FROM-THE- LIBRARY-OF TWNITYCOLLEGETORQNTO

PRESENTED A.D.12KL

REV. CANON F. H. MASON

APPROACH

TO THE

HOLY ALTAR;

BY

BISHOP KEN.

From his

" Manual of Prayer," and " Pradice of Divine Love."

LONDON WILLIAM PICKERING

1852

3149

ADDRESS

TO YOUNG COMMUNICANTS.

OLY Bifhop Ken was an emi nent teacher, by precept and example, of Divine Love, — of Love to God and man. His heart feemed to be " lightened with celeftial fire." He was ever breathing out prayer and praife, and rejoicing in acts of beneficence to all around him. A fhort account of his life and character would mow forth the power of heavenly Grace on thofe who feek, and love the Lord Jefus Chrift, and follow after righteouf- nefs. But this is not the proper moment to fpeak the praife of man. Let us rather contemplate our adorable Saviour, Whofe Death we are about to commemorate. —

IV

Addrefs to Young Communicants.

Whilft we make our " Approach to the Holy Altar," all other thoughts fhould be humed.

In an age, however, like the prefent, when your Faith is aflailed on all fides by new doctrines, not grounded on the war ranty of Scripture, it may ftrengthen your principles to be aflured that every word of this book is from the pen of an orthodox Bifhop, and ConfefTbr to the Truth.

Amidft many great changes in this kingdom, at the facrifice of all his worldly interefts, — even to the lofs of his Bifhop- rick — in perfecution, — in imprifonment, and not without danger of being driven into exile, — Ken remained immoveably fteadfaft to the Englim Church, which he loved above all things on Earth. He withstood two Kings in defence of her primitive doctrines. Whatever he taught, — all that he wrote, — he £f humbly fub- mitted to her judgment, conformably to whofe Articles he defired all good Chrif- tians to interpret it." — He exhorted the people ff to adhere to the written word, and to perfevere in the Faith, taught in

Addrefs to Young Communicants.

the Church of England, whofe doctrine for Catholic and foundnefs he preferred to all the Communities, and Churches of Chriftians in the world." — He prophefied that, "whatever it fuffered, it fh,ould after a Jhort trial emerge, to the confufion of her adverfaries, and the Glory of God "

Learn from his example to be patient and hopeful, meek and courageous, and enduring under all difficult queftionings. Take comfort from his laft declaration, " I die in the Communion of the Church of England, as it ftands diftinguimed from all Papal and Puritan innovations, and as it adheres to the Doctrine of the Crofs."

Join with him in the Thankfgiving, which may be found in his excellent Book, " An Expofition of the Church Ca- techifm, or the Practice of Divine Love ;"—" Glory be to Thee, O Lord my God, who haft made me a member of the particular Church of England, whofe Faith, and Government, and Worfhip, are Holy, and Catholic, and Apoftolic, and free from the extremes of Irreverence or Superftition, and which I

Evelyn's Diary, vol; i. P. 637.

VI

i Sam. Hi. i,

Addrefs to Toung Communicants.

firmly believe to be a found part of Thy Church Univerfal, and which teaches me Charity to thofe who difTent from me ; and therefore all Love, all Glory be to Thee.

fc O my God, give me grace to con tinue ftedfaft in her bofom, to improve all thofe helps to true Piety, all thofe means of Grace, all thofe incentives of Thy Love, Thou haft mercifully indulged me in her Communion, that I may with primitive affections and fervour praife and love Thee."

That you may be led to delight yourfelf in an early dedication of your heart to God, I will conclude in the Bifhop's own words ;

fc Do but confider, how welcome a young Convert is to God ; it was to young Samuel that God revealed Himfelf, and that at fuch a time, too, when the Word of God was precious and very rare, to mow how much God honoured a young Prophet : and you know that St. John, the youngeft of all the Difciples, is the only perfon of all the Twelve, who was permitted to lean on our Saviour's Bofom, at the Laft Supper, as deareft to Him in

Addrefs to Young Communicants.

Affection, and who is emphatically called the Difciple whom Jefus loved. And this is fuitable to that gracious promife which God hath made to encourage all young Perfons to ferve Him ; I love them that love me, and they that Jeek me early fhall find me.

" Let this Heavenly promife excite in you a great zeal to feek God, and to feek Him early, for if you do feek, you are fure to find Him ; — you are fure, when you have found Him, He will love you ; and you mail reap all the happy effects of God's infinite Love, and of an Early Piety.

ff An Early Piety ! than which nothing will make you a greater comfort to all your friends ; nothing will make you more univerfally efteemed, and beloved by all men. And befides that peace of Confcience, and the pleafures of well doing, which you will at prefent feel, think, if you can, how inconceivable a joy it will be to you, when in your elder years you can reflect on your well-fpent time, and the innocence of your youth ; — how great a confolation it will be to you

Vll

John xiii. 23.

Prov. viii.

via

Exodus xxix. 3*, 39-

I Kings xviii. iz.

Addrefs to Young Communicants.

on your death bed, — how eafy it will render your accounts at the great Day of Judgment, — and how much a whole life fpent in God's fervice will increafe your glory in Heaven.

cc Remember that God, under the Law, ordained a Lamb to be offered up to Him every Morning and Evening. A Lamb ! which is a fit Emblem of Youth and In nocence ; think then that you are to re- femble this Lamb, and be fure every day to offer up yourfelf a Morning and Even ing Sacrifice to God.

tc God of His great mercy make thefe, and the like, confiderations effectual to create holy Refolutions in you, and give you Grace to make good ufe of thefe fol lowing Directions, which are defigned to teach you to fear the Lord from your Youth, and are fuited to your particular age and condition, in hope they may the more affect you. — God grant they may. Amen''

Your affectionate well-wifher,

I. L. A.

Lent. 1852.

AN INTRODUCTION

TO

BISHOP KEN'S APPROACH TO THE HOLY ALTAR.

Gathered out of his " Expofition on the Church

Catechifm," or " The Practice

of Divine Love."

HE Happinefs of a good Chrif- tian is altogether unutterable ; he is one who has Chrift for his Head, God for his Father, and Heaven with all its joys and glories, which are all eternal, for his Inheritance. The Mifery of a bad Chriftian is altogether in- fupportable ; He has Chrift for his Ene my, the Devil for his Father, and Hell, with all its miferies and torments, and de- fpair, which are all eternal, for his Doom. I adore the goodnefs of God, Who has

Deut. xxx. 19.

Luke x. 2.7,

Bijhop Ken's Approach

Jet before me life and death, blejjing and curfing ; and in great companion to my Soul has bid me choofe life : and with all my heart I choofe life, — even Life Eternal. To obtain this, all I am to do is reduced to one word only, and that is Love. This is the firft and the great Command, which comprehends all others, — the proper Evan gelical Grace ; and Eternal Truth has af- fured me, I'his doy and thou /halt live ; fo that if I truly love God, I mail live be loved by God to all eternity.

The Love of God is a Grace rather to be felt than defined. — It is the general in clination and tendency of the whole man, — of all his heart, and foul, and ftrength, of all his powers and affections, and of the utmoft ftrength of them all, — to God, as his chief and only, and perfect, and infinite Good.

When Divine Love is once produced, my next care is to put it in practice, and that is by bringing forth the fruits, or ef fects of Love. When the Love of God is produced in my heart, and is fet on work, my laft concern is to preferve, and enfure,

to the Holy Altar.

and quicken it. It is preferved by Prayer ; —it is enfured to us by the Sacraments, which are the Pledges of Love, — and more particularly it is quickened by the Holy Eucharift, which is the feaft of Love.

THE SACRAMENTS, PLEDGES OF LOVE.

'Their number*

LORY be to Thee, O Crucified Love, out of Thy Wounded Side flowed Water and Blood, the Two Sacraments, which Thou haft Ordained in Thy Church, — Baptifm and the Supper of the Lord, the one to initiate, the other to confirm us, in our Chriftianity.

Glory be to Thee, O bountiful Love, for Ordaining and Giving us the Holy Sacraments ; Thou Thyfelf only art the Author, and Fountain of Grace, and Thou only haft the right of inftituting the con veyances of Thy own Grace. All Love, all Glory be to Thee.

John xix. 34-

Matt, xx vi. 27, z8.

Bifhop Ken's Approach

Their Nature.

GLORY be to Thee, O tendered Love, who to ftoop to our weak and grofs apprehenfion, haft in the Two Sacraments made an Outward and vifible, and familiar thing, to be the Sign, and memorial, and reprefentation of an Inward and Invifible, Myfterious and Spiritual Grace.

Glory be to Thee, O mighty Love, who haft elevated thefe obvious and out ward Signs to an efficacy far above their Natures, — not only to fignify, but to be happy Means, and Inftruments, to con vey Thy Grace to us, — to be Seals, and Pledges to confirm and aflure to us the Communications of Thy Love, that our fight may affift our Faith, that if with due preparation we receive them, both parts of the Sacrament will go together, — as certainly as we receive the Outward and Vifible Sign, fo certainly mall we receive the Inward and Invifible Grace, for which all Love, all Glory be to Thee.

to the Holy Altar.

THE SUPPER OF THE LORD.

Inftitution.

LORY be to Thee, O crucified Love, who at Thy laft Supper didft ordain the Holy Eucha- rift, the Sacrament and Feaft of Love.

It was for the continual remembrance of the Sacrifice of thy death, O blefTed Jefu, and of the benefits we receive there by, that Thou waft pleafed to ordain this facred and awful Rite ; all Love, all Glory be to Thee.

Ah deareft Lord, how little fenfible is he of Thy Love in dying for us, who can ever forget Thee.

Ah woe is me, that ever a Sinner mould forget his Saviour, and yet alas ! how prone are we to do it !

Glory be to Thee, O gracious Jefu, who, to help our memories and to imprefs Thy Love deep on our Souls, haft inftituted the bleffed Sacrament, and commanded us, " Do this in remembrance of me"

O Jefu, let the Propitiatory Sacrifice of

Bijhop Ken's Approach

Thy Death, which Thou didft offer upon the Crofs for the Sins of the whole World, and particularly for my fins, be ever freih in my remembrance.

O bleffed Saviour, let that mighty Sal vation Thy Love has wrought for us never flip out of my mind, but efpecially let my remembrance of Thee in the Holy Sacra ment be always moft lively and affecting.

0 Jefu, if I love Thee truly, I mail be fure to frequent Thy Altar, that I may often remember all the wonderful Love of my Crucified Redeemer.

1 know, O my Lord and my God, that a bare remembrance of Thee is not enough ; O do Thou, therefore, fix in me fuch a remembrance of Thee as is fuitable to the infinite Love I am to remember. Work in me all thofe holy and heavenly affections which become the remembrance of a Cru cified Saviour.

Parts outward.

GLORY be to Thee, O adorable Jefus, who under the outward and vifible part, the Bread and Wine, things ob-

to the Holy Altar.

vious and eafily prepared, both which Thou haft commanded to be received, doft communicate to our Souls the myf- tery of divine Love, the inward and invi- fible Grace, Thy own moft blefled Body and Blood, which are verily and indeed taken and received by the faithful in Thy Supper, for which all Love, all Glory be to Thee.

Invijible.

OGOD Incarnate, how the Bread and the Wine, unchanged in their Sub- ftance, become Thy Body and Thy Blood ; — After what extraordinary manner Thou, who art in Heaven, art prefent throughout the whole Sacramental Action to every Devout Receiver; — How Thou canft give us Thy Flejh to eat, and Thy Blood to drink ; How Thy Flejh is Meat indeed, and 'Thy Blood is Drink indeed ; How he that eat- eth Thy Flejh, and drinketh Thy Blood dwelleth in Thee, and Thou in him ; How he /hall live by Thee, and be raijed up by Thee to Life-Eternal; — I can by no means comprehend ; but I firmly believe all Thou haft faid, and I firmly rely on Thy Om-

Jobn vi. 54.

I Cor. x. 16.

Jobnxx.zz,

Bijhop Ken's Approach

nipotent Love to make good Thy word ;

for which all Love all Glory be to Thee.

Real Prefence.

I BELIEVE, O Crucified Lord, that the Bread which we break in the Ce lebration of the Holy Myfteries, is the Communication of 'Thy Body, and the Cup of BleJJing which we blejsy is the Commu nication of Thy Blood, and that Thou doft as effectually and really convey Thy Body and Blood to our Souls by the Bread and Wine, as Thou didft Thy Holy Spirit by Thy breath to Thy Difciples; for which all Love, all Glory be to Thee.

Lord, what need I labour in vain, to fearch out the manner of Thy myfterious Prefence in the Sacrament, when my Love affures me Thou art there ? all the faithful who approach Thee with prepared hearts, they well know Thou art there, — they feel the Virtue of Divine Love going out of Thee, to heal their infirmities, and to en- flame their affections ; for which all Love all Glory be to Thee.

O holy Jefu, when at Thy Altar I fee the Bread broken, and the Wine poured

to the Holy Altar.

out, O teach me to difcern 'Thy Body there ;

0 let thofe facred and fignificant Actions create in me a moft lively remembrance of Thy Sufferings ; — how Thy moft blefled Body was fcourged, and wounded, and bruifed, and tormented ; — how Thy moft precious Blood was med for my fins ; and fet all my powers on work to love Thee, and to celebrate Thy Love in thus dying for me.

Both Kinds.

GLORY be to Thee, O Jefu, who didft inftitute the Holy Eucharift in Both Kinds, and haft commanded Both to be received, — both the Bread and the Wine, — both Thy Body broken, and Thy Blood med. Thy Love, O Lord, has given me both, and both are equally fig- nificative and productive of Thy Love :

1 do as much thirft after the one, as I hunger after the other; — I equally want Both, and it would be grievous to my Love to be deprived of either.

Ah Lord, who is there that truly loves Thee, when Thou giveft him two diftinct Pledges of Thy Love, can be content with

I Co

r. XI. 29.

Matt. xxvi.

26,27. John vi. 53.

IO

Bifhop Kens Approach

one only ? what Lover can endure to have one half of Thy Love withheld from him ? and therefore all Love, all Glory be to Thee for giving both.

Benefits.

OMY Lord, and my God, do Thou fo difpofe my heart, to be Thy Gueft, at Thy Holy Table, that I may feel all the fweet influences of Love Cru cified, the ftrengthning and refreshing of my Soul, as our Bodies are by the Bread and Wine, for which I will ever adore and love Thee.

O merciful Jefu, let that immortal food, which in the Holy Eucharift Thou vouch- fafeft me, inftil into my weak and lan- guiming Soul, new fupplies of Grace, new Life, new Love, new Vigour, and new Refolution, that I may nevermore faint, or droop, or tire in my duty.

O Crucified Love, raife in me frem ardours of Love and Confolation, that it may be henceforth the greateft torment I can endure, ever to offend Thee, that it may be my greateft delight to pleafe Thee. O amiable Jefu, when I devoutly re-

to the Holy Altar.

ceive the outward Elements, as fure as I receive them, I receive Thee, I receive the Pledge of Thy Love, to quicken mine ; O indulge me, though but for a moment, one beatific foretafte of the delicioufnefs of Thy Love, that in the ftrength of that de licioufnefs I may perfeveringly love Thee.

Preparation.

GLORY be to Thee, my Lord and my God, who haft now given me an invitation to Thy Heavenly Feaft. All Love, all Glory be to Thee.

Lord, give me Grace that I may ap proach Thy awful Myftery, with Peni tential preparation, and with a heart fully difpofed to love Thee.

IT" is very advifable, that perfons before they Communicate Jhould read over the whole Communion-Office ', or at leaft the Exhortations there , which they will find to contain very proper, and plain, and ex cellent InftruRions.

It were much to be wifhed, that people would make more ufe of their Common- Prayer-Books than they do, and apply the

II

Lukey\\. 17.

12

BiJJiop Kens ApproacJi

Prayers they meet with there to their own particular conditions , for the Book is always at handy and the Prayers are moft Jafe and familiar, and devout, and the more they affeEl us in the Clojet, the more they will affeft us in the Congregation, and well- meaning fouls will reap great Jpiritual ad vantages from this pr a ft ice.

For example ; an humble poor Chriftian, who it may be has no other Book but his Common-Prayer-Booky and who intends to come to the Holy Communion, may learn to turn the Communion-Office to his own pri vate ufe after this manner.

Prayer for the Holy Spirit.

A LMIGHTY God, unto whom all ./V. hearts be open, all defires known, and from whom no fecrets are hid ; Cleanfe the thoughts of my heart by the infpiration of Thy Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love Thee and worthily magnify Thy Holy Name, through Chrift our Lord. Amen.

Thank/giving for our Redemption.

I GIVE moft humble and hearty thanks to Thee, O God the Father, the Son,

to the Holy Altar.

and the Holy Ghoft, for the Redemption of the World by the Death and PafTion of our Saviour Chrift, both God and Man, who did humble Himfelf even to the death upon the Crofs for us miferable finners, who lay in darknefs and the fhadow of death, that He might make us the Chil dren of God, and exalt us to everlafting life.

Glory be to Thee, O Jefus, our Matter and only Saviour, who, to the end that we mould always remember Thy exceed ing great love in thus dying for us, and the innumerable benefits which by Thy precious blood-fhedding Thou haft ob tained to us, haft instituted and ordained holy myfteries as pledges of Thy love, and for a continual remembrance of Thy death, to our great and endlefs comfort.

