SERM. the Inhabitants of the Earth, and none can ftay his Hand, or fay unto him, What doeft VII. thou? And this he now performs by the Administration of the Man Chrift Jefus; to whom, immediately upon his Resurrection, he gave all Power, in Heaven, and in Earth and whom, upon his Afcent into Heaven, (the Holy Subject also of this Day's Solemnity) he inftated in the full Poffeffion and Exercise of that Power; declaring him King of Kings, and Rev. v. Lord of Lords. And, indeed, Worthy is the Lamb that was flain, to receive Power, and Riches, and Wisdom, and Strength, and Honour, and Glory, and Bleffing. Therefore, Bleffing and Honour, and Glory and Power, be unto him that fitteth upon the Throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever! 12, 13. The The Duty of Publick Interceffion and A SERMON Preach'd before the Honourable House of Commons, A T St. Margaret's Westminster, On Wednesday, March 8. 1701. The Day of Her MAJESTY's Happy 1 TIM. ij. I, 2, 3. I Exhort, That, firft of all, Supplications, Prayers, Interceffions,and giving of Thanks be made for all Men; for Kings, and all that are in Authority; that we may lead a Quiet and Peaceable Life, in all Godliness and Honefty: For this is Good and Acceptable in the fight of God, our Saviour. TH 275 VIII. HERE was nothing by which the SERM. Enemies of Christianity endea vour'd, and hop'd fo much to retard the T 2 Pro SERM. VIII. Progress of it, as by representing to Princes, and Rulers, that the Propagation of this Doctrine tended to fubvert their Government; that the Spreaders of it, whereever they came, exceedingly troubled Cities, and turn'd the World upfide down. It be hov'd the Apostles, therefore, to guard against this Objection, with all imaginable Care. As they knew, that the great Work, in which they were employ'd, was not, as yet, to be promoted, or countenanc'd by the Powers of this World; fo they resolv'd to give them no just Ground, or Colour to obstruct it: and wifely, therefore, took all Occafions to declare their Jude viii. Abhorrence of Such as defpis'd Dominion, and Spake evil of Dignities; frequently press'd upon their new Converts the Duties of paying Honour, and Fear, and Tribute to the Higher Powers, [as being the Ordinance of God] and of submitting themselves to them, not only for Wrath, but also for Confcience fake. And, for this Reason, it may be prefum'd that St. Paul introduceth his Instructions to Timothy, the new Bishop of Ephefus, by Exhorting him, that, in order to a due Discharge of VIII. of his high Trust, he should first of all, SÉR M. or, above all things, take care, that Supplications, Prayers, Interceffions, and giving of Thanks be made for all Men; efpecially for Kings, and all that are in Authority; that we may lead a Quiet and Peaceable Life, in all Godliness, and Honesty : for this, fays he, is Good, and Acceptable in the fight of God, our Saviour. The Exhortation hath a double Afpect, on Mankind in general, and on Princes and Rulers in particular. I fhall confider it, with regard to the Latter of these only, for whose fake the Apostle seems chiefly to have made it; and, under this View, it suggests to us Three Heads of Difcourfe, very proper to be handled on this Day, and in this Affembly. I. It recommends a great Duty to us, the Duty of making Supplications, Prayers, and Interceffions, and of giving Thanks, for Kings, and all that are in Authority. I. II. It expreffes the general Reason, and II. and SERM. and Acceptable in the fight of God, our VIII. III. I. Saviour. III. It quickens us to the Exercise of it by a fpecial Motive, drawn from the Confideration of our own Eafe, Advantage, and Happiness ; That we may lead a Quiet and Peaceable Life, in all Godliness and Honesty.. Thefe Points I fhall first confider, and explain, in that Latitude, with which the Apostle hath propos'd them; and then adapt the general Argument to the particular Occafion of this Day's joyful Solemnity. The Writers on this Place have diftin. guish'd with fome Exactness between Supplications, Prayers, and Interceffions, and endeavour'd to give us the strict and proper Senfe of each of thefe Words; which, I think, it is neither neceffary, nor easy to determine. Sure we are, that by All thefe together the Apoftle intended to exprefs the Petitionary Part of our De. votions; and by giving of Thanks, the 4 other |