11.1. We must be thankfulto GodforHis mercies to our land. (continued)
and the children which shall be created may praise the Lord.
Isaiah 33:6. Psalm 72:5, 7. Psalm 102:18.
11.3.3. For the continuance of our outwardpeace and tranquility, our liberty andplenty, for the prosperity of our trade, and a blessing upon the fruits of the earth.
Let God himselfbe a wall of fire round about us, and the glory in the midst of us, yea let his gospel be our glory, and upon all that glory let there be a defense; and create upon every dwelling-place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night. Zechariah 2:5. Isaiah 4:5.
Peace be within our borders, and prosperity within our palaces, the prosperity both of merchandise and husbandry, that Zebulun may rejoice in his going out, and Issachar in his tents. Psalm 122:7.
Appoint salvation to us for walls and bulwarks, and in order to that let the gates be opened, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. Isaiah 26-1, 2.
Make our officers peace, and our exactors righteousness, let violence never be heard in our gates, wasting or destruction within our borders, but let our walls be called Salvation, and our gates Praise:
Never let our land be termed Forsaken and Desolate, but let the Lord delight in us, and let our land be married to him. Isaiah 60:17,
Let our peace be as a river, and in order to that, our righteousness as the waves of the sea: Let that righteousness abound among us which exalts a nation, and deliver us from sin, which is a reproach to any people. Isaiah 48:18. Proverbs 14:34.
Never make our heavens as brass, and our earth as iron; nor take away your corn in the season thereof, and your wine in the season thereof, but give us rain moderately, the former and the later rain in due season, and reserve unto us the appointed works of harvest, giving us fair weather also in its season: Let our land yield her increase, and the trees their fruit; that we may eat bread to the full, and dwell in our land safely. Deuteronomy28:23. Hosea 2:9. Joel2:23.
Jeremiah 5:24. Leviticus 26:4, 5.
Abundantly bless our provision, and satisfy our poor with bread, that they which have gathered it may eat and praise the Lord. Blow not you upon it, for then when we look for much it will come to little, but bless our blessings, that all nations may call us blessed, and a delightsome land. Psalm 132:15. Isaiah 62:9. Haggai 1:9. Malachi
11.3.4. Forthesuccess of allendeavorsfor the reformation of manners, thesuppression ofvice andprofaneness, andthe support ofreligion and virtue, and the bringing of them into reputation.
O let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just, O you righteous God that tries the hearts and reins. Spirit many to rise up for you against the evil doers, and to stand up for you against the workers of iniquity. Psalm 7:9. Psalm 94:16.
Let the Redeemer come to Zion and turn away ungodliness from Jacob; And let the filth of Jerusalem be purged from the midst thereofby the spirit ofjudgment, and the spirit ofburning. Romans 11:26. Isaiah 4-4.
Let all iniquity stop her mouth, and let the infection of that plague be stayed, by executing judgment. Psalm 107:42. Psalm
Let those that are striving against sin never be weary or faint in their minds. Hebrews 12:4, 3.
Cause the unclean spirit to pass out of the land, and turn to the people a pure language, that they may call on the name of the Lord.
Zechariah 13:2. Zephaniah 3:9.
Make us high above all nations in praise and in name and in honor, by making us a holy people unto the Lord our God. Deuteronomy
11.3.5. For the healing of our unhappy divisions, and the making up of our breaches.
For the divisions that are among us, there are great searchings of heart; for there are three against two, and two against three in a house. But is the breach wide as the sea, which cannot be healed!
Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of our people recovered? Lord, heal the breaches of our land, for because of them it shakes. Judges
5:16. Luke 12:52. Lamentations 2:13. Jeremiah 8 (v. 22). Psalm 60:2.
We beg in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that there may be no divisions among us, but that we may be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1:10.
Now the God of patience and consolation grant us to be likeminded one towards another, according to Christ Jesus, that we may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and promote the common salvation.
Romans 15:5, 6. Jude 3.
Lord, keep us from judging one another, and despising one another, and give us to follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another; that living in love and peace, the God of love and peace may be with us. Romans 14.3, 19.
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but everything in lowliness of mind, and grant that our moderation may be known unto all men, because the Lord is at hand. Philippians 2:3.
11.3.6. For victory andsuccess against our enemies abroad, that seek our ruin.
Rise, Lord, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those that hate you flee before you, but return, O Lord, to the many thousands of your Israel. Numbers 10:35, 36.
Give us help from trouble, for vain is the help of man; Through God let our forces do valiantly, yea let God himself tread down our enemies, and give them as dust to our sword, and as driven stubble to our bow. Psalm 60:11, 12. Isaiah 41:2.
