say, that 
 I love Thee much, if I give sparingly to them whom 
 Thou hast appointed in thy place to receive our 
 alms 1 — Give me an heart, God, to give according 
 to thy blessing upon me, and as I expect thy bless- 
 ing upon myself and substance. 
 
 1 Pet. iv. 10. As every man hath received the 
 gift, even so minister the same one to another as 
 good stewards. 
 
 God, Thou hast taught us, that we are all but 
 thy stewards. — Keep me, I beseech Thee, from that 
 great injustice of defrauding thy poor of their 
 rights : — Give me grace to moderate all my vain 
 desires and expenses, that I may have to give to 
 them that need; — and that the measure of thy 
 blessings to me may be the measure of my charity 
 to others.
 
 THB 
 
 OEDEK rOE ADMINISTRATION 
 
 OP 
 
 "^fte Horb's Supper. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 That you may profit by the following assistances, 
 be advised to read the Communion Service, with the 
 Directions and Meditations, some time before you 
 go to the Sacrament, that you may attend to every 
 part of the Public Service without distraction. 
 
 AYhenever you have time for your private devo- 
 tions, let them be so secret that nobody may be 
 disturbed by you. 
 
 And if, instead of repeating the Prayers, and other 
 parts of the Service, after the Minister, as the man- 
 ner of too many is, to the disturbance of such as 
 are near them ; if, instead of doing so, you would 
 secretly say. Amen, at the end of ever)'- petition, 
 you will find this the very best way to keep your 
 mind intent upon your devotions. 
 
 If any person who is ordained to administer this 
 Sacrament, shall think fit to cast his eye upon this 
 Book, I would beseech him to consider seriously, 
 how many Communicants there are who have no 
 ordinary way of coming to the knowledge of this
 
 4:6 
 
 THE ADMINISTRATION 
 
 great duty, or other help to their devotion, besides 
 what the Church has provided for them in this 
 Office : That therefore, in compassion to such, this 
 Service ought to be performed with the greatest 
 deliberation, as well as devotion, that the unlearned, 
 who are generally the greatest number, may be 
 edified as well as instructed. 
 
 FIRST RUBRIC. 
 
 So many as inteiid to be 
 partakers of the Holy Com- 
 munion shall signify their 
 names to the Curate, at least 
 some time the day before. 
 
 SECOND RUBRIC. 
 
 And if any of those be an 
 open and notorious evil liver, 
 or have done any wrong to his 
 neighbours by word or deed, 
 so that the Congregation be 
 thereby offended; the Curate, 
 having knowledge thereof, shall 
 call him and advertise him, 
 that in any wise he presume 
 not to come to the Lord's 
 Table, until he hath openly 
 declared himself to have truly 
 
 OBSERVATIONS ON IT. 
 
 It is -with great reason that 
 the Church has given this or- 
 der; wherefore do not neglect 
 it. 
 
 You will have the comfort 
 of knowing, either that your 
 Pastor hath nothing to say 
 against you; or, if he has, you 
 will have the benefit of his 
 advice: and a good blessing 
 will attend your obedience to 
 the Church's orders. 
 
 If you are conscious to 
 yourself (though your Pastor 
 should not know it) that your 
 life has been such as hath 
 giveu offence or scandal to 
 your Christian profession, do 
 not goto the Sacrament, until 
 you have given some plain 
 proof of your repentance, and 
 purpose of leading a new life. 
 
 But then, as you hope for 
 God's grace and mercy, do not
 
 OF THE LORDS SUPPER. 
 
 RUBRIC. 
 
 repented and amended his for- 
 mer nauyhly life, that the 
 Congregation may thereby be 
 satisfied, which before were 
 offended ; and that he hath re- 
 compensed the parties to whom, 
 he hath done wrong, or at least 
 declare himself to be in full 
 purpose so to do, as soon as he 
 conveniently may. 
 
 OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 put off the doing of this one 
 moment, lest you provoke 
 God to leave you to yourself, 
 for then you never will re- 
 pent. 
 
 THIRD RUBRIC. 
 
 The same order shall the 
 Curate use with those betwixt 
 tvhom he perceiveth maliceand 
 hatred to reign ; not suffering 
 them to be partakers of the 
 Lord's Table, until he know 
 them to be reconciled. 
 
 And if one of the parties so 
 at variance be content to for- 
 give from the bottom of his 
 heart all that the other hath 
 trespassed against him, and to 
 make amends for that he him- 
 self hath offended; and the 
 other party will not be per- 
 suaded to a godly unity, but 
 remain still in his froivard- 
 ness and malice: the Minister 
 in that case ought to admit the 
 penitent person to the Holy 
 Communio7i, and not him that 
 is obstinate: Provided that 
 every Minister so repelling 
 
 The Lord's Supper being a 
 sacrament and token of re- 
 conciliation and friendship 
 with God and man ; such as 
 ■will not forgive the injuries 
 they have received, nor make 
 satisfaction for the injuries 
 theyhavedone toothers, must 
 not presume to go to the 
 Lord's Table, lest they receive 
 a curse instead of a blessing. 
 But then such would do well 
 to consider, that while they 
 are under those bad disposi- 
 tions, they are at enmity with 
 their God as well as with their 
 neighbour ; and therefore are 
 not qualified even to ask.much 
 less to hope for, any favour 
 from Him: — There being no 
 mercy for him, who will not 
 show mercy to his neighbour: 
 —This being an express con-
 
 48 THE ADMINISTRATION, &C. 
 
 RUBRIC. OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 any, as is specified in this, or dition of our peace with God. 
 
 the next precedent paragraph Matt. vi. 14. 
 
 of this Rubric, shall be obliged And we should always re- 
 
 to give an account of the same member, that he that loveth 
 
 to the Ordinary within four- not his brother abideih in 
 
 teen days after at the farthest, death. 1 John iii. 14. 
 
 and the Ordinary shall pro- It is God who saith this : 
 
 ceed against the offending per- And dare we delay to be at 
 
 son according to the Canon. peace with our neighbour 
 
 even one day, if we can help 
 
 it? 
 
 FOURTH RUBRIC. 
 
 ThetableattheCommvnion- It may so happen, thatyou 
 
 time, having a fair white linen did not know that the Sacra- 
 
 cloth upon it, shall stand in mentwas to be administered, 
 
 the body of the Church or in until you saw the Communion- 
 
 the Chancel, where Morning table covered. However, if 
 
 and Evening Prayer are ap- youhavebeenaconstantcom- 
 
 pointed to be said. And the municant before, do not turn 
 
 Priest standing at the North- your back upon the holy ordi- 
 
 side of the table, shall say the nance ; but say in your heart 
 
 Lord's Prayer,with the Collect —I will most gladly close 
 
 following, the people kneeling, with this blessed occasion of 
 
 remembering the death of my 
 
 Redeemer.
 
 THE 
 
 When the Minister begins, lay aside all other 
 Books, and attend to the Service of the Church, 
 than which there never was provided a better 
 Help to Devotion. 
 
 Our* Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be 
 thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be 
 done in earth. As it is in heaven. Give us this 
 day our daily bread. And forgive us our tres- 
 passes, As we forgive them that trespass against 
 us. And lead us not into temptation ; But deliver 
 us from evil. Amen. 
 
 THE COLLECT. OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 Almighty God, unto Because the love of God 
 will make all his commands 
 
 whom all hearts be open, 
 
 easy, and to be obeyed with 
 
 all desires known, and cheerfulness; we therefore 
 
 from whom no secrets are beg of Him to purify our 
 hid; Cleanse the thoughts hearts by faith, that we may 
 of our hearts by the in- love and fear Him, and keep 
 •' his commandments, upon 
 spiration of thy Holy which all our happiness de- 
 Spirit, that we may per- pends. 
 
 * The Lord's Prayer should always be said with the 
 greatest deliberation and devotion; and especially at this 
 time when we beg of God the bread which must nourish us 
 unto life eternal, and all the graces necessary to obtain that 
 invaluable blessing. 
 
 E
 
 50 
 
 THE ADiriNISTRATION 
 
 THE COLLECT. 
 
 fectly love Thee, and wor- 
 thily magnify thy holy 
 Name, through Christ our 
 Lord. Amen. 
 
 OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 RUBRIC. 
 
 Then* shall thePriest, turn- 
 ing to the people, rehearse dis- 
 tinctly all the Ten Command- 
 ments ; and the people still 
 kneeling shall, after every 
 Cummandment, ask God mercy 
 for their transgression thereof 
 for the time past, and grace to 
 keep the same for the time to 
 come, as followeth. 
 
 OBSERVATIONS. 
 We see, with what' great 
 judgment these command- 
 ments were appointed to be 
 read in this service, since by 
 the law is the knowledge of 
 sin : And when we are con- 
 vinced in our own conscience, 
 that we have not kept a law 
 which is holy, just, and good, 
 we shall then see the Need 
 and the Blessing of a Re- 
 deemer ; and how earnestly 
 we ought to beg God, for his 
 sake, to have mercy upon us; 
 and to incline our hearts to 
 keep these laws. 
 
 OBSERVATIONS AND DIRECTIONS. 
 
 That you may obey the following commands of God with 
 cheerfulness, you ought to be firmly persuaded, — That God, 
 who standeth in no need of our obedience and service, hath 
 given us these laws merely for our own good, to restrain the 
 disorders we are subject to, and to hinder us from ruining 
 ourselves. 
 
 * "When it is considered how many people there are who 
 have no other way of coming to the knowledge of their duty ; 
 it will appear with what great reason the Priest is required 
 to read these commands of God distinctly; and how reli- 
 giously this Rubric ought to be observed.
 
 OP THE LORDS SUPPER. 
 
 51 
 
 Consider these commands in this view, and as they are the 
 effect of the great love of God for his poor creatures ; or 
 else you will look upon them as a burden, and obey thera 
 with an unwilling mind. 
 
 Prepare therefore to hear them with an attention and re- 
 verence suitable to Him whose commands they are ; and then 
 you will be more sensible what a blessing it is, that Jesus 
 Christ hath by his death delivered us from the curse and 
 punishment due to those that break them; — having prevailed 
 with God to accept of our repentance, and to enable us by 
 his grace to observe them better for the time to come. 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 Minister. 
 
 God spake these words, 
 and said ; I am the Lord 
 thy God: Thou shalt have 
 none other gods but me.* 
 
 People. 
 
 Lord, have mercy upon 
 us, and incline our hearts 
 to keep this law. 
 
 OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 When you consider how 
 apt every man is to have his 
 idol — something which he ad- 
 mires, or loves, or fears, or 
 trusts in, or adores, more than 
 the God who made and re- 
 deemed him, you will see the 
 reason and the necessity of 
 this command; and will most 
 heartily beg of God to keep 
 you from such idolatry, and 
 that you may love Him with 
 all your heart, and above all 
 things. 
 
 * The law of nature and right reason, being the law of 
 man in the state of innocence, would still have been a sufficien t 
 guide, had it not been much obscured, and almost blotted 
 out, and rendered ineffectual, by the transgression of our 
 first parents, and the wickedness of their posterity. It was 
 then that God republished these laws by Moses in writing 
 to awaken men, and to be a standing witness against all such 
 as would not consult their own consciences, and the law 
 written in their hearts.
 
 THE ADMINISTRATION 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 Minister. 
 
 Thou slialt not make 
 to thyself any graven 
 image, nor the likeness 
 of any thing that is in 
 heaven above, or in the 
 earth beneath, or in the 
 ^vater under the earth. 
 Thou shalt not bow down 
 to them, nor worship 
 them : for I the Lord 
 thy God am a jealous 
 God, and visit the sins 
 of the fathers upon the 
 children, unto the third 
 and fourth generation of 
 them that hate me, and 
 show mercy unto thou- 
 sands in them that love 
 me, and keep my coir., 
 mandments. 
 
 OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 The proneness of all nations 
 to the vile idolatr}' of making 
 and worshipping images, and 
 the creatures they represent, 
 shows the absolute necessity 
 of the authority of God, to 
 prevent so great a sin and 
 contempt of the divine Ma- 
 jesty; and the judgments that 
 would follow. 
 
 At the same time, God has 
 given us the greatest encou- 
 ragement to obey this, and all 
 his commands ; assuring us, 
 that both we and our chil- 
 dren's children shall reap the 
 blessing of our obedience. 
 
 Peoxjle. 
 
 Lord, have mercy upon 
 us, and incline our hearts 
 to keep this law. 
 
 Minister. 
 
 Thou Shalt not take Happy it is for the world 
 the Name of the Lord that men are restrained (as far
 
 OF THE LOKBS SUPPER- 
 
 COMMUNION. OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 as a command, and the fear 
 of God, and his judgments, 
 will restrain them) from pro- 
 faning his Name to idle and 
 ■wicked purposes. — Were it 
 not for this, all reverence for 
 oaths, and for God himself 
 would be lost among men. 
 
 thy God in vain : for the 
 Lord will not hold him 
 guiltless, that taketh his 
 Name in vain. 
 
 People. 
 I;ord, have mercy upon 
 us, and incline our hearts 
 to keep this law. 
 
 Minister. 
 Eem ember that thou 
 keep holy the Sabbath- 
 day. Six days shalt thou 
 labour, and do all that 
 thou hast to do ; but the 
 seventh day is the Sab- 
 bath of the Lord thy 
 God ; in it thou shalt do 
 no manner of work, thou, 
 and thy son, and thy 
 daughter, thy man-ser- 
 vant, and thy maid-ser- 
 vant, thy cattle, and the 
 stranger that is within 
 thy gates. For in six 
 days the Lord made hea- 
 ven and earth, the sea, 
 and all that in them is, 
 and rested the seventh 
 day ; wherefore the Lord 
 
 When we considerhow back- 
 ward we are to learn our duty 
 how apt to forget it, and un- 
 willing to put it in practice, 
 we cannot but acknowledge 
 the necessity and kindness 
 of this command; — which 
 obliges every man, who loves 
 and fears God, to keep one day 
 in seven holy to the Lord in 
 order to preserve the know- 
 ledga of the true God, and his 
 glorious perfections, and of 
 our creation and redemption, 
 that we may fear, and love, 
 and adore Him as we ought 
 to do :— The neglect of this 
 duty, commanded from the 
 beginning, having, in all pro- 
 bability, been the occasion 
 of that deplorable state of 
 ignorance and idolatry in the 
 heathen world; as it has been 
 of very remarkable judgments 
 upon many of those among
 
 54 
 
 THE ADMINISTRATION 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 blessed the seventh day, Christians, thathave profaned 
 
 and halloAved it. ^^'l ^f^; ^ , , ^^ 
 
 And, indeed, to profane the 
 
 p 7 Lord's-day, is, in a manner, 
 
 " * to deny the God that made 
 
 Lord, have mercy upon us, and the world, 
 us, and incline our hearts 
 to keep this law. 
 
 Minister. 
 Honour thy father and 
 thy mother ; that thy days 
 may be long in the land 
 which the Lord thy God 
 giveth thee. 
 
 People. 
 Lord, have mercy upon 
 us, and incline our hearts 
 to keep this law. 
 
 Minister, 
 
 Thou shalt do no mur- 
 der. 
 
 People. 
 Lord, have mercy upon 
 us, and incline our hearts 
 to keep this law. 
 
 Minister. 
 Thou shalt not commit 
 adulteiy. 
 
