and Godliness and be preserved in Body and Soul to everlasting Life through Jesus Christ in whose name and words I further continue to pray unto thee Our Father c. An Expedient to further Peoples often and orderly receiving the Holy Communion in the Parish of Cartmel IN the Order for the Administration of the Holy Communion we have among others this Rule both pious and reasonable viz. That every Parishioner that is all above sixteen years old shall communicate or receive the Sacrament at least three times in the Year of which Easter is to be one for the better observation whereof let it be remembred 1. That by Gods assistance if no great inconvenience hinder it there will be a Sacrament at the Church upon the first Lords Days of December April August especially for the Inhabitants of Stavely Division or the West of Broughton and part of Allithwait that is the Inhabitants of Stavely Farigge Hasslerigge Field-End Over-Carke Wood-Broughton Ainsome and part of the Church-Town to Headless-Cross or of any other place in that part of the Parish And that the Sunday before each of these three Sacrament-Days there will be a Sermon at Stavely Chappel in the After noon 2. That there will likewise be a Sacrament upon the first Lords Days of January May September especially for the Inhabitants of Cartmelfell or the East of Broughton Division that is to say the Inhabitants of Cartmel-fell Ayside the Greaves Barbar-Green Field-Broughton Hampsfield and the Grange or of any other place in that part of the Parish And that the Sunday before each of these three Sacrament Days there will be a Sermon at Cartmelfell-Chappel in the After noon 3. That there will be a Sacrament on the three first Lords-Days of February June October especially for the Inhabitants of Allithwait Division that is to say the Inhabitants of Birkby Allithwait Templand Kentsbank Kirket End Lindal and both the Newtons or of any other place in that part of the Parish And that the Sunday before each of these three Sacrament Days there will be a Sermon at Lindal-Chappel in the After-noon 4. That there will be a Sacrament on the first Lords Days of November March July especially for the Inhabitants of Holker or Walton Division that is to say the Inhabitants of Browedge Backbarrow Speel-bank Origge Beckside Burnses Walton Part of the Church-Town Holker Carke Flookborough or any other place in that Division And that the Sunday before each of these three Sacrament Days there will be a Sermon at Flookborough-Chappel in the After-noon Concerning Catechising That we may believe and live as we ought to do and that the Lords Table may be furnished with more knowing and worthy Communicants Parents Family-governours and Teachers of publick or private Schools are intreated as the Laws of God and the Constitutions of the Church require to be carefull to instruct those under their Tuition and Charge and particularly in the Church Catechism that they may be able to give an account of the same when thereunto called The Church Catechism Question WHat is your Name Answer N. or M. Quest Who gave you this Name Ans My Godfathers and Godmothers in my Baptism wherein I was made a Member of Christ the Child of God and an Inheritour of the Kingdom of Heaven Quest What did your Godfathers and Godmothers then for you Ans They did promise and vow three things in my name First that I should renounce the devil and all his works the pomps and vanity of this wicked World and all the sinfull lusts of the Flesh Secondly that I should believe all the articles of the Christian Faith And thirdly that I should keep Gods holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same all the days of my life Quest Dost thou not think that thou art bound to believe and to do as they have promised for thee Ans Yes verily and by Gods help so I will And I heartily thank our heavenly Father that he hath called me to this State of Salvation through Jesus Christ our Saviour And I pray unto God to give me his Grace that I may continue in the same unto my lives end Cat. Rehearse the Articles of thy Belief Ans I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth And in Jesus Christ his onely Son our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried He descended into hell the third day he rose again from the Dead He ascended into Heaven And sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead I believe in the Holy Ghost the Holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints the Forgiveness of sins the Resurrection of the Body and the Life Everlasting Amen Quest What dost thou chiefly learn in these Articles of thy Belief Ans First I learn to believe in God the Father who hath made me and all the world Secondly in God the Son who hath redeemed me and all Mankind Thirdly in God the Holy Ghost who sanctifieth me and all the elect People of God Quest You said that your Godfathers and Godmothers did promise for you that you should keep Gods Commandments Tell me now how many there be Ans Ten. Quest Which be they Ans The same which God spake in the twentieth Chapter of Exodus saying I am the Lord thy God who brought thee out of the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage I. Thou shalt have none other gods but Me. II. Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven image nor the likeness of any thing that is in Heaven above or in the Earth beneath or in the Water under the Earth Thou shalt not bow down to them nor worship them For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God and visit the sins of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth Generation of them that hate me and shew mercy unto thousands in them that love me and keep my Commandments III. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain IV. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day Six days shalt thou labour and do all that thou hast to do but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God In it thou shalt do no manner of Work thou and thy son and thy daughter thy man-servant and thy maid-servant thy cattel and the stranger that is within thy gates For in six days the Lord made Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that in them is and rested the seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day and hallowed it V. Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy Days may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee VI. Thou shalt do no murder VII Thou shalt not commit adultery VIII Thou shalt not steal IX Thou shalt
