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their sword, care not to ask for peace, because they hope either to awe their foes into quietness, or to make advantage by war, as being sufficiently guarded and prepared. But we of the church of God know armies and navies are useless, not only against God, but without him, and only successful by his blessing. So that though we have both, yet we account the Divine providence our greatest security. How well this petition suited the primitive Christians every one may discern, who considers they judged it unlawful (while the emperors were heathen) to fight in their own defencey. And when prayers and tears were their only weapons, they might most justly be earnest with God to defend them, who did so wholly depend on his protection, that his glory seemed concerned in their safety. Yet it is not improper for us now, though (blessed be God) we have Christian princes and their forces to defend us: for we wish there may be no occasion to use arms, or if there be, we declare we rely not alone on these preparations; unless he please to bless them, we know they are unserviceable. Wherefore if it please him, we desire peace, and the keeping off invasions and rebellions for our time; and so will the following generations for their days, that it may appear we wish to live in peace, and do trust alone in the Lord of hosts, either to keep off war wholly, or to force our enemies to give it soon over when they find that God fighteth for us.

§. IX. Psalm li. 10, 11. O God, MAKE CLEAN OUR HEARTS WITHIN US. Answ. AND TAKE NOT THY HOLY SPIRIT FROM US] Though peace be accounted the chief of all blessings, yet without grace it may do us more

y Luke xxii. 38. Ita Explic. ab Origen. in Cels. lib. 5. Ambros. de Offic. Basil. et Augustin. Vid. Arnob. lib. 1. p. 6.

z Ezra viii. 22.

a Bellum gerere malis videtur felicitas, bonis necessitas. August.

it

harm than good. Wherefore we conclude with an earnest supplication for grace to fit us for, and help us in, the following devotions. We are now to offer up our incense, and therefore do beseech the author and lover of purity, in holy David's words, to cleanse the altars of our hearts, that neither the guilt of former offences may unhallow or defile them, nor any remaining evil thoughts may disturb the holy cloud; but that 151 may ascend and be a sweet savour before the throne of God. And because it is the Holy Spirit alone which can effect this, we pray that our hearts may be so pure as to invite this holy Dove to come unto us, and remain with us, that it may both make and keep us undefiled, in the remaining part of our prayers and of our lives. If we look back on those portions of the office which we have performed, I hope we shall have cause thankfully to acknowledge that the Divine Spirit hath been with us, and excited the flames of our devotion, the comfort of which aid makes us earnest for its continuance. And certainly we could never have sent up these very sacred ejaculations with such fervent spirits, united hearts, and harmonious voices, if the same Spirit of zeal and love had not inspired us. Therefore let the sweetness of this experience encourage us to beg that the Holy Ghost may stay among us, so that we may as affectionately join in those prayers, where the minister is the only speaker, as we have done in these, wherein we have had the honour and advantage of bearing our parts, and making our responsals. And indeed there is so great an harmony between these versicles and the following collects, that it is fit they should be said with one and the same devotion; these being like the titles to the collects, and here both priest and people repeat the heads of what the priest alone is to pray for more largely there. The first versicle, O Lord, shew

&c. answers to the Sunday Collect. The second, O Lord, save the king, &c. answers to the prayers for the king and his family. The third and fourth, Endue thy ministers, and, O Lord, save thy people, answer to the Collect for clergy and people. The fifth, Give peace &c. answers to the daily Collects for peace. The last, O God, make clean, &c. answers to the daily Collects for grace; which being observed, may serve for an analysis to these versicles; and so we proceed to the paraphrase.

The Paraphrase of the Versicles and Responsals before and after the Lord's Prayer.

Minister. My dear brethren in the right faith, I do most affectionately salute you; desiring THE LORD and his grace may BE WITH YOU to prosper you in that you now are doing.

Answer. AND we thankfully return the kindness, desiring likewise the Lord may be WITH THY SPIRIT, to make thee attentive and devout while thou speakest to God for us.

Minister. Let not your thoughts wander, but now LET US PRAY to God with fervency and devotion.

O LORD God the Father, pity, pardon, and HAVE MERCY UPON US, who are unworthy to call upon thee.

O CHRIST the Son of God, pity, pardon, and HAVE MERCY UPON US, whose only hope is in thy mediation and redemption. O LORD God the Holy Ghost, pity, pardon, and have MERCY UPON US, and assist us in these our supplications.

