A companion to the temple and closet, or, A help to publick and private devotion in an essay upon the daily offices of the church.

A Practical Discourse on the Prayer for the Clergy and People.

§. 1. ALmighty and everlasting God, who alone work∣est great marvels] As we have made our suppli∣cations before for our Temporal Governors, that we un∣der them may have all those outward blessings which will make our lives comfortable here; so we now continue to pray for our Spiritual Guides, that with them we may re∣ceive all those Graces and inward blessings which will make our souls happy hereafter. And as we are members of the Church as well as the State, we must pray for those things which are requisite to the preservation and felicity of both joyntly and severally, since they mutually sup∣port each other. And as the union of men into Polities and civil Societies, is designed for the securing our Bo∣dies and Estates, and the obtaining of external prosperi∣ty; so the union of Christians, by one Spirit into one Faith, and to one another by the bonds of love, is intended by God for the edification of our souls, and the securing our eternal inheritance. Wherefore let us remember our My∣stical as well as Political union, our souls as well as our bo∣dies, and most devoutly imitate the best examples, in cal∣ling(x) upon God for his Church and People; and especially for the Mini∣sters thereof, as the Scripture injoyns us(y), and as the Apostle St. Paul so often particularly intreats those he writes unto(z) to do. And for this we have in all ages many testimonies of holy men, who both in their publique and private wor∣ship did ever beg for the peace and welfare of the Church, more then any of their private concerns. With which noble spirit if our breasts be possessed, this excel∣lent Form is here daily presented to us, to be offered to God with fervent affections, which is so contrived that

the very method and phrase if duly considered may fur∣nish us with many affecting meditations to improve our devotion in the use of it. The Introduction sets God be∣fore us in those admirable Attributes and wonderful Works, which declare him every way fit to be called upon for his Church, and mind us what he hath done for it. It is he that first gathered his Church out of obstinate Jews and ignorant Heathens by his Almighty Power; and who hath by the same Omnipotence either preserved it from, or supported it against, the malice of Sathan, the rage of Persecutors, the subtility of Hereticks, and the blind zeal of factious Dividers: so that it continues to this very day, and shall do to the end of the world, be∣cause our Redeemer ever lives to intercede for us, and hath promised to be with us(a) for ever. Our God is everlasting, and the duration of the Church relies on the indeficiency of the Divine Na∣ture, which ever lives and ever loves it, and is as powerful and sufficient to support and supply it now, as ever in former ages. History can describe, and our Fathers can tell us what marvellous works he hath done for the benefit thereof; how many miracles he wrought for the confirmation of his truth, to the conviction of its e∣nemies, and the strengthening of the members thereof. In the first times he did wonderfully inspire the Apostles with the Holy Ghost and power to work miracles, by which(b) their successors were di∣stinguished for some time, till the world did believe. And afterwards, though the operation were not so vi∣sible (because it was not so necessa∣ry)

(c), yet the assistance is as sure; for that is as requisite now as ever, and the effect of these mediate gifts, and the blessing upon our endeavours is as advantageous and more suitable to the present condition of the Church. For the greatest of all won∣ders (which some prefer to the Cre∣ation of Light out of the Darkness) is not yet ceased, viz. the conversion of sinners, by that which the pro∣fane world account the foolishness of Preaching, and then who dares de∣ny, but God works great marvels still, though not in so magnificent a way. Oh therefore let us call upon this Almighty and everlasting God, that he will marvellously assist his Ministers, and wonderfully bless his People un∣der them; that it may appear that he who of old was vi∣sibly present with his Church by Miracles, may be now perceived to be still among us by extraordinary assistan∣ces and admirable success bestowed on his servants.

§. 2. Send down upon our Bishops and Curates, and all Congregations committed to their charge, the health∣ful spirit of thy grace] This Prayer being made for the whole Church, doth here exactly enumerate the several parts of which it doth consist, Bishops, Ministers and Saints(d): In St. Pauls phrase, all which do make a Church. And in the antient Liturgies all these de∣grees are particularly mentioned(e) and prayed for; though the same thing be asked for them all, the salu∣tary spirit of the divine grace, of which every one of them stands in need, and the consideration of their several places and offices will be the best guide and help to our affectio∣nate

putting up this Petition. First the Bishops, who as they have the highest dignity in the Church so they have the greatest Charge, being to oversee both the People and the Ministers. So that by being advanced above all, they be∣come servants unto all(f) and on them as on the Apostles(g) lyes the care of all the Churches. They are to en∣deavour to preserve the Church in peace and prosperity, by electing fit persons into the Ministry, and or∣dering the externals of divine wor∣ship with decency, and to edification by preventing haeresies and Schisms among the Clergy; and by enquir∣ing into and censuring all publique crimes both in Clergy and People and by consulting upon occasion a∣bout the most important affairs of Church and State; which is a burden for the shoulders of an Angel. And if we consider how necessary and bene∣ficial this office is to us(h) and how impossible to be duly performed without extraordinary measures of the Spirit of Grace, we shall no doubt earnestly beg it for all of this Sacred order, especially for him whom we live under, whom though we do not here (as the antients did) men∣tion by name, yet we daily remem∣ber with a particular affection. Se∣condly Curates, by which we are not to understand stipendiary persons but all the inferior Clergy to whom the Bishops do commit the [curam a∣nimarum] cure or charge of Souls: which name, however abused by vul∣gar acceptation, mindes us of the original of those we now call Ministers. For at first the sole charge of every City and the adjacent parts lay upon the Bishop, till by