 The infinite mischiefs occa- 
 sioned by undutiful children, 
 by rebellions subjects, by un- 
 faithful servants, and by the 
 little regard had to those that 
 watch for our souls, show the 
 great goodness of God, who, 
 in order to prevent those evils, 
 hath given this command- 
 ment, with a promise of an 
 especial blessing to such as 
 obey it. 
 
 ]\Ien must be abandoned to 
 all inhumanity, who do not 
 acknowledge the great mercy 
 of God, in forbidding us, upon 
 pain of his displeasure, to 
 shorten our OAvn, or other 
 men's lives,byviolence, intem- 
 perance, or by such evilusage, 
 as may make their lives mise- 
 rable, and a burthen to them. 
 
 If the sins ot whoredom, im- 
 purity, and uncleanness, and
 
 Peopl 
 
 OF THE LORDS SUPPER. 
 
 COMMUNION. OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 p J that luxurjsdrunkenness, and 
 
 Lord, have mercy upon not been forbidden by God 
 
 US, and incline our hearts lumself, the world would have 
 
 * set light by them; and, as bad 
 
 to keep this law. a,s it was, would have been 
 
 much more wicked. 
 
 3Iimster. 
 
 Thou shalt not steal. Every one, whose rights and 
 properties have been invaded 
 by violence, or fraud, or injus- 
 tice, or thievery, does easily 
 Lord, have mercv upon see the reason, and goodness, 
 J . T "i ^„„+„ and necessity of this law of 
 
 US, and incline our hearts ^^^ . ^^^_ ^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^l^^ ^^ 
 
 to keep this law. pray most earnestly that it 
 
 may be religiously observed 
 Minister. by themselves and others. 
 
 Thou shalt not bear Evil-disposed people being 
 . , . , capable of doing the greatest 
 false witness against thy ^j.^hiefto the estates, reputa- 
 neighbour. tions, and lives of their neigh- 
 
 bours, by falseoaths, and lying 
 People. stories, God hath most merci- 
 
 , , , fully consulted the good of 
 
 Lord,havemercyupon^^J^.„^^^y^i^^f„,^,id^i„g 
 
 us, and incline our hearts them, at their peril, to ruin 
 to keep this law. themselves and others by 
 
 such wicked ways. 
 
 Minister. _ . , ^^ , ,, . 
 
 The wisdom of God, and his 
 
 Thou shalt not covet goodness to us, appears in this 
 thy neighbour's house, command :- Laying a re- 
 ,1 , ,, , , ,, straint upon the very evil de- 
 
 thou Shalt not covet thy ^i.e^ofourhearts.becausethis 
 neighbour's wife, nor his j^ the source and spring of all 
 servant, nor his maid, nor manner of wickedness.
 
 THE ADMINISTRATION 
 
 COMMUKION. OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 his OX, nor his ass, nor By this law He shows us 
 any thing that is his. that all our thoughts are 
 
 known to, and will be judged 
 People. by, Him at the great day. 
 
 Lord, have mercy upon 
 us, and write all these 
 thy laws in our hearts, 
 we beseech Thee. 
 
 Whoever considers the sad effects of men's disobedience 
 to these laws, in the lives of idolaters, common swearers, 
 profaners of the Lord's Day, undutiful children, rebellious 
 subjects, murderers of men's lives and reputations, whore- 
 mongers, thieves, peijured witnesses, and covetous persons, 
 and the judgment that attends them, will have reason to 
 bless God, who has given us rules to live by; and will most 
 earnestly beg Him to write and keep them in his own and 
 all men's hearts. 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 RUBRIC. 
 
 Then shall follow one of these two Collects for the Queen, 
 the Priest standing as before. 
 
 OBSERVATIONS. 
 - So great are the blessings of a righteous and peaceable 
 government, that we are commanded, in an especial manner, 
 to pray for kings, and for all that are in authority ; for them, 
 first, that remembering they are in the place of God, they 
 may endeavour to promote his glory whom they represent, 
 defend the persons and rights of men, and punish evil-doers 
 according to the tenor of these laws ; and, secondly, for our- 
 selves; that we may obey our governors out of a principle of 
 congcience, and in obedience to God.
 
 OP THE LORDS SUPPER. 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 Let US pray. 
 
 Almighty God, whose kingdom is eyerlasting, 
 and power infinite ; Have mercy upon the whole 
 Church ; and so rule the heart of thy chosen Ser- 
 vant VICTORIA, our Queen and Governor, that 
 she (knowing whose minister she is) may above all 
 things seek thy honour and glory : and that we, 
 and all her subjects (duly considering whose au- 
 thority she hath) may faithfully serve, honour, and 
 humbly obey her, in Thee, and for Thee, according 
 to thy blessed Word and ordinance ; through Jesus 
 Christ our Lord, who with Thee and the Holy Ghost 
 liveth and reigneth, ever one God, world without 
 end. Amen. 
 
 Or, 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, we are taught 
 by thy holy Word, that the hearts of Kings are in 
 thy rule and governance, and that thou dost dis- 
 pose and turn them as it seemeth best to thy godly 
 wisdom : We humbly beseech Thee so to dispose 
 and govern the heart of VICTORIA thy Servant, 
 our Queen and Governor, that in all her thoughts, 
 words, and works, she may ever seek thy honour 
 and glory, and study to preserve thy people com.- 
 mitted to her charge, in wealth, peace, and godli- 
 ness :— Grant this, merciful Father, for thy dear 
 Son's sake, Jesus Christ our Lord. A me7i.
 
 55 THE AD5IINISTRAT10N 
 
 COMMUNION. OBSERYATIONS. 
 
 RUBRIC. 
 
 Then shall be said the Col- ^e are all required to stand 
 led of the day. And imme- ^P' ^* ^^^ ^^^^^"^ "^ ^^^ ^°^- 
 
 diatelij after the Collect, the 
 
 pel, to show, that we have a 
 
 ^ very particular respect for, 
 
 Priest shall read the Epistle. ^^^ ^^^^ reverence attend to, 
 
 Then shall he read the Gospel g^gj.y t^j^g ^^^j .^^^ said or 
 
 (the people all standing vp). done by, or recorded of, our 
 
 And the Gospel ended, shall be most blessed Lord and Mas- 
 
 sung or said, ter. 
 
 I BELIEVE in one God the Father Almighty, 
 Maker of heaven and earth, And of all things 
 visible and invisible. 
 
 And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten 
 Son of God, Begotten of his Father before all worlds, 
 God of God, Light of Light, Yerj^ God of very God, 
 Begotten, not made. Being of one substance with 
 the Father; by whom all things were made. Who 
 for us men, and for our salvation came down from 
 heaven, And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of 
 the Virgin Mary, And was made man. And was 
 crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, He suf- 
 fered and was buried. And the third day He rose 
 again according to the Scriptures, And ascended 
 into heaven. And sitteth on the right hand of the 
 Father. And He shall come again with glor^' to 
 judge both the quick and the dead: Whose king- 
 dom shall have no end. 
 
 And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and 
 Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father and 
 the Son, Who with the Father and the Son together 
 is worshipped and glorified. Who spake by the Pro-
 
 OF THE LORDS SUPPER. UV 
 
 phets. And I believe one Catholic and Apostolick 
 Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the re- 
 mission of sins, And I look for the Resurrection of 
 the dead, And the life of the world to come. Amen. 
 
 Now you will have time to say secretly : 
 — Lord, increase my faith : — Grant that I may die in this 
 faith, and in the communion of thy holy Church ; and be 
 united to Thee and all thy members, by a faith and charity 
 that shall never end. 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 RUBRIC. 
 
 7'hen ike Curate shall de- 
 clare unto the people what 
 Holy-days, or Fasting-days, 
 are in the week following to be 
 observed. 
 
 RUBRIC. 
 
 Then shall follow the Ser- 
 mon, &c. 
 
 RUBRIC. 
 
 Then shall the Priest return 
 to the Lord's Table, and begin 
 the Offertory, saying one or 
 
 OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 The Church having taken 
 care that her Clergy shall do 
 their duty, in giving notice 
 of such holy-days, &c. as are 
 to be observed; every good 
 Christian will endeavour to 
 observe them, not as is the 
 manner of thoughtless peo- 
 ple, in idleness and intem- 
 perance; but in going to 
 Church, and praising God for 
 his mercies vouchsafed us in 
 Jesus Christ, and for his holy 
 Apostles, by whose labours 
 we were brought from the 
 power of Satan unto God. 
 
 OBSERVATIONS, &C. 
 If you hearthe Sermon with 
 a religious attention, you will 
 be much better disposed to re- 
 ceive the Sacrament worthily. 
 
 Now say secretly: — I will 
 give as I am able, according 
 to the blessing of the Lord my
 
 60 
 
 THE ADMINISTRATION 
 
 KUBRIC. 
 
 more of ihese Seyitences fol- 
 lowing, as he fh'inketh most 
 convenient in his discretio7i. 
 
 OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 God, which He has given me. 
 — And when you give your 
 Alms, say, Lord, pardon all 
 my vain expenses ; and ac- 
 cept of this testimony of my 
 gratitude, for what I have 
 received from Thee. 
 
 COMMDKIOK. OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 Let your light so shine O heavenly Father, give us 
 
 before men, that they all grace that we may honour 
 
 , , Thee, both in our lives, and 
 
 may see your good works, ^^ ^,^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ that Thou 
 
 and glorify your Father mayest be glorifed by those 
 
 which is in heaven. St. that receive them. 
 Matt. V. 16. 
 
 Lay not up for your- 
 selves treasure upon the 
 earth ; where the rust 
 and moth doth corrupt, 
 and where thieves break 
 through and steal; but lay 
 up for yourselves trea- 
 sures in heaven ; where 
 neither rust nor moth 
 doth corrupt, and where 
 thieves do not break 
 through and steal. St. 
 Matt. vi. 19, 20. 
 
 "Whatsoever ye would 
 that men sho'^ild do unto 
 
 Magnify the power of thy 
 grace, O God, upon us, in 
 freeing our souls from the 
 love of riches. — That we may 
 have the greatest part of our 
 treasures in heaven; and that 
 our hearts may be there also. 
 
 May this rule of eternal 
 justice be ever present with
 
 OP THE lord's supper. 61 
 
 COMMUNION. OBSERVATIONS, 
 
 you, even so do unto us, that neither self-love, nor 
 them ; for this is the Law interest, may lead us to trans- 
 and the Prophets. St. ^^^^^ 
 Matt. Yil 12. 
 
 Not every one that Grant, O God, that we may 
 
 • ,i . _„ T ^,.^ never build our hopes of sal- 
 
 saith unto me, Lord, . ; , 
 
 vation upon an outward pro- 
 
 Lord, shall enter mto the f^^^^^^ o^jy^ ^vithout a life of 
 
 Kingdom of heaven ; but holiness and good works. 
 
 he that doeth the will of 
 
 my Father which is in 
 
 heaven. St. Matt. vii. 21. 
 
 Zacchgeus stood forth, If Thou, O God, givest me 
 
 and said unto the Lord, ability, give me an heart to be 
 
 ^,,,T 1,1 iK'x- both just and charitable, that 
 
 Behold, Lord, the half of ^1,0^ mayestsay unto me as 
 
 my goods I give to the Thoudidstunto this publican, 
 
 poor; and if I have done Salvation is come to thy house, 
 any wrong to any man, I 
 restore fourfold. St. Luke 
 
 AVhogoeth a warfare at Shall the soldier, the hus- 
 
 any time of his own cost] landman, and the shepherd, 
 
 ,^^, , , , , . , all have their wages, and thy 
 
 Whoplantethavineyard, Ministers only, O Jesus, be 
 
 and eatetll not of the fruit grudged theirs? God forbid! 
 
 thereof] Or who feedeth Vouchsafe unto me, and to 
 
 a flock, and eateth not all Christians, abetter mind, 
 
 Of the milk of the flock ? ' ''''''''' ^^^"- 
 1 Cor. ix. 7. 
 
 If we have sown unto May the good Spirit of God 
 
 you spiritual things, is it bless the heavenly seed sown
 
 62 THE ADMINISTRATION 
 
 COMMUNION. OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 a great matter if we shall ^y l^is Ministers, that both 
 reapyourworldlythingsl *?, rf.^.r!,/"^ '"' 
 
 1 Cor. ix, 11. 
 
 fruit of their labour. 
 
 Do ye not know, that Since Thou, O Jesus, hast 
 they who minister about ""'^^'"''^ '^''' ^^' }"' '^ ^^°/^ 
 
 , , ,, . ,. „ ,, me to envy, or to deprive thy 
 
 holy things live of the ^^.^^^^s of the right which 
 sacrifice ; and they who Thou hast given them, 
 wait at the altar are par- 
 takers with the altar] 
 Even so hath the Lord 
 also ordained, that they 
 who preach the Gospel 
 should live of the Gospel. 
 
 1 Cor. ix. 13, 14. 
 
 He that soweth little I* ^i" ^^ our own fault if 
 shall reap little; and he we reap not a plentiful crop, 
 that soweth plenteously 
 shall reap plenteously. 
 
 Let every man do accord- " I^^t us proportion our 
 in- as he is disposed in .'; ^^"^^ f our ability, lest we 
 , . , ^ 1.1 provoke God to proportion 
 
 his heart, not grudgingly, ,< ^-^ blessings to our alms."- 
 or of necessity ; for God Bishop Beveridge. 
 loveth a cheerful giver. 
 
 2 Cor. ix. 6, 7. 
 
 Let him that is taught There is nothing, O God, 
 in the Word, minister which we can give to thy 
 unto him that teacheth. Ministers equal to the bless- 
 ,, 11. 'iig which we receive from 
 
 m all good things. Be them, who minister unto us 
 not deceived, God is not the means of grace and salva- 
 mocked : for whatsoever ^^°^»
 
 OP THE LOEDS SUPPER. 
 
 63 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 Give me, O God, a pious 
 and a contented mind ; and, 
 for the rest, thy will be done. 
 
 a man soweth that shall 
 he reap. Gal. vi. Q, 7. 
 
 While we have time, let Blessed be God, that I have 
 
 us do good unto all men ; f ^ ^ime ! Lord, give me an 
 
 , ° . „ ^ ,1, heart to do good, before the 
 
 and specially unto them ^.^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ 
 
 that are of the household can work. 
 of faith. Gal.vi.lO. 
 
 Godliness is great 
 riches, if a man be con- 
 tent with that he hath : 
 for we brought nothing 
 into the world, neither 
 may we carry any thing 
 out. 1 Tim. vi. 6, 7. 
 
 Charge them who are ^l^ss God, ye that have 
 
 rich in this world, that "'^^^^' '[ ^^ ^^' given you 
 , , , T , . 1 grace and power to give them 
 they be ready to gi^e, and ^-^^^ ^ uberal hand, and cheer- 
 glad to distribute; laying ful heart, without which they 
 up in store for themselves will be the occasion of certain 
 a good foundation against '^"'"* 
 the time to come, that 
 they may attain eternal 
 life, irzm.vi.17,18,19. 
 
 God is not unrighteous, 
 that He will forget your 
 works, and labour that 
 
 My God, we have nothing 
 but what is thine; and yet 
 Thou makest thyself a debtor 
 to us for what we give to thy 
 proceedeth of love ; which poor, and to thy ministers.— 
 love ye have showed for How great is his goodness! 
 
 his Name's sake who
 
 64 
 
 THE ADMINISTRATION 
 
 COMMUNION. OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 have ministered unto the 
 saints, and yet do minis- 
 ter, Heh. vi. 10. 
 