To Thee, therefore, O blefled Saviour, with the Father, and the Holy Ghoft, I will give (as I am moft bounden) con tinual thanks : I fubmit myfelf wholly to Thy holy will and pleafure, and will ftudy to ferve Thee in true holinefs, and righ- teoufnefs, all the days of my life.

Bifliop Ken's Approach

ConfeJJlon.

A LMIGHTY God, Father of our Jt\. Lord Jefus Chrift, Maker of all things, Judge of all men ; I acknowledge and bewail my manifold fins and wicked- nefs, which I from time to time moft grievoufly have committed — by thought word and deed, againft Thy divine Ma- jefty, provoking moft juftly Thy wrath and indignation againft me. I do earneftly repent, and am heartily forry for thefe my mifdoings ; the remembrance of them is grievous unto me ; the burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon me, have mercy upon me, moft merciful Father; For Thy Son our Lord Jefus Chrift's fake, forgive me all that is paft; And grant that I may ever hereafter ferve and pleafe Thee in newnefs of life, to the honour and glory of Thy Name ; through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen. Praije.

I LIFT up my heart unto Thee, O Lord, I give thanks unto Thee, O Lord our God; it is meet and right fo to do : it is very meet, right, and my

to the Holy Altar.

bounden duty, that I fhould at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Ever- lafting God.

But chiefly am I bound to praife Thee for giving Thy only Son Jefus to die for my fins, and to rife again for my Juftifi- cation.

Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the Company of Heaven I laud and magnify Thy glorious Name, evermore praifing Thee, and faying HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, Lord God of Hofts, Heaven and Earth are full of Thy glory. Glory be to Thee, O Lord moft HIGH. Amen.

Prayer for our Communicating worthily.

I DO not prefume to come to Thy Ta ble, O merciful Lord, trufting in my own righteoufnefs, but in Thy manifold and great mercies. I am not worthy fo much as to gather up the crumbs under Thy Table. But Thou art the fame Lord, whofe property is always to have mercy ; grant me therefore, gracious Lord, fo to

i6

Bijhop Ken's Approach

eat the flefli of Thy dear Son Jefus Chrift, and to drink His Blood, that my finful body may be made clean by His Body, and my foul warned through His moft precious blood, and that I may evermore dwell in Him, and He in me. Amen. Praije.

GLORY be to God on high, and in earth peace, good will towards men. I praife Thee, I blefs Thee, I worfhip Thee, I glorify Thee, I give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only begotten Son Jefu Chrift ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takeft away the fins of the world, have mercy upon me. Thou that takeft away the fins of the world have mercy upon me. Thou that takeft away the fins of the world, receive my prayer. Thou that fitteft at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon me.

For Thou only art holy, Thou only art the Lord, Thou only O Chrift, with the Holy Ghoft, art moft high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

to the Holy Altar.

To theje, as you fee occafion, you may add many very good Prayers, flwrt and plain, and -pertinent to your purpofe, which you may collect out of the Common- Prayer, and which will much further your devotion, fuch as thefe.

For Fear and Love.

OLORD, Who never failed to help and govern them whom Thou doft bring up in Thy ftedfaft fear and love ; Keep me, I befeech Thee, under the pro tection of Thy good Providence, and make me to have a perpetual fear and love of Thy Holy Name, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

For Love.

OGOD, Who haft prepared for them that love Thee, fuch good things as pafs man's underftanding, Pour into my heart fuch love towards Thee, that I lov ing Thee above all things, may obtain Thy promifes, which exceed all that I can defire, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

LORD of all power and might, Who

i8

'Bifliop Ken's Approach

art the Author and Giver of all good things ; graft in my heart the love of Thy name, increafe in me true religion, nourim me with all goodnefs, and of Thy great mercy keep me in the fame, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

For Charity.

OLORD, Who haft taught me that all my doings without Charity are nothing worth, fend Thy Holy Ghoft, and pour into my heart that moft excellent Gift of Charity, the very bond of Peace, and of all virtues, without which whofo- ever liveth is counted dead before Thee. Grant this for Thine only Son Jefus Chrift's fake. Amen.

For Imitation of Chrift.

A LMIGHTY God, Who haft given jfjL Thine only Son to be unto us both a Sacrifice for Sin, and alfo an example of godly life ; Give me grace that I may always moft thankfully receive that His ineftimable benefit, and alfo daily endea vour myfelf to follow the blefled fteps of

to the Holy Altar.

His moft holy life, through the fame Jefus Chrifl our Lord. Amen.

'They that are ignorant, or that cannot read, fliould go to their Parijh Prieft, or to Jome other difcreet and learned Minifter of God's Word, and defire him to teach them their Duty in -private ; and they that thus fencer elyjeek the Law at the Pr left's Mouth, fliall find that the Prieft's Lips do prejerve Knowledge, and /hall not go away without a blejfling.

To God the Father, who firft loved us, and made us accepted in the Beloved ; to God the Son, who loved us, and warned us from our fins in His own Blood ; to God the Holy Ghoft, who fheds the Love of God abroad in our hearts, be all Love and all Glory, for time, and for eternity. Amen.

20

INSTRUCTIONS AND PREPARATION

FOR A SERIOUS AND DEVOUT APPROACH

TO THE HOLY ALTAR

BY BISHOP KEN.

Approach to the Holy Altar.

DIRECTIONS FOR RECEIVING THE HOLT EUCHARIST.

HE Receiving of the Blefled Sacrament is the moft Divine and Solemn Act of all our Re ligion, and it ought to be the zealous endeavour of every true Chriftian, by God's affiftance, to prepare his Soul with the moft ferious, and moft devout difpofi- tions he poflibly can, to approach the Holy Altar. You are, therefore, to confider what you are to do before Receiving, what in the time of Receiving, and what after Receiving.

Before Receiving.

THE Duties you are to perform before Receiving are all comprehended in that one Rule, which St. Paul gives us, Let a man examine himjelf^ and Jo let him eat of that Bread, and drink of that Cup, which

21

I Cor. xi. 28.

22

jfer. xvii. 9,

Bifliop Ken's Approach

are in a manner commented on by the Church, in the Exhortation before the Sa crament, which I advife you to read over in your Common Prayer-Book.

To put this Rule in practice, 'tis your beft way at fome convenient time to with draw yourfelf into your Chamber, and there to begin to commune with your own Heart, and to call your Sins to remem brance ; — but firft pray heartily to God for His Grace to aflift you.

Prayer before Examination.

HEAR the voice of my humble Peti tion, O Lord, now I cry unto Thee, and lift up my Hands towards Thy Mercy- Seat.

Behold, Lord, now I am about to fearch into my own Heart : but alas, alas ! my Heart is deceitful, and defperately wicked ; how can I know it ? Thou therefore that fearcheft the Heart, and trieft the Reins, difcover to me all the evil and deceits of my own Heart, that I may confefs, and bewail, and forfake them, and obtain Mer cy. Lord hear me, Lord help me, for the Merits of Jefus my Saviour, Amen3 Amen.

to the Holy Altar.

Rules to be obferved in Examination.

HAVING prayed for God's afliftance, doubt not but He will vouchfafe it you : and to guide you in your Exami nation the better, obferve thefe following Directions.

When you examine yourfelf, either by the following Catalogue, or by that in the Whole Duty of Man, or by any other, Paufe a while on every particular ; and if you find yourfelf not guilty, then fay, Glory be to Thee, O Lord, for preferving me from this Sin : and fo go on.

When your Confcience anfwers guilty, then it will be your beft way, having faid, Lord have mercy upon me, and forgive me this Sin, to write down that Sin in a Paper, that you may have it ready to con- fefs to God, when your Examination is done.

You are to confider that there are feveral degrees of Penitents, and fome are more, fome lefs finful. For inftance ;

Some there are, who either through want of confcientious Parents, or through often ftifling good motions, or through incon-

23

Bijhop Kens Approach

ftancy, or heedleflhefs, or unadvifednefs, or vicious company, or ill nature, or youthful lufts, and the like, have been from their infancy very negligent of learning, or at leaft of practifing their Duty.

Again, Some there are amongft thefe, whofe Sins are more heinous than ordi nary, in regard they are accompanied with feveral aggravations : For any fin is much aggravated, if it be committed knowing ly, or deliberately, or frequently : — more than that, if it be committed obftinately, or prefumptuoufly, or on flight, or no temptations, or againft checks of Con- fcience, or againft Reproofs, or Admoni tions, or Chaftifements, or Vows to the contrary ; — but moft of all, if it be com mitted fo long, and fo often, till it becomes habitual, till the Sinner does take delight in it, or boaft of it, or makes a mock at it, or tempt others alfo to commit it. All thefe and the like circumftances do very much heighten the guilt of any Sin.

You may eafily from hence guefs what progrefs you have made in wickednefs, and if you find yourfelf in the number of

to the Holy Altar.

any of thefe, by all means refolve to repent immediately and to confefs your fins with all their aggravations ; for be fure of this, that every other ftep you run farther from Heaven, — every other hour you continue longer in a finful courfe, — makes your fins the more hard to be maftered, and your repentance the more difficult.

On the other fide,fome there are, though I fear but few, who having been brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, have been by the goodnefs of God, fecured from violent Temptations, and en ormous Sins ; who have like Jofiah, while they were yet young, fought the Lord, and have in a great meafure kept their Baptifmal Vow, and preferved a fenfe of their Duty.

Such as thefe have fewer Sins to confefs, and thofe Sins lefs aggravated, and there fore have greater obligations to magnify God's mercy than others ; but if you are in this number, have a care of growing carelefs in your examination, or of pre- fuming on your own innocence : For if we fay, or think, we have no Sin, we mi- ferably deceive ourfelves.

Chron. xxxiv. 3.

: John i.

26

I Cor. x. 12.

Pfalm xix.

12.

Bijhop Kens Approach

The beft of Men, God knows, have very much evil in them to deteft and be wail, and have infinite need of a Saviour, and therefore let him that ftandeth, take heed left he fall.

Whatever you do, then, be fure to keep your heart with all diligence, and to pray for conftant fupplies of God's grace, for perhaps the Devil defers his tempting you till you have not that tendernefs of offend ing which you now have.

Be not over-fcrupulous, either to make yourfelf guilty of more fins than really you are, or to reckon up all your infirmi ties or daily failings, or fins of omiflion, which would render your examination end- lefs and impoflible ; but examine yourfelf chiefly about your wilful fins, or fins of commiffion ; and know there be many fins, even of commirTion, that you may doubt whether you have committed or no, — many that you have quite forgot ; but be not dimeartened at it, for holy David hath taught you, that a general Confeflion for fuch Sins is enough, when he prays to God to cleanfe him from his fecret faults.

to the Holy Altar.

That you may gain a true fenfe of your Sins, by your Examination, labour to im print on your mind awful apprehenfions of the day of Judgment, and of God the great Judge, in whofe prefence you now are ; and to raife fuch apprehenfions, dwell a while on fuch Meditations as thefe.

Motives to Examination.

MY foul, thou art now in the prefence of the great Judge of Heaven and Earth, before whofe dreadful Tribunal thou muft certainly appear at the day of Judg ment, to give a ftrict account of all thy actions, and of every idle word, of every evil thought, and thy own Confcience will then be thy Accufer.

Think, O my Soul, think if thou canft, what unimaginable horrors will feize an impenitent Sinner, when the lad trump calls him out of his Grave, and the Devils begin to drag him to God's Judgment Seat ! What would fuch a wretch give to purchafe one fuch opportunity of Repent-

27

28

Bifhop Kens Approach

ance, as God now in great mercy gives thee ? If ever thou hopeft to efcape thofe horrors, O my Soul, make thy peace with God, judge thyfelf here, left thou be con demned hereafter.

The Examination itfelf. ADJURE thee, O my Soul, in the prefence of the great Judge, who knows all the fecrets of thy heart, I adjure thee, as thou wilt anfwer before God's Judgment-feat at the laft day, to tell me.

Does not thy daily experience teach thee,

that thy whole Nature is corrupt, prone to

all that is evil, averfe to all that is good ?

How haft thou fpent thy time from thy

Childhood to this very moment ?

How haft thou kept the folemn Vow of thy Baptifm ?

What good duties haft thou omitted ? What fins haft thou committed ? In particular, what fins art thou guilty of, more immediately againft God ? Art thou guilty of any Infidelity or

to the Holy Altar.

Atheifm, any diftruft in, or prefumption on, or defpair of God's Mercy ?

Art thou guilty of any wilful Ignorance of God, or of any Idolatry, in worfhipping any Creature ? Haft thou loved anything more than God, or feared any one above him ?

Haft thou been guilty of hypocrify in God's fervice, or of forfaking God, and of reforting to the Devil, to witches, or wizards ?

Art thou guilty of repining, or mur muring at God's providence, or of being impatient under his afflictions, or of be ing unthankful for his mercies, or of be ing difobedient to his Commands, or of being incorrigible under his Judgements ?

When, and in what manner haft thou been guilty of difhonouring God ?

By blafphemous or irreligious thoughts, or difcourfes ; or by tamely hearing others blafpheme ?

By taking God's moft holy Name in vain, or by cuftomary or falfe fwearing, or by the breach of any lawful oath, or folemn vows ?

29

3°

Eifhop Ken's Approach

By any Sacrilege, or irreverent beha viour in God's Houfe, or mifpending the Lord's Day, or any neglect of, or inat tention to God's Word, read or preach ed ; or unprofitablenefs under the means of Grace ?

Have I difhonoured God, by coldnefs, and wanderings, and indevotion, or care- lerThefs in my Prayers, or by any weari- nefs in His Service, or by any total neg lect of it, or by unworthy Communicating ?

By impenitence, or putting off the evil day, or fuperficial and partial repentances, or frequent relapfes, or refitting the good motions of God's Spirit ?

By abetting any Schifm, or Herefy, or Profanenefs ?

OMY Soul, what fins art thou guilty of, more immediately againft thyfelf? Art thou guilty of Pride, either of thy clothes, or of thy eftate, or of thy credit, or of thy parts, or of thy own holinefs, or of boafting of thy own good deeds, or of commending thyfelf, or of being greedy of praife, or of performing good duties to

to the Holy Altar.

gain applaufe, or of committing fin to avoid reproach of men ?

Haft thou been immoderately greedy of riches, or of fenfual pleafures, or guilty of peevimnefs, or of too violent, or too lafting fits of anger, or of inconftancy, or of inconfideration, or of difcontentednefs with thy condition ?

Haft thou been guilty of mifpending thy time, or of negligence in refifting temptations, or of not improving thy op portunities of Learning and Piety, or of abufing thy natural parts to fin ?

Haft thou been guilty of any intemper ance in eating, or in drinking, or in fleeping, or in recreations, fpending too much time on them, or being too greedy after them ?

Haft thou been guilty of idlenefs, or of downright drunkennefs, or of laughing at it in others ?

Haft thou been guilty of any unclean- nefs of the eye, or of the hand, or of the fancy, of any lafcivioufnefs, or Luft, or For nication, or Adultery, or haft thou taken delight in lewd company, or in vicious or unchafte Songs, or Stories, or Expreflions ?

32 Bifhop Ken's Approach

OMY foul, what fins art thou guilty of, more immediately, againft thy Neighbour ?

How, when, where, againft whom haft thou been guilty of any injury, or injuftice, or oppreffion, or breach of truft, or promife, or of any fraud, or theft, or flattery, or difTimulation, or treachery, or lying, or of giving any juft fcandal ?

How, when, where, againft whom haft thou been guilty of any ill language or detraction, or {lander, or tale-bearing, or rafli-cenfuring, or back-biting, or of con temning, or fcoffing at thy Neighbour, either for his infirmities, or for his being religious ?

How, when, where, againft whom haft thou been guilty of any contentioufnefs, or fpite, or revenge, or of delighting caufe- lefsly to grieve thy Neighbour, or of railing, or of actually hurting him, or of murdering him in thy mind, by ill wifhes or curfes ? Haft thou been guilty of bitter imprecations, or bearing falfe witnefs, or covetoufnefs of anything he pofTefles ?

to the Holy Altar.

Haft thou been guilty of unthankfulnefs to thofe that have done thee good, or have reproved thee, or of uncharitablenefs to the poor, or to any Chriftian in diftrefs, or of any unnaturalnefs to any of thy Re lations, or of any evil fpeaking, or difre- fpect, or ftubbornnefs againft any of thy Governors, either Civil or Ecclefiaftical ; or in particular againft thy Parents or Su periors, or of any wilful difobedience to the lawful commands of all, or either of them ?

Haft thou tempted any other to fin, by connivance, or encouragement, or com mand, or perfuafion, and mightily in- creafed thy own guilt by furthering the damnation of thy Brother ?

IN cafe you do find this Examination too difficult for you, or are afraid you ftiall not rightly perform it, or meet with any fcruples, or troubles of Confcience, in the practice of it, I then advife you, as the Church does, to go to your Spiritual Guide, and be not amamed to unburden your foul freely to him, that befides his Ghoft- ly Counfel, you may receive, the benefit

33

34	Bijhop Kens Approach
	of Abfolution : For though Confeflion of
	our fins to God is only matter of duty,
	and abfolutely necefTary, yet Confeflion to
	our Spiritual Guide alfo is by many de
	vout Souls found to be very advanta
	geous to true Repentance.
	If upon your Examination you find you
	have any way wronged your Neighbour,
	refolve upon the firft opportunity to make
	him fome fuitable fatisfadlion, and to afk
Matt, v.23-	his forgivenefs ; for you are firft to be re
	conciled to your Brother, before you come
	to the Altar to offer your Gift.
	If you are guilty of tempting any other
	to fin, afk God's pardon for him, as well
	for yourfelf, and if you have any oppor
	tunity to do it, exhort him to repentance.
	But if any have wronged you, forgive
	the injury prefently, for you beg forgive
	nefs of God on this very condition, that
	you yourfelf forgive your Brother.
	This examination of yourfelf I fuppofe
	will be tafk enough for you at one time ;
	and therefore that you may not tire yourfelf,
	you may conclude with this fhort Prayer ;

to the Holy Altar.

