PRAYER

BEFORE A COMMUNION.

Worthy art thou, O Lord, to receive blessing, and honour, and glory, and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. I adore thee as the God of my life, and the length of my days; but above all, as the God of salvation, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom I draw near to a throne of grace.

I bless thee for the new covenant which is ratified by the shedding of Christ's blood, and that I am invited this day to receive the seals of that covenant. Do thou graciously open the fountain of life, for the refreshment of my thirsty soul: may I by faith behold Christ crucified set forth before me, and feed on him to my spiritual growth in grace. Give me, I beseech thee, clearer views of the evil of sin, and of the height and breadth of the love of Christ, that passeth knowledge. Grant, O Lord, that I may be enabled to eat of that bread as the memorial of the body of Christ, broken for me; and to drink of that cup, as the memorial of the blood of Christ, shed for the remission of sins. There may I

glory in the cross of Christ, in him that was crucified upon it, as my only Lord and Saviour. There may I meditate on thine inestimable love, O Father of mercies, in the gift of thine only begotten Son, and on his astonishing love and grace, till the fire of sacred love shall burn within me; till out of the abundance of my heart, my tongue break forth in strains of lively thanksgiving, and my mouth praise thee with joyful lips: till, being constrained by this love, I most solemnly resolve and engage to live henceforth, not to myself, but to him that died for me and rose again! Here at Emanuel's cross may I learn selfdenial, deadness to the world, patience, meekness, forgiveness, and humility, looking unto him who endured the cross, and despised the shame. May I never be weary and faint in my mind; but, while I smite on my breast and say, " God be merciful to me a sinner," I would utter my penitent confessions with lively faith and hope. O give me true repentance, and living faith teach me to count all things but loss, that I may win Christ, and partake of his salvation.

I believe, Lord, that thou art gone up on high, having led captivity captive. At this feast of love, let me receive of the fruits

and benefits of this glorious victory; and, while I receive the outward and visible sign, let my soul delightfully feel the inward and spiritual grace. Accept, I beseech thee, O Lord, of the fresh surrender and dedication which I make of myself (and family) to thee this morning. I am no longer my own; but thine. Thou hast made me, thou hast continually watched over and preserved me; and thou hast bought me with a price, even the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. O thou that art the beginner and finisher of every good work, be pleased to assist my endeavours, to withdraw my mind more and more from these sensible things. Shed abroad thy love in my heart; may I sit under thy shadow with delight; and so hunger and thirst after the bread and water of life, that my soul may be satisfied; that I may hunger no more for the bread that perisheth; that I may thirst no more for the cisterns that yield no water; but for those rivers of pleasure that are at thy right hand for evermore.

A SACRAMENTAL HYMN.

Jesus invites his saints

To meet around his board : Here pardon'd rebels sit and hold Communion with their Lord.

For food he gave his flesh;
He bids us drink his blood:
Amazing favour, matchless grace,
Of our descending God!

This holy bread and wine
Maintain our fainting breath,
By union with our living Lord,
And int'rest in his death.

Our heavenly Father calls

Christ and his members one: We, the young children of his love, And he, the firstborn Son.

We are but several parts
Of the same broken bread :
One body hath its sev'ral limbs
But Jesus is the head.

Let all our pow'rs be join'd
His glorious name to raise :
Pleasure and love fill every mind;
And every voice be praise.

A devotional Exercise at the Lord's Table.

O matchless bounty of the eternal God! What a gift is this! And to what unworthy sinners! And will God stoop so low to man, and come so near him? Will he thus reconcile his worthless enemies? Will he freely pardon all that I have done, and take me into his family and love, and feed me with the flesh and blood of his Son? I believe; Lord help my unbelief; I humbly and thankfully accept thy gifts! Open thou my heart, that I may yet more joyfully and more thankfully accept them. Behold, Lord, a wretch that needeth all this mercy! And, as it is the offer of thy grace and covenant, my soul gladly takes thee for my God and Father, for my Saviour and my Sanctifier. And here I give up myself to thee, as thy created, redeemed, and regenerated child; to be saved and sanctified by thee; to be loved by thee, and to love thee for ever. O seal this covenant by thy Spirit, and let me be entirely and for ever thine!