the encrease of the faithful it became necessary for him to take unto himself certain [Curatores] Deputies, to whom he committed the office of instructing, reserving to him∣self the rights of Government and Superiority (as is ex∣cellently proved by some of our own Authors; and these (acting as the seventy with and under Moses, and) taking part of the Burden on them are therefore properly called here by the name of Curates. And let all that have under∣taken this weighty charge, most devoutly pray for them∣selves and all their Brethren, and all the faithful people of God joyn with us in so doing. For our office is to cha∣techise and instruct the ignorant, to exhort and incou∣rage the good, to rebuke and convince sinners, to con∣firm the doubting, to win the gain-saying, to comfort the sad, visit the sick, to preach to our congregations, to pray with and for them, to administer the holy Sacra∣ments, and in a word, to take care of the Souls of the living and bury the bodies of the dead. Wherefore the Prayers of Christs flock had need be fervent for them, since this cannot be done without the aid of the Spirit of grace: e∣specially because Ministers must be able to teach their Au∣ditors, by the innocence of their lives(i) as well as by the vastness of their learning; and had need be free of the crimes with which they charge others, least their reproofs become their own reproach, rather then their neighbours amendment. Last∣ly the people who are to hear and learn from these spiritual guides, must be prayed for; that they may be open to instruction, easy to advice, gentle upon reproofs, willing to learn and receive Gods word, di∣ligent to practise it, and full of all benign dispositions, and replenished with Justice, Charity and Devotion. Remember (holy brethren) how seriously God and his Spirit hath charged you with his people, and how strictly he will require them from you, so that if through your default any

perish(k), you are accountable to God for them. Consider how in∣effectual both your prayers and in∣structions(l) will be, unless the Spi∣rit of grace bless them; and then pray heartily for your Congregati∣on, and let them who are to suck these breasts pray for a healthful nurse; a pious, painful, zealous and knowing Pastor: nay let us all Mi∣nisters and People desire with and for one another, that spirit of sa∣ving grace that may make the whole body of the Church healthful, and e∣very member strong, active, and use∣ful in its place(m). That the Go∣vernours may be prudent, the Ministers faithful and the People diligent, and all of them ready and vigorous for the duties of Religion and every good work.

§. 3. And that they may truly please thee pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing] As the Grace of God is requisite to fit all the members of Christs Church for their several offices and duties; so his blessing is ne∣cessary to make their labours prosperous. Man is cal∣led by Philo the coelestial plant, ha∣ving his root reverst(n) and seeming to grow from heaven. And herein the comparison holds, that as plants require the influence of heaven to quicken them, and the dew thereof to moisten them; so those which are set in the Church (the garden of God) require the salutary spirit of grace to make them live, and the irrigati∣ons of the divine blessing to make them spring and bring forth fruit. It is not from our pains nor your diligence alone that success must come, not from him that plants nor him that waters, but from God that gives the In∣crease

(o). Whole buckets of water poured on by the hand of man, will not so much refresh the Plant, as the gentler showers and dew from above; wherefore the dew is used to express, plenty and abundant increase(p), par∣ticularly in knowledg(q), of which the dew falling from the Clouds was the Hierogliphick among the Aegyp∣tians. Let us then most passionately gasp for this prolifick dew, that we may not only please God by our constant and ready attendances upon Prayers and other offices, but tru∣ly and throughly please him by our fruitfulness under these means; let it appear by our humility and chari∣ty, our justice and innocence, by the success of the Ministers, and the improvement of every Congregation, that we do not receive the Grace of God in vain. For he is ready to give his blessing, if we be fit to receive it, he will not only sprinkle but pour it on us; because we need large measures, and that not only at some seldome seasons but continually at both the morn∣ing and evening Sacrifice, least affliction or temptation should wither us. Oh! what Soul doth not long to be thus watered, since nothing can fructify without it, nor can any thing dye or be barren that doth enjoy it? Let us humbly pray that the good orders of our Bishops, the prayers and Exhortations of our Ministers, and the con∣stant attendancies of our People, may be thus watered from above, that we may bring forth an hundred-fold and send forth a pleasant favour of good works(r) like the fields of Palestina when wa∣tered from the coelestial springs. And so should every member of Christs Church live and grow and flourish, then which nothing is more desirable.

