THE Ladies Preparation To the Monthly SACRAMENT Consissing of Prayers Meditations and Ejaculations before at and after Receiving the Lords Supper After the Warning is given in the Church for the Celebration of the Holy Communion COMPOSED For the Private Use of a Devout Lady And at the Request of Friends made Publick LONDON Printed by W. B. for Simon Neale in the Long-Walk near Little Brittain 1691. Licensed February 10th 1691. THE WARNING On the Sunday Before the COMMUNION DEARLY Beloved on Sunday I and purpose through Gods Assistance to Administer to all such as shall be Religiously and Devoutly disposed the most Comfortable Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ to be by them received in Remembrance of his Meritorious Cross and Passion whereby alone we obtain Remission of our Sins and are made partakers of the Kingdom of Heaven c. A Soliloquy on the Warning BLESSED for ever be thy Name O Lord who pittying our Ignorance hast Revealed to us this Heavenly Mystery of thy pretious Body and Blood and foreseeing our weakness hast built our Faith on so firm a Certainty Justly O my God! Dost thou require our absolute assent to thy word since thou graciously providest such grounds to assure us Thy self with thine own blest Mouth hast taught it thy Apostles with their dearest Blod have confirmed it and thy Churches in all Ages have faithfully delivered it II. HOW Beautiful O Lord are the Feet of thy Holy Messengers Who brings us Peace and Reconcilement with thee who teaches us the way to Eternal happiness and by their pious Offices help us to go thither if they teach us Spiritual things 't is just we should give them Temporal make us O Lord entertain them as Workmen sent by thee with respect to their Persons and Obedience to their words and according to our power with a free supply of their necessities III. THUS does our gracious Lord send forth his Ministring Spirits to invite us to a Heavenly Banquet Their spiritual means Conveys our Prayers up to him and brings his Blessings down to us in all our ways they direct us and bear us in their Hands lest at any time we dash our Foot against a Stone When we labour they Assist us when we repose they implore for us the Divine Protection when we are tempted they Encourage us to stand fast and when we Conquer they Crown us with their Prayers and Praises When you first awake use these Ejaculations as a Key to Open the Morning LIghten mine Eyes O Lord that I Sleep not in Death Psal 13.3 IT is high time to Awake our of our Sleep of Sin for now since we have received the Light of the Gospel our Salvation is nearer then when we first Believed THE Night is now spent and the day is approached let me therefore cast off the works of Darkness and put on the Armour of Light GIVE me Grace O Lord to walk Honestly as in the day net in Rioting and Drunkenness not in Chambering and Wantonness not in Strife and Envying BUT put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not Provision for the Flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof Rom. 13.11 12 13 14. At Up-rising IN the Name of the Father who hath Created me and of the Son who hath Redeemed me and of the Holy Ghost whh hath Sanctified me be Ascribed all Glory and Power BLESSED be the Holy and Undivided Trinity now and for Evermore Amen I laid me down and Slept and rose again for the Lord hath Sustained me Then Humbly on your Knees lift up thy Heart unto God and say HOLY Holy Holy Lord God Almighty which was and is and is to come I Worship him that liveth for Ever and cast my Self before his Throne thou art worthy O Lord my God to receive Glory and Honour and Power for thou hast Created all things and for thy Wills-Sake they are and were Created II. INTO the Hands of thy Blessed Protection and unspeakable Mercy O Lord I this Day Commend my Soul and Body with all the Faculties Powers and Actions of them both beseeching thee to be Ever with me to direct Sanctifie and Govern me in the ways of thy Law and in the Works of thy Commandments that through thy most Mighty Protection both here and Ever I may be preserved in Body and Soul to serve thee the only true God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Then use the Morning Prayer c. Which is Annexed to these Devotions Meditations for Monday Morning COME My Soul let us begin our appointed Task and dilligently mind our own Employment Let us not lose one day in Idleness nor Distract our thoughts with Repining at the advantages of others God is our absolute Lord and may do with his own as he pleases If we began our Repentance late our delay was dangerous but we ought not to Despair If we have laboured long in his Service our Wages are safe but we must not presume on our own Endeavours II. THY Holy Mysteries O Lord I believe O help my unbelief Let not any difficulties make me doubt thy Truth nor too long a doubting provoke thy Wrath Every word of thine shall be fulfiled