eted with temptations, entangled and overpower'd with many evil paffions: And there is none that can help, none that can deliver and fave, but thou Lord Gop my Saviour; into whofe hands I commit my self, and all that is mine, that thou mayft watch over me, and conduct me fafe to Life everlafting. "Receive me to the Praise and Glo66 ry of thy Name, thou, who haft provided thy own Body and Blood for my meat " and drink. Grant, Lord GOD of my "Salvation, that in proportion to my fre❝ quenting thy Myftery, the paffion of my "devotion may ftill more and more in❝crease.

CHAP. V.

10

Of the Dignity of the Sacrament, and of the Priestly Function.

I.

IF

The VOICE of the BELOVED.

F thou hadst the purity of an Angel, and the fanctity of John the Baptift; thou wouldst not be worthy to receive, nor handle this Sacrament. For this is not

a thing due to the merits of Men, for Man to confecrate, and handle the Sacrament of Christ, and to receive for food the bread of Angels. A grand Myftery this! And great alfo is the dignity of Priefts, who are honoured with a privilege, not imparted to the Angels themfelves. For Priefts régularly ordained in the Church, are the only perlons that have commiffion to adminiIter, and to confecrate the Body of Chrift. The Priest indeed is the Inftrument and Minifter, using the Form of words appointed by Christ himfelf: But God is the principal Actor therein, and the invifible Worker of this Miracle of Mercy.

II. Thou oughteft therefore more to believe the Omnipotent Gop, in this Superexcellent Sacrament, than thy own fenfe, or any outward and vifible fign. And therefore thou art to approach to this holy action with fear and reverence. Confider thy character, and whofe minifter thou wert made by impofition of the Bishop's hands, Behold, thou wert ordained a Prieft, and

In the Latin: To Celebrate.

In the original Latin: But Gob is the principal Attor therein, and the invisible Worker; to whofe will every thing is fubject, and to whose command all things are obedient.

confe

confecrated to adminifter; fee now, that at all proper times thou offer this Sacrifice to GOD with fidelity and devotion, and that thou carry thy felf irreprovably in the whole conduct of thy life. Thou haft not lightned thy burthen, but art now bound with a ftraiter band of difcipline, and art obliged to a greater perfection of Sanctity. A Prieft ought to be adorned with all graces, and to be a pattern of good life to others. His converfation ought not to be fuited to the ordinary customs and fashions of the world, but conformed to the Angels in Heaven, or to the Saints that excel in virtue upon Earth.

III. A Prieft invefted in his holy garments is Chrift's Vice-gerent; to fupplicate and humbly pray to Gop for himfelf, and CC 4

for

The Original runs thus: A Brief array'd in his holy Vements is Chrift's Vicegerent to make humble Supplications and Prayers to GOD for himself, and for all the People. He bas behind and before him the fign of the Lord's Cross, for a continual Memorandum of Christ's Paffion. He carries it before him figured upon his Robe over his Surplice, to the End he may carefully eye the Footsteps of Christ, and with Zeal and fervour endeavour to trace them. He carries it behind him, that he may learn calmly and patiently to bear for GoD's Sake all the Evils and Calamities that Men may load him with. Again, he carries the Crofs before him, to put him in Mind of bewailing his own Sins: He carries it behind him, that he may compaffionately lament the Sins of others also,

for all the people; to lament his own fins, and the fins of others; to be a Mediator between GoD and the finner; and never to ceafe his holy importunity, till he hath prevailed for grace and mercy. When he administers the holy Sacrament, he honours GOD, rejoyces the Angels, edifies the Church, comforts the afflicted, ftrengthens the feeble, and renders himself a partaker of all Bleffings.

CHAP. VI.

A Question touching a Preparatory Exercife before the Sacrament.

.I.

The VOICE of the DISCIPLE.

WH

HENI confider thy Worthiness, O Lord, and my own vileness, I am seized with a horrible trembling, and

alfo, and look upon himself as a Kind of Mediator interpofed between GOD and the Sinner; and never cease from Prayer and Holy Oblation, 'till he hath merited to obtain for them the Grace and Mercy defired. When the Prieft celebrates, he honours GOD; he rejoyces the Angels; he edifies the Church; he procures Grace to the Living and reft to the Dead; and draws down upon himself Blessings of all Kinds.

am

am utterly confounded in my self. For if I approach not, I fly Life: And if I intrude unworthily, I incur thy difpleasure. What therefore fhall I do, my God, my helper, and counsellor in difficulties and neceffities?

II. Do thou teach me the right way. Appoint me fome fhort Exercise proper and fuitable to the holy Communion. For it is good to know in what manner, and with what degrees of devotion and reverence I ought to prepare my heart for thee, in order profitably to receive thy Sacrament, and to perform fo exalted an act of Religion.

CHAP. VII.

Of the Searching of our own Confcience, and Purpofe of Amendment.

I.

The VOICE of the BELOVED.

A

BOVE all things, it behoveth the Prieft of God to approach to the adminiftring, handling, and receiving of this

In the Original: Or even to celebrate thy great and divine Sacrifice.

Sacrament,