therein God would establish peace and truth, the purity of all his ordinances, and the power of godlinefs; prevent and remove herefy, fchifm, profanenefs, fuperftition, fecurity and unfruitfulness under the means of grace; heal all our rents and divifions, and preferve us from • breach of our Solemn Covenant.

To pray for all in authority, efpecially for the king's majesty, that • God would make him rich in bleffings, both in his perfon and go⚫vernment; establish his throne in religion and righteoufnels, lave him from evil counfel, and make him a bleffed and glorious inftru⚫ment, for the confervation and propagation of the gospel, for the encouragement and protection of them that do well, the terror of them that do evil, and the great good of the whole church, and of all his kingdoms; for the converfion of the queen, the religious education ⚫ of the prince, and the reft of the royal feed; for the comforting the • afflicted queen of Bohemia, fifter to our fovereign, and for the reftitution and establishment of the illuftrious prince Charles, elector Pa<latine of the Rhine, to all his dominions and dignities; for a bleffing · upon the high court of Parliament (when fitting in any of these king• doms respectively) the nobility, the fubordinate judges and magiftrates, the gentry, and all the commonality; for all paftors and teach· ers, that God would fill them with his Spirit, make them examplarily holy, fober, juft, peaceable, and gracious in their lives, found, faithful, and powerful in their miniltry; and follow all their labours • with abundance of fuccefs of bleffing: and give unto all his people paftors according to his own heart: for the universities, and all schools and religious feminaries of church and commen-wealth, that they may flourish more and more in learning and piety; for the particu lar city or congregation, that God would pour out a bleffing upon the miniftry of the word, facraments and difcipline, upon the civil government, and all the feveral families and perfons therein; for mercy to the afflicted under any inward or outward diftrefs; for feafonable weather and fruitful feafons, as the time may require; for averting the judgments that we either feel or fear, or are liable unto, • as famine, peftilence, the fword, and fuch like.

And with confidence of his mercy to his whole church, and the acceptance of our perfons, through the merits and mediation of our high priest, the Lord Jefus, to profefs that it is the defire of our fouls to have fellowship with God, in the reverend and conscionable use of his holy ordinances; and, to that purpose, to pray earnestly for • his grace and effectual affiftance to the fanctification of his holy fabbath, the Lord's day, in all duties thereof, public and private, both to ourfelves, and to all other congregations of his people, according to the riches and excellency of the gofpel, this day celebrated and enjoyed.

And becaufe we have been unprofitable hearers in times paft, and now cannot of ourfelves receive as we fhould, the deep things of God,

the

the mysteries of Jefus Chrift, which require a fpiritual difcerning; to pray, that the Lord, who teacheth to profit, would graciously please to pour out the Spirit of grace, together with the outward means thereof, causing us to attain fuch a measure of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord, and, in him, of the things which belong to our peace, that we may account all things but as drofs in comparison of him: and, that we, tafting the first-fruits of the glory that is to be revealed, may long for a more full and perfect commu nion with him, that where he is, we may be alfo, and enjoy the ful nefs of thofe joys and pleasures, which are at his right-hand for

• evermore.

• More particularly, that God would in a special manner furnish his fervant (now called to difpenfe the bread of life unto his houfhold) with wifdom, fidelity, zeal, and utterance, that he may divide the word of God aright, to every one his portion, in evidence and demonftration of the Spirit and power; and that the Lord would cir 'cumcife the ears and hearts of the hearers, to hear, love, and receive ⚫ with meknefs the ingrafted word, which is able to fave their fouls, make them as good ground to receive in the good feed of the word, ⚫ and strengthen them against the temptations of Satan, the cares of the world, the hardness of their own hearts, and whatfoever elfe may • hinder their profitable and faving hearing; that fo Chrift may be fo ⚫ formed in them, and live in them, that all their thoughts may be ⚫ brought into captivity to the obedience of Chrift, and their hearts ⚫ established in every good word and work for ever.'

