merits of own, but for the sake of thine infinite goodness and mercy. Unworthy though I am, yet thy bounty, O Lord, never fails; the love of my Saviour is not diminished, and the virtue of his propitiation is never exhausted; grant therefore, I beseech thee, that this holy sacrament may never turn to my judgment and condemna tion : But that it may be health and recovery under all my weaknesses and infirmities; Safety and defence against all the attacks of my spiritual enemies; Vigour and strength to all my holy purposes and resolutions; Comfort and support under all the afflictions and calamities of life; Assistance and direction under all difficulties and doubts ;" Courage and constancy under all dangers and persecutions, especially in times of sickness, and at the hour of death. Finally, let it procure for me pardon and forgiveness in this life, mercy and favour at the day of judgment, and a never-fading crown of glory in thy heavenly kingdom, where, with thy Son Jesus Christ, and the blessed Spirit, thou livest and reignest one God, world without end. Amen. Here, or before we receive, if there is time, and the devout communicant is disposed so to employ himself, may be used the Petitions for the Virtues of a Christian Life, or the Prayer for the whole state of Mankind, or the Thanksgiving for God's Mercies, Spiritual and Temporal, in the Second Part. When all have communicated, and the Priest returns to the remaining part of the communion office, we must leave our private devotions, and accompany him with our devoutest affections.' A short Prayer when the Communion Service is ended. PARDON, O God, all those imperfections that have accompanied me at this time in my attendance at thy altar; forgive the deadness and dulness of my affections, the wanderings of my thoughts, and the distractions of my mind. Let the sincerity of my holy purposes and resolutions be accepted, notwithstanding my weakness and frailty. O! let this commemoration of my crucified Saviour, influence all my thoughts, words, and actions, that my conversation may be as becometh the Gospel of Christ. ons that yatter ess are d ings y mind. ses and ing my thee, O God the Father, and God the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen. • Where communions are large, we may want some exercises for the employing our devout affections; and the Office for the Administration of the Holy Communion contains such a variety of excellent matter for meditation, that it may not be improper to entertain our minds, while others are receiving, with the consideration of some select parts of it. This may possibly be sometimes more useful, than either these or any other prayers; more especially to such as complain of coldness and dulness in their devotions; for meditation naturally tends to warm our affections, and ́raise in our minds a spirit of devotion. For example: suppose I had determined to meditate on some part or parts of the Confession which begins thus :-Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men: Here I would stop, and consider well the import of these words: they contain four of God's most comprehensive titles. First, He is here said to be Almighty; Secondly, The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; Thirdly, The Maker and Creator of all things; Fourthly, The Judge of all men. The consideration of the first and last will pro voke us to Godly sorrow, and the second and third will excite our hope in his mercy. So that from hence we may take occasion to exercise acts of sorrow and humiliation, of hope and love, &c.: thus I consider, O my God, that I have offended thee, who art Almighty, and therefore able to punish; but I consider too that thou art the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and therefore I cannot doubt of thy love to me, and of thy readiness to forgive me, who repent and turn to thee. Such ejaculations might be formed from each of these particulars, or from any other part of the Communion Office; or we may meditate on such of the following texts of Scripture or others, as may most excite our devotion, or further us in the way of piety. 'If ye therefore be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right-hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.' Col. iii. 1, 2. • Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.' 1 John ii. 15, 16. • Mortify, therefore, your members which |