 To do good, and to dis- May our prayers, and our 
 tribute, forget not ; for ^}^f: so up before Thee, o 
 
 with such sacrifices God 
 
 God! And graciously accept 
 them for Jesus Christ's sake. 
 
 is well pleased. Heb. xiii. 
 16. 
 
 Whoso hath this world's Thou, O God, canst support 
 
 good, and seeth his bro- ^^^ ^^^ P°°^ ^!^^°^^ °''' ^^- 
 
 , i J 1 J. sistance; but it is by them 
 
 ther have need, and shut- tj^^t Thou triest om faith, 
 teth up his compassion and our love for Thee, 
 from him, how dwelleth 
 the love of God in him ] 
 1 St. John iii. 17. 
 
 Give alms of thy goods. Give me, O Lord, a true 
 
 and never turn thy face compassion for the miseries 
 
 '' J of others, that Thou mavest 
 
 from any poor man ; and have compassion on me," at 
 
 then the face of the Lord the great day. 
 shall not be turned a\7ay 
 from thee. Tob. iv. 7. 
 
 Be merciful after thy I thank Thee, o God, that 
 
 power. If thou hast much, Thoujudgestnotbythegreat- 
 ^. , ^ 1 -x- .1 ness of the gift, but by the 
 
 give plenteously : if thou ^^^^^^ ^„^ ^j^^ ^^^j.^y ^^ ^^^ 
 
 hast little, do thy dili- giver; and wilt reward ac- 
 gence gladly to give of cordingly. 
 that little: for so gatherest 
 thou thyself a goodre ward
 
 OP THE LORDS SUPPER. 
 
 65 
 
 COMilUKlON. 
 
 in the day ot necessity. 
 Tob. iv. 8, 9. 
 
 He that hath pity upon 
 the poor lendeth unto the 
 Lord : and look, what he 
 layeth out, it shall be paid 
 him again. Prov. xix. 17 • 
 
 Blessed be the man that 
 provideth for the sick and 
 needy: the Lord shall de- 
 liver him in the time of 
 trouble. Psalm xli. 1. 
 
 OB rr.YATIOKf 
 
 To thy account, O God, I 
 place my charity to the poc, 
 Thou sendest unto me ; and I 
 know that I shall be no loser. 
 
 Keep me, God, from all 
 idle and vain expenses, that I 
 may always have to give to 
 him that needeth. At the 
 hour of death and in the day 
 of judgment, good Lord, deli- 
 
 RUBRIC. 
 Whilst these senteiices are in 
 reading, the Deacons, Church- 
 wardens, or other ft person 
 appointed for that purpose, 
 shall receive the Alms for the 
 Poor, and other devotions of 
 the people, in a decent bason, 
 to be provided by the Parish 
 for that purpose; and reve- 
 rently bring it to the Priest, 
 who shall humbly present and 
 place it upon the holy Table. 
 
 RUBRIC. 
 And* when there is a com- 
 munion, the Priest shall then 
 
 OBSERVATIONS. 
 You will now have the 
 comfort of seeing your Alms 
 presented unto God by his 
 minister, in order to bring 
 down his blessing upon your- 
 self, and upon the rest of 
 your substance and labours, 
 according as you have been a 
 niggardly or a cheerful giver. 
 
 The Priest now, and not till 
 this time, placeth the Bread 
 
 * If this Rubric is not strictly observed, as in many places 
 it is not, the intent of the Church is defeated, and a very 
 instructive circumstance is omitted .
 
 66 THE ADMINISTRATION 
 
 RUBRIC. OBSERVATIONS 
 
 place upon Vie Table so much and Wine upon the Lord's 
 Bread and Wine as he shall Table, in the sight of the 
 think svfficient. Aper which communicants, as a public 
 done, the Priest shall say, acknowledgment, that our 
 
 lives, and whatever is neces- 
 sary for their preservation, 
 are owing to the gift of God. 
 
 COMMUNION, OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 Let US pray for the We are now going to exer- 
 Whole state of Christ's cise another and most exten- 
 
 Church militant here in 
 
 sive branch of Christian cha- 
 rity towards the whole Church 
 earth. of Christ ; which you should 
 
 seriously attend to, that you 
 may add (secretly) Amen to 
 every petition. 
 
 Almighty and overliving God, who by thy holy 
 Apostle hast taught us to make prayers, and sup- 
 plications, and to give thanks, for all men ; we 
 humbly beseech Thee most mercifully [to accept our 
 alms and oblations, and] to receive these our prayers, 
 vrhich we otFer unto thy Divine Majesty ; beseeching 
 Thee to inspire continually the universal Church 
 with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord : And 
 grant that all they that do confess thy holy Name 
 may agree in the truth of thy holy Word, and live 
 in unity, and godly love. We beseech Thee also 
 to save and defend all Christian Kings, Princes, 
 and Governors ; and especially thy Servant VIC- 
 TORIA , our Queen ; that under hor we may be
 
 OP THE lord's supper, 67 
 
 godly and quietly governed : and grant unto her 
 whole Council, and to all that are put in Authority 
 under her, that they may truly and indiflPerently 
 minister justice, to the punishment of wickedness 
 and vice, and to the maintenance of thy true reli- 
 gion, and virtue. Give grace, heavenly Father, 
 to all Bishops and Curates, that they may both by 
 their life and doctrine set forth thy true and lively 
 Word, and rightly and duly administer thy holy 
 Sacraments: And to all thy people give thy 
 heavenly grace; and especially to this congrega- 
 tion here present; that, with meek heart and due 
 reverence, they may hear, and receive thy holy 
 Word ; truly serving Thee in holiness and righte- 
 ousness all the days of their life. And we most 
 humbly beseech Thee, of thy goodness, Lord, to 
 comfort and succour all them who in this trans- 
 itory life are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or 
 any other adversity. And we also bless thy holy 
 Name for all thy servants departed this life in thy 
 faith and fear ; beseeching Thee to give us grace 
 so to follow their good examples, that with them 
 we may be partakers of thy heavenly kingdom: 
 Grant this, Father, for Jesus Christ's sake, our 
 only Mediator and Advocate. Amen. 
 
 COMMUNION. OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 RUBRIC. If you seriously attend to 
 
 When the Minister glvcth the following exhortations or 
 
 warning for the celebration of warnings, you will learn what 
 
 f2
 
 THE ADMINISXKATION 
 
 RUBRIC. OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 theholyComimniion,{u'hichhe you ought to do, in order to 
 shall always do vpon the Sun- be a worthy communicant. 
 day, or some Holy-day, imme- And you would do well to 
 diately preceding,} after the read them over again, when 
 Sermon or Homily ended, he you return home, that you 
 shall read this Exhortation mayfix them in your memory, 
 following. and that they maybe a stand- 
 
 ing rule to go by through your 
 whole life. 
 
 COMMUNION. OBSERVATIONS. 
 Dearly* beloved, on Believe it for a certain 
 day next I purpose, ^'■"*'^' ^^^* ^"^^ ^^ ^^^ "°* 
 
 ,1 1 /-I 1. • i religiously disposed to go to 
 through God 8 assistance, this .rdin^^ee! are unquali- 
 to administer to all such fied to ask or receive any bless- 
 as shall be religiously and ing or favour from God. 
 
 devoutly disposed the 
 
 __ . r i 1 1 CI That, therefore, you may 
 
 most comfortable Sacra- , , ij • / 
 
 lay hold on every occasion of- 
 
 ment of the Body and fered you-consider seriously 
 
 Blood of Christ ; to be by what you are called to. 
 
 them received in remem- 
 
 brance of his meritorious ^''' ^^ f f^ '^r^."^^"T 
 ,, IT-,. command of Jesus Christ, by 
 
 Cross and Passion; where- ^,hom alone you can hope for 
 by alone we obtain re- salvation. 
 
 * When it is considered how many poor Christians there 
 are, who have little or no other means of coming to the 
 knowledge of this ordinance, and the manner of preparing 
 themselves for it, but by what they learn from hearing these 
 exhortations ; every pastor will think himself obliged in con- 
 science, and as he values the edification of his flock, to read 
 these exhortations with the greatest deliberation, and with an 
 affection that shall even force the attention of his hearers.
 
 OF THE LORD S SUPPER. 
 
 69 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 mission of our sins, and 
 are made partakers of 
 the kingdom of heaven. 
 Wherefore it is our duty 
 to render most humble 
 and hearty thanks to Al- 
 mighty God our heavenly 
 Father, for that He hath 
 given his Son our Saviour 
 Jesus Christ, not only to 
 die for us, but also to be 
 our spiritual food and sus- 
 tenance in that holy Sa- 
 crament. Which being so 
 divine and comfortable a 
 thing to them who receive 
 it worthily, and so dan- 
 gerous to them that will 
 presume to receive it un- 
 worthily ; my duty is to 
 exhort you in the mean 
 season to consider the dig- 
 nity of that holy mystery, 
 and the great peril of 
 the unworthy receiving 
 thereof; and so to search 
 and examine your own 
 consciences, (and that not 
 lightly, and after the 
 manner of dissemblers 
 with God ; but so) that ye 
 
 OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 2dly, To testify to the world, 
 that you belong to Him ; and 
 to join with his family, in 
 order to recount and acknow- 
 ledge the most inestimable 
 blessing, which He hath pur- 
 chased for his Church. 
 
 And, Zdly, To devote your- 
 self to Him, and to his service, 
 who is continually interceding 
 for all such as go unto God 
 by Him. 
 
 And very many will be the 
 benefits of embracing every 
 occasion that is offered you. 
 
 You will not easily fall into 
 a state of sin, and security, 
 being so often put in mind of 
 the danger of going carelessly 
 and unprepared. 
 
 You hear in what a good 
 preparation consists — In con- 
 fessing your sins to Almighty 
 God, with full purpose of 
 amendment of life ; — In exer- 
 cising the duties of charity; 
 — In giving and forgiving, &c. 
 
 All which being done in 
 obedience to the command of 
 Christ must needs be accept- 
 able to the Divine Majesty, 
 and, in time, gain you all those 
 graces which you can desire, 
 or stand in need of.
 
 70 
 
 THE ADMINISTRATION 
 
 COMMUNION. OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 may come lioly and clean And, for your comfort, re- 
 to such a heavenly Feast, member that if you are pre- 
 . ,1 . , pared, as you ought to be, 
 
 in the marriage-ffai-ment, t '. ^ . 
 
 % J 'for this Sacrament, you are 
 
 required by God in holy prepared for death, and for a 
 Scripture, and be receiv- blessed eternity, 
 ed as -R-orthy partakers of 
 that holy Table. 
 
 The way and means Consider how many there 
 
 thereto is ; First, to exa- f'' ''^^j *°/^^^ ^«"°^' ^'l 
 
 .. , deprived of this means of 
 
 mine your lives and con- gj-^^e and salvation :-And 
 
 versations by the rule how many, through a most 
 
 of God's commandments; stupid ignorance and negli- 
 
 and whereinsoever ye e^'^'^^- '^^P"^'^ ^^^'^'^^^'"^"f 
 
 , ,, . , it: — And you cannot but give 
 
 shall perceive yourselves ^^^ shanks, both for the op- 
 
 to have offended, either portunities which he affords 
 
 by will, word, or deed, you, and for the graces He 
 
 there to bewail your own gi^'^s you, by your resolving 
 
 • r ^ ^ J. e to close with them, 
 
 sinfulness, and to coniess 
 
 yourselves to Almighty ^^^ ^^.^j ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ 
 
 God, with full purpose of go not with an evil conscience, 
 
 amendment of life. And as Judas did; — with any bad 
 
 if ye shall perceive your design of malice in your heart; 
 
 a- ,1 v — or while you live or resolve 
 
 offences to be such as are ^ ,. . i ,„„ ,:„ „„rp 
 to die m any known sin unre- 
 
 not only against God, but pelted of.— Or, 
 also against your neigh- 
 bours, then ye shall re- j^^^,^^^ ,,iti,out fully pur- 
 
 COncile yourselves unto posing, through the grace of 
 them ; being ready to God, to lead a life becoming 
 make restitution, and sa- ^ Christian, 
 tisfaction, according to 
 the uttermost of your
 
 OP THE LORDS SUPPER. 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 powers, for all injuries 
 and wrongs done by you 
 to any other ; and being 
 likewise ready to forgive 
 otliers that have offended 
 you,asyou would have for- 
 giveness of your offences 
 at God's hand: for other- 
 wise the receiving of the 
 holy Communion doth 
 nothing else but increase 
 your damnation. There- 
 fore, if any of you be a 
 blasphemer of God, an 
 hinderer or slanderer of 
 his Word, an adulterer, 
 or be in malice, or envy, 
 or in any other grievous 
 crime, repent you of your 
 sins, or else come not to 
 that holyTable; lest, after 
 the taking of that holy Sa- 
 crament, the devil enter 
 into you, as he entered 
 into Judas, and fill you 
 full of all iniquities, and 
 bring you to destruction 
 both of body and soul. 
 
 And because it is requi- 
 site, that no man should 
 
 OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 Consider, therefore, the great 
 hazard you run of going to 
 the Sacrament, while you live 
 in any known sin : you will 
 provoke God to leave you 
 to yourself, and to that evil 
 spirit, which is continually 
 seeking whom he may be 
 permitted to devour. 
 
 Do not despise so kind an 
 offer as the Minister of God
 
 THE ADMi:<riSTaATION 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 come to the holy Com- 
 munion, hut "with a full 
 trust in God's mercy, and 
 with a quiet conscience ; 
 therefore if there be any 
 of you, -who by this means 
 cannot quiet his own con- 
 science herein, but re- 
 quireth further comfort 
 or counsel, let him come 
 to me, or to some other 
 discreet and learned ]Mi- 
 nister of God's "Word, and 
 open his grief; that by 
 the ministry of God's 
 holy Word he may re- 
 ceive the benefit of ab- 
 solution, together with 
 ghostly counsel and ad- 
 vice, to the quieting of 
 his conscience, and avoid- 
 ing of all scruple and 
 doubtfulness. 
 
 OBSEP.VATIONS. 
 
 now makes you, if you have 
 any doubt upon your spirits, 
 the advantage being greater 
 th m you can at piescnt ima- 
 gine. 
 
 You will give liim an op- 
 portunity of convincing you 
 of sins, which, perhr.ps, you 
 were not before aware of, and 
 which may arise in judgment 
 against you ; or clearing up 
 some doubts, which might pro- 
 ceed from a disordered mind 
 or state of health, rather than 
 from an evil conscience. 
 
 And do not entertain a 
 thought so injurious to the 
 merciful promise of your 
 Saviour to the pastors of his 
 Church, St. John, xx. 23, or 
 imagine, that the Absolution 
 given by his Minister, after he 
 hath inquired into the motives 
 and manner of your repent- 
 ance, according to the rules 
 of the Gospel, do not imagine, 
 that this will be of no avail to 
 the health of your soul, and to 
 the comfort of your mind. 
 
 RUBRIC. 
 
 OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 Or, in case he shall see ike 
 people negligent to come to 
 the holy Communion, itistead 
 of the former, he shall use this 
 Exhortation. 
 
