A26957:208
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.
A Prayer after the Receiving of the Holy Communion.
MOST Glorious God, how wonderful is thy Power and Wisdom, thy Holiness and Justice, thy Love and Mercy in this work of our Redemption, by the Incarnation, Life, Death, Resurrection, Intercession, and Dominion of thy Son! No power or wisdom in Heaven or Earth, could have delivered me but thine. The Angels desire to pry into this Mystery, the Heavenly Host do celebrate it with praises, saying, Glory be to God in the Highest; on Earth peace; good will towards men. The whole Creation shall proclaim thy praises, blessing, honour, glory and power be unto him that sitteth upon the Throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and honour, and glory; for he ⟨p. 149⟩haeth redeemed us to God by his blood, and made us Kings and Priests unto our God. Where sin abounded, grace hath abounded much more. And hast thou indeed forgiven me so great a debt, by so precious a Ransom? Wilt thou indeed give me to reign with Christ in Glory, and see thy face, and love thee, and be beloved of thee for ever? Yea Lord, thou hast forgiven me, and thou wilt glorify me, for thou art faithful that hast promised. With the blood of thy Son, with the Sacrament, and with thy Spirit, thou hast sealed up to me these precious promises. And shall I not love thee, that hast thus loved me? Shall I not love thy Servants, and forgive my Neighbours their little debt? After all this shall I again forsake thee, and deal falsely in thy Covenant? God forbid, O! set my affections on the things above, where Christ sitteth at thy right hand. Let me no more mind earthly things, but let my Conversation be in Heaven, from whence I expect my Saviour to come and change me into the likeness of his glory. Teach me to do thy will, O God! and to follow him, who is the Author of Eternal Salvation, to all ⟨p. 146⟩them that do obey him. Order my stops by thy Word, and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Let me not hence-forth live unto my self, but unto him who died for me and rose again. Let me have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but reprove them. And let my light so shine before men, that they may glorify thee. In simplicity and godly sincerity, and not in fleshly wisdom, let me have my Conversation in the world. O that my ways were so directed, that I might keep thy Statutes!