The Faith of the Church of England, Chapter 9 – Chapter 10
CHAP. IX. Of the externall effect of grace.
IF the externall effects of grace come not altogether from the ſpirituall power put into us at the firſt, nor from the perſwaſions of the Miniſters, but God is ſaid to worke in us the deed as well as the will to doe well, and we taught to pray to God for ſuch effectuall grace, as may produce good effects outwardly, then it follows that the grace it ſelf cannot be wrought in us onelyonly by morall perſwaſion, but muſt be wrought in us by divine operation. Now whither the outward effects of grace be wrought by Gods aſsiſting ſpirit or no, let the authentick records of our Church ſpeak.
O Lord open thou our lips, Short prayers after the Lords Pr. Letany.and our mouth ſhall ſhew forth thy praiſe.
That all Biſhops, Paſtours, and Miniſters of the Church, may both by their preaching and living, ſet forth and ſhew true knowledge and underſtanding.
That it may pleaſe thee to give the Magiſtrates grace to execute Juſtice, and to maintain truth.Letany.
That it may pleaſe thee to give us an heart diligently to live after thy commandements.Letany.
That it may pleaſe thee to give to all thy people increaſe of grace to heare meekly thy word, Letany.and to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit.
That it may pleaſe thee to endue us with the grace of thy holy Spirit, Letany.to amend our lives according to thy holy word.
Grant that we evermore ſerve thee in holineſſe and pureneſſe of living.Prayer in the Letany before the prayer for the King. Prayer for the King. Prayer for the Biſhops. Coll. on 1. Sund. after Epiph. Coll. on 5. Sund. after Epiph. Coll. on 1. Sunday in Lent. Coll. on Sun. before Eaſt.
So repleniſh the King with the grace of thy holy Spirit, that he may alway walk in thy way.
That Biſhops and Curats, and all Congregations committed to their charge may truly pleaſe thee, poure upon them the continuall dew of thy bleſſing.
Grant that thy people which call upon thee, may have grace and power faithfully to fulfill what they know, they ought to do.
Lord we beſeech thee to keep thy Church continually in the true Religion.
Give us grace to uſe ſuch abſtinence, that our fleſh being ſubdued to the ſpirit, we may ever obey thy godly motions.
Mercifully grant that we both follow the example of Chriſts patience.
Receive our prayers, 2. Coll. on good Fridaythat every member of thy holy Congregation in his vocation, and miniſtry may truly and godly ſerve thee.
As by thy ſpeciall grace preventing us, Collect. on Eaſter day.thou didſt put in our minde good deſires, So we beſeech that by thy continuall help we may bring the ſame to good effect.
Grant that we may daily endeavour our ſelves, Coll. on 2. Sund. after Eaſter. Coll. on 3. Sund. after Eaſter. Coll. on 1. Sunday after Trinity.to follow the bleſſed ſteps of Chriſts moſt holy life.
Grant unto all them that be admitted into the fellowſhip of Chriſts religion, that they may follow all ſuch things as be agreeable to their profeſſion.
Becauſe the weaknes of our mortall nature can do no good thing without thee, grant us the help of thy grace, that in keeping of thy commandments we may pleaſe thee both in will and deed.
Grant us Lord we beſeech thee, Coll. on 9. Sund. after Trinity.the Spirit to think and do alwayes ſuch things as be rightfull, that we which cannot be without thee, may by thee be able to live according to thy will.
Almightie and mercifull God of whoſe onelyonly gift it cometh, Coll. on 13. Sund. after Trinitie.that thy faithfull people do unto thee true and laudable ſervice.
Becauſe the frailtie of man without thee cannot but fall, Coll. on 15. Sund. after Trinity. Coll. on 17. Sund. after Trinity.lead us to all things profitable to our ſalvation.
Lord we pray thee that thy grace may alwayes prevent, and follow us, and make us continually to be given to all goods works.
Lord we beſeech thee to keep the Church in continuall godlineſſe, Coll. on 22. Sund. after Trinity.that it may be devoutly given to ſerve thee in good works.
Grant unto us all, Coll. on S. Andr. day.that we being called by thy holy word, may forthwith give over our ſelves obediently to fulfill thy holy commandements.
Grant that we may follow thy holy doctrin that Saint Paul taught.Coll. on Converſ. of S. Paul. Coll. on S. Barn.