 No Minister of God must 
 say, that he cannot get such 
 a convenient number as the 
 Rubric requires to communi- 
 cate with him as often as he
 
 OF THE LORD S SUPPER. 
 
 73 
 
 OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 himself is disposed, until he 
 can truly say, that he has ap- 
 plied to his people more than 
 once, in the words of this 
 Exhortation following — And 
 until he has begged of God 
 to touch their hearts with a 
 sense of their duty and dan- 
 ger, as he promises, and will 
 not fail to do, considering 
 how verymuch depends upon 
 so sacred and saving an or- 
 dinance. 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 Dearly beloved bre- 
 thren, on I intend, 
 
 by God's grace, to cele- 
 brate the Lord's Supper : 
 unto which, in God's be- 
 half, I bid you all that are 
 here present ; and beseech 
 you, for the Lord Jesus 
 Christ's sake, that ye will 
 not refuse to come there- 
 to, being so lovingly call- 
 ed and bidden by God 
 Himself. Ye know how 
 grievous and unkind a 
 thing it is, when a man 
 hath prepared a rich feast, 
 decked his table with all 
 kind of provision, so that 
 
 PIOUS REFLECTIONS. 
 
 When the tender love of God 
 will not prevail with Chris- 
 tians to consider their ways, 
 they will learn from this Ex- 
 hortation what they must ex- 
 pect from the despised offers 
 of mercy. 
 
 Say, therefore, to yourself, 
 Why am I so earnestly, lov- 
 ingly invited? Why is my 
 Pastor, why is the Church, so 
 much concerned for my going 
 to the Lord's Supper? — Is it 
 not because she knows that 
 this is the most acceptable
 
 THE ADMINISTKATION 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 there lacketh nothing but 
 the guests to sit down; 
 and yet they who are 
 called(without any cause) 
 most unthankfully refuse 
 to come. Which of you in 
 such a case would not be 
 moved? Who would not 
 think a great injury and 
 wrong done unto him? 
 Wherefore, most dearly 
 beloved in Christ, take ye 
 good heed, lest ye, with- 
 drawing yourselves from 
 this holy Supper, pro- 
 voke God's indignation 
 against you. It is an easy 
 matter for a man to say, 
 I will not communicate, 
 because I am otherwise 
 hindered with Avorldly 
 business. But such ex- 
 cuses are not so easily ac- 
 cepted and allowed before 
 God. If any man say, I 
 am a grievous sinner, and 
 therefore am afraid to 
 come : wherefore then do 
 ye not repent and amend] 
 When God calleth you, 
 are ye not ashamed to 
 
 PIOUS REFLECTIONS. 
 
 waj' of serving God, of se- 
 curing his favour, and my 
 own salvation? 
 
 Is it not because slie would 
 have me look into the state of 
 my soul, as I must do before 
 I go to this Sacrament, that 
 I may not live in the way to 
 ruin, till I am surprised by 
 death, and utterly unprepared 
 for the account I must give? 
 
 Shall my Saviour's and his 
 Minister's love and care be 
 lost upon me? — Is this the 
 way to show my thankfulness 
 for the mercies I hope for on 
 account of his death ? 
 
 Is He the better for my ser 
 vices? Or do I not, indeed, 
 serve myself most when I 
 obey his commands, and ac- 
 cept of his invitation ? 
 
 They that be whole, indeed, 
 need not a Physician: butdare 
 I say this in my case, when 
 T so sensibly feel the corrup- 
 tion of my nature, and how 
 much I stand in need of help ? 
 
 Must I be invited, entreated, 
 compelled, to give God thanks 
 for the greatest blessing He 
 ever bestowed on men ? — And 
 to lay hold on the only means 
 of making my peace with 
 Him? 
 
 Doth it repent me that I 
 was dedicated to God in bap' 
 tism ? 
 
 How shall I tremble, if I
 
 OF THE LORD S SUPPER. 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 say ye will not come'? 
 When ye should return to 
 God, will ye excuse your- 
 selves and say, ye are not 
 ready? Consider earn- 
 estly with yourselves 
 how little such feigned 
 excuses will avail before 
 God. They that refused 
 the feast in the Gospel, 
 because they had bought 
 a farm, or would try their 
 yokes of oxen, or because 
 they were married, were 
 not so excused, but count- 
 ed unworthy of the hea- 
 venly feast. I,formypart, 
 shall be ready ; and, ac- 
 cording to mine Office, I 
 bid you in the Name of 
 God, I call you in Christ's 
 behalf, I exhort yon, as 
 ye love your own sal- 
 vation, that ye will be 
 partakers of this holy 
 Communion. And as the 
 Son of God did vouchsafe 
 to yield up his soul by 
 death upon the Cross for 
 your salvation; so it is 
 your duty to receive the 
 
 PIOUS REFLECTIONS. 
 
 should be required to re- 
 nounce my Saviour, and all 
 my hopes in His death? 
 
 What can he more like it 
 than frequently turning my 
 back upon this ordinance, 
 when I am invited ? 
 
 How many tears did it cost 
 St. Peter, for saying that he 
 was not Christ's disciple ! Will 
 it be accounted a less crime 
 in me to deny Him in deed, 
 by refusing to join myself 
 with his disciples? 
 
 What if this should be the 
 last opportunity that God will 
 vouchsafe me? This having 
 been the case with many be- 
 fore. 
 
 Can I expect to be received 
 after so many wilful neglects, 
 when I am compelled by death 
 to flee to Jesus Christ for help 
 and comfort, when I shall 
 most stand in need of it? 
 
 Let me consider what I am 
 invited to; to thank my Sa- 
 viour for my redemption: — To 
 engage Him to be my advocate 
 with God for my pardon : — To 
 declare my love and charity 
 for all mankind, whom He 
 has been so good as to re- 
 deem:— And to declare my 
 resolutions of living as be- 
 comes a Christian. 
 
 It is true, I am unworthy, 
 (and who is not of himself 
 unworthy of God's mercy?)
 
 THE ADMINISTRATION 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 Communion in remem- 
 brance of the sacrifice 
 of his death, as He him- 
 self hath commanded: 
 "which if ye shall neglect 
 to do, consider with 3'our- 
 selves how great injury 
 ye do unto God, and how 
 sore punishment hangeth 
 over your heads for the 
 same ; when ye wilfully 
 abstain from the Lord's 
 Table, and separate from 
 your brethren, who come 
 to feed on the banquet of 
 that most heavenly food. 
 These things if ye earn- 
 estly consider, ye will by 
 God's grace return to a 
 better mind : for the ob- 
 taining whereof, we shall 
 not cease to make our 
 humble petitions unto 
 Almighty God our hea- 
 venly Father. 
 
 PIOUS REFLECTIONS. 
 
 and so am afraid of going 
 unprepared : But then I will 
 consider that these very fears 
 of offending God are some 
 degree of preparation; and to 
 refuse when 1 am invited, 
 will but increase my guilt. 
 
 I will therefore go, that I 
 may obtain grace to be better 
 prepared, every time I have 
 an opportunity of going to 
 this Sacrament. 
 
 RUBRIC. OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 Atthetimeof the celebration If you seriously attend to 
 
 of the Communion, the Com- the following Exhortation, 
 
 niunicants being conveniently you will be better able to judge 
 
 placed for the receiving of the how well you are prepared: —
 
 OF THE LOUD S SUPPER. 
 
 KUBSIC. 
 
 OBSERVATIONS, 
 
 holy Sacrament, the Priest You will see the benefits you 
 shall say this Exhortation. may depend on by a ■vvoithy 
 preparation, and the evils you 
 expose yourself to, by going 
 rashly, or out of mere custom, 
 to this holy Sacrament. 
 
 COMMUNION. DEVOTIONS. 
 
 Dearly beloved in the 
 Lord, ye that mind to 
 come to the holy Com- 
 munion of the Body and 
 Blood of our Saviour 
 Christ,must consider how 
 St. Paul exhorteth all 
 persons diligently to try 
 and examine themselves, 
 before they presume to 
 eat of that Bread, and 
 drink of that Cup. For 
 as the benelit is great, if 
 with a true penitent heart 
 and lively faith we receive 
 that holy Sacrament, (for 
 then we spiritually eat 
 the flesh of Christ, and 
 drink his blood ; then we 
 dwellinChrist,andChrist 
 in us; we are one with Here say secretly, May itbe 
 
 Christ, and Christ with ^f/f '"^'" ''^" 71^ '" """" 
 ' and to every soul here prc- 
 
 us) ; so IS the danger great, sent !
 
 78 
 
 THE ADMINISTRATION 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 if we receive the same 
 unworthily. For then we 
 are guilty of the Body and 
 Blood of Christ our Sa- 
 viour ; we eat and drink 
 our own damnation, not 
 considering the Lord's 
 Body; we kindle God's 
 wrath against us ; we pro- 
 voke Him to plague us 
 with divers diseases, and 
 sundry kinds of death. 
 Judge therefore your- 
 selves, brethren, that ye 
 be not judged of the 
 Lord; repent you truly 
 for your sins past ; have 
 a lively and stedfast faith 
 in Christ our Saviour; 
 amend your lives, and be 
 in perfect charity with 
 all men; so shall ye be 
 meet partakers of those 
 holy mysteries. And 
 above all things ye must 
 give most humble and 
 hearty thanks to God, 
 the Father, the Son, and 
 the Holy Ghost, for the re- 
 demption of the world by 
 the death and passion of 
 
 DEVOTIONS. 
 
 Suffer us not, O God, to 
 draw these judgments upon 
 ourselves, by going presump- 
 tuously to thy holy Table. 
 
 I am indeed a miserable 
 sinner ! God be merciful to 
 
 I believ( 
 my faith. 
 
 Lord, increase 
 
 Blessed be the glorious 
 Trinity for our redemption.
 
 OF THE LORDS SUPPER. 
 
 79 
 
 OOMMUNION. 
 
 our Saviour Christ, both 
 God and man; who did 
 humble Himself, even to 
 the death upon the Cross, 
 for us, miserable sinners, 
 who lay in darkness and 
 the shadow of death; that 
 He might make us the 
 children of God, and 
 exalt us to everlasting 
 life. And to the end that 
 we should always remem- 
 ber the exceeding great 
 love of our Master, and 
 onlySaviour Jesus Christ, 
 thus dying for us, and 
 the innumerable benefits 
 which by his precious 
 blood-shedding He hath 
 obtained to us; He hath 
 instituted and ordained 
 holy mysteries, as pledges 
 of his love, and for a 
 continual remembrance 
 of his death, to our great 
 and endless comfort. To 
 Him therefore with th 
 Father and the Holy 
 Ghost, let us give (as we 
 are most bound en) conti- 
 nual thanks, submitting 
 
 DEVOTIONS. 
 
 In these thy sufferings, O 
 Jesus, I see the punishment 
 due to sinners. 
 
 Blessed be thy holy Name, 
 for this instance of thy love 
 and concern for sinners, lest 
 they should forget themselves, 
 and Thee! 
 
 May I never forget this 
 valuable blessing! — May I 
 never neglect this way of 
 preserving the remembrance 
 of it!
 
 80 TIJK ADMINISTRATION 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 ourselves -wholly to his 
 holy will and pleasure, 
 and studying to serve 
 Ilim intrue holiness and 
 righteousness all thedays 
 of our life. A men. 
 
 RUBRIC. 
 
 7'hen shall the Priest say to them that come to receive the 
 holy Communion, 
 
 COMMUNION. DEVOTIONS. 
 
 Ye that do truly and I d" sincerely repent, and 
 earnestly repent you of I am s^^ry for my sins, 
 your sins, and are in love I forgive, as I hope to be 
 and charity with your forK'vcn. 
 ncighl»ours,and intend to 
 load a new life, following 
 the eoninianduicnta of 
 God, and Avalking from 
 lienccforth in his holy May it be to mine, and to 
 
 This 1 purpose by the grace 
 of God to do. 
 
 ways; ]3raw near with 11'^^/*;";^"'^', °^ '""'^ "''"' 
 faith, and take this holy '"^ prtsen 
 Sacrament to your com- 
 fort; and make your 
 humble confession to 
 Almighty God, meekly 
 kneeling upon your knees.
 
 OF THE LOUD's SUPPKK. SI 
 
 COMMUNION. OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 nUBRIC. 
 
 Then shall this general Con- This most excellent Form 
 fession be made in the name of Confession may be made 
 of all those that are minded use of in private, by every 
 to receive the holy Commu- one who is preparing himself 
 nion, by one of the Ministers ; for the Sacrament. 
 both he and all the people 
 kneeling humbly upon their 
 knees, and saying, 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 Maker of all things, Judge of uU men ; We acknow- 
 ledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness. 
 Which we, from time to time, most grievously have 
 committed, By thought, word, and deed, Against 
 thy Divine Majesty, Provokingmost justly thy wrath 
 and indignation against us. We do earnestly re- 
 pent, And arc heartily sorry for these our misdoings; 
 The remembrance of them is grievous unto us ; The 
 burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon 
 UH, Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; 
 For thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake, Forgive 
 us all that is past ; And grant that we may ever 
 hereafter Serve and please Thee In newness of life. 
 To the honour and glory of thy Name, Through 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 RUBRIC. 
 Then shall the Priest {or the Bishop, being present,) stand 
 vp, and turning himself to the people, pronounce this Abso- 
 lution. 
 
 O
 
 82 
 
 THE ADMINISTRATION 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 Almighty God, our 
 heavenly Father, who of 
 his great mercy hath 
 promised forgivenesB of 
 sins to all them that with 
 hearty repentance and 
 true faith turn unto Him; 
 Have mercy upon you ; 
 pardon and deliver you 
 from all your sins; con- 
 firm and strengthen you 
 in all goodness; and 
 bring you to everlasting 
 life ; through Jesus Christ 
 our Lord. Ame7i. 
 
 DEVOTIONS. 
 
 May this pardon, O God, 
 rest upon my soul, and seal 
 the forgiveness of all my sins ! 
 
 T/ien shall the Priest say, 
 
 Hear * what comfortable words our Saviour Christ 
 saith unto all that truly turn to Him. 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 Come unto me, all that 
 travail and are heavy 
 laden, and I will refresh 
 you. St. Matt. xi. 28. 
 
 So God loved the 
 
 DEVOTIONS. 
 Make me, O Jesus, truly 
 sensible of my sad condition, 
 that I may more gladly go to 
 Thee for help. 
 
 I believe : O Lord, increase 
 
 V/orld, that he gave his my faith, that I may ever love 
 * These most comfortable words should always be read 
 with great deliberation, that the people may have time to 
 reflect upon them; and apply them every one to the comfort 
 of his own soul ; and to prevent all unreasonable fears and 
 doubts of Gods gracious pardon and acceptance.
 
 OP THE LORDS SUPPER. 
 
 83 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 DEVOTIONS. 
 
 such love and concern for me 
 to save me from perishing. 
 
 only-begotten Son, to the and ohey Thee, who hadst 
 end that all that believe 
 in Him should not perish, 
 but have everlasting life. 
 St. John iii. 16. 
 
 Hear also what St. Paul 
 saith. 
 This is a true saying, 
 and worthy of all men to 
 be received, That Christ 
 Jesus came into the 
 world to save sinners. 
 1 Tim. i. 15. 
 
