THo I mention only this Verse for my Text, yet my design is to take for my Subject all the manners and customs of the first & best of all Christians described in this and the follow­ing Chapters by the Evangelist St. Luke: and because my dis­course is intended only for those societies of young men that have lately assembled them­selves with design to imitate that primitive Zeal and Piety; [Page 10] I shall take leave to speak only what's proper to them, and that also in a more plain and fami­liar way than is usal in this place.

All good men must be Trans­ported with joy, to see any thing in this wicked age like that Fervour and Life of Reli­gion that ran thro the whole body of the Primitive Church. It shou'd be as pleasant and sur­prizing as to find Life returning into the eyes and limbs of a dead friend: and certainly, if ever Christianity be reco­ver'd, it must be by such means as are now beginning to be used; it must be by religious societies and combinations a­gainst the Enemy of our souls, by which we warm, and excite, and encourage, and direct one [Page 11] another, and to think to do this by the zeal, or prudence, or the labours of single men, is as great a folly as to expect the conquest of our temporal enemies by sending one man at a time to wage war with their whole armies. I might insist long up­on this subject, in shewing the use and necessity of societies for the reducing of piety to its pri­mitive vigour; but at present twill be sufficient to justifie and recommend to all good men these particular societies from the practise of those Christians mention'd in my Text; for tho they cannot equal 'em in that extraordinary degree of Piety, nor imitate 'em in the miracu­lous power of the spirit▪ yet it is plain that they resemble 'em in most other respects, as I [Page 12] shall now prove by several in­stances.

1st. The Christians menti­on'd in my Text did often meet and converse together, to im­prove one another in Piety, and onflame each others Zeal: and this I take to be the meaning of the word, Fellowship, in my Text; not only the fellowship of the Apostles (tho this must also be understood) but fellow­ship with one another in their houses, and in the absence of the Apostles. For the number of the new Converts being then so great, that at one Sermon no fewer than threethousand were converted, it was impossible that the Apostles shou'd every day be present at every Con­gregation or Assembly in their houses, And besides, we have [Page 13] examples of such Meetings in the Scriptures, where the people in the absence of the Clergy have met together in a private way for devotion and other ho­ly ends: as we find in the 12th Chapt. of the Acts, where, upon the disporsion and flight of the Apostles, Peter came to the house of Mary, and found there many Disciples gathered toge­ther for Prayer. Now tho these Assemblles of Christians were in this unlike our Societies, that the people in them were of all ages and sexes and condi­tions, but here only men under certain qualifications are ad­mitted; yet their example will warrant and justise our practise; and if one be lawful, the other is at least as warrantable, since the design and consequence of [Page 14] their meeting is the same, as I shall shew it to be hereafter. In the mean while we shall sup­pose 'em thus far to be like, in their meeting together in houses for private Religious exercises. And,

2dly, They are also like in re­spect of the time of their meet­ing, which was chiefly upon the Lord's-Day. This day was Consecrated at first by the A­postles and Primitive Christians assembling upon it for several religious ends: and tho these Assemblies met daily, and kept holy every day of the week and every day of their lives, yet the day they kept most holy was the Lord's-Day, as we read in the 20th of the Acts and the 7th verse. Upon the first day of the week when the Disciples [Page 15] came together to break bread; that is, to receive the Sacrament: In which place we may observe that the whole day was kept holy and spent in Religious ex­ercises; for St. Paul continued his preaching till it was mid­night; and tho this was more than ordinary, because the A­postle was to leave 'em next morning, yet the Primitive Writers do all speak as if the day were wholly and entirely dedicated to Religious uses. And this I mention, because there are some that pretend to observe the Lord's Day, and yet spend the greatest part of it in any indifferent employment or recreation no way serviceable to the ends of Religion. Now this being one of the principal ends of your meeting together, [Page 16] this must needs be a great en­couragment to you, that in this you resemble the blessed Saints of the pure and primitive Church.

