(m) Пãi Tois Πᾶσι τοῖς ois DesTupgíav TIV καὶ διακονίαν ἐν αυτή xandrouvois Dup. verf.

zace

understood by an Office, or to be Deacons,here intimated by the word adminiftration (m), whether they be chofen to confecrate. or diftribute, to officiate in the higher, or minifter in the lower places of the Church, is neceffary for them all and that first to replenish them with truth of Doctrine, Secondly to enoue them with Holl. nels of Life: To fill their minds with right Principles and to adorn their Lives with a Converfation fuitable thereunto. Now this is the exact Paraphrafe of Mofes his Prayer for Levi, That God would let his Urim and

(0) Exod.28. 1. luminationes & perfeliones.Samar.Cha ritatem & integrita

tem. Caftal. Item Deut.xxxiii 8. Per

fectio tua do Doctrina tua. Vulg.

Thummim be with his Holy one (o); for Urim fignifies the Light of true Doctrine, and Thummim the Perfection of an innocent Life; both which are the neceffaryQualifications of every good Clergy-man, whose Understanding must be inlightened withLearning and a comprehensive Knowledge that he may difcern what is Truth, and be able to defend it against all Oppofers; and then his Actions must agree to his Profellion, and be the Ornament of his Principles, and the guide to thofe belonging to his Charge; but alas! if they want both of thefe, and are ignorant or erroneous in their Judgments, or debauched and wicked in their Lives, they are a Plague to the Church, and every way to be lamented: yea if a Minifter want but one of thefe, he can do but little good;Truth without Learning is weak, and without Holiness it is fcandalous: And Holiness without Truth is Hypocrify, without Learning it is contemptible. Wherefore let us pray,that both these Qualities may meet in fuch as are now ordained: For

when

1

when they are both joyned in a Clergy-man, they are very lovely, and very powerful, and fuch perfons will be both able and likely to do good: But of this before.

S.X.That they may faithfully ferve before thee, to the glory of thy great Pame, and the benefit of thy Holy Church through Jelas Chzi& our Lo20, amen.]

A Minifter is one chosen to draw near to God, to ferve in the nobleft Employment, that any mortal can have about the King of Heaven; for they are to ferbe before him, to officiate daily in the Church, the place of his especial prefence: They are to be Stewards of Heavenly Myfteries, and therefore it is fit they fhould be faithful,1 Cor.iv.2. Efpecially fince their Master's eye is alwaies over them, and that they are to give fo great an Account at last. Now if it please God to fet up Orthodox and learned, pious and fober Men in thefe Holy places, we do not doubt but they will be faithful Servants, and discharge their Duty as well to the Honour of the great Mafter, as the Good of all the Family; The Pame of God will be glorified by all the people for fetting fuch prudent and pious Shepherds over them, and all Chriftian People will be inftructed by their Do&trine, and encouraged by their Example; fo that the Church fhall have abundant benefit from their Endeavours. And oh how great a bleffing and defirable a happiness is this, to have fuch Clergy and fuch People! it will be a powerful Motive to God to give his Grace to thefe now to be ordained; and I hope it will alfo move us to beg it heartily for them: if we defire the Honour of the Mafter, or the good of the Family, let us pray for faithful and wife Stewards, and let the Lord fay thereunto Amen.

The

The Paraphrafe of the Second Prayer.

