Page images
PDF
EPUB

instance of all who shall solemnly profess themselves to be of the number of thy people.

Be with thy ministering servants; assist and encourage them in their labours; and receiving largely, may they be qualified to dispense largely of the bread and of the water of life.

Now, O Lord, we beseech thee to hear us. Let not sin come between us and thee. Let not the imperfection of our prayers be the measure of thy gracious remembrance and regard. But let thine eyes be open, and thine ears attent unto the prayers which we have made unto thee. Let thy priests be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints shout aloud for joy. And all that we ask is for Christ's sake and to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be glory and dominion both now and for ever. Amen.

FIRST PRAYER FOR THE MORNING OF A COMMUNION SABBATH.

O THOU who hast given us thy word to be a light to our feet, and a lamp to our path; who hast established thy Sabbath and thine ordinances as means of grace, and as tokens of thy favour, enable us this day to wait upon thee in the exercise of faith and love; may we have grace to serve thee acceptably; and, in all our services, may we have reason to say, truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

We bless thee, O Lord, for the great love wherewith thou hast loved us. We adore, we praise, we

magnify thee, that thou hast not cast us off as our iniquities have deserved, but that thou hast had mercy upon us, because thy mercy endureth for ever. We bless God for Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of the Father, who came into the world to take away sin for ever, by the sacrifice of himself. And we bless and magnify him who rejoiced in the purpose and grace of his Father; who when sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not, stood forth, our willing substitute and all-sufficient Saviour, saying, " to do thy will I take delight." We rejoice in him our covenant Head, our compassionate and almighty Redeemer, who took upon himself the burden of our transgressions and of our sufferings; who gave his back to the smiters, and his cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; who hid not his face from shame and spitting, but in the boundless depth of his love for us, humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Eternal thanks be unto him who loved us, and who washed us from our sins in his own blood. And thanks, eternal thanks be unto him, the Spirit of all grace, who rested upon the Saviour, anointing him to preach good tidings to the meek, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. We bless, we magnify, we praise the name of the Lord our God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for the love of the Father, the sacrifice of the Son, and the saving grace of the Lord the Spirit.

Nor would we bless thee merely for the great love wherewith thou hast loved us, but also for the manner in which our obligations are brought before our

minds, and impressed upon our hearts. We thank thee for the Supper of our Lord, in which the united love of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is exhibited in lively signs, and by affecting memorials. And we humbly pray that our minds may this day be in a suitable frame for approaching thy table, and partaking of the appointed emblems of our Saviour's sufferings and dying love. Through the memorials presented to our senses, may we perceive the broken body and the shed blood of our crucified, but now risen and glorified Redeemer. With joy may we partake of the spiritual provision, which he hath prepared for the nourishment and comfort of his people; and with revived faith, may we realise the presence of the Master of the Feast, and feed on that flesh which is meat indeed, and drink of that blood which is drink indeed.

And, O thou blessed and gracious Saviour, who didst freely give thyself for the sin of the world, despise not thou the sighing of the broken and contrite heart that shall this day breathe forth its desires and its sorrows at thy table. Excite into lively exercise the languid graces of thy people. Change a weak faith and a trembling hope into a spirit of holy and happy confidence in the truth of thy word, and the certainty of thy promises; and while thy people thirst for thee as in a dry and thirsty land, to see thy power and thy glory as they have seen thee in the sanctuary, let their souls be filled as with marrow and fatness, that their mouths may praise thee with joyful lips.

To thy mercy and tender compassion we commend those who, by the restraints of thy providence, are at this time denied the privilege of access to thy table. Visit them in their solitary chambers: commune with them from off thy mercy-seat: send into their hearts a double portion of thy Holy Spirit: and let each of them experience that it is no vain thing to wait upon thee, whether in the closet or in the sanctuary, and that while a table is spread for the great congregation, there is enough and to spare for the meanest and the most solitary, the most deserted and distressed, who belong to our Father's house.

Assist thy ministering servants in the dispensation of thy word and ordinances. Enable them, by thy grace, to overcome the distractions and embarrassments of their situation in the church. While they labour and care for others, may they be remembered as dear children by thee; and may the bread of life which they distribute to their fellow-men, prove to their own souls an abundant source of strength, and comfort, and joy.

Let thy church universal prosper and flourish. Abundantly bless the provision of Zion. Fill every hungry soul, and satisfy every longing soul with goodness; and let the voice of rejoicing and salvation be in all the tabernacles of the righteous.

Now, unto him who hath chosen Zion, and desired it for his habitation; unto God only wise, be all glory and praise, through Jesus Christ, world without end. Amen.

FIRST PRAYER FOR THE EVENING OF A
COMMUNION SABBATH.

O LORD, at the close of this day we desire to come before thee with the voice of thanksgiving and praise.

We acknowledge the goodness and grace we have this day experienced; and with hearts deeply sensible of our manifold obligations, we would unite in rendering to thee the homage of our humble and grateful acknowledgments. Thou, O Lord, art our Creator, our Preserver, our bountiful Benefactor; but above all, thou art our Redeemer, the gracious and compassionate Jehovah, who hast pitied and saved us in our low and lost estate.

We thank thee, gracious God, for what we have this day seen, and tasted, and heard, and handled, of the word of life. We bless thee that Jesus Christ hath this day been plainly set forth before us crucified and slain, and that in him all the blessings of salvation have been brought under our view, and presented to our acceptance. We bless thee not only for Jesus Christ, but for all those ordinances which recall him to our recollection, and are the means, through the grace of thy Spirit, of applying the benefits of the Gospel to our hearts.

O may those of us who this day have approached the Saviour's table, find that it hath been no vain thing to wait upon him in the ways of his own appointment. May the memorials of his dying love minister peace and joy to our souls: may we be sen

U

« PreviousContinue »