derstand this advantage of intercession. The prayer and offices of the holy ministers, are of great advantages for the interest of the people; but if they be ministered to by evil men, by vicious and scandalous ministers, this extraordinary advantage is lost, they are left to stand alone or to fall by their own crimes; so much as is the action of God, and so much as is the piety of the man that attends and prays in the holy place with the priest, so far he shall prevail, but no farther; and therefore the church hath taught her ministers to pray thus in their preparatory prayer to consecration; Quoniam me peccatorem inter te et eundem populum medium esse voluisti, licet in me boni operis testimonium non agnoscas, officium dispensationis creditae non recuses, nec per me indignum famulum tuum eorum salutis pereat pretium, pro quibus victima factus salutaris, dignatus es fieri redemptio. For we must know, that God hath not put the salvation of any man into the power of another. And although the church of Rome by calling the priest's actual intention simply necessary, and the sacraments also indispensably necessary, hath left it in the power of every curate to damn very many of his parish: yet it is otherwise with the accounts of truth, and the divine mercy; and therefore, he will never exact the sacraments of us by the measures and proportions of an evil priest, but by the piety of the communicant, by the prayers of Christ and the mercies of God. But although the greatest interest of salvation depends not upon this ministry; yet as by this we receive many advantages, if the minister be holy so if he be vicious, we

* Seeing, O Lord, thou hast chosen me, a sinner, to stand between thee and this people, although thou find not in me the testimony of a holy life, refuse not, I pray thee, my discharge of the dispensation intrusted to me; nor suffer through the sin of thine unworthy servant, that these thy people, for whom thou hast condescended to become an availing sacrifice, should perish from the way of salvation.

part

lose all that which could be conveyed to us by his of the holy ministration; every man and woman in the assembly prays and joins in the effect, and for the obtaining the blessing; but the more vain persons are assembled, the less benefits are received even by good men there present: and therefore much is the loss, if a wicked priest ministers; though the sum of affairs is not entirely turned upon his office or default, yet many advantages are. For we must not think, that the effect of the sacraments is indivisibly done at once, or by one ministry; but they operate by parts, and by moral operation, by the length of time, and whole order of piety, and holy ministries; every man is ounges Tou exu, a fellow-worker with God, in the work of his salvation; and as in our devotion, no one prayer of our own alone prevails upon God for grace and salvation, but all the devotions of our life are upon God's account for them; so is the blessing of God brought upon the people by all the parts of their religion, and by all the assistances of holy people, and by the ministries not of one, but of all God's ministers, and relies finally upon our own faith, and obedience, and the mercies of God in Jesus Christ; but yet for want of holy persons to minister, much diminution of blessing, and a loss of advantage is unavoidable; therefore if they have great necessities, they can best hope, that God will be moved to mercy on their behalf, if their necessities be recommended to God by persons of a great piety, of a holy calling, and by the most solemn offices.

Lastly, I promised to consider concerning the signs of having our prayers heard: concerning which, there is not much of particular observation; but if our prayers be according to the warrant of God's word, if we ask according to God's will things honest and profitable, we are to rely upon the promises; and we are sure that they are heard; and besides this,

we can have no sign but the thing signified; when we feel the effect, then we are assured God hath heard us; but till then we are to leave it with God, and not to ask a sign of that, for which he hath made us a promise. And yet Cassian hath named one sign, which if you give me leave I will name unto you. It is a sign we shall prevail in our prayers, when the Spirit of God moves us to pray, cum fiducia et quasi securitate impetrandi,* with a confidence and a holy security of receiving what we ask. But this is no otherwise a sign, but because it is a part of the duty; and trusting in God is an endearing him, and doubting is a dishonour to him; and he that doubts hath no faith; for all good prayers rely upon God's word, and we must judge of the effect by providence for he that asks what is not lawful, hath made an unholy prayer; if it be lawful and not profitable, we are then heard when God denies us; and if both these be in the prayer, he that doubts is a sinner, and then God will not hear him; but beyond this I know no confidence is warrantable; and if this be a sign of vailing, then all the prudent prayers of all holy men shall certainly be heard; and because that is certain, we need no further inquiry into signs.

any

pre

I sum up all in the words of God by the Prophet: Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if you can find a man; if there be that executeth judgment, that seeketh truth,† virum quaerentem fidem, a man that seeketh for faith; et propitius ero ei, and I will pardon it. God would pardon all Jerusalem for one good man's sake; there are such days and opportunities of mercy, when God at the prayer of one holy person will save a people: and Ruffinus spake a great thing, but it was hugely true: Quis dubitet

mundum stare precibus sanctorum? the world itself is established and kept from dissolution by the prayers of saints; and the prayers of saints shall hasten the day of judgment; and we cannot easily find two effects greater. But there are many other very great ones; for the prayers of holy men appease God's wrath, drive away temptations, and resist and overcome the devil: holy prayer procures the ministry and service of angels, it rescinds the decrees of God, it cures sicknesses and obtains pardon, it arrests the sun in its course, and stays the wheels of the chariot of the moon; it rules over all God's creatures, and opens and shuts the storehouses of rain; it unlocks the cabinet of the womb, and quenches the violence of fire, it stops the mouths of lions; and reconciles our sufferance and weak faculties with the violence of torment and sharpness of persecution; it pleases God and supplies all our needs. But prayer that can do thus much for us, can do nothing at all without holiness; for God heareth not sinners, but if any man be a worshipper of God and doth his will,

him he heareth.

SERMON VII.

OF GODLY FEAR, &c.

PART I.

HEB. Xii. PART OF THE 28TH AND 29TH VERSES.

Let us have Grace, whereby we may serve God with reverence and godly Fear. For our God is a consuming Fire.

EXOMEN TW xg, So our Testaments usually read it, from the authority of Theophylact; Let us have grace but some copies read it in the indicative mood, we have grace, by which we do serve; and it is something better consonant to the discourse of the Apostle. For having enumerated the great advantages which the gospel hath above those of the law, he makes an argument a majori, and answers a tacit objection. The law was delivered by angels, but the gospel by the Son of God: the law was delivered from Mount Sinai, the gospel from Mount Sion, from the heavenly Jerusalem: the law was given with terrours and noises, with amazements of the standers by, and Moses himself the minister did exceedingly quake and fear, and gave demonstration, how infinitely dangerous it was by breaking that law to provoke so mighty a God, who with his voice did shake the earth; but the gospel was given by a meek Prince, a gentle Sa