People the fincere Milk thereof, which may bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord; unfold to them (as far as is necessary) the hidden Mysteries of thy Word, that they may teach it properly to others; and grant that none of them, whilft they endeavour to instruct others, may ever themselves prove Caftaways. Further: Be thou pleafed, O Lord, by the Influence of thy Grace, to fettle the doubtful Mind, and to be the Comfort and Support of the afflicted Soul; and, by the Force and Power of thy holy, accompanying, affifting, and cooperating Spirit, to convict the Infidel and Obdurate, to direct the Studious, and guide the well-meaning Heart. Heal, O Lord, the Breaches of thy Church; thofe Breaches that have been made through factious Schifms, or Popish Bigotry; renew to thy Church, and to thy People, the happy Privilege of worshipping thee in the true Spirit of the Gospel of thy Son; grant them that Liberty with which Chrift has made them free, that they may rejoice therein, when ENTHUSIASM fhall not put on the Mafque of RELIGION, and when Bigotry and Perfecutions fhall be no more. Until which Time, be pleafed, O Lord, to fupport those whom thou permitteft to be fo feverely tried (that they must refift even unto Blood) that they, following the Examples of the first Martyrs in thy Caufe, may be firm and conftant, refolute and bold, and may not, for any Pangs of Death, depart from thee, but may (by thus fealing thy Truth with their Blood) be entitled, through through him in whom they believe, to Blifs eternal. Open the Eyes, O Lord, of thofe blind deluded Creatures, who would endeavour to make us believe, that, whilft they perfecute others, they do thee Service; convince them of the Folly of their idolatrous Worship, and bring them (and every other who are wandering in the Paths of erroneous Principles in regard to their Religion) back unto thy Flock, that, fooner or later, in thy good Time, the Heathens, and those that know thee not, may be enlightened, and all the different Perfuafions in Religion, may be united into one Fold, and be made one Flock under one Shepherd, and may follow the one true Rock, which Rock is Chrift; that fo they may all concertively join here in religious Unity, and hereafter in one general and univerfal Chorus of Praise and Thanksgiving to God, and to the Lamb, for ever and ever. Reftore, O Lord, thy once favourite People the Jews, and make them know that their Redeemer liveth; and that though he did not come in the gay Pomp of a DIADEM'D RULER, yet that he did come (that he has appeared) as they themselves might have expected he fhould appear, would they have liftened to thofe Types, Prophecies, and Predictions (in thy firft Revelation to Man) which they themselves allow and confefs, related to the MESSIAH; and if nothing elfe will convince them, let the Reflection on their being now the difperfed, though once the chofen People of God; bring them to an acknowledgment, that that Light hath long fince appeared, peared, which was to be the Glory of God's People Ifrael: Then may we cordially receive them (thus convicted and converted) into the proper Privileges of the Proteftant Land. Give unto the People of this Land (especially the Proteftants of all Denominations) a kind, benevolent, and charitable Spirit, in regard to those who fhall flee unto us as to the Horns of the Altar, or a Sanctuary of Refuge; to thofe who, whilst they are perfecuted in one City flee unto another) leaving behind them, for the Sake of their Religion, their Fortunes, their Friends, their Families, and every other Confolation that could render Life tolerably happy, and who (by fo doing) clearly fhew, with St. Paul, that they count all Things but Drofs fo they may win Chrift. Finally, O Almighty God, be pleased to bless our most gracious Sovereign King George (the Defender of our Faith, the Supporter of our Rights, our Liberty and Laws) with the choiceft of thy Bleffings here below; continually crown him with Laurels of Victory over his every Foe; grant him a long and peaceful Reign here; and, when thou fhalt iffue out thy ALMIGHTY FIAT to call him hence, give him an easy Exit out of this Life of Troubles, this Vale of Mifery and Tears; feat him at thy own Righthand for ever, and crown him with those Laurels which will never fade. Be thou ever prefent at his Counfels, and teach his Senators Wisdom; and fo fhower down thy Bleffings upon every Branch of his Royal House, |