Private Devotions for Ordinary and Extraordinary Occasions, Prayers 3
PRAYERS 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 gaſpings after it, anſwerable to my needs of it. I have with the prodigal waſted that portion of grace thou beſtowedſt upon me, and therefore do infinitely want a ſupplie out of this treaſurie: 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 alreadie ſo often trampled theſe precious things under foot, either careleſly neglecting, or unworthily receiving theſe holy myſteries? O Lord, my horrible guiltineſs makes me tremble to come, and yet 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? Hither 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 me ſo to receive it, that it may be to me for remiſſion of ſins. And though I have ſo often and ſo wretchedly broken my part of that Covenant, whereof this Sacrament is a ſeal, yet be thou graciouſly pleaſed to make good thine, 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 into 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 wearie and heavie laden, I may be capable of his refreſhings, and by being ſuppled in my own tears, 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 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 ſacred fire of love to him, and that ſo vehement, that no waters may quench, no floods drown it, ſuch as may burn up all my droſſe, not leave one unmortified luſt in my ſoul, and ſuch as may alſo extend it ſelf to all whom thou haſt given me command and example to love, even enemies as well as friends. Finally, O Lord, I beſeech thee to cloath me in the wedding garment, and make me though of my ſelf a moſt unworthie, yet by thy merciemercy an acceptable gueſt at this holy Table, that I may not eat and drink my own condemnation, but may have my pardon ſealed, my weakneſs repaired, my corruptions ſubdued, and my ſoul ſo inſeparably united to thee, that no temptations may ever be able to diſſolve the union, but that being begun here in grace, it may be conſummated in glorie. Grant this, O Lord, for thy dear Sons ſake, Jeſus Chriſt.
Another.
O Bleſſed Jeſus, who once offeredſt up thy ſelf for me upon the Croſs, 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 thee; O looſe me from this band, 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: he paths that lead to death, but when thou inviteſt me to life and glorie, I turn my back and forſake my own merciemercy. 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 defie then to adore thee? I have brought ſuch troops of thy profeſſed enemies, unrepented ſins along with me, as if I came not to commemorate, but renew thy paſſion, crucifying thee afreſh, and putting 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 blood is my only refuge, O let this make my atonement 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 ſins. I am a ſinner, a great one, O let me finde its ſaving efficacie. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful to me 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, interceed for me alſo, and plead thy meritorious ſufferings on my behalf, and ſuffer not, O my Redeemer, the price of thy 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, what 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 diedſt, O dear Jeſu, to redeem me from all iniquitie, O let me not again ſell my ſelf to work wickedneſs, but grant that I may approach thee at this time with moſt ſincere and fixed reſolutions of an entire 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 lie 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 virtue, they will ſtill remain uncured. O thou bleſſed Phyſician of ſouls, heal me, and grant I may now ſo touch thee that every one of theſe loathſome iſſues may immediately ſtaneh, that theſs ſickneſſes may not be unto death, but unto the glorie of thy merciemercy in Pardoning, to the glorie of thy grace in Purifying ſo polluted a wretch. O Chriſt hear me, and grant I may now approach thee with ſuch humilitie and contrition, love & devotion, that thou mayeſt vouchſafe to come unto me, & abide with me; communicating to me thy ſelf, and all the merits of thy Paſſion. And then, O Lord, let no accuſations of Satan or my 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 chearfully to run the way of thy Commandments. Grant this merciful Saviour for thine own bowels and compaſſions ſake.
EJACƲLATIONS to be uſed at the LORDS TABLE.
LORD, I am not worthy that thou ſhouldeſt come under my roof.
I have ſinned: What ſhall I do unto thee, O thou preſerver of men?
[Here recollect ſome of thy greateſt ſins.]
If thou, Lord, ſhouldſt be extream to mark what is done amiſs, O Lord, who may abide it?
But with the Lord there is merciemercy, and with him is plenteous Redemption.
Behold, O Lord, thy beloved Son in whom thou art well pleaſed.
Hearken to the crie of his blood which ſpeaketh better things then that of Abel.