 I receive this truth, O Lord, 
 with a thankful heart— O let 
 not that compassion be lost 
 upon me, which moved Thee 
 to come into the world to save 
 sinners 
 
 Hear also what St. John 
 saith. 
 If any man sin, we 
 have an Advocate with 
 the Father, Jesus Christ 
 the righteous ; and He is 
 the propitiation for our 
 sins. 1 St. John ii. 1,2. 
 
 I have sinned, O blessed 
 Advocate; and do, therefore, 
 put my cause into thy hands, 
 that by thy blood and merits, 
 and powerful intercession 
 Thou mayest procure my 
 pardon. 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 After which the Priest shall proceed, saying, 
 
 Lift up your hearts. 
 Ans. We lift them up unto the Lord. 
 Priest. Let us give thanks unto our Lord God. 
 Ans. It is meet and right so to do. 
 g2
 
 84 
 
 THE ADMINISTRATION 
 
 Then shall the Priest turn to the Lord's Table, and say, 
 It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, 
 that we should at all times, and in all places, give 
 thanks unto Thee, Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, 
 Everlasting God. 
 
 Here shall follow the Proper Preface, according to the time, 
 if there be any specially appointed: or else immediately 
 shall follow, 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 Therefore with An- 
 gels and Archangels, and 
 with all the company of 
 heaven, we laud and 
 magnify thy glorious 
 Name; evermore prais- 
 ing Thee, and saying. 
 Holy, holy, holy. Lord 
 God of hosts, heaven and 
 earth are full of thy 
 glory: Glory be to Thee, 
 O Lord most High. 
 Amen. 
 
 DEVOTIONS. 
 If this Form of praising the 
 Most High God were oftener 
 in Christian mouths than it 
 is, it would most certainly 
 render them more worthy 
 both to join in this service 
 here, and in heaven, with the 
 angels of God, hereafter. 
 
 PROPER PREFACES. 
 
 UponC\iThtraSi{i-da,j,and 
 seven days after. 
 Because Thou didst 
 give Jesus Christ thine 
 only Son to be born as at 
 this time for us ; who, by 
 the operation of the Holy 
 Ghost, was made very- 
 man of the substance of 
 
 These short Prayers following 
 may be made use of in your 
 private Devotions either in 
 Church or at home. 
 
 Form in me, O God, by the 
 power of the same Spirit, all 
 the graces and virtues which 
 thy Holy Son came to teach 
 us, when He clothed Himself 
 in our flesh in order to restore 
 us to thy favour, and to fit us 
 for heaven.
 
 OF THE LORDS SUPPER. 
 
 85 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 the Virgin Mary his mo- 
 ther ; and that without 
 spot of sin, to make us 
 clean from all sin. There- 
 fore with Angels, <i:c. 
 
 DEVOTIONS. 
 
 Upon Easter-day, and 
 seven days after. 
 But chiefly are we 
 bound to praise Thee for 
 the gloriousResurrection 
 of thy Son Jesus Christ 
 our Lord : for He is the 
 very Paschal Lamb, which 
 was offered for us, and 
 hath taken away the sin 
 of the world ; who by 
 his death hath destroyed 
 death, and by his rising 
 to life again hath restored 
 to us everlasting life. 
 Therefore with Angels, 
 
 May that all-powerful Spi- 
 rit, which raised up Jesus our 
 Lord from the dead, raise me 
 from the death of sin unto the 
 life of righteousness ; that liv- 
 ing in thy favour, I may die 
 in peace, and rest in hope of 
 a blessed Resurrection ! 
 
 Upon A&cension-dsij, and 
 seven days after. 
 Through thy most 
 dearly beloved Son Jesus 
 Christ our Lord ; who 
 after his most glorious 
 Resurrection manifestly may influence my will 
 
 St. John xii. 26. 
 
 Where I am, there also shall 
 
 my servant be. 
 
 Give me, O God, such a 
 
 lively faith in this promise, as 
 
 > my
 
 THE ADMINISTRATION 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 appeared to all his Apo- 
 stles, and in their sight 
 ascended up into heaven 
 to prepare a place for us ; 
 that where He is, thither 
 we might also ascend, 
 and reign with Him in 
 glory. Therefore with 
 Angels, cC-c. 
 
 Upon Whit-Sundaj, and 
 six days after. 
 Through Jesus Christ 
 our Lord; according to 
 whose most true promise, 
 the Holy Ghost came 
 down as at this time from 
 heaven with a sudden 
 great sound, as it had 
 been a mighty wind, in 
 the likeness of fiery 
 tongues, lighting upon 
 the Apostles, to teach 
 them, and to lead them 
 to all truth ; giving them 
 Loth the gift of divers 
 languages, and also bold- 
 ness with fervent zeal 
 constantly to preach the 
 Gospel unto all nations ; 
 whereby we have been 
 
 DEVOTIONS, 
 heart, and life — That, de- 
 voting myself entirely to thy 
 service, and following the holy 
 example of thy Son, I may, 
 through his merits and me- 
 diation, be made eternally 
 happy. 
 
 I ADORE thy goodness and 
 mercy, O God, for the invalu- 
 able blessing of the Gospel, 
 established in these nations 
 by the power of the Holy 
 Ghost. — May the same good 
 Spirit sanctify, govern, and 
 preserve this Church I — Keep 
 all her members from the 
 spirit of error and delusion ! 
 — Guard her faith against the 
 restless attempts of Satan 
 and his agents; and lead all 
 in the way of life eternal, 
 through Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. Amen.
 
 OF THE LORD S SUPPER. 
 
 87 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 brought out of darkness 
 and error into the clear 
 lightand true knowledge 
 of Thee, and of thy Son 
 Jesus Christ. Therefore 
 with Angels, &c. 
 
 Upon theFeast of Trmiiy 
 only. 
 Who art one God, one 
 Lord ; not one only Per- 
 son, but three Persons in 
 one Substance. For that 
 which we believe of the 
 glory of the Father, the 
 same we believe of the 
 Son, and of the Holy 
 Ghost, without any dif- 
 ference or inequality. 
 Therefore with Angels, 
 
 d'C. 
 
 DEVOTIONS. 
 
 O ETERK AL God, who hast 
 manifested thyself to us 
 Christians, by thy mighty 
 love to lost mankind; — Ac- 
 cept of my devoutest thanks, 
 O Father, for sending thy 
 Son to redeem us ; — For thy 
 compassion, O Jesus, in lay- 
 ing down thy life for us; — 
 And for thy grace, O Holy 
 Ghost, to make us fit objects 
 of the Divine mercy. 
 
 After each of which Prefaces shall iminediaiely he suvg 
 or said, 
 
 HEREFORE 
 
 with Angels and Archangels, <L-c. 
 
 RUBRIC. 
 
 Then shall the Priest, kneel- 
 ing down at the Lord's table, 
 say ill the name of all them 
 that shall receive the Cornrmt- 
 nion this Prayer following. 
 
 DIRECTIONS. 
 
 When the Priest acknow- 
 ledges, in the following hum- 
 ble Form, his own and the 
 communicants' unworthiness, 
 and God's unmerited kindness
 
 THE ADMINISTRATION 
 
 RUBRIC. DIRECTIONS. 
 
 in admitting them to his table, 
 make this act of humility 
 your own by attending to it 
 most devoutly. 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 Wb do not presume to come to this thy Table, 
 merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, 
 but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not 
 worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under 
 thy Table. But thou art the same Lord, whose pro- 
 perty is always to have mercy : Grant us therefore, 
 gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Sou 
 Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that our sinful 
 bodies may be made clean by his body, and our souls 
 washed through his most precious blood, and that 
 we may evermore dwell in Him, and He in us. A men. 
 
 RUBRIC DIRECTIONS. 
 
 When the Priest, standing Here there will be a decent 
 
 before the Table, hath so or- pause, when you will have 
 
 dered the Bread and Wine, time privately to offer this 
 
 that he may with the more short prayer for yourself, 
 
 readiness and decency break and for all present, 
 the bread before the people, 
 
 and take the Cup into his DEVOTIONS. 
 hands, he shall say the Praye 
 of Consecration asfolloweth 
 
 The good Lord pardon me, 
 and every one here present, 
 who hath prepared his heart 
 to seek the Lord, thouyh he 
 be not cleansed according to 
 the purification of the sanc- 
 tuary > 2 Chron. xxx. 18, 19.
 
 OF THE lord's SUPPER. 89 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of thy 
 tender mercy didst give thine only Son Jesus Christ 
 to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption ; 
 who made there (by his one oblation of Himself 
 once ofiered) a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, 
 oblation, and satisfaction, for the sins of the whole 
 world; and did institute, and in his holy Gospel com- 
 mand us to continue, a perpetual memory of that his 
 precious death, until his coming again ; Hear us, 
 merciful Father, we most humbly beseech Thee ; and 
 grant that we receiving these thy creatures of bread 
 and wine, according to thy Son our Saviour Jesus 
 Christ's holy institution, in remembrance of his 
 death and passion, may be partakers of his most 
 blessed Body and Blood : who, in the same night 
 that He was betrayed, took bread ; and, when He had 
 given thanks. He brake it, and gave it to his dis- 
 ciples, saying, Take, eat, this is my Body which is 
 given for you : Do this in remembrance of me. Like- 
 wise after supper He took the Cup ; and, when He 
 had given thanks. He gave it to them, saying, Drink 
 ye all of this ; for this is my Blood of the N'ew Testa- 
 ment, which is shed for you and for many for the 
 remission of sins : Do this, as oft as ye shall drink 
 it, in remembrance of me. Amen. 
 
 Directions and Devotions. 
 Say secretly, — Send down thy Spirit and blessing 
 upon this means of grace and salvation, which 
 Thou thyself, Jesus, hast ordained.
 
 90 THE ADMINISTRATION 
 
 RUBRIC. DIRECTIONS. 
 
 Then shall the Minister first While the Minister and 
 receive the Communion in both others are receiving the Com- 
 kinds himself, and then pro- munion, you may employ the 
 ceed to deliver the same to the time you have to spare in 
 Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, reading some of the Scrip- 
 in like manner, {if any be pre- tures following, and the Me- 
 sent,) and after that to the ditations upon them. 
 people also in order, into their Remember that no posture 
 hands, all meekly kneeling. can be too humble, vhen we 
 are to receive a pardon, and 
 a pardon which must deliver 
 us from death eternal. 
 
 DEVOTIONS. 
 
 St. Luke XV. 2. The Pharisees murmured, saying, 
 Tins man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. 
 
 I THANK Thee, Jesus, for this instance of thy 
 charityforsinners. I do indeed confess, that I am one 
 of that wretched number ; and do beseech Thee to re- 
 ceive me, though a very umvorthy guest, that I may 
 eat at thy table, and be partaker of thy favours. 
 
 St. Matt. XX. 32, 33. Jesus said, What will ye 
 that I shoxdd do unto you ? The blind men said, 
 Lord, that our eyes may be opened. 
 
 Lord, Thou knowest the desires of my heart ; 
 for it is thy grace that has wrought them in me, and 
 besides Thee there is none else that can help me : — ■ 
 I pray Thee, therefore, that Thou wouldst have com- 
 passion on me, as Thou hadst on these blind men : — 
 That the eyes of my mind may be opened : — That I 
 may recover the light which sin has deprived me of : — 
 That I may see the great goodness of God, in sending
 
 OF THE lord's SUPPER. 91 
 
 Thee to redeem us: — That I may see the due reward 
 of sin in thy sufferings and death : — And that I may 
 follow thy holy example all the days of my life. 
 
 St. Mark ii. 17. / came not to call the righteous, 
 but sinners to repentance. 
 
 O Lord, who hast called me to repentance by thy 
 word, and by this ordinance, call me also by thy 
 grace ; but call me so powerfully that I may not 
 turn a deaf ear, and that I may not resist thy call. 
 I am forced, indeed, to bring my sins along with 
 me ; but it is to crucify them with Thee, and with 
 a full purpose, through thy grace, never to return 
 to those sins I have repented of. 
 
 St. John vi. 58. He that eateth of this bread 
 shall live for ever. 
 
 Jesus, who hast made the life of our souls to 
 depend upon this Bread, grant that I may never 
 render myself unworthy to receive so great a bless- 
 ing, or deprive myself of it by my own negligence. 
 — Make it a principle of immortal life to me, by 
 uniting me to Thee, and to thy Body that I may 
 be made partaker of a Divine nature. 
 
 Exod. xii. 23. When he seeth the blood (of the 
 Paschal Lamb) on the door, he will not suffer the 
 destroyer to come in to smite you. 
 
 Jesus, the true Paschal Lamb, who by thy pre- 
 cious blood hast paid the debt due to the Divine jus- 
 tice, and hast delivered us from the power of the 
 destroyer ! — Let me never Avant this token of my 
 redemption, this saving mark of thy Almighty pro-
 
 92 THE ADMINISTRATION 
 
 tection, against the power of the devil, who is con- 
 tinually seeking whom he may devour. 
 
 1 Cor. xi. 28. Let a man examine Idmself, o,nd 
 so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 
 
 That I am invited to thy table, is not because I 
 am worthy, but because Thou, God, art infinitely 
 good and kind. Pity my infirmities, which areknown 
 to Thee, and accept of my imperfect obedience to this 
 command. — I acknowledge my unworthiness ; — I 
 place all my hopes in thy mercy and promises in 
 Jesus Christ : I sincerely purpose to lead a Christian 
 life, — and to use all diligence to make my calling 
 and election sure. With these purposes I go to thine 
 altar, trusting in thy goodness for the pardon of my 
 defects, and for an increase of all those graces that 
 are necessary to make me more worthy to eat of 
 that bread, and drink of that cup. 
 
 RUBRIC. 
 When the Minister delivereth the Bread to any one, he shall 
 say, 
 
 COMMUNION. DEVOTIONS. 
 
 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 remem- 
 brance that Christ died 
 for thee, and feed on Him ^'«<;"-May it be unto me 
 
 ' . "^ according to thy word, a seal 
 
 in thy heart Ijy faith with of my pardon, and a pledge of 
 thanksgiving. my salvation !
 
 OP THE LORDS SUPPER. 
 
 93 
 
 RUBRIC. 
 And the Minister that delivereth the Cup to any one, shall say. 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 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. 
 
 DEVOTIONS. 
 
 Amen. — May the blood of 
 Christ cleanse me from all 
 sin ! And may the remem- 
 brance of his death be ever 
 seasonably present with me ! 
 
 Blessing, and honour, and 
 glory, and thanksgiving, and 
 power, be unto God, and unto 
 the Lamb, for ever and ever ! 
 Amen. 
 
 RUBRIC. 
 Then shall the Priest say 
 the Lord's Prayer, the people 
 repeating after him every Pe- 
 tition. 
 
 DIRECTIONS. 
 Now return to your seat, that 
 you may not hinder others 
 from coming to the altar. — At 
 the end of this service you 
 will find proper meditations 
 wherewith to entertain your- 
 self, until all have received 
 the Communion. 
 
 Our Father which art 
 in heaven, Hallowed be 
 thy Name. Thy kingdom 
 come. Thywillbedonein 
 earth. As it is in heaven. 
 Give us this day our daily 
 bread. And forgive us our 
 trespasses, As we forgive 
 them that trespass against 
 us. And lead us not into 
 temptation ; But deliver 
 us from evil : For thine 
 
 Now, being made one with 
 Christ, and Christ with us, we 
 have full liberty to apply to 
 God as our heavenly Father, 
 and to hope for all the bless- 
 ings which a tender Father 
 knows to be necessary for us.
 