3dly, We find in my Text, that they continned stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine: They were all of one Faith and one Church, and had no controver­sies nor difference of opinion; for their business was not to dispute about notions and empty speculations, but those few fun­damental truths which the A­postles taught 'em, they all una­nimously agree'd in, and pro­ceeded upon this foundation to build the superstructure of a ho­ly and devout Life. And this being one of your Laws, and the chief foundation of your So­cieties, that your members shall [Page 17] all be of one Church, and one Re­ligion, and shall continue sted­fastly, in the Apostles Doctrine, in the Doctrine of the Apostoli­cal Church Establish't in this Kingdom; and that they shall not meddle with disputes and controversies, but wholly apply themselves to works of Piety I need not insist longer upon your agreement with them in this particular; but only exhort and entreat you to keep up to this principle, and as you tender the preservation of your Societies, never to admit of controversies in Religion, nor of such men as are addicted to 'em, but to exclude all that are not peace­ably inclined. And tho you are to love your enemies, yet you must deny 'em this kindness, of making 'em members of your [Page 18] Societies before they are mem­bers of your Church: For if they tear the Church asunder when they have so many com­mands in the Scripture for the contrary, how can you expect they shou'd preserve an invio­lable union with you? but if you do in a kind and amicable way refuse to joyn with 'em, you will both secure your selves, and in time gain Proselytes to the Church.

4thly, They continued also in breaking of bread, that in re­ceiving the Sacrament of the Lord's-Supper: But whether this was daily or weekly, it does not certainly appear in the Scriptures. For by the 46th verse of this Chapter it seems to have been daily. And they continued daily in the Temple, and break­ing [Page 19] of bread from house to house: as if he had said, that they went every day to the Temple to pray, as the custom was among the devout Jews, and from thence they went to their houses, and broke bread, or re­ceived the Communion toge­ther from the Apostles hands, which at that time they were forced to do privately in their houses. But in the 20th Chap­ter we find that the first day of the week was particularly set apart for Celebrating this So­lemnity; and by that time tis likely they found it inconveni­ent to receive every day, and therefore appointed one day in the week to be for ever kept holy on this account chiefly, and to serve instead of the Jewish Sabbath. This practice of [Page 20] theirs you do in some measure imitate by your monthly Com­munion, to which you oblige all your members, unless in cases of necessity and exraordinary casualties: and I don't question but in time you may come up to the perfection of Communi­tating weekly, and by your ex­amples incite so many others, that all the Clergy may be en­couraged to administer the Sa­crament every week in their Churches; for this was done by the whole Primitive Church for many hundred years; and this our Liturgy supposes to be done by us, where a Communion is implied as often as the Com­munion-Service is [...]read; and this wou'd be truly and proper­ly observing the Lord's-Day, which was first appointed for [Page 21] this purpose, and consecrated chiefly by this Selemnity.

5thly, You find in my Text that they continued also in prayers; and so in the 12th Chapter, that they used to meet together for prayer, tho the A­postles were not with'em. Not only each family had its own family devotion, as we read of Cornelius in the 10th Chapt. but several people met at one house to [...] up and increase each o­the [...] Devotion▪ For tho a­mong [...] [...] Deuotion is most cool in publick [...] Society does [...] it▪ as fuel added [...] and in­deed all [...] thrive and [...] example, and in [...]. Now the word, [...] be taken in a large sense, as [...] very of­ten [Page 22] in the Scriptures, not only for petitions and addresses im­mediately directed to God, but for reading the Scriptures, and for pious Discourses, and any holy Exercise proper for such Societies. And in this particu­lar you also agree with these Primitive converts: Tho as to Prayer strictly so taken, you are forced to be brief in that respect at your Meetings, and those few Collects, you use to take 'em chiefly out of the Churches Li­turgy, lest you shou'd be thought to despise the Churches Service, as too many do in these licen­tious times.