A Prayer after Examination.

LORD GOD, I have now by Thy afliftance confidered my own evil ways, O Thou who only knoweft the heart, and

who only canft change it, Create in me fuch a broken and contrite heart which Thou haft promifed not to defpife, and fo deep a fenfe of my own fin and mifery, that my Repentance may bear fome pro portion to my guilt. O my God, pardon all my failings, and perfedl that good work Thou haft begun in me, for the merits of Jefus my Saviour, in whofe holy Words I fum up all my wants.

OUR FATHER Which art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in Earth, As it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trefpafTes, As we forgive them, that tref- pafs againft us. And lead us not into temptation ; But deliver us from evil : For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

35

Prov. xv. 8.

Bijhop Kens Approach

At the very next opportunity of re tiring you can get, refolve, with the Pro digal, to return to your Heavenly Father, and humbly to beg forgivenefs ; and hav ing brought your Catalogue of fins with you, kneel down, and with the loweft proftration of foul and body, make your ConfefTion to God of your fins, and of their aggravations.

A Form of ConfeJJlon. THOU great Judge of Heaven and Earth, before whofe glo rious Majefty, even the good Angels, who never finned, fall proftrate and tremble,

With what debafement and dread ought I to appear before Thy awful prefence, who am but duft and afhes, and which is infinitely worfe, a miferable wretched fin- ner !

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, Thou art of purer Eyes than to behold evil, with the leaft approbation ; the way of the wicked, and the facrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Thee !

to the Holy Altar.

Woe is me then, O Lord, woe is me, for I have inclined unto wickednefs with my heart, but for the fake of Thy well be loved Son, caft not out my Prayer, nor turn Thy mercy from me.

Miferable wretch that I am, *I have gone aftray from the very womb, I was fhapen in wickednefs, and in fin did my mother conceive me ! Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean ? What is man then, O God, that he mould be clean, or he that is born of a Woman, that he mould be righteous !

Thou Lord, putteft no truft in Thy Saints, and the Heavens are not clean in Thy fight, and the very Angels Thou chargeft with folly !

How much more abominable then, and filthy am I, who daily drink iniquity like water !

Lord, pity, and cleanfe, and forgive, and fave me, for Thy Mercies' fake.

I know, O God, that in my flem dwell- eth no good thing ; for when I would do good, evil is prefent with me, and I fee a Law in my members warring againft the

37

Pfalm Ixvi.

Job iv.

Bijhop Ken's Approach

Law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of fin.

Lord have mercy upon me, and deliver me from this body of death, from this tyranny of fin.

Alas? alas, my whole nature is corrupt, infinitely prone to all evil, and averfe to all that is good : my underftanding is full of ignorance and error, my will is perverfe, my memory tenacious of all things that may pollute me, and forgetful of my duty ; my paflions are inordinate, my fenfes the inlets of all impurity, and I have abufed all my faculties, I am unclean, unclean !

Lord, pity, and cleanfe, and forgive, and fave me, for Thy mercies' fake.

O Lord God, how have I through my whole life violated the folemn Vow I made to Thee in my Baptifm, by eagerly pur- fuing the vanities of this wicked world, by eafily yielding to the temptations of the Devil, by greedily indulging my own carnal defires and lufts, by a fruitlefs and dead faith, and by difobedience to thy holy will and commands.

Father, I have finned againft Heaven,

to the Holy Altar. 39

and in Thy fight, and am no more worthy to be called Thy Son.

I have finned, O Lord God, I have

finned againft Thee, by

Here confejs out of your Paper, the fins which you have committed more imme diately againft Gody with their aggra vations that accompany them. For in- ftance, Lord, I have committed this fin, or thefe fins, frequently, againft checks of Confcience, &c. and then add,

Father, I have finned againft Heaven, and in Thy fight, and am no more worthy to be called Thy Son, O pity, and cleanfe, and forgive, and fave me for Thy mercies' fake.

I have finned, O Lord God, I have finned again/I Thee, and againft my own f elf ty

Here confejs the Jins you have committed more immediately againft yourf elf, with their aggravations, &c. and Jay as be fore,

Father, I have finned againft Heaven, and in Thy fight, and am no more worthy

4o	Bifliop Kens Approach
	to be called Thy Son, O pity, and cleanfe,
	and forgive, and fave me for Thy mercies'
	fake.
	I have finned, O Lord God, I have
	finned, again/I Thee, and againft my Neigh-
	/in«j4/i J-\tr
(/our, uy
	Here confejs the Sins you have committed
	more immediately againft your Neigh
	bour, with their aggravations, &c.
	and add as before.
	Father, I have finned againft Heaven,
	and in Thy fight, and am no more worthy
	to be called Thy Son, O pity, and cleanfe,
	and forgive, and fave me for Thy mercies'
	fake.
	O Lord God, my wickednefs is great
	and my iniquities are infinite, they are
PJalm xl.	more in number than the hairs of my
12.	head, and my heart would fail me, but
	that I well know Thy mercies are more
	numberlefs than my fins.
	Have mercy upon me therefore, O
	Lord, according to Thy great goodnefs,
PJalm li. I.	according to the multitude of Thy mercies
	do away my offences.
	Who alas, can tell how oft he offend-

to the Holy Altar.

eth ! O cleanfe Thou me from my fecret Faults, from all my fins of Ignorance, or Infirmity, or Omiffion, which I have not obferved, or which I have forgot ; Lord, lay none of them to my charge ; Father forgive me ; Lord Jefus have mercy upon me.

O remember not the fins and offences of my youth, but receive me, O Heavenly Father, into the arms of Thy Fatherly companion, as Thou didft the returning prodigal, and forgive me all my tranfgref- fions, for the merits of Jefus, Thy only well-beloved Son, and my Saviour. Amen. Amen.

WHEN you have thus confefTed your fins, endeavour to be ftill more fenfible of them, and to bewail them with a true penitential hatred, and mame, and forrow for them, then make fteady refolu- tions of forfaking them, and cry earneftly to God for pardon and grace, for you muft as well put on the New Man, as put off the Old. Of all which acts of repentance,

Efb. iv. 21.

Ezra ix. 6.

Btjhop Ken's Approach

I give you the following inftances, and advife you to fay them over as devoutly as poflibly you can.

ARs of Shame.

LORD God, I am amamed, and blufh to lift up my face to Thee, for my iniquities are in- creafed over my head, and my trefpafTes are grown up unto the Heavens ! O my Soul, what fruit have I reaped from all the pleafures of fin which flattered me, but vanity, and vexation of Spirit !

Lord, I am amamed of my own folly and madnefs, and difingenuity when I call to mind how greedily I have fucked in my own pollution ; how treacheroufly I have betrayed my own Soul to temptations, and combined with the very Devils, to haften and increafe my own damnation j how obftinately I have fled from Thee, when Thy mercy purfued me with promifes of pardon; how unworthily I have abufed Thy goodnefs and forbearance, and long- fuffering, which mould have led me to repentance.

to the Holy Altar. 43

Surely after I was turned I repented ; and fince I have confidered my ways, I am afhamed, yea even confounded, be- jer. caufe I bear the reproach of my youth.

Atts of Abhorrence.

I HATE all evil ways, O Lord, but Thy Law will I love. I3>

O Lord God, nothing is more abomi nable in Thy fight, or more diabolical ; nothing more defaces Thy Divine Image, or makes me more odious in Thy pureft eyes, than fin ; and therefore I hate and abhor it !

O Lord God, I confefs I have nothing good in me, nothing that can any way move Thee, to compaflionate fo loathfome a Sinner, but Thy own free and unde- ferved, and infinite Mercy, and the Merits of my Saviour !

O Lord God, I cannot but admire the riches of Thy goodnefs, who haft fpared me fo long and haft given me this oppor tunity of repentance. O do Thou yet mag nify Thy Mercy more in my forgivenefs ; O cleanfe me from all that filth my foul

44

Bifliop Ken's Approach

hath contracted, which now renders me odious to my own felf, as well as to Thee !

Afts of Contrition.

MISERABLE wretch that I am, that I mould begin fo early to offend my Creator, and fin fo much in fo fhort a time!

Lord, I fear I never yet thoroughly con- fidered how evil, and how bitter a thing it is to depart from Thee ; O make me every day more and more fenfible of the error of my ways, and of my own infinite vilenefs !

Miferable wretch that I am, that ever I mould commit thofe Sins which expofe me to all the vials of Thy wrath, to all the curfes of Thy Law, to all Thy Judg ments temporal or fpiritual in this life, and to all the horrors and defpair, and tor ments of the damned in the life to come !

Miferable wretch that I am, that ever I mould tranfgrefs that Law of Thine, O God, which is fo juft, and holy, and good, and perfect, and fo condefcending to my infirmities ; and in keeping of which there are fo great, fo unconceivable Rewards !

to the Holy Altar.

O that with Mary Magdalene I could weep much, and love much, having fo much to be forgiven.

O gracious Lord, look on me, as Thou didft on Peter , and let Thy compaflionate look fo pierce my heart, that I may weep bitterly for my fins !

O Lord God, break this hard heart, for thou only canft do it, and melt it into tears of Contrition ! Miferable wretch that I am, that I mould fin fo much, and yet grieve fo little !

Woe is me, miferable wretch, woe is me, that ever I mould offend fo indulgent, fo liberal, fo tender a Father !

Woe is me, that ever I mould repay the infinite love, and the intolerable Sufferings of my Saviour for me, with nothing but thofe Sins which occafioned thofe very Suf ferings !

Woe is me, that ever I mould grieve the Holy Spirit, by rejecting fo many of His good motions, from whom only I derive grace and Confolation !

O Lord God, every flight worldly trou ble is apt to draw back plenty of tears from

45

Luke vii. 38.

Luke xxii. 61.

Rom. viii. 26.

Ifalah xxvi. 13-

Bijhop Kens Approach

mine eyes, but when I would weep for my fins which are the greateft Calamities that can poflibly befall me, either my Eyes are dry, or my Tears too few, to bewail fo many provocations !

O blefled Spirit, inftil true penitent Sor row into my Soul, make my head waters, and my eyes fountains of tears, or do Thou fupply the want of them with fighs and groans unutterable !

But, alas, I know all the tears I can poflibly fhed can never warn away the leaft of my fins, it is Thy Blood only, Lord, that can do it !

O blefled Saviour, how can I ever fuf- ficiently lament the guilt of my fins, which was fo great that nothing but Thy own ineftimable Blood could expiate !

O Heavenly Father, in the defect of my own tears, I offer Thee the Blood of Thy own well-beloved Son, for His fake have mercy upon me. Amen, Amen. Refolution.

OLORD God, with fhame I confefs, that other Lords befides Thee have hitherto had Dominion over me.

to the Holy Altar.

47

I have been in the fnare of the Devil, and have been led captive by him, and fin hath reigned in my mortal Body, and I have obeyed it in the lufts, thereof; but henceforth I refolve to ferve none but Thee, and from this very moment I ut terly forfake all my fins, and turn to Thee !

O my God, I do from my heart renew my Baptifmal Vow, which alas, I have hitherto fo often violated ; I do for ever renounce the Devil and all his Works, and all his temptations, I do for ever renounce all the Vanities of this wicked World, which may pervert me from thy Service, and all the finful Lufts of the Flem.

O my God, I do ftedfaftly believe all the Articles of the Chriftian Faith, and I will keep Thy holy Will and Command ments, and walk in the fame all the days of my life.

All this I am bound to do and believe, and by Thy help fo I will, and I heartily thank Thee, O Heavenly Father, who haft called me to this ftate of Salvation, through Jefus Chrift my Saviour, and I humbly pray Thee for His fake, to give

2 Tim. ii. z6. Rom. vi. iz

i Cor. vi. 9-

Ei/hop Ken's Approach

me grace, that I may continue in the fame to my life's end.

Oblation.

BLESSED be Thy Name, O Lord God, who haft fet before me life and death, and haft bid me choofe life.

Behold, Lord, I do with all my heart choofe life, I choofe Thee, O my God, for Thou art my Life.

Save, Lord, and hear me, O King of Heaven, and accept my Sacrifice, even the Sacrifice of my whole Heart which I now give Thee.

O my God, I offer Thee my Senfes and Paffions, and all my faculties, I offer Thee all my defires, all my defigns, all my ftu- dies, alt my endeavours, all the remainder of my Life, all that I have, or am, I offer up all entirely to Thy fervice.

Lord, fanctify me wholly, that my whole Spirit, Soul and Body, may become Thy Temple. O do Thou dwell in me, and be Thou my God, and I will be Thy fer- vant. Amen, Amen.

to the Holy Altar.

Afts of Charity.

OLORD God, I do from henceforth refolve to love my Neighbour as myfelf, and to love him not in word only, but in deed and in truth.

I do from my heart forgive all men their Trefpafles, do Thou, Lord, forgive them alfo.

Lord blefs them that hate me, and do good to them that have any way defpite- fully ufed me, O repay them good for evil.

O my God, blefs all thofe that I have any way wronged, have mercy on all thofe to whofe fins I have been any way accef- fary, and give them all grace to forgive me. Amen, Amen.

Petition for Pardon.

OTHOU Father of Mercies, and God of all Confolation, be merciful to me a miferable finner.

Lord, remember all Thy gracious calls of finners to Repentance, all Thy protef- tations that Thou delighted not in the death of him that dies, and that Thou wouldft have all to be faved.

49

I John iii. 18.

Ex. xviii. 32.

I Tim. ii. 4.

5°

Luke xv. 10.

John in. 1 6,

Rom. viii. 3Z.

Bifhop Ken's Approach

Lord, remember all the exceeding great and precious promifes which Thou haft made to penitent finners.

Lord, remember that Thy mercy is over all Thy works, that in mercy Thou de- lighteft, and that all the Holy Angels, feeing Thee well pleafed in the exercife of that Mercy, rejoice at the Converfion of a finner, — that the greater my fins are, the more will that mercy be magnified in my forgivenefs.

Lord, remember that Thou didft fo love the World, as to give Thy only beloved Son a ranfom for it.

O Heavenly Father, Thou that fparedft not Thy only Son, but deliveredft Him for us, wiltThou not with Him alfo freely give us all things ; — and if all things, wilt Thou not alfo give us the pardon of our fins ?

O my God, I firmly believe Thou wilt j on that ranfom my Saviour hath paid for me, and on all Thy gracious promifes of pardon, which for His fake Thou haft made to me, I whollyrely ; — here only is the fure and fteadfaft anchor of my Soul, to which my Faith and Hope mall for ever adhere.

to the Holy Altar.

All this, Lord, do I plead, to implore Thy Forgivenefs.

Behold, Lord, though my Failings are many, yet to the utmoft of my power, I have confefled, and bewailed, and forfaken my Tranfgreflions : Behold, Lord, I come at Thy call, and I come weary and heavy laden with the burden of my Sins ; — be it unto me according to Thy Word. O Thou that art faithful and juft, forgive me my fins, and cleanfe me from, all unrigh- teoufnefs. Lord, do Thou in no wife caft me from Thee, but heal my backflidings, and love me freely, — eafe me of my bur den, that I may find Reft in Thee, and fay unto my Soul, Be of good cheer, thy fins are forgiven thee.

O Heavenly Father, for Thine own infinite mercies' fake, for Thy Truth and promife' fake, for all the Merits and Suf ferings of the Son of Thy Love, in whom Thou art always well pleafed, pardon all my fins and failings, and receive me into Thy Favour. Ameny O Lord God. Amen, Amen.

51

Matt. xi. 29.

I 'John i. 9. HoJ. xiv. 4.

Matt. ix. 2.

52

PJ'alm cxix. 106.

Phil. iv. 13.

Luke xi. 13.

Bijhop Ken's Approach

A Petition for Grace in general.

LORD God, I have fworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep Thy righteous Judgments. But alas ! I am able of my- felf to do nothing that is good, not fo much as to think one good thought, and I no fooner mall rife from my knees, but I fear I mall be tempted to thofe very fins I have now fo folemnly renounced, and thofe temptations will certainly overcome me, unlefs Thou, Lord, doft feafonably interpofe Thy Grace to withhold me.

But I can do all things through Thee (lengthening me : Do Thou, then, O blefTed Saviour, perfect Thy ftrength in my weaknefs, for in Thee only is my Truft. O my God, Thou haft promifed to give Thy holy Spirit to thofe that afk it. Be hold, Lord, I do humbly, I do earneftly afk Thy Holy Spirit now of Thee. O fulfil Thy gracious promife to me; — O vouchfafe me that Holy Spirit I pray for, to purify my corrupt Nature, to ftrengthen my weaknefs, to comfort me in troubles,

to the Holy Altar.

to fupport me in difcouragements, to fuc- cour me in temptations, and to aflift me in all parts of my Duty, that I may ever hereafter live in Thy fear, and in conftant, fincere, and univerfal obedience to all Thy righteous Laws.

