The devout communicant exemplified, in his behaviour before, at, and after the sacrament of the Lords Supper.: More practical, useful, and sutable to all the parts of that solemn ordinance than any yet extant. : In this impression is added a prayer before, and another after the sacrament; together with more particular directions and meditations for the time of receiving.

A Prayer at home before the Sacrament.

ETernally Blessed, and in∣finitely Glorious Lord God! Thou art greatly to be feared in the Assembly of thy Saints, and

to be had in reverence of all that draw nigh unto thee. Look down from Heaven the habitation of thy Holiness and Glory, in much mer∣cy, pity, and tender compassion upon me, A vile, sinful, despicable Creature, prostrate at thy Foot∣stool; unworthy to look up unto thy Throne, or to receive any thing at thy hands, but thy wrath and severe displeasure. I am less then the least of all thy Mercies, and li∣able to the severest of thy Judg∣ments, by reason of the pollution and sinfulness of my Nature, Heart, and Life. I am of the degenerate Posterity of fallen Adam; and have all the powers faculties, and mem∣bers of my Soul and Body defiled with sin. I have sinned in every Age, in every Relation, in every Condition, in every imployment of my Life. I have distrusted thy Word, disregarded thy Calls;

slighted thy Judgments, abused thy Mercies, turned thy Grace in∣to Wantonness, rejected the ten∣ders of thy Love, resisted the mo∣tions of thy Holy Spirit, the checks of my own Conscience, and fol∣lowed the motions of my own evil Heart; I have dishonoured thy Name, prophaned thy Sabbaths, polluted thy Ordinances, been un∣thankful for thy Benefits, impatient under Afflictions, unfaithful to my promises; mis-spent my time, neg∣lected my Duty, walked unanswer∣able to those multiplied obligations laid upon me, broken all thy holy Commandments, by many and great transgressions made and judged my self unworthy of e∣verlasting life; so that nothing might remain unto me, but a fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation to devour me.

But thou delightest in mercy and not in the death of a sinner; art not willing any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Oh take not counsel of thy just in∣dignation, but of thy native good∣ness, thy satisfi'd justice. Wilt thou destroy him that presents himself to be punished, and thy Son to have satisfied? that desires not to live, unless it be by the benefit of thy mercy and his sufferings? Wilt thou not spare me for thy Son, who spa∣redst not thy Son for me? Is there not enough in his Merits and Sacri∣fice to expiate all my sins, and to justifie my person in thy sight? O suffer not thy self to be deprived of the glory of my forgiveness and sal∣vation, as well as of my creation and redemption. Save me whom thou hast hitherto spared, and forgive me eternal death, which I have so of∣ten merited by my great offences.

Bury them all in the bottomless Ocean of thy own Mercy and for∣getfulness, and my Saviours Blood; lay them upon him who is able to bear them, and cloath me with his righteousness that is able to cover me.

Oh free me from the guilt and stain, the power and penalty, the reign and dominion of sin, that no∣thing may separate me from thy love nor from the sensible discoveries of it at thy Table. That I may be a meet and worthy Receiver, accept me in∣to thy favour; let thy mercy par∣don my sins, thy grace sanctifie my soul, thy goodness supply my wants, thy merits inrich my poverty, thy precious blood wash away all my spots, thy Holy Spirit prepare, and direct, and assist me. Take away my filthy garments, my spiritual filthi∣ness, and cloath me with the best robe, the Lord our righteousness.

Oh, think me worthy for his sake, and make me worthy for thy mercy∣sake. Deal not with me according to my deserts, but thy great good∣ness and my great necessity. Let me so remember my sins, that thou mayest forget them: set them so before my face, that thou mayest cast them behind thy back. Give me such a lively steadfast Faith in Christ for forgiveness, that thou mayest seal it up unto my soul. Let me love him, and all his members, with a pure heart, fervently, at thy holy Communion, and ever after without dissimulation. So enlarge my Soul with spiritual affections and desires, that it may even break for the longings it hath unto that Or∣dinance, and unto thy Testimonies at all times. Remove far from me all blindness of mind, hardness of heart, unrelenting affections, dead∣ness and indisposedness, earthliness

and distraction, irreverence, un∣becoming apprehensions, whatso∣ever may hinder the blessing and efficacy of that soul-nourishing re∣freshing Ordinance, thy gracious presence, my eternal salvation. Create in me an understanding, heavenly, clean heart, O God; and renew an humble contrite right spirit within me, prepared for thee, Oh be not as a stranger unto me; hide not thy self from me; lift up the light of thy countenance upon me. Let me feel the comfortable breathings of thy Holie Spirit in my Soul at thy Ordinance; sanctifie it to me and me to receive it accep∣tably, with due preparation and ap∣prehensions, reverence and humi∣lity, repentance and faith, love and charity, joy and thankfulness, a deep sense of thy inexpressible love and my own unworthiness.

