2

1

particular Manner they pray for, yet in
Mercies, and Bleffings, and Benefits that are
much more useful for them, and more be-
fitting their Circumstances. Nay, I doubt
not to affirm, that it is as much by our
Prayers, as by any other Endeavour, that
not only particular Persons and Families,
but also Cities, and States, and Kingdoms,
are preserved and supported.

And fo much for this Argument. Confi-
der what you have heard, and the Lord
give you Understanding in all Things.

σ

L

SERMON

154

SERMON VII.

1 TIM. II. 1, 2.

I exhort therefore that first of all Supplications, Prayers, Interceffions, and giving of Thanks be made for all Men : for Kings, and for all that are in Authority.

T

HE Design of this Epistle is to give Instructions to Timothy how he ought to execute the Epifcopal Office, which was committed to him in the Church of Ephesus: And the first Injunction that is given him about that Matter is, that he should order publick Supplications, and Prayers, and Interceffions, and Thanksgivings to be made for all Men; for Kings, and all that are in Authority. I fay, that he should order these Things publickly to be done; for that these Words are to be expounded of the publick Devotions

of

of the Church, was never doubted, that I know of; and may be fully made good from what follows after in this Chapter.

But how comes the Apostle here to make a Difference between Prayers, and Supplications, and those other Things? Why certainly, his Design was to make a just Enumeration of all those Offices or Parts, of which the publick Worship or Service of the Church is to confift.

And those are Four.

First of all, Δεήσεις, which we here render Supplications, but may more properly be rendred Deprecations, that is to say, such Prayers as we put up to God for the Pardon of our Sins, and the averting from us all those Evils that we deserve upon Account of them.

Secondly, Προσευχαί, or Petitions, by which are meant those Prayers we put up for all the Spiritual and Temporal Bleffings we stand in need of.

Thirdly, Ἐντεύξεις, or Interceffions, by which are meant these Prayers, that we are to put up for other Men.

And, Lastly, Εὐχαρισιαι, or giving of Thanks, which every Body knows to be meant of that Tribute of Praise and Thankfgiving we owe to God Almighty for all his Mercies and Benefits both to our selves and others.

Of these four Things, according to St. Paul, ought the publick Liturgy of the Church to

be

:

be made up. And that Service, where any one of them is wanting, must consequently be defective.

But this is not the Point I mean now to dwell upon; that which lies uppermost in my Text, and most obvious to be observed from it, are these three Things; which I shall therefore make the Heads of my following Difcourse.

First of all, in general, the Obligation that is upon us to have publick Prayers, and to refort to them. I exhort first that Supplications and Prayers be made.

Secondly, More particularly the Obligation that is upon us, in our Addresses to God, to pray for others. I exhort that Supplications, and Prayers, and Interceffions be made for all Men.

Thirdly, (which more immediate concerns us on this Day) the Obligation that is upon us to pray and give Thanks for Kings especially; and that follows in the next Verse, for Kings and all that are in Authority, that under them we may lead quiet and peaceable Lives, in all Godliness and Honesty.

First, I begin with the Duty of having and frequenting publick Prayers, which is here recommended to us.

It is the Fault of a great many among us, and even of some that have otherwise a hearty Senfe of Religion, that we do not fet that Esteem and Value upon the publick Worship of God, that in the Nature of the Thing, and by the Laws of Chrift, it doth call for. If we do but say our Prayers devoutly in our Closets, (and I would to God that all of us did but that) we think we have done enough: We have done all that is needful for the Discharge of that Part of our Duty which concerns the Worship of God. The Church-Prayers we may spare well enough, and so likewife Prayers in our Family. And tho' we do perhaps now and then attend the Publick Worship, yet it is not fo much for the fake of the Prayers, as for the Curiosity of hearing a Sermon, or it may be for the avoiding the Scandal that our Abfence at fuch Times would bring upon us: But certainly this is not a right Notion of the Worship of God; so far from that, that I muft need say, it is a very absurd one. We do readily own, that to serve God in private is a necessary Duty; nay, so neceffary, that there is no living a Holy Christian Life without it: we acknowledge likewife, that as the Thing is infinitely reasonable in it felf, so it is attended with manifold Advantages of several forts: but then we say, that publick Prayer, joining with our Brethren in the Service of God, whether it be at Church, or in our own Families, must needs have the Pre-eminence in abundance of respects. Give me leave to name a few of the many; Would we take the readieft Course to have our Prayers effectual, to obtain from God what we pray