a. Specimen Of a Liturgy Design1 d for one Use of a Private Congregation. . . . London, 17 53. YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY A SPECIMEN "I OF A LITURGY Defign'd for the U S E OF A PRIVATE CONGREQATION. WITH A LETTER TO A Dissenting Minister, REPRESENTING The Expediency of Staled Forms of Prayer for Public Worship.. A privato di£tum eft, quicquid dictum, fcrip- tumve eft. Quod fi verum eft, publicum eft; fi quid, fit falfum, nollern di&um, et quamvis dix- erim pro meo non agnofco. J. Slichting. ad Leclorem. LONDON: Printed for A- MILLAR, in the Strand M, DCC,LIII. Price is. 64. t Si I ADVERTISEMENT. IT is. not at all material to Inform the reader, upon what confiderations the following Specimen is now made public, or for whofe particular fervice it was originally intended. The Editor hath only authority to fay, that as it was never defigned in this manner to be communicated to the world, much lefs would it now be fuppofed to didtate to any denomination of Chriftians what- foever. The fubjedt indeed, is of fo ferious and a general concern, that it may poflibly be thought a little too prefumptudus for fuch a Specimen as this to be exhibited by a private hand : but if any apology is necefTary for the A 2 publi- [iv] publication of it, the fame, perhaps, will be beft fiipplied from thofe very rea- fpns which -oeeafioaed its bqng d«rw;$ up at firft, and which, as communica ted in the following letter to a friend, we here fubjoin, in-ftead of all further Prelace. or Introduction. Dear I * ] Dear Sir, SINCE I engaged in the minifterial fervice among the DhTenters, I have perceived- many, and as they ftill con tinue to appear to me, very, material, objections, againft the mannef in which the duty of public prayer is per formed in our afTemblies. To enter-- upon "the* feveral arguments, which, with- fb much, warmth and vio lence of temper, ; have been,- often urg ed for, and againft? the ufe of fet forms of public prayer, would be te dious to myfelf, and to you unnecef- fery. The circumftance, I confefs^ which has the greateft weight with me, and bears hardeft upon our me thod, is the tendency it hath in ge neral to deftroy the very nature of B prayer [2] prayer itfelf, considered as a direct, fo> lemn addrefs to, and immediate inter- courfe with, the Almighty. This, you will fay, is a material ob jection indeed ! It will be rrecefTary then, that I lay before you the reafons up on" which it is founded: and this I mall do in my ufual manner, with that unreferved opennefs and freedom, with which the fentiments of friend- fhip, when accompanied with a love of truth, will be communicated. The cafe then to me, appears brief ly to be this. By leaving that part of public wor- mip, which we are now fpeaking of, entirely to the care and performance of the rninifter, 'tis to be feared our people are too apt to look upon it as his buiinefs, and not to confider it, at leaft not fo much as they ought, as a duty [3 ] a duty in which they themfelves arc equally concerned. Nothing is more common when our people are making their observations upon their minifters, than to hear them fay, " I have tc heard fuch an one, and he prayed " but very indiffere'ntly ; or fuch an one cc and Jie prayed admirably well ;" but were you to afk thefe#very per- fons, how they themfelves had prayed at the fame time, they would pro bably be furpriz'd at the queftion; or at leaft give but a very indifferent ac count of the matter. Arid this perhaps is an unavoidable inconveniency, which will always take place, where focial prayer is not con ducted by fome public form. It muft be difficult, if we will fpeak honeftly, to have ths mind fixed upon the grand objedt of worfhip ; and to preferve in any intenfe and equal degree, thofe fen- timents of reverence, humility and ado- B 2 ration $ [4] ration ; that total bent and djredtiori of the foul towards Deity, fo very de ferable, nay, fo necelTary in all adts of real, communion with him: this, I fay, muffc be acknowledged difficult, whilft the ideas and affedtions of the worfhip-' er, fo very much depend upon ano ther's management: and the hearer's attention wholly hangs upon the lips of the fpeaker. But what if the latter is confidered, which I fear is often the cafe, as exerciiing only a perfonal gift ; and his performance looked upon as a trial of fkill, or a teft of orthodoxy ? what ! if fomething difagreeable in his voice, or manner ; or from fome acci dental hefitation and lofs for thought or utterance, his hearers are difgufted, or in pain for him ? what ! if from fome harfh or unguarded expreflion, fome particular adt of confeffion or prayer, in which they cannot heartily join, and which they could not pofli- bly [5] ly be aware of, they are all at once difconcerted ? nay, let me add, what ! if they are entirely delighted with eve- ' ry part of his fervice, and his words drop fweeter than honey or the honey comb; may they not probably, even in this cafe, be as far from filling up their part of the duty, as in any of the former ? yes, it is eafy e*hough to conceive that they may be perfectly charmed with his performance, and ftruck with admiration at the variety and turn of thought, the propriety of exprefiion, the copioufnefs of language, the eafe and decency of addrefs, and yet they themfelves may all the while do nothing lefs than pray. Thefe difadvantages attending the method in which public prayer is conducted in our congregations, I have briefly mentioned, fo far only as they concern the people: nor, with refpedt to the minifler himfelf, will they, in my [6] my appreheniion, be found lefs consi derable. Suppofe him learned, modeft, ingenuous ; fenfible of the greatnefs and dignity of the fervice, committed to his care ; himfelf a lover of elegance and propriety ; and confequently afraid and afhamed to fpeak any thing as the mouth of the people, which might ap pear low, unmeaning, and unworthy his character as a fcholar, or a leader of public devotion. Mult not even thefe ve ry qualities, in themfelves fo lovely, prove oftentimes a hindrance to his right performance of this duty ; fo far I mean as it relates to his own religious fenti- ments and temper ? Mull not the con cern he will be under to conduct this part of the public fervice, in a be coming and reputable manner, frequent ly make it a work rather of the head than of the heart ? Muft not his care for proper thoughts and language, even when he is adtually engaged in this duty, oftentimes fetter his mind, and confine m confine it to things below ? An untime ly conception half formed ; an unfuit- able phrafe