Therefore, affift me, O Lord, with thy holy fpirit, 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 refpect which I owe unto thy divine majefty; or of that attention, which becomes the celebration of these holy myfteries. Fill my heart with fuch an awe of thy prefence, as may fix my wandering thoughts, compofe my diforderly affec tions, and ftir up my faint and cold defires, that I may feel the power, and tafte of the fweetness of this divine banquet.

O Lord, grant that I may have fuch a fenfe of my Saviour's fufferings, as may fill my foul with love and gratitude towards him for thofe ineftimable benefits he has purchased for me; that I may have fuch a fight of my fins, which occasion'd all his forrows, as heartily to bewail and deteft them; fuch a faith in that full perfect oblation and fatiffaction made upon the crofs for the fins of the world, that I may fo importunately plead the merit of it in this commemoration of that facrifice, as to render thee gracious and propitious to me a miferable finner; fuch a conviction of my own weaknefs and infufficiency, as may procure thy gracious aid and affiftance; fuch longing defires of being made conformable to thy holy will and pleafure, as may transform me into thy divine image, and fix me to continue thy faithful fervant all the remaining days of my life; through the merits and mediation of thy fon, Jefus Chrift our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

The

The COMPANION for the ALTAR. Directions.

I would advise thee, my devout communicant, by all means to read over the following Companion for the Altar, with the directions and prayers, fome time before you go to the facrament, that you may with more readiness and devotion go along with, and bear your part in the communion fervice; which with very little pains, you'll be able to do; efpecially after your firft communicating: When, if you fhould be at a loss, and under fome disorder and confufion, do not be diflurbed, nor troubled, but refolve to endeavour to amend what you barve obferved to be done amifs, as foon as you have another opportu nity of receiving again. And tho' after your best endeavours, you fould always find occafion to lament your defects and frailties, in the performance of this, as well as other duties of religion: yet never fear that any involuntary failings, or infirmities, will ever rife up in judgment against you. Do your duty as well as you can, and tho' may not be done fo exactly as you could wish, my foul for your's, you are certainly fafe; beginning your devotions on this occafion with thefe fallowing ejaculations.

it

Oft gracious God I come to thy altar to

renew my baptifmal covenant, of which this facrament is a feal.-O heavenly father I come to teftify my fenfe of thy love, info loving the world, as to give up thy only fon to die for me.- O bleffed Saviour, I come to teftify my faith in thee, and my love towards thee, and thankfully to commemorate thy wonderful love in dying for me.-O Lord I come to teftify my stedfastness in the communion of thy church, and my charity to all the world.-Ó

Lord,

Lord, I come to this thy table, out of the sense I have of the want of that fpiritual food, to which thou inviteft me in this holy facrament. -I know there is no food can ftrengthen my foul but thy body, no cordial can revive my drooping obedience, but thy blood;-O gracious Lord,grant that I and all that communicate with me, may be fed, refrefhed and nourifhed in our fouls to life everlasting. Amen.

Directions.

TOW, laying afide all fears and defpondencies, proceed to the communion fervice, and then to the facrament, with as much joy and fatisfaction, as a guilty criminal would go to plead his pardon at an earthly tribunal.

At your approach to the chancel, drop all thoughts of things on earth, and give up yourself axholly to the remembrance of the fufferings of our Saviour, lifting up your foul to him in these words: Will wash my hands in innocence, O Lord, and fo will I compafs thy altar, that I may fhew the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.

Rubrick.

¶Then hall the priest return to the Lord's table and begin the OFFERTORY, faying one or more of these fentences following, as he thinketh most convenient in his difcretion.

