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own heart's lusts. Let me pay nature the debt I owe her, sooner than perhaps she might call for it, rather than offend thy divine majesty. It is better I should die, and be lost to the world, than forget thee: Thou broughtest me out of nothing, not to sin, but to serve thee in holiness of life; not to follow my own will, but thine; not to pursue with too much eagerness and anxiety the things of this world, but seek first and above all things the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness. Make me therefore to hunger and thirst after righteousness, to covet earnestly thy gifts of grace, so shall I be filled with peace and joy in this life, and after death be crowned with glory and immortality. It is none of the least sins of our youth, that we are careless and forgetful of Thee our Creator; and no wonder that many are so insensible of spiritual pleasures, who live in such a constant and continued neglect of the Lord's Supper: Make me therefore, O my God, to consider, that had I the fruition of all that I can wish, or long for here, I should not. only not be satisfied, but in the end find how miserable a thing it is to set one's heart on any thing but thyself: Teach me, therefore, so to use the world, that I lose. not thee, nor that blessed reward which thou hast promised to them that honour thee. Let every one, meditating on the love of Christ, ask the question, and make the answer with the Psalmist: Psal. cxvi. 11. "What reward shall I give unto the Lord for all the benefits he hath done unto me? I will receive the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord."

Preparation for receiving of the Sacra

ment.

HE due preparation for the Sacrament consists in examination and prayer, whether thou hast,

1. A fervent desire to partake of the Lord's Supper?

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If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. St. Matt. v. 23, 24.

To love God above all, for his own sake. To love all men as ourselves, for God's sake. And to do unto all men as we would they should do unto us. Matt. xii.

St.

Holy and useful Rules to be observed.

The Sacraments of the Church.

The two, truly so called, as generally necessary to salvation, are Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

The Three Theological Virtues. Faith, hope, and charity. 1 Cor. xiii.

Three kinds of good Works. Fasting, prayer, and alms-deeds, St. Matt. vi.

Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

1. The spirit of wisdom. 2. And understanding. 3. The spirit of counsel. 4. And ghostly strength. 5. The spirit of knowledge. 6. And true godliness. 7. The spirit of a holy and filial fear.

The Twelve Fruits of the Holy Ghost.

Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, faith, temperance, goodness, meekNo. 25.

ness, modesty, shamefacedness, poverty of spirit. Galat. v. 22, 23,

The Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy.

1. To instruct the ignorant.

2. To correct offenders.

3. To counsel the doubtful. 4. To comfort the afflicted.

5. To suffer injuries with patience.

6. To forgive offences and wrongs.

7. To pray for others.

The Six Corporal Works of Mercy.

1. To feed the hungry, and give drink to the thirsty.

2. To clothe the naked.

3. To harbour the stranger and needy. 4. To visit the sick.

5. To minister unto prisoners and captives.

6. To bury the dead.

The Eight Beatitudes. St. Matt. v. 1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

2. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.

3. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

4. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.

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5. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

7. Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God.

8. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Meditate frequently on these four last things, viz.

Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell.

A Form of self-examination.

1. My soul! didst thou ever endeavour 1.0 to persuade thyself, or others, that there is no God?

2. Dost thou prefer, or love any thing whatsoever, before the service and will of God?

3. Art thou tempted to disbelieve his word ?

4. Dost thou fear God, so as to keep from offending him?

5. Dost thou fear man above him, by committing sin to shun an occasion of suffering?

6. Dost thou distrust God in dangers and distresses, or use unlawful means to bring thyself out of them?

7. Art thou guilty of not depending on

God for supply of thy wants, and of immoderate care for outward things?

8. Art thou accustomed to neglect the duties of thy worldly calling, and expect that God should support thee in idleness?

9. Dost thou behave thyself irreverently in the house of God, or neglect to keep holy the Lord's Day?

10. Dost thou not neglect to read the holy scriptures, and art thou careful to conform thy thoughts, words and actions to the word of God?

11. Dost thou strive to get a right and true knowledge of thy duty, or dost thou rather chuse to continue ignorant, than put thyself to the pain or shame of learning?

12. Dost thou not place religion in hearing of sermons, without practising them?

13. Dost thou not sometimes wilfully omit prayers, public or private, being glad of any pretence to do so?

14. Dost thou not neglect the duty of repentance, not calling thyself to a daily account for thy sins?

15. Art thou not often guilty of rash anger and peevishness?

16. Art thou careful in examining what thy estate towards God is?

17. Art thou content with thy portion, not envying the condition of other men?

18. Art thou guilty of uncleanness, adultery, fornication, unnatural lusts, filthy and obscene talking, impure fancies and desires?