OUR FATHER WHICH ART &c.

Priest. Consider our sin and misery with compassion, O LORD, and now SHEW some token of THY MERCY UPON US to our comfort.

Answ. AND GRANT US now and ever such wonderful deliverances from all evil, that we may surely obtain THY SALVATION at the last.

Priest. O LORD, thou Governor of all the world, be pleased to bless, preserve, and SAVE THE KING thine own anointed.

Answ. AND MERCIFULLY HEAR US, whose peace is linked together with his prosperity, WHEN WE CALL UPON THEE for him, especially on extraordinary occasions.

Priest. O Lord, do thou ENDUE the hearts and minds of 152 THY MINISTERS WITH the purity and holiness signified by their garments, that so their lives may be full of RIGHTEOUS

NESS.

Answ. AND thereby thou shalt MAKE us and all THY CHOSEN PEOPLE out of our love to them, and spiritual benefit by them, exceeding JOYFUL in such exemplary and faithful pastors.

Priest. Be graciously pleased, O LORD, continually to deliver and SAVE THY PEOPLE out of all their troubles.

Answ. AND of thy infinite bounty and goodness to BLESS THINE INHERITANCE which thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.

Priest. Mercifully GIVE PEACE to all the world, and especially to thy church, that we may quietly serve thee IN OUR TIME, O LORD, thou God of peace.

Answ. We pray to thee for peace, BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER can keep us from war, or save us in it; for we trust not in any one THAT FIGHTETH FOR US, since none can secure us, BUT ONLY THOU, O GOD of hosts.

Priest. And since we are now to proceed in our supplications, we pray thee, O GOD, by thy grace MAKE CLEAN and purify OUR HEARTS from sin, that no evil thoughts may remain WITHIN US while we approach unto thee.

Answ. As thou hast begun to assist and cleanse us, so be pleased to continue thy help, AND TAKE NOT the sweet and necessary aid of THY HOLY SPIRIT away FROM Us; but let it rest upon us in the remaining part of our devotions, and for Amen.

ever.

SECTION XX.

OF THE COLLECTS FOR THE WEEK AND FESTIVAL-DAYS.

§. I. IT cannot be expected we should here give a particular account of all the collects for Sundays and other festival days, which are so numerous, they cannot be contained in the narrow limits of this essay, and so plain that they need not any curious explication; especially when the pious soul, by exercising itself in other

153

parts of these offices after our proposed method, is become expert in enlarging into devout meditations; it will then easily do the same in these Collects without a monitor. And besides, the Epistle and Gospel annexed to them are generally an excellent commentary upon them; and some judge they take their name from their being collected out of those portions of holy writ. But if we regard the use of the word in the scripture and the Fathers a, they may rather seem to be denominated from the collection and gathering together of the people into religious assemblies, among whom (so collected) these prayers were to be used. For which cause, though they be short, yet all that any need ask for, is comprehended in them, and collected into a small epitome. Therefore let the whole congregation join most unanimously in them, and apply them to their own and their brethren's known necessities. And observe that they are all directed to the Father through the Son, who liveth and loveth us, and so will hear us, and who reigneth in heaven, and therefore can help us. The beginning is commonly the ground on which we are induced to ask, and after the petition made, it is commonly backed with some motive taken from the glory of God, or our benefit, which we believe will be the effect of our being heard. But if any desire a more distinct information of the subject of every Collect, they may learn by the following table; wherein

a Dies Collectæ: Vulg. Lat. Levit. xxiii. 36. Collectionem : Vulg. Heb. x. 25. Et apud patres collectam celebrare, sæpissime. Inde precationes illæ, a populi collectione collectæ, appellari cœperunt. Alcuinus.

6 Existimant orationem brevem collectam appellari quod sacerdos-omnium petitiones com

pendiosa brevitate colligit. Walafrid. Strab. Vid. Durand. Rational. lib. 4. cap. 15.

c Generaliter ad Patrem diri

gitur, et terminatur in nomine Filii-et paulo post-O Pater, exaudi per filium tuum, qui hoc vult et potest; vult quia vivit, et potest quia regnat. Durand. Rational. lib. 4. cap. 15.

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