behold the glory that shall be revealed; and, being filled with the Holy Ghost, may learn to love and bless our persecutors by the example of thy first Martyr, Saint Stephen, who prayed for his murderers to thee, O blessed Jesus, who standest at the right hand of God to succour all those that suffer for thee, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen."

In the first part of this extended petition is set forth or implied:

1. That bearing testimony to the truth of God will

lead to sufferings here. John, xv. 19; 2 Tim. iii. 12; Ps. xxxviii. 20; Rev. vi. 9-11; vii. 14; xii. 11; Acts, v. 40, 41.

2. That for those who suffer for this cause there is a

glory afterwards to be revealed. Rom. viii. 18; 2 Cor. iv. 16-18; Rev. ii. 10; 1 Peter, v. 4; iv. 12-14.

3. That to support us under these sufferings this glory

must be stedfastly beheld or contemplated. 2 Cor. iv. 17, 18; Heb. xii. 1, 2; Phil. iii. 13, 14; 2 Tim. ii. 12; Acts, xx. 24.

4. That this is to be by looking up to Heaven with an

eye of faith. 2 Cor. v. 7; 2 Tim. i. 12; Heb. xi. 1; vi. 12; Acts, vii. 55; Heb. xii. 2; 2 Cor. iv. 8-14. In the second part of the petition it is further stated; 1. That those who cause our sufferings, i.e. our persecutors, should be loved and blessed. Matt. v. 43-47; Luke, xxiii. 24; 1 Cor. iv. 10-13; Rom. xii. 18-21.

2. That to be able to do this we must be filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts, vi. 5; vii. 55.

3. That St. Stephen, the first martyr who died for the testimony of Christ's truth, did so; praying for his murderers to the blessed Jesus our Lord, and therein setting an example we should strive to follow. Acts, vii. 60; 1 Cor. xi. 1.

4. That this same Jesus is still standing at the right hand of God. Acts, vii. 55; ii. 33.

5. That he is there to succour all who suffer for him.

Heb. ii. 14-18; 1 Peter, iii. 12, 13; Heb. xiii. 6; 2 Thess. i. 6-10.

Gal.

6. That, further, he is our Mediator and Advocate with the Father, against whom we have sinned. iii. 19, 20; 1 Tim. ii. 5; 1 John, ii. 1; Rom. viii. 34; Heb. vii. 25.

Supplementary Questions.

What may we consider as the cause which led to the death of that Stephen to whom this Collect refers?

Was his a special case, or may others expect to incur suffering for the like cause?

What is there in store for all who so suffer?

What use should they make of this truth when enduring such sufferings?

How is this coming glory to be beheld?

What are those persons called who cause others to suffer for the truth's sake?

What feeling should we cultivate towards them?

What do we require to enable us to do this?

Have we any examples to encourage us herein ?
How did St. Stephen act?
To whom did he pray?

Where did he see Jesus?

Why is Christ standing at the right hand of God?

What is Jesus further said to be?

What do these words signify?

Why do we need such an Advocate and Mediator?

No. VII.

Saint John the Evangelist's Day.

A PRAYER THAT THE CHURCH OF GOD MAY ENJOY, AND WALK IN, THE LIGHT OF HIS TRUTH.

The Invocation is simply:

"Merciful Lord,"

Thus containing no special acknowledgments as motives leading to prayer.

The Petition is:

we beseech thee to cast thy bright beams of light upon thy Church, that it, being enlightened by the doctrine of thy blessed Apostle and Evangelist Saint John, may so walk in the light of thy truth, that it may at length attain to the light of everlasting life,"

In the words of this petition are involved the following truths:

1. That there is a life everlasting set before God's Church. John, iii. 16; v. 29; vi. 54; xi. 25, 26; 1 Cor. xv. 42-54.

2. That this life everlasting is a state of light. Rev. xxi. 2, 10, 22-27; 2 Cor. v. 1-6; 1 Tim. vi. 16; Isa. lx. 19.

3. That the attainment of this light is the end at which the

everlasting life and Church aims. Phil. iii. 14; 1 Thess. iv. 13-18; Ps. xliii. 3.

4. That to accomplish this end it must walk in the light of God's truth now. Eph. v. 8-16; Ps. xxv. 3, 4; 1 John, i. 5-7; Isa. lx. 1; John, xii. 35.

5. That this light of God's truth proceeds from the doctrines of God's blessed apostles and evangelists, of whom St. John is one. John, xxi. 24; xx. 31; Ps. cxix. 105; Prov. vi. 23; Ps. cxix. 130; 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17; Rom. xv. 4; 2 Cor. iv. 4.

Hence by his doctrines we pray that the Church may be enlightened, so that this end may be eventually attained.

The Conclusion is:

66

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen."

The simplest as well as the most general form of conclusion used in the Collects, and needing no further remark.

Supplementary Questions.

What is the end set before the Church of God as that for which it must strive?

What is the state of that life everlasting which is so set before the Church?

How must the Church of God walk now in order to attain unto this light of everlasting life in the end?

Whence does the light of God's truth proceed and flow? What is the character here given of that St. John to whom this Collect refers?

Establish these points by appropriate Scripture refer

ences.

Note. The writer has not considered it necessary to insert such questions as these,- "What do we mean by 'beams,'' Church,' ' enlightened' ?" and so on: supposing that what has been said on that subject in Part I., p. 25, will be sufficient to produce such questions from the Teachers. The hint is, however, given here, lest that point should be forgotten.

No. VIII.

The Juuarents' Day.

A PRAYER FOR GRACE TO GLORIFY GOD'S NAME BY

AN INNOCENT LIFE AND A CONSTANT FAITH.

The Invocation is:

66

'O Almighty God, who out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast ordained strength, and madest infants to glorify thee by their deaths,"

Here God is invoked as "almighty:" and we state as motives for this prayer:

1. That out of the mouths of babes and sucklings strength has been ordained. Ps. viii. 1, 2; Matt. xxi. 15, 16; 1 Sam. ii. 18, 19.

2. That infants have glorified God by their deaths. Matt. ii. 16-18; 1 Peter, iv. 12-14; 2 Thess. i. 4-10; 2 Kings, iv. 18-37; John, ix. 1-3.

3. That this in each case has been brought about by God himself. Ps. viii. 2; Amos, iii. 6.

The Petition is:

66

mortify and kill all vices in us, and so strengthen us by thy grace, that by the innocency of our lives, and constancy of our faith even unto death, we may glorify thy holy Name,"

Here we acknowledge:

1. That God's Name is a holy Name. Ps. cxi. 9; Deut. xxviii. 58; Lev. xxii. 2; 1 Chron. xvi. 10; Isa. lvii. 15.