And oh that all of us, who this

day approach thy Table, may so eat his flesh which he hath given for the life of the World, that we may live for ever; and so drink his blood, that it may be to us for remission of sins. Meet us not in our selves, in thy justice, as a con∣suming fire; but a reconciled Fa∣ther, in thy righteous and beloved Son, whom thou gavest, who gave himself for us when we were thy enemies. Let us depart thence more under the power of thy love and grace, and under greater resolu∣tions and abilities to do thee faith∣ful service all our dayes, through Jesus Christ, our Sacrifice and Re∣demption, Hope and Confidence, Surety and Advocate, the Food and Health, the Life and Salvation of our Souls; who hath taught us when we pray to say,

Our Father, &c.

As soon as ever the Sermon is ended, look towards the Lords Table, and say within your selves,

THis Sacrament I am going to, is a standing Memorial of my Saviour's Passion, wherein he once offered up Himself to God, and a Sign of that nourishing and strengthning Grace, which he now offers to me under the notion of Food. It is the true meanes and in∣strument of conveying on me those Blessings, and signifies that which by its proper Institution it repre∣sents.

In the making and ordering of those Elements, see, consider (O my Soul) the heavy Blows, and Bruises, the Pressures, Piercings, Pains, and Sufferings of thy Saviour, from his Father and wicked men. The ma∣lice

and violence of his Murderers, crucified Him as a Malefactor; and the fierie wrath of God made him a Burnt Sacrifice; and under both these Sufferings He is become to me Meat indeed, and Drink indeed; the stay and support, the comfort, re∣freshment, and life of my Soul, nou∣rishing and preserving it to eternal life.

That Bread and Wine could ne∣ver sustain and nourish me, if the one had not fallen into the Earth, under the Sickle, the Flail, the Mill-stone, and the Fire; the other under the Hook, and the Press of the Husbandman; nothing less then the Cross, the Wounds, the Death of my Lord, my God of his dearest Son made me a Saviour; and by this Sacrament assures me I shall be kept up and fed with a supplie of all necessarie Blessings, as certainlie as he gives me to taste that Bread

and Wine, the ordinarie meanes for preserving my life and strength.

Whilest we condemned Creatures were passing on to our Execution, the Son of God looked upon us, and took our Condemnation upon Himself; and under it died in our stead: Thus, by the death and sa∣tisfaction of this Sacrifice, Justice gave way to my Release; God the Father forgave my Sin, and God the Son procured my Life.

Then fall upon your Knees with all imaginable Reverence, and say,

LEt the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord my strength and my Redee∣mer.

Most gracious God, who of thy great goodness, hast ordained this Ordinance for a continual Remem∣brance of•• hat ever prevailing Sa∣crifice,

which thy infinite Wisdom and Love hast appointed, and ac∣cepted upon the Cross, for us vile, helpless, wretched Sinners; make us truely sensible of all our offences against thee, and of his Love and Sufferings for us, and accept us in Him to the Praise of thy Grace. Rebuke all unseasonable thoughts and imaginations; stir up, and act in us, every grace of thy Holy Spi∣rit; and graciously entertain us, and grant we may now so behave our selves, that we may not pro∣voke, but glorifie thee; be savingly partakers of the Redemption we now commemorate, and be found and kept in the number of thy Re∣deemed Ones for ever.

BLessed Lord, who revivest by this sacred Banquet the memo∣ry of thy inexpressible Love, and of my Saviour's Sufferings, inable me by Faith so to apply his Passion,

that healing strength, and saving vertue, may proceed from it; the strength and sweet odour of whose Oblation is a fragrant, as savingly efficatious, as when first offered up unto thee. Inlighten my Under∣standing, prepare my Heart: Help, O help me, that I may now abate nothing of those affections that are due unto Thee, and my ever bles∣sed Redeemer. And let me obtain the fruits and Benefits of his Death and Passion; even the remission of all my Sins, and the fulness of all thy Graces. O bless me and thine own institution unto me; and grant that I may not increase my guilt, by abusing of what thou of∣ferest me, but may receive a bles∣sing from Thee.

