5. D Lozo arife help us and deliver us for thine Honour. Pfalmxliv.26.& lxxix.9.]

the

(9) BonJurov μὲν ὁ Θεὸς, ὁ σωτης ἡμῶν ἕνεκεν της δύ Ens T ovoμiates or, xugis jus κύριε ῥῦσαι Euchol.p.769.

This is no vain Repetition, although it be no more but an Explication of the former [numb.3.] Only what David asks at once,viz. To be delivered for the honour of Gods Pame, we have divided into two, and beg deliverance: First, for the fame of God; Secondly, for his Honour.Firft,that his Name be not blafphemed. Secondly, that his Honour may actually be advanced by a fresh inftance of his Mercy to us. The Petition is not only used in the Pfalms, but at this day is found in the Euchologion of the Greek Church among the Forms in time of publick Calamity (q); yet it cannot come in more properly then in our Litany; for the people having before petitioned the Almighty for Succour and Deliverance, the Priest encourageth them to perfift in Calling upon God, by calling to mind the wonders which he hath done in all Ages for his Church, and those who called on him: Now the people being aniinated with this commemoration, upon the fresh remembrance of his Mercies, continue their fuit, and renew their importunity, befeeching him to deliver them for his Honour: The Lord hath got himself an infinite Honour by the former Deliverances, vouchfafed to his Servants, and we hope for the fupport of his Honour ftill he will alfo defend us: As Darius Dan.vi.20. (fo all that know not our God) do enquire, whether our God whom we ferve be able to deliver us; if he help us, our very Enemies will fee his Glory, if he defert us, they will be apt to infult against God himself, and fay, where is now their God? Pfal.lxxix.10.So that we fear left the

Eccl. Hift.per Ruffin.l.11, c.33.

divine Honour should be afperfed, if we should be ruined, and we ought to fear his being dishonoured, as much as our own Calamity. This was that very Ar gument, which Theodofius ufed when his Army was like to be difcomfited by Eugenius a Tyrant, who did oppofe him: In that Diftrefs the Emperor ftanding on a Rock, fell on his knees, and prayed, faying O tretch out thy right Hand to help thy own people (r), least the Heathen Say, where is now their God? And immediately the Scene was changed, the Imperial forces prevailed, the Wind blow ing back the Enemies darts in their faces, fo that God was honoured, and the Emperor victorious by the vertue of this Prayer: Than which we cannot have a more powerful Motive; deliver us (fay we) and then we and all thy Servants fhall be obliged to honour thee,and will do it for love. And thy enemies fhall be forced to acknowledg thee, and muft do it for fear, and fo our God fhall be praised by all. Amen..

6. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: As it was in the beginning is now, and ever thall bg, wozid without end. Amen.]

The general Senfe of this Doxology hath been given already in the firit Part, together with the Original of it in the Church, fo that we are here only to account for two things. 1. How it comes to be used among our Litanick Supplications? II. How we ought to apply it

in this Place.

And I. It is evident to any confidering Reader, that throughout the whole Book of Pfalms, there is a rare mixture of Praifes and Prayers, fo that even in the moft dolorous Complaints of Mifery, there is interwoven many triumphant hymns of praife, and acts of Thanks

Thanksgiving, as Pfalm vi.8. and Pfal.xxii. 22.25.and in very many other places, in imitation whereof the Antient Liturgies of the Greek Church (particularly that of St. Bafit the Supplications do ever end with a Doxology, because to thee belongs all Glory, Honour, and Adoration, to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost now and ever, &c. (t); and the Western Offices ufe the Gloria Patri on the fame occafion, wherefore I doubt not but we fhall be convinced, that our Church hath most piously and prudently inferted this Doxology here; if we will but

ever,&c.

(1) Ότι σοι πρέσ που πᾶσα δόξα, τις un xooxúvnoes, καὶ προσκύνησις, T❤ FATÌ, ✈ Tỷ πατρὶ, καὶ IG, TW dziw πνεύματι νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ. Lit.S.Bafil.

