The Director "To pray for al hemia , sister to "ting in any of t “ from the power of Satan unto God, that they also may "te religious ed “ With remission of sins through the blood of Christ, to establishment of pray for sanctification by his Spirit; the mortification of latine of the Rh “ sin dwelling in and many times tyrannizing over us; the blessing upon “ versation and callings towards God and men; strength - he commonali « Christ ; grace to fit and enable us for all duties of con- the subordinate “ gainst temptations; the sanctified use of blessings and cros-would fill them ses; and perseverance in faith and obedience unto the end "Why, solver, ju 6 of Christ to all nations; for the conversion of the Jews, "low all their la pray for the propagation of the gospel and kingdom and, faithful « hastening of the second coming of our Lord; for the de. leart: « liverance of the distressed churches abroad from the typerus seminar ranny of the antichristian faction, and from the cruel op "inay flourish pressions and blasphemies of the Turk; for the blessing “particular cit) “ Solemn National League and Covenant ; and for our water any i plantations in the remote parts of the world : more para "Weaties, a “ truth, the purity of all his ordinances, and the power of "And, wi godliness; prevent and remove heresy, schism, profane ale ac 532 The Directory for the Publick IVorship of God. “ for the bitter sufferings and precious merits of that our “ only Saviour Jesus Christ. “ 'That the Lord would vouchsafe to shed abroad his love Majesty , that Go “ in our hearts by the Holy Ghost; seal unto us, by the worlds sperson and “s same Spirit of adoption, the full assurance of our pardon "igion and righte “ and reconciliation; comfort all that mourn in Zion, speak "zake him a bles " peace to the wounded and troubled spirit, and bind up "anation and pro “ the broken-hearted: and as for secure and presumptuous went and protect “ sinners, that he would open their eyes, convince their that do evil. “ consciences, and turn them from darkness unto light, and dof all his kin “ receive forgiveness of sin, and an inheritance among them wyal seed; fort “ that are sanctified by faith in Christ Jesus. “ quickening of our dead spirits with the life of God in “ the fulness of the Gentiles, the fall of Antichrist, and the o the churches and kingdoms of Scotland, England, and “ Ireland, now more strictly and religiously united in the “ ticularly for 'that church and kingdom whereof we are " members, that therein God would establish peace and ness, superstition, security, and unfruitfulness under the means of grace; heal all our rents and divisions, and preserve us from breach of our Solemn Covenant. To ng; and give " discipline, u " averting th “ liable unto "mediation that it is bances life of “ To pray for all in authority, especially for the King's Majesty; that God would make him rich in blessings, both " in his person and government; establish his throne in re" ligion and righteousness, save him from evil counsel, and "make him a blessed and glorious instrument for the con"servation and propagation of the gospel, for the encourage* ment and protection of them that do well, the terror of "all that do evil, and the great good of the whole church, " and of all his kingdoms; for the conversion of the Queen, " the religious education of the Prince, and the rest of the "royal seed; for the comforting the afflicted Queen of Bo“hemia, sister to our sovereign, and for the restitution and "establishment of the illustrious Prince Charles, Elector Pa“ latine of the Rhine, to all his dominions and dignities; for a blessing upon the High Court of Parliament, (when sit"ting in any of these kingdoms respectively,) the nobility, " the subordinate judges and magistrates, the gentry, and all " the commonality; for all pastors and teachers, that God "would fill them with his Spirit, make them exemplarily "holy, sober, just, peaceable, and gracious in their lives; "sound, faithful, and powerful in their ministry; and fol. “low all their labours with abundance of success and bless. ' ing; and give unto all his people pastors according to his own heart; for the universities, and all schools and reliTorgious seminaries of church and commonwealth, that they inay flourish more and more in learning and piety; for the particular city or congregation, that God would pour out " a blessing upon the ministry of the word, sacraments, and "discipline, upon the civil government, and all the several “ families and persons mercy to the afflicted under any inward or outward distress ; for seasonable weather, and fruitful seasons, as the time may require; for averting the judgments that we either feel or fear, or are liable unto, as famine, pestilence, the sword, and such like. “ And, with confidence of his mercy to his whole church, and the acceptance of our persons, through the merits and “ mediation of our High Priest, the Lord Jesus, to profess " that it is the desire of our souls to lave fellowship with “God in the reverend and conscionable use of his holy ordi. nançes; and, to that purpose, to pray earnestly for his 2 3 the on “ grace pour out the Spirit of grace, together with the outwards presupposed, (= of him; and that we, tasting the first-fruits of the most of all in th be also, and enjoy the fulness of those joys and plea-nacation, which ( 6 to every one his portion, in evidence and demonstraticnOrdinarily, the utterance, that he may divide the word of God aright, ns, before he d 66 cumcise the ears and hearts of the hearers, to hear, love, , (* suitabid " and receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which is may go on in s grace and effectual assistance to the sanctification of his bir his erumon, or ofix “ holy sabbath, the Lord's day, in all the duties thereof, shereafter appointe publick and private, both to ourselves, and to all other “ congregations of his people, according to the riches and “ excellency of the gospel, this day celebrated and enjoyed. Of the Ph “ And because we have been unprofitable hearers in times PIPACHING of the “ past, and now cannot of ourselves receive, as we should, shition , and one w the deep things of God, the mysteries of Jesus Christ, son bahaging to the “ which require a spiritual discerning; to pray, that the wypeliwned , that the “ Lord, who teacheth to profit, would graciously please to use himself , and means thereof, causing us to