6thly, Another Vertue which abounded in the first Christi­ans, was that of Charity or Alms-giving, For we are told in the verses following my Text, [Page 23] that they had all things in com­mon, and sold their possessions & goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And so in the 4 ^th Chapter and 32 ^th Verse.—That none of them said that ought of the things he possess'd was his own, but they had all things common. But this extraordinary degree, or rather this way of Charity by selling and dividing their possessions, was proper to that time, and that particular num­ber of Christians, and not after­wards imitated, even by the Primitive Church. For then there was no danger nor possi­bility of wanting, tho they sold their possessions, because the Divine Providence had an ex­traordinary and particular care over those men, as appears by [Page 24] that passage in the 11 ^th Chap. of the Acts, where Agabus pro­phesied of a Famine that was approaching, and gave warning to make provision for the Saints that dwelt at Jerusalem, which were the people mention'd in my Text. And besides, this So­ciety of men being a sort of Nur­sery to the Catholick Church of the whole World, and the members of it continually cho­sen out to be sent abroad, they had reason to fell their Lands, and do many other things which are not so necessary in a settled condition of the Church. The right imitation therefore of these Christians consists in this, in being extraordinary chari­table to the utmost of our abi­lities; and if we have but little, in giving gladly of that little: [Page 25] and yet if we have nothing, out charity may be like theirs, as we find in the next Chapter, where St. Peter and St. John the chief of all the Church had nei­ther Gold nor Silver, and cou'd give no Alms to the poor Beg­gar. And thus you imitate the first Christians at your meetings, by giving Alms according to your abilities, and making this one part of your employment at that time, to consider what ob­jects of charity are in greatest want of your relief, and contri­bute your mite to 'em, which our Saviour says, is as great as all the treasures of rich men: and surely when others that are more able to give Alms, are stir'd up by your example, they will be ashamed to give so spa­ringly as the custom is now a­mong [Page 26] the wealthier sort of peo­ple.

Under this head of Charity I must add something concer­ning Justice to our Neighbour, a Vertue most strictly ob­serv'd by all the Primitive Christians, in their contracts and dealings with other men. For tho it is not expresly men­tion'd in this place, yet it is plainly intimated, and follows of necessity from the other Vertue. For if they were so charitable as to give all their Riches and Es­tates to the poor, they cou'd not be supposed to do any act of in­justice, tho they might gain the whole World by it. And this I mention to you, because by your professions you are always em­ployed in those actions that are the subject of Justice: and there­fore [Page 27] as you have already gain'd a great reputation for honesty and fair dealing, so I must beg and entreat you to take a particular care hereafter of all your actions in reference to this duty; that you may not be like the hypocrites of these times, that pretend piety, & de­sign advantage; but like the Christians in my Text, that thought of nothing but the ne­cessaries of Life, and despised riches and all other blessings when they came in competition with the duties of Justice and Charity.

7thly. Another Vertue, and the last I shall mention, in which you agree with them, is a servent zeal and concern for the conversion and salvation of other men: the noblest of all [Page 28] the Graces, and the perfection and fulness, or rather the over­flowing of Religion and Piety; than which nothing can be more acceptable to God, more serviceable to the Church, and more advantagious to your own souls. For they that bring many to righteousness, shall shine like the stars for ever and ever; and not only shall be like the An­gels, but like the Son of God, whose only business upon earth, was to reform and save Sinners from destruction. Now, the Christians mention'd in my Text, were above all others re­markable for this Vertue: they met together, as an heathen Au­thor said of 'em, not to conspire against the Government, but a­gainst Injustice, and Adultery, and other Sins: and all their [Page 29] ambition, and their whole em­ployment was, to root out Er­rors and Irreligion from the hearts of men. And tho it was the peculiar office of the Apo­stles▪ and Ministers of the Gos­pel, to Preach publickly to others, yet to admonish and in­struct privately they thought their duty, and never rested from performing it. Thus in the 18th Chap. of the Acts, Aquila and Priscilla took Apollos to them, and in private expounded the way of God to him more per­fectly. And such expressions as these are common in St. Paul's Epistles: Greet Aquila and Pris­cilla my helpers in Christ; Sa­lute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. For if the people had not been zealous in promoting the common work [Page 30] of Piety, and true Religion, by admonishing and instructing in a private way every man his own Friends & Acquaintances, 'tis impossible that the few A­postles and Clergy of those times shou'd have gain'd the tith of those innumerable pro­selytes to Goodness and Christi­anity: And the same thing may be affirm'd of this present age, that if others do not help the Clergy, and contribute what as­sistance is proper for them to­wards the work of Reformati­on, we must expect that Vertue will still decay, and the World grow worse, and more irreligi­ous every day.