Let us be a people saved by the Lord, as the shield of our help and the sword of our excellency; and make our enemies sensible that the Lord fights for us against them. Deuteronomy 33 (v. 29). Exodus 14:25.
Those who jeopard their lives for us in the high places of the field, teach their hands to war, and their fingers to fight, give them the shield of your salvation, and let your right hand hold them up, and cover their heads in the day of battle. Judges 5:18. Psalm 144:1.
Psalm 18:35. Psalm 140:7.
11.3.7. For allthat are employed in the conduct ofpublic affairs.
Counsel our counsellors and teach our senators wisdom: O give thema spirit ofwisdom and understanding, a spirit of counsel and might, a spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord, to make them ofquick understanding in the fear of the Lord. Psalm 105:22.
O remove not the speech of the trusty, nor take away the understanding of the aged, nor ever let the things that belong to the nation's peace be hidden from the eyes of those that are entrusted with the nation's counsels. Job 12:20. Luke 19:42.
Make it to appear that you stand in the congregation of the mighty, and judge among the gods, and that when the princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham, the God of Abraham himselfis among them; And let the shields of the earth belong unto the Lord, that he may be greatly exalted. Psalm
Let those that be of us build the old waste places, and raise up the foundations of many generations, that they may be called the repairers of the breaches, and restorers of paths to dwell in. Isaiah 58:12.
11.3.8. For magistrates,judges andjustices of the peace.
Make those that rule over us just, ruling in the fear of God; and let those that judge remember that they judge not for man, but for the Lord, who is with them in the judgment, that therefore the fear of the Lord may be upon them. 2 Samuel 23:3.
2 Chronicles 19:6, 7.
Make them able men, and men of truth, fearing God, and hating covetousness, that judgment may run down like a river, and righteousness as a mighty stream. Exodus 18:21. Amos 5:24.
Enable our magistrates to defend the poor and fatherless, to do justice for the afflicted and needy, to deliver the poor and needy, and to rid them out of the hand of the wicked; and let rulers never be a terror to good works, but to the evil. Psalm 82:3, 4. Romans 13.3.
11.3.9. For allthe ministers of God's Holy wordandsacraments.
Teach your ministers how they ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, that they may not preach themselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and may study to shew themselves approved to God, workmen that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 1 Timothy 3:15. 2
Corinthians 4:5. 2 Timothy 2:15.
Make them mighty in the scriptures, that from thence they may be thoroughly furnished for every good work, in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, and sincerity, and sound speech, which cannot be condemned. Acts 18:24.
2 Timothy 3:17. Titus 2:7, 8.
Enable them to give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine, to meditate upon these things, to give themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word, to give themselves wholly to them; and to continue in them that they may both save themselves, and those that hear them. 1 Timothy 4:13, 15. Acts 6:4.
Let utterance be given to them, that they may open their mouths boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, that thereof they may speak as they ought to speak, as able ministers of the New
Testament, not of the letter, but of the spirit, and let them obtain mercy of the Lord to be faithful. Ephesians 6:19, 20. 2 Corinthians
3:6. 1 Corinthians 7:25.
Let the arms of their hands be made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; and let them be full ofpower by the spirit of the Lord ofhosts, to shew your people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins. Genesis 49:24. Micah 3:8. Isaiah 58:1.
Make them sound in the faith and enable them always to speak the things which become sound doctrine, with meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; and let not the servants of the Lord strive, but be gentle to all men, apt to teach. Titus 1:13. Titus 2:1. 2
Make them good examples to the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity; and let them be clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord and let Holiness to the Lord be written upon their foreheads.
2 Timothy 4:12. Isaiah 52:11.
Exodus 28:36. Lord, grant that they may not labor in vain, or spend their strength for nought, and in vain, but let the hand of the Lord be with them, that many may believe, and turn to the Lord. Isaiah
11.3.10. For all the universities, schools, and nurseries of learning.
Let the schools of the prophets be replenished with every good gift and every perfect gift from above from the Father of lights. James
Cast salt into those fountains, and heal the waters thereof, that from thence may issue streams which shall make glad the city of our God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. 2
Kings 2:21. Psalm 46:4.
11.3.11. For the common people of the land.
Give grace to all the subjects of this land, that they may under the government God hath set over us, live quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty, dwelling together in unity, that the Lord may commanda blessing upon us, even life for evermore. 1 Tim
Let all ofevery denomination that fear God and work righteousness be accepted of him; yea let such as love your salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified that hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servants. Acts 10:35. Psalm 35:27.