By his Agonie and bloodie Sweat, by his Croſs and Paſſion, good Lord deliver me.
O Lamb of God which takeſt away the ſins of the world, grant me thy Peace.
O Lamb of God which takeſt away the ſins of the world, have mercy upon me.
Immediately before Receiving.
THou haſt ſaid that he that eateth thy fleſh and drinketh thy blood hath eternal life.
Behold the ſervant of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word.
At the receiving of the Bread.
By thy Crucified bodie deliver me from this body of death.
At the receiving of the Cup.
O Let this blood of thine purge my conſcience from dead works to ſerve the living God.
Lord, if thou wilt thou canſt make me clean.
O touch me, and ſay, I will, be thou clean.
After Receiving.
WHat ſhal I render unto the Lord for all the benefits he hath done unto me?
I will take 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 wiſdome, and ſtrength, and honour, and glorie, and bleſſing.
Therefore bleſſing, honour, glorie and power be to him that ſicteth upon the Throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever. Amen.
I have ſworn, and am ſtedfaſtly purpoſed to keep thy righteous judgements,
O hold thou up my goings in thy paths, that my footſteps ſlip not.
A Thanksgiving after the Receiving of the Sacrament.
O Thou fountain of all goodneſs, from whom everie good and perfect gift cometh, and to whom all honour and glorie ſhould 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: Lord, what is man that thou ſhouldſt 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 in this attonement, who have ſo often deſpiſed him and his ſufferings? O the height and depth of this merciemercy of thine, that art pleaſed to admit me to the renewing of that Covenant with thee which I have ſo often and ſo perverſly broken! That I who am not worthy of that dayly bread which ſuſtains the bodie, ſhould be made partaker of this bread of life which nouriſheth the ſoul, and that the God of all puritie 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 merciemercy an occaſion of ſecuritie, but let this unſpeakable love of thine conſtrain me to obedience, that ſince my bleſſed Lord hath 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 chance 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 eſpecially deliver me from my ſelf, from the treacherie of my own heart, which is too willing to yield it ſelf a prey. And where thou ſeeſt I am either by nature or cuſtome moſt weak, there do thou, I beſeech thee, magnifie thy power in my preſervation. [Here mention thy moſt dangerous temptations.] And Lord let my Saviours ſufferings for my ſins, and the Vows I have now made againſt them never depart from my minde, 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, pierced his ſide, and made his ſoul heavie 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, lift up my hands that hang down, and my 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 to me, I beſeech thee, ſuch a ſtabilitie of mind, that I may no more thus ſtart aſide like a broken bow, but that having my heart whole 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 formerly done, but that they may bring forth fruit unto life eternal. Grant this, O merciful father, through the merits and mediation of my Crucified Saviour.
A Prayer of Interceſſion to be uſed either before or after the receiving of the Sacrament.
