The Faith of the Church of England, Chapter 13 – Chapter 14
CHAP. XIII. Of the prayers of holy men.
SVch as are indued with true grace already, yet pray to God ſtill for grace. By which grace they do not entend a power to do well if they pleaſe, for this they have already, yea, they had it before they did actually beleeve, and by vertue of this power did beleeve as our adverſaries ſay. The grace then that Gods ſervants pray for, that they may obey God, is an actuall inclination of their will already regenerate, to the effecting of thoſe good deſires, that are in their ſouls. Neither muſt we ſuppoſe that their prayers aime only at an indefinit power of doing well, but at a certaine event of ſpirituall power given them by God, as appeares by thoſe frequent expreſsions of the end of their deſires in ſuch phraſes, as theſe, That we loving that thou requireſt may obtain that thou promiſeſt. That we may continue thy ſervants, and attain thy promiſes. That they may ſo pleaſe thee in this world, that in the world to come they may have life everlaſting. And many ſuch like. Their prayers do ſeek more for the furtherance of the will, then for the illumination of the underſtanding. And of ſuch a will, as is made good already. They muſt needs then aime at a greater power of the will to good, and a more effectuall direction of good thoughts to good actions, becauſe they ſeek for a certain effect, which they aske in faith, and God gives in mercy. If they then yet pray for effectual grace, then could they not be converted at the firſt without it. What they pray for, let us now obſerve.
HOwbeit ye cannot have a minde and a will thereto of your ſelves, Order of Prieſts Exhort.for that power and ability is given of God alone. Therfore ye ſee, how ye ought and have need earneſtly to pray for his holy Spirit.
Let us earneſtly call for grace, Hom. of Swearing. Part. 2.that all vaine ſwearing and perjury ſet apart, we may onelyonly uſe ſuch oathes as be lawfull and godly, and that we may truely without all fraud keepe the ſame according to Gods will and pleaſure.
Let us pray that Kings may ever in all things have God before their eyes, Serm. of obedience.that they may have zeale to Gods glory, that they may rightly uſe their ſword and authority, that they may moſt faithfully follow the Kings in the Bible.
Let us pray for ourſelves that we may live godly in holy and Chriſtian converſation.In the ſame Hom.
Let us beſeech God that we being warned by his holy word, Hom. againſt perill of idolatry. Part. 2. Hom. of Prayer. Part. 3.forbiding all idolatry may flee from all idolatry.
It is needfull daily to pray for the miniſters, that they may effectually preach the Goſpell to the people, and bring forth the true fruits thereof to the example of all other.
The confeſſing that all grace of the ſoule is Gods gift onelyonly, Hom. for Rogat. week Part. 2.will make us to have recourſe to God for all grace, as the wiſeman did for chaſtity, Wiſd. 10. ſaying, After I knew that otherwiſe I could not be chaſt, except God granted it, I made haſt to the Lord, and earneſtly beſought him from the bottome of my heart to have it.
Now if the aide of prayer be taken away, Hom. of Matrim.by what meanes can marryed perſons ſuſtaine themſelves in any comfort? For they cannot otherwiſe either reſiſt the devill, or yet have their hearts ſtaid in ſtable comfort in all perils and neceſſities, but by prayer.
If thy wife be wicked, In the ſame Hom.chafe not in anger, but pray unto Almighty God for her.
By prayer we may obtaine Gods helpe, In the ſame Hom.his grace, and defence, and protection to continue without diſcord in marriage to a better life to come. Which grant us he that dyed for us all.
Theſe things being conſidered let us earneſtly pray unto the living God our heavenly Father, Serm. of Repent. Part. 1.that he will vouchſafe by his holy Spirit to worke a true and unfained repentance in us.
We pray that Gods name may be called upon with pure mind by men of all ages, Now. Cat. queſt. 203. queſt. 209.&c.
We pray that whatſoever betides us, we may receive it with contented and gladſome hearts, and that we may in all things be ſerviceable and obedient to God, and that we rebell not, nor repine not againſt Gods will.
I being of my ſelfe moſt weake and unable thereunto, queſt. 249.muſt continually and earneſtly ſue by hearty prayer to God the giver of all good things for increaſe of faith, and grace to pleaſe God.
CHAP. XIIII. Of Gods grants.
WHat God grants unto his people, that he doth not permit them to doe, or give leave that they doe it themſelves by ſtrength of nature, or ſome former grace received without any further help of God, for God not hinder us from doing any good, but give us free leave in his word: So that there needs no new grant of leave to do well, or to uſe well the ſtrength we have received. But Gods granting is giving ſome new ſpirituall ſtrength or grace to uſe well the grace we have received. If ſuch grace be yet effectually granted to good men, then could they not at firſt be made good without Gods effectuall operation. We ſhall be briefe in this laſt point, becauſe all the prayers we have cited before are but expreſsions of Gods peoples deſires, and of Gods ſatisfaction, which he gives unto the ſame.
GRant O moſt mercifull Father, Confeſsion.that we may hereafter live a godly righteous and ſober life, to the glory of thy holy name. Amen.
Grant this day that we fall into no ſin, Coll. 3. Morning Pray. Coll. Sund. in Advent.neither run into any kinde of danger.
Bleſſed Lord God which haſt cauſed all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant us that we may in ſuch wiſe heare them, read, marke, learne, and inwardly digeſt them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy word we may imbrace and ever hold faſt the bleſſed hope of everlaſting life, which thou haſt given us in our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt.
Lord we beſeech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people which call upon thee, Coll. Sund. after Epiphand grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to doe, and alſo have grace and power faithfully to fulfill the ſame through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord.
Receive our ſupplications and prayers, Coll. on good Frid.which we offer before thee, for all eſtates of men in thy holy congregation, that every member of the ſame in his vocation and miniſtery may truely and godly ſerve thee through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
Grant unto all them that be admitted into the fellowſhip of Chriſts religion, Sund. 3. after Eaſterthat they may eſchew thoſe things that be contrary to their profeſſion, and follow all ſuch things as be agreable to the ſame.
Grant we beſeech thee Almighty God, Coll. on Aſcenſ. day.that like as we doe beleeve thy onelyonly begotten Sonne our Lord to have aſcended into the heavens: ſo we may alſo in heart and mind thither aſcend and with him continually dwell.
Grant us by thy Spirit to have a right judgement in all things, Coll. on Whitſunday.and evermore to rejoyce in his holy Comfort.
Grant we beſeech thee that we which have S. Coll. on converſ. of S. Paul.Pauls wonderfull converſion in remembrance, may follow and fulfill thy holy doctrine that he taught, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord.
Grant that we may with pure and cleane minds be preſented unto thee by Jeſus Chriſt our Lord.Coll. on Purif. of virg. Mary. Gen. confeſſ. before receiving the Commu.
Grant that we may ever hereafter ſerve and pleaſe thee in newneſſe of life, to the honour and glory of thy name through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.