Communion Prayers and Meditations

HAVE I penitence, grief, shame, pain, horror, weariness, for my sin? Do I pray, if not seven times, as David,

yet at least thrice, as Daniel?
If not, as Solomon, at length,

yet shortly, as the publican?
If not, like Christ, the whole night,

at least for one hour?
If not on the ground, and in ashes,

at least not in my bed?
If not in sackcloth,

at least not in purple and fine linen? If not altogether freed from all,

at least from immoderate, desires? Do I give, if not, as Zaccheus, fourfold,

at least, as the law commands, with the fifth

part added?

if not as the rich, yet as the widow? if not the half, yet the thirtieth part? if not above my power, yet up to my power?

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LORD, I am not worthy, I am not fit,

that Thou shouldest come under the defiled roof

of my soul,
for it is all desolate and ruined;
nor hast Thou in me fitting place
to lay Thy head.

But, as Thou didst condescend to lie in the cavern and manger of brute cattle,

as Thou didst not refuse to be entertained in the house of Simon the leper,

as Thou didst not disdain

the harlot, a sinner like me,

when she came to Thee and touched Thee,

as Thou abhorredst not

her polluted and loathsome mouth,

nor the thief upon the cross

confessing Thee:
so even me, the ruined, wretched,

and excessive sinner,

deign to receive to the touch and the partaking

of the immaculate, supernatural, life-giving,

and saving mysteries

of Thy all-holy body

and Thy precious blood.

Listen, O Lord, our God,

from Thy holy habitation,

and from the glorious throne of Thy kingdom,

and come to sanctify us. O Thou Who sittest on high with the Father,

and art present with us here invisibly,

come Thou to sanctify the gifts which lie before Thee,

and those in whose behalf, and by whom,

and the things for which,

they are brought near Thee.

And grant to us communion,

unto faith without shame,
love unfeigned,

fulfilment of Thy commandments,

readiness to bring forth every spiritual fruit,

deliverance from all that is adverse,

healing of soul and body;

that we too, with all saints

since the world began
who have been well pleasing to Thee,

may become partakers

of Thy undefiled and everlasting goods,

which Thou hast prepared, O Lord, for them that

love Thee; in whom Thou art glorified for ever and ever.

O Lamb of God,

Which takest away the sin of the world,

take away the sin of me,

the utter sinner.

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A TOKEN of fellowship. Acts ii. 42. A memorial of the dispensation. Luke xxii. 19, 20. A shewing of the Lord’s death. 1 Cor. xi. 26. The communion of His body and blood.

1 Cor. x. 16.

A sharing in the Spirit. 1 Cor. xii. IS. Remission of sins. Matt. xxvi. 28. Purging out of things contrary. 1 Cor. v. 7. Rest of conscience. Matt. xi. 28. Blotting out of debts. Col. ii. 14. Cleansing of stains. Heb. ix. 14. Healing of the soul’s sicknesses. 1 Pet. ii. 24.

Renewing of the covenant. Psalm 1. 5. Food of spiritual life. John vi. 27. Increase of strengthening grace. Heb. xiii. 9- And of soul- winning consolation. Phil. ii. 1. Compunction of penitence. 2 Cor. vii. 9- Illumination of mind. Luke xxiv. 31. Exercise of humility. John xiii. 11. Seal of faith. 2 Cor. i. 22. Fulness of wisdom. John vi. 35. Bond of love. John xiii. 35. Arming with endurance. 1 Peter iv. 1. Liveliness of thanksgiving. Psalm cxvi. 1 2. Confidence of prayer. Psalm cxvi. 13. Mutual indwelling. John vi. 56. Pledge of resurrection. John vi. 54. Acceptable defence in judgment. 1 Cor. xi. 29. Covenant of the inheritance. Luke xxii. 20. Figure of perfection. John xvii. 23.

(ftommimton.

WE then remembering, O sovereign Lord,
in the presence of Thy holy mysteries,
the saving sufferings of Thy Christ,
His life-giving cross,
most precious death,
three days’ burial,
resurrection from the dead,
ascension into heaven,

sitting at the right hand of Thee, the Father, His glorious and terrible coming,

beseech Thee, O Lord, that we, receiving in the pure testimony

of our conscience our portion of Thy sacred things, may be made one with the holy body and blood

of Thy Christ;

and, receiving them not unworthily,

may hold Christ dwelling in our hearts,

and may become a temple

of Thy Holy Spirit.

Yea, O our God.

Nor make any of us guilty of these Thy dread and heavenly mysteries,

nor infirm in soul or body
from partaking of them unworthily.

But grant us

until our last and closing breath

worthily to receive a hope of Thy holy things,

for sanctification, enlightenment, strengthening;

for relief of the burden of my many sins,

safeguard against all Satanic working,

deliverance from my evil conscience,

mortification of my passions;
for fulfilment of Thy commandments,

growth in Thy divine grace,
and possession of Thy kingdom.

(Communion.

FULFILLED and finished,
so far as in our power,

O Christ our God,
is the mystery of Thy dispensation.

For we have held remembrance of Thy death,

we have seen the figure of Thy resurrection,

we have been filled with Thy endless life, we have enjoyed Thy uncloying dainties,

of which graciously vouchsafe unto all of us

to be accounted worthy also

in the world to come.

The good Lord
pardon every one

that prepareth his heart to seek God,

the Lord God of his fathers,

though he be not cleansed

according to the purification of the sanctuary.