me c. S. Mat. 26. 41. Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation Jer. 10. 25. Pour out thy fury upon the Heathen that have not known thee and upon the Families that call not on thy Name S. Mat. 6. 6. But thou when thou prayest enter into thy closet and when thou hast shut thy door pray to thy Father which is in secret and thy Father who seeth in secret shall reward thee openly 1 Cor. 11. 26 27 28. For as often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye do shew the Lords death till he come Wherefore whosoever shall eat this Bread and drink this Cup unworthily shall be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. But let a Man examine himself and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup. S. Luke 22. 19 20. And he took Bread and gave thanks and brake it and gave unto them saying this is my Body which is given for you this do in remembrance of me Likewise also the Cup after Supper saying This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood which is shed for you We may sometime begin our Closet Prayers admiring with S. Augustine Gods glorious Perfections WHAT art thou O my God what art thou I beseech thee but the Lord my God for who is Lord besides our Lord or who is God besides our God O thou Supreme most powerfull most mercifull most just most secret most present most beautifull most incomprehensible most constant and yet changing all things immutable never new and never old and yet renewing all things ever in Action yet ever at rest heaping up yet needing nothing creating upholding filling protecting nourishing and perfecting all things Thou lovest and yet thou art not transported thou art angry yet never art unquiet thou art jealous yet void of fear thou dost repent yet art thou free from sorrow Thou requirest profit at our hands yet who hath any thing but of thy Gift Thou payest debts when thou owest nothing Thou forgivest debts and yet thou loosest nothing And what shall I say O my God my life my joy my holy dear delight or what can any Man say when he speaketh of Thee and wo be to them that speak not of Thee but are silent in thy Praise for even they who speak most of Thee may be accounted to be but dumb Have mercy upon me O Lord that I may speak unto thee and praise thy Name Amen A Prayer for all Conditions of Men. Note that one alone may say We and Our and Us as usually in the Lords Prayer because of the Communion of Saints O God the Creator and Preserver of all Mankind we humbly beseech thee for all sorts and conditions of Men that thou wouldest be pleased to make thy ways known unto them thy Saving Health unto all Nations More especially we pray for the good estate of the Catholick Church that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of Truth and hold the Faith in unity of Spirit in the bond of Peace and in Righteousness of life And we also commend unto thy Fatherly Goodness all those who are any ways afflicted or distressed in Mind Body or Estate that it may please thee to comfort and relieve them according to their severall necessities giving them Patience under their Sufferings and an happy Issue out of all their Afflictions and this we beg for Jesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer for the King and Kingdom ANd that in one Blessing we may all of us be blest I beseech thee O thou who art the Maker and Saviour of all Kings and Nations of the earth to bless our dread Soveraign Lord King CHARLES with the richest Blessings of thy Grace Strengthen him with the faith of Abraham endue him with the mildness of Moses arm him with the magnanimity of Joshua exalt him with the humility of David assist him with the counsel of Hushai beautifie him with the wisdom of Solomon and replenish him with the Goodness and Holiness of them all that so he may be a powerfull Protector of his People a religious Defender of thy sacred Faith a bountifull comforter of thy Holy Church a glorious Triumpher over all his enemies a gracious Governour of all his Subjects and a happy Father of children to rule this Nation by Succession in all ages O let his Reign be prosperous and his Days many let Peace and Plenty Love and Piety Justice and Truth and all Christian vertues flourish in his time Let his People serve him with honour and obedience and let him so love and serve Thee here on Earth that he may hereafter everlastingly reign with Thee in Heaven through Jesus Christ our Lord. Here may be added the Prayers or Thanks-givings in the Book of Common Prayer upon their severall Occasions Sometimes also the Creed may be repeated with that pithy Ejaculation said before it Lord I believe help my unbelief And the Ten Commandments with that short Prayer after them Lord have mercy upon us and write all these thy Laws in our Hearts we beseech thee Here also may be said the Morning or Evening Collect respectively on our own and the behalf of those that belong to us O Lord our Heavenly Father Almighty and Everlasting God who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this Day defend us in the same with thy Mighty Power and grant that this Day we fall into no sin neither run into any kind of danger but that all our doings may be ordered by thy Governance to do alwaies that which is righteous in thy sight through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Lighten our darkness we beseech thee O Lord and by thy great Mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this Night for the love of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ Amen A general Thanksgiving O Most gracious God I give thee humble and hearty Thanks for all thy Goodness and Loving kindness to me and to all men I bless thee for my Creation Preservation and all the Blessings of this life but above all for thine inestimable love in the Redemption of the World by our Lord Jesus Christ for the means of Grace and for the hope of Glory And I beseech thee give me that due sense of all thy Mercies that my heart may be unfeignedly thankfull and that I may set forth thy Praise not only with my lips but in my life by giving up my self to thy Service and by walking before thee in Holiness and Righteousness all my days through Jesus Christ my Lord to whom with Thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory world without end Amen A devout Prayer which may be used at any time by one alone GRant me O gracious Lord in what lawfull undertaking soever a pure intention of Heart and a stedfast regard of thy Glory let Christ be my pattern thy Word my rule