We judge this to be a convenient order, in the ordinary public prayer; yet fo, as the minifter may defer (as in prudence he fhall think meet) fome part of thefe petitions till after his fermon, or offer up to God fome of the thanksgivings hereafter appointed, in his prayer be fore his fermon.

Of the Preaching of the Word.

PReaching of the word, being the power of God unto falvation, and one of the greatest and most excellent works belonging to the mi niftry of the gospel, fhould be fo performed, that the workman need not be ashamed, but may fave himself, and thofe that hear him.

It is prefuppofed (according to the rules for ordination) that the mi nifter of Chrift is in fome good measure gifted for fo weighty a fervice, by his skill in the original languages, and in fuch arts and sciences as are hand-maids unto divinity; by his knowledge in the whole body of theology, but most of all in the holy fcriptures, having his feafes and heart exercited in them above the common fort of believers; and by the illumination of God's Spirit, and other gifts of edification, which (together with reading and studying of the word) he ought fill to feek by prayer, and an humble heart, refolving to admit and receive any

1

truth not yet attained, whenever God fhall make it known unto him. All which he is to make ufe of, and improve, in his private preparations, before he deliver in public what he hath provided.

Ordinarily, the fubject of his fermon is to be fome text of fcripture, holding forth fome principle or head of religion, or fuitable to fome fpecial occafion emergent; or he may go on in fome chapter, pfalm, or book of the holy scripture, as he fhall fee fit.

Let the introduction to his text be brief and confpicuous, drawn from the text itself, or context, or fome parallel place, or general fentence of fcripture.

If the text be long (as in hiftories and parables it fometimes must be) let him give a brief fum of it; if fhort, a paraphrafe thereof, if need be: in both, looking diligently to the scope of the text, and pointing at the chief heads and grounds of the doctrine which he is to raise from it.

In analyfing and dividing his text, he is to regard more the order of matter than of words, and neither to burden the memory of the hearers in the beginning with too many members of divifion, nor to trouble their minds with obscure terms of art.

In raifing doctrines from the text, his care ought to be, First, That the matter be the truth of God. Secondly, That it be a truth contained in, or grounded on that text, that the hearers may difcern how God teacheth it from thence. Thirdly, That he chiefly infift upon thofe doctrines which are principally intended, and make most for the edification of the hearers.

The doctrine is to be expreffed in plain terms; or, if any thing in it need explication, it is to be opened, and the confequence alfo from the text declared. The parallel places of fcripture confirming the doctrine, are rather to be plain and pertinent, than many, and (if need be) fomewhat infifted upon, and applied to the purpose in hand.

The arguments or reafons are to be folid, and as much as may be convincing. The illuftrations, of what kind foever, ought to be full of light, and fuch as may convey the truth into the hearers heart with Spiritual delight.

If any boubt, obvious from scripture, reason, or prejudice of the hearers, seem to arise, it is very requifite to remove it, by reconciling the feeming differences, anfwering the reafons, and discovering and taking away the causes of prejudice and mistake. Otherwife, it is not fit to detain the hearers with propounding or answering vain or wicked cavils, which, as they are endless, fo the propounding and answering of them doth more hinder, than promote edification.

He is not to reft in general doctrine, although never fo much cleared and confirmed, but to bring it home to fpecial use, by application to his hearers: which albeit it prove a work of great difficulty to himfelf, requiring much prudence, zeal and meditation, and to the natural and corrupt man will be very unpleafant; yet he is to endeavour to perform it in fuch a manner, that his auditors may feel the word of God

to

to be quick and powerful, and a difcerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart and that, if any unbeliever or ignorant perfon be prefent, he may have the fecrets of his heart made manifeft, and give glory to God.

In the use of inftruction or information in the knowledge of fome truth, which is a confequence from his doctrine, he may (when convenient) confirm it by a few firm arguments from the text inhand, and other places of fcripture, or from the nature of that common-place in divinity, whereof that truth is a branch.

