Q. Is it possible to avoid all wandering Thoughts in Prayer.

A. Considering the Frame and Constitution of our Natures, and the close Connexion there is between the Body and Soul, it is impossible but that when we are at our Prayers our Thoughts may be diverted, and our Intentions interrupted by the former Impressions of Study or Business. All we can do is to strive against these Distractions, to bewail this Weakness, and to compose our Thoughts to all that Seriousness our Temper and Circumstances will permit; to recall our Minds as soon as we perceive they run out upon other Objects, and immediately to throw away all such Thoughts as are foreign to our present Employment. What makes these Distractions criminal, is when we willingly entertain them, and indulge ourselves in thinking upon other Objects without Restraint; when we keep our unreasonable Passions under no Government, and when we take no Care to compose ourselves to a serious Temper, by considering in whose awful Presence we appear.

Q. What Prayers are most acceptable to God, and most necessary for us?

A. Those that are offered in Public Assemblies, which have these Advantages above private Devotions, that God is most honoured and glorified by such Addresses, and a Sense of his Majesty is maintained in the World somewhat suitable to his most excellent Greatness and Goodness, when, by outward Signs and Tokens we publish and declare the inward Regard and Esteem we have for his divine Perfections: We do hereby declare ourselves Members of the Body of Christ, which is his Church; which we cannot be to any Purpose, without having Fellowship with God and one another in all Duties, of which Prayer and Praise are the chief. To such Assemblies our Saviour promises his special Presence, and hath appointed a particular Order of Men to offer up our Prayers in such Places.

We may expect greater Success when our Petitions are made with the joint and unanimous Consent of our Fellow Christians, and when our Devotions receive Warmth and Heat from their exemplary Zeal. Which Considerations should make all good Christians frequently attend the public Worship.

Q. Is this Obligation sufficiently discharged by going to Church on Sundays and Holy-days?

36.

1

Psal. lxxii.

A. It is to be wished, that all Christians were constant in attending the public Worship on Sundays and Holy-days, because it is likely it would dispose them to repeat such Exercises of Devotion with greater Fervency. But considering that among the Jews there was a Morning and Evening Sacrifice daily offered to God at the Temple; and that the Precepts of the Gospel oblige us to pray always, and to pray without ceasing, and that the ancient Luke xxi. Prophet's expressly declare that there should be as Thess. v. frequent Devotion in the Days of Christ, as there 17. had been in former Times; that Prayers shall be 15. made unto him continually, and daily shall he be praised: Considering these Things, I say, as Prayer, the Christian Sacrifice should be offered Morning and Evening in public Assemblies; so they that have such Opportunities, and are not lawfully hindered, should endeavour so to regulate their Time, as to be able constantly to attend such a great Advantage to the Christian Life. And as those who have Leisure cannot better employ it, so they must have but little Concern for the Honour and Glory of God, who neglects such Opportunities of declaring and publishing his Praise.

Q. Is Family Prayer à Duty incumbent upon him who is the Master of it?

A. A Master of a Family being answerable to God for the Welfare of those Souls that are under his Care, I cannot well understand how a Sense of Religion can be maintained in such a Family, without the Exercise of daily Devotion in it, as such a Society. This is the best Method to

confirm and establish his Children and Servants in the Practice of their Christian Obligations, and an admirable Means to draw down the Blessings of God, when in a Body they daily acknowledge his divine Perfections, and supplicate his Favour for the Mercies they stand in need of. Nor may this Devotion be neglected at our Meals, for we ought to beg the Blessing of God upon those good Creatures provided for our Use, since it is by the Word 1 Tim. iv. of God and Prayer that they are sanctified to us. The Principles of natural Religion teach us thankfully to acknowledge the Benefits we receive; and this particular Instance of it hath sufficient Ground Mat. xiv. from the Example of Christ and his holy Apostles, all the Evangelists declared that our Saviour blessed and gave Thanks before Meat; the same St. Luke relates of St. Paul; and even St. Paul himself speaks of it, as the known Practice of the Church Acts xxvii. among Christians.

5.

19.

Mark iv. 41. Luke ix. 16.

John iv. 11.

