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For what purposes was He thus manifested?

Have these purposes yet been accomplished?

What are the works of the Devil?

How did Christ destroy them?

How does Christ make men sons of God and heirs of

eternal life?

What hope is it we here say we have?

What effect should the possession of this hope produce

in us?

Why should all who have this hope purify themselves? After whose example should they do so?

How will Christ appear again?

What will then follow?

Who will be made like unto Him?

Where will this be?

What kind of a kingdom is this?

What is Christ now doing in His kingdom?

Is He alone in this?

With Whom is He therein united?

Are these three distinct Gods?

How long will this union subsist?

No. XVIII.

Septuagesima Sunday.

A PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE FROM MERITED

PUNISHMENTS.

The Invocation is:

"O Lord,"

Simply, and contains no further acknowledgment.

The Petition is:

"We beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy people; that we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy Name,"

In this Petition we state:

1. That we are the people of God. Ps. c. 3; xcv. 7; 1 Pet. ii. 9, 10; Tit. ii. 14; Eph. ii. 11-13; Rom. ix. 24-26.

2. That we, His people, are being punished, i.e. are undergoing, or are in a state of, punishment. Gen. iii. 16-19; Rom. viii. 22; Isa. xxvi. 21; Ps. cvii. 17; xxxix. 10, 11; Rom. v. 12; Ps. xc. 15. 3. That this is justly done, and is because of our offences. Neh. ix. 33; Ezra, ix. 13; Dan. ix. 5-7; Ps. cvi. 6; ciii. 10.

This however, leads us to pray,—

1. That He would favourably hear us.
2; Judg. xvi. 28-30; Job, xxxiii. 26;
6-13; Dan. ix. 19-21.

2. That He would mercifully deliver us.

Ps. vi. 2; lxv.

1 Kings, iii.

Lam. iii. 22

26; Ps. xxxiii. 16-19; xxxiv. 15, 17, 22; xxxii.

6, 7; cxlv. 18-20; 1. 15.

And we support our prayer, by declaring that such a hearing and deliverance would be,

1. An act of goodness on the part of God.

Tit. iii. 5;

Ps. lxxiii. 1; li. 18; cxxxvi. 1; Rom. xi. 6 ; Eph. ii. 8, 9; Dan. ix. 9; Ps. cxxx. 3; cvii. 8, 15, 21. 2. That it would be to the glory of His own Name. 1 Sam. xii. 22; Isa. xlviii. 11; Jer. xiv. 7; Exod. xxxii. 11-14; Numb. xiv. 11-19; Dan. ix. 16-19.

The Conclusion is:

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through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy

M

Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen."

On which Conclusion see the preceding Collect.

Supplementary Questions.

From whom does this prayer professedly proceed?

In what condition does this Collect state that we, God's

people, are?

Wherefore is this punishment inflicted?

Have we any reason to complain of it?

How have we offended God?

What, however, does this lead us to pray for?

What besides a favourable hearing?

What do we plead that such a favourable hearing, and merciful deliverance, would be to us on God's part?

And to what would it also tend?

Is God a God of goodness?

Is He jealous for the glory of His name?

Produce Scripture illustrations and proofs of these various points.

No. XIX.

Sexagesima Sunday.

A PRAYER FOR DEFENCE AGAINST ALL ADVERSITY.

The Invocation is

"O Lord God, who seest that we put not our trust in anything that we do,"

Here, addressing God as "Lord," we declare:

1. That we put not our trust in anything that we do. Isa. lxiv. 6; Matt. xxv. 37-39; Rom. vii. 18; v. 1; Tit. iii. 5; Eph. ii. 4-9; 2 Cor. i. 9, 10.

2. That this renunciation of self God is aware of. Ps. cxxxix. 1-4; Jer. xvii. 10; 1 Chron. xxviii. 9; 1 Kings, viii. 39; Gal. ii. 20; John, ii. 24, 25; Prov. xv. 11; Heb. iv. 13; John, xxi. 17; Ps. xxxiii. 13-15.

The Petition is:

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Mercifully grant that by thy power we may be defended against all adversity,”

Here we shew:

1. That we are exposed to adversity of various kinds. Ps. xviii. 4, 5; xxii. 11-16; lvii. 4-6; lix. 2, 3; Rom. xv. 25-27; John, xv. 19; xvi. 2, 33; Acts, xiv. 22; 1 Cor. iv. 10-13; Acts, xi. 27-30.

2. That from these we need a defence. 2 Chron. xx. 12; Jer. x. 23; 2 Cor. iv. 7.

3. That the only secure defence is the power of our God. Ps. lxxxix. 18; lx. 11, 12; lxii. 1, 2; cxxvii. 1; 2 Chron. xx. 6; Acts, xxvi. 22; Rom. viii. 31; Eph. vi. 10.

By which, therefore, we pray that we may be defended. The Conclusion is:

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through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

As before.

Supplementary Questions.

What do we declare in this Invocation as to the spirit of

our hearts?

Is this a proper spirit?

By Whom is this seen and known?

What does the language of our prayer imply that we are

exposed to?

What do we therefore need?

Whose power alone is able to defend us against these adversities?

By what Scriptures are these statements supported?

No. XX.

Quinquagesima Sundaq.

A PRAYER FOR THE MOST EXCELLENT GIFT OF

CHARITY OR LOVE.

The Invocation is:

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"O Lord, who hast taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth,"

Here invoking God as "Lord," we state as a foundation for our prayer;

1. That all we do is worthless unless it proceeds from charity, i.e. love, as the leading principle in our hearts. 1 Cor. xiii. 1-3; Ps. lxvi. 18; Matt. xv. 8;

1 John, iii. 18; 2 Kings, x. 28-31; Jer. xlviii. 10; 1 Tim. i. 5; Rom. xiii. 10.

2. That this we know because God Himself has so taught us. Matt. xxii. 37-40; Matt. vi. 1–5; 1 John, iv. 20; Rom. xii. 9; Eph. v. 1, 2.

The Petition, therefore, is:

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Send thy Holy Ghost, and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity, the

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