in their Season Sometime thou Visitest thy Children with the Chastisement of a Rod sometimes thou favourest them with the Smiles of Prosperity But all at last shall Co-operate to their Good III. NO matter at all for the Favour of Men happy are they who find Grace with God They shall Conceive in their Hearts the Blessed Jesus and bring him forth in their Holy Lives and Reign with him in his Kingdom and of his Kingdom there shall be no End Here we perhaps may weep for a time and be poor and Afflicted in this troublesome World But hereafter our Lord will Plant us about the Throne of his Father and make us sit down with him in his own Kingdom if we heartily Love him and keep his Commandments IV. GIVE me O Lord thy Holy Grace to Love with Charity the Defects of others perhaps mistaken by me and rely on thee for Defence of my self most sure of Relief if I wait thy Providence for thy Mercy forsakes not the Innocent for Ever Sometimes thou sufferest thy Servants to be tryed but wilt always at last either Deliver their Patience or Crown their Perseverance The PRAYER O Most Glorious Lord God in thy Son Jesus Christ my most Merciful and Loving Father I Miserable and Wretched Sinner Dust and Ashes do here in all Humility of Soul Prostrate my self before thy Glorious Majesty Humbly acknowledging and Confessing against my own Soul that I am laden with Iniquity and by my Sins have defiled myself defiled my Habitation defiled this good Land wherein I Sojourn II. O Lord Righteousness belongeth hnto thee but unto me Confusion of Face I have Sinned against thee and done amiss and dealt very wickedly and have added to the Number of my Fore Fathers Numberless Transgressions * Here Name the Particulars notwithstanding thou hast
Life and an Eternal weight of Glory in the Day of our Lord Jesus Christ Amen Read the Psalms and Proper Lessons appointed for the day Friday Mornings Meditations On the Life of the Holy Jesus On the Incarnation of our Blessed Redeemer O Most Blessed Jesu who for the Redemption of the World Vouchsafest to be made Man by the ever Blessed Merits of thy Mysterious Incarnation grant me to become one Spirit with thee who became one Flesh with me Nativity II. Blessed Jesu who wast Born of a pure Virgin by the power of the Holy Ghost grant me by the same Almighty Power to possess a pure Virgin Soul in a pure and Chasse Temple of my Body and to be Fruitful in all good works to my lives end Circumcision III. Blessed Jesu who was Circumcised and made Obedient to the Law for Man grant unto me I humbly beseech thee the true Circumcision of the Spirit that my Heart and all my Members may be Mortified from all Carnal and worldly Lusts that I may in all things Obey thy Blessed Will Baptism IV. Blessed Jesu by the Merits of thy Holy Baptism wash me throughly from my Wickedness and Cleanse me from my Sins whereby I have Defiled those Sacramental Waters of my Baptism and perjuriously broken my Vows and Promises made therein Fasting V. Blessed Jesu who didst Fast Forty Days and Forty Nights Pardon and Forgive me all the manifold Acts of Rioting and excess I have been guilty of and give me Grace to use such Abstinence that my Flesh being subdued to the Spirit I may ever Obey thy Godly motions in Righteousness and true Holiness to thy Honour and Glory Temptation VI. Blessed Jesu who in thy Holy Fasting was Tempted by Satan and by thy Almighty Power didst Conquer him grant me by thy Blessed Spirit Devoutly to entertain the Holy Duties of Prayer and Fasting that by the Power of thy Victory over the Devil I may have Strength and Power of over Satan the World and the Flesh and continue thy Servant to my Lives End Doctrine and Example VII Blessed Jesu who in thy Prophetical Office didst Preach the Gospel and Heaâ— all manner of Sicknesses and Diseases among the People and by thy Doctrine and Example art the way and the Truth that leads unto Life Grant me to believe a right all thy Revelations to Obey all thy Commands to walk in thy Steps and to follow thee the Light of the World that I walk not in Darkness Christ Conspired against and Betrayed VIII Blessed Jâ—su whose precious Life was Conspired â—gain7s â— by Dis-believing Jâ—wes and wert Betrayed and Sold by one of thy own Disciples for a Vile Price Deliver me I Humbly Beseech thee from all the Conspiracies of my Ghostly and Bodily Enemies but especially from the Treachery of my own Heart and the Rebellion of my Flesh which for things of no Value betrays my Soul to its utter Ruin and Destruction His Agony in the Garden IX Blessed Jesu thy bitter Passion was in a Garden where thy Soul was sorrowful even unto Death Sanctifie O Lord all my Infirmities and Passions Comfort me in all my Troubles and Compose my my mind with such a frame of Spirit that I may be sensible with a Godly Sorrow of that Heavy Wrath and Curse for sin which thou sufferedst for me and all the World His Bloody Sweat X. Blessed