the song of the divine Psalmist, Psalm xci. 1. &c. Qui habitat in abscondito Altissimi, &c. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust : his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. But how comes the faithful person to be thus secure? the Psalmist tells us, ver. 11. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy

What a mighty support and comfort will this be to us, if our consciences bear witness to our integrity, in all dangers, distresses, and necessities, yea in our last extremity, and in the hour of death? For the good angels of God shall go along with us in the whole course of our lives, never leaving us till they have safely landed us in a happy eternity. When we are in our extreme agony, those blessed spirits shall minister to us, as they did to our Saviour in his; and when we breathe out our last, they shall watch our souls, that the wicked one may not touch them, and shall safely convey them into Abraham's bosom, where we shall be out of all danger for ever. Wherefore,

6. And lastly, Let all truly good men continually bless and praise God for this his unspeakable goodness to them. Let them hear the words of the Psalmist, Psalm xxxii. 10, 11. and xxxiii. 1. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about. Be

glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.

Let us conclude all with that excellent doxology of our church in the Office of the Communion.

"It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, "that we should at all times, and in all places, give "thanks unto thee, O Lord, holy Father, almighty everlasting God.

66

66

"Therefore with angels and archangels, and with "all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious name, evermore praising thee, and saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven " and earth are full of thy glory: glory be to thee, "O Lord most high." Amen.

66

SERMON XIII.

PRESCRIBED forms of PRAYER IN THE PUBLIC WORSHIP OF GOD, PRACTISED FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF CHRISTIANITY, AND ARE NOT ONLY ANCIENT, BUT USEFUL AND NECESSARY UPON MANY ACCOUNTS.

1 TIм. i. 1, 2.

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

ST. PAUL the apostle had, in the foregoing chapter, given instructions to bishop (or rather archbishop) Timothy concerning the regulation of preaching and preachers within his province, which was the proconsular Asia, of which Ephesus was the metropolis. For so we read chapter the first of this Epistle, ver. 3. As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine. There were it seems some heterodox teachers within that province; and by the sequel it appears they were Judaizing doctors, who taught the observation of the Mosaic law, as necessary to Christians, such as the Cerinthians and others. For so we read, ver. 5, 6, 7.

a

[This Sermon was composed after the restoration, when the Liturgy was again in use.]

The end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: from which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain janglings; desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. Hence in the following verses he shews, against those heterodox teachers, the right use of the Law, and also sets forth the grace of the Gospel, which should be the principal subject of all Gospel preaching.

Now the apostle having thus instructed Timothy as to the matter of preaching and preachers, he proceeds in the next place to give him farther orders, concerning other ecclesiastical matters; and first of all and chiefly concerning the public and common prayers of the church, in the words of my text: I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and all that are in authority; that we may live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty: πρŵτov пávτwv, first of all; which words, as Estius well notes, are to be understood, not of a priority of time, but of dignity; in the same sense, as our Saviour in the Gospel bids us seek, πρτov, first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, Matt. vi. 33.

Prayer is the principal and most noble part of God's worship, and to be preferred before preaching: nay indeed, to speak strictly and properly, preaching is no part of divine worship; for every proper act of divine worship must have God for its immediate object, and God's glory for its immediate end. But the immediate object of preaching are men, to whom it is directed, and the immediate end of it is the

instruction of men; though it is true, in the ultimate end of it, it tends to and ends in the glory of God, as indeed all religious actions do, and all our other actions of moment should do. But prayer is immediately directed to God himself, and it is an immediate glorification of him, and a paying of divine worship and honour to him. In a word, by preaching we are taught how to worship God; but prayer is itself God's worship. Hence the place of God's worship is styled by our Saviour οἶκος προσευχῆς, the house of prayer, Matt. xxi. 13. It is not called a preaching house, (though there must be preaching there too at due times and seasons,) but a house of prayer, because prayer is the principal worship of God, to which all religious houses are dedicated, and it is the constant and daily business to be performed in them. No wonder therefore that the apostle charges Timothy to take a special care concerning the Liturgy and public prayers of the church, that they be duly and rightly performed: I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made, &c.

The text is an order or injunction given by St. Paul to Timothy, a bishop of the church, concerning the public and common prayers to be used in the several churches and congregations under his care and jurisdiction. That Timothy was a bishop, and bishop of Ephesus, the metropolis or chief city of Asia, is so fully attested by all antiquity, that he must be either very ignorant or very shameless that shall deny it; especially there being besides very plain evidences of the episcopal power and authority wherewith he was invested, in this very Epistle of St. Paul written to him. Such is that in the first chapter,