The Exaltation of the Soul, Prayer 83 – Prayer 85
A Prayer before the Receiving of the Blessed Sacrament.
O Most merciful God, who hast in thy great goodness prepared this Spiritual Feast for sick and famished souls, make my desires and longings after it, answerable to my needs of it. I have, with the Prodigal, wasted that portion of grace thou bestowedst upon me, therefore do infinitely want a supply out of this Treasury; but, O Lord, how shall such a wretch as I dare to approach this holy Table? I am a Dog, how shall I presume to take the Childrens bread? or how shall this spiritual Manna, this food of Angels be given to one who hath chosen to feed on husks with Swine? nay, to one who hath already so often trampled these precious things under foot, either carelesly neglecting, or unworthily refusing those holy precious Mysteries. O Lord, my horrible guiltiness makes me tremble to come, and makes me not dare to keep away; for where, O Lord, shall my polluted soul be washed, if not in this fountain which thou hast opened for sin and for uncleanness? hitherto therefore I come, and thou hast promised, that him that cometh to thee, thou wilt in no wise cast out. This is, O Lord, the Blood of the New Testament, grant to me so to receive it, that it may be to me for remission of sins; and though I have so often, and so wickedly broken my part of that Covenant, whereof this Sacrament is a seal, yet be thou graciously pleased to make thine good, to be merciful to my unrighteousness, and to remember my sins and my iniquities no more; and not only so, but to put thy Laws in my heart, and to write them in my mind; and by the power of thy grace dispose my soul to such a sincere and constant obedience, that I may never again provoke thee. Lord grant that in these holy Mysteries I may not only commemorate, but effectually receive my blessed Saviour, and all the benefits of his passion; and to that end give me such a preparation of soul as may qualifie me for it. Give me a deep sense of my sins and unworthiness, that being weary and heavy laden, I may be capable of his refreshings, and being encompast with my own tears, and truly sorry for my many sins, I may be the fitter to be washed in his blood. Raise up my dull and earthly mind from groveling here below, and inspire it with a holy zeal, that I may with a spiritual affection approach this spiritual Feast. And let, O Lord, that infinite Love of Christ, in dying for so wretched a sinner, inflame my frozen benummed soul, and kindle in me that sacrifice of love to him, and that so vehement, that no water may quench, no floods drown it; such as may burn up all my dross, not leave one unmortified lust in my soul; such as may also extend it self to all whom thou hast given me command and example to love, even mine enemies as well as friends. Finally, O Lord, I beseech thee to cloath me in the Wedding-garment, and make me, though my self a most unworthy sinner, yet by thy mercy an acceptable guest at this holy Table, that I may not eat and drink my own damnation, but may have my pardon sealed, my weakness repaired, my corruptions subdued, and my soul unseparably united to thee, that no temptation be ever able to dissolve the union; but that being begun here in grace, it may be consummated in glory; grant this, O Lord, for thy dear Son sake, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Another Prayer for the Receiving of the Holy Communion.
O Blessed Jesus, who once offeredst up thy self upon the Cross for me, and now offerest thy self to me in the Sacrament, let not, I beseech thee, my impenitence and unworthiness frustrate these so inestimable mercies to me, but qualifie me by thy grace to receive the full benefit of them. O Lord, I have abundant need of thee, but am so clogg'd with guilt, so holden with the cords of my sins, that I am not able to move towards the. O loose me from these bands wherewith Satan and my own lusts have bound me, and draw me that I may run after thee. Lord, thou seest daily how eagerly I pursue the paths that lead to death; and when thou invitest me to life and glory, I turn my back, and forsake the hopes of mercy. How often hath this Feast been prepared, and I have with frivolous excuses absented my self; or if I have come, it hath been rather to defile, than to adore thee. I have brought such Troops of thy professed enemies, and unrepented sins along with me, as if I came not to commemorate, but to renew thy passion, crucifying thee afresh, and put thee to open shame; and now of what punishment shall I be thought worthy, who have thus trampled under foot the Son of God, and counted the blood of the Covenant an unholy thing; yet, O merciful Jesu, this is my onelyonly Refuge. O let this make my attonement, or I perish eternally; wherefore didst thou shed it, but to save sinners; neither can the merit of it be overwhelmed either by the greatness or number of my sins. I am a sinner, a great one, O let me find this saving efficacy: Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful, for my soul trusteth in thee; and in the clefts of thy wounds shall be my Refuge, until thy Fathers indignation be over past. O thou who hast, as my High Priest, sacrificed for me, intercede for me also, and plead thy meritorious sufferings on my behalf, and suffer not, O my Redeemer, the price of blood to be utterly lost; and grant, O Lord, that as the sins I have to be forgiven are many, so I may love much. Lord, thou seest what faint and cold affections I have towards thee; O warm and enliven them; and as in this Sacrament that transcendent love of thine, in dying for me is shed forth, so I beseech thee, let it convey such grace into me, as may enable me to make some returns of love. O let this Divine fire descend from Heaven into my soul; and let my sins be the burnt offering for it to consume, that there may not any corrupt affection, any cursed thing be sheltered in my heart; that I may never again defile that place which thou hast chosen for thy Temple. Thou dyedst, O dear Jesu, to redeem me from all iniquity, O let me not again sell my self to work wickedness, but grant that I may approach unto thee at this time with most sincere and fixed resolutions of an inward Reformation; and let me receive such grace and strength from thee, as may enable me faithfully to perform them. Lord, there are many old habituated diseases my soul groans under; here mention thy most prevailing corruptions; and though I lye never so long at the Pool of Bethesda, come never so often to thy Table, yet unless thou be pleased to put forth thy healing vertue, they will still remain uncured. O thou blessed Physician of souls, heal me, and grant that I may now so touch thee, that every one of these loathsome Issues may immediately stench, that my sickness may not be unto death, but unto the glory of thy mercy in pardoning, to the glory of thy grace in purifying so polluted a wretch. O Christ, hear me, and grant I may now approach unto thee with such humility and contrition, love and devotion, that thou mayest vouchsafe to come unto me, and abide with me, communicating to me thy self, and all the merit of thy passion; and then, O Lord, let no occasions of Satan, or mine own conscience, amaze or distract me; but having peace with thee, let me also have peace in my self, that this Wine may make glad, this Bread of Life may strengthen my heart, and enable me cheerfully to run the way of thy Commandments; grant this merciful Saviour, for thine own bowels and compassions sake. Amen.