Thou, O fearcher of Hearts, knoweft the fin (or fins) I am moft inclined to, [Here name it or them] and herein will lie my greateft danger of back-fliding ; But, O my God, I beg a double portion of Thy invifible aid againft it, [or them]. Hold Thou up my goings in Thy paths, that my Foot-fteps flip not ; — O work in me that victorious Faith, by which I may overcome the World, the Devil, and my own corrupt Nature.

True it is, O Lord God, that there are many fins which upon examination I find, through Thy Grace, I have not yet com mitted, and therefore not unto me, Lord, but to Thy Name be the Glory ; — but alas ! there is in my corrupt nature fo great a pronenefs to evil, fo great a curiofity to try what fin is, that without Thy reftrain- ing Grace, every temptation when I fhall

53

I John v. 4.

54

I Peter ': 19.

Pfalm cxix. 6.

Bijhop Ken's Approach

have more age and liberty, and opportu nity to enforce it, will be apt to draw me from my obedience, and to overthrow all my prefent refolutions.

But my help ftandeth in Thee, O great Creator, who haft made Heaven and Earth, and I commit my Soul to Thy keeping. O Thou that art Faithful, as well as Al mighty, keep that fafe which is committed to Thy truft ; — watch over me, that I may not be beguiled by the deceitfulnefs of (in, or betrayed by my own treacherous Heart, or furprized by my ghoftly Enemies ; and give me grace to watch and to pray incef- fantly myfelf, left I enter into temptation. Hear Lord from Heaven, and fuccour me, for the alone Merits of Jefus my Saviour. Amen, Amen.

Petition for -particular Graces.

OTHAT my ways, Lord, were made fb direct, that I might keep Thy Statutes, for then mall I not be confound ed, when I have refpect unto all Thy Commandments.

Vouchfafe me Thy Holy Spirit, there-

to the Holy Altar.

fore, O Lord God, to work in me what ever is well-pleafing in Thy fight, that for the time to come, I may bring forth fruits meet for Repentance.

O let it be Thy good pleafure to create in me a faving knowledge of Thee, and of my duty, juftifying Faith, true fancti- fying Grace, and a purifying Hope, an ardent Love, and a filial Fear of Thee ! a conftant defire of pleafing Thee, and a great tendernefs of offending Thee !

Lord, create in me a penitent Heart, a refigned Will, and mortified Affections, an habitual Mindfulnefs of Thy Prefence, and a fteady Devotion in my Prayers, fin- cere intentions, and zeal for Thy Glory, perfeverance in all Holy purpofes, and conftancy in all trials and temptations.

Lord, create in me a reverential awe of Thy Name, a delight in Thy Service, a fecret regard to Thy holy day and to Thy houfe of Prayer, and a great attention to Thy Word.

Lord, make me chafte and temperate, humble and advifable, and patient of re proof, and create in me a cheerful and

55

Bijbop Ken's Approach

meek, a contented and considerate, a quiet and peaceful Spirit.

Lord, blefs me with health, and com petency of living, with a good underftand- ing, a retentive memory, and a ready ap- prehenfion, and with fuch a meafure of temporal good things, as Thou feeft fit for me, and give me grace to make a right ufe of all thofe Bleflings I have already received.

Lord, purify my thoughts, bridle my Tongue, guide all my Actions, guard all my Senfes, flop my Ears, and turn away my Eyes from Sin and vanity.

Lord, give me Grace to be juft in all my dealing, to do to all Men as I would they mould do to me, to be fubject to all my fuperiors, to the Queen as Supreme, to all Civil Magiftrates, and to the Paftors of Thy Church : O grant that I may render due honour and obedience to them all in their feveral ftations.

Lord, make me willing to forgive in juries, and unwilling to offer any ; — make me grateful to my Benefactors, friendly to my equals, condefcending to my Infe-

to the Holy Altar.

riors, compaffionate to the afflicted, chari table to the Poor according to my ability, a lover of good Men, and kind to my Enemies ; — and give me grace to keep al ways a Confcience void of offence towards Thee, and towards Men, and to continue in the Communion of Thy Church with out wavering.

O merciful God, keep Thy Servant from all wilful, deliberate or prefumptu- ous fins, and Jet no wickednefs have do minion over me.

From Stubbornnefs and Pride, Idlenefs and Sloth, Intemperance and youthful Lufts, Inconftancy and Lying, — good Lord deliver me.

From irreligious Principles, and falfe Teachers, unruly Paflions, and violent Temptations, from contracting vicious Habits, or taking pleafure in fin, from profanenefs and ill company, envy and malice, detraction and uncharitablenefs, — good Lord, deliver me.

From the errors and vices of the Age, and all remaining affections to fin, — from the fin, (or fins) my corrupt Nature is

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Bifhop Ken's Approach

moft inclined to [Here name it, or them.~\ from whatfoever is offenfive to Thee, or deftruclive to my own Soul, — good Lord deliver me.

Hear me, O Heavenly Father, and con form my whole Life to the example of my blefled Saviour, and that for His fake, in whofe Holy Words I fum up all my wants,

Our Father Which art in Heaven, Hal lowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in Earth, As it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trefpafles, As we forgive them that treipafs againft us. And lead us not into temptation ; But deliver us from evil : For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

to the Holy Altar.

MEDITATIONS ON THE HOLT EUCHARIST.

OU have now, by God's help, gone over the hardeft part of your preparation for the Holy Sacrament ; the next thing you are to do, is to examine yourfelf, whether you do fufficiently underftand what the Sacrament is, then to afk yourfelf with what intentions you do approach it, and to pray for God's Grace to difpofe you for worthy Receiving ; — and all thefe parti culars, together with all that you are to know, and believe concerning the BlefTed Sacrament, are contained in thefe follow ing Meditations, which I advife you to read over devoutly, at feveral times, till you are in fome meafure affected with them.

59

60 Bijhop Ken's Approach

On the outward Elements.

ADORE Thee,0 blefTed Jefus, my Lord, and my God, when I confider what that Sacrament is, to which Thou now inviteft me, and of what parts it confifts ; — of an outward and vifible fign, and of an inward and fpiritual Grace ! For Thou, Lord, who knoweft our infirmities, and how little able we are to conceive things Hea venly and Spiritual, in pity to our dark and feeble apprehensions, haft ordained outward and obvious, and vifible Signs to reprefent to our minds Thy Grace, which is inward and invifible. Thou haft or dained Bread and Wine, which is our corporal Food, to pidlure out to our Faith the Food of our Souls.

On the inward part, or thing fignified.

I KNOW, O my God, that I muft look through the outward Elements, and fix my Faith on that which they fignify, and which is the inward and invifible Grace, even Thy own BlefTed Body and Blood, which is verily and indeed taken and re-

to the Holy Altar.

ceived by the faithful in the Lord's Supper.

But tell me, O Thou Whom my Soul loveth, how canfl Thou give us Thy Flefh to eat ?

Lord, Thou haft told me that Thy Words, they are Spirit, and they are Life, and are therefore not carnally to be un- derftood ; Lord, I believe, help Thou my unbelief!

I believe Thy Body and Blood to be as really prefent in the Holy Sacrament as Thy Divine Power can make it, though the manner of Thy myfterious Prefence I cannot comprehend.

Lord, I believe that the Bread that we break, and the Cup that we drink, are not bare Signs only, but the real Commu nication of Thy Body and Thy Blood, and Pledges to afTure me of it ; — and I ve rily believe, that if with due Preparation I come to Thy Altar, as certainly as I re ceive the outward Signs, fo certainly mall I receive the thing fignified, — even Thy moft blefled Body and Blood, to receive which ineftimable Blefling, O merciful Lord, do Thou fit and prepare me. Amen.

61

John vi. 63.

I Cor. x. 1 6.

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Bifhop Ken's Approach

Who injtituted it ?

I ADORE Thee, O blefTed Jefus, my Lord, and my God, when I confider that this Holy Sacrament was Thy own Inftitution ; for it was Thou, Lord, who in the night Thou waft betrayed didft take Bread, and after that the Cup, and didft blefs them, and give them to Thy Difciples. O bleffed Saviour, let Thy Divinity thus ftamped on it, ftrike into my Soul an holy awe and reverence in approaching it : O create in me Heavenly Difpofitions to celebrate fo heavenly an Inftitution ! Amen, Amen.

For what end ?

I ADORE Thee, O blefled Jefus, my Lord, and my God, when I confider for what end Thou didft inftitute Thy Holy Sacrament, implied in Thy own Command, Do this in remembrance of me.

But what need this Command, O gra cious Lord ? — is it poflible for me, ever to forget Thee my Saviour, who haft done fo great things for me ?

Alas ! alas ! my own fad experience tells

to the Holy Altar.

me it is .Woe is me, every temptation, every vanity is apt to make me forget Thee, though Thy own dying words bid me remember Thee !

But, O blefled Lord, for Thy infinite Mercies' fake pardon all my ftupid for- getfulnefs and ingratitude hitherto, and do Thou now create in me fuch a thankful and lively remembrance of Thy dying for me, that may excite me to give up my- felf entirely to Thee, as Thou didft give up Thyfelf on the Crofs for me. Amen, Amen.

A Thankfgiving for ChriJFs Sufferings.

OTHOU my Crucified Saviour, Glory be to Thee, for caufing Thy Suf ferings to be Regiftered in the Gofpel ; there I have read and remember the won ders and triumphs of Thy Almighty Love, for which I will always adore and praife Thee.

I remember, O gracious Lord, how Thou who thoughteft it no robbery to be equal with God, waft made in the famion of frail Man, of the vileft and moft con-

Rev. xv. 12.

Luke xx. 44.

Bifhop Ken's Approach

temptible of Men : For Thou tookeft on Thee the form of a very Servant ; I re member how many reproaches and con tradictions, and blafphemies and perfecu- tions Thou didft endure from a wicked and perverfe generation, and all this to fave us finful Men.

O Lord Jejus, was ever Jorrow like unto 'Thyforrow ? Worthy art Thou, O Lamb, that was Jlain, to receive Power and Riches, and Wijdom, and Strength, and Honour, and Glory and BleJJing*

I REMEMBER, O Gracious Lord, how Thou didft endure a moft bitter Agony, and didft fweat great drops of Blood, falling to the ground ; how Thou who art God above all, blefTed for ever, waft treacheroufly betrayed, and appre hended, and bound as a Malefactor ; how Thou waft fet at nought by Herod, and his Men of War, and forfaken of all Thy Difciples, and denied by Peter, and all this to fave us finful Men !

to the Holy Altar.

0 Lord JefuSy was ever for row like unto Thy for row, &c.

I REMEMBER, how Thou, O God of Truth, waft accufed by falfe Witnefles, how Thou whom all the Angels adore, waft blindfolded and buffetted, and mock ed, and fpit upon, and ftript naked, and fcourged, and all this that we might be healed by Thy Stripes, and to fave us fmful Men !

O Lord JefuSy was ever for row like unto Thy for row, &c.

I REMEMBER, Lord, how Thou that art the great Judge of Heaven and Earth, waft Thyfelf dragged to the Judg ment Seat, and condemned ; how Thou, O King of Heaven, waft crowned with Thorns, and opprefled with the weight of Thy own Crofs, and all this to fave us fmful Men !

O Lord JeJuSy was ever for row like unto Thy for row y &c.

I REMEMBER, O blefTed Saviour, how Thou who art the Lord of Glory,

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Bifliop Ken's Approach

and the fole Author of life, waft put to a moft ignominious death, how Thy hands and Thy feet were nailed to a Crofs, how Thou waft crucified between two thieves, and numbered with the Tranfgreflbrs, how Thou hadft a Potion given Thee to em bitter Thy very laft Gafp, and all this to fave us finful Men !

O Lord Jefus, was ever forrow like unto 1'hyforrow, &c.

I REMEMBER, O gracious Lord, how when Thou wert hanging on the very Crofs, Thou waft fcofFed at, and reviled, how infinitely then Thou wert afflicted, and bruifed, for our Tranfgreflions, when the iniquities of us all were laid on Thy Shoulders ; how Thou didft then exprefs an anguifh greater than all the tortures of Thy Crucifixion, when Thou didft cry out, My God, My God, why haft Thou forfaken me ? And how Thou didft at the laft give up the Ghoft, and die Thy- felf, that we might live ?

to the Holy Altar.

O Lord JefuSj was ever forrow like unto Thy for row ) &c.

IUNFEIGNEDLY believe, O Gra cious Lord, that Thou didft fuffer all this for {infill Men, and in particular for me, when we were all Thy utter Enemies, and had nothing in us to move Thee to pity us, but our extreme Mifery, — nothing to move Thee to fave us, but our great unworthinefs, and Thy greater Mercy.

O the depth of the Riches of Thy Love, blefled Lord, how unutterable is Thy Mer cy, and Thy Love paft finding out !

O all ye Holy Angels, behold and won der, wretched Man hath finned againft God, and God himfelf has fuffered the Sinners' Punifhment !

Was there ever forrow like that which my Lord and my God endured for me ?

Was there any love like to that love my Lord and my God hath Jhowed me ?

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Bifliop Kens Approach

YE blefTed hoft of Heaven, who rejoice at the Converfion of one fingle Sinner, Adore and Praife my Crucified Saviour, who died for the fins of the World ; Adore and Praife that unknown Sorrow, that wonderful Love, which you yourfelves rnuft needs admire ! O my gracious Lord, my heart is now full of the fenfe of Thy Love, and what have I to return to Thee, but Love again ? It is all I have to offer Thee ; — accept it, O merciful Lord, imperfect as it is, and do Thou daily heighten my fenfe of Thy Love to me, that I may daily heighten my Love to Thee !

O Thou infinite Lover of Souls, with all my heart I love, I praife, I adore Thy Love to me ; — but alas, I can never do it enough !

O do Thou at laft, gracious Lord, tranf- late me to Thy Kingdom of Glory, that there I may love Thee, to the utmoft ca pacity of a Creature, and praife Thee to all eternity, Amen, Lord Jefus. Amen, Amen.

to the Holy Altar.

What Benefits we receive by it.

I ADORE Thee, O blefled Jefu, my Lord, and my God, when I conflder the Benefits which through Thy mercy we receive by Thy Holy Sacrament !

Glory be to Thee, O Lord, who there makeft Thy own Body and Blood to be come our fpiritual food to ftrengthen and refrefh our Souls !

Glory be to Thee, O Lord, who by this Heavenly food doft myftically unite us to Thyfelf : for nothing becomes one with our bodies more, than the bodily food we eat, which turns into our very fub- ftance ; — and nothing makes us become One with Thee more, than when Thou vouchfafeft to become the very food of our fouls !

Glory be to Thee, O Lord, who by this immortal food doft nourifh our fouls to live the life of Grace here, and doft raife us up to life everlafting hereafter ! Lord, do Thou evermore give me this Bread ! Amen, Amen.

John vi. 34.

7o

Bifliop Kens Approach

Motives of Receiving.

O BLESSED Saviour! What more powerful Motives can I have to perfuade me to Communicate, than Thy Command, and the admirable effects of the Holy Sacrament !

But alas ! my corrupt nature is apt to fuggeft to me low and bafe inducements to this duty, fuch as are, fear of my Superiors' difpleafure, if I abftain, or mame of not appearing as devout as my equals, or the mere cuftom of the Place, or of the Seafon !

But, Lord, I do from my heart renounce all thefe and the like carnal confiderations, and I come to Thy Altar to renew my Baptifmal Covenant with Thee, of which Thy Sacrament is a Seal.

I come to teftify my fenfe of Thy Love, O Heavenly Father, in fo loving the World, as to give up Thy only Son to die for me.

I come to teftify my Faith in Thee, and my love toward Thee, O blefled Sa viour, and thankfully to commemorate Thy wonderful love in dying for me.

to the Holy Altar.

71

I come, Lord, to teftify my fteadfaft- nefs in the Communion of Thy Church, and my Charity to all the World.

I come to Thy Table, O Lord, out of the fenfe I have of the want of that fpi- ritual food, to which Thou there inviteft

me.

Alas, alas ! I am foon apt to grow weary of well-doing; — a few prayers, every little duty is apt to tire me, every flight temp tation is apt to overcome me, and I know there is no food can ftrengthen my foul but Thy Body, no cordial can revive my drooping obedience, but Thy Blood ; — and it is Thy moft bleffed Body and Blood I hunger and thirfl after : — O gracious Lord, grant that I, and all that communicate with me, may feel its faving efficacy. O Feed, O Refrefh, O Nourifh our Souls with it to life everlafting, and that for Thy own infinite mercy's fake, which moved Thee to offer up Thy Body and Blood for us ! Amen, Amen.

i Cor. xi.

John vi. 13

Eljliop Kens Approach

Prayer for Preparation.

LESSED Lord Jefus ! I even trem ble when I confider that he that eat- eth and drinketh unworthily is guilty of Thy Body and Blood, and eateth and drinketh damnation to his own foul, and this fevere Sentence on unworthy commu nicants, makes me afraid to come to Thy Altar.

But when I confider that Thy fentence is as fevere againft thofe, who being invited refufe to come, — for Thou haft faid, they mall not tafte of Thy Supper, and unlefs we eat Thy flem, and drink Thy blood, we have no life in us, — I am then afraid to keep away.

But blefled be Thy mercy, O Lord, for in this ftrait my Soul is in, Thou art my guide, Thou by giving me this opportu nity of receiving, inviteft me to Thy Ta ble, Thou calleft me to feek Thy face, and my heart replies, Thy face, Lord, will I feek !