11.3.12. For the several ages and conditions of men, as they stand in need ofmercy andgrace.
11.3.12.1. For those that are young and setting out in the world.
Lord, give to those that are young to remember their Creator in the days of their youth, that thereby they may be kept from the vanity which childhood and youth are subject to, and may be restrained from walking in the way of their heart, and in the sight of their eyes, by considering that for all these things God will bring them into judgment. Ecclesiastes 12:1. Ecclesiastes 11:10, 9.
Lord, make young people sober-minded, and let the word of God abide in them, that they may be strong, and may overcome the wicked one. Titus 2:6. 1 John 2:14.
From the womb of the morning let Christ have the dew of the youth and let him be formed in the hearts of those that are young.
Psalm 110.3. Galatians 4:19.
Keep those that are setting out in the world from the corruption that is in the world through lust; and give to those that have been well educated to hold fast the form ofsound words, and to continue in the things which they have learned. 2 Peter 1:4.
11.3.12.2. For those that are old and are of long standing in profession.
There are some that are old disciples of Jesus Christ, Lord, give them still to bring forth fruit in old age, to shew that the Lord is upright, that he is their rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. Now the evil days have come, and the years ofwhich they say there is no pleasure in them, let your comforts delight their souls.
Acts 21:16. Psalm 92:14, 15. Ecclesiastes 12:1. Psalm 94:19.
Even to their old age be you he, and to the hoary hairs do you carry them, you have made, we beseech you bear, yea do you carry and deliver them. Isaiah 46.4.
Those whom you have taught from their youth up, and who have hitherto declared all your wondrous works, now also when they are old and grey-headed leave them not, cast them not off in their old age, fail them not when their strength fails. Psa/m 71:17, 18, 9.
Let every hoary head be a crown ofglory to those that have it, being found in the wayofrighteousness, and give them to knowwhom they have believed. Proverbs 16:31. 2 Timothy 1:12.
11.3.12.3. For those that are rich andprosperous in the world, some ofwhom perhaps needprayers as much as those that request them.
Lord keep those that are rich in the world from being high minded, and trusting in uncertain riches, and give them to trust in the living
God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy: That they may do good, and be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate, that they may lay up in store for themselves a good security for the time to come. 1 Timothy 6:17, 18, 19.
Though it is hard for those that are rich to enter into the kingdom of heaven, yet with you this is possible. Matthew 19:23, 26.
11.3.12.4. For those that arepoor and in affliction, for such we have always with us.
Lord, make those that are poor in the world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, and give to them to receive the gospel. James 2:5.
O that the poor of the flock may wait upon you and may know the word of the Lord. Zechariah 11:11.
Many are the troubles of the righteous, good Lord, deliver them out of them all, and though no affliction for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous, nevertheless afterward let it yield the peaceable fruit ofrighteousness to them that are exercised thereby.
Psalm 34:19. Hebrews 12:11.
11.3.12.5. For our enemies, and those that hate us.
Lord, give us to love our enemies, to bless them that curse us, and to pray for them that despitefully use us and persecute us. Matthew
Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do; and lay not their malice against us to their charge, and work in us a disposition to forbear and forgive in love, as you require we should when we pray. Luke 23:34. Acts 7:60. Colossians 3:13. Mark 11:25.
And grant that our ways may please the Lord, that even our enemies may be at peace with us. Let the wolf and the lamb lie down together and let there be none to hurt or destroy in all the holy mountain; let not Ephraim envy Judah, nor Judah vex
Ephraim. Proverbs 16:7. Isaiah 11:6, 9, 13.
11.3.12.6. For our friends, and those that love us.
And we wish for all those whom we love in the truth, that they may prosper, and be in health, especially that their souls may prosper. 3
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with their spirits. Philemon (v. 25).
OCCASIONAL ADDRESSES TO GOD Ofaddresses to God upon particular occasions, whether domestic or public.
It is made our duty, and prescribed as a remedy against disquieting care, that in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving we should make our requests known to God. And it is part of the parrhesia, the boldness, the liberty of speech (so the word signifies) which is allowed us in our access to God, that we may be particular in opening our case, and seeking to Him for relief; that according as the sore and the grief is, accordingly the prayer and the supplication may be by any man, or by the people of Israel. Not that God needs to be particularly informed of our condition, He knows it better than we ourselves do, and our souls too in our adversity, but it is His will that we should thus acknowledge Him in all our ways, and wait upon Him for the direction of every step, not prescribing, but subscribing to infinite wisdom, humbly shewing Him our wants, burdens, and desires, and then referring ourselves to Him, to do for us as He thinks fit.
Philippians 4:6. Hebrews 10:19. 2 Chronicles 6:29. Proverbs 3:6.
We shall instance in some of the occasions of particular address to God, more or less usual, which may either be the principal matter of a whole prayer, or inserted in our other prayers, and in some cases that are more peculiar to ministers, or others, in common to