Let us not be deſtitute of thy manifold gifts, nor yet of grace to uſe them alway to thy honour and glory.
Make us ſo follow the doctrine, Coll. on S. Iohn Bapt.and holy life of Saint Iohn Baptiſt, that we may truly repent, and conſtantly ſpeak the truth, boldly rebuke vice and patiently ſuffer for the truths ſake.
Make we beſeech thee all Biſhops and Paſtours diligently to preach thy holy word, Coll. on S. Peter.and the people obediently to follow the ſame.
Grant that we forſaking all worldly and carnall affections, Coll. on S. Iames.may be evermore ready to follow thy commandements.
Grant us grace to follow thy holy Saints in all vertuous and godly living.Collect. on All Saints. Prayer after every command. Ser. againſt perill of idol. 2. Part. Serm concerning Pr. 1. Part. 1. Part. of Serm. for Rog. week. In the ſame place.
Lord have mercy upon us and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Let us beſeech God that we may flee from all idolatry.
God for his great mercy ſake ſo work in our hearts by his holy Spirit, that we may alwayes make our humble prayers unto him as we ought to do.
Let us call upon the father of mercy, that we may be aſſiſted with the preſence of his holy Spirit, and demeane our ſelves in ſpeaking and hearing to the ſalvation of our ſouls.
If we ſhould aske the Saints in heaven, whence came their glorious works which they wrought in their lives, Eſay ſaith, O Lord it is thou of thy goodneſſe, that haſt wrought all works in us.
Grant that this thy rod, Prayers for the Faſt. 1625. 2. Prayer added in the Letany. Thanksgiving. 1625. Collect. 1. In the ſame book. 3. Prayer after the Goſpel.may by thy heavenly grace ſpeedily work in us the fruit and effect of true repentance, unfainedly turning and converting unto thee, and perfect amendment of our whole lives.
Give us ſuch effectuall grace, that we looking every one of us into the plague of his own heart, may abhorre our own corruptions, and turn from our evill wayes.
We moſt humbly beſeech thee to poure thy heavenly grace into our hearts, that we may learn to turn unto thee from our wicked wayes.
CHAP. X. Of Gods governing us.
SEeing after we are regenerated and have ſpirituall life wrought in us, we ſtill need Gods help to govern us, it muſt needs follow that being ſpiritually dead by nature, we could not be made alive by a morall ſwaſion, but by a powerfull work of God. That we ſtill need Gods governing grace, appeares by authoriſed books.
GRant that our doings may be ordered by thy governance, Morning Prayer. Coll. 3.to do alwayes that is righteous in thy ſight.
We beſeech thee, Coll. on 5. Sunday in Lent.that by thy great goodneſſe thy people may be governed and preſerved evermore both in body and ſoul.
Lord from whom all good things do come, Coll. on 5. Sund. after Eaſter.grant us thy humble ſervants, that by thy holy inſpiration we may think thoſe things that be good, and by thy mercifull guiding may performe the ſame.
Lord make us to have a perpetuall feare and love of thy holy name, Coll. on 2. Sund. after Trinity.for thou never faileſt to help and govern them, whom thou doſt bring up in thy ſtedfaſt love.
Grant that the courſe of this world may be ſo ordered by thy governance, Coll. on 5. Sund. after Trinity.that thy congregation may joyfully ſerve thee in all godly quietneſſe.
O Almightie Lord everliving God vouchſafe, Short Pray. after Com. Prayer 2.we beſeech thee to direct, ſanctifie and govern both our hearts and bodies in the wayes of thy laws, and in the works of thy commandements.
Defend, O Lord, Prayer in Confirm. Hom. of Matrim.this child with thy heavenly grace, that he may continue thine for ever
Married perſons muſt crave the help of Gods Spirit ſo to rule their hearts, that their minds be not deſevered.
Uſe oft prayer to God, In the ſame Hom.that he would be preſent by you, that he would continue concord and charitie betwixt you.
We pray that God by his holy Spirit would illuminate and govern the hearts of all ſuch, Now. Cat. queſt. 206.as be of his Cuurch, wherein he reigneth ſpecially, as in his kingdome.
As thou haſt by Gods guiding, queſt. 251.firſt conceived this minde and will, ſo ſhalt thou by his grace attain to a happy end of this thy godly ſtudy and indeavour.