If Thou, Lord, fhouldeft be extreme to mark what is done amifs, Alas ! alas ! I

to the Holy Altar.

73

am then unfit, not only to Communicate, but to fay even my daily Prayers.

I know, Lord, that if I mould flay till I am worthy to come, I mould then never come ; and therefore, though I am unwor thy of fo unfpeakable a mercy, yet I come to beg Thy Grace to make me worthy, or at Jeaft fuch as Thou wilt accept !

O BlefTed Jefus, do Thou fo open my eye of Faith to difcern Thy Body and Blood in the Holy Sacrament, — do Thou fo difpofe my Soul at this time to Com municate, — that I may feel all the happy effects of Thy own Divine Inftitution,— that my Soul may receive fuch lading impreflions of Thy goodnefs, and be fo ravifhed with the love of Thee, and with the incomparable delights of Thy Service, and with fuch an early foretafte of Heaven, — that all the pleafures of fin, which in my growing years may tempt me, may appear to me taftelefs and unwelcome.

O Heavenly Father, clothe me with the Wedding-garment, even the Graces of my blefled Saviour, for then am I fure to be a welcome gueft to Thy Table, when I

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fliall come thither in the likenefs of Thy only well-beloved Son, in whom Thou art always well pleafed.

O Heavenly Father, fill me with a lively Faith, profound Humility, filial Obedi- inflamed Affections, and univerfal

ence,

Charity ; O raife in my Soul, all thofe Heavenly tranfports of Zeal and Devotion, of Love and Defire, of Joy and Delight, of Praife and Thankfgiving, which become the remembrance of a Crucified Saviour, — which become one Redeemed by the Blood of God, — and that for His fake only that Redeemed me. Amen, Amen,

to the Holy Altar.

THE ORDER

FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER,

OR HOLY COMMUNION.

HE Table, at the Communion-time having a fair white linen cloth upon it, /hall ft and in the Body of the Church, or in the Chancel, where Morning and Evening Prayer are appointed to be f aid. And the Prieft,ftand- ing at the North Side of the Table, /hall Jay the Lord's Prayer, with the Collect follow ing, the People kneeling.

Communion.

;UR Father which art in Heaven: Hallowed be Thy

Devotions.

LORY be to Thee, O belov ed Jefu, who in teaching us to call God our FATHER,

75

76	Biflwp Kens Approach '
	Communion.	Devotions.
	Name. Thy King	haft taught us to pray with
	dom come. Thy	the affedlions of a Child,
	Will be done in	with reverential Love, and
	Earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us	Reliance on the paternal Care and Benignity, and Love of our Heavenly
	this Day our daily	Father.
	Bread. And forgive
	us our Trefpafles, as
	we forgive them that
	trefpafs againft us.
	And lead us not into
	Temptation ; but de
	liver us from Evil.
	Amen.
	The Colleft.	Devotions.
	ALMIGHTY God, unto	O my Lord, let me live ever watching or praying,
	whom all Hearts be	or profitably employed, or
	open, all Defires	bufied in Thy Love, that I may leave no room, if
	known, and from	poffible, for any unclean
	whom no Secrets	Spirit to enter into my
	are hid, cleanfe the	Soul, and tempt me.
	Thoughts of our
	Hearts by the Infpi-
	ration of Thy Holy

to the Holy Altar.

Communion. Spirit, that we may perfectly love Thee and worthily magni fy Thy Holy Name, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

Rubric.

Then Jhall the Prieft, turning to the People, rehearje dif- tinttly all the 'Ten Commandments; and the People,ftill kneel ing, /hall, after every Commandment, ajk God Mercy for their TranfgreJ/ion thereof for the Timepaft, and Grace to keep the fame for the Time to come, as followeth :

Devotions.

Glory be to Thee, O great Jehovah, who to conftrain us to love and obey Thee, art pleafed to honour every faithful Soul with a near and intimate propriety in Thyfelf, and gracioufly to declare, " / am the Lord Thy God" O my God, though I can not love and obey Thee as much as I defire, I will do it as much as I am able ; — I will to the utmoft of my power keep all Thy Commandments with my whole heart, and to the end ; O accept of my im perfect duty, and fupply all the defedls of it by the merits, and love, and obe dience of Jefus, Thy Be loved.

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Btfhop Kens Approach

Communion.

Minifter.

[OD fpake thefe Words and faid, I am the Lord thy God : Thou malt h ave none other Gods but me.

People.

Lord, have Mercy upon us, and incline our Hearts to keep this Law.

Devotions.

MY God, O my Love, in- ftil into my Soul fo entire reverential a love of Thee, that I may love nothing but for Thy fake, or in fubordination to Thy love.

Fill my heart with Thankfgiving for theBleff- ings, — Praife of the ex cellence, — Adoration of the Majefty, — Zeal for the Glory of Thee my Be loved.

I renounce, and deteft, and bewail, as odious and offenfive to Thee, as di- redtly oppofite to Thy love and to Thy glory, —

All felf-love, and inor dinate love of things be low ; —

All Atheifm, Herefy, Apoftacy, and Infidelity ; all prefumption and de- fpair, diftruft and carnal fecurity ; —

All voluntary humility

to the Holy Altar.

79

Communion.

Minifter.

Thou fhalt not make to thyfelf any graven Image, nor the Likenefs of any Thing that is in Heaven above, or in the Earth beneath, or in the Water un der the Earth. Thou fhalt not bow down to them, nor worfhip them : For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, and vifit the Sins of the Fa thers upon the Chil dren, unto the third and fourth Genera tion of them that hate me, and mew Mercy unto Thoufands in them that love me

Devotions.

and worjhipping of An gels ; — Reliance on the creature, or recourse to evil fpirits.

O my God, O my Love, imprint on my foul an awful love ofThy majefty, that I may worjhip Thee in fpirit and in truth, and in a manner worthy of Thee ; — that with loweft humiliation of foul and body, whenever I appear in the prefence of Infinite Love, I may fall down and adore Thee. O my God, O my Love, I know the true love of Thee is in communicable to any but Thee ; and therefore I re nounce, and deteft, and bewail, as odious and of- fenfive to Thee, as direftly oppofite to Thy Love, and to Thy Glory, —

All making of Idols, or falfe Gods, or of graven Images, with intent of worfhipping, and bowing down before them; —

8o	Bifhop Ken's Approach
	Communion.	Devotions.
	and keep my Com	All Idolatry, and Reli
	mandments.	gious Invocation of Crea
		tures ;
	T> 1	All facrilege, and pro
	People.	fanations of Thy Houfe,
	Lord, have Mercy	and of things facred.
	upon us, and incline	May I ever frequent the
	our Hearts to keep	publick prayers, and ap
	this Law.	proach Thine Altar with
		fervent and heavenly af-
		feftions, — with holy im
		patience for the bleffings
	Minifter.	of Thy love.
	Thou malt not	O my God, O my Love,
	take the Name of	may I ever have awful
	the Lord thy God • * T* 1	thoughts of Thee ; may I never mention Thy vene
	in vain : ror the	rable Name, unlefs on fo-
	Lord will not hold	lemn, and juft, and devout
	him guiltlefs, that	occafions ; may I never
	taketh His Name in	mention it on thofe occa
		fions without afts of love
	vain.	and adoration.
		O my God, O my Love,
	People. Lord, have Mercy	to love and to glorify Thy Name is the great end of
	upon us, and incline	our Creation, which is ftill
	our Hearts to keep	more enforced by our Re
	this Law.	demption. O let it be the
		greateft bufinefs of my life

to the Holy Altar.

81

Communion.

Minifter.

Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath-Day. Six Days malt thou la bour, and do all that thou haft to do ; but the feventh Day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou malt do no Manner of Work, thou, and thy Son, and thy Daughter,

Devotions.

to love, and to glorify It all the poflible ways I can, by my mouth, by my converfation, — by my public confeffion of Thee before men, even to death, whenever Thou art pleafed to call me to it, by engaging all I can to glorify and love Thee. O happy life, O bleffed death, which is fpent, and expires in glorifying, in loving Thee !

O my God, O my Love, let me ever efteem it my privilege, and my happinefs, to have a day of reft fet apart for Thy fervice, and the concerns of my own Soul ; — to have a day free from dif- tradlions, difengaged from the World, — wherein I have nothing to do, but to praife, and to love Thee.

Glory be to Thee, O Bleffed Spirit, Who on the firft day of the week

82

Eijhop Ken's Approach

Communion. thy Man-fervant, and thy Maid-fer- vant, thy Cattle, and the Stranger that is within thy Gates. For in fix Days the Lord made Heaven and Earth, the Sea, and all that in them is ; and refted the fe- venth Day : Where fore the Lord bleff- ed the feventh Day, and hallowed it.

People.

Lord, have Mercy upon us, and incline our Hearts to keep this Law.

Devotions.

didft defcend in miracu lous gifts and graces on the Apoftles; — O de fcend upon me, that I may be always in the Spirit on the Lord1 s Day. O my God, O my Love, give me grace on Thy day to worfliip Thee in my Clofet, and in the Congregation, to fpend it in doing good, in works of neceflity, de votion, and charity, — in prayer and praife, and meditation; O let it ever be to me a day facred to Divine Love, — a day of heavenly reft and refrefh- ment.

O my God, O my Love, for the like pur- pofes of Piety, and of Thy Glory, give me grace to fanftify the Feafts and Fafts of Thy Church, as in the number of thofe happy days, fet apart for the remembrance of Thy Love.

to the Holy Altar.

Communion.

Minifter.

Honour thy Fa ther and thy Mo ther, that thy Days may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giv- eth thee.

People.

Lord, have Mercy upon usy and incline our Hearts to keep this Law.

Minifter.

Thou fhalt do no Murder.

People. Lord, have Mercy

Devotions.

Let Thy reverential Love, O my God, teach and incline me to mow refpedlful love to all my fuperiors, in my inward efteem, — in my outward fpeech and behaviour.

O my God, give me grace, for the fake of Thy Love, to honour my Fa ther and Mother, — to render them all love and reverence, and thankful- nefs, and all that regard which is due from a child ; — that I may pay obedience to their com mands, fubmiffion to their corrections, attention to their inftruftions, and fuccour to their neceffi- ties, — and may daily pray for their welfare.

O my God, O my Love, let Thy unwearied and tender love to me make my love unwearied and tender to my neigh bour, and zealous to pro-

84	Bifhop Ken's Approach
	Communion.	Devotions.
	upon us. and incline	cure, promote, and pre-
	X •* our Hearts to keep this Law.	ferve his health, and fafe- ty,. and happinefs, and life, that he may be the
		better able to ferve and
		to love Thee. Make me
		like Thy own felf, all
		meeknefs and benignity,
		— all goodnefs and fweet-
		nefs, — all gentlenefs and
	Minijfer.	long-fuffering.
	Thou fhalt not	O my God, My Love,
	commit Adultery.	let Thy pureft love, who
		art purity itfelf, create in
	People.	me a perfect abhorrence
	f Lord, have Mercy upon us, and incline	of all impurity, that I may purify myfelf as Thou art pure.
	our Hearts to keep	O my God, let my
	this Law.	love be chafte to Thee,
		chafle to myfelf, chafte
		to my neighbour.
		May Thy love iet a
		ftrift guard on my fenfes ;
		— turn away mine eyes,
		ftop mine ears, bridle my
		tongue, and reftrain my
		hand from all unclean-
		nefs.
L		Lord, give me grace

to the Holy Altar.

Communion.

Minifler.

Thou fhalt not fteal.

People.

Lord, have Mercy upon us, and incline our Hearts to keep this Law.

Minifter.

Thou fhalt not bear falfe Witnefs againft thy Neigh bour.

Devotions.

to fly all incitements, or opportunities, or inftru- ments of defiling, either my neighbour or myfelf, — to beat down my bo dy, and to bring it into fubjeftion.

O my God, O my Love, let the love of Thy eternal and amiable juf- tice teach me a fteady juftice in giving all men their due, fince I cannot love my neighbour, if I am unjuft to him.

O my God, O my Love, deliver me, and all faithful people, from all kinds of dealing, extor tion, fraud in trade and contrails, — all making hafte to be rich, or tak ing advantage of the ig norance or neceffity of the perfons we deal with.

O my God, O my Love, deliver me and all faithful people from all manner of bearing falfe witnefs againft my neighbour ; —

86	Eifliop Kens Approach
	Communion.	Devotions.
		all things prejudicial or
	People.	deftruftive to my neigh
	Lord, have Mercy	bour's good name; — all cenforioufnefs and flan-
	upon usy and incline	der, detraction and calum
	our Hearts to keep	ny, forced confequences,
	this Law.	or invidious reflections ;
		— all fcoffing, or expof-
		ing the infirmities of
		others ; — all whifpering
		and tale-bearing, or raif-
		ing of evil reports, fuf-
		picions or jealoufies, and
		all evil fpeaking ; — all
		equivocations anddiffem-
		bling, flattery and lying.
		O my God, give me
		grace to be tender of my
		neighbour's good name,
		fince I cannot love him,
		if I take that from him,
		which I know to be moft
	Minifter.	dear to him.
	Thou fhalt not	Lord, make me con
	covet thy Neigh	tented, and thankful, and
	bour's Houfe ; thou	well-pleafed with that
	fhalt not covet thy Neighbour's Wife ;	portion Thy providential love has allotted me, and to acquiefce in Thy
	nor his Servant, nor	choice as beft for me.

to the Holy Altar.

Communion. his Maid, nor his Ox, nor his Afs, nor any thing that is his.

People.

Lord, have Mercy upon us, and write all theje Thy Laws in our Hearts, we befeech Thee.

Devotions.

O my God, O my Love, let Thy all-power ful love abound in my heart, and in the hearts of all that profefs Thy Name, that in all thefe, and in all other poffible inftances of duty, our lives may be continually employed to love Thee, and for Thy fake to love our neighbour, and to excite our neighbour to love Thee. Amen.

Then /hall follow one of theje two ColleRs for the Queen, the Prieftftanding as before, and Jay ing,

Let us Communion. LMIGH- TY God, whofe

Kingdom is ever- lafting, and Power infinite, have Mercy

Pray.

Devotions.

Multiply, O Lord God, the bleffings of Thy Love on our moft gracious Queen Victoria. Give her grace to exceed others, as much in Goodnefs as in Greatnefs, and make

88	Eijhop Kens Approach
	Communion.	Devotions.
	upon the whole	her a lignal inftrument of
	Church ; and fo rule	Thy Glory, and example
	the Heart of Thy chofen Servant VIC	of Thy Love. — Defend her from all her Enemies ; let her be ever beloved by
	TORIA, our Queen	Thee, and let her ever
	and Governor, that	love Thee and ever pro
	fhe (knowing whofe	mote Thy Love.
	Minifter fhe is) may
	above all Things
	feek Thy Honour
	and Glory; and that
	we and all her Sub
	jects (duly confider-
	ing whofe Authority
	fhe hath) may faith
	fully ferve, honour,
	and humbly obey
	her, in Thee, and for
	Thee, according to
	Thy blefTed Word
	and Ordinance,
	through Jefus Chrift
	our Lord ; who with
	Thee and the Holy
	Ghoft, liveth and

to the Holy Altar.	89
Communion.
reigneth ever one
God, World with
out End. Amen.	-
Or,
tt|WLMIGHTY and everlaftingGod,	*
lyi||^^ we are taught by Thy holy Word,
^^^^ that the Hearts of Kings are in
Thy Rule and Governance, and that Thou
doft difpofe and turn them as it feemeth
beft to Thy godly Wifdom ; we humbly
befeech Thee fo to	difpofe and govern
the Heart of VICTORIA Thy Servant,
our Queen and Governor, that in all her
Thoughts, Words, and Works, me may
ever feek Thy Honour and Glory, and
ftudy to preferve Thy People committed
to her Charge, in Wealth, Peace, and
Godlinefs. Grant this, O merciful Father,
for Thy dear Son's Sake, Jefus Chrift our
Lord. Amen.
Communion.	Devotions.
Then /hall be f aid	To make your reading
the Colleft of the	the more profitable, be-

9°

Bi/hop Ken's Approach

Communion. Day. And immedi ately after the Col- left the Prieft jhall read the Epiftle. Then Jhall be read the Gofpel, the Peo ple all flanding up. And the Gofpel end- ed} Jhall be Jung or faid the Creed fol lowing^ the people Jlill ftandingj as be fore.

Devotions.

gin with one or more of thefe

Ejaculations.

Lord, make Thy Word my delight and my coun- fellor ; open mine eyes that I may fee the won derful things of Thy Law.

O Heavenly Father ! I humbly beg Thy Holy Spirit fo to help me at this time to read, learn, and underftand, and re member, and praftife Thy Word, that it may make me wife to Salva tion.

BELIEVE in One God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, and of all Things vifible and inviiible :

And in One Lord Jefus Chrift, the only begotten Son of God, Begotten of his Father before all Worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of very God, Begotten not made, Being of one Subftance with the Father, By Whom all Things

to the Holy Altar.

were made : Who for us Men, and for our Salvation, came down from Heaven, And was incarnate by the Holy Ghoft of the Virgin Mary, And was made Man, And was crucified alfo for us under Pontius Pilate. He fuffered and was buried, And the Third Day he rofe again according to the Scriptures, And afcended into Heaven, And fitteth on the Right-hand of the Fa ther. And he mail come again with Glory to judge both the Quick and the Dead : Whofe Kingdom mail have no End.