O MOST gracious Lord, who ſo tenderly lovedſt mankind as to give thy dear Son out of thy Boſome to be a propitiation for the ſins of the whole world, grant that the effect of this Redemption may be as univerſal as the deſign of it, that it may be to the ſalvation of all. O let no perſon by impenitence and wilful ſin forfeit his part in it, but by the power of thy grace bring all, even the moſt obſtinate ſinners to repentance. Inlighten all that ſit in darkneſs, all Jews, Turks, Infidels and Hereticks, take from them all blindneſs, hardneſs of heart and contempt of thy Word, and ſo fetch them home, bleſſed Lord, unto thy fold, that they may be ſaved among the number of the true Iſraelites. And for all thoſe upon whom the Name of thy Son is called, grant, O Lord, that their converſations may be ſuch as becometh the Goſpel of Chriſt, that his Name be no longer blaſphemed among the Heathens through us. O Bleſſed Lord, how long ſhall Chriſtendom continue the vileſt part of the world, a ſink of all thoſe abominable pollutions, which even Barbarians deteſt? O let not our profeſſion and our practiſe be alwayes at ſo wide a diſtance. Let not the Diſciples of the holy and Immaculate Jeſus be of all others the moſt profane and impure. Let not the ſubjects of the Prince of Peace be of all others the moſt contentious and bloodie; but make us Chriſtians in deed as well as in name, that we may walk worthy of that Holy vocation wherewith we are called, and may all with one minde and one mouth glorifie thee the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Have merciemercy on this languiſhing Church, look down from Heaven the habitation of thy holineſs and of thy glorie: where is thy zeal and thy ſtrength, the ſounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies towards us? Are they reſtrained? Be not wroth very ſore, O Lord, neither remember iniquitie for ever; but though our backſlidings are many, and we have grievouſly rebelled, yet according to all thy goodneſs let thy anger & thy furie be turned away, & cauſe thy face to ſhine upon thy Sanctuarie which is deſolate, for the Lords ſake; and ſo ſeparate between us and our ſins, that they may no longer ſeparate between us and our God. Save and defend all Chriſtian Kings, Princes & Governours, eſpecially thoſe to whom we owe ſubjection; plead thou their cauſe, O Lord, againſt thoſe that ſtrive with them, & fight thou againſt thoſe that fight againſt them, & ſo guide & aſſiſt them in the diſcharge of that office whereunto thou haſt appointed them, that under them we may lead quiet and peaceable life, in all godlineſs & honeſtie. Bleſs them that wait at thine Altar, open thou their lips that their mouth may ſhew forth thy praiſe; O let not the lights of the world be put under buſhels, but place them in their Candleſticks, that they may give light to all that are in the houſe. Let not Jeroboams Prieſts profane thy Service, but let the ſeed of Aaron ſtill miniſter before thee. And O thou Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, ſuccour and relieve all that are in affliction, and deliver the out-caſt and poor, help them to right that ſuffer wrong, let the ſorrowful ſighing of the priſoners come before thee, and according to the greatneſs of thy power, preſerve thou thoſe that are appointed to die; grant eaſe to thoſe that are in pain, ſupplies to thoſe that ſuffer want, give to all preſumptuous ſinners a ſenſe of their ſins, and to all deſpairing, a ſight of thy mercies, and do thou, O Lord, for every one above what they can ask or think. Forgive my enemies, perſecuters and flanderers, and turn their hearts. Pour down thy bleſſings on all my friends, and benefactors, all who have commended themſelves to my Prayers. [Here thou may eſt name particular perſons.] And grant, O merciful Father, that through this blood of the Croſs, we may all be preſented pure and unblameable and unreproveable in thy ſight; that ſo we may be admitted into that place of puritie, where no unclean thing can enter, there to ſing eternal praiſes to Father, Son and Holie Ghoſt for ever.
A Prayer in times of common Perſecution.
O BLESSED Saviour, who haſt made the Croſs the badge of thy Diſciples, enable me I beſeech thee, willingly and chearfully to embrace it; thou ſeeſt, O Lord, I am fallen into dayes, wherein he that departeth from evil maketh himſelf a Prey, O make me ſo readily to expoſe all my outward concernments, when my obedience to thee requireth it, that what falls as a Prey to men, may by thee be accepted as a Sacrifice to God: Lord preſerve me ſo by thy grace that I never ſuffer as an evil doer, and then, O Lord, if it be my lot to ſuffer as a Chriſtian, let me not be aſhamed, but rejoyce that I am counted worthy to ſuffer for thy Name: O thou who for my ſake enduredſt the croſs; and diſpiſedſt the ſhame, let the example of that love and patience prevail againſt all the tremblings of my corrupt heart, that no terrors may ever be able to ſhake my conſtancie, but that how long ſoever thou ſhalt permit the rod of the wicked to lie on my back, I may never put my hand unto wickedneſs: Lord thou knoweſt whereof I am made, thou remembreſt that I am but fleſh; and fleſh, O Lord, ſhrinks at the approach of any thing grievous. It is thy Spirit, thy Spirit alone, that can uphold me, O ſtabliſh me with thy free Spirit, that I be not wearie and faint in my mind. And by how much the greater thou diſcerneſt my weakneſs, ſo much the more do thou ſhew forth thy power in me, and make me, O Lord, in all temptations ſtedfaſtly to look to thee, the author and finiſher of my faith, that ſo I may run the race which is ſet before me, and reſiſt even unto blood, ſtriving againſt ſin: O dear Jeſus, hear me, and though Satan deſire to have me, that he may winnow me as wheat, yet do thou O bleſſed Mediator, pray for me that my faith fail not, but that though it be tried with fire, it may be found unto praiſe and glorie and honour at thy appearing. And, O Lord, I beſeech thee grant that I may preſerve not only conſtancie towards God, but charitie alſo towards men, even thoſe whom thou ſhalt permit to be the inſtruments of my ſufferings: Lord, let me not fail to imitate that admirable meekneſs of thine, in loving and praying for my greateſt perſecutors; and do thou, O Lord, overcome all their evil with thy infinite goodneſs, turn their hearts, and draw them powerfully to thy ſelf, and at laſt receive both me and mine enemies into thoſe manſions of peace and reſt, where thou reigneſt with the Father, and the Holy Ghoſt, one God, for ever.