HOly, righteous Father, who seest nothing in me that is truly mine, but dust and ashes; and

which is worse, sinful Flesh, pollu∣ted Blood; O look upon some few resemblances of thine Image, some raies and beams of thy Spirit, some small beginnings of thy Grace which are from thee in me; and sup∣ply the defects with thy Mercy, Me∣rits, and Sacrifice of thy Son. Turn thine Eyes, O merciful Fa∣ther, to his Satisfaction and Inter∣cession, who now sits at thy right Hand; to the Seales of thy Covenant, which lie before thee upon thy Table; and to all the wants and distresses which thou seest in my Soul; and take this opportunity of glorifying thy Mercy, thy Son, and thy Grace towards me and up∣on me.

BLessed Jesus, so dispose me by thy grace, and Holy Spirit, to feed spiritually and really upon that Sacrifice which thou offeredst

without the Gate, and which this Sa∣crament sets before me here in thy Court, that I may be admitted in∣to that holy place which thy Sacri∣fice hath opened, and this Sacra∣ment invites me to. And help me so to drink of this fruit of the Vine, that I may drink it new in my Fa∣ther's Kingdom, where I shall be delighted and refreshed, and con∣verse with thee, withou these tipi∣cal shadows and adumbrations.

When the Minister is confessing sin, and praying for the efficacy of the Ordinance, let your Heart concur with him, and put in your particu∣lar failings with their aggravati∣ons, and the mercies you in special need, which he omits. Prostrate your Souls in the sence of your own vileness, and necessities; joyn with all earnestness in his confessions and Petitions, as one that knows the evil of sin, and the need and worth of the Blessings he Re∣quests.

And let the solemn consecration of the Bread and Wine, mind thee how thy Saviour was consecrated and set apart for thy Salvation; And say,

HOw wonderful is thy wis∣dom and Love, O God, in our Recovery and Redemption?

How justly mightest thou have dealt with us, as with the fallen An∣gels, and left us to perish without a Remedy? Howstrangely dost thou glorifie thy Mercy over those Sins, that gave thee the advantage and occasion to glorifie thy Justice? E∣ven thou our God, whom we have offended and provoked eternally to ruine us, hast, out of thine own Treasure, satisfied thine own Ju∣stice; and given us a Saviour, by such a Miracle of Wisdom, Love, and Condescension, as Men and Angels shall never be able ful∣ly to comprehend. So didst thou love the sinful World, as to give thy onely begotten Son, that who∣soever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

When you see the breaking of the Bread, and powring out of the Wine, say,

O Hateful Sin! O wonderful Love! O dreadful Justice! O precious Sacrifice! O merciful Saviour! How gracious Lord hast thou been to Sinners? How severe unto thy Son? How cruel have we been unto thee, and our selves? How small a matter hath tempted me to that, which cost so dear before it was forgiven.

I Cannot but here observe some∣thing very like the Sacrifice and Passion of my Dear Redeemer. Thus the Bread of Life was broken; Thus the Lamb of God was slain; Thus his precious Blood was shed; Thus his Father gave Him once to die, and gives still the vertue of his

Death to bless and save every one that comes unfeignedly to Him.

While the Minister and others are Re∣ceiving before you, say,

WHo can sufficiently admire and adore Thee, most gra∣cious God, for reconciling us unto thy self? Vile sinners, the Off-spring of sinful Parents, thou treatest as familiar Friends, as dear Children. Thou mightest have brought us together hither for a Sacrifice to Thy Justice, and behold one of Thine own making for us, the Son of Thy Love. We are un∣worthie of the least crum of our dailie Bread, unworthie to tread upon thy Earth, to breath in thy Air, to lift up our Eyes to Hea∣ven, and Thou givest us Bread from Heaven, libertie to tread

thy Courts; Thy Spirit to breath in our Hearts, leave to breath ou•• our Requests unto Thee, O com∣passionate Father. And now Since Love will chuse such unworthy Guests, and Mercy be honoured up∣on such Sin and Misery, let that Mer∣cy that invites us makes us accepta∣ble, and graciously entertain us.

O Author of my Salvation, and of these Mysteries that express it; Object, and Truth of what I am now going to receive: Thou art as able to perfect me with thy Blessings out of thy Throne, as thou wert to redeem me by thy Sacrifice on thy Cross. O perform in me by thy Sufferings, what thou doest exhibit and present. By this thy Body broken, give also nourishment and maintenance unto eternal life. Look upon a poor Sinner at Thy Table, as

Thou didst on him that hung by Thy Cross, and remember me now Thou art in Thy Kingdom.

