PRAYERS TO BE SAID IN RELATION TO THE SEVERAL OBLIGATIONS AND OFFICES OF JUSTICE.

A Prayer for the Grace of Obedience, to be said by all Persons under command.

O ETERNAL God, great ruler of men and angels, who hast constituted all things in a wonderful order, making all the creatures subject to man, and one man to another, and all to thee, teach me to obey all those whom thou hast set over me, reverencing their persons, submitting indifferently to all their lawful commands, cheerfully undergoing those burdens which the public wisdom and necessity shall impose upon me; at no hand murmuring against Government, lest the spirit of pride and mutiny, of murmur and disorder enter into me, and consign me to the portion of the disobedient and rebellious, of the despisers of dominion and revilers of dignity. Grant this, O holy God, for his sake, who for his obedience to the Father hath obtained the glorification of eternal ages, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

PRAYERS FOR KINGS AND ALL MAGISTRATES, FOR OUR PARENTS, SPIRITUAL AND NATURAL, ARE IN THE FOLLOWING LITANIES AT THE END OF THE FOURTH CHAPTER.

A Prayer to be said by Subjects, when their Land is invaded and overrun by barbarous or wicked People, Enemies of the Religion or the Government.

I.

O ETERNAL God, thou alone rulest in the kingdoms of men, thou art the great God of battles, and by thy glorious wisdom, by thy almighty power, and by thy

secret providence, dost determine the events of war, and the issues of human counsels, and the returns of peace and victory: now at last be pleased to let the light of thy countenance, and the effects of a glorious mercy and a gracious pardon return to this land. Thou seest how great evils we suffer under the power and tyranny of war; and although we submit to and adore thy justice in our sufferings, yet be pleased to pity our misery, to hear our complaints, and to provide us a remedy against our present calamities: let not the defenders of a righteous cause go away ashamed, nor our counsels be for ever confounded, nor our parties defeated, nor religion suppressed, nor learning discountenanced, and we be spoiled of all the exterior ornaments, instruments, and advantages of piety, which thou hast been pleased formerly to minister to our infirmities, for the interests of learning and religion. Amen.

II.

WE Confess, dear God, that we have deserved to be totally extinct and separate from the communion of saints, and the comforts of religion, to be made servants to ignorant, unjust, and inferior persons, or to suffer any other calamity, which thou shalt allot us as the instrument of thy anger, whom we have so often provoked to wrath and jealousy. Lord, we humbly lie down under the burden of thy rod, begging of thee to remember our infirmities, and no more to remember our sins, to support us with thy staff, to lift us up with thy hand, to refresh us with thy gracious eye: and if a sad cloud of temporal infelicities must still encircle us, open unto us the window of heaven, that with an eye of faith and hope we may see beyond the cloud, looking upon those mercies, which in thy secret providence and admirable wisdom thou designest to all thy servants, from such unlikely and sad beginnings. Teach us diligently to do all our duty, and

cheerfully to submit to all thy will; and at last be gracious to thy people that call upon thee, that put their trust in thee, that have laid up all their hopes in the bosom of God, that besides thee have no helper. Amen.

III.

PLACE a guard of angels about the person of the King, and immure him with the defence of thy right hand, that no unhallowed arm may do violence to him. Support him with aids from heaven in all his battles, trials, and dangers, that he may in every instant of his temptation become dearer to thee, and do thou return to him with mercy and deliverance. Give unto him the hearts of all his people, and put into his hand a prevailing rod of iron, a sceptre of power, and a sword of justice; and enable him to defend and comfort the churches under his protection.

IV.

BLESS all his friends, relatives, and confederates; direct their counsels, unite their hearts, strengthen their hands, bless their actions. Give unto them holiness of intention, that they may with much candour and ingenuity pursue the cause of God and the King. Sanctify all the means and instruments of their purposes, that they may not with cruelty, injustice, or oppression proceed towards the end of their just desires and do thou crown all their endeavours with a prosperous event, that all may co-operate to, and actually produce those great mercies which we beg of thee; honour and safety to our sovereign, defence of his just rights, peace to his people, establishment and promotion to religion, advantages and encouragement to learning and holy living, deliverance to all the oppressed, comfort to all thy faithful people, and from all these, glory to thy holy name. Grant this, O King of kings, for his sake by whom thou hast con

signed us to all thy mercies and promises, and to whom thou hast given all power in heaven and earth, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

A Prayer to be said by Kings or Magistrates, for themselves and their People.

O MY God and King, thou rulest in the kingdoms of men, by thee kings reign and princes decree justice: thou hast appointed me under thyself' [and under my prince] to govern this portion of thy church according to the laws of religion and of the state. O Lord, I am but an infirm man, and know not how to decree sentences without erring in judgment: but do thou give to thy servant an understanding heart to judge this people, that I may discern between good and evil. Cause me to walk before thee and all the people in truth and righteousness, and in sincerity of heart, that I may not regard the person of the mighty, nor be afraid of his terror, nor despise the person of the poor, and reject his petition; but that doing justice to all men, I and my people may receive mercy of thee, peace and plenty in our days, and mutual love, and duty, that there be no leading into captivity, no complaining in our streets; but that we may see the church in prosperity all our days, and true religion established and increasing. Do thou establish the house of thy servant, and bring me to a participation of the glories of thy kingdom, for his sake who is my Lord and King, the holy and everblessed Saviour of the world, our Redeemer Jesus. Amen.

A Prayer to be said by Parents for their Children. O ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father, who hast promised children as a reward to the righteous, and hast given them to me as a testimony of thy mercy, and an engagement of my duty; be pleased to be a father

These words to be added by a delegate or inferior.

unto them, and give them healthful bodies, understanding souls, and sanctified spirits, that they may be thy servants and thy children all their days. Let a great mercy and providence lead them through the dangers and temptations and ignorances of their youth, that they may never run into folly, and the evils of an unbridled appetite. So order the accidents of their lives, that by good education, careful tutors, holy example, innocent company, prudent counsel, and thy restraining grace, their duty to thee may be secured in the midst of a crooked and untoward generation : and if it seem good in thy eyes, let me be enabled to provide conveniently for the support of their persons, that they may not be destitute and miserable in my death; or if thou shalt call me off from this world by a more timely summons, let their portion be, thy care, mercy, and providence over their bodies and souls: and may they never live vicious lives, nor die violent or untimely deaths; but let them glorify thee here with a free obedience, and the duties of a holy life that when they have served thee in their generation, and have profited the Christian commonwealth, they may be co-heirs with Jesus in the glories of thy eternal kingdom, through the same our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

A Prayer to be said by Masters of Families, Curates, Tutors, or other obliged Persons, for their Charges.

O ALMIGHTY God, merciful and gracious, have mercy upon my family [or pupils, or parishioners, &c.] and all committed to my charge: sanctify them with thy grace, preserve them with thy providence, guard them from all evil by the custody of angels, direct them in the ways of peace and holy religion by my ministry and the conduct of thy most Holy Spirit, and consign them all with the participation of thy blessings and graces in this world, with healthful bodies, with good understandings, and sanctified spirits, to a full fru