O[Almighty] and moft bountiful [God, the giver of all good gifts,] which the Sons of Men do enjoy, [who] amongst other acts of Grace toward us out [of thy bibine] Care and [Providence baft] for the prevention of Schifm and Confufion [appointed divers Debers] and Degrees, fome higher and fome lower, [in thy Church] for the Government and edification thereof, We hope thou wilt blefs that which is of thine own appointing [ive thy Grace] therefore at this time, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord, and communicate : thy Spirit [to all those who] by the Bishops, thy Subftitutes [are to be called] and admitted, either into [any Dffice] as Priefts, or as Deacons to fulfill any inferior charge [and Adminiftratton in the fame] Holy Socie ty of the Church: And let this Grace of thine beftowed on them inlighten their minds, and fo replenish them with] a right Judgment and compleat understanding, that they may teach and defend [the truth of thy Doctrine.] Let it also fanctifie their Converfation, [and endue them with all Holiness and [tnnocency of life:] We pray they may be wife and pious to the end, [that they may,] as good Stewards, [faithfully ferbe] in thy Houfe, where they appear immediately [before thee;] and that their facred Miniftrations may tend [to the fetting forth of the [glogy of the great pame, which deferves to be praised by all,[and] alfo to [the benefit of] all men, that belong unto [thy Holy Church, who will be brought to eternal Salvation by the Doctrine and Example of fuch gracious Paftors.Grant this mercy therefore for the effecting fo hap py an end [though Jesus Chzit our 1020,] in whole Name we ask it, and by whofe Mediation we hope to obtain it,men. SECT.

SECTION VIII.

Of the Prayer for the High-Court of Parliament.

S.I.TT is the peculiar felicity of this Realm of Eng Iland, though it be an abfolute Monarchy,

(a) Ipfe te legibus Subjecifti. quas Plin. Panegin Tranemo Principi fcripfit.

as well by Conqueft as Inheritance, yet fuch have been the gracious Condefcenfions of the Kings thereof, that they have voluntarily circumfcribed their own Power in fome particulars, and granted their Subjects the Priviledge to choose a great Councel from among themfelves to be advised with in matters of greatest moment, that fo what is for the common good, may pass by common confent: So that we may fay of our Princes, as Pliny of the good Emp.Trajan; They have freely yielded to rule by thofe Laws, to which nothing but their own goodness could oblige them (a). And doubtless the People of England ought to take it as an Act of Grace, that their Kings have confented to govern them in this manner: For it is certain, that before the Conqueft, the Saxon and the Danish Kings had no fuch formal Parliaments; but arbitrarily fummoned fuch of the Temporal and Spiritual Nobility, as they pleased upon fome occafions; and none but Bithops and Barons were admitted to this great Councel for many years after the Conqueft, the firft Grant that ever was made to the Commons, was in the laft year of King John, who by his Charter faith, he will Caufe a common Councel of the Nation to be affembled, and caufe not only the Nobility to be fummoned, but all that held of him in capite, Chart.R. Johan. an. 17. ap. Spelm. Gloffar.

Cc

jan.

fol.

fol.452. And yet it was near 50 years after, e're this Grant was put in Execntion, for the firft Writ iffued out to fummon the Commons to Parliament bears date but the 49.Hen.3.about 1265. But ever fince our gracious Kings have upon all grand occafions duly called thefe Parliaments, as well the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, as the principal of the Commoners chofen by the People; and they have conferred many great Priviledges and Immunities on this noble Affembly, and advised with them concerning Peace and War, concerning the making or repealing of Laws, the impofing Levies and Taxes for the publick defence;they have given them leave to reprefent all common grievances,and to impeach notorious Offenders, even of the greatest Quality, and they have made them the highest of all Judicatories, to which there lyes Appeals even from the Chancery it felf: all which Rights and Powers being derived from the Royal favour,ought to oblige them to the Service of their great Master, who hath fo far referved the Supremacy in his own hands, that they cannot meet but by his Summons, and are diffolved again at his pleasure, they may contrive but cannot compleat any Law to bind the Subject without the Royal affent and yet our excellent Princes have promifed they will impofe no univerfal Taxes, nor confirm or repeal any Statute-Law without their advice, following herein the Example of the noble Emperor, M. Antoninus, of whom it is faid, That he did no great thing in civil or military affairs without the advice of his best Subjects (being wont to fay,) It was fafer for him to follow the counfel of fo many of his friends, than that they all should act by his fingle Judgment. Jul. Capitol. in M.Anton. And Solomon's Obfervation confirms the prudence of this Courfe, who faith, in the multitude of counfellors there is fafety, Prov.xi.14. And doubtless fo many judicious