 94 THE ADMINISTRATION 
 
 COMMUNION. OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 is the kingdom, The 
 power, and the glorj^ For 
 ever and ever. Amen. 
 After shall he said as 
 followeth. 
 Lord and heavenly Npw join with the Church, 
 
 Father, we thy humble and dedicate your whole self, 
 , . , , . your spirit, soul, and body, 
 sen^ants entirely desire unto God, and to his service, 
 thy Fatherly goodness with the greatest sincerity 
 mercifully to accept this and devotion, 
 our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving ; most 
 humbly beseeching Thee to grant, that by the merits 
 and death of thy Son Jesus Christ, and through 
 faith in his blood, we and all thy whole Church 
 may obtain remission of our sins, and all other be- 
 nefits of his passion. And here we offer and present 
 unto Thee, Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, 
 to be a reasonable, holy, and lively sacrifice unto 
 Thee ; humbly beseeching Thee, that all we, who 
 are partakers of this holy Communion, may be 
 fulfilled with thy grace and heavenly benediction. 
 And although we be unworthy, through our mani- 
 fold sins, to offer unto Thee any sacrifice, yet we 
 beseech Thee to accept this our bounden duty and 
 service ; not weighing our merits, but pardoning 
 our offences, through Jesus Christ our Lord ; by 
 whom, and with whom, in the unity of the Holy 
 Ghost, all honour and glory be unto Thee, Father 
 Almighty, world without end. Amen. 
 Or this, 
 Almighty and everliving God, we most heartily
 
 OF THE lord's supper, 95 
 
 thank Thee, for that Thou dost vouchsafe to feed us, 
 who have duly received these holy mysteries, with 
 the spiritual food of the most precious Body and 
 Blood of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ ; and 
 dost assure us thereby of thy favour and goodness 
 towards us ; and that we are very members incor- 
 porate in the mystical body of thy Son, which is the 
 blessed company of all faithful people ; and are also 
 heirs through hope of thy everlasting kingdom, by 
 the merits of the most precious death and passion 
 of thy dear Son. And we most humbly beseech Thee, 
 heavenly Father, so to assist xia with thy grace, 
 that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and 
 do all such good works as Thou hast prepared for 
 us to walk in ; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to 
 whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour 
 and glory, world without end. Amen. 
 
 Then shallhe said or sung, observations. 
 
 Glory be to God on After the example of our 
 
 high, and in earth peace, ^^^'^^^ Lord ^vho when He 
 
 ^ , .,, , , -^ had instituted and ordained 
 
 good-Will towards men. ^^-.^ sacrament, sung an 
 
 We praise Thee, we bless hymn; so do we praise God 
 
 Thee, we worship Thee, the Father, Son, and Holy 
 
 we glorify Thee, we give ^^°'*' ^""^ °^^ redemption, in 
 
 .-, 1 , rni i? XT this most excellent hymn. 
 
 thanks to Thee for thy ^ 
 
 great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, God the 
 Father Almighty. 
 
 O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesu Christ; 
 Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that 
 takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon 
 us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have
 
 96 THE ADMINISTRATION 
 
 mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the 
 world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the 
 right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us. 
 For Thou only art holy ; Thou only art the Lord ; 
 Thou only, Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most 
 high in the glory of God the Father. Amen. 
 
 COMMUNION. DIRECTIONS. 
 
 RUBRIC. Receive this Blessing, as 
 
 Then the Priest (or Bishop, coming from God Himself, 
 
 if he be present) shall let them with all imaginable devotion. 
 
 depart with this Blessing. The reason and manner of 
 
 receiving this blessing, see 
 
 below.* 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 
 The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, 
 keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and 
 love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord : and 
 
 * The solemn blessing with which the prie&t dismissed the 
 people after the daily sacrifice, by God's especial order {Numb, 
 vi. 2-i), was this :— The LORD bless thee, and keep thee ! The 
 LORD make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto 
 thee ! The LORD lift up the light of his countenance upon 
 thee, and give thee peace ! 
 
 And with what devotion they received this Blessing, we 
 are toldi, Ecclus. 1. 20, 21. Thepriest lifted up his hands over 
 the congregation, to give the blessing of the Lord with his lips ; 
 and they bowed themselves down, that they might receive the 
 blessing from the Most High. 
 
 And lest any one should think too lightly of this Blessing', 
 because pronounced by a poor mortal like himself, it is added 
 {Numb. vi. 27), I {tlie Lord) will bless them: — Showing, that 
 theeffect of the Blessing does not depend upon man, but upon 
 the ordinance of God from the mouth of his own minister, 
 whom GOD hath chosen to bless in the name of the Lord, 
 Deut. xxi. 5.
 
 OP THE lord's supper. 97 
 
 the blessing of God Almiglity, the Father, the Son, 
 and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain 
 with you always. Amen. 
 
 COLLECTS. 
 
 Assist us mercifully, Lord, in these our sup- 
 plications and prayers, and dispose the way of thy 
 servants towards the attainment of everlasting sal- 
 vation ; that, among all the changes and chances of 
 this mortal life, they may ever be defended by thy 
 most gracious and ready help ; through Jesus Christ 
 our Lord. Amen. 
 
 Almighty Lord, and everlasting God, vouch- 
 safe, we beseech Thee, to direct, sanctify, and govern, 
 both our hearts and bodies, in the ways of thy laws, 
 and in the works of thy commandments ; that 
 through thy most mighty protection, both here 
 and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul ; 
 through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. A men. 
 
 Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that the 
 words, which we have heard this day with our out- 
 ward ears, may through thy grace be so grafted in- 
 wardly in our hearts, that they may bring forth in 
 us the fruit of good living, to the honour and praise 
 of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. 
 
 Prevent us, Lord, in all our doings with thy 
 most gracious favour, and further us with thy con- 
 tinual help; that in all our works begun, continued,
 
 98 TUE ADMINISTRATION, ETC. 
 
 and ended in Thee, we may glorify thy holy Xame, 
 and finally by thy mercy obtain everlasting life ; 
 through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 Almighty God^ the fountain of all wisdom, who 
 knowest our necessities before we ask, and our igno- 
 rance in asking ; we beseech Thee to have compas- 
 sion upon our infirmities ; and those things, which 
 for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blind- 
 ness we can not ask, vouchsafe to give us, for the wor- 
 thiness of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 Almighty God, who hast promised to hear the 
 petitions of them that ask in thy Son's Name ; We 
 beseech Thee mercifully to incline thine ears to 
 us that haA'e made now our prayers and supplications 
 unto Thee ; and grant that those things, which we 
 have faithfully asked according to thy will, may 
 efFectually be obtained, to the relief of our neces- 
 sity, and to the setting forth of thy glory ; through 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 COMMUNION. 
 RUBRIC. OBSERVATIONS, &C, 
 
 And note, that every pa- Three Times a Year. — 
 riiliioner shall communicate God forbid that any good 
 at the least three times in the Christian should make this 
 year, of which Easter to be an excuse for receiving no 
 one, %c, oftener, if he has an opportu- 
 
 nity! And woe be to that 
 Pastor, who will not give the 
 well-disposed part of his flock 
 more frequent opportunities 
 of testifying their love to 
 Jesus Christ! — of increasing 
 their graces, and securing 
 their pardon and salvation.
 
 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS 
 
 AFTER 
 EITHER 
 
 IN THE CHUECH OE AT HOME. 
 
 After you have receh'ed, and are returned to 
 your seat, you may (as you have time) continue 
 your devotions. 
 
 And remember that now is the proper season to 
 beg of God the grace and blessings you most desire ; 
 whether for yourselfj — for your friends, — or for 
 your enemies, — who should always have a place in 
 your prayers. 
 
 And be not under any concern for suitable words 
 to make known the desires of your heart. — God is 
 our Father, and will understand his children's mean- 
 ing, however imperfectly expressed. — You know 
 how the humble publican was heard, though he said 
 no more than — God he merciful unto me a sinner. 
 
 The following Scriptures, and the Meditations 
 upon them, may help your devotions either now or 
 at any other time, to obtain the graces you stand 
 in need of; — To preserve in your hearts a spirit of 
 piety ; — Or to keep in your mind the vows that are 
 upon you.
 
 100 PRIVATE DEYOTIONS 
 
 A SHORT FORM OP THANKSGIVING.* 
 
 1 Thess. V. 1 8. In every thing give thanks : for 
 this is the will of God. 
 
 Lord and Father, I am not worthy of the least 
 of all the mercies which Thou hast showed thy ser- 
 vant ; neither can I render due thanks and praise 
 for them ; but, God, accept of this my sacrifice of 
 praise and thanksgiving, — For this, and for all thy 
 known and unobserved favours of nature and of 
 grace, I bless thy good providence; beseeching 
 Thee to pardon my ingratitude, and that I have 
 passed so many occasions without observing and 
 without acknowledging thy great goodness to thy 
 unworthy servant. — For when I consider my de- 
 pendence upon Thee, — for my life, — for my preser- 
 vation, — for my redemption, — and for the means of 
 grace and salvation which Thou hast afforded me, 
 I cannot but be very thankful. — As long, therefore, 
 as I live, I will praise Thee. — Glory be to God, 
 my Creator, — Glory be to Jesus, my Eedeemer, — 
 Glory be to the Holy Ghost, my Sanctifier, my 
 Guide, my Comforter ! — All love, all praise and 
 glory, be to God most high ! Amen. 
 
 * If Christians would but accustom themselves to render 
 to God the glory of his mercies ; — To take notice of, and to 
 give Him thanks for, the many favours, deliverances, visita- 
 tions, or chastisements, they everyday meet with, they would 
 most surely engage the Divine Goodness and Providence to 
 multiply those blessings upon them, which they put a stop to 
 by their ingratitude.
 
 AFTER THE SACKAMENT. 101 
 
 St. John xvi. 23. Verily, verily, I say unto you, 
 
 Whatsoever ye shall ask the FatJier in my name, 
 
 he will give it you. 
 
 In all humility, heavenly Father, I lay claim 
 to this thy Son's most faithful promise, confirmed 
 by his oath. — In his name, and for his sake, I 
 beseech Thee to give me an heart truly sensible of 
 his great love in paying the debt due by me to thy 
 Divine justice; and grant that the merits of his 
 death and sacrifice may not be lost upon me. 
 
 Give me a saving faith and knowledge ; — A sin- 
 cere love for Thee, and for thy holy word ; — An 
 hearty desire to please Thee ; — a fear of offending 
 Thee ; — a zeal for thy glory, and a great regard for 
 everything that belongs to Thee. 
 
 Give me such a love for my neighbour as Thou 
 hast commanded ; a due regard for my betters, and 
 an utter abhorrence of all manner of fraud, injus- 
 tice, and wrong. 
 
 Give me a tender conscience, a meek and quiet 
 gpirit,acharitable, an humble, and a contented mind. 
 
 Give me a just sense of my own infirmities, a 
 dread of sensual pleasures, a power over my appe- 
 tites, and a fear of the world and its idols. 
 
 licave me not to my own choice : — keep me from 
 pride, and from presumptuous sins : — From wicked 
 principles, and wicked company; — and the vices 
 of the age and place I live in. 
 
 Make me ever mindful of my latter end, and of 
 the account I must one day give of my life, and of 
 the talents with which Thou shalt entrust me. — And
 
 IOC 
 
 PRIVATE DEV0TI0K3. 
 
 grant that I may lead an innocent and a useful life, 
 by doing good in my generation. 
 
 Take poiwession of my soul, until I am restored to 
 thy Divine image, from which I am sadly fallen. 
 
 For these and for all the graces I stand in need 
 of, I plead thy gracious goodness, and my Saviour's 
 merits, and promise to all that ask in his name : 
 And I know Thou wilt not deny me, because the 
 very will to ask these mercies is from Thee, and 
 thy good Spirit. A men. 
 
 Rom. viii. 32. He UicU Hpared not his own Son, 
 but delivered him up for u^i all, how s/uUl lie not 
 with him also freely ijive us all things ? 
 
 This is indeed, God, a sure pledge of thy infinite 
 love for thy poor creatures. — L'pon this I depend, 
 when my heart is in heaviness — This is my refuge 
 when I remember my sins and thy Divine justice. — 
 make me truly sensilile of this thy great love : 
 and give me the graces which that love sees need- 
 ful for me, for Jesus Christ's sake, the Son of thy 
 luve. A mt:n. 
 
 St. Luke xxiv. 26. Ought not Christ to have suf- 
 ftrnd thest things, and to enter into his glory? 
 
 It was necessary for Thee, Christ, to suffer, be- 
 cause Thou tookest upon Thee to answer for sinners ; 
 and to show us what treatment our sins deserve. O 
 make my sufferings in this life, in union with thine, 
 acceptable to God ; and enable me to bear them, as 
 Thou didst, with patience and resignation, this 
 being the only way to glory. Amen.
 
 AFIfER THE SACRAMENT. 103 
 
 2 Cor. V. 15. ClbTifst (J/kd for all, thai they vjhich 
 Hoe should not hencfiforth live unto themadveis, 
 hut unto him which died for them. 
 
 From this moment, Christ, I consecrate that 
 life to Thee, which Thou hast redeemed from the 
 slavery of sin and Satan, by thy most precious blood. 
 Fortify my soul, I beseech Thee, against all the 
 temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, 
 by the remembrance of this thy love ; that I may 
 live to Thee, and to the glory of God. Amen. 
 
 2 Cor. vi. 16. Ye are the temple of the living God ; 
 as God hath said, I vnll dwell in tJvem, a.nd v:alk 
 in them ; and I will he their God, and tlcey shall 
 he my peopjle. 
 
 Make me, God, truly sensible of this great 
 honour and blessing of being the habitation of thy 
 good Spirit; and the holiness required of me, and 
 of the great danger of profaning a temple conse- 
 crated to Thee. Make me worthy of thy continual 
 abode and presence. Take possession of my heart 
 and soul : and let me know that Thou dwellest in 
 me, by the fruits of thy Spirit. Amen. 
 
 Heb. xii. 1, 2. Let us run with patience the race 
 that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, <i:c. 
 
 Grant, God, that I may bear all the troubles 
 of this life with a meek and patient spirit, without 
 repining at what Thou shalt appoint for the punish- 
 ment of sin, and for the salvation of the sinner. I 
 will look unto Thee, Jesus, when Thou wast in the 
 place of sinners, with what patience Thou didst bear
 
 104 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS 
 
 the scorn, the indignities, the unrighteous judg- 
 ment, the miserable death of the cross : And this, 
 by thy grace, shall be my pattern. Amen. 
 St. Luke xxiii. 41. We receive the due reward of 
 
 our deeds : hut this man hath done nothing amiss. 
 
 I CONFESS, God, -with this malefactor, That what- 
 ever I suffer in this life, I suffer most justly for my 
 sins ! And, therefore, with the submission of a 
 penitent criminal, under the righteous sentence of 
 death, I offer my life a sacrifice of obedience to thy 
 Divine justice, in union with that of my Saviour's, 
 at what time and in what manner to Thee shall seem 
 meet ; trusting in the merits of my Redeemer, at the 
 hour of death, and in the day of judgment. Amen. 
 St. Luke XV. 6. Ihavefound my sheep, which was tost. 
 
