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vanities of this wicked world! but let my conversation, my heart, and my affections, be chiefly employed about heavenly things. May thy fear be my only care, as the way to glory; for the more I serve thee, the more blessed shall I be on earth, and greater will be my blessedness in heaven. If I If I cannot serve thee day and night, with those devout women, Hannah and Elizabeth, in the temple, because of my worldly business and family affairs; yet, since I am redeemed to serve thee all my days, let me not be backward to keep, as well as I am able, this week holy. Since thou will bestow an happy eternity for well spent time, let me be a careful manager of that inestimable treasure. At all times make me to watch and pray, and walk circumspectly; And let thy Holy Spirit assist and strengthen me in my spiritual warfare. Let me so use thy earthly blessings, that they may not hinder me from coming to thy table; even for the alone merits of him, who overcame the world for me, the captain of my salvation, thy dear Son Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.

Overlasting de fout the food

Everlasting God, the fountain of all

seed of thy word in my heart, and water it with the dew of thy heavenly blessing, that

A Prayer to conclude our Devotions for every Day in the Week.

ALMIGHTY God, who hast promised

to hear the petitions of them that ask in thy Son's name; I beseech thee mercifully to incline thine ears unto me, who have now made my prayers and supplications unto thee: And grant that those things which I have faithfully asked, according to thy will, may be effectually obtained, to the relief of my necessities, and to the setting forth of thy glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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while I exercise myself in it day and night, Tuesday's Meditations in the Morn

I may be like a tree planted by the waterside, bringing forth in all times and seasons, the fruits of a holy life. Lord, I am no longer mine but thine, therefore claim me

ing.

Upon the most Holy Sacrament.

as thy right, keep me as thy charge, (this Ma

night) and love me as thy child, and grant me such supplies of thy grace, that both in my soul and body, I may evermore serve thee with all my strength and might, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

No. 26.

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ANY there are in the world who through carelessness and negligence, or ignorance and indevotion, will not take pains to prepare themselves for this special part of the service of God, but abstain from the Holy Sacrament. A miserable case it is, that we should, for mean and transitory things neglect heavenly; let us consider whose creatures we are, why God hath sent us into this world, what he will require of us when we must appear before the judgment-seat of Christ. If in our earthly affairs we often forget heavenly

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things, good reason it is, that in heavenly matters we should lift up our hearts towards heaven, and prepare ourselves to receive this celestial banquet in a devout manner. Let us go to the Lord's table, and, if it be possible, excite a greater love in our hearts towards our Lord Jesus, than ever we felt before. Let us offer up ourselves to him with strong and fervent desires. O how little is their love, and how weak is their devotion, that so easily absent themselves from the holy communion!

Oh! what satisfaction does it yield to a penitent and believing heart, to think upon the wonders of our dying master's love; and of the interest it has in his redemption. And, oh! that my soul could imitate my Saviour! Oh that my heart might return the like love, in giving myself up entirely to God's service! Gracious Lord, if I find not present comfort in this blessed Sacrament, yet on thee will I wait; if thou art pleased to defer thy consolations for the trial of my faith and love, O let not my faith fail, seeing I cannot wait too long for the grace I so much desire, and which I am assured I shall at last obtain; for the Lord is good; and where, O my soul, canst thou better taste the goodness of the Lord, than this blessed Eucharist, the sacred feast of the Lord's goodness? The saints of old, how have they come from this thy table satisfied with good things, strong in faith to resist the temptations of satan! Why art thou then so heavy, O my soul, and why art thou so cast down within me? Is it because thou hast broken the covenant of thy God, and thereby forfeited his favour? Do not despair of a reconciliation, for will not the Lord, who is good, be as gracious to his enemies, as he requires us to be to ours? Our blessed Saviour, that good shepherd of the sheep, came to seek those that are lost, and to raise up those that are fallen; so that as sure as the Lord is good and upright, merciful and faithful, so sure it is he will not cast off the penitent, he will not reject the humble, but will teach

penitent sinners in the way. Thanks be unto thee, O Thou Creator and Redeemer of Man, who to manifest-thy love to the whole world, hast prepared this feast, which is our best and choicest provision for our spiritual journey, in this our earthly pilgrimage to the heavenly Canaan,

A Prayer on Tuesday Morning, by way of preparation for the Holy Sacrament.