almoft uttered j or an actual flip and impropriety in point of fenti- ment or expreliion, to others perhaps unnoticed, but felt by himfelf ; may not this fometimes raife in him a confcious blufh ; and fill him with fuch inward confufion, as muft greatly difcompofe his mind, and throw it very mifch off that fettled devout frame, which it ought to be in, when converfing with the Almighty This, I believe, every man, at one time or other, nay perhaps oftentimes, mult have found, who hath any fen- fibility for himfelf, or any refpedt for his auditors. For my own part, I will frankly confefs, this hath oftentimes been ir.y own cafe : efpecially, when I have occafionally preached to a ftrange congregation ; or where there have been many perfons of reputed good fenfe and [8] and difcernment; an ill-tim'd refpedt: for men hath difturbed my devotions towards God ; a concern to pleafe or affect them hath made me neglect a much greater concern ; I fpoke in the language of prayer for others, but for got alas ! to pray myfelf. Pudet bcec opprobria nobis. But allowing a man, by long habit, and a rich furniture of natural and ac quired abilities, to be ever fo well quali fied for difcharging this part of public worfhip ; yet after all, mult he not now and then find, that bodily difor- ders or worldly cares do greatly cloud and difturb the mind ; very much interrupt the freedom and eafe with which he ufed to carry on this exer- cife ; and render his whole perform ance of it dead and formal ? a circum- ftance, very uneafy and painful to every one [ 9 1 one who would offer unto God, a living and a reafonable fervice §. To remove thefe difficulties, and to remedy thofe inconveniencies, fo far as they concerned myfelf ; I refolved to colledr, and to endeavour to intro duce into my own congregation, fuch forms of public prayer as chriftians, of any denomination might bear a C part § Here it may poffibly be faid, " granting " the abovementioned objections againft our me- " thod of extemporary prayer to be juft, yet will " public ftated forms always fecure a right " temper and good affections in the worfhip- l( per V I do not by any means fuppofe that they will. It is not in the power of any outward fcheme or mode of worfhip to do this. All that I would fuggeft, is, that the latter method hath by far the advantage, and very fufficiently deferves the preference, if it is free from thefe material inconveniencies, to which the former feem3 to be fo fubjedt. The one can be no hindrance to a fettled, devout and praying frame of mind ; the other ( I fpeak only with refpect to public prayer ) I am afraid is oftentimes an actual interruption to it. [ I© ] part in ; containing nothing that favour ed of any party, nothing that was pe culiar to any fedt, nothing, in a word, but what all perfons, who meet toge ther for the great purpofes of religious worfhip, and godly edification, might honeftly join in. I fhall not at this time trouble you with all the reafons, which, with re fpedt to my congregation, have prevent ed the execution of this defign j and fhall only obfwve, that although fome of the moft fenfible of them would very willingly have fallen into the fcheme j yet upon further consideration, there was fufficient occafion to believe, that the generality, who, you know, take up their religion and way of wor fhip merely from cuftom, would be greatly fcandalized at the attempt, and tranfported into all thofe paffionate re- fentments, which bigotry enraged, and zeal inflamed and hardened by igno rance, [ II ] ranee, are apt to infpire in defence of old ufages, againft every appearance of encroachment and innovation. So that whenever I thought of put ting my defign into practice, I could not forbear imagining to myfelf, (if we may compare great things with fmall) the confufions which we are told hap pened at Edinburgh, when a public liturgy was firft attempted to be in troduced there ; the people, at the read ing of the fervice, immediately crying out, a Pope ! Antichrist ! and honcft 'Jennet Geddes flinging her ftool at the minifter's head ; with an out thou falfe thief dofi thou fay the mafs at my lug ? But ferioufly ; tho' my circumftances are fuch as oblige me, in prudence, to decline the above mentioned fcheme j yet I cannot forbear wifhing, that fome other minifter, whofe fituation may be more favourable to fuch a defign, and C 2 who [ 12 ] who may poffibly be fupported by a Sufficient number of confiderate and fen fible people, would at length make an attempt of this nature, and endeavour to introduce a practice, which, whate ver may be faid as to the gift of pray er, would, in my opinion, greatly pro mote the grace and spirit of it; would tend to fupport the diffenting intereft with reputation ; and take off not on ly the moft popular, but perhaps the moft reafonable objections that are raif- ed againft our way of worfhip. Indeed, I have often wondered, that our firft Diffenters, who, at leaft the moft emi nent of them, feem to have been no enemies to a public liturgy, did .not upon their feparation fet out upon this footing, and admit the ufe of a fcrip- tural and catholick form of common prayer : had they done fo, I doubt not but by this time a general comprehen- fion muft either have taken place ; or elfe the Diffenters in this kingdom would [ 13 ] , would have been a much more com pact, and refpectable body, than they are at prefent. I would not be thought to recom mend fuch a practice, as it might ' be ferviceable to us, merely as a party ; for you and I are of no party in re ligion -, otherwife I might fay, that the known inclinations of many in the e- ftablifhed church, for reforming their liturgy, might furnifh no improper oc casion for making the attempt I am Speaking of. Might not many ferious and fenfible people, who think there are very juft exceptions againft many parts of their public fervice, and who find fo little difpofition in their gover nors, to make any alterations however reafonable ; might they not very gladly come over to us, if they could once fee us making ufe of a liturgy, in which they could join with greater fatisfaction ? although 'till then, they are fhy of our affemblies ; [ H J afiemblies ; and chufe, and that perhaps very juftly, to adhere to fome public form tho' at the fame time they know that it is far from being fo perfect as they could wifh. Nay, might I not add, that fuch a ftep taken amongft us, would very poffiV bly have ftill further effects : it might foft- en old prejudices, which have been too much heightened on all fides ; it might convince thofe, who want to be convin