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 ...

An act of Forgiveness to be said with all earnestness and sincerity before every Communion.

O God, my God, I have sinned grievously against thee: I am thy debtor in a vast and an Eternal debt, and if thou shouldest take the forfeiture, I shall be for ever bound in eternal prisons, even till I pay the utmost farthing: But I hope in thy mercies, that thou wilt forgive me my ten thousand Ta∣lents; and I also do in thy presence forgive every one that hath offended me; whoever hath taken my goods privately and injuri∣ously, or hurt my person, or contrived any evil against me whether known or unknown; who ever hath lessened my reputation, detracted from my best endeavours, or hath slandered me, or reproached, reviled, or in any word or way done me injury; I do from the bottom of my soul forgive him; praying thee also that thou wilt never impute to him any word, or thought, or action done against me; but for∣give him as I desire thou wouldst also forgive me all that I have sinned against thee, or any man in the world. Give him thy grace, and a holy repentance for whatever he hath done amiss; grant he may do so no more: keep me from the evil tongues and injurious acti∣ons of all men, and keep all my enemies from

all the expresses of thy wrath: and let thy grace prevail finally upon thy servant, that I may never remember any injury to the preju∣dice of any man, bu•• that I may walk towards my enemies as Christ did; who received much evil, but went about seeking to do go••d to eve∣ry man; and if ever it shall be in my power and my opportunity to return evill, O then grant that the spirit of love and forgiveness may triumph over all anger, and malice, and revenge; that I may be the Son of God, and ma•• love God, and prove my love to thee by my love to my Brother, and by obedience to all thy Laws, through the Son of thy love, by whom thou art reconciled to mankind, our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus, Amen.

Vers. Remember not Lord our offences, nor the offences of our forefathers, neither take thou vengeance of our sins.

Resp. Spare us good Lord, spare thy people whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood, and be not angry with us for ever, Amen.