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Eternal God, who wert pleased in mercy to look upon us, when we were in our blood, to reconcile us when we were enemies, finding out a remedy for us, which mankind could never ask, even making an atonement for us by the death of thy son: Let me never fall into those sins, and return to that vain conversation from which the all gracious and most merciful Saviour of the world hath redeemed me, but let thy preventing grace dash all temptations in their approaches; let me grow in grace, adding virtue to virtue, reducing my purposes to acts, and increasing my acts till they grow into habits, and my habits till they be confirmed in virtue. O God, be pleased to impart to thy servant a ray thy heavenly light; open mine eyes, and set all my sins before my face, that I may speedily and earnestly, and heartily repent of, and forsake them all; give me a due sense of my infirmities, that I may watch against them, and whatsoever is wanting in me towards the understanding of any thing, whereby I may please thee, and perfect my duty, I beg of thee to reveal that also unto me. Oh, that I may feel such a strong sense of thine incomprehensible majesty in my heart as may banish all vain and sinful thoughts. This week, O Lord, and the rest of my life, I dedicate absolutely to thy service, and let me never be so base and ungrateful as to return to those sins,

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which are now become the burden of my heart, and grieve thy holy spirit; which rent the flesh, and shed the blood of the Lord Jesus, and which I have so often and so solemnly protested against; be pleased therefore, Ŏ my dearest Lord, to create in thy servant a great hunger and thirst after the things of thy kingdom, and the righteousness of it, that I may long for the bread of heaven, thirst after the fountain of salvation, and as the hart panteth after the brooks of water, so my soul may desire thee, O Lord: O kindle such a holy flame in my soul, that it may be meat and drink to me, to do thy will, loving thee above all things in the world, worshipping thee with the humblest adorations, and continually meditating upon that divine sweetness and eternal love and joy reserved in heaven for us; to which I humbly hope to be brought by thine infinite mercies in him, who hath taught me to call thee Father, and to say when I pray, Our Father which art in heaven, &c.

Tuesday's Meditations in the
Evening.

Preparation before the Sacrament, and the Necessity of it.

Preparation is a means to get the heart

in order for receiving of the blessed Sacrament: Take heed to thy foot when thou goest into the house of God, said the royal preacher; but if such heed must be taken when we come to the house, how much more when we come to the table of the Lord? Sanctify yourselves (saith Samuel) and come with me to the sacrifice. Sanctification was necessary to the eating of the sacrifices under the law, much more now under the gospel is it required for our spiritually feeding on that great sacrifice for sin, of which all the Mosaical sacrifices were but shadows. It was a devout saying of David, Psal. xxvi. 6. "I will wash my hands in innocency, so I will compass thine altar, O Lord." Too many are as ignorantly bold in

this, as the disciples in another case: "Are you able (saith Christ) to drink of the cup that I shall drink of?" We know how rashly they answered, "We are able." St. Matth. xx. 22.

Some unthinking wretches, if we ask them, Are ye able, are ye fit to receive Christ in the Sacrament at his table, are so confident of their worthiness and ability, that they are offended at the very question! whereas it is justly to be feared they never yet bestowed a single hour in examining their souls, and preparing their hearts for so solemn a work. According to a man's preparation will be his profit. Preparation is the seed preceding the harvest. He that sows nothing, cannot expect to reap: And be that sows sparingly, shall reap sparingly: 'Tis in receiving as in praying; he that prepares his heart to pray, finds a favourable answer to his prayers. Our most merciful Redeemer extendeth his bounty and grace to devout communicants. Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it, Psal. lxxxi. 11. Joseph said to his servant, fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, Gen. xliv. 1. How much more will our blessed Jesus be liberal to us in the Holy Sacrament: Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you, (Jam. iv.) and a rich blessing shall we carry away with us from this storehouse of blessings. A holy life is a perpetual sacrifice, and he that so lives, keeps his heart as an holy altar, always warm and glowing with devotion. "Whoso leadeth a godly life, he shall be my servant." Ps. ci. 9. Good actions beget in us greater longings after grace, and good desires make us still do well, out of hope to have more grace: When a good man lifts up his heart to God, he finds God ever present to his soul: the sweetness of such converse with God, and the power of his grace consequent upon our hearty desires, engages and enables us to a holy conversation and a godly life; the happiness of which is so great, that it excites us to do all we can to maintain a holy commu

mion with our almighty creator, by a lively faith in the son of his bosom; and to dread being separated from his love.

Consider that it is a very dangerous thing for those that fear God, to neglect attending on this ordinance. How hard went it with those, who being invited so lovingly by our Lord, nevertheless came not to his supper? 'tis very dangerous to reject or neglect the Lord's bounty. There is a punishment for them who ought to come, and come not, as well as for those who come not in a prepared manner, as they ought.

No man can come to this divine feast so worthily as he ought; do what we can, too much dulness, deadness and distraction will be our companions; but yet this is our encouragement, that if the Lord sees a man set himself seriously to a preparation, he will bear with many failings. Hezekiah prays, "The good Lord pardon every one that prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary:" And what was the success of his prayer?" And the Lord healed the people, and they kept the feast with great gladness." Behold how gracious the Lord is to such whose hearts are set on preparation for his ordinances. Let us this week set our hearts in order to serve God, that we may come devoutly to the Lord's Supper, and consider how well-pleasing it is unto the Lord Jesus, promising to serve him in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life.

A Prayer on Tuesday Evening, before the Holy Sacrament.