I know few or none, excep­ting your selves, that are sensi­ble of this duty; but you have endeavour'd to imitate the pat­tern [Page 31] set before you in my Text; and have made your selves like the first Christians, a nursery and seminary of Vertue, and good Morality, and true Religi­on; and God has shewed his approbation of your design, as he did in the first planting of Christianity, by the great suc­cess of your labours, and the ex­traordinary encrease of your number in so short a time as it has been since you begun this work: so great an increase, that if it shou'd continue in the same proportion but a few years lon­ger, Vertue wou'd become the fashion, and Vice grow scanda­lous for want of number to en­courage and defend it. I might here use a multitude of argu­ments, to shew how it is your duty, and your interest; your [Page 32] eternal interest, and the interest of the Church and Kingdom, that you shou'd continue sted­fast and immovable in this Ver­tue; and how encrease and multiply, is not only the first & most necessary command of the Creation, but in a spiritual sense of the Gospel also, and the Christian Religion. But my design was to press upon you this and the other duties only by the motive of conforming your selves to the first and best of all Christians, which I thought was most likely to prevail upon all that have the right and genuine temper of Christianity.

And thus far I have made the comparison between you and them in 7 Particulars. 1 In meeting together to carry on the publick work 2 In meet­ing [Page 33] upon the Lord's-Day to keep that holy. 3 In continuing stedfastly in one Apostolical Faith. 4 In breaking of bread, or receiving the Communion frequently. 5 In continuing also in Prayer both publick and private. 6 In Charity or Alms-giving. 7 In Zeal and Fervor, for the Conversion and Salvation of other men. Which Rules of your Society may you always observe, and never sail to have the same success with which God has hitherto blest your endeavours.

But as you are like the first Christians in all these particu­lars, so you must remember that there is one thing which I inti­mated at first, in which you can­not resemble them; and that is the miraculous power of the [Page 34] Holy Ghost, which for many years upheld and encouraged their endeavours. You must not expect, I say, that God will work such wonders, as he did then, for your assistance and en­couragement; for the time of miracles is over, and therefore

In the 1st place, since you can­not depend upon miracles, be so much the more careful and dili­gent in your work, and make up the want of them by resolution and constancy. You will meet with the same obstacles and the same dangers, excepting Mar­tyrdom, but be not discouraged or frightned by it; some will laugh at you, and others will censure and affront you, and per­haps your numbers may not en­crease as you expect; but let not all this dishearten you, for [Page 35] your design is noble and heroick, and your labour will be reward­ed as much as if you had con­verted the whole world to a sense of Piety and Religion.

2dly. Since you have no mi­racles to preserve you, nor any extraordinary inspiration, such as the first Christians had, to direct you; therefore beware of your selves and your own infirmities, lest they betray you into Error, and ruin the glorious design you are engaged in. You must therefore resolve strictly to observe all the Laws you have agreed to: you must not de­pend wholly upon your own knowledge, but ask counsel of those that are wiser, and espe­cially your own Pastors: you must work out the salvation of other men, as you do your own, [Page 36] with fear and trembling: you must rebuke without censori­ousness, and triumph over Sin without pride or insolence; and since you are not infallibly gui­ded by the Spirit, you must take a particular care of avoiding all disputes and differences among your selves, for which there can be no better way, than to re­solve never to meddle with any controversy, no, not concerning morality it self, so far as to fall into any heats and animosities about it.

These Cautions, if you ob­serve, and continue in your good resolutions, the blessings of God will undoubtedly attend your endeavours, and the whole Na­tion may in time feel the good effects of your labours. At least your own reward will be ex­traordinary [Page 37] in proportion to the good you design, whether you succeed or no. The Psal­mist when he desired a blessing from God, to gain his favour, made a vow to give him what he thought above all things wou'd please him; which thing if thou wilt grant me, then shall the righteous resort unto my company. To live in the Socie­ty of good men, is the most ac­ceptable offering we can make to the Almighty, especially when good men meet together to en­crease the number of the righte­ous, by instructing the ignorant, and reforming the wicked: this is not only pleasing to God, but an occasion of joy to all the Angels in Heaven, and he that encreases now the joy of that place, may expect to partake of it abundant­ly hereafter.

1st. AT their first meeting they may discourse of what Sermons they have heard, what good Books they have seen and read, or upon any other pious Subject, till a competent number be come together.

2. Then the Prelector (who is the same with the Steward) must begin the Prayers with one or more of these Senten­ces.

Behold how good and joyful a thing it is, for Brethren to dwell together in unity, Ps. 133. ver. 1.