ced, that we are not fuch ftiff, obfti- nate and wayward mortals as they took us for ; no enemies to a common pray er ; but could gladly join in a lefs ex ceptionable, and more charitable litur gy; it might make way for mutual compliances, and a better temper; and help forward, by degrees, a reform in the fervice of the national church ; an event, which, to all who confine not their religion to a feet, muft be highly defireable. As -[ «5l As to the form which I here fend you j which for reafons above declar ed, I put together for my own ufe ; and according to which I could wil lingly have conducted my part of the public worfhip ; you will obferve, that I have taken particular care to felect, what to me appeared, the beft parts of the eftablifhed liturgy. And this I was inclin'd to do, not only as it was pay ing a decent refpedt to what had long had the fandlion of the public ; not only as in fo critical an affair, it would carry a becoming appearance of diffi dence and modefty, and fecure me from the charge of too great vanity and pre- fumption ; but likewife on account of the real goodnefs of the offices them felves ; as I cannot think any thing can be formed fitter for common ufe, than many of the collects ; or that any o- thers could well be fubftituted in their room, which, in point of fentiment and language, [ i6] language, would be fo plain, fo Signi ficant, fo full and flowing. You will wonder perhaps, why I Should retain fo many of the refponfes -, nay, even put in feveral additional new ones ; whilft the ufe of any fuch thing is fo perfedtly ftrange and unheard of in our congregations ; but be pleafed to remem ber, what I before obferved, that in my opinion, our public prayers are entirely too much left to the performance of the minifter ; and that the people, by all means, ought to have a Share there in. The ufe of refponfes then, is ve ry well fitted to anfwer this purpofe : it gives the people a greater concern, and in a manner more nearly interefts them, in this part of public worfhip; it keeps them attentive and awake, by finding them Something to do ; helps them to confider, what they are about ; and, if pertinently applied, has a ten dency to raife, and fettle in their minds, fuch 1 1?1 fuch fentiments and reflections as are fuited to the particular fervice in which they are engaged ; nor can I help think ing, but that the total neglect of this cuftom amongft us, is one very great defect in our .method of public wor fhip. I have likewife adopted the ufe of fome other things, which are feldom, or never heard of in our affemblies ; the propriety of which, however, T believe you will be ready to allow, when, from the great neglect of family inftrudtion, and the growing ignorance too vifible among the generality of our people, there may be fome reafon to fear, that in a little while, if this is not the cafe already, there will be many among them unacquainted with thofe ©bfolete things, called the Creed, and the Ten Com mandments D But [ 10 ] But 'tis time that I finifh this long letter. The following papers I com mit to your perufal, and fubmit intirely to your judgment; wifhing I had full power to fay, Si quid novifti rectius iftis, Candidus imperti : Si non, his utere mecum. I am, Dear Sir, Your affured Friend and Servant. [ 19 ] SPECIMEN OF A L I T U R G Y Pefign'd for the USE of a Private Congregation. A Method for Morning Prayer. IN the Beginning of divine fervice, the minifter and people might very properly accoft each other, with the fol lowing good and pious wifh ; as it might help to re-mind them of the great bufi- nefs for which they are met together ; and produce in them a kind benevolent con- D and to all men : || [particularly to thofe who now defire tp .offer up their1 praife and thankfgivings for thy || When any defire to return praife. [46 ] thy late mercies vouchfafed unto them.] We blefs thee for our creation, prefervati- on, and all the bleffings of this life ; but a- bove all, for thine ineftimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jefus Chrift ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And we befeech thee give us that due fenfe of all thy mer cies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful ; and that we may Shew forth thy praife, not only with our lips, but in our lives ; by giving up ourfejves to thy fervice, and by walking before thee in ho linefs and righteoufnefs all our days, thro' Jefus Chrift, our Lord. Amen. Almighty God, who haft given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common fupplications unto thee ; and doft promife, that when two or three are gathered together in thy name, thou wilt grant their requefts : ful fil now, O Lord, the defires and petitions of thy fervants, as may be moft expedi ent I 47] ent for them ; granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come, life everlafting. Amen. The Grace of our Lord Jefus Chrift, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghoft, be with us all, ever more. Amen. ^ A Prayer that may be ufed before Sermon. O Lord, our heavenly Father, accom pany us, we befeech thee, in all our do ings, with thy moft gracious favour, and further us with thy continual help : in a particular manner we defire, that at this time thou wouldft engage the attention of thy fervants to thofe things which relate to their fpiritual improvement and edifi cation. Give unto us the fpirit of wif- dom and understanding in the knowledge of thee ; and as thou haft caufed all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning ; grant that we may in fuch wife hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly i digeft [48 1 digeft them ; that through the conifort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and by a patient continuance in well-doings ever hold faft, the blefled hope of ever lafting life, which thou haft given us iri our Saviour Jefus Chrift : in whofe name and words we addrefs ourfelves to thee : Our Father who art, &c. € A Prayer that may be faid after Sermon. Most gracious and everbleffed God, who alone canft encreafe and multiply all our bleflings ; we humbly pray, that as the rain cometh down from Heaven, and watereth the Earth, and maketh it to bring forth its fruit in due feafon : fo thy word which is now gone forth, may prof- per in the thing whereto it is fent, and accomplish the good end of righteous and godly instruction : may it be as feed fown in good ground, nor let the deceit- fulnefs of riches, or the cares of this life, choak it, and render it unfruitful; but grant, [49 1 grant, that thy fervants having heard the word, may in honeft and good hearts re ceive and keep the fame, and bring forth fruit with patience, to thy glory, and their own everlafting cqmfort, thro' JeSus Chrift our Lord. Amen. Now the very God of peace, fancti- fy you wholly ; and I pray God, your whole fpirit, and foul, and body, be pre- ferved blamelefs unto the coming of our Lord Jefus Chrift ; to him be glory and dominion, for ever and ever. Amen. $%&&¦/ 4J»! i [.'it/.' <«?