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 ...

A Prayer for holy and fervent desires of Religion, and particularly of the Blessed Sacrament.

O Most Blessed, most glorious Lord and Saviour Jesus; thou that waterest the furrows of the earth, and refreshest her wea∣rinesse, and makest it very plenteous, behold O God my desart and unfruitful soul; I have already a parched ground, give me a land of Rivers of Waters; my Soul is dry but not thirsty; it hath no water, nor it desires none; I have been like a dead man to all the desires of heaven. I am earnest and concerned in the things of the world; but very indifferent, or rather not well enduring the severities and excellencies of Religion. I have not been greedy of thy Word, or longed for thy Sacra∣ments. The worst of thy followers came run∣ing after thee for loaves, though they cared not for the miracle; but thou offerest me loaves and miracles together, and I have cared for neither: Thou offerest me thy self, and all thy infinite sweetnesses; I have needed even the compulsion of laws to drive me to thee; and then indeed I lost the

sweetnesse of thy presence, and reaped no fruit. These things O God are not well, they are infinitely amiss. But thou that providest meat, thou also givest appetite; for the desire and the meat, the necessity and the relief are all from thee.

II.

Be pleased therefore, O my dearest Lord, to create in thy servant a great hunger and thirst after the things of thy kingdom and the righteousnesse of it, all thy holy graces, and all the holy ministeries of grace; that I may long for the bread of heaven, thirst after the foun∣tains of salvation, and as the Hart panteth after the brooks of water, so my soul may de∣sire thee O Lord. O kindle such a holy flame in my soul, that it may consume all that is set before me; that it may be meat and drink to me to do thy will.

III.

Grant O blessed Jesus that I may omit no opportunity of serving thee, of conversing with thee, of receiving thee; let me not rest in the least and lowest measures of necessity, but passe on to the excellencies of love, and the transportations of an excellent Religion, that there may remain in me no appetite for

any thing but what thou lovest; that I may have no satisfaction but in a holy Conscience, no pleasure but in Religion, no joy but in God, and with sincerity and zeal heartinesse and ingenuity, I may follow after righteousnesse, and the things that belong unto my peace, until I shall arrive in the land of eternal peace and praises, where thou livest and reignest for ever world without end. Amen.