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them, Eccles. 12 Ch. ver. 1.

Exhort one another while it is called to day, least any of you be hardned through the deceit­fulness of sin; knowing, that he that converteth a Sinner from the error of his ways, shall save a soul from death, and shall co­ver a multitude of sins, James 5 Ch. ver. 20.

Then let every man kneel.

Prel. Let us Pray,

Lord have mercy upon us.

Ans. Christ have mercy upon

Prel. Lord have mercy upon us.

Our Father which art in Hea­ven, Hallowed be thy Name; Thy Kingdom come, thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Hea­ven: Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our Tres­passes as we forgive them that trespass against us; and lead us not into Temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory, for ever and ever, Amen,

Prel. O Lord save thy Ser­vants,

Ans. Who put their trust in thee.

Prel. Send us help from a­bove,

Ans. And evermore mightily defend us.

Prel. Help us, O God, our Sa­viour,

Ans. And for the glory of thy Name deliver us; be merciful to us Sinners, for thy Names sake.

Prel. O Lord, save thy Ser­vant, King William.

Ans. And give him the victo­ry over all his Enemies.

Prel. O Lord, hear our Pray­er,

Ans. And let our Cry come un­to thee.

Prel. Let us Pray,

O God the strength of all them that put their trust in thee, mercifully accept our Prayers: and because through the weak­ness of our mortal natures we can do no good thing without thee, grant us the help of thy grace, that in keeping thy Com­mandments [Page 43] we may please thee both in will and deed, thro Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Almighty God, who seest that we have no power of our selves to help our selves, keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and in­wardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adver­sities that may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul, thro Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

O Almighty God who alone canst order the unruly wills & af­fections of sinful men, grant [...] to thy people, that they may love the thing which thou comman­dest, and desire that which thou dost promise that so among the [Page 44] sundry and manifold changes of the World our hearts may sure­ly there be fixt where true joys are to be found, thro Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

O Lord we beseech thee mer­cifully to hear us, and grant that we to whom thou hast given a hearty desire to Pray, may by thy mighty aid be defended and comforted in all dangers and ad­versities, and devoutly given to serve thee in all good works, to the glory of thy name, thro Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning, grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy word, we may embrace and ever hold fast [Page 45] that blessed hope of everlasting Life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ, A­men.

Here all standing the Praelector shall say,

Prel. O praise the Lord with me.

Ans. Let us magnify his name together.

Prel. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

Ans. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, World without end, Amen.

Then shall all say after the Prelector.

It is meet▪ right, and our bounden duty, that we shou'd at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, holy Father, Almighty, ever­lasting [Page 46] God. Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of Heaven, we laud and magnify thy glori­ous name, evermore praising thee, and saying, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Hosts, Hea­ven and Earth are full of thy glory; Glory be to thee, O Lord most high, Amen.

After this the Prelector shall name a Psalm, or part of a Psalm, which they shall all sing.

3. Then the Prelecter shall read distinctly a Chapter or more out of the New Testa­ment, where it relates most to practise, together with Dr. Hammond's paraphrase, or any other good comment, to be ap­prov'd of by the Bishop, or some [Page 47] Orthodox Minister of the Esta­blish'd Church.

4. Afterwards he shall read a portion of some Exposition on the Church Catechism, or some other practical good Book, to be approv'd of as above; and this may be shorter or longer, accor­ding as the time will permit.

5. Then shall every man that is able, give his Alms for the Poor; and whilst this is doing, the Prelector shall read as ma­ny of these following Senten­ces as he thinks convenient.

Let y [...]ur light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in [...]eaven, Mat. 5. 18.

Lay not up for your selves treasures upon Earth, where the rust and moth doth corrupt, and where thieves break through & steal; but lay up for your selves treasures in Heaven, where nei­ther rust nor moth doth cor­rupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal, Mat. 6. 19, 20.

While we have time, let us do good unto all men, and espe­cially unto the [...] who are of the houshold of [...] l. 6. 10.

God is not unri [...]eous, that he will forget your [...]orks and labour, [...]at proceedeth of love, which love ye have shewed for his names [...], who have mi­nistred to [...] Saints, and yet do minister, Heb. 6. 10.

