Monthly preparations for the Holy Communion by R.B

A Prayer before the Receiving the Holy Communion.

MOST Holy God, I am as stubble before thee, the consuming Fire. How shall I stand before thy Holiness, for I am a sinful Creature, laden with Iniquity, that have gone backward, and provoked the Holy One of Israel; when I was lost, thy Son did seek and save me; when I was ⟨p. 141⟩dead in sin, thou madest me alive. Thou sawest me polluted in my blood, and saidst unto me live. In that time of love thou coveredst my nakedness, and enteredst into a Covenant with me, and I became thine own. Thou didst deliver me from the power of Darkness, and translate me into the Kingdom of thy dear Son; and gavest me remission of sin, through his blood. But I am a grievous Revolter, I have forgotten the Covenant of the Lord my God, I was engaged to love thee with all my heart, and to hate iniquity, and serve thee diligently, and thankfully to set forth thy praise. But I have departed from thee, and corrupted my self by self-love, and by loving the world, and the things that are in the world, and have fulfilled the desires of the flesh, which I should have crucified. I have neglected my duty to thee, and to my neighbour, and the necessary care of my own Salvation. I have been an unprofitable Servant, and have hid thy Talents, and have dishonoured thee, whom in all things I should have pleased and glorified. I have been negligent in hearing and reading thy holy Word, and in meditating and conferring ⟨p. 142⟩of it, in public and private Prayer and Thanksgiving, and in my preparation to this holy Sacrament, in the examining of my self, and repenting of my sins, and stirring up my heart to a believing and thankful receiving of thy grace, and to love and joyfulness, in my Communion with thee, and with one another of thy People. I have not duly discerned the Lord's Body, but have profaned thy holy Name and Ordinance, as if the Table of the Lord had been contemptible. And when thou hast spoken peace to me, I returned again to folly; I have deserved, O Lord, to be cast out of thy presence, and to be forsaken, as I have forsaken thee, and to hear to my confusion, Depart from me, I know thee not, thou worker of iniquity. Thou mayest justly tell me, thou hast no pleasure in me, nor wilt receive an Offering at my hand. But with thee there is abundant mercy. And my Advocate Jesus Christ the Righteous, is the Propitiation for my sins;