For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand years; I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

A Prayer to be said before or after the prayers of the church, as time shall admit.

IT

T is but too apparent, blessed Lord, how apt we are to forget thy dear love to us, and thy bitter sufferings for us: our continual transgressions publish it, and our former stupidity and indevotion do plainly declare it. Praised, therefore, be thy goodness for the lively emblems thou hast given us of thy most meritorious cross and passion.

O that the characters of thy love may be so deeply imprinted upon my heart, that no time nor temptation may wear them out! may I now most affectionately call to mind the humility of thine incarnation, the merits of thy death, the power of thy resurrection, and the glories of thine ascension.

O how much do we owe thee, most blessed Redeemer! how great is the price which thou hast paid for the_ransom of us miserable sinners! what shall I render unto thee for the incomprehensible benefits thou hast bestowed upon me? Alas! I have no return to make but a broken and contrite heart, which thou wilt not despise; and this is yet a further instance of thy goodness, that thou expectest no other testimony of grati

tude, but my sincere affections in serving thee, the only true God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer to be used as soon as the sermon is ended.

O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness, and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men. Psalm cvii. 20, 21.

ETERNAL and 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 my sinful follies have made in my soul.

Therefore assist me, 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 of 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 of the sweetness of this divine banquet.

O Lord, 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 importunely 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 and mediation of thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

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, some time before you go to the Sacrament, that you may with more readiness and devotion go along with, and bear your part in, the communion service; which, with very little pains, you will be able to do, especially after your first communicating: when, if you should be at a loss, and under some disorder and confusion, do not be disturbed or troubled, but resolve to endeavour to amend what you have observed to be done amiss, as soon as you have another opportunity of receiving again. And though, after your best endeavours, you should always find occasion 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 rise up in judgment against you. your duty as well as you can, and though it may not be done so exactly as you could wish, my soul for your's, you are certainly safe; beginning your devotions on this occasion with these following ejaculations

Do

OST gracious God, I come to thy altar

MOST

to renew my baptismal covenant, of which this sacrament is a seal. O heavenly Father, I come to testify my sense of thy love, in so loving the world, as to give up thy only Son to die for me. O blessed Saviour, I come to testify 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 testify my stead

fastness in the communion of thy church, and my charity to all the world. O Lord, I come to this thy table, out of the sense I have of the want of that spiritual food, to which thou invitest me in this holy sacrament. I I know there is no food can strengthen my soul but thy body, no cordial can revive my drooping obedience, but thy blood; O gra-, cious Lord, grant that I, and all that communicate with me, may be fed, refreshed, and nourished in our souls to life everlasting. Amen,

NOW

DIRECTIONS.

TOW, laying aside all fears and despondencies, proceed to the communion service, and then to the sacrament; with as much joy and satisfaction, 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 wholly to the remembrance of the sufferings of our Saviour, lifting up your soul to him in these words:

I

WILL wash my hands in innocence, O Lord, and so will I compass thy altar, that I may show the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.

Rubrick.

Then shall the priest return to the Lord's table, and begin the Offertory, saying one or more of these sentences following, as he thinketh most convenient in his discretion.

The Minister.

DIRECTIONS.

When the minister begins THE OFFERTORY. to read the Offertory, [which Let your light so shine chiefly relates to the duty of before men, that they may beneficence to all men by our see your good work, and alms and charitable contribu