Merciful Father, who, according to the multitude of thy mercies, dost so put away the sins of all those who truly repent, that thou rememberest them no more; open,

I beseech thee, the eyes of thy mercy upon me, thy unworthy servant, who most earnestly desire the pardon and forgiveness of all my sins and offences, in thought, word and deed. Thy blessings and benefits I have abused; thy judgments and punishments not feared; the means of my own salvation I have wretchedly neglected.

But, O Lord, with thee there is mercy, that thou mayest be feared; thou art the God of all comfort, merciful and loving, ready and willing to hearall penitentsinners, that in heart are sorrowful for their sins. It is some small comfort to me, that I find my heart melted into some tenderness and contrition for my past sins. By this I hope thou hast not taken thy holy spirit from me; and that thou wilt not forsake the work of thine own hands; but perfect that which concerneth me. As thou hast begun a good work in me, I humbly hope thou wilt carry it on, to the Day of Jesus Christ. Turn my heart, O Lord, that I may loath and abhor that which is evil, and cleave to that which is good. It is not thy pardon alone which I desire, but that I may be thoroughly renewed and changed in my mind, will and affections: I long for such a portion of thy grace, as may over-awe and rule me in every thought, word, desire and action of my whole life. In the name therefore of Jesus Christ, my blessed Redeemer, I humbly prostrate myself before the throne of thy mercy-seat, that for his only sake, thou wilt have compassion on me; I submit myself to thy goodness, beseeching thee not to let my sins be a cloud between my prayer and thy pity; but forgive and forget all my transgressions, all my misdoings, let them be sins of what condition soever, whether sins of my youth, or sins of my riper age; sins of my body, or sins of my soul; secret or open sins; notorious or presumptuous sins; sins of pride, envy, hatred, malice, &c. Good Lord forgive them all, and of thy great goodness grant me perfect remission and absolution for the same, through Jesus Christ.

so wise, or so happy, as to know the excellency of this gift of the Lord, it would fill us full of wonder and adoration, joy and thankfulness! For the love of our dearest Lord is written in the largest characters in these holy mysteries. In the Holy Sacrament, we may taste and see how gracious our Lord is; no love can be greater than that which is so exceeding great as to bestow the greatest good upon us; and such was the charity of our Lord,

And now, O Lord, that I am (on Sunday next) to receive the blessed Sacrament of the body and blood of thy dear Son, how shall I, that am so great a sinner, vile dust and ashes, presume to approach thy table; Thou, O Lord, in thy gospel, hast given us an invitation, "Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Lord I close with this most endearing invitation of thine. Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness, and cleanse me from my sins, and of thy gracious good-who brings health to our souls in the Holy ness direct me in this great affair, with a reverend and awful fear of thy majesty, that all the faculties of my soul and body may be intent, rightly to apprehend, and joyfully to receive this precious food, this bread of life; and that by thy grace I may obtain the virtue, fruit and benefits of thy death and passion; and by the same the remission of all my sins, and everlasting salvation. Amen! Lord Jesus. Amen.

Wednesday's Meditations in the
Morning.

Upon the most Holy Sacrament.

Sacraments, gives us the bread of heaven, yielding food, and health, and delight; love desires to do all good to its beloved object, and that is the greatest love which has given us the greatest blessing: And this sacrament Christ designed for that purpose, that he, who is not present to our eyes, might always be present to our spirit: love demands love again, and to desire to be beloved, is of itself great argument of love: And as God cannot give us a greater blessing than his love, so what greater demonstration of it can he give us than what was manifested in our Saviour's life and death? Love hath no expression beyond this, and it desires to be united unto its beloved object. Let it be our great desire and delight to come to this Holy Sacrament; for now the Lord our God calls upon us, not only to draw nigh unto him, but to be one with Christ, and Christ with us. What nation is so

WHEN God gave his Son to die for great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as

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our sins, it could not be but he should give us all things else, appertaining to life, godliness and salvation. And therefore this Blessed Sacrament is a conveyance of all felicities; but as it was at first, so it hath been ever since; "Christ came into the world, and the world knew him not:" So Christ hath commanded us to receive this Sacrament, in remembrance of him; and yet by many he is not rightly understood, and less truly valued. But Christ may say to us, as once to the woman of Samaria, "Woman, if thou didst know the gift of God, and who it is that speaks to thee, thou wouldst ask of him ;" and so, if we were No. 26.

the Lord our God is in all things, which we call upon him for? Let us do honour to God, express the homage and duty of redeemed servants, acknowledge his supreme dominion, give him thanks and worship, beg pardon for our sins, pray for the divine blessing and a supply of all our needs. Let us go, O my soul, and declare before angels and men, that we are christians indeed, and mean to live and die in Christ's holy religion. And let us now take shame to ourselves, that we have at any time lived so as to contradict our belief, and let us fully resolve to love him better and better, by coming to his table. He hath invited thee, he expects thee

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