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Directions. When the Minifter begins to read the Offertory [which chiefy relates to the duty of beneficenceto all men by ouralms and charitable contributions which are to be dif

The Miniter. The OFFERTORY. Let your light fo fhine before men, that they may fee your good works, and glorify your father which is in hea-pofed of to pious and charitable uven. St. Matt. v. 16. fes, at the difcretion of the Minif

Lay

ter

Directions.

you

have been wanting

The Minister. Lay not up for yourselves ter andChurchwardens] you must treafures upon earth, where be very attentive, and with your the ruft and moth doth cor-eye, (nor voice) read along with rupt, and where thieves break him: and be fure you make what through and fteal: but layfort application you can to yourself up for yourselves treasures in of what is read; and wherein you perceive heaven, where neither ruft either in charity or juftice to any nor moth doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break to those who are your fpiritual one, and in particular of being just thro' nor fteal. St. Matt. vi. guides, you will refolve to make 19, 20. up thofe defects for the time to come; Whatfoever ye would that for affure yourself, you will be men fhould do to you, even highly unjust if you detain from fo do unto them; for this is them what is their due. the law and the prophets. St. When it comes to your turn Matt. vii. 12. to make your offering, do not let the Not every one that faith plate or bafon pass by you without unto me, Lord, Lord, fhall putting fomething into it: for this reason, amongst others, that you enter into the kingdom of reason, among ft others, that you heaven; but he that doth the may join in that part of the prayer for the Church militant, wherewill of my father which is injin you befeech God to accept your heaven. St. Matt. vii. 21. alms, and you may defend upon it,

Zaccheus food forth and he will accept them as given to faid unto the Lord, Behold, bimfelf, if they bear a proportion to Lord, the half of my goods Ilyour ability, and are done in obegive to the poor; and if I haveļdience to his commands, and with done any wrong to any man, an eye to his glory, as a grateful I reftore fourfold. St. Luke acknowledgment of his mercies to xix. 8.

yourfelf, and as a teftimony of your Who goeth a warfare at adependance upon him for the continy time of his own coft? who nuance of them. With fuch reflecplanteth a vineyard, and eat-all your other gifts to the fervices tions your prefent offering, and eth not of the fruit thereof of religion, and the uses of chaor who feedeth a flock, and rity ought to be accompanied. eateth not of the milk of the They that are poor and cannot flock? 1 Cor. ix. 7. Iflgive as they are difpofed in their

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hearts,

If we have fown unto you hearts, must remember that the fpiritual things, is it a great alms, given on this occafion, are matter if we should reap your not matter of neceflity, but a freeworldly things? 1 Cor. ix. 11.gift; and that their small contributions will, like the poor wi

Do you not know, that dow's two mites, be preferred to they who minister about ho-the richest oblations of the weally things, live of the facri-thy. And even be that hath nofice? and they who wait at thing at all to give, is invited the altar, are partakers with freely to partake of thefe fpiritu the altar? even fo hath the al bleffings without money, and Lord alfo ordained, that they without price.

who preach the gospel, should live of the gofpel. 1 Cor. ix. 13, 14.

He that foweth little, fhall reap little; and he that foweth plenteously fhall reap plenteously. Let everymando according as he is difpofed in his own heart, not grudgingly, or of neceffity; for God loveth a chearful giver, 2 Cor. ix. 6, 7.

Let him that is taught in the word minister to him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived, God is not mocked: for whatfoever a man foweth, that shall he reap. Gal. vi. 6, 7.

While we have time, let us do good unto all men, and especially unto them that are of the houfhold of faith. Gal.

vi. 10.

Godliness is great riches, if a man be content with that he hath for we brought nothing into the world, neither may we carry any thing out. 1 Tim. vi. 6, 7

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be ready to give, and glad to diftribute, laying up in ftore for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may attain eternal life. 1 Tim. vi. 17, 18, 19.

God is not unrighteous, that he will forget your works and labour that proceedeth of love; which love ye have fhew'd for his name's fake, who have ministered into the faints, and yet do minifter. Heb. vi. 10.

To do good, and to diftribute, forger not; for with fuch facrifices God is well pleafed. Heb. xiii. 16.

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