&<*<' if*--- ;\,:,$2vn H [ JO] METHOD FOR EVENING PRAYER. HERE the morning fervice might be repeated to the conclufion of the Lord's Prayer ; or, if one would in dulge a little variety, the following me-i $hod might be made ufe of. Minister. The Lord be with you. People. i\.nd with thy fpirit. Mini-? t J'] Minister. Who can fay> I have made my heart clean, I am pure from Sin ? People* If I juftify myfelf, my own mouth will condemn me ; if I fay I am perfect, it Shall alfo prove me perverfe. Minister* If we fay that we have no fia, we de ceive ourfelves, and the truth is not in us. People. But if we confefs our fins, God h faithful and juft to forgive us our fins, and to cleanfe us from all unrighteoufnefs. Minister. Let us then, my beloved brethren, humbly acknowledge our fins before' God, and With lowly hearts and contrite fpirits, approach his gracious throne, fay-' ing, Minister and People. Almighty God, Father of our Lores Jefus Chrift ; Maker of all things, Judge H 2 of [ 52 ] of all Men ; we confefs that in many things we have all finned, and come Short of thy glory ; we bewail every of fence which at any time we have com mitted againft thy divine majefty, by thought, word, or deed. We would fincerely repent of, and be heartily forry for all our mifdoings ; we remember them with grief and Shame ; we intreat thy forgivenefs of them with all earneft- nefs and Humility : Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, O heavenly Father ; according to the riches of thy grace, in Chrift Jefus, forgive us all that is paft ; and grant that we may ever hereafter ferve and pleafe thee in newnefs of life, to the honour and glory of thy name, thro' Jefus Chrift, our Lord. Amen. Minister. As I live, faith the Lord, I have no pleafure in the death of the wicked, but that he turn from his way and live. People. [53 ] People. To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveneffes, though we have rebel led againft him. Minister. Return ye backfliding children, and I will heal your backflidings. People. Behold, we come unto thee, Tor thou art the Lord our God. Minister. Let us Pray. O Lord, oar heavenly Father, who art good and ready to forgive, and plen teous in mercy to all them that call upon thee ; who haft fent thy fon Jefus Chrift into the world, to redeem us from ini quity, and to aflure the remiffion of their fins unto all them that truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his holy Gofpel ; grant us, we humbly befeech thee, a well grounded hope of thy pardon and recon- i ciliation, [54] ciliation, by enabling us fincerely to com ply with thofe things, which thou haft eftablifhed as the neceffary conditions of obtaining it : May we break off our fins by righteoufnefs, and forfake them by a true repentance ; may we forgive all them who have any ways offended or in- jur'd us, as intirely and heartily, as we ©urfelves do defire or expedt forgivenefs ; that thus following thy commandments, O God, and walking from henceforth in thy holy ways, we may be delivered from alt our offences, and finally obtain ever lafting life, thro' Jefus Chrift, our Lord. Amen. Minister. When the wicked man turneth away from his wickednefs that he hath com mitted, and doth that which is lawful and right, he fhall fave his foul alive. People. In this the children of God are mani- feft, and the children of the Devil ; who- foever doth not righteoufnefs, is not of God [55 ] God, neither he that loveth not his bro ther. Minister. Be ye therefore kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Chrift Jefus, hath for^ given you. People. One man beareth hatred againft ano ther, and doth he feek pardon from the Lord ? He fheweth no mercy to a man like himfelf, and doth he afk forgivenefji of his own fins ? Minister. If ye forgive men their trefpafies, your heavenly Father will alfo forgive you ; but if ye forgive not men their trefpaffes, neither will your Father forgive your trek pafTes. Minister and People. Our Father who art in Heaven, hal-i lowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in Earth, as it is in Hea ven. Give us this day our daily bread. And [ 5^> ] And forgive us our trefpaffes, as we for give 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. Minister. O Lord, open thou our lips. People. And our mouths fhall fhew forth thy praife. PSALM C. Minister. Make a joyful noife unto the Lord, all ye lands ; ferve the Lord with gladnefs, come before his prefence with finging. People. Know ye that the Lord he is God, it is he that hath made us, and not we our- felves ; we are his people, and the. fheep of his pafture. Minister. Enter into his gates with thankfgiving, and I 57] 2nd into his courts with praife ; be thank ful unto him, and blefs his name. People. For the Lord is good ; his mercy is everlafting : and his truth endureth to all generations. PSALM CXLVIIL Minister. Praife ye the Lord ; praife ye the Lord from the Heavens j praife him in the heights. People. Praife ye him all his angels : praife ye him all his holts. Minister. Praife ye him Sun and Moon : praife him all ye Stars of light. People. Praife him ye Heavens of Heavens, and ye waters that are above the Heavens. Minister. Let them praife the name of the Lord : for he, commanded, and they were crea- ed. People. He hath alfo eftablifhed them for ever I and. [ 5§ J and ever ; he hath made a decree which Shall not pafs. Minister. Praife ye the Lord from the earth, ye dragons and all deeps. People. Fire and hail, fnow and vapour, Stor my wind fulfilling his word. Minister. Mountains and all hills, fruitful trees and all cedars. People. Beads and all cattle, creeping things, and flying fowl. Minister. Kings of the earth, and all people ; princes, and all judges of the earth. People. Both young men and maidens, old men and children. Minister. Let them praife the Lord ; for his name alone is excellent, his glory is a- bove the earth and heaven. Praife ye^he Lord. qr Here [ 59 ] ^[ Here might follow finging, which I- would always chufe to be fome Pfalm of praife : after that might be read fuch feledt portions of Sacred Scriptures, as Should be thought convenient. ^[ After the reading of the Sacred Scriptures, the Ten Commandments might be read, the people making the re fponfes following. Minister. God fpake thefe words, and faid, I am the Lord thy God : thou Shalt have none other gods but ME. People. Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law. Minister. Thou Shalt not make to thy felf any graven image, nor the likenefs of any thing that is in Heaven above, or in the Earth beneath, or in the water under the Earth. Thou fhalt not bow down to them nor worfhip them : for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, arid vifit the I 2 fins [ 6oJ fins of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and Shew mercy unto thou- fands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. People. Lord, have mercy upon us, and in cline our hearts to keep this law. Minister. Thou Shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain : for the Lord will not hold him guiltlefs that taketh his name in vain. People. Lord, have mercy upon us, and in cline our hearts to keep this law. Minister. Remember that thou keep holy the fabbath day. Six days fhalt thou labour, and do all that thou haft to do ; but the feventh day is the fabbath of the Lord thy God. In it thou fhalt do no manner of work, thou, nor thy fon, nor thy daugh ter, thy man-fervant, nor thy maid-fer- vant, [ 61 ] vant, nor thy cattle, nor thy Stranger that is within thy gates. For in fix days die Lord made heaven and earth, the fea, and all that in them is, and refted the feventh day : wherefore the Lord bleflfed the fab bath day, and hallowed it. People. Lord, have mercy upon us, and in cline our hearts to keep fo much as re mains in force of this thy law. Minister. Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. People. Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline eur hearts to keep this law. Minister. Thou Shalt do no murder. People, Lord, have mercy upon us, and in cline our hearts to keep this law. Minister. Thou fhalt not commit adultery. People. [ 62 3 People. Lord, have mercy upon us, and in cline our hearts to keep this law. Minister. Thou fhalt not fteal. People. Lord, have mercy upon us, and in cline our hearts to keep this Law. Minister. Thou fhalt not bear falfe witnefs a- gainft thy neighbour. People. Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline 6ur hearts to keep this law. Minister. Thou fhalt not covet thy neighbour's houfe, thou fhalt not covet thy neigh bour's wife, nor his fervant, nor this maid, nor his ox, nor his afs, nor any thing that is his. People. Lord, have mercy upon us, and write thefe and all other thy laws in our hearts, we humbly befeech thee. Minister. [*3 ] Minister. Let us Pray. O God, from whom all holy defires, all good councils, and all juft works do proceed ; vouchfafe we befeech thee, to direct, fandtify and govern both our hearts and bodies in the ways of thy laws, and in the works of thy com- mandments ; that paying a dutiful re fpedt to all thy precepts, and faithfully obferving the right ftatutes, and good or dinances which thou haft given us, we may truly pleafe thee both in will and deed, and by thy mighty protedtion be continually preferved in body and foul, through our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. Amen. Almighty and everbleffed God, who art the Author of Peace, and the God of all Comfort, in knowledge of whom ftandeth our eternal life, whofe fervice is perfedt -freedom ; gracioufly uphold our hearts in a well grounded and happy af- furance [64 ] furance of thy favour, and give us in the exercife of well-doing, to enjoy that peace which the world cannot give nor take a- way : and moft earnestly we befeech thee, O merciful Father, that We may continually abide in thy love. Preferve us from that very worft of all pofiible evils, that, of be coming alienated from thee, and enemies to thee, by wicked works : never fufter us by any power of temptation to fall from thee. But ftrengthen, eftablifh, fettle us, O God, in the paths of righte oufnefs, and in the choice of religious virtue ; may the teftimony of a good confcience be the matter of our conti nual rejoicing ; may this fupport us amidft all the changes of this life, and fortify us againft the terrors of death itfelf-j and when we fhall appear before the Judg ment-feat of Chrift, to receive our final fentence, and our eternal portion, even then, may we not be afraid with any a- mazement, but be able to lift up our heads with joy, as knowing that the time t«5 J time of our compleat redemption is come, and that through the mercy of our God, an entrance will be administered to us abundantly into the everlafting kingdom of our Lordf and Saviour, Jefus Chrift. Amen. O God, wiio haft made our days as an hand'-breadth, and our age is as no thing hefore thee ; teach us fg, to confi- der the fhortnefs and frailty of our earth ly State, that we may apply our hearts di- ligendy to feek after the better and more enduring happinefs of the heavenly world : and mercifully grant, that all the time of our continuance here, we may work the work of the day, and con- fcientioufly difcharge the great duties of the prefent life, that when the Shadows of death fhall overtake us, and the night cometh when no man can work, we may happily have flnifhed the work thou haft given us to do, and be numbered with thy good and faithful fervants in light, and life everlafting. Amen. K O Lord [ 66 ] O Lord, our heavenly Father, High and Mighty, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, moft heartily we befeech thee, with thy favour to behold our moft gracious fovereign King GEORGE, and fo replenish him with the grace of thy Holy Spirit, that he may alway in cline to thy will, and walk in thy way ; endue him plenteoufly with heavenly gifts ; grant him in health and wealth long to live : profper all his good de- figns for the peace, liberty and happinefs of his people ; and finally after this life may he attain everlafting joy and felicity, through Jefus Chrift, our Lord. Amen. Almighty God, the Fountain of all Goodnefs, we humbly befeech thee to blefs their Royal Highneffes GEORGE Prince of Wales, the Princefs Dowager of Wales, the Duke, the Princefles, the iffue of the Prince and Princefs of Wales, and all the Royal Family : en due them with thy Holy Spirit ; enrich them with thy heavenly grace ; profper them [67] them with all happinefs ; and bring then! to thine everlafting kingdom, through Jefus Chrift, our Lord. Amen. % Most gracious God, we humbly be" feech thee, as for this kingdom in gene ral, fo efpecially for the High Court of Parliament, at this time aflembled ; that