 GOOD Shepherd, I thank Thee for thy tender 
 care and concern for thy lost sheep. — I had indeed 
 been for ever lost, had not thy love sought and 
 found me when I was astray : For thy goodness' 
 sake keep me, for the time to come, from wander- 
 ing from Thee, and from thy fold. Amen. 
 St. John V. 14. Behold, thou art made whole : sin 
 no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. 
 
 Lord, the frailty of man without Thee cannot but 
 fall ; in all temptations, therefore, I beseech Thee, 
 to succour me, that no sin, no evil spirit, may ever 
 get the dominion over me. Amen. 
 St. Matt. xxvi. 41. Watch and pray, that ye enter 
 not into temptation. 
 
 Make me, Lord, ever mindful of my infirmities 
 and backslidings, that I may be more watchful and
 
 AFTER THE SACRAMENT. 105 
 
 more earnest for grace, for the time to come ; that 
 the adversary of my soul may never find me off my 
 guard, or from under thy protection. 
 St. Luke xi. 13. Your heavenly Father will give 
 the Holy Spirit to them that ash him. 
 
 HEAVENLY Father, let it be unto thy servant 
 according to this word. Abandon me not, I be- 
 seech Thee, to the opposition that I shall at any 
 time make to thy Holy Spirit, that I may never 
 render myself unworthy of so great a blessing, 
 St. John viii. 51. If a man keep my saying, he 
 shall never see death. 
 
 Jestjs, who hast made known to us another 
 death besides that which separates our souls from 
 our bodies, let thy grace and mercy deliver me 
 from the bitter pains of eternal death. Amen. 
 St. Matt, xi, 29. Learn of me, for I am meek and 
 
 lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your 
 
 souls. 
 
 heavenly Master and Pattern, how am I asto- 
 nished when I consider thy humility, thy poverty, 
 thy meekness, thy resignation, in the midst of inju- 
 ries, oppression, and wrongs ! It must be thy al- 
 mighty grace which must enable me to follow thy 
 example, and submit to this way of peace, to which 
 our nature is so averse : For this grace I now pray, 
 through thy merits and mediation, Jesus. Amen. 
 St. Luke xxiii. 34. Jesus said, Father, forgive 
 them ; for they know not what they do. 
 
 We do not indeed consider what we do, when we 
 provoke that justice which could not be appeased.
 
 106 I'KIVATK MCVOTIONS. 
 
 but by the dcaLh of the Son of God I— If J h.av-: 
 any cncniicH, () (iod, I beHeoch Thee for thcin iiflcr 
 this cxainple, not for judgment and ven^ciuicu, hiil, 
 for mercy; for their pardon, and for their eternal 
 happinesH, Aincii. 
 
 St. Luke xiii. 26, 27. 'J^hen »kaU ye nay, Wc h(vr< 
 catf.n and drunk in thy prcHcnce, «f.'c. — /iut In 
 nhaU say, I tell you, I know you not; depart 
 from me, all ye workers of inif/uity, idc. 
 IjKT me not depart from thy table and prcHem^o, 
 liord, without ohtainini; the ^raee to lead a f^odly 
 and a ChriHiian life; — that I may e.HcajJe this ter- 
 rible and jiiHt judgment to be panHcd upon all thoHo 
 who enjoy the ineanH of grace and Halvation with- 
 out being Ijcttered by them, but eontinue to lead 
 unehri.stian livcB. Amen. 
 
 Ht. Joini i. 12. Ah many as received him, to them 
 
 gave he power {and ri(/ht) to become the nona of 
 
 God, even to them that believe on hin name. 
 
 I WILL not live in win; knowing, God, that \ am 
 
 accounted tliinc.— -0 Jchuh, who hant obtained for 
 
 UH this mighty privilege, give mc grace to live an 
 
 becomes the <;hild of ho great, ho good, ho holy a 
 
 Father; — that I may never abuHe thin menty, nor 
 
 forfeit the right of the inheritance of the children 
 
 of God, by infidelity or disobedience to the com- 
 
 niands of my heaverdy Father. Amen. 
 
 /S'^. John xiv. 27. Peace I leave with you; my 
 peace J (jive unto you. 
 It must be thy Spirit, Prince of Peace, that 
 must, put usintoposHCHsionof tliirt I hy last and d^ing
 
 SPIRITUAL COMMUNION. 107 
 
 legacy. give me this peace which the world cannot 
 give; — Which passeth all understanding! — The 
 peace and pleasure of being in the favour of God ; 
 And that I may possess my soul in peace, in the 
 midst of the temptations, and troubles, and allure- 
 ments, of this present evil world. And let this 
 peace which thou hast purchased with thy precious 
 blood, be with me, and with thy whole Church 
 evermore. Amen. 
 
 CONCERNING SPIRITUAL COMMUNION. 
 
 Tjie* Church, for the comfort and advantage of 
 such Christians as through any just impediment are 
 hindered from receiving the Lord's Supper, (in i-hc 
 manner which she has appointed, that is, from 
 the hands of Christ's own Minister,) has given us 
 this instruction : 
 
 "That if we do truly repent of our sins; — have 
 '* a lively faith in God's mercy thi-ough Christ, with 
 " a thankful remembrance of his death, &c., we do 
 " eat and drink the Body and Blood of Christ, pro- 
 "fitably and to our soul's health, although we do 
 "not receive the Sacrament with our mouth." 
 
 They that composed this Rubric, had, it is very 
 probable, an eye to the daily sacrifice, which, under 
 the law of Moses, was offered for the whole people 
 of Israel ; at which all such pious persons who 
 "Could not possibly be present, yet offered their 
 
 * See the second Rubric after the Office of the Communion 
 oftlieSick.
 
 108 SPIRITUAL COMMUNION. 
 
 daily prayers to God in union of spirit, and in 
 virtue of that sacrifice offered in the temple, and 
 which, no doubt of it, were accepted of God. 
 
 Now, forasmuch as very many pious souls do labour 
 under this sad impediment, especially in many coun- 
 try churches where the sacrament is but too seldom 
 administered : To supply this defect, some such help 
 as the following may be made use of on the Lord's 
 Day, or on any other Holyday, in order to preserve 
 in our minds, — The memorial of our redemption, — 
 To improve our grateful affections towards our Re- 
 deemer,— To keep up a continual correspondence with 
 heaven, — To preserve in us a spirit of piety, devotion 
 and charity, that we may always be prepared to re- 
 ceive the Lord's Supper, whenever we shall have an 
 opportunity of doing it, in public, as a public and 
 solemn acknowledgment of our being in commu- 
 nion with Christ, and with every member of the 
 Church of Christ; and which no good Christian will 
 neglect on any pretence of spiritual Communion. 
 ^^S*^, Luke xxii. 19. Do this in remembrance of me. 
 
 GOOD Saviour, I will, through thy grace, do 
 this in remembrance of Thee, and in obedience to 
 thy command, as well as I am able. 
 
 1 do, therefore, this good day join, in desire and 
 spirit, Avith every Christian congregation in the 
 world, which truly celebrates this holy mystery. 
 
 * We do not want examples for recommending this Spi- 
 ritual Communion. The learned and pious Bishop Taylor 
 and others have proposed some such help as this, for the 
 use and comfort of those devout souls, who are deprived of 
 this holy Sacrament in the Church.
 
 SPIRITUAL communion: 109 
 
 With them I join in giving my devoutest thanks 
 to thy Almighty Father, and our gracious God, 
 who did not overlook lost mankind; but sent 
 Thee, his only Son, to redeem us. 
 
 With them I call to remembrance what Thou 
 hast done and suffered for us ; — Thine incarnation, 
 — Thy laborious life, — Thy bitter passion,— Thy 
 death and resurrection, — the great deliverance 
 Thou hast thereby wrought for all mankind ; and 
 the obligations Thou hast laid upon us. 
 
 I acknowledge and receive Thee, Jesus, as our 
 heavenly teacher, — as our example and pattern ; — 
 as our only Mediator and Advocate with God ; — 
 and as the Sovereign Judge of all mankind. 
 
 With thy Church I join in pleading the merits of 
 thy all-sufficient sacrifice with thy eternal Father. — 
 I rely upon that sacrifice for the pardon of all my 
 Bins ; — for the assistance of the Divine grace ; for 
 deliverance from the corruption of my own nature, 
 and from the malice and snares of the devil ; — for 
 the fellowship of the Holy Ghost; — and for a 
 blessed resurrection ; the Lord Almighty, for thy 
 sake, being reconciled unto me. 
 
 I devote my spirit, soul, and body, to Thee, and 
 to thy service, beseeching Thee to give me grace, 
 never wilfully to depart from thy laws. 
 
 I join with thy Church, and plead the merits of 
 thy sacrifice, for all estates and conditions of men ; 
 that none may deprive themselves of that happiness 
 which Thou hast purchased by thy death : — For all 
 Christian Kings and Governors ; — For all Bishops 
 and Pastors; that they may preserve the sacred
 
 110 SPIRITUAL COMMUNION. 
 
 rights committed to their trust; — for all that strive 
 to propagate thy Gospel ; — for a primitive zeal in 
 all that fear thy name ; — for all that sit in dark- 
 ness, are in error, or are destitute of necessary 
 means of instruction ; — for all that sincerely seek 
 the truth; — for all sinners, that they may have 
 grace and strength to break their bonds ; — for all 
 that are in adversity ; — for all that sufier wrong- 
 fully, or that are deprived of their just rights ; — 
 for all that are in pain of body, or anguish of mind 
 and spirit;— for all that are tempted, or in danger 
 of falling into despair ; — for all that are in slavery, 
 under persecution, in prison, or in poverty;— for 
 all persons and places in distress by the sword, 
 pestilence, and famine ; — for all that are in their 
 last sickness, that they may omit nothing that is 
 necessar}' to make their peace with God ; — for all 
 widows and fatherless children ; — for all that call 
 upon God, and have none else to help them ; — for 
 this land, and this Church, that the Lord may 
 avert the judgments which we justly deserve; — for 
 our friends, our relations, our benefactors, and for 
 our enemies ; — for all that have desired our prayers, 
 and for the whole mystical body of Christ : — Be- 
 seeching the Almighty God, the Creator and 
 Redeemer of all, to have mercy upon all whom He 
 has made and redeemed^ and to give unto all grace 
 and help, according to the necessities they labour 
 under, — for thy sake, Lord Jesus, to whom, with 
 the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and 
 glory, dominion and power, for ever and evei-. 
 A men.
 
 THE 
 
 LORD'S PEAYEE PAEAPHEASED. 
 
 When we consider the time when Christians are taught 
 to say this Prayer, we shall have reason to fear that too many 
 continue to repeat it all their lives, with as little considera- 
 tion, understanding, and devotion, as they first learned it. 
 
 This will make a short and plain paraphrase on this 
 Prayer both useful and acceptable to such as desire to under- 
 stand what they pray for. 
 
 THE lord's prayer EXPLAINED. 
 
 Our Father, which art in heaven. 
 1 BESEECH Thee, heavenly Father, not for my- 
 self only, but for all thy children — That we may all 
 live worthy of the relation which we bear to Thee : 
 — That we may not sin, knowing that we are ac- 
 counted thine; — nor wilfully offend so great, so good, 
 so tender a Father: But that we may love Thee, and 
 fear Thee, not as slaves, but as children: That we 
 may put our whole trust in Thee, and depend upon 
 thine infinite power, wisdom, goodness, and promise 
 to take care of us ; — That we may leave it to Thee 
 to choose what is best for us ; and bear with patience 
 and resignation all thy fatherly corrections : — And 
 that we may serve Thee with comfort and pleasure 
 all our days, in hopes of the inheritance which Thou 
 hast promised thy obedient children. 
 
 Hallowed he thy Name. 
 Thou art worthy, Lord, to receive glory, and 
 honour, and power ; for Thou hast created all things, 
 and all thy works praise Thee.— Fill our hearts,
 
 112 THE lord's prayer PARAPHRASED. 
 
 God, with a zeal for thy glory, that we may do Thee 
 houour, by leading holy lives, and by paying a great 
 regard to everything that belongs to Thee ; — Thy 
 name, thy day, thy house, thine ordinances, and 
 thy ministers : — And that others, seeing our good 
 works, may glorify our Father which is in heaven. 
 Tliy kingdom come. 
 Enlarge thy kingdom, God, and deliver the 
 world from the dominion and tyranny of Satan, that 
 the kingdoms of the earth may become the king- 
 doms of Jesus Christ. — Hasten the time which thy 
 Spirit hath foretold, when all nations whom Thou 
 hast made, shall worship Thee and glorify thy name. 
 — Bless the good endeavours of those that strive to 
 propagate the Gospel of thy kingdom ; and prepare 
 the hearts of all men to receive it. May all such 
 as own Thee for their King, become thy faithful 
 subjects ! — Vouchsafe to reign in our hearts, and 
 subdue our will entirely to thine ; — and prepare us 
 by thy good Spirit for the kingdom of glory. 
 Thy will he done in earth as it is in heaven. 
 Dispose -me, and all thy children, Lord and 
 Father, to submit cheerfully to whatever thy pro- 
 vidence shall order for us : — Hearken not to the 
 corrupt desires of our hearts, but to the voice of 
 thine own wisdom, goodness, and mercy. — Give us 
 a true knowledge of our duty, with an heart dis- 
 posed to close with thy will, whenever it shall be 
 made known to us, and to perform it with pleasure. 
 — Subdue in us whatever is contrary" to thy holy 
 will, that through thy grace we may at last become 
 perfect, as our heavenly Pattern is.
 
 THE lord's prayer PARAPHRASED. 113 
 
 Oive us this Day our daily Bread. 
 We look up unto, and depend upon Thee, 
 heavenly Father, for all the necessaries and conve- 
 niences of this present life. — And may our bodily 
 wants engage us to go daily to the throne of grace, 
 for the wants of our souls ! — Let thy blessing go 
 along with our honest endeavours, and keep us from 
 all unjust ways of bettering our condition. — Give us 
 grace to impart to such as are in want, of what Thou 
 shalt give us more than our daily bread ; and with 
 all thy other favours, give us, we beseech Thee, the 
 blessing of a thankful and contented mind. 
 
 And forgive us our trespasses, as toe forgive them 
 that trespass against u^. 
 
 Forgive us those sins, heavenly Father, which 
 separate us from Thee : — Forgive us every day of our 
 lives : for every day we stand in need of pardon ; — 
 Give me, and all Christians, a forgiving temper, 
 that we may fulfil this condition of our pardon. — 
 Thou art good and merciful in forgiving us : grant 
 we may be so to others ; remembering our own in- 
 firmities. And may we all live in the same chari- 
 table temper, in which we hope and desire to die. 
 
 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us 
 
 from evil. 
 
 God and Father, who hatest iniquity, and 
 
 knowest our infirmities, leave us not to the malice 
 
 and power of the evil one, the devil, to deal with us 
 
 as he pleaseth ; — nor to ourselves, and to our own 
 
 corrupt hearts and lusts, lest we rashly run into 
 
 temptation. — Keep us out of the way of tempta- 
 
 I
 
 114 FAMILY PRAYERS. 
 
 tions, and under the protection of thy good Spirit: 
 — suffer us not to be surprised by them, nor tempted 
 above what we are able to bear. — Give us grace to 
 resist them, and to watch and pray daily, that we 
 enter not into temptation. 
 
