The whole duty of a communicant eing rules and directions for a worthy receiving the most holy sacrament of the Lord's Supper. By the right reverend Father in God, John Gauden, late Lord Bishop of Exeter. He being dead yet speaketh.

Meditations for Monday Evening on the Holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper Shewing the necessity of receiving of it.

I.

OUR Blessed Saviour the wise Physitian, having felt the Pulses of our weak∣nesses, ordain'd this must Holy and Divine Sacrament: and for this purpose hath he in∣stituted the same in form of food, that the very form wherein he did institute it, might declare unto us the effect it worketh, and withall the great necessity our Souls have of it.

II.

O most wonderful Sacrament, what shall I say of thee? thou art the life of my Soul, and a Medicine to heal all my Wounds; What Tongue is able to express the Excel∣lency of this most blessed Sacrament which thou O Lord, invitest me to, who am a vile and miserable Sinner, when I consider who thou art, and what I am, how rich and ex∣cellent the benefits are which thou preparest for me; and how little I am dispos'd to re∣ceive them, my Soul is in trouble, and I tremble to draw near to thy glorious Ma∣jesty.

III.

Thou art O Lord, without quantity great,

without quality good, without measure wise, and without time Everlasting the Stars are dimn'd in thy presence, the Pillars of Heaven quake before thee, the highest of the Sera∣phins do gather in their Wings, and account themselves as it were little Flyes when thou art present. How then dare so vile a Creature as I am approach unto thy holy Table, if St. John Baptist whom thou filledst with the Holy Ghost from his Mothers womb, thought him∣self not worthy to stoop down and unloose the Lachet of thy Shoos. Shall I who am loaden with Sins, dare to present my self to that holy Banquet, where Angels wait as Mini∣string Spirits, sent out for the good of those who are to receive the earnest of Salvation. Shall I with lascivious Eyes full of wanton looks, behold that Lamb without spot or blemish with my polluted looks and lying Tongue, shall I touch the bread of Angels? or shall I lodge the King of Kings in a heart filled with foul concupiscence?

IV.

I am in a strait, O Lord, on both sides, for if I absent my self from this Holy Table, I am disobedient to my Saviour, who commands me to set forth his death till he shall come again; I keep at a distance from the Fountain of Life; I renounce the seals of the Cove∣nant, and the pledges of thy love: and if

I come to it unworthily, I am affraid I may Eat and Drink my own Damnation, and draw upon my self thy heavy Judgments, if thou Lord shouldst mark iniquities O Lord who shall stand but there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared, mercies and forgiveness are from the Lord our God; for we have rebelled against him. But where sin hath abounded thy grace hath much more aboun∣ded, O Lord my whole trust is in thee, as by thy goodness thou givest me thy blessing, so by thy wisdom thou wilt instruct me how to receive them to Salvation.