thou wouldeft be pleafed to direct and profper all their confutations, ts> the ad vancement of thy Glory, the good of thy Church, the fafety, honour and welfare of our Sovereign and his king doms ; that all things may be fo ordered and fettled by their endeavours, upon the beft and fureft foundations, that peace and happinefs, truth and juftice, religion and liberty, may be eftablifhed among us for all generations, thro' Jefus Chrift, our Lord. Amen. O God, thou great governor of the world, thou righteous judge eternal ; blefs, we befeech thee, the magistrates of the land, and grant that all who are any- wife entrufted with the affairs of govern- K 2 ment, % During the Seflion of Parliament. [ 68 J ment, and the adminiftr-ation of juftice, may have grace of thee to be found faithful ; may they be afiifted and pro tected by thee in the due execution of their office, and anfwer the great end of their appointment, by being a, terror only to evil doers, and an encouragement and example to them that do well. Amen. Almighty and everlafting God, who art the author and giver, of all good things, fend down upon the minifters of religion, and all congregations committed to their charge, thy heavenly grace and be nediction : may they be filled with the knowledge of thy will, in all wifdom and fpiritual underftanding ; and minding the things that make for peace, and things whereby one Chriftian may edify another, may they truly pleafe thee, and walk worthy of their holy vocation, to the ho nour of our Mediator and Advocate, Je fus Chrift. Amen. O God, the Creator and Preferver of mankind, we humbly befeech thee for all [ 6g J all forts and conditions of men, that thou wouldeft be pleafed to make thy ways known unto them ; thy Saving health unto all nations. More efpecially we pray for the good eftate of the Catho lic Church ; that it may be fo guided and governed by thy good fpirit, that all who profefs and call themfelves Christi ans, may be led into the way of truth,, and hold the faith in unity of fpirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteoufnefs of life. Finally we commend to thy fa therly goodnefs, all thofe who are any ways afflicted or diftreffed in mind, bo dy or eftate : -j- [efpecially thofe for whom our prayers are defired:] that it may pleafe thee to comfort and relieve them accord ing to their feveral neceflities ; giving them patience under their fufferings, and a happy iffue out of all their afflictions. Thefe and all other neceffaries,. for them, for us, and thy whole church, we hum bly beg in the name and mediation of Jefus Chrift, our moft bleffed Lord and Saviour. Amen. Al- f Whei» any defire to be prayed for. [7°] Almighty God, Father of all mer cies, as we humbly feek unto thee for the fupply of our neceflities, fo we would gratefully acknowledge the many bene fits we have received at thy bountiful hands. We give thee then moft humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodnefs and loving kindnefs to us, and to all men : || [particularly to thofe, who now defire to offer up their praifes and thankfgivings for thy late mercies vouchfafed unto them :] we blefs thee for our creation, prefervation, and all the bleflings of this life ; but above all for thine ineftimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jefus Chrift ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And we befeech thee give us that due fenfe of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful ; and that we may Shew forth thy praife, not only with our lips, but in our lives ; by giving up our- felves to thy fervice, and by walking be fore thee in holinefs and righteoufnefs all our || When any defire to return praife. [ 7* ] our days, through Jefus Chrift, our Lord. Amen. And now, O God, we commend our- felves to thee, and to the care of thy good providence ; mercifully defend us from all perils and dangers of this night"; gracioufly accept the facrifice of prayer and praife which we have this day offer ed up unto thee ; and grant th^t in all our works begun, continued and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy name, and finally, of thy mercy, obtain everlaft ing life, thro' Jefus Chrift, our Lord. Amen. NOW unto the King eternal, immor tal, invifible, the only wife God, who is able to do exceeding abundantly for us above what we afk or think ; un to him be glory in the Church by Chrift Jefus, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. The grace of our Lord Jefus Chrift-, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghoft, be with us all, evermore. Amen. f A [ 72 ] f A Prayer that may be ufed , before Sermon. O God, the Father of Lights, who art the author of all good gifts, and haft com manded, that if any man lack wifdom he Should afk it of thee ; we make our ear nest addreffes to thy throne for this and every other blefling, and humbly pray, in order to our attaining greater degrees of light and purity, that we may meekly at tend to thy holy word, by which thou con- veyeft to unprejudiced, teachable, and well-difpofed minds, good knowledge and right understanding. Open our hearts, we befeech thee, to receive the instruc tions of truth, of wifdom, and righteouf nefs ; may we gladly entertain, and fincere- lv embrace, the way of happinefs which thou haft fet before us, in the difpenfati- on of the gofpel ; and as we call ourfelves the difciples of thy fon, grant that in the temper of ,our minds, and in the courfe of our behaviour, we may fo yield our selves to be formed by his precepts aiid example, [71 1 example, that by the pradtice of good nefs, righteoufnefs and truth, we may be daily growing into thy likenefs, and be made more and more fit to partake of the perfect happinefs of thine heavenly kingdom; we afk it in the name, and thro' the mediation of our alone advocate, Chrift Jefus, who hath taught us when we pray, to addrefs ourfelves to fhee, fay ing, Our Father, &c. ^[ A Prayer that may be ufed after Sermon. Grant, we befeech thee, Almighty God, that the words which we have heard this day, with our outward ears, may through thy grace be fo grafted in wardly 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. Now the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Chrift L Jefus, [ 74] Jefus, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleafing in his fight, through Jefus Chrift, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. PRAY- [75 1 PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS, That may be ufed on Different Occasions. TH E fubjedts of the following pray ers and thankfgivings, are chiefly the