19. Hast thou been guilty of murder, open or secret?

20. Art thou guilty of unfaithfulness in trusts and promises, whether to the living or dead?

21. Hast thou blasted the credit of thy neighbour, by railing, by whispering, or backbiting?

22. Art thou guilty of lying, cursing, bitter and reproachful language?

23. Art thou wanting in charity to thy neighbour, in not loving and forgiving thy enemies, not relieving them in their poverty?

24. Art thou a lover of peace, not going to law upon slight occasions?

Of the seven deadly Sins.

PRIDE.-Pride, vain-glory, ambition, presumption, vaunting hypocrisy, flattery, dissimulation, obstinacy, flouting, or scoffing, contempt of others.

ENVY.-Envy, grieving at another's prosperity or gettings, or to hear them well spoken of; rejoicing at their hurt.

Interpreting their doings or sayings in the worser part.

SLOTH.-Sloth, indevotion, idleness, or laziness, neglecting things given us in charge, ingratitude to God for his benefits, unthankfulness to our friends and benefactors, chusing rather to beg than to work or labour for our living.

NOTE. In all these a man may not only sin himself, but also be accessary to another man's sin; either by commanding, by counselling, by consenting, by receiving, by partaking, by not speaking to hinder it, by not admonishing; and, lastly, by evil example.

COVETOUSNESS.-Covetousness, niggard Holy ejaculations to be said after examin

liness, greediness, unpitifulness: Not giving alms: Not being contented with our own

estate.

LUXURY.-Committing of adultery, unclean thoughts, words or deeds, unchaste looks, lascivious dressing, colouring or painting, looking upon a woman to lust after her, lewd company, filthy books, unchaste songs.

ANGER.-Anger, impatience, hastiness, rage or fury, disdainfulness, fretfulness, discontentedness, picking of quarrels, inimoderate grieving, severe correcting.

GLUTTONY.-Gluttony, drunkenness, intemperate feeding.

Giving to dogs that which the poor would have been glad of.

ing ourselves.

Kneeling, say,

WHO shall give to my head waters,

and to mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I may bewail both day and night my sins and ingratitude towards my Creator and my God?

Consider ( my soul) the multitude of the benefits which God hath bestowed upon thee, and be thou confounded and ashamed for thy iniquity and wickedness.

Thou didst make me, O Lord, when I was not, and that after thy own image.

Thou, from the very instant of my being, hast been my gracious protector, my father and mighty deliverer.

Thy blessed Son came down from heaven, to seek me, when I had erred and strayed from thy ways like a lost sheep.

What shall thy sinful creature say, O Lord? I confess I am not worthy to appear in thy sight, nor to be called thy son.

Whither shall I go for pardon and peace?

Art thou not my father, and in very truth a father of mercies, which have no end or measure?

For though I have (as much as in me lay) for a long time acted like the prodigal son; yet thou, even to this present, dost not cease to be my father.

I will arise, and go to my father, and cast myself down at his feet, and humbly

crave mercy.

Art thou not my creator, my preserver, my redeemer, my deliverer, my king and my God?

Whither then shall I go? Whither then shall I fly but unto thee?

If thou reject me, to whom shall I seek for succour?

-Behold I came full of wounds, but thou canst heal me, O great physician of souls.

Sprinkle me (O Lord) with thy precious blood, and I shall be made clean.

Thy mercy is greater than my iniquity; thy clemency exceedeth my transgressions; and thou canst forgive my innumerable offences.

Do not look, O Lord, upon the multitude of my sins, but spare me according to thine infinite mercies.

I resign myself wholly into thy hands.

Thou, O God, who art able to do all things, convert me unto thee.

Enlighten my understanding; sanctify my will; and renew a right spirit within

me.

O may I depend only on thee, fear and love thee above all things, and serve thee faithfully. And in all my actions, hereafter conform myself to thy blessed will and pleasure. Finally, I beseech thee to impart unto me thine abundant, effectual grace, by which I may be able to lead a holy life, and to serve thee even to the end of my days, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer on Monday Evening, for preparation for receiving the Holy Sacrament.

Lord, I do here cast down myself before thee, O cast me not away from thee. I cannot stand at the bar of thy justice; I do therefore lie down at the footstool of thy mercy. I do condemn myself for my sins, Lord, do not thou enter into judg ment with thy servant, but wash away my sins in my Saviour's blood. Saviour's blood. I do most humbly bewail my wretched nature and wicked life, for my thoughts, deeds and works past have been abominable; my conscience cries out against me, [Here think of your particular sins,] so vain, so impure and evil have they been before thee. Wash my soul, O Lord, in the fountain that is opened for sin, and for uncleanness: Then, though my sins be as red as crimson, they shall become white as snow. O pardon thy poor penitent, I beseech thee, and for the time to come, let thy holy spirit assist me to keep a conscience void of offence towards thee and towards man. Lighten the darkness of my mind with the light of thy truth, and kindle in my heart a love towards thee. O may never more be ensnared by the pomps and

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