35.

Rom. xiv.

6.

Q. Wherein consists the Spirit of Prayer, or when may we be said to pray by the Spirit?

4. When we approach the Majesty of Heaven, with all such devout Affections and holy Dispositions of Mind, as are wrought in us by the powerful Assistance of the blessed Spirit. When we confess our Sins with hearty Sorrow and Shame, and with firm Resolutions of better Obedience. When we beg God's Mercies with a lively Sense of our own Wants, and with an entire Confidence in his infinite Goodness. When we resign our Wills to him, and depend upon the Wisdom of his Providence in all those temporal Blessings and Deliverances we expect from him. When we shew forth his Praise not only with our Lips, but in our Lives, by giving up ourselves to his Service. As for the Inspiration of the Matter, and the Expressions of our Prayer; that was an extraordinary Gift, only temporary, and long since ceased, and intended only, as other miraculous Gifts were, for the first Propagation of the Gospel.

Q. What are the great Advantages of the frequent and devout Exercise of this Duty?

A. The constant Exercise of Prayer is the best Method to get the Mastery of our evil Inclinations, and to overcome our vicious Habits. It preserves a lively Sense of our Duty upon our Minds, and fortifies us against those Temptations that continually assault us. It raises our Souls above this World, by making spiritual Objects familiar to them; and supports us under the Calamities and Crosses of this Life, by sanctifying such Afflictions. It leads us gradually to the Perfection of Christian Piety, and preserves that Union between our Souls and God, in which our spiritual Life consists. Without it we in vain pretend to discharge those Duties that are incumbent upon us as Christians, or to prosper in our temporal Affairs, which must have God's Blessing to crown them with Success.

THE PRAYERS.

I.

ance of

ALMIGHTY God, who hast promised to hear For God's the Petitions of them that ask in thy Son's Accept Name; I beseech thee mercifully to incline thine our PrayEars to me, when I make my Prayers and Suppliers, cations unto thee; and grant that I may so faithfully ask according to thy Will, that I may effectually obtain the Relief of my Necessities, to the setting forth of thy Glory, through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

II.

Blessings.

O GOD, heavenly Father, who by thy Son For temJesus Christ hast promised to all them that poral seek thy Kingdom, and the Righteousness thereof, all Things necessary to their bodily Sustenance; send us, I beseech thee, such seasonable Weather as may preserve to our Use the kindly Fruits of

For averting Judg

ment.

the Earth, and that in due Time we may enjoy them. I acknowledge, O Lord, that it is from thy Gift that the Rain doth fall, the Earth is fruitful, Beasts increase, and Fishes do multiply; and though for our Sins we have worthily deserved Scarcity and Dearth, and have justly exposed ourselves to be punished with great Sickness and Mortality, and to be delivered into the Hands of our Enemies; yet for the Sake of thy blessed Son, and upon our own true Repentance, send us Cheapness and Plenty, healthful Seasons, Unity, Peace, and Concord: Deliver us from Lightning and Tempest, from Plague, Pestilence, and Famine, from Battle and Murder, and from sudden Death. Increase the Fruits of the Earth by thy heavenly Benediction, and grant that we, receiving thy bountiful Liberality, may use the same to thy Glory, the Relief of those that are needy, and to our own Comfort, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

III.

O ALMIGHTY God, who in thy Wrath didst send a Plague upon thine own People in the Wilderness, for their obstinate Rebellion against Moses and Aaron; and also in the Time of King David didst slay with the Plague of Pestilence threescore and ten thousand; be merciful to thy sinful People, who have so many Ways provoked thy Wrath, that we are afraid of thy Judgments: Remember not, Lord, our Sins, nor the Sins of our Forefathers, but according to the Greatness of thy Mercies, think thou upon us for thy Goodness-sake. Turn us, O Lord, and so let thy Anger cease from us. Be favourable, O Lord, be favourable to thy People, who turn to thee in Weeping, Fasting, and Praying. Thou sparest when we deserve Punishment, and in thy Wrath thinkest upon Mercy. Spare thy People, good Lord, spare them, and let not thy Heritage be brought to Confusion. Hear us, O Lord, for