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whofe various Combinations arise Storms and Tempefts, fruitful or barren Seafons, fickly or healthful Years. Both these Causes, I fay (the free as well as the neceffary Agents of this World), thefe invifible Minifters of GOD fo difpofe, and direct, and order, as that they fhall produce fuch Events as GOD fees fitteft for Mankind, whether it be by way of Judgment, as a Punishment for their Sins, or by way of Mercy, as a Teftimony of GOD's Acceptance of them; and all this, too, comes to pass in a natural Way, that is, in the common and ufual Method of God's Providence, in the Government of the World: But then I add further, Whenever there happens a juft Occafion for GOD to exert his extraor dinary Power above or against the Courfe of Nature, he will not fail to do that likewife; and abundance of Inftances of that in his Go vernment of the World he hath given us, and, for any thing I know, doth yet give us.

Thefe Things confidered, we have no Reason to imagine, that, becaufe Things are commonly difpenfed to us by the Miniftry of Second Caufes, of which we can give fome natural Account, that therefore God had no Hand in bringing fuch Things to pafs in the World, but that they come fortuitoufly or neceffarily, and cannot be hindered or forwarded by the Prayers and Endeavours of Mankind. No, certainly; tho' the Effect, whatsoever it was, was produced imme

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immediately by Second Caufes, yet it was GOD, that, by the Miniftry of His Providence, laid the Train of these Caufes, and fo ordered and managed them, as that righteous and good Ends fhould be ferved by the Effects that they produced; fo that, as our bleffed, Saviour hath told us, not fo much as a Sparrow doth fall to the Ground, but that it may be truly faid, it is by the Will of our Heavenly Father. Every Event that comes upon us is from him; and, if it be beneficial to us, it is, and ought to be accounted, a Bleffing of His, let it come what way it will, whether by feeming Chance, or our own Induftry, or the Help of Friends.

On the other Side, whatever comes cross to us, His Hand is even in that alfo; that is, fo far as to fuffer it to fall upon us as a Punishment for our Sins, and a Means to awaken us to our Duty. From whence it follows, that it is fo far from being needlefs and impertinent to pray unto God for the Things of this prefent Life, as the Objection would conclude, that, on the contrary, it is abfolutely neceffary, in order to our Well-being; for, Gop being the fole Governor of the World, and the abfolute Difpofer of all Events, however they be adminiftered by Second Caufes, it would be abfurd not to depend upon Him, and to pray to Him continually for every good Thing we want or defire, or for the Removal every evil Thing that lies upon us.

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Thus have I gone thro' all the Objections that are made against Prayer, and, I hope, I have given fuch full Answers to them, that all of you will join with me in this Conclufion; namely, That, notwithstanding any thing that is urged in any of them, we not only may, but we ought to adhere to these Rules and Precepts, which are so often pressed upon us by Chrift and his Apoftles; that is to fay, that we fhould always pray, and not faint, that we should afk that we may receive, that we should seek that we may find, that we should knock that it may be opened unto us, that we should pray without ceafing, pray continually, that we should every-where lift up holy Hands, and watch unto Prayer with all Perfeverance; and lastly, that we should be careful for nothing; but in every thing, by Prayer and Supplication, with Thanksgiving, ftill make our Requefts known unto God. Sure I am, all those that have ever seriously and heartily, for any competent time, applied themselves to this Practice, will bear Teftimony, that these Things are not in vain, but that they produce real Effects; that, befides the Comfort and Satisfaction that is reaped by these Exercifes, and which is inexpreffibly greater than any Enjoyment of this World can afford us, there is a real Bleffing that does attend them, and that all good Mens Prayers are answered effectually, if not always in the

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particular Manner they pray for, yet in Mercies, and Bleffings, and Benefits, that are much more useful for them, and more befitting their Circumftances. Nay, I doubt not to affirm, that it is as much by our Prayers, as by any other Endeavour, that not only particular Perfons and Families, but alfo Cities, and States, and Kingdoms, are preserved and fupported.

And fo much for this Argument. Confider what you have heard, and the LORD give you Understanding in all Things!

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SERMON VII.

Í TIM. II. I, 2.

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, Supplications, Prayers, Interceffions, and Giving of Thanks, be made for all Men; for Kings, and for all that are in Authority.

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HE Defign of this Epiftle is, to give Inftructions to Timothy, how he ought to execute the Epifcopal Office, which was committed to him in the Church of Ephefus: And the first Injunction that is given him about that Matter, is, that he should order publick Supplications, and Prayers, and Interceffions, and Thanksgivings, to be made for all Men; for Kings, and all that are in Authority : I fay, that he fhould order thefe Things publickly to be done; for that these Words are to be expounded of the publick Devotions

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