Monthly preparations for the Holy Communion by R.B

On thee therefore, O my dear Redeemer, do I cast and trust this sinful soul! with Thee and with thy holy Spirit I renew my Covenant; I know no other; I have no other; I can have no other Saviour but thy self: To thee I deliver up this soul which thou hast redeemed, not to be advanced to the wealth, and honours, and pleasures of this world; but to be delivered from them, and to be healed of sin, and brought to God; and to be saved from this present evil world, which is the portion of the ungodly and unbelievers: to be washed in thy Blood, and illuminated, quickened and confirmed by thy SPIRIT; and conducted in the ways of holiness and love: and at last to be presented justified and spotless to the Father of spirits, and possessed of the glory which thou hast promised. O thou that hast prepared so dear a medicine for the cleansing of polluted guilty souls, leave not this unworthy soul in its ⟨p. 65⟩guilt, or in its pollution! O thou that knowest the Father, and his Will, and art nearest to him, and most beloved of him, cause me in my degree to know the Father; acquaint me with so much of his will, as concerneth my duty, or my just encouragement: leave not my soul to grope in darkness, seeing thou art the Sun and Lord of Light. O heal my estranged thoughts of God! is he my light, and life, and all my hope? and must I dwell with him for ever? and yet shall I know him no better than thus? shall I learn no more that have such a Teacher? and shall I get no nearer him, while I have a Saviour and a Head so near? O give my faith a clearer prospect into that better world! and let me not be so much unacquainted with the place in which I must abide for ever! And as thou hast prepared a Heaven for holy souls, prepare this too-unprepared soul for Heaven, which hath not long to stay on earth. And when at death I resign it into thy hands, receive it as thine own, and finish the Work which thou hast begun, in placing it ⟨p. 66⟩among the blessed Spirits, who are filled with the sight and love of God. I trust thee living; let me trust thee dying, and never be ashamed of my trust. And unto Thee, the Eternal Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son, the Communicative LOVE, who condescendest to make Perfect the Elect of God, do I deliver up this dark imperfect soul, to be further renewed, confirmed and perfected, according to the holy Covenant.