fame with thofe appointed in the efta blifhed liturgy : But as no general form can well provide for every circumftance and event, in which either the public, or private congregation? may be fometimes interefted, and which, therefore, it may be proper and feemly to take fome par ticular notice of, in our common acts of worfhip : in fuch cafes, the minifter, as he fees convenient, may with reafon be left at liberty, to draw up fuch other form or forms, as may be fuited to thofe fpeci- al occafions. L 2 PRAY- [76 ] PRAYERS. A Prayer for Rain. ALMIGHTY God, who, when the duft groweth into hardnefs, and the clods cleave faft together, canft caufe it to rain on the earth, to fatisfy the defolate and dry ground, and make the bud of the tender herb to bring forth ; we humbly apply to thee, in this time of our necefli- ty, befeeching, that thou wouldeft vifit the earth, and water it; that thou wouldeft make itfoft with Showers ; that thou would eft blefs the fpringing thereof; that thus it may become fruitful, and yield its in- creafe; and that we alfo, under a due fenfe of our continual dependance upon thee, may ftudy to walk worthy of thee, unto all well-pleafing, and may abound in the fruits of righteoufnefs, to thv praife and glory, through Jefus Chrift, our Lord. Amen. A [ 77 ] A Prayer for fair Weather. A' LMIGHTY and everlafting God, we thine unworthy fervants, fenfible of the tokens of thy difpleafure, in pour ing down fuch (or the late) immoderate and exceflive fhowers ; moft humbly ap proach thy throne, bewailing pur provo cations, and imploring thy compaffion and pity. We befeech thee, O Lord, to flay the bottles of Heaven, and to re strain the floods thereof, that there be not fuch a fweeping rain as fhall leave no food. Caufe thy mercy fpeedily to fhine forth ; and may the vifitatiOns of thy goodnefs come upon us, as refreshing as the light of the morning, when the Sun rifeth, even a morning without clouds ; or, as the tender grafs fpringing out of the earth, by clear fhining after rain. And although thou now hideft thy face from us, yet gracioufly appear for our comfort, and fend us fuch kind and fa vourable [ 78 J vourable weather, that in due feafbn- we may receive the fruits of the earth, and learn both by thy chaftifement to amend our lives, and from thy clemency to Shew forth thy praife, through Jefus Chrift, our Lord. Amen, In time of Dearth and Famine. OGOD, who turneft a fruitful land into barrennefs, for the wickednefs of them that dwell therein ; with all hu mility of four1 we proftrate ourfelves at thy footftool, acknowledging that thou art righteous in all thy judgments, and that we, unthankful and difobedierit, as we have been, amidft our former abun dance, juftly deferve to eat bread by weight and with care, and to drink wa ter by meafure and with aftonifhment. Yet deal not with us after our fins, neither reward us according to our ini quities, but gracioufly look upon the af- fliaion of thy fervants, and mercifully grant [ 79 ] grant that our prefent fcarcity and dearth, may, through thy goodnefs be turned in to cheapnefs arid plenty, and that we receiving the fruits of thy bountiful libe rality, may ufe the fame to thy glory, the relief of the neceffitous, and our own comfort, through Jefus Chrift, our Lord. Amen. In the time of War. O ALMIGHTY God, King of all Kings, and Governor of all Things ; whofe power no creature is able to refift ; to whom it belongeth juftly to punifh fin ners ; and to be merciful, to them that truly repent ; fave and deliver us, we humbly befeech thee, from the hands of our ene mies ; abate their pride, affwage their ma lice, and confound their devices ; that we, being armed with thy defence, may be preferved evermore from all perils,' to glo-? rify thee, who art the only giver of all yidtory, through Jefus Chrift, our Lord, rfmen, In [ 8o] In the Time of any Common Plague or Sicknefs. MOST great and glorious Lord God, under a moft awful fenfe of thy awakening judgments, we would bow down before thy throne, and humble ourfelves under thy mighty hand, which in fo aftonifhing a manner, is ftretched out againft us. In the midft of life we are in death ; the grave hath enlarged it- felf, and opened its mouth beyond mea sure, arid our glory, multitude and pomp, defcend into it : of whom may we feek for fuccour, but of thee, O Lord, who, for our fins art juftly difpleafed ? Yet, O Lord God moft holy, O Lord moft mighty, O holy and moft merciful Savi our, correct us not in anger, left thou bring us to nothing ; but, of thine abun dant compaffion, remove this grievous ficknefs, and take away thy plague from us, that we be not confumed, by the Stroke of thy ' heavy hand. Pardon we be feech thee our own crying fins, and thofe of [81 ] of the whole nation; which have drawri down thy heavy difpleafure upon us ; teach us by thy ehaftifement, to reform Pur tempers and conduct ; and grant that the lives thou haft hitherto fpared, may be devoted td thy fear, and that thy fer* vants being prepared for all events, may whether we live, live unto the Lord, or whether we diey die unto the Iiord, that whether we live or die, we may be the Lord's ; grant this, O heavenly Father, and of thine infinite goodnefs have mercy up on us, through Jefus Chrift; oiir Lord. Amen; Upon Occafion of any violent Storm or Tempejli OLORD our God, thou art Very great, thou art cloathed with Al mighty power, and girdeft th'yfelf with irrefiftible Strength : thy way is in the whirlwind, and in the Storm, and the clouds are the duft of thy feet j thou com- M mand- [82 ] mandeft the winds and the feas, and they obey thee ; the mountains fhake at thy prefence, the rocks are thrown down before thee, the very foundations of the earth tremble, yea, the earth and all that dwell therein. We, poor feeble duft and afhes) whom thou canft Scatter with the breath of thy mouth, defire with the deepeft humility, and in a moft adoring fenfe of thy fupreme majefty and great- nefs, to throw ourfelves at the footftool of thy throne. Poffefs our hearts, O God, with a holy fear and reverence of thee, may we Stand in awe of thy judgments ; and by thefe awakening calls of thy providence, teach us to confider our ways, to bewail our paft offences, and to renew our purpofes of repentance, and amendment of life. Give us grace we befeech thee, to become wifer and better by the rebukes of thy rod, and amidft all the changes and dommotions of this world, grant that by a patient continuance in well-doing, our hearts may be fo fixed trufting [ 83 ] trufting in the Lord, that we may never be afraid of any evil, but with