A Prayer in time of Affliction.
O JUST and holy Lord, who with rebukes doſt chaſten man for ſin, I deſire unfeignedly to humble my ſelf under thy mightie hand, which now lies heavie upon me, I heartily acknowledge, O Lord, that all I do, all I can ſuffer, is but the due reward of my deeds, and therefore in thy ſevereſt inflictions I muſt ſtill ſay, righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgements. But, O Lord, I beſeech thee in judgement remember merciemercy, and though my ſins have inforced thee to ſtrike, yet conſider my weakneſs, and let not thy ſtripes be more heavie, or more laſting then thou ſeeſt profitable for my ſoul; correct me but with the chaſtiſement of a father, not with the wounds of an enemie, and though thou take not off thy rod, yet take away thine anger: Lord, do not abhor my ſoul, nor caſt thy ſervant away in diſpleaſure, but pardon my ſins, I beſeech thee; and if yet in thy Fatherly wiſdome, thou ſee fit to prolong thy corrections, thy bleſſed will be done, I caſt my ſelf O Lord, at thy feet, do with me what thou pleaſeſt. Trie me as ſilver is tried, ſo thou bring me out purified. And Lord make even my fleſh alſo to ſubſcribe to this reſignation, that there may be nothing in me, that may rebel againſt thy hand, but that having perfectly ſuppreſt all repining thoughts, I may chearfully drink of this cup. And how bitter ſoever thou ſhalt pleaſe to make it, Lord, let it prove medicinal, and cure all the diſeaſes of my ſoul, that it may bring forth in me the peaceable fruit of righteouſneſs. That ſo theſe light afflictions which are but for a moment, may work for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glorie, through Jeſus Chriſt.
A Thanksgiving for Deliverance.
O Bleſſed Lord, who art gracious and merciful, ſlow to anger and of great kindneſs, and repenteſt thee of the evil; I thankfully acknowledge before thee that thou haſt not dealt with me after my ſins, nor rewarded me according to my iniquities. My rebellions, O Lord, deſerve to be ſcourged with Scorpions, and thou haſt corrected them only with a gentle and fatherly Rod; neither haſt thou ſuffered me to lie long under that, but haſt given me a timely and a gracious iſſue out of my late diſtreſſes. O Lord, I will be glad and rejoyce in thy merciemercy, for thou haſt conſidered my trouble, and haſt known my ſoul in adverſitie. Thou haſt ſmitten, and thou haſt healed me, O let theſe various methods of thine have their proper effects upon my ſoul, that I who have felt the ſmart of thy chaſtiſements may ſtand in awe and not fin, and that I who have likewiſe felt the ſweet refreſhings of thy merciemercy may have my heart raviſhed with it, and knit to thee in the firmeſt bands of love, and that by both I may be preſerved in a conſtant, entire obedience to thee all my dayes, through Jeſus Chriſt.