I Am unworthy that Thou shouldst enter under my Roof; much less come and sup, and dwell with me: but seeing it is Thy good pleasure to vouchsafe me this fa∣vour, cleanse me from all my Sins, that I may entertain Thee in a pure and Sanctified Heart. Make this un∣clean Habitation, that is so unfit to receive Thee, a Temple for thy Self to dwell in. Strengthen my Faith, assist me by Thy Grace and Spirit, that I may fully rely upon Thee, ap∣ply Thy Sufferings unto me, wor∣thily receive Thee.

When the Minister gives you the Bread, Think you hear Christ say to you in particular,

[Take, eat, this is my Body, which is broken for Thee, this do in remem∣brance of me.]

MY Lord, and my God? didst Thou offer up thy Self for me, despicable, forlorn, wretched Sinner, as well as for any other? and dost Thou now give Thy Self unto me, and bid me remember Thee, the Redeemer of my Soul, the Author, the Object, and Truth of this Sacrament? I humbly and thankfully receive Thee, with a troubled Heart that I can no bet∣ter receive Thee, entertain Thee, love Thee, remember Thee, serve Thee, express my gratitude to∣wards Thee, and that I have

so often offended Thee.

Now I know thou lovest me, seeing thou hast not with-held thy Son thine onely Son from me. By his Merits and bloody Sacrifice, I hope to be received into the Com∣munion of his Sufferings here, and hereafter into the Communion of his Glorie.

THis is the Sacrifice, the Righ∣teousness in which I trust, and by which I am justified and saved from the Curse of Thy violated Law. As Thou hast accepted it O Father, for the World upon the Cross, behold it still, on the behalf of Sinners; and hear his Blood that cries unto Thee for mercie to the miserable; and for his sake pardon us, and accept us 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thy reconciled Children.

This was my doing: It was I, ••nd such other Sinners, that de∣serv'd

to bear the punishment, who were guilty of the Sin. And can a Murderer of Christ be a small Offender? Shall I ever have a dull, a lifeless apprehension of Thy Love, or a favourable thought of Sin more? O that I may suffi∣ciently detest and never more commit those Offences that de∣livered my Redeemer to Death, that pierced my Saviours Hand•• and side, that Crowned his Head with Thorns, and filled his Sou•• with Grief.

O Thou, who in thine anger revenged our Sins upon thy Son, in thy merce correct and de∣stroy them also in me. And besto•• upon me such a measure of th•• Spirit, through which He offere•• Himself without Spot unto Thee as may sanctifie for ever the Bod•• and Soul which now I offer u••

unto Thee, and help me to dis∣charge the Service I promise unto Thee.

O Blessed Lord Jesus, who hast ordained this mystery for a communion of thy Body, for a means of advancement and profici∣ency in Holiness, and for an infal∣lible Pledge of eternal Salvation, which Thou hast purchased by thy Sufferings, and preparest Thy peo∣ple for by Thy Grace; make this Ordinance of a true sign, an effectu∣al means of the same, that it may be efficatious to settle me in the communion of Thy Sufferings, which it sheweth forth, to feed me with that living Bread which it pre∣sents, and to sanctifie me for that eternal happiness which it promises and secures.

Take the Cup from the Minister, as from Christ, saying,

[This is my Blood of the New Testa∣ment, which is shed for Thee, for the remission of Thy Sins.]

O The depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! How un∣searchable is his Goodness, and his Love past finding out! How hast Thou surpassed all Humane Appre∣hensions? What a matchless Gift is this, and unto what unworthy Sinners. Will God stoop so low to Man? And come so near him? and thus reconcile his pro∣voking Enemy? Will He free∣ly pardon all I have done? and take me into His Family and Love? and feed me with the Flesh and Blood of his Son? Such a guilty Soul might expect the destroying

Angel; that Thou wouldst have charg'd upon me all my Sin and Folly. But while I condemned my self, Thou hast justified me, and given me the Seal of my Pardon, in the blood of Thy gracious Cove∣nant; and surprised me with the surest Tokens and Pledges, the sweetest Embracements of Thy Love.