holy and unfhaken confidence, be looking for thy mercy unto eternal life, jn that city, of which thou, O God, art the builder and maker, and the foundations of which are never to be ftiaken. Grant this, O hea- venly- Father - for thy goodnefs fake, in Chrift Jefus our only- Mediator -and Ad vocate. Amen. On Occafon of an Earthquake. OLORD our God, we defire with the utmoft humility and reverence to proftrate our fouls before thee, confef- fkg that thou art a great God, mighty and terrible, who removeft the moun tains, and overturneft them in thine anger; who fhakeft the earth out of her place, and makeft the pillars thereof to tremble. We befeech thee, O Lord, to awaken our attention, duly to confider and hear the voice [ H 3 vdke of thy amazing judgments, and to Jearn the inftrudtions they were intend ed to convey. May we every pne of us examine our own hearts, and fee where we have done iniquity, and deliberately refolve to do no more. Suffer us not as foon as our prefent confirmation is over, to forget our deliverance, or to grow vain, prefumptuous and finfully fecure, left a worfe thing fh:uld befal us. We ac? knowledge it is of thy goodnefs O God, that we were not utterly confumed, that we were not fwallqwed up quick, by the late earthquake. O may a fenfe of thy many wonderful prefervations conti nually abide upon our hearts, and pro duce fuch a godly care and watchful- nefs in all our conduct, that no difafter in life may eyer furprize us ; that death itfelf, at what time, or in what manner foever, it cometh upon us, may not find us unprepared; and that at length we niay fafely arrive at that kingdom which can never be moved ; for the fake of thy [ 85 ] mercy in Chrift Jefus, our worthy me-< diator and advocate. Amen. On Occafon of Mortality among the Cattle. O GRACIOUS God, who, in thy great bounty to mankind, haft given them the beafts of the field for their provifion and nourifhment, conti nue to us, we humbly befeech thee, this bleffing, and fuffer us not to be reduced to fcarcity and diftrefs by the conta gious diftemper, which has raged, and Still rages, among the cattle in many parts of this kingdom. In this, apd all other thy difpenfations towards us, we fee and adore the juftice of thy proviT dence, apd do, with forrowful and peni tent hearts confefs, that our manifold vi ces and impieties have defervedly pro voked thine anger and indignation againft us. But We earneftly entreat thee, Al mighty [ 86 J mighty Father, in this our calamitous ftate, to look down upon us with an eye of pity and compaffion; and, if it be thy blefTed wiTl, to forbid the Spreading of this '"" fore, vrfitation, ¦ and, in thy good time, to remove it from all. the inhabitants of this land, for the fake of thy mercies in Chrift Jefus our' only Saviour and" Redeemer. Amen. THANKSGIVINGS. ¦¦ - » i i ¦ i I yrri ~— — ;¦ ¦-!¦") i.'P'i '¦ " - >h )' '"' Ion Rain. OGOP our heavenly Father, how many are the gracious works which. thou haft done, and thy mercies whiett are to us' ward ! Would we declare and Speak of them, or reckon them up in order unto thee, they are more than can be numbered. One inftance of thy goodnefs we yet defire at this time thank fully to acknowledge, that it hath pleaf- ed [ 87 ] ed thee in our great neceffity to vifit the earth, and water it ; to make it foft with fhowers ; and to command thy clouds to drop down fatnefs. May a grateful fenfe of thy continual benefits abide upon our hearts ; and in our lives, may we bring forth the fruits of righteoufnefs, to thy glory and our everlafting comfort, thro' Jefus Chrift, our Lord. Amen. . For Fair Weather. ALMIGHTY and moft gracious God, we yield thee hearty thanks, as for every other manifestation of thy goodnefs", fo for that feafonable and blefled change of weather, by which thou haft put gladnefs into our hearts, and given us the agreeable hope that our land will yield us her fruits of en creafe. At this thy merciful vifitation, O fupreme and univerfal Lord, the Hea vens fmile ; the earth is glad ; the fields are joyful and all that is therein, and the [8S] the hills rejoice on every fide : our fouls too would abound in all the comely chear- fulnefs of praife ; and afcribe, with un feigned gratitude all Honour, and Glo ry, and bl effing, to thee the author of all our good, through Jefus Chrift, our Lord. Amen. For a Plentiful Harvefl. ALMIGHTY and everbleffed God; who mercifully fupplieft the wants pf thy creatures, and art giving us con tinual teftimonies of thy gracious and over-ruiing providence, in doing us good, and fending us rain from Heaven j and fruitful feafons, filling our hearts with food and gladnefs. We rejoice at this time, in the gifts of thy bountiful libera lity ; for thou haft caufed our Land to bring forth plenteoufly ; thou haft crown ed the year with thy goodnefs ; our gaf- ners are full, affording all manner of Store ; and our poor are Satisfied with bread [8o] bread. Whilft thou art thus loading us with thy benefits, enable us to make afober, thankful, and charitable ufe of them j and by becoming fruitful in every good work, may we fhew forth thy praife, and abundantly utter the memo ry of thy great goodnefs, through Je fus Chrift, our Lord. Amtn. For Peace and Deliverance from • our Enemies. O ALMIGHTY God, who art a Strong tower of defence unto thy fervants againft the face of their enemies ; we yield thee praife and thankfgiving for our deliverance from thofe great and ap parent dangers, wherewith we were encompafled. We acknowledge it thy goodnefs, that we Were not delivered over as a prey unto them ; befeeching thee Still to continue fuch thy mercies to wards us, that all the world may know that thou art our Saviour and mighty N De- [ 9o3 Deliverer, through Jefus Chrift, our Lord. Amen. For Deliverance from the Plague, or other Common Sicknefs. OLORD our heavenly Father, who art a God of the afflicted, and a protector of the forlorn ; who raifeth up the foul, and enlighteneth the eyes, and giveth health, and life, and bleffing j all reafon is it; that we offer unto thee our moft fincere and hearty thanks, for mercifully affwaging the grievous fick- nefs with which we have been fo fore afflicted ; and for restoring again the voice of joy and health in the midft of Pur dwellings : to the God of our Salva tion, therefore, to whom belong the iffues from death, who is the lifter up of our head, and the health of our countenance and our God, unto him, be [9i ] be all glory, and honour, and ready obedience, through Jefus Chrift, our Lord. Amen. FINIS YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 3 9002 01570 0363