SERM. deed, it is to be feared, by them who trust XI. entirely to it, that there is not much) or who may really be prepared for death at any time, and may therefore think it unnecessary to pray against being cut off suddenly, it may be replied, that if a little warning be not necessary on their own accounts, it is at least eligible on account of their friends; to take off the shock which their sudden removal might occasion, to give a short time to settle their worldly concerns (though these, as well as their spiritual, should always be in all practical readiness) and, lastly, to afford them an opportunity of giving their dying advice and example to the survivors. We pray against all sedition, privy conspiracy, and rebellion, that is, against all traiterous designs against the king or government; we pray against all false doctrine, heresy, and schism; by false doctrine,' we may understand the believing or disbelieving con XI. contrary to what the scriptures contain, SERM. and heresy' has, I think, much the same meaning; the sense of schism,' is division in the church; we pray against all separation among Christians, that we may all (as St. Paul advises) speak the same thing; that we may be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment. Having offered our petitions for deliverance from various evils, we beseech Christ to grant us what we ask, by the mystery of his holy incarnation, and by the other leading circumstances of his history, whilst he was upon earth; by Christ's holy incarnation,' is meant his becoming flesh, his taking upon him man's nature. When we beseech him to relieve our wants by this and the other particulars mentioned, we mean, by their means, and on their ac count; and the immense goodness which he shewed to the human race in them, gives us ground and foundation for our hopes of a favourable hearing. SERM. As we have need of the favour and proXI. tection of heaven at all seasons, we pray for it in all times of our wealth, which means prosperity, in all times of our tribulation, which means adversity, we being in as much real danger, perhaps, in the former state as in the latter; we pray likewise for mercy at that solemn and concluding season of our trial, "the hour of death," and at that period, which will determine our lot for ever," the day of judgment." When we have thus concluded our petitions for ourselves, we proceed to enlarge and extend them in behalf of our brethren, in behalf of mankind in general; and, first, we begin by praying for God's guidance of the holy Christian church; we then offer our supplications for our superiors, temporal and spiritual; and we conclude by presenting a variety of interces-. sions for all mankind, in all their principal wants, necessities, distresses, and emergencies; but this is done in so clear and plain a man a manner, as to require no explanation. SERM. The minister and people now endeavour to stir up and enliven their devotion by repeating, alternately, several short sentences, tending to beseech heaven that they may be graciously heard and answered.Some repetitions are here made use of; but I have before observed to you, that all repetitions cannot be considered as vain, when we remember that our Saviour himself prayed three times precisely in the same words. Now follows the Lord's Prayer, and then we beg of God not to deal with us after our sins, or reward us after our iniquities: the word after,' being here used in an uncommon sense, it may be necessary to mention that it means in both these places-according to,—that is, treat us not according to what our sins and iniquities have deserved. The next prayer is said to have been introduced into the Litany above a thousand years ago, on some XI. SERM. distresses under which the Christians then XI. laboured; but as all Christians labour un der distresses or dangers of some kind or other, temporal or spiritual, it has a very significant meaning, and may properly be used at all times. The people at the close of this prayer, instead of the usual 'Amen," beg of Christ to arise, and deliver them. for his name's sake, that is, for the sake of their bearing his name, the name of Christians. The minister next sets forth, that we have heard or read, or have had handed down by our forefathers, the noble works that God did for those who were his people, that is, for the Jews first, and af terwards for Christians; and the congregation then beseech him to rise and deliver them for his honour, not on account of their deserts, but of his own perfections; that from the experience of his loving kindness all may learn to serve and adore him. We now repeat the doxology, or, in other |