And I believe in the Holy Ghoft, the Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, Who with the Father and the Son together is wor- fhipped and glorified, Who {pake by the Prophets. And I believe one Catholic and Apoftolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptifm for the Remiflion of Sins, And I look for the Refurrection of the Dead, And the Life of the World to come. Amen.

Meditation.

My Lord and my God, with a full, free and firm aflent, I believe all the Articles of my Creed, be-

91

92

Bifhop Ken's Approach

caufe Thou haft revealed them ; I know Thou art infallible Truth, and canft not, — Thou art infinite Love, and wilt not, — deceive me : Glory be to Thee.

With all my heart, O my God, do I love and praife Thee, Who art fo infinitely amiable in Thy- felf, and fo full of love to us, that all I can know, or believe of Thee, excites me to love Thee.

Lord, daily increafe my Faith; — make it active and fruitful, that I may believe and love Thee as entirely, as becomes one entirely devoted to Thee.

Then the Curate Jhall declare unto the People what Holidays or Fafting Days are in the Week following to be obferved, &c.

Then Jhall follow the Sermon, &c.

Then Jhall the Prieft return to the Lord's Table, and begin the Offertory, faying one or more of thefe Sentences following, as he thinketh moft convenient in his Difcretion.

If you are rich, or have wherewithal to relieve others, then be fure, too, to be rich in good works, and according to your ability give Alms.

to the Holy Altar.	93
Communion.	Devotions.
M^fb|| E T your	O Lord God, may	Matt. v. 16.
^|||P5 light fb	Thy infinite Goodnefs
mine be	and Greatnefs be for ever
fore men, that they	by all men and all angels confefled and admired,
may fee your good	and adored, and magni
works, and glorify	fied, both in private and
your Father which	public, in our hearts, our
is in Heaven.	mouths, and our lives.
Lay not up for	O my God, my Love,	Matt. vi. 19,
yourfelves treafures	what can a foul ena	20.
upon the earth, where the ruft and	moured of Thee ever de- fire but Thee ? O let the world never more have
moth doth corrupt,	place in my heart ; —
and where thieves	all my affeftions I with	Matt, vi.ai.
break through and fteal : but lay up	draw from that to fix them on Thee.
for yourfelves trea
fures in Heaven,
where neither ruft
nor moth doth cor
rupt, and where
thieves do not
break through and
fteal.

94	Bifhop Ken's Approach
	Communion.	Devotions.
Matt. vii.	Whatfoever ye	O great Lord of hearts,
12.	would that men	lodge my neighbour in
	mould do unto you,	my heart next to myfelf ;
	J * even fo do unto them ; for this is the	let all my defires be for his good, and let it be the fubjedl of my joy, and
	law and the Pro	praife and love, to fee
	phets.	Thy love liberal to him,
		and to fee him abound
		ing in Thy bleffings.
Matt. vii.	Not every one	O my God, Thy will
21.	that faith unto me,	and Thy commands are
	Lord, Lord, mail enter into the King	moft Holy, Juft and Good, and condefcending to our weaknefs, and by no
	dom of Heaven, but	means grievous; — O give
	he that doeth the	me Grace confcientioufly
	will of my Father	to obferve them.
	which is in Heaven.
Z.u£e xix. 8.	Zaccheus flood	All glory be to Thee,
	forth, and faid unto	O Lord God, for that
	the Lord, Behold,	portion of the good things
Luke xix. 9.	Lord, the half of my goods I give	of this life Thou haft been pleafed to vouchfafe me j Thou, Lord, haft
	to the poor ; and	made me Thy fteward
	if I have done any	of them, and at the Great

to the Holy Altar.	95
Communion.	Devotions.
wrong to any man, I reftore fourfold.	Day, / muft give an ac count to Thee of my Stew- ardjhip : O make me a
	faithful ft eward of them,
	that / may give an ac
	count to Thee with joy,
	and not with grief.
	O my God, if I have
	wronged or injured my
	neighbour, O give me
	Grace to beg his pardon,
	and, as I have opportu
	nity, to make him fatif-
	faclion and reilitution.
Who goeth a	Blefled be Thou, O	I Cor. ix. 7.
warfare at any	Lord, for all things come
J time of his own	of Thee, and of Thy
coft ? Who plant-	own I now give Thee. Lord, blefs and de
eth a vineyard, and	fend all Orders of men
eateth not of the	amongft us, ecclefiaftical
fruit thereof ? Or	or civil ; Lord, give them
who feedeth a flock,	all grace, in their focial ftations, to be inftru-
and eateth not of the	mental to Thy Glory,
milk of the flock?	and the public good.
If we have fown unto you fpiritual	O let this Alms be an odour of a fweet fmell, ac ceptable and well-pleaf-	I Cor. ix. 1 1 .
things, is it a great	ing unto Thee.

96

Bijhop Ken's Approach

I Cor. ix. 13, 14.

a Cor. ix. 6,

7-

Communion. matter, if we fhall reap your worldly things ?

Do ye not know, that they who mi- nifter about holy things, live of the facrifice ? and they who wait at the Al tar, are partakers with the Altar ? Even fb hath the Lord alfb ordained, thatthey who preach the Gofpel, fhould live of the Gofpel.

He that foweth little, fhall reap lit tle; and he that foweth plenteoufly, fhall reap plenteouf ly. Let every Man do according as he

Devotions.

O my God, for Thy Love's fake, let me ever honour and love the Mi- nifters of Thy love, the Ambafladors Thou doft fend in Thy ftead, to befeech us tinners to be reconciled to Thee ; to offer Thy enemies con ditions of love, of love eternal. O may I ever hear them attentively, praftife their heavenly doftrine, imitate their holy examples, pay them their dues, and revere their cenfures.

O my God, fill me full of good wifhes and com- paflion, of liberality in Alms-giving according to my abilities, and of rea- dinefs to fuccour, and re lieve, and comfort, and refcue, and pray for all,

to the Holy Altar.	97
Communion.	Devotions.
is difpofed in his	whom Thy love, or their
heart, not grudg ingly, or of necef-	own neceffities, or mife- ries, or dangers, recom mend to my charity.	-
fity; forGodloveth
a cheerful giver.
Let him that is	Glory be to Thee, O	Gal. vi. 6, 7.
taught in the Word,	Lord, who haft ordained
minifter unto him	Paftors, and haft given
that teacheth, in all good things. Be	them the Power of the Keys ; — to be our Ec- clefiaftical Parents ', — to
not deceived, God	watch over our fouls ; —
is not mocked ; for	to inftruft us in faving
whatfoever a man	knowledge j — to guide us
foweth, that mail he	by their Examples ; — to pray for and to blefs us ;
reap.	— to adminifter fpiritual
	difcipline in Thy Church,
	and to manage all the
	conveyances of Thy Di
	vine Love.
While we have	O my God, O my	Gal. vi. 10.
time, let us do	Love, let Thy all-pow
good unto all men; and especially unto them that are of the	erful love abound in my heart, and in the hearts of all that profefs Thy Name, that in all poffible
houfehold of faith.	inftances of our duty, our

H

98	Bifhop Ken's Approach
	Communion.	Devotions.
		lives may be continually
		employed to love Thee,
		and for Thy fake to love
		our neighbour, and to
		excite our neighbour to
		love Thee. Give me
		Catholic Charity to all
		that are baptized in Thy
		name, and Catholic Com
	•	munion with all Chrif-
		tians in defire.
i Tim. vi.	Godlinefs is great	Lord, make me con
6,7.	riches, if a man be	tented, and thankful, and
	content with that he	well-pleafed with that
	hath; for we brought nothing into the world, neither may	portion Thy providential Love has allotted me, and to acquiefce in Thy choice, which is beft for
	we carry any thing	me.
	out.
I Tim.v'i.ij, . y T n	Charge them who	O unconceivable hap-
18, 19.	are rich in this	pinefs of Heaven, where
	world, that they be	my Ambition fhall reft
	ready to give, and glad to distribute, laying up in ftore for	on a Throne, where my covetoufnefs mail be fill ed with the Beatific Vi- fion, and where I fhall
	themfelves a good	be continually fatisfied
	foundation againft	with Love !

to the Holy Altar.	99
Communion.	Devotions,
the time to come,
that they may attain
eternal life.
God is not un	I believe, O Thou God	Heb. vi. 10.
righteous, that He	of Love, that all the
will forget your works, and labour	Saints on Earth, by pro- feffion, ought to commu nicate one with another,
that proceedeth of	in evangelical Worfhip,
love ; which love ye	and the fame Holy Sa
have mewed for His	craments, — in the fame
Name's fake, who	Divine and Apoftolical Faith, — in all offices of
have miniftered un	corporal and fpiritual
to the Saints, and	Charity, — in reciprocal
yet do minifter.	delight in each other's
	Salvation, and in tender
	fympathy, as members of
	one and the fame Body.
To do good, and	Teach me, O my God,	Heb.xYii. 1 6.
to diftribute, forget	to ufe this world fo as
not; for with fuch facrifices God is well	not to abufe it ; — to re ceive and manage all my temporal bleffings with
pleafed.	thankfulnefs to Thee, fb-
	briety to myfelf, and cha
	rity to all befides.
Whofo hath this	Glory be to Thee, O	I John iii. I?-

IOO	Eijhop Ken's Approach
	Communion.	Devotions.
	world's good, and	Lord, who in teaching
	Teeth his brother	me to call God Our Fa
	have need, and	ther, haft taught me not to confine my charity to
	mutteth up his com-	myfelf, but to pray alfo
	paflion from him,	with the affections of a
	how dwelleth the	Brother, and to enlarge
	love of God in him ?	it to all mankind, who are Children by creation,
		to all Chriftians, who are
		Children by adoption, of
		the fame heavenly Fa
		ther. Ogive me fuch bro
		therly kindnefs to them
		all, that I may beg the
	.	fame bleffings for them as
		for myfelf.
Tab. iv. 7.	Give alms of thy	O Crucified Love,
	goods, and never	whenever I fee Thee in
	turn thy face from •	any of Thy poor mem bers hungry, or naked,
	any poor man ; and	or in diftrefs, O let the
	then the face of the	remembrance of Thy
	Lord mail not be	love in dying for me en
	turned away from	gage me to contribute all
	thee.	I can to Thy relief; — O
		may I ever be liberal in
		my Alms to Thee, who
		wert fo liberal of Thy
	.	ineftimable Blood for me.

to the Holy Altar.	IOI
Communion.	Devotions.
Be merciful after	O Lord, who didft	Tab. iv. 8, 9.
thy power. If thou haft much, give	not defpife the widow's Mite, accept this little I now give to relieve Thy
plenteoufly: If thou	C / poor members.
haft little, do thy	O gracious Lord, Thou
diligence gladly to	that haft done fo much
give of that little; for fo gathereft thou	for me, how can I ever fufficiently praife and love Thee!
thyfelf a good re
ward in the day of
neceflity.	Make me compaf- fionate to the afflifted,
He that hath pity upon the poor, lend- eth unto the Lord :	charitable to the poor, according to my ability, and give me grace to keep always a Confcience void	Prev. xix. 17-
And look, what he	of offence towards Thee,
layeth out, it mail	and towards men.
be paid him again.	O make me ever mer
Blefled be the	ciful, as Thou, O Father in Heaven art merciful ;	Pfalm xli. J.
man that provideth	indulge me a mare in
for the fick and	that mercy, with which
needy : The Lord	Thou haft promifed to
/ mall deliver him in	blefs the merciful, and fend me deliverance in
the time of trouble.	the time of trouble.
	Amen, Amen.

102	Bifhop Kens Approach
	Communion.	Exhortation.
	Whiljt the Sen
	tences are in reading.
	the Deacons, Church
	wardens, or other fit
	per/on appointed for
	that purpofe, /hall receive the Alms for the poor, and other	Learn of our moft compaffionate Saviour to fhow mercy to the fick,
	devotions of the peo	and the lame, and to
	ple, in a decent ba-	contribute all you can to
	fin, to be provided by theParijhfor that	their healing ; — lay afide money for that very ufe, and pray to God to di-
	purpofe ; and rever	re£l your Charity to thofe
	ently bring it to the	who moft want it, and
	Prieft, who /hall	who are moft worthy to
	humbly prejent and place it upon the holy	be relieved : — by this means you will be able confcientioufly to fay with
	Table.	Job, " I was eyes to the
		blind, and feet was I to
		the lame."

to the Holy Altar.	103
Communion.	Devotions.
And when there	Holy, Holy, Holy,
is a Communion, the	Lord God Almighty, I
Prieft /hall then 'place upon the 'Table Jo much Bread and	a miferable finner, hum bly acknowledge that I am altogether unworthy to pray for myielf; but
Wine, as he Jhall	fince Thou haft com
think Jufficient. Af ter which done, the Prieft /hall Jay,	manded us to make Pray ers and Interceffions for all men, in obedience to Thy command, and in
	confidence of Thy unli
	mited goodnefs, I com
	mend to Thy Mercy, and
	Divine Providence, the
	wants and neceffities of
	all mankind.

104

Bijhop Kens Approach

Let us pray for the whole State of Chrift's Church militant here on Earth.

LMIGHTY and everliving God, who by Thy holy Apoftle haft taught us to make prayers and fupplications, and to give thanks for all men; We humbly befeech Thee moft mercifully \to accent our alms and obla tions, and~\ to receive thefe our prayers, which we offer unto Thy Divine Majefty ; befeeching Thee to infpire continually the univerfal Church with the Spirit of truth, unity, and concord : And grant that all they that do confefs Thy holy Name, may agree in the truth of Thy holy Word, and live in unity and godly love. We befeech Thee alfo to fave and defend all Chriftian Kings, Princes, and Governours ; and efpecially Thy Servant VICTORIA, our Queen, that under her we may be godly and quietly governed : And grant unto her whole Council, and to all that are put in authority under her, that they may truly and indifferently minifter juftice, to the punimment of wickednefs

to the Holy Altar.

and vice, and to the maintenance of Thy true religion and virtue. Give grace, O heavenly Father, to all Bimops and Curates, that they may both by their life and doclrine fet forth Thy true and lively Word, and rightly and duly admi- nifter Thy holy Sacraments : And to all Thy people give Thy heavenly grace ; and efpecially to this congregation here prefent, that with meek heart and due reverence they may hear and receive Thy holy Word, truly ferving Thee in holinefs and righteoufnefs all the days of their life. And we moft humbly befeech Thee of Thy goodnefs O Lord, to comfort and fuccour all them, who in this tranfitory life are in trouble, forrow, need, fkknefs, or any other adverfity. And we alfo blefs Thy holy Name, for all Thy fervants de parted this life in Thy faith and fear; befeeching Thee to give us grace, fo to follow their good examples, that with them we may be partakers of Thy heavenly kingdom. Grant this, O Father, for Jefus Chrift's fake, our only Mediator and Ad vocate. Amen.

105

io6

Bifhop Kens Approach

At the Time of the Celebration of the Communion^ the Communicants being conve niently -placed for the Receiving of the Holy Sacrament, the Prieft fhalljay this Exhor tation :

Communion. EARLY beloved in the Lord, ye that mind to come to the holy Communion of the Body and Blood of our Saviour Chrift, muft confider how St. Paul exhorteth all perfons diligent ly to try and exa mine themfelveSjbe- fore they prefume to eat of that Bread, and drink of that Cup. For as the benefit is great, if with a true peni-

Devotions.

I adore Thee, O bleff- ed Jefu, my Lord, and my God, when I con fider the Benefits which through Thy mercy we receive by Thy Holy Sacrament.

