in this [oly Function,] We pray, that it may please thee [to gtbe] large measures of [the grace] to fanAtife their hearts, [and] to fend great fuccefs by thy [heavenly Benediction] on their endeavours, [that both by the Holiness of [their Life, and] the truth of their [Doctrine,] many may be drawn to imitate their Example, and believe thy Gofpel, that thereby [they may] anfwer the great end of their Calling, which is to [let forth thy Glory,] and fhew thy mercy towards poor Sinners, [and] withal to [fet forward] Souls in their way to Heaven in order to [the Salvation of all men,] which thou defireft, and these may effect, if thou please thus to blefs them [through Jesus Christ,] who bought thy Church; we therefore beg it, and we hope thou wilt grant it, fince he is [out Lozo] and our Redeemer. [amen.]

The

S.VI.

The Second Prayer in Ember-week.

that it is thought fit to add another Col lect, for the help of thofe whofe Devotions are apt to be affifted by variety. Yet fince the Requeft is the fame, the Senfe is little different from the other, unless this may be thought moft proper to be used after the Candidates have paffed Examination, as the other is fitteft to be ufed before. In other things they both agree, the Method being almoft the fame, as the Analysis will declare fo that when we have confidered that, our Dif courfe on this fhall be very brief.

Hefe Ember-weeks do return fo frequently,

The

To the Glory of the great Name,

And the benefit of the Holy Church, Through Jefus

3-The name in which they are Chrift our

made.

Christ our Lord, men.

A

A Practical Difcourfe upon the fecond Prayer.

S.VIII.Lmighty God, the giver of all good Gifts, who of thy divine Providence haft ap

pointed divers Diders in thy Church.)

The foundation of this Prayer is very firm, being laid upon two Places of Holy Scripture, for firft S. James i 17, affureth us, that every good Gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of Lights; and then S Paul teacheth us, that He is the Author of thofe diftinct Orders and Offices in his Church for He gave fome Apoftles, fome Prophets, Some Evangelists, fome Pastors and Teachers Ephefiv.2.No humane Policy did invent thefe different places but God himself forefaw it would be neceffary in the Church, as well as in all other Socie ties, That fome fhould be fuperiors as the Apoftles and Bifhops, fome inferiers, as Priefts and Deacons. Some in this Body were to act as the Head, fome as the Hands, fome as the Feet; yet every one doth ferve as well to the beauty as the conveniency of the whole: So that we have good ground to hope, that God will hear this re queft, for he appointed the Offices, and he gives different gifts to fit men for the discharge of them for to one is given the word of wisdom, to another the Word of Know. ·ledg by the fame Spirit, &c. 1 Cor.xii. 8. The gifts of Learning and Elocution, of prudence and courage, devotion and piety do all come from the hand of God; whatever place any man hath in the Church, it is of God's appointing, and whatever abilities any man hath to discharge his duty therein, it is by the Gift of God: But by gifts in this place, we may understand not only the Qualifications, but the very Orders themselves; for Ecclefiaftical Offices are called Gifts by S. Paul,

where

of

where he faith, that Chrift at his Afcenfion,gave gifts und to men, to fome Apostles,&c. Ephef.iv.8.11. And Justinian calls the Priefthood one of the greatest Gifts,which ever God gave unto men. in Authentic. However we interpret, this is fure, that the Church is the Houfe of the living God, 1 Tim.iii.15. And as every man expects the power to appoint to all in his own Family their feveral places, fo we may well allow God to do in his; and when he hath fet them in their proper place, we may justly intreat him to bless those who are his gift to us and 'tis very likely he will hear us in behalf of those whom he hath conftituted, and as he hath called them, he will fit them.

S.IX.Ive thy grace, we humbly befeech thee, to all thole, who are to be called to any Dffice, oz adminiftration in the fame, and lo replentch them with the Truth of thy Doctrine,and endue them with innocency of Life.

Amongst all the Gifts of God, the beft and nobleft is his pace, without which all other gifts are abused to pride or other evil purposes: Grace is requifite for all, but chiefly neceffary for thofe, who are to inftill grace into others: S.Paul faith he was made a Minifter by the Gift of the grace of God, Eph.iii.7.And in the Greek Forms the Bishop faith when he ordaineth any,the divine Grace promoteth thee; yea they do particularly pray for the Ordained, that the Grace of the molt holy Spirit might come upon them (1). And we beg the fame for all Orders among us, and for every perfon in thofe Orders, because none of them can please God or profit others without it. Whether therefore they be called to be Priefts, which is here

(1) Ευξώμεθα ἂν ὑπὲρ αυτέ, ἵνα lady Èπ' autòv й χάρις τῇ παναγίε vuaT Euch.

understood