Jesu who upon the Cold Earth didst Sweat Drops of Blood under the Load of our Sins and Apprehensions of thy ensuing Sufferings thou offerest up strong Crys and Tears unto him that is able to save O that my Heart might inwardly Bleed Tears of Compassion and Contrition and vent forth fervent and effectual Prayers with Tears of Devotion as to be heard in Heaven and healed of all my sinful Infirmities His Submission XI Blessed Jesu who didst submit with Patience unto the Will of thy Heavenly Father Endue me with the same Spirit of meekness and Patience submitting my self unto the Will of God in prosperity and adversity Health and Sickness Life and Death His Apprehension XII Blessed Jesu thou wast Apprehended and bound as a Malefactor but wert clearer than an Angel of Light O let not my Soul be Arrested by Infernal Fiends to Eternal Horrour in the other World but from the Eternal Malice of the Spirits of Darkness and from the Bonds and Chains of my Sins Good Lord Deliver me The PRAYER O Lord most Holy my sins are more in number than the Hairs of my Head and the weight of them Cries a loud to Heaven for Mercy I beseech thee O God the Father of Heaven thou great Creator and Preserver of Man despise not the Work of thine own Hands O God the Son that camest into the World to save Sinners Remember not my Offences neither seek thou Vengeance of my sins but good Lord spare me thy unworthy Servant whom thou hast Redeemed with thy most Precious Blood and be not Angry with me for ever O God the Holy Ghost that Despisest not a Broken and Contrite Heart let it pitty thee to see these thy Temples of my Soul and Body thus Ruined by sin and wickedness O Holy Blessed and Glorious Trinity Three Persons and One God have Mercy upon me a Miserable Sinner II. A Sinner and a grievous Sinner I am teach me O God to grieve that I am so give me a Broken and a Wounded Spirit for all my Transgressions Break this Stony Heart of mine yea take away this Heart of Stone from me and give me a Heart of Flesh that I may tremble at the Voice of thy Law and melt at the Sight of thy Judgments and Accuse and Condemn my self and be ready to joyn with thee to do Justice upon such a sinner as I am but least I should faint through the smart of the many fresh Bleeding Wounds which my sins have given my Soul Oh! do thou uphold me by thy Right Hand and pour into my Wounds that precious Balm of Gilead a true and a lively Faith in the ful satisfaction that thy Son hath made to thy Justice for the sins of the whole World and through his Cross and Passion through his most Precious Death and Burial through his Glorious Resurrection and Ascention I beseech thee be thou Reconciled unto me III. O Lord for his sake Pardon all that is past lay none of my sins to my Charge but Blot them all out of the Book of thy Remembrance Wash me O wash me throughly from my sins and cleanse me from my Vnrighteousness in the Blood of Jesus Christ Lord let his Blood that speaks better things than that of Abel cry lowder for mercy in thine Ears than do my sins for Vengeance be sprinkle my Polluted but Penitent Soul In the Blood of Jesus that thy wrath may pass over me and that the light of thy Countenance may shine upon me IV. SEAL unto my Soul the free Pardon and forgiveness of all my sins and say unto my Soul I am thy Salvation Oh! do thou
with all Graces necessary for all Events with strength to resist all the Temptations of Satan to keep my self unspotted from the World to subdue my Passions my Vile and Corrupt Affections with Patience to bear Afflictions and with a contented Resolution to undergo whatsoever thy hand shall be pleased to lay upon me that whether it be in Life or in Death in both I may be thine III. I know O Lord my sins are increased above measure and my Iniquities are gone over my Head Nay they are gone up to Heaven and have pulled down thy Vengeance upon me yet how long Lord wilt thou be Angry for ever Shall thy Jealousie Burn like Fire O remember not against me the sins and offences of my Life past but let thy tender Mercy speedily prevent me lest I be brought to great misery help me O help m O God of my Salvation for the Glory of thy Name O deliver me and be merciful unto my sins for thy Names Sake IV. But in the midst of Judgment Remember Mercy Pardon all my crying sins Reverse thy fearful though justly deserved judgments and that which is the most dreadful of all judgments and continues thy judgments bardness of Heart contempt of thy Word and Commandment restore thy wonted though undeserved Mercies give Peace in my time O Lord and let the Gospel of Truth flourish even until thy Sons comming to Judgment and that for his sake who is the Prince of Peace and that shed his most pretious Blood to purchase our Peace V. O thou that art the Author of Peace and lover of Concord Compose I beseech thee all unhappy differences and divisions that are among us take away from all Mens Hearts the Spirit of Division and Contention the Spirit of Blood Thirstiness and Revenge the Spirit of Pride Blindness of Heart Vain Glory and Hypocrisie of Envy Hatred Malice and all Vncharitableness and give us the Spirit of Peace Vnity and Concord the Spirit of Moderation the Spirit of due Obedience and above all the Spirit of thy Fear that we may at length meet and live in the Vnity of the Spirit and in the Bond of Peace and with one Mouth Praise thee our God and with one Heart love one another Read Psal 69.88 1 Lesson Isa 53. 