Immediately before Receiving.
Thou hast said, that he that eateth thy flesh, and drinketh thy blood, hath eternal life; behold thy servant O Lord, be it unto me according to thy Word.
At the Receiving of the Bread.
By thy crucified Body deliver me from the body of this death.
At the Receiving of the Cup.
O Lord, let this blood of thine purge my conscience from dead works, to serve the ever Living God. Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean; O touch me, and say, I will, be thou clean.
After Receiving.
What shall I render unto the Lord for all the benefits he hath done unto me; I will receive the Cup of Salvation, and call upon the Name of the Lord. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain▪ to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and a blessing; therefore blessing, honour, glory and power, be to him that sitteth on the Throne, and the Lamb for ever and ever. Amen.
I have sworn, and am stedfastly bent to keep thy Righteous Judgments; O Lord hold thou up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.
A Thanksgiving for the Receiving the Communion.
O Thou fountain of all goodness, from whom every good and perfect gift cometh, and to whom all honour and glory shall be returned, I desire with all the most fervent and inflamed affections of a grateful heart to bless and praise thee for those inestimable mercies thou hast vouchsafed me. O Lord, what is man that thou shouldest so regard him, as to send thy Beloved Son to suffer such bitter things for him? But Lord, what am I, the worst of men, that I should have any part of this Sacrament, who have so often despised him, and his sufferings? O the height and depth of this mercy of thine, that art pleased to admit me to the renewing of that Covenant with thee, which I have so often and perversly broken! that I who am not worthy of that daily bread which sustains the body, should be made partaker of this bread of life, which nourisheth the soul; and that the God of all purity should vouchsafe to unite himself to so polluted a wretch. O my God, suffer me no more, I beseech thee, to turn thy grace into wantonness, to make thy mercy an occasion of security, but let this unspeakable love of thine, confirm me to obedience, that since my blessed Lord died for me, I may no longer live unto my self, but to him. O Lord, I know there is no concord between Christ and Belial; therefore since he hath now been pleased to enter my heart, O let me never permit any lust to chase him thence; but let him that hath so dearly bought me, still keep possession of me; and let nothing ever take me out of his hand: To this end be thou graciously pleased to watch over me, and defend me from all assaults of my spiritual enemies, but graciously and specially from my self, from the treachery of my own heart, which is too willing to yield it self a prey; and where thou seest me either by nature or custom most weak, there do thou, I beseeeh thee, magnifie thy power in my preservations; here mention thy most dangerous temptations; and Lord, let my Saviours sufferings for my sins, and the vows that I have now made against them, never depart from my mind; but let the remembrance of the one, enable me to perform the other, that I may never make truce with those lusts which nailed his hands, piercing his side, and made his soul heavy to the death; but that having now anew listed my self under his banner, I may fight manfully, and follow the Captain of my salvation, even through a Sea of blood. Lord, strengthen the hands that fall down, and feeble knees, that I faint not in this warfare. O be thou my strength, who am not able of my self to struggle with the slightest temptations: how often have I turned my back in the day of battel? how many of these Sacramental Vows have I violated? and Lord, I have still the same unconstant deceitful heart to betray me to the breach of this. O thou who art Yea and Amen, in whom there is no shadow of change, communicate unto me, I beseech thee, such stability of mind, that I may no more thus start aside like a broken Bow, but that having my heart wholly with thee, I may continue stedfast in thy Covenant, that not one good purpose which thy Spirit hath raised in me this day may vanish, as so many have done formerly, but that they may bring forth good fruit unto life eternal; grant this, O merciful Father, through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ my only Saviour. Amen.