Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found;"

Herein the following statements may be seen:

1. That there is something which God has commanded. John, xiv. 15; 1 John, iii. 23; Ps. cxix. 4-6.

2. That this His people should love. 2 John, 6; Ps. cxix. 48; i. 1, 2; 2 Pet. ii. 21.

3. That there is also something which

God has promised. 1 Pet. i. 13; 2 Tim. iv. 8; Rev. ii. 10; 2 Pet. i. 4.

4. That this His people should desire. Heb. xiii. 13, 14; Phil. i. 23; Col. iii. 1, 2; Heb. vi. 11, 12.

Then further, in order as it were to urge them to this, it is said,―

1. That this world in which we now live is a world of changes. 1 Cor. vii. 29-31; 1 John, ii. 16, 17; Jam. iv. 13, 14; Hab. iii. 17; Ps. lv. 12-14; Job, i. and xlii.; Eccl. i. 4-11; iii. 1-8; xii. 1; Ps. ciii. 15, 16; Heb. xiii. 14; Ps. xlix. 10–14.

2. That these changes are sundry, and manifold. (IIlustrated in the lives of Joseph and David, and in the history of the Israelites.)

3. That, in consequence, true joys cannot be found in it, but must be sought elsewhere. Heb. xi. 24-26; Matt. vi. 19; Luke, xii. 16-21; 1 Tim. vi. 17. 4. That the source of true joys is in the commandments and promises of God; in loving the one and desiring the other. Ps. v. 11; xvi. 11; Hab. iii. 17, 18; Matt. vi. 20; 1 Tim. vi. 18, 19; Isa. xxxv. 10; Ps. cxix. 165.

5. That, therefore, on these our hearts must be surely fixed, so that amidst all the changes of earth such joys may be ours. Heb. vi. 18-20; Col. iii. 2; 2 Cor. vi. 10; Phil. iii. 1; iv. 4.

The Conclusion is:

66

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

As before.

Supplementary Questions.

What is the character given of men in this Collect?

How are their wills and affections described?

What is the "will?"

What do we mean by the " affections?"

Who alone is able to order these?

What do we mean by " order?"

What are the things commanded by God?

What "that which He has promised?"

What should be our feelings with respect to the things

commanded?

How should we shew that love?

What with respect to that promised?
How should we shew that desire?

Why should we love and desire these?

What is the character of the present world?

What do we mean by "sundry ?"

What by "manifold?"

Can true joys be found in the world?

Why not?

Where are they to be sought?

How are we to secure them?

No. XXXVIII.

Fifth Sunday after Easter.

A PRAYER FOR THE AID OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THINK AND ACT ARIGHT.

The Invocation is:

"O Lord, from whom all good things do

[merged small][ocr errors]

Here, after addressing God as "Lord," and so claiming Him as our Master, and acknowledging ourselves His servants, we also declare,—

That all good things come from Him. Jam. i. 17; 2 Pet. i. 3; 1 Tim. vi. 17; 1 Cor. xi. 12; Ps. cxlvi. 5-9; 1 Chron. xxix. 14; Ps. xxxvi. 7, 8; 1 Cor. xii. 4-6; 2 Cor. v. 18.

The Petition is:

66

Grant to us, thy humble servants, that by thy holy inspiration we may think those things that be good, and by thy merciful guiding may perform the same;

Here it is declared:

[ocr errors]

1. That we are God's humble servants.

Neh. i. 11.

1 Pet. v. 6;

2. That as such it is necessary that we should(a) Think good things. Gen. vi. 5; Mark, vii, 21-23. And,

(b) Perform good things. Ps. xiv. 1-3; Rom. iii. 10-19. Compared with 2 Cor. v. 17; x. 5; 2 Tim. ii. 19; Tit. ii. 14. Also Matt. vii. 21; Jam. i. 21, 22; Eph. ii. 10; 1 Pet. ii. 12.

3. That to this end we require

(a) God's holy inspiration in order to the one.
Joel, ii. 28; John, xiv. 26; Ps. xviii. 28;
Mark, xiii. 11; Neh. ii. 12; Ps. cxli. 3, 4;
Ezra, i. 1; Job, xxxii. 8.

(b) His merciful guiding in order to the other.
Ps. xxv. 5; cxliii. 10; Isa. xxx. 20, 21; Ps.
lxxiii. 23, 24; Ezra, viii. 21, 23, 31.

For these, therefore, we here offer our prayer. Prov. iii. 5, 6; Luke, xi. 18.

The Conclusion is:

66

'through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen."

As before.

Supplementary Questions.

Whence do we declare that all good things do come?
On what authority do we state this?

What do we here profess ourselves to be?

What is it we wish to think?

But is thinking sufficient?

What more is required?

What do we need to enable us to think good things?

What do we mean by " inspiration?"

What do we need in order to the performance of good

things?

How are these to be obtained?

Why are they required?

No. XXXIX.

Ascension Day.

A PRAYER FOR A HEAVENLY CONVERSATION.

The Invocation is:

"We beseech thee, Almighty God;"

And contains no further statement.

The Petition is (reaching to the end):

"Grant . . .. that like as we do believe thine only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens; so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with Him continually dwell, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen."

Here we state:

1. That Jesus Christ is God's only-begotten Son and our Lord. John, i. 14-18; 1 John, iv. 9; 1 Cor. viii. 6; Acts, ii. 36; John, xiii. 13; xx. 28.

2. That we believe this Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens. Mark, xvi. 19; Luke, xxiv. 50, 51; Acts, i. 9-11; ii. 33; vii. 55; Rom. viii. 34; Eph. i. 20; iv. 8.

3. That we desire to ascend thither also, and to dwell continually with Him there. Col. iii. 1; Phil. iii. 20, 21; Eph. ii. 6; John, xvii. 24; Heb. xiii. 14; xi. 13-16.

4. That the ascension we desire is not, however, a bodily ascension like His, but an ascension in heart and mind only. Col. iii. 2-4; Ps. lxxiii. 25.

« ElőzőTovább »