and thy Spirit my guide in all that I do Possess I beseech thee and ravish my mind continually with thy Love and let my delight always be to be embraced in the Arms of thy protection Be thou O holy God light unto mine eyes musick to mine ears sweetness to my tast and a full contentment to my heart Be thou my Sunshine in the day my food at the table my repose in the night my Cloathing in nakedness and my succour in all necessities O Lord Jesus I give thee my body my Soul my substance my fame my friends my liberty and my life Dispose of me and all that is mine as it seemeth best to Thee and to the glory of thy blessed Name I am not now mine but thine therefore claim me as thy right and love me as thy Child and keep me as thy charge and defend me against those that would deal injuriously with me My Lord my God I beseech thee to give me patience in troubles humility in comforts constancy in temptation and Victory over all my ghostly enemies Grant me sorrow for my Sins thankfulness for thy Benefits fear of thy Judgements love of thy Mercies and mindfulness of thy Presence for evermore Make me observant of my Superiours courteous to my Inferiours friendly to my Equals loving to my Friends and charitable to my Enemies Make me ready to pleasure all and loth to offend any Give me Chastness in my Affections modesty in my countenance gravity in my behaviour deliberation in my speech Holiness in my thoughts and Righteousness in all my ways Let thy Mercy through Christ cleanse me from the guilt of my transgressions and let thy Grace bring forth in me the fruits of Everlasting Life Lord let me be obedient without arguing humble without feigning patient without grudging pure without corruption merry without lightness sad without mistrust sober without dulness true without doubleness fearing Thee without desperation and trusting in Thee without presumption Let me be joyfull for nothing but that which pleaseth Thee nor sorrowfull for any thing but that which doth displease Thee Let my labour be my delight which is for Thee and let all rest weary me which is not in Thee Give me an awaking Spirit and a diligent Soul that I may seek to know thy Will and when I know it truly may perform it faithfully to the honour and glory of thy ever Blessed Name for these and for all other needfull Mercies which thou O God wouldst have me to pray or to praise Thee I continue to say as Christ our Lord hath taught us Our Father which art c. The Blessing LEt thy Peace O God which passeth all understanding let the Blessing of the holy undivided Trinity the Father Son and Holy Ghost let the vertue of Christs blessed Cross and Passion be with me and remain with me and mine now and at the hour of Death and to eternall Ages Amen Amen They that have more Leasure may oftner use the foregoing devotions alone Morning or Evening or at any time of the Day when they best can Such also may make use of this following Morning Prayer for a Family on the Week-days as many as can well be spared being present A Family-Prayer for the Morning on Work-days O Most holy and ever blessed Lord God we thine unworthy Servants do here acknowledge that as we were born in sin so we have lived in iniquity and broken thy righteous Laws in thought word and deed following too much the desires of our own will and not caring as we ought to be governed by thy Holy Word and Spirit but O gracious Father we beseech thee for the merits of thy Dear Son to forgive us all our sins and not to inflict upon us those Punishments which are due unto us for them And do thou we pray Thee sanctifie us throughout in Body Soul and Spirit and lead us in the ways of Truth and Holiness and make us in every respect such as thou wouldest have us to be And here O Lord from the bottom of our hearts we praise thy Name for all thy Blessings bestowed upon us concerning this or a better Life Particularly we praise Thee for the Mercies of the last Night and this Morning that thou hast preserved us from such dangers as might have fallen upon any of us and for our Refreshment by moderate rest and sleep Oh that this Day we may be kept from the evil of Sin and so if it may be thy Will from the evil of Punishment Enable us to watch over our Thoughts that good Meditations only may enter into our minds and Holy desires and purposes into our Hearts Help us to set a watch before our Mouths and to keep the door of our Lips that we offend not with our Tongues Help us also to watch over all our Actions that we may do hurt to none but all the good we can to all as we would have others deal with us That in all we do thy Word may be our Rule thy Spirit our Guide our Saviour our pattern and thy Glory our end That we may be wise and modest in our Carriage temperate and sober in our Diet diligent and chearfull in our Business that we may abide with Thee in our particular Places and Callings by a conscientious performance of the Duties thereof that we may undertake nothing upon which we may not desire thy Blessing and wherein we may not expect thy Direction and Assistance That we may be crucified to the World and the World unto us by the Cross of Christ that we may be content with such things as we have and not use any unlawfull means for our own relief knowing Thou hast promised never to leave us nor forsake us That we may so pass through the things of this Life that finally we loose not Everlasting Life and Happiness in the enjoyment of thy Self And all we beg upon the account of Christ in whose Name we continue to pray unto Thee saying Our Father c. But because the busie Countrey Life usually on the Week-Days calls and disperses most in Families early in the Morning to their several Works and Imployments it is very needfull especially when Morning Family-Prayers cannot be had conveniently that each one grown to years of Understanding before they go out of their Chambers or before they begin their Work should kneel down by themselves and in short beg Gods Blessing and Presence with them the following Day which they may do by the Collect for the Morning It is set down gotten by Heart saying after it the page the 6. the Lords-Prayer understandingly devoutly and deliberately Or this PRevent us O Lord in all our Doings by thy most gracious Favour and further us with thy continual Help that in all our works begun continued and ended in Thee we may glorifie thy holy Name and finally by thy mercy obtain Everlasting Life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Our Father which art in Heaven c. Or in the