2 Lesson 1 Pet. 2. Saturday Mornings Meditations LORD I confess without thee my endeavours are in vain and without thy blessing my hopes can never succeed but I also know thou rewardest those who Obey thee and failest not to relieve with a generous bounty those who depend on thee O give me 1. Thy Grace to observe my part and I 'le not fear the performance of thine thou callest to thy self the Poor and Humble to Eat and Drink at thy Holy Table those who faithfully live together in Unity thou graciously invitest to thy Royal Feast prefering them all to thy friendship here that they may be partakers of thy Glory hearafter II. MY Soul if thou at any time loose the presence of thy God thou wilt besure to find him at his Holy Table there seek him with Grace and perseverance seek him with Prayers and Sighs and Tears and be sure at last thou shalt find him with joy He hides not himself that we may not find him but that we may seek him and be hereafter more fearful to loose him Despair not he again will shew himself only go on and seek him still with hope and be sure thou wilt meet him at his Heavenly Feast III. HAPPY are the Ears that hear thee speak O Blessed Jesu 〈◊〉 Happy are the Hearts that feel the Power of thy Word O thy Holy One of God! For thou Commandest with Authority all Unclean Spirits and they Obey thee rescue me O Lord from the Snares of Satans Temptations and Powerfully Chace away the Enemies which disturb my Peace that they Tear not my mind with distracting thoughts nor trouble my repose with impure fancies IV. SO sweetly efficacious is thy Grace O Lord that immediately it draws all Souls unto thy Heavenly Banquet so kindly Condescending is thy Clemency that thou presently embracest them in thy Arms of Mercy when they come unto thee thy own blest Mouth hath meekly spoke the mildest Lesson to win us to thee I will have Mercy and not Sacrifice for I came not to call the Righteous but Sinners to Repentance Lord I consess my sins I confess my need of thy Mercies but my hope is great that thou wilt abundantly Pardon me whilst I hear thee so graciously remember thy Ancient Promises and so powerfully urge them in favour of sinners quicken my Faith O Lord and make it Active that I may receive thee with thankfulness who so kindly callest me The PRAYER OH Eternal most Gracious and Merciful Father I am here come into thy Presence with Confidence seeing that my Conscience tells me I have broke all thy Commandements as I have sinned in Thoughts and Words in Thoughts more than I can think and in Words more than I am able to Express the number of them are so great that I have scarce Room for any more I am impure but thou of purer Eyes than to behold iniquity II. BVT if thou shouldest enter into judgment with me I were not able to stand before thee I Confess there is but one way to slie from thee as an Angry God which is to slie to thee as a reconciled Father reconciled in the Blood of thy Son Jesus Christ to fly from the strict Bar of thy judgment to thy tender Bowels of Compassion not according to my Merits but according to my necessities so I humbly beseech thee Pardon all my sins past and strengthen me against sin for the time to come III. TO this end I beseech thee Awaken my Dead Conscience confirm my judgment enlighten my understanding conform my Will Reform my Life Enflame my Zeal Strengthen my Faith and that from henceforth I may live unto thee and serve thee Lord give me Repentance not to be repented of that hope which will not make me ashamed and that Peace of Conscience which passeth all understanding give me the World but that World which passeth knowledge give me Faith but that Faith which is in Christ and that Wisdom which leads to understanding IV. Lord prepare my Soul and Heart to meet thee at thy Holy Yable that I may feed my Soul with thy loving kindness and not depart from thence without a Blessing give me Grace evermore to fear thee and to preserve a tender Sence of my Duty towards thee and Conscienciously Obey thee in all things that so by the Virtue of his Sacrifice of himself all my sins may be Washed away in his Blood and be remembred no more Read the Psalms and Proper Lessons appointed for the day Saturday Evenings Meditations BEHOLD me O Lord in this State of Misery and no hope left me but in thy Mercy â—â—here I must lie kept down with my sins unless thy Clemency take pitty on me Enlighten O