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v. 7; these passages are clear, and establish the point.

2. That this Trinity is,—

(a) A glorious Trinity. Rev. iv. 9-11; vii. 12;
Ps. xxiv. 7-10; Jam. ii. 1; 2 Cor. iii. 8.
(b) An eternal Trinity. Rom. xvi. 26; Heb.

xiii. 8; ix. 14; Rev. i. 4-6.

3. That in the acknowledgment of this Trinity the confession of a true faith consists. Tit. i. 1; Jude, 3.

4. That in the power of the Divine Majesty there is, notwithstanding this, a Unity; and that as a Unity that Majesty is to be worshipped. Deut. vi. 4; Ps. lxxxiii. 18; 1 Cor. viii. 4; Isa. xliv. 6; 1 Kings,

viii. 60.

5. That

we,

God's servants, have had grace given us,— (a) To acknowledge this Trinity. Rom. x. 10; 2 Tim, ii. 25; Matt. x. 32; xvi. 16, 17; 1 Tim. vi. 13; 2 Tim. i. 8.

(b) To worship this Unity. 2 Kings, xix. 15; Matt. iv. 10; John, x. 30; Rev. xiii. 8; xix. 10; 1 Cor. viii. 4.

The Petition is (reaching to the end):

"We beseech thee, that thou wouldest keep us steadfast in this faith, and evermore defend us from all adversities; who livest and reignest one God, world without end. Amen."

Whereby we declare,

1. That in this true faith we require to be kept steadfast. Jude, 3; 2 Tim. i. 13; Rev. ii. 13, 25; 1 Cor. xvi. 13; Heb. x. 23; 1 Pet. v. 9; 2 Pet. iii. 17. 2. That from all adversities we need to be defended. Ps. lxxxix. 18; v. 11; John, xvii. 15; Ps. xciv.

16-18; xci.; cvii.

And so we ask these blessings in our prayer, at the hands of that Triune God to whom that prayer is addressed.

Note. The omission of the names of the Son and Spirit in the concluding part of this Collect is a mark of the object of the day, which is the contemplation of the Godhead as a great indivisible Unity, though there be a Trinity of Persons therein; as One in essence, though Threefold in operation.

Supplementary Questions.

What do we call ourselves in this Collect?

What do we say that God has given us grace to acknowledge?

What is here said respecting that Trinity of the Godhead which we have had grace to acknowledge?

What do we mean by "Trinity?"

What by "eternal ?"

What kind of faith is that in which this truth is received

and acknowledged?

But, though a Trinity, in what way is this Divine Majesty to be worshipped?

What do we mean by "Majesty ?"

How have we been enabled to make a confession of the true faith in the Trinity, and to worship this Unity? What do we mean by "worship?"

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What is necessary with reference to this faith?

From what do we need to be defended?

Who only is able to do this?

How is His support and keeping to be obtained?

No. XLIII.

First Sunday after Trinity.

A PRAYER FOR GOD'S GRACE TO HELP US TO
PLEASE HIM.

The Invocation is:

66

O God, the strength of all them that put their trust in thee;"

This Invocation implies two things:

1. That God is a God of strength. Numb. xxiii. 22; 1 Sam. xv. 29; Isa. xxvi. 4; Jer. 1. 34; Ps. lxv. 6 ; lxxxix. 13.

2. That this strength He exercises on behalf of those who put their trust in Him, but no others. Ps. xxviii. 8; xxxiv. 7, 15, 17-20; lii. 7; Isa. xxxvii. 26, 35; xl. 28-31; Eph. vi. 10; Heb. xi. 34; Ex. xiv. 13, 14.

The Petition is:

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Mercifully accept our prayers; and because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without thee, grant us the help of thy grace, that in keeping of thy commandments we may please thee, both in will and deed;"

Herein we declare,

1. That we can do no good thing without God's aid. John, xv. 5; 2 Cor. iii. 5; Rom. vii. 18, 19; Gal. v. 17; 1 Cor. xv. 10; Phil. ii. 13.

2. That this is because our mortal natures are weak. Rom. viii. 3; 1 Cor. ii. 3; Gal. iv. 13; Matt. xxvi. 41. 3. That, still, it is our duty to please God both in will and deed. Gal. v. 6; Matt. vii. 21; Jam. i. 22; Luke, vi. 46-49.

4. That to do this we must keep His commandments. John, xiv. 15; 1 John, ii. 3, 4; v. 3; Ps. cxix. 60, 115; Rev. xxii. 14.

Hence we here pray for the help of His grace, that we may be able to do this, and beseech Him "mercifully to accept our prayers." Heb. iv. 16; Neh. i. 4-11; 2 Cor. xii. 8, 9; Ps. cxxi. 1, 2.

The Conclusion is:

66

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

As before.

Supplementary Questions.

What is God here said to be?

How must we act to have the strength of God exercised

on our behalf?

What cannot we do without God?

Why is this?

What do we mean by "mortal?"

How is it our natures are so weak?

Have they always been so ?

In what way does God require that we seek to please Him?

How is this to be done?

What do we need in order to keep God's commandments

so as to please Him?

What do we ask Him mercifully to accept?

No. XLIV.

Second Sunday after Trinity.

A PRAYER FOR THE PROTECTION OF GOD'S PROVI

DENCE AND A PERPETUAL FEAR AND LOVE OF
HIS HOLY NAME.

The Invocation is:

66

O Lord, who never failest to help and govern them whom thou dost bring up in thy steadfast fear and love; "

Here we have the following points brought out:

1. That there are those whom God brings up in His steadfast fear and love: i. e. whom He trains up, and makes to be steadfast in His fear and in His love. 1 Kings, xix. 14-18; Rom. xi. 1-5; Nah. i. 7; 2 Tim. ii. 19; i. 7; Ps. xxii. 9, 10; xxxvii. 23-28; lxxi. 17, 18; cxi. 5-9.

2. That such persons He never fails

(a) To help. Heb. xiii. 5, 6; Isa. xlix. 13-16; 1 Sam. xii. 22; Ps. lxxvii. 7,8; lxxxix. 33–36. Gen. xxviii. 15; Prov. iii. 5, 6 Isa. 1. 10; Ps. lxxvii. 20; cvii. 7; Phil. iv. 6; Isa. xlvi. 3, 4.

(b) To govern.

The Petition, therefore, is:

66

Keep us, we beseech thee, under the protection of thy good providence, and make us to have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy Name;"

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