Calamity; and fuch Supplications are thought to Tim. be fuggefted by St. Paul in thofe feveral Kinds2. 1. of publick Prayers, which he enjoins to Timothy. But this Seafon before our Lord's Afcenfion, for Litanies and Rogations, was fixed by Mamertus, Bishop of Vienne, about the Middle of the fifth Century, upon the Profpect of fome parti- Le Comte cular Calamities that threatened his Diocefe.clef. Fran. Some few Years after, this Example was fol-Tom 1. p. lowed by Sidonius Bishop of Clermont; and in 285, 286. the Beginning of the fixth Century, the firft Council of Orleans appointed that they should be yearly obferved.

Q. Wherein confifts the Piety of this Inftitution?

A. In that it teftifies our Dependance upon God, in thofe Expectations we entertain of Temporal Happinefs. And in that we acknowledge all fecond Caufes are entirely at his Difpofal; and that the folemn Repentance and earneft Prayers of a Nation are the most effectual Means to appeafe God's Wrath and avert publick Evils. For thus we find in the Old Teftament, among the People of God, that his Providences were fuited to their Manners, and they were constantly profperous or afflicted, as Piety and Virtue flourished or declined among them. And the crying Sins of a Nation cannot hope to escape publick Judgments, unless they be prevented by a general Repentance and Humiliation; it being only in this Life that publick Bodies and Communities of Men, as fuch, are liable to Punishment.

Q. What was the Service enjoined upon thefe Days?

A. At the Reformation, when all Proceffions

Annal. Ec

were abolished by reafon of the Abufe of them, yet for retaining the Perambulation of the Circuits of Parishes, it was enjoined, that the People fhall once a Year, at the Time accustomed, with the Curate and fubftantial Men of the Parifh, walk about the Parishes as they were accustomed, and at their Return to Church make their Common Pihyers. Provided that the Curate in their faid common Perambulations, used heretofore in the Days of Rogations, at certain convenient Places fhall admonifh the People to give Thanks to God, in the beholding of God's Benefits, for the Increase and Abundance of his Fruits upon the Face of the Earth, with the faying of the ciiid Pfalm; at which Time alfo the fame Minifter fhall inculcate this and fuch Sentences, Curfed be be that tranflateth the Bounds and Doles of bis Neighbour. Injunct. Q. Eliz. 18, 19.

Q. But fince all Chriftians own the great and wonderful Efficacy of Prayer; let me know wherein the Nature of Prayer confifts?

A. Prayer is the Addrefs of the Soul to God, and the Afcent of the Mind towards Heaven; which receives different Names according to thofe various Subjects the Mind is employed upon in fuch Addreffes. When we bewail our particular Sins with Sorrow and full Purposes of Amendment, it is called Confeffion; when we implore God's Mercy, and defire any Favour from him, Petition; when for the averting any Evil, Supplication; when we exprefs a grateful Senfe of Benefits received, Thanksgiving; when we acknowledge and adore the Divine Perfections, Praife; when we beg any thing for others, it is ftyled Interceffion. So that in all thefe Acts

We

we have the great Honour to be admitted into God's Prefence, and to treat with him about thofe things which chiefly concern our own Happinefs, or that of our Neighbours.

Q. But fince God knows all Things, and seeing infinite Goodness is ready to supply us, how doth it appear neceffary to make fuch Addreffes to him?

A. Prayer is neceffary as it is one of the higheft Acts of religious Worfhip, whereby we ac knowledge God's infinite Perfections, and own our entire Dependance upon him; that he is the Fountain of all Goodnefs, and that we are nothing but Weaknefs and Imperfection. Befides, God hath established it as a Means, whereby we are to obtain whatever we want in Relation to our Souls and Bodies; we are to afk be- Mat. 7. 7. fore it fhall be given, we muft feek before we Rom. 8. fhall find, we must knock before it will be open- 26. ed unto us. And he hath promised the Affiftance Heb.7.25. of his Holy Spirit to help us in the Performance of our Prayers; and hath appointed his Son to intercede by virtue of his Merits for their Acceptance. So that a Man must be very Atheistical, that forbears paying the great Creator this Homage that is due to him; or very careless of his Salvation, that neglects fuch admirable Means for the effecting it.

Q. What hath been the Practice of the World in this Particular?

A. The moft barbarous Nations, as they have owned the Being of a God, so have they always expreffed their Refpect and Reverence of a Deity, in making Addreffes to him. And thus much was imported by their offering Sacrifices, that God was the great Sovereign of the Univerle, that all good Things came from above,

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Mat. 6.

33.

above, and that from his Bounty alone they could expect a Supply of their Wants. In all Ages good Men have in this Manner conftantly exercifed their Devotion, and have expofed themfelves to the utmoft Dangers and Hazards, rather than neglect their Duty in this Kind; nay, the bleffed Jefus thus teftified his Obedience and Submiffion, his Love and Humility; he often went into the Places of publick Worship, and frequently retired all alone, and spent whole Nights in the Exercise of Prayer.

Q. What ought we to pray for?

A. In the firft Place we ought to seek the Kingdom of God and bis Righteousness, all thofe Things that are neceffary to our Salvation: That God would be pleafed to illuminate our Underftandings with the Knowledge of Divine Truths: That he would pardon our Sins, ftrengthen our Refolutions of better Obedience, and affift us to overcome Temptations, and by the Help of his Spirit, enable us to walk in his Ways all the Days of our Lives: That as to this World, he would be pleased to supply us with fuch a Share of the good Things of it, as may be most agreeable to his Will, and answer the Ends of his univerfal Providence, and may moft conduce to our eternal Welfare.

Q. What Encouragement have we to beg the Supply of our fpiritual and temporal Wants?

A. The infinite Goodnefs of the divine Nature, always ready to exert and communicate itfelf to capable Subjects, and that univerfal Providence whereby God governs the World, are fufficient Motives to prevail upon us to approach the Throne of his Majefty. But left his Greatnefs, and the Senfe of our own Unworthiness,

fhould

fhould make us afraid, and keep us at a Diftance, God hath been graciously pleafed to excite us to the Performance of this Duty by Promifes of Succefs; that he will be nigh to all thofe Pfal. 145. that call upon him: That he is ready to forgive, and plenteous in Mercy to all that call upon him: That whatever we shall afk in Prayer, believing, we shall receive.

Q. Upon what Conditions bath God promised to bear our Prayers?

18.

86.5.

Mat. 21.

22.

14.

3. 22.

A. The great Confidence of our being heard muft! John 5. be laid in afking according to his Will, and in folliciting his Favour upon fuch Terms as he hath promifed to grant it. Which implies, that when we beg Pardon for our Sins, we must refolve to forfake them; for the Prayer of the Wicked is an Prov. 28. Abomination to the Lord: That we be ready to 9. forgive thofe that trespass against us, because it is the merciful Man fhall obtain Mercy: That Mat. 5. 7. when' we ask for any Virtue, we must be sure diligently to feek and endeavour after it: That when we crave the Help of divine Grace, we must be ready to co-operate and concur with it; for to him that hath shall be given, and from him Mark 4. that bath not, shall be taken away even that 25. which he bath: That when we pray for any temporal Bleffings, we take all prudent and lawful Means to acquire them, and refign ourselves entirely to the Wisdom of his Providence to give fuch Succefs to our Endeavours as he fhall think moft conducing to our Salvation and the Good of others: And that all thefe Petitions for fpiritual and temporal Wants be offered to God through the Merits and Mediation of Jefus Christ only.

Q. In what Manner ought we to pray?
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A. With