same prescribed form of words wherewith he himself did deliver it; and therefore what part of the world soever we fall into, if Christian religion hath been there received, the ordinary use of this very prayer hath with equal continuance accompanied the same, as one of the principal and most materal duties of honour done to Jesus Christ. "Seeing that we have" (saith St. Cyprian) " an Advocate with the Father for our sins, when we that had sinned come to such for pardon, let us allege unto God the words which our Advocate hath taught. For since His promise is our plain warrant that in His name what we ask we shall receive, must we not needs much the rather obtain that for which we sue, if not only His name do countenance, but also His speech present, our requests. Though men should speak with the tongues of angels, yet words so pleasing to the ears of God as those which the Son of God himself hath composed were not possible for men to frame a. He therefore who made us to live hath also

a Matt. vi. 9.

taught us to pray, to the end that, speaking unto the Father in the Son's own prescribed form, without gloss of ours, we may be sure that we utter nothing which God will either disallow or deny. Other prayers we use many besides this, and this oftener than any other a thing which, uttered with true devotion and zeal of heart, affordeth to God himself that glory, that aid to the weakest sort of men, to the most perfect that solid comfort which is unspeakable.

:

SECTION XXVII.

OF REPEATING SOME PRAYERS AFTER THE

MINISTER.

TWICE we appoint that the words which the minister first pronounceth the whole congregation shall repeat after him. As first in the public confession of sins, and again in rehearsal of our Lord's prayer presently after the blessed sacrament of His body and blood receivedh. A thing no way offensive, no way

h This rule was made more general in 1661: the Lord's prayer being now to be always repeated after the minister.

unfit or unseemly to be done, although it had been so appointed oftener than with us it is. But surely with so good reason it standeth in those two places, that otherwise to order it were not in all respects so well. Could there be any thing devised better than that we all at our first access unto God by prayer should acknowledge meekly our sins, and that not only in heart but with tongue, all who are present being made ear-witnesses even of every man's distinct and deliberate assent unto each particular branch of a common indictment drawn against ourselves? How were it possible that the Church should any how else with such ease and certainty provide, that none of her children may, as Adami, dissemble that wretchedness, the penitent confession whereof is so necessary a preamble, especially to common prayer?

In like manner if the Church did ever devise a thing fit and convenient, what more than this; that when together we have all

i Job. xxxi. 33.

received those heavenly mysteries wherein Christ imparteth Himself unto us, and giveth visible testification of our blessed communion with Him, we should in hatred of all heresies, factions, and schisms, the pastor as a leader, the people as willing followers of him, step by step, declare openly ourselves united as brethren in one, by offering up with all our hearts and tongues that most effectual supplication, wherein He unto whom we offer it hath Himself not only comprehended all our necessities, but in such sort also framed every petition, as might most naturally serve for many, and doth, though not always require, yet always import a multitude of speakers together? for which cause communicants have ever used it, and we at that time, by the form of our very utterance, do shew we use it, yea every word and syllable of it as communicants. In the rest we observe that custom whereunto St Paul alludethk and whereof the Fathers of the Church in their writings make often mention

k I Cor. xiv. 16.

SECTION XXVIII.

THE PSALMS; AND WHAT DIFFERENCE THERE

IS BETWEEN THEM AND OTHER PARTS OF

SCRIPTURE.

THE choice and flower of all things profitable in other books the Psalms do both more briefly contain, and more movingly also express, by reason of that poetical form wherewith they are written. The ancients, when they speak of the Book of Psalms use to fall into large discourses, shewing how this part of Holy Scripture above the rest, doth of purpose set forth and celebrate all the considerations and operations which belong to God; it magnifieth the holy meditations and actions of divine men; it is of things heavenly an universal declaration, working in them whose hearts God inspireth with the due consideration thereof, an habit or disposition of mind whereby they are made fit vessels both for receipt and for delivery of whatsoever spiritual perfection. What is there necessary for man to know