§. 4. Grant this O Lord for the honour of our Advo∣cate and Mediator, Iesus Christ, Amen] We must not allow either the Clergy or People to ask these Pe∣titions with any designs to advance their own glory, or to become famous for their gifts or graces. For the end must be the manifestation of the glories of our Advo∣cate and Mediator, who at his Triumphant Ascension, gave divine gifts(s) unto men, and accounts those who are endued with them as so many rays of his glory(t). It is Jesus who obtains by his pleading at the Throne of grace both the spirit and the blessing for us, and it is he that bestows both upon the Church for which he once gave his body, and on which he ever sets his love. Let him have the Honour of all the holy and religious performances of his Church, and let us earnestly desire that by the flourishing of this his body all the world may see the prevalency of his in∣tercession with God, the sincerity of his love to his ser∣vants, his continual care of them and bounty to them; which will surely cause all people to advance and mag∣nifie his holy name. Nothing is more the Honour of Jesus now in heaven then that his Church be ruled with pious and wise Governours, his Ordinances administred by zea∣lous and holy Ministers, and all places abounding with religious, loyal and charitable People. And what argu∣ment will sooner open the ears and pierce the heart of the Father of mercies, whose great design is to glorifie his dear and only Son? This declares that our Pe∣titions herein comply with his eternal purposes. We see the dishonour of some distempered members seems to reflect upon the head; and we are grieved for it, desir∣ing sincerely the holy Jesus may have (as he deserves) all glory by the holiness and prosperity of his Church, and we hope that Heaven will say [Amen] hereto.

Notes

• (x)

  John 17.20. Deut. 33.11.
• (y)

  Psal. 132.9. Ephes. 6.18, 19.
• (z)

  Coloss. 4.3. 1 Thess. 5.25.
• (a)

  Matth. 16.18. chap. 28. ver. ult. Heb. 7.25. Graec. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Omnis Ecclesia quae fit propter Deum fir∣ma permanebit. Dic. Rab.
• (b)

  Acts 2.4. Chap. 9.17. Chap. 19.6. 2 Tim. 1.6. 1 Tim. 1.18. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: hoc est, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Chrysost. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Oecum. in loc.
• (c)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Chrysost. l. 4. de Sacerdotio. Necessaria fuerunt antequam crederet mundus, ad hoc ut crederet. Aug. Civ. De. 22.
• (d)

  Philip. 1.1. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: Illi sunt Ecclesia plebs Sa∣cerdoti adunata & pastori suo grex ad∣haerens: S. Cypr. Epist. 69.
• (e)

  Pro Archiepis∣copo nostro N. honorifico sacerdotio in Christi Ministerio, & omni Clero & populo Dominum postulemus. Liturg. S. Basil.
• (f)

  Ne te efferas, of∣ficium tibi non po∣testas injungitur, bo∣diè incipiendum tibi servire omnibus. Grotius in Matth. 20. Asserit Judaeos Captivos ita loqui ad Ethnarcam suum. vid. Matth. 20.27. & 1 Cor. 9.19. Apud nos qui in pe∣rant serviunt iis qui∣bus videntur impe∣rare. Aug. Civ. De. l. 19. c. 14.
• (g)

  1 Cor. 11.28. Graec. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• (h)

  Ecclesiae salus in summi sacerdo••i••: i. e. Episcopi dig••i∣tate consistit; cui si non exors quaedam, & ab omnibus detur potestas, tot e•••• ••i••••∣tur schismata q••ot sacerd••tes. Hier. ad∣vers. Lucifer.
• (i)

  Non statim boni sacerdotis est aut tantummodo, inno∣centèr agere, aut tan∣tummodo scientèr praedicare; cum & innocens, tantum sibi proficit nisi d••ctus sit, & doctus sine do∣ctrinae sit Authorita∣te nisi innocens sit. Hilar. Pict. de Trin. l. 8.
• (k)

  1 Kings 20.39. Ezek. 33.9.
• (l)

  Magisteria for∣nisecus adjutoria quaedam sunt; Cathe∣dram in coelo habet qui eorda docet. Aug. in Epist. Jo∣han. Tract. 4.
• (m)

  Titus 2. ver. 11. Vatab. Gratia salu∣taris, &c. See Psal. 132 ver. 16.
• (n)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. lib. de in∣sid. pejor.
• (o)

  1 Corinth. 3.5, 6.
• (p)

  Gen. 27.28. Deut. 33.18. and 28. Hoseah. 14.5.
• (q)

  Deut. 32.1. Aegyptii eruditionem indicantes coelum pingunt rorem fun∣dens. Caussin. Hie∣roglyph. Horax. 35.
• (r)

  Et eum à sie∣citate continuâ im∣maduerit imbre, tunc emittit illum suum habitum, divi∣num, ex sole concep∣tum, cui cemparari suavitas nulla po∣test. Plin. lib. 17. c. 5. Genes. 27.27.
• (s)

  Ephes. 4.8.
• (t)

  2 Cor. 8.23. Sunt Christi gloria, quia nihil habent ni∣si dono Christi. Calvin.