Here is set forth: 1. That the providence of God is a good providence. Compare Gen. xlii. 36 with Gen. xlv. 26-28; 1. 20; Rom. viii. 28; Ps. cxlv. 9-16; Matt. vi. 25-30; x. 28-31; Ps. civ. 10-28. 2. That under that good providence we desire protection. Ps. xvii. 7, 8; xx. 6, 7; xci.; Isa. xxxii. 1, 2, 18. 3. That God's name is a holy name. Ps. cxi. 9, 10; xcix. 3; Isa. lvii. 15; Ezek. xxxvi. 20-22. 4. That that holy name should be both feared and loved. Rev. xv. 4; Job, xv. 4; Ps. v. 7; Mal. i. 6; Heb. xii. 28; Ps. v. 11; lxix. 36; cxix. 132; clxv. 20; Isa. lvi. 6; Matt. xxii. 37. 5. That our fear and love of that name should be perpetual. Job, vi. 14; 1 Pet. i. 17; 1 Kings, xviii. 12; Ps. xcvii. 10; Jude, 21; 1 John, iv. 16, 18. For which necessary things we here offer our prayer. James, i. 5; iv. 2. The Conclusion is: 66 through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." As before. Supplementary Questions. How is God here said to bring up certain persons? What do we mean by "bring up?" What is He said to do for such persons? Does He ever cease to do this? How is it possible for any to both love and fear God at the same time? What do we also say of the providence of God? What do we desire of that providence ? What do we say of God's Name? What feeling should we have towards that Name? What kind of fear and love of that Name should we have? Why so? What benefit will result to us therefrom? No. XLV. Third Sanday after Crinity. A PRAYER FOR DEFENCE AND COMFORT IN ALL DANGERS AND ADVERSITIES. The Invocation is simply; "O Lord," With no acknowledgment beyond what that term involves. The Petition is: "We beseech thee, mercifully to hear us; and grant that we, to whom thou hast given a hearty desire to pray, may, by thy mighty aid, be defended and comforted in all dangers and adversities :" In this is stated or implied: 1. That we have a hearty desire for prayer. Acts, vi. 4; Rom. x. 1; Ps. lxvi. 19, 20; Matt. xv. 7; Ps. xvii. 1; cxlv. 19. 2. That this hearty desire has been given to us by God. Zech. xii. 10; Jam. i. 17; Jer. xxxi. 9; 1 Cor. iv. 7. 3. That we are exposed to many dangers and adversities. Jam. i. 2; 1 Pet. iv. 12, 13; v. 8, 9; Ps. xxxiv. 19; lvii. 4-6. 4. That in the midst of these we need defence and comfort. Isa. xl. 1; 2 Cor. vii. 5-7; Ps. li. 12; 2 Thess. ii. 16, 17; John, xvii. 15. 5. That God, by His mighty aid, can supply this for us. Ps. cxlv. 19; 1. 15; xci. 14-16; 2 Cor. vii. 4 ; i. 3-7; 2 Chron. xxxii. 7, 8, 21-23. And hence our prayer that He would be pleased so to do. The Conclusion is: 66 through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." As before. Supplementary Questions. What do we here ask God mercifully to do? By whom has this been given ? What are we exposed to from which we need comfort and defence? Whence spring these dangers and adversities? Who is able to supply this comfort and defence? What attribute of God assures us of this? On what passages of Scripture are these assertions based? No. XLVI. Fourth Sunday after Trinity. A PRAYER FOR GOD'S MERCIFUL GUIDANCE THROUGH THE WORLD. The Invocation is: "O God, the protector of all that trust in thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy;" In the Invocation two things are declared of God: 1. That He protects all who trust in Him. Ps. xviii. 18; xxxvii. 39, 40; lvi. 3; Prov. xxx. 5; Isa. xl. 29-31. 2. That apart from Him there is neither— (a) Holiness. Isa. lxiv. 6; Rom. iii. 9-19; Ps. cxxx. 3; cxliii. 2; 1 John, i. 9, 10; 1 Cor. i. 30; vi. 11: nor (b) Strength. Hab. iii. 19; 2 Chron. xx. 12; 2 Cor. iii. 5; Heb. xi. 34; Isa. xxxv. 3; Ps. xxxix. 5; Matt. xxvi. 41. The Petition, therefore, is: 66 increase and multiply upon us thy mercy; that thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal:" Here we declare, 1. That the things through which we are now passing are temporal things. Heb. xiii. 14; 2 Cor. iv. 18; 1 Cor. vii. 31; Heb. i. 10-12; 1 John, ii. 17. 2. That when these are gone they will be followed by eternal things. 2 Cor. iv. 18; v. 1; 2 Pet. iii. 13; Heb. xi. 16, 40. 3. That an enjoyment of things eternal depends upon the manner in which we pass through things temporal. 2 Cor. v. 10; 1 Pet. i. 17; Rev. xx. 12; John, V. 29. 4. That to pass through the one so as to realise the other, we need God for our ruler and guide. Ps. xxxii. 8; xlviii. 14; Gen. xxviii. 15; Ex. xxxiii. 14 ; Ps. xxiii. 2, 3; cvii. 7; Isa. xliii. 2. 5. That, if God be pleased to act as such, it will be an increase and multiplication of His mercy towards us. Ps. xxxvi. 10; ciii. 10, 11; Lam. iii. 22, 23; Ex. xv. 13; Neh. ix. 19, 26-32. For this, therefore, we earnestly pray. The Conclusion is: 66 Grant this, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ's sake our Lord. Amen." Here we vary a little from the usual form, and state, 1. That the God to whom we pray is our heavenly Father. Gal. iv. 4; Rom. viii. 15; Luke, xi. 2, 13. 2. That Jesus Christ is our Lord. ii. 36; Rom. i. 3; 1 Cor. i. 2. John, xiii. 13; Acts, 3. That what we here ask of God our heavenly Father, we seek for the sake of this Jesus Christ our Lord. John, xiv. 6, 13; xvi. 24; Heb. vii. 25. Supplementary Questions. What is God called in the Invocation of this Collect? What do we mean by "Protector?" To whom is He a protector? What feelings should this produce on the part of those who enjoy such protection? Is there any strength apart from God? Any holiness? On what authority are these assertions made? What is the nature of the things through which we are now passing? What do we mean by "temporal?" By what class of things will these be followed? What do we mean by "eternal ?" On what does the enjoyment of eternal things depend? What do we require to enable us to pass through the one so as not to lose the other? If God be pleased to become these, what will it be towards us? By what title do we address God in the conclusion? |