In confutation of false doctrines, he is neither to raise an old heresy from the grave, nor to mention a blaiphemous opinion unneceffarily. But, ifthe people be in danger of an error, he is to confute it foundly, and endeavour to fatisfy their judgments and confciences against all objections.

In exhorting to duties, he is, as he feeth caufe, to teach alto the means that help to the performance of them.

In exhortation, reprehenfion, and public admonition (which require fpecial wisdom) let him, as there fhall be caufe, not only discover the nature and greatness of the fin, with the misery attending it, but also fhew the danger his hearers are in to be overtaken and furprised by it, together with the remedies and belt way to avoid it.

In applying comfort, whether general against all temptations, or particular against fome special troubles or terrors, he is carefully to answer fuch objections as a troubled heart and afflicted spirit may suggest to the contrary.

It is also sometimes requifite to give fome notes of trial (which is very profitable, especially when performed by able and experienced mi nifters, with circumfpection and prudence, and the figns clearly grounded on the holy scripture) whereby the hearers may be able to examine themselves, whether they have attained thofe graces, and performed those duties to which he exhorteth, or be guilty of the fin reprehended, and in danger of the judgments threatened, or are fuch to whom the confolations propounded do belong; that accordingly they may be quickened and excited to duty, humbled for their wants and fins, affected with their danger, and ftrengthened with comfort, as their condition upon examination fhall require.

And, as he needeth not always to profecute every doctrine which lies in his text, fo is he wifely to make choice of fuch ufes, as by his re fidence and converfing with his flock, he findeth moft needful and feafonable, and, amongst these, fuch as may moft draw their fouls to Chrift, the Fountain of light, holiness and comfort.

This method is not prefcribed as neceffary for every man, or upon every text; but only recommended, as being found by experience to be very much blessed, of God, and very helpful for the people's under Standings and memories.

Bat

But the fervant of Christ, whatever his method be, is to perform his whole ministry,

1. Painfully, not doing the work of the Lord negligently.

2. Plainly, That the meaneft may understand; delivering the truth, not in the enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonftration of the fpirit and of power, left the cross of Chrift should be made of none effect; abstaining alfo from an unprofitable use of unknown tongues, ftrange phrafes, and cadences of founds and words; fparingly citing fentences of ecclefiaftical or other human writers, antient or modern, be they never fo elegant.

3. Faithfully, looking at the honour of Chrift, the converfion, edification and falvation of the people, not at his own gain or glory; keeping nothing back which may promote thefe holy ends, giving to every one his own portion, and bearing indifferent refpect unto all, without neglecting the meaneft, or fparing the greatest in their fins.

4. Wifely, framing all his doctrines, exhortations, and especially his reproofs, in fuch a manner as may be most likely to prevail; fhewing all due refpect to each man's perfon and place, and not mixing his own paffion or bitterness.

5. Gravely, as becometh the word of God; fhunning all such gefture, voice and expreffions, as may occafion the corruptions of men to despise him and his ministry.

6. With loving affection, that the people may fee all coming from his godly zeal, and hearty defire to do them good. And,

7. As taught of God, and perfuaded in his own heart, that all, that he teacheth is the truth of Chrift; and walking before his flock, as an example to them in it; earnestly, both in private and public, recommending his labours to the bleffing of God, and watchfully looking to himfelf, and the flock whereof the Lord hath made him overfeer; fo fhall the doctrine of truth be preferved uncorrupt, many fouls converted and built up, himself receive manifold comforts of his labours even in this life, and afterward the crown of glory laid up for him in the world to come.

Where there are more ministers in a congregation than one, and they of different gifts, each may more especially apply himself to doctrine or exhortation, according to the gift wherein he most excelleth, and as they shall agree between themselves.

Of Prayer after Sermon.

THE fermon being ended, the minifter is To give thanks for the 'great love of God, in fending his Son Jefus Chrift unto us; for the communication of his holy Spirit: for the light and liberty of the glorious gofpel, and the rich and heavenly bleffings revealed 'therein; as namely, election, vocation, adoption, justification, fanc

⚫tification,