~

II Apply it to the ends, for which the hath defigned it in this place, viz. 1. As an Act of Praise for all those Poble was, which we have heard our God hath done for his Church in all ages; for if we be truly fenfible of them, we cannot think of them, nor mention them without gratitude and admiration, the very commemoration will oblige us to break forth into a Thanksgiving to the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, by whom all thefe wonders have been wrought. But to this it will be replyed, that if we really be (as our Litany fuppofeth us) in a ftate of trouble, it will be as contrary to our temper, as unfuitable to our Condition to rejoyce, and give thanks: How shall we fing the Lords Song in a Strange Land? Say the Jewish Exiles to those who required of them Melody in their Heaviness,Pfal.cxxxvii. 3.4. The Affliction of an hour (faith a wife man) maketh one forget pleasure, Eccl xi. 27. And we may all obferve, that whenCalamities are upon us, we can hardly be grateful for former Mcrcies (u): But I am fure,though we are not inclined to be thankful

2

(a) Hoc habet inter reliqua mala dolar, quod non fupervacuus sanium fed ingratus est. Sen.Ep.99.

for

for received favours in our affliction, yet we are obliged to be fo, and it would be a great allay to prefent Sufferings, if we did call to mind the years of the right hand of the most high, if we can bring our hearts to raife God in the midft of our Sufferings, it will make the burden lighter, and us more able to bear it,as well as God more willing to remove it, and a little mixture da of Eucharift for antient Deliverances will effectually recommend our prefent Petitions for the like Mercies. 2. We ought to apply this Gloria Patri, as an Act of Faith, it muft not only look back on former bleffings with joy and comfort, but forward alfo upon the Mercies we now pray for, though we have not yet received them: The worst of men,when they have got their defires, can give thanks, but a pious and devout Chriftian reflecting upon the paft Memorials of divine Goodness can ask Deliverance with fo chearful a hope, and fo firm perfwafions to prevail,as that he can give thanks for aMercy before it be received, it is St. Chryfoftom's observation that a Soul full of Hope prays, and immediately praises God, as if it had prefently obtained it's defires (w): He hath delivered our Fathers wonderfully,and often; wherefore we befeech him to fet us free alfo and to teftifie we beg this with Faith and noble Expectations, we do already fing Glory be to the Father, &c. S.Paul informs us, that Faith is the evidence of things not feen, and that hope makes us enjoy things abfent with a pleasure almost equal to the most present fruition, anḍ therefore if we firmly believe,that God will deliver us, there is no reason, why we fhould defer our comfort in reflecting on it, or detain his praife who will accomplish it, we may, yea we ought to give Glory to the Father,

&c.

&c. And what more lovely Spectacle doth this afford, than a pious, yet afflicted man, fo fupported by Faith and Hope, fo full of all honourable thoughts of God; and fo fweetly relying on his aid, that he can fing praises in the midft of his fiery Furnace, and fatisfic himself with Mercy at a distance, merely because it is in the hands of a gracious difpofer? If there be any Method to engage the love of Heaven, or bring in the celeftial powers to our Rescue, it must be by these high and noble opinions of the Divine Goodness, and furely the Father of mercies will not disappoint those who have praised for Deliverance already, because they believe it is furer in his hands, than if they had it in their own: And thus our Faith and Gratitude become Inftruments of our deliverance (x): And because we believed before we had it, it is very likely it fhall be given us before we could expect it: May we therefore all thus fay, and thus apply this moft excellent be to the Father.&c.

(x) Virtus fidei. credere que non videre quæ non credes. des, merces fidei vi Aug.in Pfal.109.

and feasonable Glory

7. From our Enemies defend us D Chrift: Graciously look upon our afflictions.]

Although the faithful do moft firmly believe they shall be delivered at the laft, and rejoyce in hopes thereof; yet they know it is poffible their Afliction may be continued a while for a tryal of their Patience, and the exercise of their other Graces, wherefore they continue to pray ftill for fupport in the mean time, defiring the hand of God may protect them,his eye regard them,and his Heart pity them in all their Diftrefs. The first of thefe requests is to be defended from their Enemies, a petition fo frequent in David's Devotions, that it were endless to cite the inftances, Defend me from mine Ene