A26957:177
Monthly preparations for the Holy Communion by R.B
Monthly preparations for the Holy Communion by R.B. ; to which is added suitable meditations before, in, and after receiving ; with divine hymns in common tunes, fitted for public congregations or private families.Monthly preparations for the Holy Communion by R.B. ; to which is added suitable meditations before, in, and after receiving ; with divine hymns in common tunes, fitted for publick congregations or private families.
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1696
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The Dress.
Lord, where am I! What! all the Children of the Bride-chamber up and dressed, and I slumbering in my bed! Tell me ye fairest, what make you up so early? Alas our Lord was up before us all. He called us up by break of day, and wondered that we were not trimming our lamps, knowing with whom we were to feast this day. Oh well then I will rise up too. Oh what a show do these bright and glittering Saints make in mine eyes? What a brightness do these pearls and diamonds cast in mine eyes! they do strike ⟨p. 116⟩me into amazement. Oh what a lovely humble look doth crown their brow and what a comely countenance hath joy and Heavenly delight cast on their cheeks surely they did not thus dress themselves it was my Father that made them thus prepared to entertain his Son. But where are my Clothes? Now for the fairest, sweetest robe of thoughts and wishes that can be sound, or that the wardrobe of my Father can afford me. Oh how naked am I! But where are my silken golden twists of Faith to hang the jewels of joy and love, and humility upon? I am never dressed till they be on. Oh where, where are they? I saw them by me but just now. I said them by my heart before I went to bed. Oh what was I so long a reasoning about? Oh what long and many threads did my reason spin even now, but to make these twines to tie up my joy, and to raise up my love, and to hang my Heavenly delight upon? But ah! I fear this envious world hath with her vanities stolen them away, or hid them from me; or the envious Devil, or unbelief have been ravelling or snarling of them, that ⟨p. 117⟩now I am as far to seek as ever. Whither, O whither shall I go to find them out? Now, will the Bridegroom come, and I am not ready? I cannot, dare not go to day. Now will my Lord be angry, and ask me why I came not, and I have no answer to make him. And if I go underest, he will ask me, where is my Wedding-garment, and then I shall be speechless. Ah foolish simple heart! that thou shouldst take no more care but to let these thoughts of earth so entangle themselves with thy so pure and heavenly contemplations! Now how to get them loose again, thou knowest not; this thou mightest by heed and care have prevented; but now what help? Lord, I have sinned; O holy Father pardon this time, and I will take more heed. Oh come and untie my thoughts from this earth, and come and dress me up as best pleaseth thee. Come, be not discouraged, Oh my Soul!