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The Petition is:

“Grant ... that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved,"

Here we state:

1. That we have been guilty of evil deeds. Ps. xiv. 1-3; Eccles. vii. 20; Rom. iii. 9–12; Ezra, ix. 13; Ps. li. 1-4.

2. That for these evil deeds we do worthily deserve to be punished. Rom. vi. 23 ; i. 18–20; iii. 5, 6; Neh. ix. 33.

3. That from this deserved punishment we seek relief. Ps. cxliii. 1, 2; Mic. vii. 18–20; Ps. lvi. 13; 1. 15; Joel, ii. 12-17.

4. That any relief therefrom will be a merciful relief. Lam. iii. 22, 23; Tit. iii. 5; Ps. cxxx. 7.

5. That such relief is to be derived from the comfort of God's grace: i.e. from the comforting assurances of pardon and forgiveness, bestowed upon us out of the riches of His grace. Tit. iii. 7; Eph. ii. 4-9; 2 Tim. i. 9; Isa. xl. 1, 2; Matt. v. 4; Jer. xxxi. 13, 18-20; 2 Cor. xii. 9; i. 3, 4; Matt. xi. 28-30.

The Conclusion is:

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through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen."

As before.

Supplementary Questions.

On account of what do we here state that we deserve

punishment?

What evil deeds do we here refer to ?

What do we mean by "worthily" deserve?

What do we in consequence seek for?

What will be the character of any relief God may be

pleased to give?

Why merciful relief?

How can such relief be communicated?

In what does the comfort of God's grace consist?

No. XXVI.

Fifth Sunday in Leut.

A PRAYER FOR DIVINE GUIDANCE AND PROTECTION, IN ALL RESPECTS, AND AT ALL TIMES.

The Invocation is simply:

"We beseech thee, Almighty God,"

As often before.

The Petition is:

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We beseech thee

mercifully to look upon thy people; that by thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul,"

By this prayer we declare our need

1. Of government, i. e. direction what to do, and how to do it. Jer. x. 23; Prov. iii. 5, 6; 2 Thess. iii. 5; Ps. cxix. 5; Jer. vi. 16; Isa. xxx. 31; Acts, ix. 6; Ps. xxxvii. 23.

2. Of preservation, i.e. protection whilst doing it. Ps. xvi. 1; xli. 2; cxxi. 7; 2 Tim. iv. 18; Ps. xcvii. 10. That we need this

1. In all respects, both in body and soul. (See No.

23.)

2. At all times, both now and evermore.

Ps. xl. 11;

Isa. lviii. 11; Ps. xxxvi. 10; xlviii. 14; xxxvii. 25; Isa. xlix. 14-16; xlvi 3, 4.

And we are encouraged to pray for this

1. Because we are God's people. Ps. xcv. 7; Eph. ii. 13-19; Deut. ix. 27-29; John, xvii. 6-11; Ps. cvi. 4; Isa. xxxii. 18; Ps. cvi. 40-45.

2. Because he is a God of great goodness. Ps. cxxxvi. ; lii. 1; Neh. ix. 35; Ps. xxi. 3; xxxi. 19; Rom. xi. 22. The Conclusion is:

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through Jesus Christ our Lord.

As before.

Supplementary Questions.

Amen."

What are the two things we here ask God to do for us? What do we particularly ask for when we ask for govern

ment?

What when we ask for preservation?

When do we need these blessings?
And with reference to what?

Wherefore do we need these?

Why are we encouraged to ask these?

What attribute of God do we entreat of Him to exercise

in our behalf?

How is this attribute characterised or described?

Prove all these points by appropriate Scripture refer

ences.

No. XXVII.

Sunday before Easter.

A PRAYER FOR CONFORMITY TO CHRIST, IN HIS SUFFERINGS, AND IN HIS GLORY.

The Invocation is:

"Almighty and Everlasting God, who, of thy

tender love towards mankind hast sent thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility,"

Here, after invoking God as "Almighty and Everlasting," we state as follows:

1. That He sent His Son into the world. John, iv. 34; v. 30-36; vi. 38, 39; xvii. 3; Ps. xl. 7, 8; John, iii. 17; Gal. iv. 4; 1 John, iv. 10.

2. That this Son is our Saviour Jesus Christ. 1 John, iv. 14; John, iv. 42; Acts, v. 31; Tit. i. 3; 2 Pet. ii. 20.

3. That He was sent for these purposes,

(a) To take our flesh upon Him. John, i. 14; Heb. ii. 14; Rom. viii. 3; Phil. ii. 7; 1 Tim. iii. 16; Gal. iv. 4.

(b) To suffer death upon the cross.

Phil. ii. 8;

John, iii. 14, 15; 2 Cor. v. 21; Rom. v. 6-8 ; viii. 32; John, xix. 16-18, 30.

4. That the performance of this was an act of humility, yea great humility, on the part of Christ. Phil.ii. 8; 2 Cor. viii. 9.

5. That this display of humility on his part should lead to a like display of humility in us. Phil. ii. 5; 1 Pet. ii. 21; iv. 1; John, xiii. 15; Rom. viii. 9. 6. That all this God has done for us out of His tender love towards man. John, iii. 16; 1 John, iv. 9, 10. The Petition is:

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Mercifully grant that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; "

Herein are involved:

1. That Christ, God's Son, under all His troubles, was patient. Isa. liii. 7; 1 Pet. ii. 23.

2. That this patience we should seek to imitate. 1 Pet. ii. 21; iv. 1; Jam. i. 2-4; v. 10, 11.

3. That after this Son had died He rose again from the dead. 1 Cor. xv. 4, 20-22; Matt. xxviii. 1-9; Mark, xvi. 1-8.

4. That of that resurrection we desire to be made partakers. Phil. iii. 10-14, 20, 21; Rom. vi. 5; Heb. xii. 1, 2; 1 Thess. iv. 13-17.

And therefore for these two blessings we now earnestly pray.

The Conclusion is:

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through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen."

As before.

Supplementary Questions.

Who is here said to be the Son of God?
What is this Son of God said to be to us?
What do we mean by "Saviour?"

What has God sent this His Son to do?

Are these two points in any way connected?

What do we mean by "taking our flesh" upon Him?
What kind of death was the death of the cross?
Why does St. Paul use the word "even" when speaking
of it," even the death of the cross?"

What grace has Christ displayed by doing all this?
What influence should His example have on us?

What led God to this sending of His Son?

What other feature in Christ's character is also brought

before us here as requiring our imitation?

Wherein did that patience chiefly consist?

What happened to this Son of God after He had suffered death?

What do we mean by "resurrection ?"

What do we seek in connexion with Christ's resurrection? What do we mean by being "made partakers" of that resurrection?

How must we act in order to become so ?

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