Amighty God, by whom kings reign, and princes decree justice, who rulest in all the kingdoms of men, and givest them to whomsoever thou wilt, who by thy special providence hast set over us thy servant, Charles, our king; crown him with thy blessings, and satisfy him with thy goodness. Save him by thy right hand, and defend him against such as rise up against him; prolong his life in peace and righteousness; grant him the spirit of wisdom and counsel, the spirit of holiness, and the fear of the Lord, that he may know how to go in and out before this great people over whom thou hast set him. Let not thy law depart out of his mind, or mouth, but let him meditate in it day and night. Make him as an angel of God to discern between good and evil, that in his eyes a vile person may be contemned, but he may honour them that fear the Lord; that his eyes may be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with him, and they that are perfect in the way serve him. Remove the wicked from before him, that his throne may be established in righteousness; and grant that under him we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. And when he hath finished his course on earth, let him inherit a crown of righteousness, and reign with Christ for ever. Bless the queen mother, the illustrious prince, James, duke of York, and the rest of the royal family; endue them with thy Holy Spirit, enrich them with thy heavenly grace, and make them blessings in their generation. Endue the lords of his Majesty's council, and all the nobility, the judges, and all the magistrates of the land, with wisdom from above, that they may rule as in thy fear, and judge righteous judgment, and may take heed what they do, as judging not for man, but for the Lord, that justice may run down as water, and righteousness as a mighty stream. Let all his Majesty's subjects duly submit to him and obey him, not only for wrath, but for conscience' sake. Let all his kingdoms be the kingdoms of the Lord, and of his Son Christ, that God may dwell amongst us, and that it may be said of them, The Lord bless thee, O habitation of Justice, and mountain of Holiness: for thine, O Father, with the Son and Holy Ghost, is the kingdom, and power, and glory for ever.[227] Amen.
The General Prayer.
O most holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Three Persons and One God, our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, our Lord, our Governor and Father, hear us, and have mercy upon us, miserable sinners.
O Lord our Saviour, God and man! who, having assumed our nature, by thy sufferings, and death, and burial, wast made a ransom to take away the sins of the world; who being raised from the dead, ascended and glorified, art made head over all things to the church, which thou gatherest, justifiest, sanctifiest, rulest, and preservest, and which at thy coming thou wilt raise and judge to endless glory; we beseech thee to hear us, miserable sinners: make sure to us our calling and election, our unfeigned faith and repentance; that being justified, and made the sons of God, we may have peace with him, as our reconciled God and Father.[228]
Let thy Holy spirit sanctify us, and dwell in us, and cause us to deny ourselves, and to give up ourselves entirely to thee, as being not our own, but thine.
As the world was created for thy glory, let thy name be glorified throughout the world; let self-love, and pride, and vain-glory be destroyed; cause us to love thee, fear thee, and trust in thee with all our hearts, and to live to thee.[229]
Let all the earth subject themselves to thee, their King. Let the kingdoms of the world become the kingdoms of the Lord, and of his Christ. Let the atheists, idolaters, Mahometans, Jews, and other infidels, and ungodly people, be converted. Send forth meet labourers into the harvest, and let the gospel be preached throughout all the world. Preserve and bless them in thy work. Sustain in patience, and seasonably deliver, the churches that are oppressed by idolaters, infidels, Mahometans, or other enemies, or by the Roman papal usurpations.[230]
Unite all christians in Jesus Christ, the true and only universal Head, in the true christian and catholic faith and love; cast out heresies and corruptions, heal divisions, let the strong receive the weak, and bear their infirmities; restrain the spirit of pride and cruelty, and let nothing be done in strife or vain-glory.[231]
Keep us from atheism, idolatry, and rebellion against thee; from infidelity, ungodliness, and sensuality; from security, presumption, and despair. Let us delight to please thee, and let thy word be the rule of our faith and lives; let us love it, and understand it, and meditate in it day and night.[232]
Let us not corrupt or neglect thy worship; nor take thy holy name in vain. Keep us from blasphemy, perjury, profane swearing, lying, contempt of thy ordinances, and from false, unworthy, and unreverent thoughts and speeches of God, or holy things; and from the neglect and profanation of thy holy day.[233]