Selected quad for the lemma: sense_n
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A31405
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A sermon preached in a country-audience on the late day of fasting and prayer, January 30 by a priest of the Church of England.
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Cave, John, d. 1690.
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1679
(1679)
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Wing C1585; ESTC R36288
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19,279
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33
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A SERMON Preached in a Country-Audience On the late Day of Fasting and Prayer JANUARY 30. By a Priest of the Church of England 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Orig. contra Celsum lib. 8. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open unto their cry Psal 34.15 LONDON Printed for Richard Chiswell at the Rose and Crown in St Paul's Church-yard 1679. IMPRIMATVR Feb. 20. 1678 9. Guil. Sill. A SERMON Preached in a Country-Audience On the late Day of Fasting and Prayer JANUARY 30. 1 TIM li. 1 2. I exhort therefore that first of all Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men For Kings and all that are in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty I Know no time more seasonable to recommend to you this great and general Duty of Prayer Prayer for our selves and others Prayer for the whole body of the Nation prayer for all men than upon this day of Solemn publick Fasting and Prayer I know no time more seasonable to recommend to you the especial duty of Prayer for Kings and Magistrates than upon this day which gives us so sorrowful a remembrance of the fatal fall of the best of Princes and therein too evident a proof of the great dangers that even such are exposed to and consequently of the great need they stand in of our Prayers And I know no words more proper to mind you of the duty of Prayer in general or of this particular duty of Praying for Kings and Governours than these of our Apostle which contain a fatherly admonition of Paul the aged to his Son Timothy That in the oversight of his Diocess he would take special care that solemn-Prayers be duly put up to Almighty God in the several assemblies of Christians 1. For all Men not only for Believers but for Infidels not only for Friends and Relations but for Enemies and Persecutors 2. For Men of Place and power for Kings and all that are in authority After which 3. He propounds a motive to procure Prayers for such especially viz. that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty That holiness and righteousness may be so encouraged and promoted by the religious care and zeal of those that are in authority Isa 32.17 that we may enjoy the fruit of righteousness which is peace and the effect of righteousness which is quietness and assurance for ever I exhort therefore that first of all supplications prayers intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men For Kings and all that are in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty These several words Supplications Prayers Intercessions are generally understood to signify several sorts of Prayer The first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deprecations of evil whether of sin or punishment The second 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 petitions for all those good things which respect either this present life or that which is to come The third 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Intercessions or Praying for other Men. To be sure under them with that other of Thanksgiving our Apostle comprehends all kinds of Prayer which he would have used in its proper place for its proper ends and purposes We need not distinguish nicely of the different sense of each word because the Apostle might well use three words of the same or very near the same signification the more throughly to commend to us and the more earnestly to press upon us the necessity and benefit of devout fervent and constant Prayer I exhort therefore that supplications prayers intercessions be made and I exhort it before all other things as the principal duty of Religion which is to take place of all the rest I exhort to it first of all c. In my discourse upon this subject I shall speak 1. Of the duty of Praying for all Men. 2. Of our particular obligation to pray for Kings and Magistrates 3. I shall make use of the motive in the Text together with some others to enforce this expression of our Loyalty by praying for the King and his Ministers 1. It is a Christian duty to Pray for all Men for all sorts and conditions of Men for Heathen and Jewish Infidels as well as for believing Christians for all that err and are seduced as well as for those that are sound in the Faith for our enemies and persecutors as well as for our friends and relations We are to pray for the conversion of the one as well as the confirmation of the other for reconcilement to our Enemies as well as for the continuance of amity with our Friends St. Chrysostom upon this place laments not only the narrowness and contraction of this charitable devotion but also the total defect of it in many Men and the contrary vice in some Some upon all occasions pray against and curse their Neighbours wishing evil may befal them others think they do very well if they pray for their friends and acquaintance for those that have done them good 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or are like to do so The first sort pray like Heathens the second but like Jews at best 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let us learn to pray like Christians not only forgiving our enemies but beseeching God to forgive them too That we may say with the Apostles Being reviled we bless being persecuted we suffer it being desamed we intreat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 4.12 We endeavour to pacify them by mild and soft answers say some Interpreters we pray to God for them we beg that he would pardon them and turn their hearts say others The good Christian practiseth both He is gentle towards all men and prays for those who despightfully use him and persecute him This is the Glory and excellency of the Christian Spirit by this it bore up and maintained its reputation and renown when the world was most bent to blast and destroy it By this it got ground of the Heathen Philosophy made its way through all the opposition of Arms and Arts and took possession of Greece and Rome the most powerful and the most learned parts of the world For nothing ever gained a greater esteem or procured better entertainment for the Gospel of our Saviour than the patient sufferings of its primitive professors and their unparalleled kindness to their most malicious and bloody Persecutors and it hath been observed throughout all ages that Patience Prayers and Tears have been the Churches most serviceable weapons Great professors of Religion 't is true have conquered by other Arms but these alone make Religion it self victorious These keep the Crown upon its head maintain its Royalties uphold its Honour and Dignity in the World These set Christ upon his throne indeed and establish his Kingdom in the hearts of Men. And what did ever more shake and weaken the interest of Religion than the zealous endeavours