of our Purposes of better Obedience with inward Fervency and Devotion in some such manner as may be pleasing unto Thee honourable unto Christ and comfortable to our selves Let us so shew forth the precious Death of our dearest Redeemer that in remembring the same we may be unfeignedly thankfull and sincerely praise Thee the blessed Trinity in Unity unto whom be ascribed and given all Honour and Obedience now and for ever Amen Another Prayer which may be used in secret some time before the Sacrament O Eternal and blessed God I prostrate my self with humble Reverence before Thee the Searcher of hearts not to excuse but aggravate my faults for I confess I have not given Thee that Honour Worship and Service which I owe to my Almighty Creator Nor laid to heart as I ought thine infinite Love in Christ my Redeemer Nor duly followed the godly Motions of thy Holy Spirit which thou hast sent to renew and sanctifie my Affections and draw me to thine Obedience I have not lived up to the Faith which I profess but behaved my self too often as if I neither dreaded the threatned Punishments nor duly valued the promised glorious rewards of my Lord Christ who will judge the World in Righteousness and render to every one according to their Works O Lord I have done so much Evil and so little Good been so eager in the pursuit of the things of this World and so cold and unconcerned many times about those of Eternity so unmindfull of my promises unthankfull for thy Benefits and unfruitfull in the Knowledge of Christ that it is a wonder of thy Patience and Goodness that I am still alive and not cut down like a barren Tree that cumbers the ground that I am not lamenting these follies in weeping and gnashing of teeth which I now mention with so little sorrow and bitterness of Spirit For ever adored be thy forbearing Mercy which hath so long spared me an unprofitable servant who have so many ways in thought word and deed offended thy Divine Majesty Oh continue I beseech thee to be gracious unto me and for Jesus his sake give me a truly penitent and believing Heart and by the vertue of that Sacrifice of himself which he offered once for the sins of the World let all my sins be done away and remembred no more And for this and all other thy great Mercies I resolve to offer unto Thee by Christ the Sacrifice of continual Praise and Thanksgiving and I present my body a living Sacrifice holy acceptable unto Thee which is my reasonable Service And I dedicate my self absolutely to thy Obedience Oh therefore give me Grace ever to fear Thee and to walk humbly with Thee and to preserve a tender sense of my Duty towards Thee O Lord I purpose by thy Assistance that hereafter I will never willingly depart from thy Precepts oh do thou strengthen me to perform what I have purposed that I may never be so unreasonable as to return to those sins which are the burden of my Heart and grieve thy Holy Spirit which rent the Flesh and shed the Blood of the Lord Jesus and which I have so often and so solemnly protested against And now that I am going to thy Holy Table to commemorate the Sacrifice of my Saviour to remember his love in Dying for me to give thee further testimonies of my love to Thee and receive new tokens of thy Love to me O Lord vouchsafe to make thy self powerfully present to my Mind Represent thy self and thy Son Jesus so lively to my thoughts in all Wisdom Power Goodness Holiness and Truth that I may never forget Thee any more but more seriously reverence thee and love thee and rejoyce in thee and trust thee and obey thee all the days of my life Imprint the very image of thy Son upon me that I may carry him ever in my Heart and have his life and death continually before mine Eyes and in all things conform my self to his Will and fashion my self after his Holy Example Come Lord Jesus and possess thy self of my whole Man Purifie me from all remaining filthiness either of the Flesh or Spirit Bring in all thy Heavenly Graces along with thee into my Soul And be my perpetual Defence by giving me a fuller communication of thy Holy Spirit and more mighty aides to do my duty towards Thee and towards all Men. And for that end compose my unsetled thoughts before I approach to receive the holy Mysteries that I may attend Thee with a full and clear conception of their meaning with an actual Belief of thy whole Gospel with most sensible love to thee and desire to be more like thee with thy high Praises in my mouth and joy unspeakable in my heart May I presume most gracious Father to ask such tasts and relishes of thy wondrous Love in Christ Jesus that I may never be able to delight in any thing so much as in the remembrance of it But mine eyes may be ever towards the Lord and I may hunger and thirst perpetually after thy Righteousness 'till I am rendred meet to be translated to that High and Holy place where I shall see Thee not as now in mysterious Representations but openly and as it were Face to Face Amen Lord Jesus who art able to save to the uttermost all them that come to God by Thee In thy most blessed name and words I continue my humble Prayers Our Father c. I would intreat those who have never yet received or but seldom to read at their leasure and with good Deliberation the Doctrine of the Sacrament in the Church Catechism as also the whole Order of the Administration thereof set down in the Book of Common Prayer by which together with what is contained in the two foregoing Prayers may be learnt in good measure what is needfull both in our Preparing for and Partaking of that Holy Ordinance And yet to further your more profitable and comfortable Receivimg you may use these following Helps Some brief helps to Meditation in Receiving the Sacrament of the Lords-Supper FIrst When the Sermon is ended and thou art adressing thy self to the Banquet of the Lords Supper meditate how lovingly thou art invited to be a guest at this Holy Table Hoe every one that thirsteth come ye to the Waters Come buy Wine and Milk without money and without price Eat ye that which is Good and let your Soul delight it self in Fatness Take Eat this is my Body which is broken for you Drink ye all of this for this is my Blood which was shed for the Remission of Sins Secondly As Abraham when he went up to the Mount to sacrifice Isaac his Son left his servants beneath in the Valley So when thou comest to the spiritual commemorative Sacrifice of the Lords-Supper lay aside all earthly thoughts and cogitations that thou mayest wholly contemplate of Christ and offer up thy Soul to him who Sacrificed both his Soul and Body for