O The unmerited, the distin∣guishing goodness of the great and holy God of Heaven and Earth! in making me a reason∣able Creature, his Servant, his Son; In providing so plentifully for my Body and my Soul; temporal and spiritual bread to eat, and Ray∣ment to put on; In giving me a heart in any measure to discharge my Duty unto Thee, whilst others are neglecting Thee, or expressing their enmity against Thee. Innu∣merable

are thy Creatures, that cannot take notice of thy Benefits. Yea, how great a part of mankind, made at first after thine Image, live and die in Darkness, and perish for want of Vision? That cannot or will not enjoy these happy Oppor∣tunities? are unavoidably kept from them, or wilfully, sinfully separate and exclude themselves? How few of those that draw near to Thee, sincerely wait upon Thee, faithfully serve Thee, are graci∣ously accepted by Thee. With what an unvaluable price hast Thou Redeemed a worthless Sin∣ner, that deserved Thy everlasting Vengeance? with how precious a Feast entertainest Thou me, that deserves to be cast out with the Workers of Iniquitie into the ever-flaming Pit, in that I have been so careless of serving Thee, so wilfully offended Thee, so often preferred

things displeasing unto Thee before Thee; and provoked Thee to call back thy goodness and mercie from me?

HOw dearly hast Thou pur∣chas'd my Love? How strangely hast Thou deser∣ved and sought it? O what shall I say unto Thee? or do or suffer for thee? which way shall I express my gratitude towards thee? O, what an addition an answerable Heart would be to thy Love, and Mercie, and Invitation? Make, O make such deep and lasting Impressions upon my Soul of Thy care and kindness, and condescention to∣wards me, that I may alwaies af∣fectionatelie remember Thee, faith∣fully serve Thee, never offend Thee, eternally enjoy Thee

O That I could love thee as much as I should as I would,

as I shall love Thee, when I shall do nothing else but praise Thee, and serve Thee, and love Thee, without ever offending Thee, or doubting of thy Love unto me. In the mean time, O that it may be the delight of my Soul to think of Thee and thy loving-kindness, to reverence and worship Thee, to pray unto Thee, and praise Thee; to wait upon Thee in Thine Ordi∣nances, at Thy Table, to be order∣ed and guided by Thee.

I Offer up unto Thee my Soul and Body, all I am and have, to he ruled and disposed of by thee. O that I may be full of zeal to follow Thee, and rejoyce in being loved of Thee, and hum∣bly confide in Thee, and absolute∣ly resign my self unto Thee, and be filled with constant devotion to∣wards Thee, and earnest breathings after Thee.

O Father of everlasting com∣passion, forsake not in this Wilderness a feeble Israelite, whom Thou hast brought thus far out of Egypt: and let not the Soul Thou hast blessed with some desires, and helped thus far with some tendency towards eternal happiness, ever faint or fall from the right way.

O Son of God, and Life of those that believe; quench not, but cherish and inflame the smoaking Flax; break not, but support and strengthen the bruised Reed. Feed with thy Divine Influences this ten∣der Branch, this weak Member of Thine, which without thee cannot but wither, cannot but die, cannot but perish. Despise not the slender beginnings of Grace in me, but car∣ry it on with power, until Thou hast made me meet for the Inheri∣tance of the Saints in Life.

Blessed Spirit of all Grace, cleanse me from all my Sins; keep and set forward in me, notwithstanding all my Infirmities, Thine own Work, and carry it on unto Perfection. Seal up unto me the Covenant of Pardon, which is sealed and delivered to me in this Ordinance.

FIll our Hearts (most gracious God) with love and kindness towards one another; Let there be no strife or differences between us or any of Thy people, for we are Brethren. Supply all the necessi∣ties of our Souls and Bodies: Pro∣vide for us, as Thou knowest best for us. Let us be still fully satisfied and delighted under all thy Dispen∣sations towards us; and let all be in love and mercy unto us. Mortifie all our inordinate affections and desires: Draw thine Image more

and more lively upon our Souls. Let our chiefest pleasure consist in ser∣ving and pleasing of Thee. Let no∣thing disturb or displease us, but Thy dishonour.

Send Thy Gospel where it is not preached; make it very successful where it is: Let all who enjoy it, walk worthy of it, and let them be taken care of, preserved, and defended by Thee.

Forgive unto us whatever Thou hast seen amiss in us: what is ours, graciously pardon; what is Thine own, graciously accept. Bless this Ordinance Thou hast ordained for Thy Church; accompany it with the Influences of that Spirit, which Thou hast promised to powre upon all Flesh; That thereby the World, Thy Church, our Souls and Bo∣dies may glorifie Thee, now and ever, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Notes

• Here mention your particular failings.