: After these particular Interceffions, we add à general one for all Mankind, efpecially for all Christians, and most especially for all that are in Affliction to which we fubjoin as general à Thanksgiving for all God's Mercies to Us and Them; but above all, for That, which gives us a Claim to eternal Happiness. Neither of thefe Forms is taken from any other Liturgy: both are excellent: and every one, who defires it, may, by fignifying that Defire, have a feparate Share in either. This Provifion is a very useful and comfortable one: and we exhort you, on all fit Occafions to take the Advantage of it. Only we must beg, that they, who have received Benefit by being prayed for, will not forget to return Thanks; but confcientiously avoid our Saviour's Reproof: Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine ? The general Thanksgiving may perhaps to fome appear fuperfluous, after we have thanked and praised God in the Ufe of the Pfalms and Hymns. But it was inferted at the Restoration, because others complained it was wanting. And indeed it is a more methodical Summary of the feveral Mercies of God to Us and to all Men, than we had before: it furnishes an Opportu f Luke xvii. 17. nity of thanking him more exprefsly for the late Inftances of his loving Kindness to the Members of our own Congregation: and befides, as we cannot be too thankful to God; the Acknowledgements, which we offered up in the Beginning of the Service, are very properly repeated in the End. For furely we ought to afk nothing of God, without remembering, what we have received from him: which naturally excites both our Faith and Refignation; and prepares the Way for that admirable Collect, with which we conclude. It is taken from the Middle of St. Chryfoftom's Liturgy but much more judiciously placed in the Clofe of ours. It firft thankfully confeffes the great Goodness of our bleffed Redeemer, in difpofing our Minds, of themselves fo variously and wrongly inclined, to afk unanimously of Him fuch Things as we ought, and encouraging our Applications by fuch explicit Affurances of hearing us. Then it fubmits entirely to his Wisdom, in what Manner, and how far, he will think it for our Good to grant us any of our particular Requests; begging nothing abfolutely, but what he hath abfolutely engaged to bestow on our Prayers and Endeavours; viz. that practical Knowledge here of his Truth, his Doctrines Doctrines and Precepts, his Promises and Threatenings, that hereafter we may attain everlafting Life and Happiness.. These Things done, it can only remain, that on departing from God's more immediate Prefence in his Church, we intreat for ourselves and one another, (as we do accordingly in the Words of Scripture ) the continual Prefence of the Holy Trinity, wherever we go: that Grace of our Lord Jefus Chrift, which will fecure us the Love of God the Father, and the Fellowship, that is, the Communication of the needful Warnings and Affiftances of the holy Ghoft. Now what we thus faithfully ask, may we effectually obtain, to the Relief of our Neceffity, and the fetting forth of God's Glory, through Jefus Christ our Lord. Amen. 2 Cor. xiii. 14. SER SERMON X. 1 Cor. xiv. 15. -I will pray with the Spirit, and I will pray with the Understanding alfo: I will fing with the Spirit, and I will fing with the UnderStanding alfo. T HE Liturgy of our Church has now been explained to you, as far as the End of the Morning Prayer. The Evening Prayer hath nothing different from it; excepting the Hymns, that follow the Leffons, and the two Collects after that for the Day. The Hymn after the firft Leffon, called Magnificat, from the Word, with which it begins in the Latin, was used anciently by the Western Church; and continues to be ufed by the Protestants Abroad. It is the Song of the blessed VOL. VI. Virgin, R Virgin, recorded by St. Luke, on the Confirmation which she received, at Elizabeth's House, of what the Angel had told her, that she should become the Mother of our Lord, by the Operation of the holy Ghoft: and it expreffes most naturally the Transport, which on that Occafion fhe must feel; but, like the Hymn of Zacharias, in Phrafes of the Old Teftament, to be interpreted from the New; of which Matter I have already spoken. My Soul doth magnify the Lord, doth acknowledge the infinite Greatness of his Power and Mercy for he hath regarded the Lowlinefs of his Hand-maiden; that is, the low Eftate; for fo the Original fignifies, and so it is expreffed in our Bibles; not the Humility of Mind, which the holy Virgin was too humble to ascribe to herself. From henceforth all Generations fhall call me bleed: as We do accordingly, both by repeating this Hymn, and in our common Speech. For be, that is mighty, hath magnified me, hath raised me to great Honour and holy is his Name; his Truth, his Justice, his Mercy, his Concern for the Goodness as well as Happiness of his Creatures, are gloriously manifested in this wonderful Difpenfation. He • i. 46-55. : bath |