thee Thirdly Set thy self as in the Presence of God with awfull and reverent thoughts of thy crucified Lord. If the blessed Apostle S. Peter seeing but a glimpse of Christs Almighty Power thought himself unworthy to stand in the same Boat with him how unworthy art thou to sit with Christ at the same Table where thou mayest behold so much of his infinite Grace and Mercy displayed Yet if thou comest humbly in Faith Repentance and Charity abhorring thy sins past and purposing unfeignedly to amend thy life henceforth let not thy former sins affright thee for they shall never be laid to thy Charge and this Sacrament shall seal to thy Soul that all thy sins are fully pardoned and clean washed away by the Blood of Christ For this Sacrament was not ordained for them who are perfect but to help penitent sinners towards Perfection Christ came not to call the Righteous but Sinners to Repentance And he saith That the whole need not the Physician but they that are sick Bathe thou therefore thy Soul in this fountain of Christs Blood and doubtless according to the Promise Zech. 13. 1. Thou shalt be healed of all thy sins and uncleannesses Not sinners but they who are unwilling to repent of their sins are debarred this Holy Ordinance Fourthly When the Minister begins to read the sentences of Scripture before the Offertory let them be considered by thee to stirr up thy Charity to the Poor Let Gods bounty to thee in Spirituals provoke thy Mercy to others in Temporals Hoping to be refreshed with the saving benefits of Christs Death be willing to thy Power to refresh the bowels of his poor Members What we do to them we do to Christ and who would not thus relieve Christ who made himself Poor to make us Rich in the best things And now the Sacrament being begun to be administred apply thy self with diligent Attention and fervent Devotion to go along with the Minister in all Actions Rites Prayers Confessions Readings Exhortations or Thanksgivings which are used in and about the Holy Sacrament When therefore thou seest the Minister putting apart Bread and Wine on the Lords Table and consecrating them by Prayers and rehearsal of the words of Christs Institution to be an holy Sacrament of the blessed Body and Blood of Christ then meditate how God the Father of his meer love to Mankind did set apart and seal his only begotten Son to be the All-sufficient means and only Mediator to redeem us from sin and to reconcile us to Himself and to bring us to Glory When thou seest him break the Bread meditate how Jesus Christ was put to death as to his humane Nature and his blessed Body wounded and pierced and both Soul and Body as we may say broken asunder for our sins and withall call to mind the hainousness of them and the greatness of Gods hatred against them seeing his Justice could not be satisfied but by such a Sacrifice When he is drawing towards Thee with the consecrated Bread and offering it unto thee then meditate that Christ himself cometh unto thee and both offereth and giveth indeed unto thy Faith Himself and all the merits of his Death and Passion to feed thy Soul unto Eternal life The bread of the Lord is given by the Minister but the Bread which is the Lord is given by Christ himself Ejaculations and Meditations which we may use while the Minister is giving the Bread and Wine to others 1. O Holy Jesus I behold thee stretched upon the Cross with thy arms spread ready to embrace and receive all Mankind into thy Bosom 2. I see the Symbols the Holy Bread and the blessed Cup but I also think of thy Authority ordaining these Rites of thy voice blessing these Symbols of thy Mercy reaching out my pardon thy Holy Spirit sanctifying my Spirit thy blessed Self making intercession for me at the eternall Altar in Heaven 3. Thy infinite Arms of Mercy are reached unto us and our Arm of Faith reacheth unto thee blessed be Jesus who will be joyned unto Servants 4. I am helped by these outward signs blessed Saviour to remember thy Body and thy Blood but by these I do not feel thy Wounds My Lord had the smart but we the ease his were the Sufferings but ours the Mercy and after he had paid the Price we got the Purchase Oh that my heart therefore by love and desire might reach out after him and by joy and delight ever rest in Him 5. I desire to know nothing but Jesus and him crucified O let the power of thy Cross prevail against all the powers of Darkness Let the Peace of thy Cross give me Peace with God and in my own Conscience Let the Victory of thy Cross mortifie all my evil and corrupt affections Let the Triumph of thy Cross lead me on to a state of Holiness And let the Wisdom of thy Cross make me wise unto Salvation 6. Thou wilt not dwell in a polluted House make my Soul clean and do thou consecrate it into a Temple O theu great Bishop of our Souls by the indwelling of thy holy Spirit and let the Members of Christ never become the instruments of Unrighteousness 7. O God my God assist me now and ever greatly and graciously Grant that I may not receive Bread onely nor Wine onely for man cannot live by that but that I may eat Christ not by Papal Transubstantiation but by Sacramental Participation 8. I am nothing I have nothing I desire nothing but Jesus my Saviour make haste O Lord behold my heart is ready thou hast opened my heart to receive Thee into the seat of Love Come Lord Jesus come quickly As thou eatest the Bread thankfully praise God for the saving benefits of Christs Death And further think with thy self As verily as I now cat this Bread so verily was Christs Body broken for the sins of the World and if I sincerely believe in Him as I now desire to do unfeignedly devoting my self unto him relying upon Gods Mercy in and through him being willing to be guided by his Word and sanctified by his Spirit so verily are my sins pardoned for the merits of his precious Death Here before the Cup be brought to thee thou mayest use one or more of the foregoing Ejaculations Thou mayest also have time to bless God for the Death of Christ to meditate upon his Sufferings to admire the greatness of his Love in dying for thee resolving to take the Cup of Salvation and to pledge his love with love to renew thy Covenants with God to reinforce thy purposes of better Obedience to beg of God strength to performe such Duties as thou hast formerly neglected against such sins and temptations as have too easily prevailed against thee to pray also for all Patience under such troubles and afflictions as may befall thee before another Sacrament Day come about Having received the Cup at the Ministers hand in the instant of Drinking and as soon after it as may
