The Christian sacrifice a treatise shewing the necessity, end, and manner of receiving the Holy Commvnion : together with suitable prayers and meditations for every month in the year, and the principal festivals in memory of our Blessed Saviour : in four parts.

The Thanksgiving and Prayer.

ALL thy works praise thee, O Lord; they proclaim thy great∣ness, thy wisdom, thy power and goodness, throughout the world. There is no place in heaven or earth where their voice is not heard. But the mouths of rational creatures ought most to be filled with thy praises: whom thou hast made to understand the wis∣dome and majesty of all thy works. We our selves, O Lord, are fearfully and wonderfully made. Thou hast adorned mankind with most noble perfections, and given us dominion over the works of thy hands. And after we had despised this honour which thou didst us, chusing to be∣come like the beasts that perish; thou wast pleased to do us a greater: and to demonstrate an infinite wisdom, power and charity in our recovery by

Christ Jesus. I bless thee, O God, for that abundant grace; and for that part and portion, which thou hast given me in it. That thou wast pleased to come so lovingly, and dwell among us; and appear in the likeness of sinful flesh; to what can I ascribe it, but thine in∣comprehensible love, and readiness to do us good. I most heartily thank thee, that thou wouldt so mercifully comfort us by thy divine presence a∣mong us; and incourage us to hope in thee, that wouldst not destroy us. And that thou hast proclaimed as much by thine eternal Word, and bidden us to hope in thy mercy. Above all, that thou hast assured us by his Death and Passion, that thou wilt pardon our sins; and by his Resurrection, that thou wilt bestow on us eternal life. There is no end, O Lord, of thy lov∣ing kindness. For thou continuest to give us new assurances and tokens of thy good will towards us: and hast

now entertained me at thine own Ta∣ble, with his most pretious body and blood. It is too little, O God of all grace, to give thee my self, if I had any more to give. All that I can do, is again and again to give my self to thee. And as I have at thine Altar offered my whole soul and body, to be employ∣ed according to thy holy will and plea∣sure: so I continue here to renew my devotion to thee; and to oblige my self by repeated vows to be thy servant. I hope I shall never suffer thy love to slip out of my mind; nor forget the promises wherein I stand ingaged to thee. Yea, that thou in thine abun∣dant goodness wilt always accompany me by thy holy spirit, (which our Lord hath bid me expect from thee,) to preserve alive his memory in my heart: that I may ever be a follower of him in poverty of Spirit; in meek∣ness; in mercifulness; in purity of heart; in peaceableness, and studying

to be quiet. And the Lord direct my heart to the love of God, and the patient waiting for Christ. That I may endure all the troubles of this life with a composed, constant spirit; and never repine at any thing that befalls me. That I may chearfully suffer for righteousness sake; and taking up my Cross, run with pati∣ence the race that is set before me, looking unto Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him, endured the Cross, despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of thy throne of glory.

Now the God of patience and consolati•••• grant us all to be like minded one towards an∣other, according to Christ Jesus. That a•••• Christian people may with one mind a•••• one mouth glorifie thee our God: and receiv•••• one another, as Christ also received us, un•••• thy glory. Unite our hearts in love and charity: and give us grace to follow afte•• those things which make for peace, and thing

wherewith one may edifie another. O that the power of all Christian Kings and Rulers may be employed to be a terror to all evil doers; and to give praise and incouragement to all that do well. That all the servants of the Lord in holy offi∣ces, may be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves. And all those that are under their care, may have the grace to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake: and laying apart all filthiness, and superfluity of naughtiness, receive with meekness the en∣grafted word, which is able to save their souls. I recommend to thy mercies all the poor, the sick, the fatherless and widdows; and whosoever are in any distress: that they may remember the words of the Lord Jesus, and in their patience possess their souls. And the Lord deliver us all from every evil work, and pre∣serve us unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen.

Notes

• 2 Thess. 3.5.
• Heb. 12.1, 2.
• Rom. 15.5, 6, 7.
• Rom. 14.••••
• 2 Tim. 2.24.
• 1 Thess. 5.13.
• Jam. 1.21.
• Luk. 21.19.
• 2 Tim. 4.18.