Glory be to Thee, O Lord, who there makeft Thy own Body and Blood to become our fpiritual food to ftrengthen and refrefh our Souls.

to the Holy Altar.	107
Communion.	Devotions.
tent heart and live	Glory be to Thee, O
ly faith we receive	Lord, who by this Hea
j that holy Sacra ment (for then we	venly food doft myftically unite us to Thyfelf ; for nothing becomes one
fpiritually eat the	with our bodies more,
flefh of Chrift, and	than the bodily food we
drink His blood;	eat, which turns to our
then we dwell in	very fubftance ; and no thing makes us become
Chrift, and Chrift in	O one with Thee more,
us ; we are one with	than when Thou vouch-
Chrift, and Chrift	fafeft to become the very
with us) fo is the	food of our Souls.
danger great, if we receive the fame un	BlefTed Lord Jefus ! I even tremble when I
worthily. For then	confider that he that eat-
we are guilty of the	eth and drinketh unwor
Body and Blood of	thily is guilty of Thy
J Chrift our Saviour ;	Body and Blood, and eateth and drinketh dam
we eat and drink	nation to his own foul ;
our own damna	and this fevere Sentence
tion, not confidering	on unworthy Communi
the Lord's Body ;	cants makes one afraid to
we kindle God's	come to Thy Altar. But when I confider
wrath againft us ;	that Thy fentence is as
we provoke him to	levere againft thole, who

io8	Eifhop Ken's Approach
	Communion.	Devotions.
	plague us with di	being invited refufe to
	vers difeafes, and	come, for Thou haft faid,
	fundry kinds of Death. Judge there	they mall not tafte of Thy Supper, — and unlefs we eat Thy Flefti, and drink
	fore yourfelves, bre	Thy Blood, we have no
	thren, that ye be	life in us, — I am then
	not judged of the	afraid to keep away.
	Lord ; repent you truly for your fins	But bleffed be Thy mercy, O Lord, for in this ftrait my Soul is in,
	pad ; have a lively	Thou art my guide ;
	and fledfaft faith in	— Thou by giving me
	Chrift our Saviour ;	this opportunity of re
	amend your lives, and be in perfect	ceiving inviteft me to Thy Table ; Thou calleft me to feek Thy face, —
,,	charity with all	and my heart replies,
	men ; fo mall ye be	Thy face, Lord, will I
	meet partakers of	feek.
	j. thofe holy myfte-	If Thou, Lord, fhould- eft be extreme to mark
	ries. — And above	what is done amifs, alas !
	all things ye muft	alas ! I am then unfit,
	give moft humble	not only to Communi
	and hearty thanks	cate but, to fay even my
	/ to God, the Father,	Daily Prayers. I know, Lord, that if
	the Son, and the	I mould ftay till I am
	Holy Ghoft, for the	worthy to come, I mould

to the Holy Altar.	lOQ
Communion.	Devotions.
redemption of the	then never come ; and
world by the death	therefore, though I am
and paflion of our Saviour Chrift, both	unworthy of fo unfpeak- able a mercy, yet I come to beg Thy Grace to
God and Man; Who	make me worthy, or at
did humble Himfelf,	leaft fucb as Tbou wilt
even to the death	accept.
upon the Crofs, for us miferable tinners,	My Lord, and my God, inftil penitential Love into my foul, that
Who lay in dark-	I may grieve for my fins,
nefs and the fhadow	which grieved Thee, —
of death, that He	that I may love Thee
might make us the	for fuffering for us fin ners, who occafibned all
children of God,	Thy griefs ; — O may I
and exalt us to ever-	always love Thee, may I
lafting life. And to	never grieve Thee more.
the End that we	Was ever any forrow,
mould always re member the exceed	O Crucified Lord, like that forrow my fins cre ated Thee !
ing great love of our	O Jefu, if I love Thee
Mafter, and only	truly I fhall be fure to
Saviour, Jefus Chrift, thus dying for us,	frequent Thy Altar, that I may remember all the wonderful love of my
and the innumerable	Crucified Redeemer.
benefits, which by	Glory be to Thee, O

no	Bijhop Kens Approach
	Communion.	Devotions.
	His precious blood-	Lord, who by this im
•	medding He hath obtained to us ; He	mortal food doft nourifh our Souls to live the life of Grace here, and doft
	hath inftituted and	raife us up to life ever-
	ordained holy myf-	lafting hereafter. Lord,
	teries, as pledges of	do Thou evermore give
	His love, and for a	me this Bread ! Amen,
	continual remem	Amen.
	brance of His death,	I believe, I admire, I
	to our great and	love, I praife, I adore Thee, O moft blefled and
	endlefs comfort. To	glorious Trinity, God the
	Him therefore with	Father, God the Son,
	the Father, and the	God the Holy Ghoft, for
	Holy Ghoft, let us give (as we are moft	being the joint Authors of our Salvation : all Glory be to Thee.
	bounden) continual
	thanks, fubmitting ourfelves wholly to His holy will and	O facred and dreadful, and myfterious Trinity, though I cannot conceive Thee, yet let me daily
	pleafure, and ftudy-	experiment Thy good-
	ing to ferve Him in	nefs ; Let Thy Grace, O
	true holinefs and	Lord Jefus; let Thy
	righteoufnefs all the	Love, O God the Father; let Thy Communica
	days of our life.	tions, O Holy Spirit, be
	Amen.	ever with me.

to the Holy Altar.

Then /hall the Prieft Jay to them that come to receive the Holy Communion :

Communion. Devotions.

E that do

truly and

earneftly

repent you of your fins, and are in love and charity with your neighbours, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walk ing from henceforth in His holy ways; draw near with Faith, and take this holy Sacrament to your comfort ; and make your humble confeflion to Al mighty God, meek ly kneeling upon your knees.

It is Thy moft blefled Body and Blood I hunger and thirft after, O gra cious Lord ; — grant that I, and all that communi cate with me may feel its faving efficacy. O feed, O refrefh, O nourifh our Souls with it to Life Everlafting, and that for Thy own infinite mercy' fake, which moved Thee to offer up Body and Blood for us ! Amen, Amen.

Ill

I 12

Bifliop Kens Approach

Then /hall this general ConfeJJion be made in the name of all thofe that are minded to receive the holy Communion, by one of the Minifters, both he and all the people kneel ing humbly upon their knees, and faying,

LMIGHTY God, Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, Maker of all things, Judge of all men ; We acknowledge and bewail our manifold Sins and wickednefs, Which we from time to time moft grievoufly have committed, By thought, word, and deed, Againft Thy Di vine Majefty, Provoking moft juftly Thy wrath and indignation againft us. We do earneftly repent, And are heartily forry for thefe our mifdoings ; The remembrance of them is grievous unto us ; the burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, Have mercy upon us, moft merciful Father ; For Thy Son our Lord Jefus Chrift's Sake, forgive us all that is paft ; And grant that we may ever hereafter Serve and pleafe Thee In newnefs of life, To the honour and glory of Thy Name, Through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

to the Holy Altar.

Then /hall the Prieft (or the Bifhop being prefent) ft and up, and turning himfelf to the people, pronounce this Abfolution :

Communion.

TY God, our hea venly Father, Who of His great mercy hath promifed for- givenefs of fins to all them that with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto Him ; Have mercy upon you ; pardon and deliver you from all your fins ; confirm and ftrengthen you in all goodnefs ; and bring you to ever- lafting life, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

Devotions.

Glory be to Thee, O moft adorable Trinity, for Thy infinite love in our forgivenefs.

Matt. xi. 28.

John iii. 16

Eijhop Kens Approach

Thenfliall the Priejtjay,

Hear what comfortable Words our Sa viour Chrift faith unto all that truly turn to Him.

Communion.

OMEunto

me all that

travail and are heavy laden, and I will refrefh you.

So God loved the world, that He gave His only-be gotten Son, to the end that all that be lieve in Him mould not perim, but have everlafting Life.

Devotions.

Thou art my hope, my help, and my falva- tion ; — Thou only canft teach and enable me to know and to love Thy own goodnefs.

I believe, O Lord Jefus, that Thou didft make, and doft fuftain all things by Thy power, and that Thou art to be honoured by men and by angels as Thy Father is honoured : All love all Glory be to Thee.

to the Holy Altar.	IJ5
Communion.	Devotions.
Hear alfo what St.
Paul faith.
This is a true	For whom, O unut	i Tim. \. 15.
faying, and worthy of all men to be re ceived, That Chrift	terable Goodnefs, didft Thou fuffer the extreme bitternefs of forrow, but for the vileft of all Thy
Jefus came into the	creatures, finful man, and
world to fave fin-	for me, one of the worft
ners.	of Sinners ? and therefore
	I praife and love Thee.
Hear alfo what St.
John faith.
If any man fin,	I believe, O trium	I John ii. I.
we have an Advo	phant Love, that Thou
cate with the Father, Jefus Chrift the	now fitteft in full and peaceful pofleffion of blifs, and at the right
righteous ; and He is	hand of God, — that Thy
the propitiation for	human Nature is exalted
our fins.	to the moft honourable
	place in Heaven, where
	Thou fitteft on Thy
	Throne of Glory, adored
	by angels, and interced
	ing for finners ; and
	therefore all Love all
	Glory be to Thee.

n6

Ttefe words) [Holy Fa ther] muft be omitted on Trinity Sun day.

Bijhop Kens Approach

After 'which the Prieft fhall proceed, faying,

Lift up your Hearts. Anfw. We lift them up unto the Lord. Prieft. Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.

Anfw. // ts meet and right fo to do.

Then /hall the Prieft turn to the Lord's 'Table, and Jay,

T is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we fhould at all times, and in all places, give

thanks unto Thee, O Lord, Holy Father,

Almighty, Everlafting God.

to the Holy Altar.

Here Jhall follow the Proper Preface, ac cording to the Time, if there be any Jpe- cially appointed : or elje immediately Jhall follow,

Communion.

fore with Angels, and Archangels, and with all the com pany of heaven, we laud and magnify Thy gloriousName, evermore praifing Thee, and faying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hofts, heaven and earth are full of Thy glo ry : glory be to Thee, O Lord mod High. Amen.

Devotions.

I believe, O gracious Redeemer, that Thy Saints here on Earth have Communion with the Holy Angels above ; that they are miniftering Spi rits fcnt forth to minifter for them who Jhall be heirs of Salvation, and watch over us ; and we give thanks to Thee for their protection, and emu late their inceflant praifes, and ready obedience ; for which all Love all Glory be to Thee.

n8	Bijhop Ken's Approach
	Communion.	Devotions.
	Proper Prefaces.
	Upon Chriftmas-
	day, and feven
	days after. ft^^^W *eliju^% T"7 f~* A T T C T^*	Tit* ' rf"V rt J
	|L rcsJyjXpJ.tLU A U o H, •MX i-tf-or^P^y ' ¥ M 1 " 1/1 w fl^^ Thou didft	I believe, O molt adora ble Humility, that Thou
		waft born into the World ;
	\&J V2?LXOi|» riri XT"^ 1 ^| i IP	— that Thou having only God for Thy Father, and
Chrift Thine only
	Son to be born as	Mary, a pure Virgin, for
	at this time for us ;	Thy mother, whom all
-	Who, by the opera tion of the Holy	Generations do call BlefT- ed, both Thy Conception and Birth were perfectly
	Ghoft, was made	immaculate ; — that, be
	very man of the fub-	ing without fin Thyfelf,
	ftance of the Virgin Mary His mother ; and that without	Thou mighteft be a fit Sacrifice to atone for us finners, who being born of unclean Parents, were
	fpot of fin, to make	all by nature unclean ;—
	us clean from all fin.	and therefore all Love,
	Therefore with An	all Glory be to Thee, O
	gels, &c.	immaculate Lamb of God who takeft away the Jins
		of the World.

to the Holy Altar.

Communion.

Upon Eafter - day, and Jeven days after.

are we bound to praife Thee for the glorious Refurrec- tion of Thy Son Jefus Chrift our Lord : for he is the very Pafchal Lamb Which was offered for us, and hath taken away the fin of the world ; Who by His death, hath deftroyed death, and by His rifing to life again hath re- ftored to us ever- lafting life. There fore with Angels,

Devotions.

I believe, O Almighty Love, that according to Types and Prophecies which went before of Thee, and according to Thy own infallible pre dictions, Thou didtl by Thy own power, rife from the dead the third day : all Love all Glory be to Thee.

I2O

Eijhop Kens Approach

Communion.

Upon Afcenfion-day, and Jeven days after.

HROUGH Thy moft dearly be loved Son Jefus Chrift our Lord ; Who after His moft glorious Refurrec- tion manifestly ap peared to all His Apoftles, and in their fight afcended up into heaven to prepare a place for us ; that where He is, thither we might alfo afcend, and reign with Him in Glory. Therefore with Angels, &V.

Devotions.

I believe, O victorious Love, that Thou, after Thy conqueft over Death and Hell, didft afcend in triumph to Heaven, that Thou mighteft prepare manfions for us, and from thence as Conqueror be- ftow the gifts of Thy conqueft on us, and above all the gift of Thy Ho ly Spirit ; — that Thou mighteft enter into the Holy of Holies, as our great High Prieft, to prefent to Thy Father the fweet fmelling Sacri fice of His crucified Son, the fole propitiation for tinners ; — and therefore all Love, all Glory be to Thee.

to the Holy Altar.	121
Communion.	Devotions.
Upon Whitfunday,
and fix Days after.	IKnlirtT'o iti HPVioo C\
|| p|jefusChrift	oeiieve in i nee, \J Thou Spirit of God, the
i^S*: 5»fcS our Lord ;	Third Perfon in the moft
according to Whofe	adorable Trinity ; — I be lieve, O blefled Spirit,
moft true promife,	' i * that Thou art the Lord,
the Holy Ghoft	that Thou art God Eter
came down as at	nal, and Omnifcient, a
this time from hea	Perfon diftindl from both the Father and the Son,
ven with a fudden	eternally proceeding from
great found, as it	both, and equally fent by
had been a mighty	both, and joint Author
wind, in the likenefs	with both of our Salva
	tion ; — and therefore all
of fiery tongues,	Love all Glory be to
lighting upon the	Thee.
Apoftles, to teach
them, and to lead
them to all truth j
giving them both
the gift of divers
languages, and alfo
boldnefs with fer
vent zeal, conftantly

122	Bijhop Kens Approach
	Communion.	Devotions.
	to preach theGofpel
	unto all nations ;
	whereby we have been brought out of	Glory be to Thee, O Love Incarnate, for fend
	darknefs and error	ing the Spirit in Thy
	into the clear light	ftead, and for promifing
	and true knowledge of Thee, and of Thy	It to our prayers; — all Love, all Glory be to Thee.
	Son Jefus Chrift.
	Therefore with An
	gels, &c.
	Upon the Feafl of
	Trinity only.
	fjAtAt&i^astf-ff^ ,->.	I believe, O my God,
|£ (si U$r9/:»*"*O *^ One
	M^Wi God, One	that in the Unity of Thy
		Godhead there is a Tri
	iiyiyil! Lord; not	nity of Perfons ; — I be
	One only Perfon,	lieve in Thee, O Father,
	but Three Perfons in	Son, and Holy Ghoft, in
	One Subftance. For	whofe Name I was bap
	that which we be lieve of the glory of	tized, to whofe Service I am religioufly devoted : all Glory be to Thee.
	the Father, the fame
	we believe of the
	Son, and of the Ho-	9

to the Holy Altar.

123

Communion. ly Ghoft, without any difference or in equality. Therefore with Angels,

Devotions.

I believe, I admire, I love, I praife, I adore Thee, O mott BlefTed and Glorious Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghoft, for being the joint Au thors of our Salvation : all Glory be to Thee.

After each of which Prefaces ft all immedi ately befung3 orjaidy

THEREFORE with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Thy glorious Name ; evermore praifing Thee, and faying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hofts, heaven and earth are full of Thy glory : Glory be to Thee, O Lord moft High. Amen.

124

Bijhop Kens Approach

Communion. Then /hall the Prieft, kneeling down at the Lord's Table, Jay in the name of all them that Jhall receive the Commu nion, this Prayer fol lowing.

Devotions,

O bleffed Saviour, I know that there is no food can ftrengthen my Soul, but Thy Body, no cordial can revive my drooping obedience, but Thy Blood; — and it is Thy moft bleffed Body and Blood I hunger and thirft after; — O gracious Lord, grant that I, and all that communicate with me, may feel It's faving efficacy. O feed, O re- frefh, O nourifh our Souls with It to life everlafting, and that for Thy own infinite mercy fake, which moved Thee to offer up Thy Body and Blood for us ! Amen, Amen.

E do not prefume to come to this Thy Table, O merciful Lord, trufting in our own righteouf- nefs, but in Thy manifold and great mer cies. We are not worthy fo much as to gather up the crumbs under Thy Table.

to the Holy Altar.

But Thou art the fame Lord, whofe pro perty is always to have mercy : Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, fo to eat the Flefh of Thy dear Son Jefus Chrift, and to drink His Blood, that our finful bodies may be made clean by His Body, and our fouls warned through His moft precious Blood, and that we may evermore dwell in Him, and He in us. Amen.

Devotions.

O gracious Lord, pardon all my failings, accept all my prayers, and praifes, and fupply all my wants. Lord, give me grace, in imitation of the blefled Spirits above, to fet Thee always before me ; — O fix my ferious contemplation on Thee. Thy Will and Thy Commands are moft holy, juft and good, and condefcending to our weaknefs, and by no means grievous : O give me Grace confcientioufly to ob- ferve them.

O Father Almighty, though Thou filleft all places, yet Thy Glory is moft manifefted in Heaven, and there Thy Majefty does moft illuftrioufly dwell, and to Thy Throne there we are to lift up our hearts, when we pray. O let my foul fly up to Thee, when I pray, in heavenly thoughts, and defires, and love.

I25

126

Bijhop Ken's Approach

Communion. When the Prieft, flanding before the Table , hathjo ordered the Bread and Wine, that he may with the more readinefs and decency break the Bread before the peo ple, and take the Cup into his hands, he fliall Jay the Prayer ofConJecratlon asfol- loweth.

Devotions.

O Thou Bleffed Spirit, the Comforter, purify my Soul, and infufe Thy Love into it, and confecrate it to be Thy Temple, and fix Thy Throne im- moveably there, and fet all my affeftions on fire, that my heart may be a continual Sacrifice of Love offered up to Thee, and the flame may be ever afpiring towards Thee.

ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who of Thy tender mer cy didfl give Thine only Son Jefus Chrift to fuffer death upon the Crofs for our redemption ; Who made there (by His one oblation of Himfelf once offered) a full, perfect, and fufficient facrifice, ob lation, and fatisfaction, for the fins of the whole world, and did inftitute, and in His holy Gofpel command us to continue, a perpetual memory of that His precious

to the Holy Altar.	127
death, until His coming again ; Hear us,
O merciful Father, we moft humbly be-
feech Thee ; and grant that we receiving
thefe Thy creatures of bread and wine,
according to Thy Son our Saviour Jefus
Chrift's holy infti-	Devotions
tution, in remem	At Consecration.
brance of His death	O Blefled Jefu, in the
and paffion, may be	Bread broken, I call to
partakers of His	mind Thy Body torn
moft blefled Body	with Whips, and Thorns, and Nails ; and in the
and Blood : Who,	Wine poured out, I call
in the fame Night	to mind Thy precious
that He was betray	Blood, med for my Sins.
ed, (d\ took Bread;	Glory be to Thee, O
•* \ / and when He had given thanks,(£) He	Lamb of God, that didft offer Thyfelf a Sacrifice to take away the fins of	(a) Here the Priefl is to take the Paten Into
brake it, and gave it	the whole World. Lord	his hands :
to His difciples, fay	have mercy on me, and	(b) And here to break
ing, Take, eat, (c )	take away mine alfo.	the Bread :
this is my Body		(c) And
which is given for		here to lay bis band up
you : Do this in Re^		on all the Bread:
membrance of me.		(d) Here
Likewife after Sup	Glory be to Thee, O	be is to take tbe Cup into
per He (d) took the	Jefu, who didft inftitute	bis hand :

128

(e) And here to lay his hand upon every "vejjel, (be it Chalice or Flagon) in "which there is any ffine to be confecrated.

BiJJwp Kens Approach

Devotions At Confecration. the Holy Eucharift in both Kinds, and haft commanded Both to be received, both the Bread and Wine, both Thy Body broken, and Thy Blood (bed.

Communion. Cup ; and, when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, faying, Drink ye all of this ; for this(<?) is my Blood of the New Teftament, which is med for you and for many for the remif- fion of fins: Do this, as oft as ye mall drink it, in remem brance of me. Amen.

Then fliall the Minifter firft receive the Communion in both kinds himjelf, and then proceed to deliver the fame to the Bijhops, Priefts, and Deacons, in like manner, (if any be prefent,) and after that to the People alfo in order, into their Hands, all meekly kneeling.

to the Holy Altar.

Devotions Whilft others are Communicating.

MY God, whom have I in Hea ven but Thee ? and there is none on earth I defire, in companion of Thee.

As the Hart panteth after the Water- brooks, fo panteth my Soul after Thee, O God.

My Soul is a-thirft for Thee, O God, my God.

Blefled Saviour, I am Thine, I am wholly Thine, for Thou haft bought me with a price, with the ineftimable price of Thy own blood !

Lord, fuffer not the price of Thy own Blood to perim, and I will always glorify Thee in my Body, and in my Spirit, which are Thine.

If there be many Communicants, and thou haft much vacant time, and doft want devout matter to employ thy thoughts till all have communi cated, thou mayeft then repeat the Thankfgiv- ing for Chrift's fufferings, p.p. 63 to the end of page 68, or the Prayer,/./. 72 to 74, either in whole or in part, as thou feeft it needful.

129

PJalm Ixxiii.

Pfalm xlii.

I Cor. vi.

130

Heb. viii. 12.

Bijhop Kens Approach

Devotions At going to the Altar.

N the multitude of Thy mercies, O Lord God, do I now Approach Thy Altar : — O pardon my fins, and receive me gra- cioufly. Amen, Amen.

Devotions When the Prieft cotneth towards yeu.

LORD God, I now defire to renew my Covenant with Thee, and to feal it in this Sacrament !

Lord, put Thy Laws into my mind, and write them in my heart, and for the Paffion of Thy Son, which I now commemorate, be merciful to my unrighteoufnefs j — my fin and my iniquities remember no more ; — and be Thou my God, and I will be Thy Servant.

Glory be to Thee, O Crucified Love, who at Thy laft fupper didft ordain the Holy Eucharift,the Sacrament and Feaft of Love. Amen, Amen.

to the Holy Altar.	'31
Communion.
When the Minifter	Devotions
delivereth the Bread	After receiving the
to any one, he Jhall fay,	Bread.
	Glory be to Thee, O
te||| of our	Lord, who feedeft me
	with the Bread of Life.
S^Vr TiS^m -*"*t"fi IPiIlQ	O Lord God, who
'^^^•^is^* «*
Chrift, which was	didft fandlify us by the
given for thee, pre-	offering of the Body of
ferve thy body and	Jefus once for all, fan&ify
foul unto everlafting life. Take and eat	me, — even me, O Hea venly Father ! Amen.
this in remembrance
that Chrift died for
thee, and feed on
Him in thy heart by
faith with thankf-
giving.

132

Eijhop Kens Approach

Communion.

And the Minifter that delivereth the Cup to any one3 /hall

Chrift, which was fhed for thee, pre- ferve thy body and foul unto everlafting life. Drink this in remembrance that Chrift's Blood was fhed for thee, and be thankful.

Devotions After receiving the Cup.

Glory be to Thee, O Lord Jefus, who permit- teft me to drink of the Fountain of Life freely !

My Beloved is mine, and I am His.

Bleffed Saviour, Thou haft loved us, and warned us from our fins in Thy own Blood, and there fore to Thee be Glory and Dominion, for ever and ever. Amen, Amen.

to the Holy Altar.

Devotions and Tbankf giving after Receiving.

|LORY be to Thee, O Jefus, my Lord and my God, for thus feeding my Soul with Thy moft Bleffed Body and Blood. O let Thy Heavenly Food transfufe new life, and new vigour into my Soul, and into the Souls of all that communicate with me, that our Faith may daily increafe, — that we may all grow more humble, and contrite for our Sins, — that we may all love Thee, and ferve Thee, and delight in Thee, and praife Thee more fervently, more incef- fantly than ever we have done heretofore. Amen, Amen.

O how plentiful is Thy goodnefs, my Lord, and my God, which Thou haft laid up for thofe that fear Thee, which Thou haft laid up for thofe that put their truft in Thy mercy !

Was it not love infinite enough, deareft Lord, to give Thyfelf for me on the Crofs ? Was not that Sacrifice of Thyfelf fufEcient to expiate the fins of the whole World ? What, Lord, couldft Thou then do more for me ?

All the mighty Hoft of Heaven ftood amazed to fee the Blood of God ftied, to fee their King of Glory, to Whom from the firft moment of their Being they had fung their Hallelujahs, nailed to a Crofs ; and all this to fave finners !

Sure, Lord, none of all thofe bleffed Spirits, with all the glorious Illuminations they had, could ever

'33

Pfalm xxxi. 19.

I Peter i. 12.

Epb. Hi. 10.

Bijhop Ken's Approach

have imagined, how Thou couldft give Thyfelf more to us than Thou haft done.

And yet for all this, Thou haft wrought new miracles of love for us, and as if it had not been love enough to have given Thyfelf for us on the Crofs, Thou haft found out a way to give Thyfelf to us in the Holy Sacrament, to unite Thyfelf to us with the moft intimate Union that 'tis poffible to conceive, to become the very food, the life, the ftrength, the fupport of my foul, to become one with me, to be come the very foul of my foul !

O Lord God, this is fo unconceivable a Blefling, this is fo Divine an Union, that the very Angels, who fo much defire to look into the great Myftery of our Redemption, who learn Thy manifold Wif- dom from Thy Church, and frequent the places of Thy publick Worfhip, do crowd about our Altars, and with awful admiration contemplate the Holy Sacrament !

What thanks, then, gracious Lord, can I return to Thee for thofe wonders of love Thou haft mowed to me wretched linner, which the very Angels, who never finned, fo much admire !

O deareft Lord, raife Thou my devotion to the higheft pitch it can poffibly reach, to praife Thee ; enlarge my Soul to its utmoft extent to love Thee !

How can I ever more offend fuch riches of Mercy, as are in Thee, O Crucified Saviour ! and yet, whilft I carry this body of fin about me, I fear I fhall ; but, Lord, I do from my heart renounce and abhor all things that difpleafe Thee, I refolve to the utmoft

to the Holy Altar.

of my power to refift all temptations, and to become as totally Thine, as my frail nature will permit me.

0 Gracious Lord, Who haft fo infinitely loved us, and given us everlafting Confolation, and good Hope through Grace, comfort my heart, and for ever efta- blifh it in every good Word and Work !

Blefllng, and Honour, and Glory, and Power, be unto Him that fitteth on the Throne, and unto the Lamb for ever !

Rejoice in the Lord Jefus, O my Soul, for of Him cometh my Salvation.

1 will love Thee, O Lord my King, and I will praife Thy Name for ever and ever !

Glory be to Thee, O Lord God, for giving me this blefTed opportunity of coming to Thy Altar ! O grant I may never more pollute my Soul, which Thou haft now made Thy Temple to refide in, Who art the God of Purity !

Praife the Lord, O my Soul ; while I live, will I praife the Lord ; as long as I have any Being, I will fing praifes unto Thee, O blefled Saviour, my King and my God.

O gracious Lord, pardon all my failings, accept all my prayers and praifes, and fupply all my wants. Amen, Amen.

136

Bifhop Kens Approach

Then Jhall the Prieft Jay the Lord's Prayer^ the People repeating after him eve ry Petition.

UR Father, which art in heaven. Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trefpafles, As we forgive them that trefpafs againft us. And lead us not into temptation ; But deliver us from evil : For Thine is the Kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

After Jhall be J "aid as follow eth :

LORD and heavenly Father, we Thy humble fervants entire ly defire Thy fatherly goodnefs mercifully to accept this our facrifice of praife and thankfgiving ; moft humbly befeeching Thee to grant, that by the merits and death of Thy Son Jefus Chrift, and through faith in His blood, we and all Thy whole Church may obtain remif- fion of our fins, and all other benefits of

to the Holy Altar. 137

His paflion. And here we offer and pre- fent unto Thee, O Lord, ourfelves, our fouls and bodies, to be a reafonable, holy, and lively facrifice unto Thee ; humbly befeeching Thee, that all we, who are partakers of this holy Communion, may be fulfilled with Thy grace and heavenly benediction. And although we be un worthy, through our manifold fins, to offer unto Thee any facrifice, yet we be- feech Thee to accept this our bounden duty and fervice ; not weighing our merits, but pardoning our offences, through Jefus Chrift our Lord ; by whom, and with whom, in the unity of the Holy Ghoft, all honour and glory be unto Thee, O Father Almighty, world without end. Amen.

Or this.

'LMIGHTY and everliving God, we mod heartily thank Thee, for that Thou doft vouchfafe to feed us, who have duly received thefe holy myfteries, with the fpiritual food of the moft precious Body and Blood of Thy Son our Saviour Jefus Chrift ; and doft

'38

Bifhop Kens Approach

afTure us thereby of Thy favour and good- nefs towards us ; and that we are very members incorporate in the myftical body of Thy Son, which is the blefled company of all faithful people ; and are alfo heirs through hope of Thy everlafting king dom, by the merits of the moft precious death and paflion of Thy dear Son. And we moft humbly befeech Thee, O heavenly Father, fo to affift us with Thy grace, that we may continue in that holy fellow- Ihip, and do all fuch good works as Thou haft prepared for us to walk in j through Jefus Chrift our Lord, to whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghoft, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

'Then Jhall befaid or Jung.

LORY be to God on high, and in earth peace, good will towards men. We praife Thee, we blefs Thee, we worfhip Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.

to the Holy Altar.

O Lord, the only-begotten Son Jefu Chrift ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takeft away the fins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takeft away the fins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takeft away the fins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that fitteft at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.

For Thou only art holy ; Thou only art the Lord ; Thou only, O Chrift, with the Holy Ghoft, art moft high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

140

Bijlwp Ken's Approach

Communion.

Then the Prieft (or Bi/hop if he be pre- Jent) Jhall let them depart with this BleJJ- ing.

Communion.

peace of God, which pafT- eth all underftand- ing,keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of His Son Jefus Chrift our Lord : and the blefling of God Almighty, the Fa ther, the Son, and the Holy Ghoft, be amongft you, and remain with you always. Amen.

Devotions.

To God the Father, Who firft loved us, and made us accepted in the Beloved; — to God the Son, Who loved us, and wafti'd us from our Sins in His own Blood ; — to God the Holy Ghoft, Who fheds the Love of God abroad in our hearts, be all Love, and all Glory, for time, and for eterni ty. Amen.

to the Holy Altar.

Colletts to bejald after the Offertory, when there is no Communion.

COLLECTS.

ASSIST us mercifully, O Lord, in thefe our fupplications and prayers, and difpofe the way of Thy fervants towards the attainment of everlafting falvation ; that among all the changes and chances of this mortal life, they may ever be defended by Thy moft gracious and ready help ; through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

O Almighty Lord, and everlafting God, vouchfafe, we befeech Thee, to di rect, fanctify, and govern both our hearts and bodies in the ways of Thy laws, and in the works of Thy Commandments ; that through Thy moft mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preferved in body and foul ; through our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. Amen.

Grant, we befeech Thee, Almighty God, that the words, which we have heard this day with our outward ears, may

141

142

Bijhop Kens Approach

through Thy grace be fo grafted inwardly in our hearts, that they may bring forth in us the fruit of good living, to the honour and praife of Thy Name ; through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

Prevent us, O Lord, in all our doings with Thy moft gracious favour, and fur ther us with Thy continual help, that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in Thee, we may glorify Thy holy Name, and finally by Thy mercy obtain ever- lafting life ; through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, the Fountain of all wif- dom, Who knoweft our neceflities before we afk, and our ignorance in afking ; We befeech Thee to have compaflion upon our infirmities ; and thofe things, which for our unworthinefs we dare not, and for our blindnefs we cannot afk, vouchfafe to give us, for the worthinefs of Thy Son Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, Who haft promifed to hear the petitions of them that afk in Thy Son's Name ; We befeech Thee mercifully to incline Thine ears to us that have made

to the Holy Altar.

now our prayers and fupplications unto Thee ; and grant, that thofe things, which we have faithfully afked according to Thy will, may effectually be obtained, to the relief of our neceffity, and to the fetting forth of Thy glory ; through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

Upon the Sundays, and other holy days (if there be no Communion] /hall be Jaid all that is appointed at the Communion, until the end of the general Prayer (For the whole State of Chrift's Church militant here in earth) together with one or more of theje Collecls laft before rehearjed, conclud ing with the BleJ/ing.

If any of the Bread and Wine remain of that which was confecrated, it Jhall not be carried out of the Church, but the Priejl, and Juch other of the Communicants as he Jhall then call unto him, Jhall immediately after the Blejfing, reverently eat and drink the fame.

FTER the congregation is dif- mifTed, I advife you at the firft opportunity to go into the pri vacy of your own chamber, and there to give God thanks for that great blefling, of which He has now made you a partaken

A Form of general Thank/giving.

10RTHY art Thou, O Lord of Heaven and Earth, to receive Glory>and Honour, and Power, for Thou haft created all things, and for Thy pleafure they are, and were created ! Thou haft made Heaven, the Heaven of Heavens, with all their Hoft, the Earth and all things that are therein ; — Thou preferveft them all, and the Hoft of Hea ven praifeth Thee !

Glory be to Thee, O Heavenly Father, for giving Thy Only Son to die for my .

Rev. iv. 8.

Nehem, ix. 6.

146

Bifhop Ken's Approach

fins, and for all the Spiritual bleflings He \ has purchafed for me, — for my Baptifm, ! and all the opportunities Thou giveft me ' of ferving Thee, or of receiving the Holy j Eucharift ; for whatever fin I have efcaped, j for whatever good I have done, or thought, for all my helps of Grace, and hopes of Heaven, Glory be to Thee !

Pra'ife the Lord, O my Soul, and all that is within mey praife His Holy Name.

Glory be to Thee, O Lord Jefus, for Thy inexpreflible Love to Loft man : Glory be to Thee, O Lord, for conde- fcending to take our frail nature on Thee : Glory be to Thee, for all Thy Heavenly Doctrine to inftruct us, Thy great Mira cles to convince us, and Thy unblameable Example to guide us !

Glory be to Thee, O blefled Jefus, for Thy Agony and Bloody Sweat, for all the torments and anguifh of Thy bitter Paf- fion !

Glory be to Thee, O blefled Jefus, for Thy Glorious Refurredlion, and Afcenfion to Heaven, and Interceffion for us at the right hand of Thy Father !

to the Holy Altar.

O Gracious Lord, Thou that haft done fo much for me, how can I ever fufficiently praife and love Thee !

Praife the Lord Jefus, O my Soul, and all that is within me, fraife His Holy Name !

Glory be to Thee, O bleffed Spirit, Glory be to Thee, for all the miraculous gifts and graces Thou didft beftow on the Apoftles, to fit them to convert the World, and for infpiring the Sacred Penmen of Holy Scripture !

Glory be to Thee for inftilling holy thoughts into my Soul, for all the ghoftly ftrength, and fupport, and comfort, and illumination we receive from Thee ; for all Thy preventing, and reftraining, and fanctifying Grace, glory be to Thee !

Blefled Spirit ! let me never more by my fins grieve Thee who art the Author of Life, and Joy to me !

Praife the Lord, O my Soul, and all that is within me, praife His Holy Name.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghoft. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever mall be, world without end. Amen.

148	Approach to the Holy Altar.
		EMEMBER that when you
%ls!fc^
	IgUftj	have received the holy Sacra
		ment your greateft work is then
		but beginning, which is, to ob-
	ferve all	the promifes you have made to
	God of future Obedience, and therefore 'tis
	good for	you to read over now and then,
	and to renew, your refolutions, and to ex
	amine yourfelf how you have kept them,
	that you	may preferve in your foul a fe-
	rious fenfe of your duty, and a confcien-
	tious care to perform it.
		FINIS.
	C. WHITTINGHAM, TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE.

Lately publijhed In om Volume The Life of Bijhop Ken, by a Layman.

DATE DUE

CAT. NO. 1137

78413

514? ,C5K4