are ordered by the greatest Wisdom and shall work together for the good of those that love Thee We doubt not of thy Fatherly Affection to those that study in all sincerity to approve themselves unto Thee and therefore still resolve to leave our selves entirely to thy wise Counsels that thou mayst dispose us into such a condition as thou seest best in this World Oh remember us but of our Duty quicken and excite us to it strengthen us in the doing of it support us under all discouragements advise us in all difficult cases and comfort us with a stedfast Belief of thy holy Word and we shall ever be giving thanks and praise unto Thee who dealest so bountifully with us Moreover with our selves we desire O Lord the good of all Mankind especially that thou wouldest be mercifull to thy whole Church and particularly that thou wouldest bless that part of it which is planted in these Nations wherein we live inclining the hearts of all Ranks and Degrees of Men amongst us to follow after things which make for Peace Unity and Godliness But O gracious God as we are in duty bound in a more peculiar manner we do most earnestly beseech Thee on the behalf of this place of our Abode that our Minister being directed and assisted by Thee may be made a Blessing and a Comfort unto us and that we likewise having our Conversation as becomes the Gospel of Christ may be a Blessing and an Encouragement unto him Give we pray Thee repentance unto Sinners and increase of Grace and Strength to all thy faithfull Servants Reduce those among us that wander out of the way raise up those that are fallen confirm and settle those that stand and grant them a stedfast Resolution to persevere in Faith Love and Obedience Relieve and comfort all those that are in any Distress make the Earth to bring forth her increase in due season and let all honest and industrious People be succeeded and blessed in their Labours Remember all those who are nearly related to us or to whom we are indebted for our Birth Education Instruction or Promotion Thou who art rich in Mercy reward and recompence their care and love Grant Forgiveness and Charity to all our Enemies Continue good will among all our kind Neighbours Assist those that are Dying and leaving this World and fit their Souls for a better Place and let us also with them after our own last sickness in due time through Christ obtain a glorious Resurrection and Eternal Life And here O Lord we do from our very Souls render unto Thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy Blessings and Benefits bestowed upon us concerning this Life and that which is to come but more especially we praise Thee for the mercies of this day for any measure of success thou hast given us in our lawfull Endeavours that thou hast defended us from such dangers as might have fallen upon us We beseech Thee likewise of thine infinite Goodness and Mercy to defend and protect us and all that belong unto us this Night and let us be refreshed with moderate rest and sleep and so raised the next Day more able and willing to set forth thy Glory in the conscionable Duties of our Places and Callings These and all other needfull Mercies we ask of Thee for the alone merits of Jesus Christ in whose Name we continue to pray unto Thee as he himself hath taught us saying Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name thy Kingdom come thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven give us this day our daily Bread and forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us and lead us not into Temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Thy Grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy love O Heavenly Father thy comfort and consolation O holy and blessed Spirit be with us and remain with us this night and for evermore Amen Another Family-Prayer for the Evening on the Week-Days Saturday especially O Most blessed and eternall God thou alone art the fountain of our Happiness and the rest and satisfaction of our Souls Thou art infinitely more great and glorious in thy Wisdom Power and Goodness then either our words can declare or our hearts can conceive We therefore thine unworthy Servants do here most humbly adore and worship thine incomprehensible Majesty acknowledging that we were not only born in sin but in the course of our Lives have violated thy Sacred Laws and many ways transgressed our Duty as to Thee our Neighbours and our Selves so that if Thou shouldest deal with us according to the strictness of thy Justice and our own deservings we could expect nothing but shame and misery both in this life and that which is to come But O God we beseech Thee do thou help us penitently and believingly to cast our selves upon thy Mercy and the Merits of Jesus Christ and for his sake graciously forgive unto us the sinfulness of all our thoughts words and ways and let thy Spirit witness with ours the comfortable assurance of that Forgiveness And for the future let us not be tempted by the allurements or discouragements of the World wilfully to allow our selves in the omission of any the least known Duty or in the Commission of any the least known Sin And because this is thy Will even our sanctification we beseech Thee O Lord that thou wouldest sanctifie our Understandings that being renewed in the Spirit of our Minds we may have a Spiritual Discerning of the things of Thee our God that we may know what it is that Thou requirest of us in those several Places Conditions and Relations Thou art pleased to set us in That Thou wouldest likewise enable us to submit our wills to thy Blessed Will in all things and to make it our daily care and exercise to keep our Consciences clear and unreproveable in thy sight That Thou wouldest help us to set our Affections upon things above that we may love thee the Lord our God with all our Heart and with all our Soul and with all our Strength and that Christ may be the Chiefest of ten thousands unto us Him whom our Soul loves That we may present our Bodies a living Sacrifice holy and acceptable unto Thee which is but our reasonable Service That so being sanctified throughout we may be whatsoever Thou wouldest have us to be that we may leave whatsoever thou wouldest have us to forsake that we may patiently suffer whatsoever Thou layest upon us to endure that we may freely cheerfully and readily do whatsoever thy Command obligeth us to do And because Thou requirest that we should grow in Grace by all those means of Grace and Salvation which Thou art pleased so plentifully to vouchsafe unto us Oh that Thou wouldest help us to walk yet more holily in respect of Thee our God then ever that we may be more fearfull
