The Whole Duty of Prayer, Part 1 · Subpart 9 – Prayer 12
Meditations on the Lords Supper.
HOW can I approach so divine a▪ banquet, and not by an humble confession wash my hands in innocency; holy things must not be given to Dogs, nor Pearls cast before Swine: What is so holy as the Body and blood of Christ, and what Pearl so precious as this Sacrament? There is no Dog so filthy, or Sow so unclean as I am by Nature; but with great detestation of my Rebellious Corruptions, I confess that never Dog so often returned to his Vomit, nor Sow to her wallowing in the mire, as I have to the sink of Sin and mire of sensual filthiness.
O WASH my hands in purity, cleanse my Mouth and purge my Heart, that I may take with a pure Hand, eat with an undefileth mouth, and keep in a faithfull heart this bread of life, and food of Angels: give me grace, throughly and sincerely to examine my self, and grant that after Examination, I may find my desire fervent, my knowledge Competent, my Sorrow for Sin unfeigned, my purpose of amendment sled fait, my love sincere, and my Faith lively.
AND finding my self thus apparelled in a wedding garment, let me be found of thee in Peace, and both cheerfully approach unto, and joyfully and thankfully depart from thy holy, and Heavenly Table; receiving by▪ and with the Bread broken thy Crucified Body, and with the Wine poured out thy blood shed: And by both remission of my Sins, readmission into thy presence and favour, incorporation into thy my…tical Body, and finally the glorification of my Body and Soul with thee in thy Kingdom of glory,
Amen.
A Prayer before the Communion.
O LORD Jesus, the Son of the living God, who freely offeredst thy most Sacred Body to be broken, and thy blood to be shed for my Sins that I might be ransomed from Hell, and delivered from wrath and eternal Condemnation; O Lord, my sins, original and actual, of weakness and wickedness, have deserved thy Wrath and heavy indignation; and had not thine eye spared me I had long since been in everlasting burnings, and wholly banished from the presence of thy glory.
LORD, wash away all my Sins in the streams of thy pre…ious blood, which Speaks better things than that of Abel's thou hast loved me, in laying down thy life for me, and hast left unto thy Church▪ this holy Sacrament as a pledge and assurance, that through thy death, all that truly partake of this Sacred and Heavenly inititution, apprehending the mysteries, and applying the m…rits of Christ Crucified, they may receive Comfort and Peace in believing those promises which thou hast expre…t unto us in thy word, and be partakers of the benefits of thy Sons passion, and have fruition of thy saving vertue here, and life and Glory hereafter.
ACCEPT me, O Lord, in thy dear Son, as washed, justified and Sanctified, and by thy Spirit cleanse and purifie me daily more and more, Sanctifie my affections, and enlarge my heart for holy and Heavenly things; and grant that through a stedfast, lively, and constant Faith, I may receive, and worthily eat this Sanctified Bread, and drink of this Sacred Cup, in a holy remembrance that thy Body, O Lord Jesus, was Crucified, and thy blood was shed for the remission of my sins, and grant that it may so effectually operate in my Soul, that I may ever hereafter live in a holy obedience, according to thy heavenly Will, through Jesus Christ.
Amen.
An Ejaculation before Receiving the Bread▪
BLESSED Lord, as thou hast given thy Flesh to be the Bread of eternal Salvation, so vouchsafe to work in me by a lively Faith, that I receiving the same, may evermore continue in me, and thou in me,
Amen.
An Ejaculation before Receiving the Cup.
O LORD, vouchsafe that as thy Blood was shed to wash me a sinner from the Corruption of Old Adam, so grant that it may, through a lively Faith, take effect in me, washing… me from the filth of sin, and renew in me the Fruits of Righteousness, that I may become a fit Member to live in thee, and dye in thee.
Amen.
A Prayer after the Communion.