attain such a measure of the the minister of " excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord, weighty a sery “ and, in him, of the things which belong to our peace, mas and in such " that we may account all things but as dross in compari- arty ; by his kr.o glory that is to be revealed, may long for a more full set esercised in the “ and perfect communion with him, that where he is, we all by the illumina may « sures which are at his right hand for evermore. “ More particularly, that God would in a special man“ ner furnish his servant (now called to dispense the bread “ of life unto his household) with wisdom, fidelity, zeal , and is to make us! “ of the Spirit and power; and that the Lord would cir son rely be ought stil sering to admit thenever God slut 4 scripture, hop Let the intr drawn from place, or gene If the text times must be so Christ SO “ able to save their souls ; make them as good ground to piure, as he “ receive in the good seed of the word, and strengthen “ them against the temptations of Satan, the cares of the “ world, the hardness of their own hearts, and whatsoever “ else may hinder their profitable and saving hearing; that may be formed in them, and live in them, « that all their thoughts may be brought into captivity to s the obedience of Christ, and their hearts established in “ every good word and work for ever." We judge this to be a convenient order, in the ordinary publick prayer; yet so, as the minister may defer (as in prudence he shall think meet) some part of these petitions till after paraplrase t grounds of In anals the order the memo after his sermon, or offer up to God some of the thanksgivings hereafter appointed, in his prayer before his sermon. Of the Preaching of the Word. salvation, and one of the greatest and most excellent works belonging to the ministry of the gospel, should be so performed, that the workman need not be ashamed, but may save himself, and those that hear him. It is presupposed, (according to the rules for ordination,) that the minister of Christ is in some good measure gifted for so weighty a service, by his skill in the original languages, and in such arts and sciences as are handmaid unto divinity; by his knowledge in the whole body of theology, but most of all in the holy scriptures, having his senses and heart exercised in them above the common sort of believers; and by the illumination of God's Spirit, and other gifts of edification, which (together with reading and studying of the word) he ought still to seek by prayer, and an humble heart, resolving to admit and receive any truth not yet attained, whenever God shall make it known unto him. All which he is to make use of, and improve, in his private preparations, before he deliver in publick what he hath provided. Ordinarily, the subject of his sermon is to be some text of scripture, holding forth some principle or head of religion, or suitable to some special occasion emergent; or he may go on in some chapter, psalm, or book of the holy scripture, as he shall see fit. Let the introduction to his text be brief and perspicuous, drawn from the text itself, or context, or some parallel place, or general sentence of scripture. If the text be long, (as in histories or parables it sometimes must be,) let him give a brief sum of it; if short, a paraphrase thereof, if need be: in both, looking diligently to the scope of the text, and pointing at the chief heads and grounds of doctrine which he is to raise from it. In analysing and dividing his text, he is to regard more: the order of matter than of words ;; and neither to burden the memory of the hearers in the beginning with too many Z4 members. from the text in hai In confutation isfy their judgme | also the means the sequence also from the text cleared. The parallel places of In dehortation pertinent, than many, and (if need be) somewhat insisted buse, not only reasons, and discovering and taking away the causes of pre- Witch is very jadice and mistake. Otherwise it is not fit to detain the ble and exper ywering of them doth more hinder than promote edification. Whether they much cleared and confirmed, but to bring it home to special Sprehended, 536 The Directory for the Publicke Worship of God. members of division, nor to trouble their minds with obscure y(when conveni terms of art. In raising doctrines from the text, his care ought to be the nature of that First, That the matter be the truth of God. Secondly, That truth is a branch. it be a truth contained in or grounded on that text, that the hearers may discern how God teacheth it from thence . heresy from tl Thirdly, That he chiefly insist upon those doctrines which sunion unnecessa are principally intended, and make most for the edification an error, he is to of the hearers. The doctrine is to be expressed in plain terms; or, if any lo exhorting t thing in it need explication, it is to be opened, and the conupon, and applied to the purpose in hand. The arguments or reasons are to be solid, and, as much bearers are. in fa as may be, convincing. The illustrations, of what kind so ikdhe remedi ever, ought to be full of light, and such as may convey the truth into the hearer's heart with spiritual delight. If any doubt obvious from scripture, reason, or prejudice of the hearers, seem to arise, it is very requisite to remove it, by reconciling the seeming differences, answering the is also so hearers with propounding or answering vain or wicked ca. vils, witch, as they are endless, so the propounding and an hereby the He is not to rest in general doctrine, although never so with the misery In applying tions, leis carefully t and afflicted or particu ience, and the Wwwse duties, er are sucht long; that at to duty, hur their danger ton, upon use, by application to his hearers: which albeit it prove work of great difficulty to himself, requiring much prudence, zeal, and meditation, and to the natural and corrupt man will be very unpleasant ; yet he is to endeavour to perform it in such a manner, that his auditors may feel the word of God to be quick and powerful, and a discerner of thethoughts and intents of the lieart; and that, if any unbeliever or ig. norant person be present, he may have the secrets of his heart made manifest, and give glory to God. Ir the use of instruction or information in the knowledge of some truth, which is a consequence from his doctrine, he may as! me whick of such lock, he fir lese, such USE |