 For thine is the hingdom, and the power, and the 
 glory, for ever and ever. Amen. 
 The whole creation is thine, and under thy 
 government. — Thine is the power : Thou canst do 
 whatever we pray for. — Thou canst cause thy name 
 to be sanctified in all the earth, and set up thy 
 kingdom in all the world, and in our hearts; — Thou 
 canst cause thy will to be done in earth as it is in 
 heaven: and incline us all to submit to it. — Thou 
 canst give us all things needful both for our souls 
 and for our bodies: — Thou, and Thou alone, canst 
 forgive us our sins, and dispose us to forgive one an- 
 other ; Thou canst secure us in the day of tempta- 
 tion, and deliver us from the power of the devil. — 
 To Thee, to Thee alone, be glory, to all eternity. 
 
 SHORT MOENING & EVENING PRAYERS 
 
 FOR FAMILIES, AND FOR PARTICULAR PERSOKS. 
 
 MORNING PRAYER FOR A FAMILY. 
 
 Let some one of the Family, that can read, say 
 devoutly what followeth, the rest attending: 
 The Lord hath brought us safe to the beginning 
 of this day ; let us therefore give thanks for this, 
 and for all his mercies.
 
 FAMILY PRAYERS. 115 
 
 Let US pray, that we may live in the fear of God, 
 and continue in love and charity with our neighbours. 
 
 That his Holy Spirit may direct and rule our hearts : 
 teaching us what we ought to do and what to avoid; 
 
 That the grace of God may ever be with us, to 
 support us in all dangers, and carry us through all 
 temptations. 
 
 That the Lord may bless all our honest endea- 
 vours, and make us content with what his provi- 
 dence shall order for us : 
 
 And that we may continue his faithful servants 
 this day, and unto our lives' end. 
 
 For all which blessings let us devoutly pray. 
 
 Then all devoutly hieeling, let one say, 
 
 God, by whom the whole world is governed and 
 preserved, we give Thee humble thanks for thy 
 fatherly care over us, beseeching Thee to make us 
 truly sensible of thy mercies, and thankful for them. 
 
 Give us grace, that we may walk as in thy sight, 
 making a conscience of our ways : and, fearing to 
 offend Thee, may never fall into the sins we have 
 repented of. 
 
 Enable us to resist the temptations of the world, 
 the flesh, and the devil ; — To follow the motions of 
 thy good Spirit ; — To be serious and holy in our 
 lives; — true and just in our dealings; — watchful 
 over our thoughts, words, and actions ;— diligent 
 in our business ; — and temperate in all things. 
 
 May thy blessing be upon our persons, — upon 
 our labours, — upon our substance, — and upon all 
 that belongs to us !
 
 116 FAMILY PRAYERS. 
 
 Give us grace, that we may honestly improve all 
 the talents which Thou hast committed to our 
 trust:— And that no worldly business, no worldly 
 pleasures, may divert us from the thoughts of the 
 life to come. 
 
 Make us sensible and thankful for all thy favours; 
 and mindful of the wants of others. 
 
 By thy mighty power defend us in all the assaults 
 of our enemies ; And grant that this day we fall into 
 no sin, neither run into any kind of danger ; but that 
 all our doings may be ordered by thy governance, 
 to do always that which is righteous in thy sight. 
 
 May our gracious God give us what is needful 
 for us, and grace not to abuse his favours and 
 withal give us contented minds ! 
 
 Give us in this world the knowledge of his truth, 
 and in the world to come life everlasting. Ainen. 
 
 Hear us, God, not according to our weak under- 
 standing, but according to the full meaning of that 
 Form of Prayer which Jesus Christ hath taught. 
 
 Our Father, which art in heaven : hallowed be 
 thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done 
 in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our 
 daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we 
 forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us 
 not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For 
 thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, 
 for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love 
 of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be 
 with us all evermore. Amen,
 
 FAMILY PKAYERS. 117 
 
 ON SUNDAY MORNING, 
 
 let the following Prayer he added to your daily 
 
 Prayers. 
 Lord, who hast consecrated this good day to 
 thy service, give us grace so to observe it, that it 
 may be the beginning of an happy week to us, and that 
 none of thy judgments may fall upon us for pro- 
 faning it. Fix in our hearts this great truth, that 
 here we have no abiding place, that we may seriously 
 and timely provide for another life ; and grant that 
 this great concern may make us very desirous to 
 learn our duty, and to do what Thou requirest of us. 
 And blessed be God, that we have Churches to goto ; 
 that we have time to serve our Creator; that we have 
 Pastors to teach us ! The Lord prosper their labours, 
 and give us grace to profit by them ; that they and 
 we may enjoy an everlasting Sabbath with thy 
 saints in heaven, for Jesus Christ's sake ! 
 
 EVENING PRAYER FOR A FAMILY. 
 
 Let one standing read, or say devoutly, what 
 
 followeth : the rest of the family attending. 
 
 By the favour of God, we are come to the evening 
 of this day; and we are so much nearer our latter end. 
 
 Let us seriously consider this, and pray God to 
 fit us for the hour of death. 
 
 Let us with penitent hearts beseech Him to par- 
 don our sins ; and to deliver us from the evils which 
 we have justly deserved. 
 
 Let us resolve to amend where we have done amiss, 
 and pray God that his grace may ever be with us. 
 
 And that we may be safe under his protection, who 
 alone can defend us from the power of darkness
 
 118 FAMILY PRAYERS. 
 
 For all which ltlessin«?8 let uh devoutly pray. 
 Then all dr.vuuf/i/ kneeling, let one nay, 
 
 Loud, and heavenly Father, wo aeknowledgc 
 thy great goodnens to UH, in Kparing uh wlien wc 
 deserve puuiahnicnt ; in giving uh the ncecHsarieH 
 of thiH life; and in setting before UBthe happincHs 
 of a hotter. 
 
 The merciful Ood pardon our ofTenccH; eorrectand 
 amend what iHaminH in uh; that aw wegrow inyearw, 
 we may grow in giacc ; and the nearer wc come to 
 our latter end, we may be the better prepared for it ! 
 
 In the midst of life we are in death. 
 fiOrd, grant that these thoughtH may make uh 
 careful how we live, that we may eHcajJO the bitter 
 painw of eternal death, 
 
 'J'ako from uKali ignorance, liardncHK of heart, and 
 too much carcfulniJHH for the things of this life. 
 
 Make us a houHchold fearing (iod, submitting 
 ourselves to thy good pleasure, and putting uur 
 whole trust in thy men^y. 
 
 May (Jod, whose kingdom ruleth overall, bless 
 our gracious (^uccu, and such as are put in autho- 
 rity under her, that tliey may govern with truth 
 arnl justice ; and that we, whose duty it is to obey, 
 may do it for conscience' sake. 
 
 (jrant that true religion and piety may be secured 
 and eountenanced amongst us; and that impiety, 
 profanoness, and iufidclity, may efrietually be dis- 
 couraged, that thy Jiidginents may not fall upon 
 this sinful nation. 
 
 Continue to us, and to all thellcformcd('hurch,thc 
 mcani of grace and salvation. Cause that the saving
 
 KAMILV i'llAYKlW. 119 
 
 truths of the OoBpcl may be received in all tlic world; 
 and that ChriKtlariB may not content thcrnKclvcHwith 
 uliadowrt of rclif^ion, hut endeavour after that holi- 
 ncHM, witliout wliich no man niuKt kcc the Lord. 
 
 Jtemember, gracious («od,for f^'oodjall those that 
 are over uh in the Lord, who watch for our houIh, as 
 tlicy that muHt ^ive account, that they may do it 
 with joy. We commend unto thy tender compaKsion 
 ail that are in error, and hi ncerely Heck the truth: — 
 All such as are destitute of necessary means of in- 
 struction; — All that are en{^a;jed in sinful courses, 
 that they may have ^race and sf ren;^'th to ])reak their 
 bonds : — All that labour under trials and afllictions : 
 — All sick and dyin^ persons, that they may omit 
 nothin;^ that is necessary to make their peace with 
 Thee, before they die : —A nd also such as never pray 
 for thems(dves, that they may sec, before it be too 
 late, the danger of living without God in tlie world. 
 Vouchsafe unto us an interest in the prayers of the 
 holy Church throughoat the world, which have 
 been this day oflered to the throne of grace. 
 
 Let thy blessing, O Lord, be with us : — Defend 
 us from all perils and dangers of this night ; And 
 grant that when wc depart this life, we may rest in 
 peace, and in hope of a blessed resurrection, through 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. Aiucn. 
 
 IIkau us, merciful Ood, not according to our 
 weak understanding, but according to the full 
 meaning of that Form of Prayer which Jesus 
 Christ has taught us. 
 
 Our Fdllutr, ichich (wl in heaven , <Cr. 
 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love
 
 120 PRAYERS. 
 
 of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be 
 with us all evermore. A men. 
 
 On ScNDAT Evening, let thefoUoiving Prayer he 
 added to your daily Prayers. 
 Almighty God, by whom all things were made 
 and are preserved, give us hearts to know, and grace 
 to consider this, that we may cheerfully commit our- 
 selves, and all that belongs to us, to Thy merciful 
 care ; that we may ever look up to Thee for what we 
 want ; be thankful for thy favours ; never resist thy 
 dealings with us, or neglect the means of grace which 
 thy providence affords us. — Blessed be God, who 
 giveth us what is ever best for us ; who keepeth us 
 from dangers, and hath provided for us better than 
 all our works can deserve ! The good Lord make 
 us mindful of our duty, that as we often hear how 
 we ought to walk and to please God, we may con- 
 tinue to do so unto our lives' end, through Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 PRAYEES FOR PARTICULAR PERSONS, 
 
 BOTH MORNING AND EVENrNG. 
 IN THE MORNING. 
 
 Consider the danger of going into an evil world, 
 and then you will never foAl to p7^ay for the 
 blessing, j^rotectioyi, and grace of God, every 
 morning of your life. 
 
 THE PRATER. 
 
 Ps. cxvi. What shall I render unto the Lordjor 
 his mercies renexved unto me every morning? —
 
 FOR PARTICULAR PERSONS. 121 
 
 I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay 
 my vows unto the Most High. 
 
 And may God accept of my most hearty thanks 
 for my preservation and refreshment, and for all the 
 blessings of the night past, and of my life past ! 
 
 Possess my soul, gracious God, with such a sense 
 of this thy goodness, and of my dependence upon 
 Thee for life, and health, and prosperity, and com- 
 fort, that it may be my delight, as it is my duty 
 and interest, to serve and obey Thee. 
 
 And that I may do this with a quiet mind, forgive 
 me the sins of which my conscience is afraid ; and 
 avert the judgments which I have justly deserved. 
 
 Give me grace, that I may continue in thy fear 
 all the day long ; and that I may live and act as 
 having Thee, God, the constant witness of my 
 conduct ; and that it may be the purpose of my 
 soul never to offend Thee wilfully. 
 
 May thy restraining grace preserve me from the 
 temptations of an evil world, from the frailty and 
 corruption of my own nature, and from the evil 
 principles and practices of the age we live in ! 
 
 Possess my heart with a sincere love for Thee, 
 and for all mankind : and grant that I may have 
 this comfortable and sure proof of thy love abiding 
 in me, that I may study to please Thee, and keep 
 thy commandments. 
 
 Give me a tender compassion for the wants and 
 miseries of my neighbour, that Thou mayest have 
 compassion upon me, God. 
 
 In all my ways I do acknowledge Thee. Do 
 Thou, Lord, direct my paths, and teach me to
 
 1 22 PRAYERS 
 
 guide my affairs, my designs, my words, and actions, 
 with charity, discretion, justice, and piety. 
 
 Show me the way that I should walk in, and give 
 me grace to follow the conduct of thy good Spirit, 
 that I may do my duty in that state of life in which 
 thy providence has placed me. 
 
 Let me ever remember, that the night cometh 
 when no man can work ; and that now is the time 
 in which to provide for eternity. 
 
 Grant, gracious God, that no worldly pleasures, 
 no worldly business may ever m ake me lose the sight 
 of death, or forget the dangers that surround me. 
 
 Fill my heart with the dread of the punishments 
 prepared for impenitent sinners, and my soul with 
 a sense of the blessings which will be the sure reward 
 of all them that love Thee, and obey thy laws. 
 
 Hear me, heavenly Father, not according to 
 my imperfect petitions, but according to the full 
 meaning of that prayer which thy beloved Son 
 hath taught us. 
 
 Our Father, which art in heaven : hallowed be 
 thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done 
 in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our 
 daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we 
 forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us 
 not into temptation ; but deliver us from evil. For 
 thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, 
 for ever and ever. Amen.
 
 FOR PARTICULAR PERSONS. 123 
 
 EVENIKG PRAYER. 
 
 Every thoughtful person, hefore he lieth doion to 
 sleep, will put himself under the protection of 
 God, who giveth his angels charge concerning his 
 elect, to preserve them from the powers of dark- 
 ness, from the dangers of the night, and from all 
 sad accidents. 
 
 That it hath pleased God to add another day to 
 the years of my life, and that He hath kept me from 
 the dangers of an evil world : — For these, and for 
 all his mercies from day to day bestowed upon me, 
 I bless his good and gracious providence, most 
 earnestly beseeching Him to pardon my offences of 
 the day past, and to grant that they may never 
 rise up in judgment against me. 
 
 Lord, the frailty of man, without Thee, cannot 
 but fall : In all temptations, therefore, I beseech 
 Thee to succour me, that no sin may ever get the 
 dominion over me. 
 
 Give me a salutary dread of the corruption of my 
 own heart : — Make me truly sensible of the end of 
 sin, and mindful of my own infirmities and back- 
 slidings. 
 
 Vouchsafe unto all sinners a true sense of their 
 unhappy state, a fear of thy judgments, and grace 
 and strength to break their bonds. 
 
 Enlighten my soul with saving truth : — Correct 
 me in mercy, and reduce me when I go astray. 
 Make me ever mindful of my latter end, and fix in 
 my heart a lively sense of the happiness and misery 
 of the world to come. 
 
 May the thoughts of death mortify in me all pride
 
 124 PEAYERS. 
 
 and covetousness, and a love for this world ; and 
 may my firm belief of a judgment to come, make 
 me ever careful to please Thee, my Lord and 
 Judge, that I may find mercy at that day ! 
 
 Grant that I may lie down to sleep with the 
 same charitable and forgiving temper, in which I 
 desire and hope to die. 
 
 And may the Almighty God take me, and all that 
 belongs to me, under his gracious and powerful 
 protection ! May He give his angels charge con- 
 cerning us, and keep us in perpetual peace and 
 safety, through Jesus Christ our Lord ! 
 
 St. John xvi. 23. Verily, I say unto you, What- 
 soever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he 
 will give it you. 
 In thy name, Jesus, and in the full meaning 
 
 of the words which Thou hast taught us, I pray God, 
 
 for thy sake, to hear me, and to give me what is 
 
 most convenient for me : 
 
 Our Father, which art in heaven : hallowed be 
 thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done 
 in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our 
 daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we 
 forgive them that trespass against us. And lead 
 us not into temptation ; but deliver us from evil. 
 For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the 
 glory, for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 R. CLAY, PRINTER, BRJEAD STREET HILL.
 
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