After which may be sung a Psalm, or the Te Deum said; then shall be read a chapter of the New Testament, and then the Prayer for the King and Magistrates. And after that, the sixty-seventh, or ninety-eighth, or some other Psalm, may be sung or said, or the Benedictus, or Magnificat. And the same order to be observed at the Evening Worship, if time allow it.[222]
Next after the psalm the minister shall (in the pulpit) first reverently, prudently, and fervently pray, according to the state and necessities of the church, and those especially that are present, and according to the subject that he is to preach on. And after prayer, he shall preach upon some text of holy Scripture, suiting his matter to the necessities of the hearers, and the manner of delivery to their quality and benefit. Always speaking from faith and holy experience in himself, with plainness and perspicuity, with reverence and gravity, with convincing evidence and authority, with prudence, caution, faithfulness, and impartiality, with tender love and melting compassion, with fervent zeal and persuading importunity, and with frequency and unwearied patience, waiting on God for the success. After sermon he shall pray for a blessing on the word of instruction and exhortation, which was delivered; and in his prayers (before or after sermon) ordinarily he shall pray for the conversion of heathens, Jews, and other infidels; the subversion of idolatry, infidelity, Mahometanism, heresy, papal tyranny and superstition, schism and profaneness, and for the free progress of the gospel, and the increase of faith and godliness, the honouring of God's name, the enlargement of the kingdom of Christ, and the obedience of his saints through the nations of the earth. And in special for these nations; for the king's Majesty, and the rest of the royal family; for the lords of his Majesty's council, the judges, and other magistrates of the land; for the pastors of the church, and all congregations committed to their care and government. Always taking heed that no mixtures of imprudent, disorderly expressions, of private discontent and passion, of unreverent, disobedient, seditious, or factious intimations, tending to corrupt, and not to edify, the people's minds, do turn either prayer or preaching into sin. And ordinarily in church communion, especially on the Lord's day, (which is purposely separated for the joyful commemoration of the blessed work of man's redemption,) a considerable proportion of the public worship must consist of thanksgiving and praises to God, especially for Jesus Christ, and his benefits; still leaving it to the minister's discretion to abbreviate some parts of worship, when he seeth it needful to be longer on some other.[223]
The Sermon and Prayer being ended, let the Minister dismiss the Congregation with a benediction, in these or the like words.
Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.[224]
The Lord bless you, and keep you: the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.[225]
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.[226] Amen.
Except there be a Communion in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper to be celebrated, or any further Worship to be performed, and then the Minister may delay the Benediction till the End.
And because, when there is leisure, the Prayers of the Church should be as full as the Rule and our Necessities require; let the following General Prayer be used, when the Minister findeth it convenient, instead of the Litany and Collects.
Here are also adjoined a Thanksgiving for Christ and his benefits, and a Hymn to be used at the discretion of the minister, either after sermon, or at the communion, or on other days.