O GOD, I praise and bless thy holy Name, for thine unspeakable favour and loving kindness, in feeding me at this time, with the spiritual Food of the Body and Blood of thy Son Jesus Christ, whom thou vouchsafest to send for our Redemption, and to offer him up to Death for me, in remembrance whereof he hath commanded me to eat his Body, and drink his Blood, to the end, that by Faith I should be united to him, and made a lively Member of his Mystical Body, and being washed from all my sins, in his Blood. I should lead a new life in all obedience, holiness and righteousness. VOUCHSAFE, I humbly beseech thee for his sake, to endue me with thy holy Spirit, that by casting away the works of darkness, I may walk in the true light of thy holy Spirit, and ever remain in the number of thy holy and elect Children; give me an earnest desire to partake often of this holy Institution, and to lead my life according to thy holy Will in all things, keeping my Body and Soul unspotted and undefiled, as fit receptacles of so heavenly Food, that my Soul may be partaker of the Mysteries thereof by faith in Christ Jesus.
AND now Glory be to God on high, on Earth peace and eternal Consolation in my Conscience; I am sed now with thy Body, and my heart is refreshed with the Cup of the New Testament in thy Blood: Now I am a Member of thy Mystical Body, Flesh of thy Flesh, and Bone of thy Bone. Lord let nothing be ever able to separate me from thee, but since all things work for the good of thy Chosen, let all things more and more unite me to thee, that I may grow from Grace to Grace, and Strength to Strength, till I come to the full measure of thy perfect Age, and not be refused by thee, who hast given thy self for me, and unto me.
Amen.
A Prayer before hearing the Word.
O LORD, Illuminate my dark understanding, to receive thy Word, and prudently retain it; give me Grace that the Seed of thy Word being sown in my heart, it may take deep root downward, and bring forth Fruit upward, to the Credit of thy Gospel, the Comfort of my poor Soul; and above all, to the Glory of thy most holy Name. Let thy spirit rule and guide the Lips of thy Minister, that he may utter nothing but the Word of Truth, with that fervency, that neither fear nor affection may stop the current of the same.
AND because the Harvest is great, and the Labourers but few, I beseech thee, who art Lord of the Harvest, to send forth such into thy Vineyard, as may with a zeal discharge their Ministerial Function; let thy Urim be upon them, as upon thy holy ones, that sincerity of Doctrine, and integrity of Conversation, may adorn their persons. Lord, guide the Heart and Tongue of him whom I shall hear this day, grant he may speak home to my Conscience, and leave no Corruption unbowelled, but that his Words may chase away all sinful affections from me, whereby I may depart from all Iniquity.
BLESS all thy people, and grant that they may be not only hearers of thy Word, but doers of the same, not deceiving their own Souls; and grant that thy Messengers dividing the Word aright, and thy people keeping it carefully, and practising it conscionably, they may through Jesus Christ, obtain the remission of their sins past, and receive thy Grace for the time to come. Give them light instead of darkness; peace for trouble, and eternal happiness instead of Felicity, that tasting the sweetness of Caelestial Comfort, they may despise Terrestrial, and after this life ended, they may enter into everlasting Glory, through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
A Prayer after hearing the Word.
MOST gracious God, of thy bountiful Goodness, thou hast, through thy Son Jesus Christ, made known, for my instruction and unspeakable comfort, the glorious Gospel, thy Word of Truth, which none can learn but by hearing, and none can hear but by preaching; and none can preach except they be sent; to this end, give me thy grace, I humbly beseech thee, that as I have heard thy word at this time by thy Minister and messenger, so grant, that I and all that have heard, may Know, understand the same, retain and practice it, according to thy Heavenly will, that I may thereby grow in knowledge, increase in Grace, and be a lively instrument of thy Glory unto my lives end,
Amen.
A Prayer for Necessary Blessings of this Life.
O LORD, thou hast promised never to fail those that depend upon thee; thou openest thine hands and fillest all things living with plenteousness, never suffering any of thine to perish, that carefully seek relief from thy most gracious bounty: I humbly beseech thee dermit me not to want necessaries for this present Life; enable me to live without distracting cares; to this end, bless my labours, that I may have a sufficiency for me, and mine, and not be burdensome unto any but rather be able to administer unto others, whatsoever refreshing Comforts they shall stand in need of.
