Next to praying for our selves, we should likewise be careful to intercede for others, because we are all fellow-members of one body; And the members should have the same care one of another. (1 Cor. 12.25)
These Intercessions are either General. Special. Particular.
- General. For the whole Catholick Church Militant here on earth, (Ps. 122.6) dispersed over the face of the whole world: (Eph. 6.18) That peace and mercy may be upon the Israel of God, that he would give his Gospel a free, (2 Thes. 3.1.2) and an effectual passage, prospering it where it is, and sending it where it is not; that it may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: That his delight may be in mount Sion: That he would grave her on the palmes of his hands, and let her walls be continually before him; (Isa. 49.16, 17) that her builders may make haste, and that he would cause her destroyers, and such as would lay her waste, to depart from her: That he would be merciful unto all his elect people, and blesse them, and cause his face to shine upon them; (Ps. 67.1, 2) that his way may be known upon earth, and his saving health among all Nations.
That he would enlarge the borders of Christs Kingdom,1 and adde daily to the Church such as shall be saved: Enlightening those that sit in darknesse, and in the shadow of death, and guiding their feet into the way of peace.
And here we may derive arguments from those many promises that are made in Scripture to this purpose that he would give unto Christ the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession. (Ps. 2.8)
That the mountain of the Lords house shall be established on the top of the mountains, (Isa. 2.2) and shall be exalted above the hills, and all Nations shall flow unto it.
That the whole earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the Sea. (Isa. 11.9)
That the worme Jacob shall thresh the mountains, (Isa. 41.14, 15) and make the hills as chaffe: Speaking of the Kingdom of Christ under he Gospel.
That all the ends of the earth should see the salvation of God. (Isa. 52.10)
That all the Kingdomes of the world should become the Kingdomes of the Lord, and of his Christ. (Rev. 11.15)
And to this purpose that he would afford the means that are requisit to this end; that he would informe the ignorant, reclaim the erroneous, encourage the backward, strengthen the weak, binde up the broken, succour the tempted, comfort the sorrowful, restore the sick, deliver the prisoners, relieve the needy, break every yoke of the oppressour, and hasten the coming of his Kingdome.
That he would sanctifie the several gifts distributed in the Church, (Eph. 4.11, 16) for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Ministery, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature, of the fulnesse of Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joyned together, and compacted by that which every joynt supplyeth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, may increase, and edifie it self in love.
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Special Intercession may be either Ordinary. Occasional.
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In Ordinary, or common we are to pray for the Nations uncalled, whether Jewes. Infidels.
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For Jewes, that God would perswade Sem to dwell in the tents of Japhet; (Gen. 9.27) that he would not forget his old loving kindnesse to his first-borne, the seed of Abraham his friend; that he would raise up the Tabernacle of David which is fallen, (Am. 9.11) and close up the breaches thereof: And make Jerusalem a praise upon the whole earth: That he would do good in his good pleasure unto Sion, (Ps. 51.18) and build up the walls of Jerusalem; that he would open their eyes to see him whom they have pierced;2 that the merit, and not the guilt of his blood may be upon them and their children.
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For the uncalled Gentiles whom he hath decreed to salvation, who are without the pale of the visible Church; that God would wisit them with the Day-spring from on high, send forth his everlasting Gospel amongst them, and bring in the fulnesse of the Gentiles;3 and make us all one sheepfold, under one shepherd according to those many promises which he hath made to this purpose.