us think we have done nothing in Hearing Reading Praying Receiving Singing of Psalms Confering Meditating till in all we have glorified Thee our Creator Redeemer and Sanctifier till our Souls be brought something nearer unto Heaven unto thy Self And all we beg upon the account of Christ saying further as he hath taught us Our Father c. A Family Prayer for the Evening on the Lords-Day OEternal God and most Gracious Father we thine unworthy servants do here cast down our selves at the Footstool of thy Grace acknowledging that we were conceived in sin and have actually in thought word and deed transgressed thy Holy and Righteous Precepts so that if thou shouldest look upon us as in our selves we could not expect any thing but thy Wrath and our own Condemnation But O holy Father for Jesus Christ thy dear Sons sake for the Merits of his Obedience and Bloodshed we beseech Thee to have Mercy upon us pardoning to us all our sins and freeing us from the Shame and Confusion which is due unto us for them And we pray Thee inspire thy Holy Spirit into our Hearts that by his Illumination and effectual Working we may have the inward sight and feeling of our sins and natural corruptions and not through Custom be blinded or hardened in them That we may more and more loath them and be heartily grieved for them endeavouring by the use of all good means to overcome and to get out of them Oh let us feel the Power of Christs death killing sin in our mortal Bodies and the vertue of his Resurrection raising up our Souls unto Newness of Life that living in thy Fear unto thy Glory we may die in thy Favour and in thine Appointed time attain unto the Blessed Resurrection of the Just unto Eternal Life In the mean while O Lord increase our Faith in the sweet promises of the Gospel and our Repentance from dead works the assurance of our hope and our love unto thy self and thy children especially those whom we shall see to stand in need of our help and comfort that so by the fruits of Piety and a Righteous Life we may be assured that thy holy Spirit doth dwell in us and that we are thy Children by Grace and Adoption And grant us Good Father the continuance of Health Peace Maintenance and all other outward things so far forth as thy Divine Wisdome shall think meet and necessary for us And we beseech thee O Lord to be mercifull likewise to thy whole Church and particularly to these Kingdoms wherein we live vouchsafing to us those Mercies we stand in need of and turning from us those Judgements which our sins may cry for Preserve the Kings Majesty bless all the Royal Family bless our Magistrates and Ministers this place those that are near unto us by Kindred or Neighbourhood be graciously present with all our Christian Brethren that suffer sickness or any other affliction or misery grant them patience to bear thy Cross and Deliverance when and which way it shall seem best unto Thee And O Lord let us not forget our last End and those accounts which then we must render unto Thee In Health and Prosperity make us mindfull of Sickness and the evil Day that is behind that these things may not overtake us as a snare but that we may in good measure like wise Virgins be found prepared for the Coming of Christ to call us by Death unto Judgement And here O Lord we do from our very Souls render unto Thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy Blessings bestowed upon us concerning this Life and that which is to come We praise Thee especially for Christ the Fountain and Foundation of all thy Mercies we ever yet received or hope hereafter to receive from Thee In him we praise Thee for the Mercies thou hast this day bestowed upon us or given us occasion to remember whether concerning the Creation of the World or the Redemption of Mankind We praise thee for thy holy Word and Sacraments and seasons of Grace yet vouchsafed unto us We praise Thee that by thy good Providence we have been preserved and provided for to this very moment intreating Thee likewise to continue thy Mercifull Protection over us this night And O Lord we beseech Thee let those saving Truths which have been delivered unto us sink down into our Hearts and spring up in our Conversations Let us keep up such holy Purposes and heavenly Affections as may have been wrought in any of us whilst attending upon Thee Let our lives be in some measure answerable to the means we enjoy Let the fruit of this Day appear in us the Week following and all the days of our Lives following Henceforth let our resolution of pleasing Thee and doing good in our Generation be more confirmed let the felicities of Heaven be more esteemed let our desires of Earthly things be more abated let the Breathings of our Souls after a fuller enjoyment of thy Self be more enlarged Let our sins those of our holy things be pardodoned our persons and performances accepted and our Souls eternally saved And al upon the alone account of Jesus Christ it whose prevailing Name we continue to pray unto Thee saying Our Father c. As for those who are furnished with Bibles and the Book of Common Prayer I shall direct them if they desire it how to use part of the Morning and Evening Service according to the Liturgy by themselves or with their Families But because many Pious Divines are of opinion that the Reverence due to the Book of Common Prayer is best preserved by imploying it only in the Publick Divine Service or in Private where there is one in Holy Orders to officiate And because we should always strive to be present at the Publick Service of the Church on any Holy Day especially on the Lords-Day and such Festivals as are in Remembrance of our Saviour Christ You have to the former here added one Prayer more which you may use on any such Festival in Remembrance of our Blessed Saviour that is to say On the Days of his Incarnation Birth Circumcision Epiphanie Presenting in the Temple Passion Resurrection Ascension and Mission of the Holy Ghost A Prayer upon any of the foresaid Festivals in Remembrance of our Blessed Lord and Saviour O Most glorious God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of lights from whom cometh every good and perfect Gift it is our bounden Duty and our great Priviledge constantly to acknowledge Thee with joy and exaltation of Spirit in remembrance of thy infinite Bounty to us and to all the World Every day tells us how good Thou art and every one of thy Creatures calls upon us to magnifie love and serve Thee who hast made so many of them to serve us But this Day gives us occasion to remember thy more special and extraordinary kindness to us the Children of Men which calls for our highest Praises to be joyned with those of the