To do good, and to distribute, forget not; for with such sacrifi­ces God is well pleased, He. 13. 16

Be merciful after thy power; if thou hast much, give plen­teously; if thou hast little, do thy diligence gladly to give of that little, for so gatherest thou thy self a good reward in the day of necessity, Tob▪ 4. 8, 9.

He that hath pitty on the poor, lendeth unto the Lord; and look what [...] [...]ayeth out, it shall be paid [...] again, Prov. 19. 17.

Blessed [...] that pro­videth [...] needy: the Lor [...] [...]hall deliver him in the time of trouble, [...] 1. 1.

When they have given their alms, they shall [...] while, if they have time, and discourse [Page 50] upon any pious subject that of­fers, viz. what objects of Cha­rity they know, particularly such as have lived well hcreto­fore: and what young men of their acquaintance may be gain'd over to a vertuous con­versation; and if there be any difficulty, or case of Conscience necessary to be resolved, or any religious affair to be settled, let it be then propounded, and calm­ly discoursed of.

After which, let a Psalm be sung, and after that, let them all repeat the Apostles Creed stand­ing; and then let the Prelector conclude with these Collects, every man kneeling.

C▪ Assist us mercifully, O Lord, in these our supplications and Prayers, and dispose the way of thy servants towards [Page 50] the attainment of everlasting salvation: that among all the changes and chances of this mortal life, they may ever be defended by thy most gracious and ready help, thro Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

O Almighty Lord, and ever­lasting God; vouchsafe, we be­seech thee, to direct, sanctify & govern both our hearts and bo­dies in the ways of thy laws, and in the works of thy Command­ments, that through thy most mighty protection both here & ever, we may be preserved both in body and soul, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen.

Blessed Lord, who hast taught us, that all our doings without Charity are nothing worth; send thy Holy Ghost, and pour [Page 50] [...] [Page 50] [...] [Page 51] into our hearts that most excel­lent gift of Charity; that we may love thee above all things, and sincerely love our neigh­bour for thy sake, and endeavor the benefit of his precious soul. Make us ever more fearful of his danger, than of his displeasure, and more desirous of his good than of his favour. Give us therefore Christian courage to reprove, wisdom to advise, coun­cel to direct, and prudence to know how, and when, and what to speak, as we ought to do: and O, let a spirit of reforma­tion be in us, to put a stop to that profaness & irreligion that reigns among us: and do thou magnify thy power in the weak­ness of the instruments thou makest use of. Give us clean and pure hearts, and so streng­then [Page 53] our good resolutions with thy holy Spirit, that we may ne­ver faint, nor grow weary of the work we have undertaken. And that it may be successful, give us the spirit of Love, and Peace, and Unity, that no dif­ferences may ever disturb us, or hinder our design of teaching Sinners thy ways, and drawing others to thy love; that so when thou shalt come to gather thy Saints together, we may be found an acceptable people in thy sight: to whom, with the Father, and the holy Spirit, be all praise and glory now and for ever, Awen.

O most holy and gracious Lord, who in the holy Scriptures hast told us, that tho we shou'd perform all that thou hast com­manded, we are still unprofita­ble [Page 54] Servants: we prostrate our selves before thee, with the low­est humility of soul and body, acknowledging that we are but sinful dust and ashes, and not only unprofitable, but disobedi­ent, and ungrateful to thee: and we beseech thee to inspire into our hearts such a sense of our own unworthiness, that no success may make us high-min­ded, no perfections of our own make us proud and conceited, nor the sins of other men make us uncharitable and consorious: that whilst we endeavour to bring others into the way of Piety and Religion, we our selves may not be cast away. O, let us not boast with the Pha­risee, of our labours and servi­ces, what-ever they shall be, but rather with the Publican, [Page 55] smite our breasts, and say, Lord be merciful to us sinners, thro the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour, Amen.

O GOD, our Refuge and Strength, who art the Author of all Godliness; hear, we be­seech thee, the devout Prayers of thy Servants; and grant that those things which we have ask'd faithfully, we may obtain effectually, through Je­sus Christ our Lord, Amen.

The Lord bless us, and keep us; the Lord lift up his coun­tenance upon us, and give us Peace now and for evermore. Amen.