The worthy communicant, or, A discourse of the nature, effects, and blessings consequent to the worthy receiving of the Lords Supper and of all the duties required in order to a worthy preparation : together with the cases of conscience occurring in the duty of him that ministers, and of him that communicates : to which are added, devotions fitted to every part of the ministration / by Jeremy Taylor ...

The Prayers to be used in any day or time of preparation to the Ho∣ly Sacrament.

I.

O Thou shepherd of Israel, thou that feedest us like sheep; thou makest us to lie down in plea∣sant pastures, and leadest us by the still waters run∣ning from the clefts of the rock, from the wounds of our Lord, from the fountains of salvation; thou preparest a table for us, and anointest our heads with the unction from above, and our cup runneth over: let the blood of thy wounds, and the water of thy side, wash me clean, that I may with a pure clean soul come to eat of the purest sacrifice, the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world.

II.

THou givest thy self to be the food of our souls in the wonders of the Sacrament, in the faith of thy Word, in the blessings and graces of thy Spi∣rit: Perform that in thy Servant, which thou hast prepared and effected in thy Son; strengthen my in∣firmities, heal my sicknesses; give me strength to subdue my passions, to mortifie my inordinations, to kill all my sin: increase thy Graces in my soul; en∣kindle a bright devotion; extinguish all the fires of hell, my lust and my pride, my envy, and all my spi∣ritual wickednesses; pardon all my sins, and fill me with thy Spirit, that by thy Spirit thou maist dwell in me, and by obedience and love I may dwell in thee, and live in the life of grace till it pas•• on to glory and immensity, by the power and the blessings, by the passion and intercession of the Word incarnate; whom I adore, and whom I love, and whom I will serve for ever and ever.

III.

O Mysterious God, ineffable and glorious Ma∣jesty; what is this that thou hast done to the sons of men? thou hast from thy bosom sent thy Son to take upon him our nature; in him thou hast opened the fountains of thy mercy, and hast invited all pe∣nitent sinners to come to be pardoned, all the oppres∣sed to be eased, all the sorrowful to be comforted, all the sick to be cured, all the hungry to be filled, and the thirsty to be refreshed with the waters of life, and sustained with the wine of elect souls; admit me, O God, to this great effusion of loving kindness, that I may partake of the Lord Jesus, that by him I may

be comforted in all my griefs, satisfied in all my doubts; healed of all the wounds of my soul, and the bruises of my spirit; and being filled with the bread of heaven, and armed with the strength of the Spirit; I may begin, continue, and finish my journey thorow this valley of tears, unto my portion of thy heavenly kingdom, whither our Lord is gone before to prepare a place for every loving and obedient soul. Grant this, O Eternal God, for his sake who died for us, and intercedes for us, and gives himself daily to us, our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus. Amen.