be meditate on Christs Hanging and Bleeding upon the Cross giving him hearly thanks for his love in Dying for us And having poured the Sacramental Wine into thy stomach say with thy self As verily as I have received this Wine so certainly Christs Blood was shed for the sins of the World and if I sincerely believe in him as I now desire to do unfeignedly devoting my self unto Him relying upon Gods Mercies and his Merits and being willing to be guided by his Laws and sanctified by his Spirit and resolving to continue in his Love and Service to the end so certainly are my sins forgiven by the vertue of his Obedience and Bloodshed And now having received the Sacrament of Christs blessed Body and Blood out of a conscientious respect to his Command with a desire thankfully to remember his precious Death consider that he who hath given thee his Son will with him give thee all things else so far as will be for thy true Good Therefore now thou mayest here further represent unto God through Christ all thy needs and the needs of thy Relations signifie to him the condition of thy Soul complain of thy infirmities Pray for help against the enemies of thy Salvation tell him of thy griefs represent thy fears thy hopes and thy Desires look up to God to make the Blood of Christ unto thee a quickening comforting strengthening justifying sanctifying Blood And as thou feelest the Sacramental Wine which thou hast drunk warming thy cold stomach so endeavour to feel the Holy Ghost cherishing thy Soul with the joyfull assurance of thy being reconciled to God and accepted unto eternal Life Furthermore because it is said 1 Cor. 16. 17. The Cup of Blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ the Bread which we break is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ For we being many are one Bread and one Body for we are all partakers of that one Bread It must be remembred by thee that though all the faithfull are many yet they are all but one Mystical Body whereof Christ is Head And therefore thou must love every Christian especially those Receiving with thee as thy self and a member of that Body When the Minister hath given the Bread and Wine to all the Communicants be ready to joyn with him again in the remaining Prayers and Praises And after you have given Thanks and finished your private and publick Devotions go home but do not presently forget what you have been doing in this solemn Ordinance They that as soon as the Office is performed part with Christ and carry their mind away presently to worldly Interests or to sensual Merriments these may be suspected to be too indifferent as to the things of God They have as one says brought their Lord into the house and themselves slip out at the back-door Otherwise doth the Spouse entertain her beloved Lord. Cant. 3. 4. I found him whom my soul loveth I held him and would not let him go Spend therefore the remaining part of the Day partly in the entertainment of thy Lord with acts of love and delight with thanks and praise unto Him for his Favours partly in after-examination in reflecting upon thy Behaviour when thou wert before the Lord and partly in strengthening of thy purposes and confirming thy Resolutions of better Obedience that so there may be some fruit seen of this day in many other days that follow till the Solemnity shall return again Remember thy promises renewed unto God bind thee to watch against sin and unto Holiness all thy life as much as upon the Sacrament Day Moses coming from the Mount where he had been conversing with God his face did shine Exod. 34. 30. When thou goest from the Table where thou hast had sweet Communion with thy God the face of thy conversation must shine so with holiness that others may take notice of it It is said of the High Priest and Elders that observing the language and carriage of the Apostles Peter and John they marvelled and took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus Acts 4. 13. So thy words should be so gracious and thy works so exemplary after a Sacrament that all those who behold thee may take knowledge that thou hast been with Jesus that at his Table thou didst sup with Christ and Christ with thee A Prayer after the Sacrament BLess the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his Holy Name Bless the Lord O my Soul and forget not all his Benefits Who forgiveth all thine iniquities and satisfieth thy Soul with good things Who redeemeth thy life from Destruction who crowneth thee with loving Kindness and tender Mercies O mercifull Lord I humbly thank thee for Christ the Fountain and Foundation of all thy Mercies vouchsafed unto me from day to day O gracious Redeemer I yield thee all possible Thanks that thou hast this day refreshed my Soul with the Sacrament of thy precious Body and Blood Seeing O God that thou hast so loved me as to give thy Son and that thou O Saviour hast so loved me as to give thy self to die for me help me I pray thee to pledge thy Love with love henceforth hating and forbearing what thou forbiddest loving and practising what thou commandest Oh that my prevailing love to Thee may quench and kill in me all inordinate love of the World and the Vanities thereof Oh that walking in the strength of that Heavenly Food which I have now received I may overcome the difficulties of this Life and perform better the Duties of my Place and Calling and withstand more constantly the temptations which I am most liable unto O God seeing thou hast not withholden thy only Son how shalt thou not with him as I humbly desire freely give all needfull Blessings to me and all that I am especially bound to pray for And whereas I have this day renewed my Covenant with thee and my purposes of better Obedience strengthen me I beseech thee that I may pay the Vows which I have made and do as I have purposed Oh that whatever is in me vicious and contrary to thy Holy Will may by vertue of this Sacrament be rooted out of me so that my Heart may become thereby a fit habitation for thy Spirit Let it be to me a seal of the Pardon of my sins the confirmation of my Faith the provision of my Pilgrimage and the joy of my Soul let it be my peace and support in the time of Affliction and my comfort and strength in the day of my Dissolution Let me hereafter walk more evenly and closely with Thee in the performance of my Duty with a contented Mind whatever trials or troubles befal me before another Sacrament come about Grant that I may still hunger and thirst after this Bread of Life and Cup of Salvation and that I may with a pure mind and chaste affection receive it often so as to grow in Grace