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let the shields of the earth belong unto the Lord, that he may be greatly exalted.

Let thofe that be of us build the old wafte places, and raise up the foundations of many generations, that they may be called the repairers of the breaches, and restorers of paths to dwell in.

4. For the Magiftrates, the Judge, and Juftices of the Peace in the feveral counties and corporations.

Make those that rule over us juft, ruling in the fear of God; and let those that judge remember that they judge not for man, but for the Lord, who is with them in the judgment, that therefore the fear of the Lord may be upon them.

Make them able men, and men of truth, fearing God, and hating covetoufnefs, that judgment may run down like a river, and righteoufnefs as a mighty ftream.

Enable our magiftrates to defend the poor and fatherless, to do juftice for the afflicted and needy, to deliver the poor and needy, and to rid them out of the hand of the wicked, and let rulers never be a terror to good works, but to the evil.

5. For all the minifters of God's holy word and facraments, the mafters of affemblies.

Teach thy minifters how they ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, that they may not preach themfelves, but Chrift Jefus the Lord, and inay ftudy to fhew themfelves approved to God, workmen that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Make them mighty in the fcriptures, that from thence they may be thoroughly furnished for every good work, in doctrine, fhewing uncorruptnefs, gravity, and fincerity, and found fpeech, which cannot be condemned.

Enable them to give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine, to meditate on thefe things, to give themselves to prayer and to the miniftry of

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the word, to give themfelves wholly to them; and to continue in them, that they may both fave themselves and thofe that hear them.

Let utterance be given to them, that they may open their mouths boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, that thereof they may fpeak as they ought to speak, as able minifters of the New Teftament, not of the letter, but of the fpirit, and let them obtain mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

Let the arms of their hands be made ftrong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; and let them be full of power, by the fpirit of the Lord of hofts, to fhew thy people their tranfgreffions, and the house of Jacob their fins.

Make them found in the faith, and enable them always to fpeak the things which become found doctrine, with meeknefs inftructing thofe that oppofe themselves; and let not the fervants of the Lord ftrive, but be gentle to all men, apt to teach.

Make them good examples to the believers, in word, in converfation, in charity, in fpirit, in faith, in purity; and let them be clean that bear the veffels of the Lord, and let holiness to the Lord be written. upon their foreheads.

Lord, grant that they may not labour in vain, or fpend their strength for nought, and in vain; but let the hand of the Lord be with them, that many may believe, and turn to the Lord.

6. For all the univerfities, fchools and nurseries of learning.

Let the fchools of the prophets be replenished with every good gift, and every perfect gift, from above, from the father of lights.

Caft falt into thofe fountains, and heat the waters thereof, that from thence may iffue ftreams which fhall make glad the city of our God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Moft High.

7. For the common people of the land.

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Give grace to all the fubjects of this land, that they may under the government God hath fet over us, live quiet and peaceable lives, in all godlinefs and honesty, dwelling together in unity, that the Lord may command a bleffing upon us, even life for ever

more.

Let all, of every denomination, that fear God and work righteoufnels, be accepted of him; yea, let fuch as love thy falvation fay continually, the Lord be magnified, that hath pleasure in the profperity of his fervants.

8. For the feveral ages and conditions of men, as they stand in need of mercy and grace.

1. For those that are young and setting out in the

world.

Lord, give to thofe that are young to remember their creator in the days of their youth, that thereby they may be kept from the vanity which childhood and youth are fubject to, and may be restrained from walking in the way of their heart, and in the fight of their eyes, by confidering, that for all these things God will bring them into judgment.

Lord, make young people fober-minded, and let the word of God abide in them, that they may be ftrong, and may overcome the wicked One.

From the womb of the morning let Chrift have the dew of the youth, and let him be formed in the hearts of those that are young.

Keep thofe that are fetting out in the world from the corruption that is in the world through luft; and give to thofe that have been well educated to hold fast the form of found words, and to continue in the things which they have learned.

2. For thofe that are old, and are of long flanding in profeffion.

There are fome that are old difciples of Jefus Chrift; Lord, give them fill to bring forth fruit in old age, to fhew that the Lord is upright, that he is their rock, and there is no unrighteoufnefs in him.

Now the evil days are come, and the years of which they fay there is no pleasure in them, let thy comforts delight their fouls.

Even to their old age be thou he, and to the hoary hairs do thou carry them thou haft made, we beseech thee bear, yea, do thou carry and deliver them.

Thofe whom thou haft taught from their youth up, and who have hitherto declared all thy wonderous works, now alfo, when they are old and grey-headed, leave them not, caft them not off in their old age, fail them not when their strength fails.

Let every hoary head be a srown of glory to those that have it, being found in the way of righteoufnels, and give them to know whom they have believed.

3. For thofe that are rich and profperous in the world, fome of whom, perhaps, need prayers as much as thofe that request them.

Lord, keep thofe that are rich in the world from being high-minded, and trufting in uncertain riches, and give them to truft in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy: That they may do good, and be rich in good works, ready to diftribute, willing to communicate, that they may lay up in ftore for themfelves a good fecurity for the time to come.

Though it is hard for thofe that are rich to enter into the kingdom of heaven, yet with thee this is poffible.

4. For thofe that are poor and in affiction; for fuch we have always with us.

Lord, make thofe that are poor in the world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, and give to them to receive the gospel.

O that the poor of the flock may wait upon thee, and may know the word of the Lord.

Many are the troubles of the righteous, good Lord, deliver them out of them all; and though no afflic tion, for the prefent, feems to be joyous, but grievous, nevertheless, afterwards let it yield the peace

able fruit of righteoufnefs to them that are exercised thereby.

5. For our enemies, and thofe that hate us.

Lord, give us to love our enemies, to blefs them that curfe us, and to pray for them that defpitefully ufe us, and perfecute us.

Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do; and lay not their malice against us to their charge, and work in us a difpofition to forbear and forgive in love, as thou requireft we should when we pray.

And grant that our ways may fo please the Lord, that even our enemies may be at peace with us. Let the wolf and the lamb lie down together, and let there be none to hurt or deftroy in all the holy mountain; let not Ephraim envy Judah, nor Judah vex Ephraim.

6. For our friends and those that love ns.

And we wish for all thofe whom we love in the truth, that they may profper, and be in health, especially that their fouls may profper.

The grace of the Lord Jefus Chrift be with their fpirits.

CHAP. VI.

Of Addreffes to God upon particular occafions, whether domefic or public.

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T is made our duty, and prefcribed as a remedy against difquieting care, that in every thing, by prayer and fupplication, with thanksgiving, we should make our requests known to God. And it is part of the boldnefs, the liberty of fpeech which is allowed us in our access to God, that we may be particular in opening our cafe, and feeking to him for relief; that according as the fore and the grief is, accordingly the prayer and the fupplication may be by any man, or by the people of Ifrael. Not that God

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