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 Apoftle here to make a Difference between Prayers and Supplications, and those other Things? Why, certainly, his Defign was, to make a juft Énumeration of all thofe Offices or Parts, of which the publick Worship or Service of the Church is to confift,

And thofe are Four.

First of all, Aenges, which we here render Supplications, but may more properly be rendered Deprecations, that is to fay, fuch Prayers as we put up to GOD for the Pardon of our Sins, and the averting from us all thofe Evils that we deferve upon Account of them.

Secondly, Пporsual, or Petitions, by which are meant thofe Prayers we put up for all the fpiritual and temporal Bleflings we ftand in Need of

Thirdly, 'Erreges, or Interceffions, by which are meant thofe Prayers that we are to put up for other Men.

And, Laftly, Euxariai, or Giving of Thanks, which every-body knows to be meant of that Tribute of Praife and Thankf giving we owe to God Almighty for all his Mercies and Befinets, both to ourselves and others!

Of thefe 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 def.ctive.

But this is not the Point I mean now to dwell upon: That which lies uppermost in myText, and most obvious to be obferved 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, firft, that Supplications and Prayers be made.

Secondly, more particularly, The Obligation that is upon us, in our Addreffes to GOD, to pray for others. I exhort, that Supplications, and Prayers, and Interceffions, be made for all

Men.

Thirdly (which more immediately concerns us on this Day), The Obligation that is upon us to pray and give Thanks for Kings efpecially; 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 Honefty.

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 fome that have otherwise an hearty Senfe of Religion, that we do not set that Efteem and Value upon the publick Worship

of

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 Difcharge of that Part of our Duty which concerns the Worship of GoD: The ChurchPrayers we may fpare well enough, and fo 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 Curiofity 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; fo far from it, that, I must needs fay, it is a very abfurd one. We do readily own, that to ferve God in private is a neceffary Duty; nay, so neceffary, that there is no living an holy Christian Life without it: We acknowlege likewise, that, as the Thing is infinitely reasonable in itfelf, fo it is attended with manifold Advantages of feveral Sorts: But then we fay, 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 refpects. 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

pray for? Why, certainly, then we must pray with other devout People, that come together to obtain the very fame Thing that we defire. In common Reafon one would think, that the united Force of a Number joining together, to make a Requeft, fhould have more Power than a Petition from a fingle Man, whoever the Perfon be that is addreffed to. But we have more Caufe to think fo with reference to thofe Prayers we make to GOD; Chrift Jefus having given us his Promife, that, whereever two or three of us are gathered together in his Name, there he will be in the Midft of us. Not but that he will be present to every devout Soul, that prays as he fhould do; but the Promise is more express to those that join their Prayers together. Nay, our Saviour, even when the Occafion led him to difcourfe of private Prayer, fuch as ought to be performed in the Clofet, yet, being to give a Form of Prayer, he delivers it in fuch Words as are most proper to be used in a Congregation, fpeaking in the plural Number; Our Father, which art in Heaven, give us this Day our daily Bread, forgive us our Trefpaffes, and fo on: Intimating hereby, that it was his Defign, that all his Diifciples fhould join their Prayers together. But this is not all: Do we think it our Duty to pay Honour to GoD in our Devotions, to give him the Glory that is due unto his Name? Why, certainly, this is never so properly done, as when we assemble

3

ble together with our Fellow-Chriftians, to exprefs our Dependence upon Him, and to fet forth his Praife. In true Speaking, to give Honour and Glory to GOD, is, to publifh to others the Senfe we have of his adorable Perfections, of his infinite Kindnefs and Benefits, and of the continual Need we ftand in of his Bounty and Influences; but this can no-way be done fo effectually, as by joining in the Expreffion of thofe Things, with the religious Affemblies of our Brethren. Nor indeed can we be more properly faid to ferve GOD, by our Devotions in private, than we can be faid to honour him. And yet all of us think there is fome Service due from us to GOD; and we think likewife, that we ferve him by our Prayers. This is fo common and obvious a Notion, that, if a Man do but hear the Service of GOD mentioned, he is naturally apt to apply that Word to praying to Him, and Worshiping of Him, as looking upon that as the principal Part of that Service we owe to GOD. Why, this is true; but praying to GOD in private is doing Him no Service, in the proper Senfe of the Word; there we rather ferve ourfelves than GOD Almighty. To ferve one, is properly to promote the Intereft of that Perfon whom we pretend to ferve; to do his Bufinefs with all thofe among whom we are employed. This now is truly and properly done with refpect to GOD, when we refort to the public

Affem