6. For the good of the Church. This clause reacheth in whatsoever tendeth either to the honour of God, Christ's advancement, or his Peoples benefit. For God, and Christ, and his People, are so linked together, that if the Good of one be prayed for, to wit, the Church, the glory of God, and advancement of Christ must needs be included. For as Christ is in the Father, so the Saints are in Christ, John 17. 23. And he that toucheth the Saints, toucheth the Apple of God's Eye, Deut. 32. 10. Psal. 17. 8. Zach. 2. 8. And therefore pray for the Peace of Jerusalem, and you pray for all that is required of you, Psal. 122. 6. Psal. 51. 8. Isa. 62. 6, 7. For Jerusalem will never be in perfect peace, until she be in Heaven; and there is nothing that Christ doth more desire, than to have her there. That also is the place, that God through Christ hath given to her. He then that prayeth for the peace and good of Zion, or the Church, doth ask that in prayer which Christ hath purchased with his Blood; ⟨p. 25⟩and also, that which the Father hath given to him as the price thereof. Now he that prayeth for this, must pray for abundance of Grace for the Church, for help against all its temptations, that God would let nothing be too hard for it, and that all things might work together for its good; that God would keep them blameless and harmless, the Sons of God, to his glory, in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation. And this is the substance of Christ's own Prayer in the seventeenth of John. And all Paul's Prayers did run that way, as one of his Prayers do eminently show, in Ephes. 1. 16, to the 21. and Chap. 3. ver. 14, to the 19th. with Col. 1. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. And Phil. 1. 9, 10, 11. he saith, And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in all knowledge, and in all judgement; that ye may approve things that are excellent; that you may be sincere, and without offence until the day of Christ. Being filled with the fruits of Righteousness which are by Jesus ⟨p. 26⟩Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
6. For the good of the Church. This clause reacheth in whatsoever tendeth either to the honour of God, Christ's advancement, or his Peoples benefit. For God, and Christ, and his People, are so linked together, that if the Good of one be prayed for, to wit, the Church, the glory of God, and advancement of Christ must needs be included. For as Christ is in the Father, so the Saints are in Christ, John 17. 23. And he that toucheth the Saints, toucheth the Apple of God's Eye, Deut. 32. 10. Psal. 17. 8. Zach. 2. 8. And therefore pray for the Peace of Jerusalem, and you pray for all that is required of you, Psal. 122. 6. Psal. 51. 8. Isa. 62. 6, 7. For Jerusalem will never be in perfect peace, until she be in Heaven; and there is nothing that Christ doth more desire, than to have her there. That also is the place, that God through Christ hath given to her. He then that prayeth for the peace and good of Sion, or the Church, doth ask that in prayer which Christ hath purchased with his Blood; ⟨p. 25⟩and also, that which the Father hath given to him as the price thereof. Now he that prayeth for this, must pray for abundance of Grace for the Church, for help against all its temptations, that God would let nothing be too hard for it, and that all things might work together for its good; that God would keep them blameless and harmless, the Sons of God, to his glory, in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation. And this is the substance of Christ's own Prayer in the seventeenth of John. And all Paul's Prayers did run that way, as one of his Prayers do eminently shew, in Ephes. 1. 16, to the 21. and Chap. 3. ver. 14, to the 19th. with Col. 1. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. And Phil. 1. 9, 10, 11. he saith, And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in all knowledge, and in all judgement; that ye may approve things that are excellent; that you may be sincere, and without offence until the day of Christ. Being filled with the fruits of Righteousness which are by Jesus
