And grant, O merciful Father, that I may never be wanting in my duty towards it: but enable me, by thy grace, to bring it up in the nurture and admonition of Thee, the Lord; that as it grows in years, so it may increase in grace and thy favour, and be a comfort to me all my days, through Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom with Thee, O Father, and the Holy Spirit, be ascribed, as is most due, all honour, glory, power, thanksgiving, and praise, both now and for evermore. Amen.

In case of dangerous sickness, see proper Prayers in the Office for the Sick.

THE END OF THE SECOND PART

PART III.

AN OFFICE FOR THE HOLY COMMUNION.

A Prayer that may frequently be used the week preceding the Sacrament, and which may be added to our devotions the morning we receive.

O ALMIGHTY GOD and merciful Father, who hast given thy holy Son Jesus Christ to die for us, who did institute a holy feast in commemoration of that his most precious death, thereby to preserve in our minds a constant remembrance of his great love in laying down his life for our sakes; I thy unworthy servant, who am now invited to this holy table, do humbly adore thy Divine Majesty, acknowledging that I am not worthy of my daily bread, much less of that which came down from heaven, and which Thou hast given to be the food and nourishment of our souls.

I confess, O Lord, that my sins may justly cause me to tremble, when I appear before Thee; but, O most merciful Father, encouraged by thy wonderful goodness, in giving thy Son to die for all penitent and returning sinners, I present myself before Thee at this time, beseeching Thee, in great humility, to admit me to this holy table, that I may taste and see how gracious Thou art, and how wonderful in thy doings towards the sons of men.

O make my longings and desires after this Divine food some way answerable to my great need of it; that my soul, being sensible of all its wants, may no longer seek for relief from the unsatisfying objects of this world; but coming to this holy table with a true spiritual hunger and thirst, may there find a full supply of all those graces and blessings, that it stands in so much need of.

And to this end, O Lord, fit and prepare my heart to partake of so great a mercy, by giving me a just abhorrence of my own unworthiness, and an unfeigned repentance of all my sins. Root out of my heart all sinful and corrupt affections, all prejudice, hatred, and ill-will: and plant all those devout and pious, charitable and humble dispositions, that become the worshippers of the Holy Jesus; that when I presume to appear before Thee, I may bring with me a heart raised above the corruptions that are in the world, and full of the strongest desires and resolutions of loving and serving Thee.

Deliver me, O my God, from all coldness and formality, when I attend upon Thee in holy and religious duties and grant that by going to this holy feast I may have my pardon sealed, my weaknesses repaired, all my evil inclinations subdued, my faith strengthened, my hopes enlarged, my charity increased, and my soul so entirely and inseparably united unto Thee, that nothing may be ever able to dissolve the union; but that, being begun here in grace, it may hereafter be consummated in glory, through the merits of Him that died for me, even the Son of thy eternal love, Jesus Christ the Righteous; to whom with Thee, O Father, and the Holy Spirit, be ascribed, as is most due, all honour, glory, power, thanksgiving, and praise, both now and for evermore. Amen.

Some motives, directions, and assistance for examination, may be found in the Office of Humiliation, in the SECOND PART; also a General Confession, and other Prayers, which may be used in our preparations for the Sacrament.

Prayers in the Church, some or all of which may be used as there is opportunity; that is, as there are more or fewer to receive.

A Prayer to prepare our minds for the devout celebration of the Lord's Supper; which may be used, if the time will permit, before Divine service begins, or otherwise as soon as the sermon is ended.

ALMIGHTY GOD, by whose bounty and goodness I have now an opportunity offered me of approaching thy table, and of pleading before Thee the prevailing merits of the death and passion of thy Son Jesus Christ; I am sensible, O Lord, of my great unworthiness: but the positive command of my blessed Saviour, when He was about to lay down his life for my sake, has made it absolutely necessary; and the many spiritual wants I labour under, oblige me to apply to this sovereign remedy, for the repair of those breaches which my sinful follies have made in my soul.

Assist me, therefore, O Lord, with thy Holy Spirit, in the great duty and service I am about to perform: grant that nothing, during all the time of this holy action, may make me unmindful of that reverence and respect which I owe unto thy Divine Majesty, or that attention which becomes the celebration of these holy mysteries. Fill my heart

with such an awe of thy presence, as may fix my wandering thoughts, compose my disorderly affections, and stir up my faint and cold desires, that I may feel the power, and taste the sweetness of this Divine banquet.

Grant that I may have such a sense of my Saviour's sufferings, as may fill my soul with love and gratitude towards Him, for those inestimable benefits He has purchased for me; that I may have such a sight of my sins, which occasioned all his sorrows, as heartily to bewail and detest them; such a faith in that full, perfect oblation and satisfaction, made upon the cross for the sins of the world, that I may so importunately plead the merit of it, in this commemoration of that Sacrifice, as to render Thee gracious and propitious to me, a miserable sinner; such a conviction of my own weakness and insufficiency, as may procure thy gracious aid and assistance; such longing desires of being made conformable to thy holy will and pleasure, as may transform me into thy Divine image, and fix me to continue thy faithful servant all the remaining days of my life, through the merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour. Amen.

A Prayer when we offer our alms.

I ACKNOWLEDGE, O Lord, that all I possess is the effect of thy bounty: it is from Thee I have received it, and to thy holy Name be the glory. Accept of this free-will offering of my hands, as an acknowledgment of thy right to all I enjoy, and as a testimony of that love and charity to my necessitous brethren which Thou requirest, and art pleased to take as done to Thyself. I will dedicate a part of those good things Thou hast bestowed upon me, to relieve the poor, because Thou hast made it an evidence of my love to Thee: and grant