GIVE me neither Poverty, nor Riches, but feed me with Food convenient for me; lest I be full and deny thee, and say, who is the Lord; or lest I be poor and Steal, and take the name of my God in vain afford me such a portion of Health, and Wealth as thou in thy Divine Wisdom shalt think most convenient for me; succour all such as be in want, relieve the oppressed, comfort the Afflicted, raise the lowly, and aid the needy.
AND O Lord, I humbly beseech thee, never let me want thy favourable assistance, but bless my Basket and encrease my Store, with thy never failing blessings, that I may be able to live in thy Faith, Fear, and Love, and out of the Depth of misery, and danger of all Men, through Jesusus Christ my only Lord, and Saviour,
Amen.
A Thanks giving for Gods Benefits.
O GOD Almighty, the giver of all good things, thou art my stay, my Comfort and only guide, direct me, I pray thee, to employ that talent which thou hast allotted, me, for the advancement of thy Glory: Lord thou hast been abundantly gracious, and bountiful unto me, and hast blest my Store, insomuch that I have not only what satisfieth my own occasions, but have also sufficient to Relieve others in the time of their necessity.
GIVE me therefore a free Heart, to cast my Bread upon the waters; and to Relieve my poor distressed Brethren, according to the utmost of my ability; to feed the hungry, to cloth the naked, and minister unto thy distressed Saints that I may not live unto my self, but for the help of all those that want my assistance, that I may lay up in Store a good foundation against the time to come, and be found of thee in peace, enjoying Life, and Salvation through Jesus Christ,
Amen.
A Prayer for Wisdom.
O MOST great and glorious Lord God, I confess that whilst I bear about me this Body of sin imprisoning the Soul, my Nature corrupted and depraved with Iniquity, original and actual, seeks by all means possible to oppose the spirit, and do those things which are dissonant and contrary to the motions, inspirations, gracious influences, and working thereof; my Flesh lusteth against the Spirit, so that the things I would do I cannot, and the things which I suppose to be done in much knowledge and wisdom, will be found not only ignorance, and erroneous, but sinful wickedness in thy sight.
WHEREFORE I humbly beseech thee, O holy Father, to send out thy Light and Truth, thy spirit of Wisdom and Revelation, to Teach and Instruct me, to be my God and Guide, to lead me into all Truth. Lord, send down that Wisdom that waiteth about thy Throne, and plant the same in my Heart, that all my sayings and doings, being always ordered by this Wisdom from on high, I may do that which is pleasing in thy sight, and profitable for my own Salvation, and shun the contrary in all things, through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour.
Amen.
A Prayer for Defence against our Enemies.
O LORD my God, be not far from me in trouble, and in all dangers Ghostly and Bodily, draw near and make haste to help me, I am, I confess, a most sinful Creature, and have justly deserved thy Wrath and Indignation against me, yet, O Lord, for thy mercy sake, turn thee unto me, and have compassion on me; let mine Enemies prevail not in their mischievous devises, lest they be too proud; in thy Mercy convert them, or in thy Justice consound them; make them as stubble before the Wind, and thine Angel scattering them.
LORD, I am in thy hand, and they are within the compass of thy power; stay and allay their fury, let them not take effect in their wicked Imaginations and Attempts against me, but put them to confusion; rid me, and deliver me in thy Righteousness; and be thou a Sun and a Shield unto me, to comfort and protect me.
TO this end cause thine Angels to pitch their Tents round about me, that being defended under the shadow of thy Wings, and armed with the power of thy Might, I may not fear what Man can do unto me. Lord, regard me with the eye of thy Grace, and guard me with the hand of thy power, that being preserved both in Soul and Body, I may live in Piety, Peace and Godliness, unto my lives end.
Amen.