Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

under them, and at thine own time make my death my passage to a joyful resurrection to a blessed and eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

CHAP. VI.

ROGATION DAYS.

Q. What Fast does the church observe at this season?

A. The Fast of the Rogation Days, which are the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, before Holy Thursdays, or the ascension of our Lord.

Q. Why are they called Rogation Days?

A. From the extraordinary prayers and supplications, which, with fasting, were at this time offered to God by devout Christians. The Latins called them Rogations, and the Greeks Litanies. In these fasts the church had not only a regard to prepare our minds to celebrate our Saviour's ascension after a devout manner, but by fervent prayers and humiliation to appease God's wrath, and deprecate his displeasure, so that he might avert those judgments which the sins of a nation deserved, that he might be pleased to bless the fruits with which the earth is at this time covered, and not pour upon them those scourges of his wrath, pestilence, and war, which ordinarily begin in this season.

Q. When were these Rogation Days established in the church?

A. The use of these earnest supplications for the mercy of God, which were called Litanies, was very early practised in the Christian church, the pattern whereof we have in Scripture appointed by God himself in a time of general calamity; and such supplications

[blocks in formation]

are thought to be suggested by St. Paul in those several kinds of public prayers, which he enjoins to Timothy." Q. Wherein consists the piety of this institution? A. In that it testifies our dependance upon God, in those expectations we entertain of temporal happiness. And in that we acknowledge all second causes are entirely at his disposal; and that the solemn repentance and earnest prayers of a nation are the most effectual means to appease God's wrath, and avert public evils. For thus we find in the Old Testament, among the people of God, that his providences were suited to their manners, and they were constantly prosperous or afflicted, as piety and virtue flourished or declined among them. And the crying sins of a nation cannot hope to escape public judgments, unless they be prevented by a general repentance and humiliation; it being only in this life that public bodies and communities of men, as such, are liable to punishment.

Q. What was the service enjoined upon those days?

A. At the reformation, when all processions were abolished, by reason of the abuse of them, yet for retaining the perambulation of the circuits of parishes, it was enjoined, that the people shall once a year, at the time accustomed, with the curate and substantial men of the parish, walk about the parishes as they were accustomed, and at their return to church make their common prayers. Provided that the curate, in their said common perambulations, used heretofore in the Days of Rogations, at certain convenient places, shall admonish the people to give thanks to God, in the beholding of God's benefits, for the increase and abundance of his fruits upon the face of the earth, in the saying of the 103rd Psalm; at which time also the same minister shall inculcate this and such

b 1 Tim. ii. 1.

sentences, Cursed be he that translateth the bounds and doles of his neighbour.

C

Q. But since all Christians own the great and wonderful efficacy of prayer; let me know wherein the nature of prayer consists?

A. Prayer is the address of the soul to God, and the ascent of the mind toward heaven; which receives different names according to those various subjects the mind is employed upon in such addresses. When we bewail our particular sins with sorrow and full purposes of amendment, it is called confession; when we implore God's mercy, and desire any favour from him, petition; when for the averting any evil, supplication; when we express a greatful sense of benefits received, thanksgiving; when we acknowledge and adore the divine perfections, praise; when we beg any thing for others, it is styled intercession. So that in all these acts we have the great honour to be admitted into God's presence, and to treat with him about those things which chiefly concern our own happiness, or that of our neighbours.

Q. But since God knows all things, and being infinite in goodness is ready to supply us, how does it appear necessary to make such addresses to him?

A. Prayer is necessary, as it is one of the highest acts of religious worship, whereby we acknowledge God's infinite perfections, and own our entire dependence upon him; that he is the fountain of all goodness, and that we are nothing but weakness and imperfection. Besides, God hath established it as a means, whereby we are to obtain whatever we want in relation to our souls and bodies; we are to ask before it shall be given, we must seek before we shall find, we must knock before it will be opened unto us. And he hath promised the assistance

C

Injunct. Q. Eliz. sec. 18, 19. a Mat. vii. 7. Rom. viii. 26.

e

of his Holy Spirit to help us in the performance of our prayers; and hath appointed his Son to intercede by virtue of his merits for their acceptance. So that a man must be very atheistical, that forbears paying the great creator this homage that is due to him; or very careless of his salvation, that neglects such admirable means for the effecting it.

Q. What hath been the practice of the world in this particular?

A. The most barbarous nations, as they have owned the being of a God, so have they always expressed their respect and reverence of a Deity, in making addresses to him. And thus much was imported by their offering sacrifices, that God was the great sovereign of the universe, that all good things came from above, and that from his bounty alone they could expect a supply of their wants. In all ages good men have in this manner constantly exercised their devotion, and have exposed themselves to the utmost dangers and hazards, rather than neglect their duty in this kind; nay, the blessed Jesus thus testified his obedience and submission, his love and humility; he often went into the places of public worship, and frequently retired all alone, and spent whole nights in the exercise of prayer.

Q. What ought we to pray for?

A. In the first place, we ought to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness,' all those things that are necessary to our salvation: that God would be pleased to illuminate our understandings with the knowledge of divine truths that he would pardon our sins, strengthen our resolutions of better obedience, and assist us to overcome temptations, and by the help of his spirit, enable us to walk in his ways all the days of our lives; that as Heb. vii. 25. f Mat. vi. 33.

e

to this world, he would be pleased to supply us with such a share of the good things of it, as may be most agreeable to his will, and answer the ends of his universal providence, and may most conduce to our eternal welfare,

Q. What encouragement have we to beg the supply of our spiritual and temporal wants?

A. The infinite goodness of the divine nature, always ready to exert and communicate itself to capable subjects and that universal providence whereby God governs the world, are sufficient motives to prevail upon us to approach the throne of his majesty. But lest his greatness, and the sense of our own unworthiness, should make us afraid, and keep us at a distance, God hath been graciously pleased to excite us to the performance of this duty, by promises of success; that he will be nigh to all those that call upon him. That he is ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy to all that call upon him: That whatever we shall ask in prayer, believing, we shall receive.h

Q. Upon what conditions hath God promised to hear our prayers?

i

k

A. The great confidence of our being heard must be laid in asking according to his will, and in soliciting his favour upon such terms as he hath promised to grant it. Which implies, that when we beg pardon for our sins, we must resolve to forsake them; for the prayer of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: that we be ready to forgive those that trespass against us, because it is the merciful man shall obtain mercy:' that when we ask for any virtue, we must be sure diligently to seek and endeavour after it; that when we crave the help of divine grace, we must be ready to co-operate and concur

Psal. cxiv. 18. lxxxvi. 5. h Mat. xxi. 22. 1 John v. 14. iii. 22. * Prov. xxvii. 9. 1 Mat. v. 7.

« AnteriorContinuar »