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For Whose sake do we ask these of our Father?

Have we reason to believe that He will grant them?

No. XLVII.

Fifths andag after Trinity.

A PRAYER FOR PEACE IN THE WORLD, IN ORDER TO PEACE IN THE CHURCH.

The Invocation is:

“O Lord,”—

Simply, as before.

The Petition is:

...

“Grant . . . we beseech thee, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that thy Church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness ;"

In this Petition the following points are involved: 1. That to serve God in all godly quietness is the duty and desire of His Church. 1 Thess. iv. 11; 2 Thess. iii. 6-12; 1 Tim. ii. 2 ; Tit. iii. 1, 2; Isa. xxxii. 18; 1 Pet. iii. 4; Matt. v. 9; Rom. xii. 18, 21; 2 Cor. vi. 14–18; Jam. iii. 17; Eph. v. 11.

2. That such a quiet godly service is intended to be,

and will be, a joyful service. 2 Cor. vi. 10; 1 Pet. i. 6-8; Isa. xxxv. 9, 10; lxi. 10; Ps. xxxiii. 1, 21. 3. That this service cannot be rendered unless there is peace in the world. Matt. xxiv. 6-10; Luke, i. 74, 75; Acts, viii. 1–3; ix. 31; 1 Kings, v. 3, 4. 4. That to have peace in the world the course of the world must be ordered in a peaceable way by God, who is its Governor, and under whose governance

all things are. 2 Chron. xvii. 10; xvi. 9; Ps. xlvi. 9; lxv. 5-8; lxxii. 7; Prov. xvi. 7; Isa. ii. 4; xxvi. 12; xxxii. 14-18; lxvi. 12.

Hence the prayer which we here earnestly put forth.

The Conclusion is:

66

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

As before.

Supplementary Questions.

How does the Church of God here desire to be able to

serve God?

What do we mean by "godly quietness ?"

What kind of service should such a service be?

Is such the opinion of the world as to this service?
But what do you mean by the "Church of God?"

Of whom does this Church consist?

What must there be in the world in order to this service?

Why do we say "this world?"

What do we mean by "the course" of this world?

May it include more than men's acts and dealings?

In what way must the course of this world be ordered? Who only is able to do this?

What is God here said to be with respect to it?

By what right does God exercise authority over this world?

In what way will He order its movements with reference to His people who are in it?

R

No. XLVIII.

Sirth Sunday after Crinity.

A PRAYER FOR THE OBTAINING OF THE

PROMISES OF GOD.

The Invocation is:

66

"O God, who hast prepared for them that love thee, such good things as pass man's understanding;"

In this Invocation we state:

1. That there are good things prepared for them that love God. John, xiv. 2; 2 Cor. iv. 15, 16; Matt.

xxv. 34; Rev. ii. 10; 2 Tim. iv. 8; Ps. xxxi. 19. 2. That these good things pass man's understanding. 1 Cor. ii. 9; Rom. viii. 17; Eph. iii. 20; 2 Cor. ix. 15.

3. That it is God Himself by whom these things have been prepared. Matt. xxv. 34; Ps. xxxi. 19. The Petition is:

"Pour into our hearts such love towards thee, that we, loving thee above all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire;"

Here we have declared or involved:

1. That those good things which pass man's understanding, do also exceed all that we can desire. Matt. v. 12; Eph. ii. 7; Ps. xxxvi. 7, 8; xvii. 15; 1 John, iii. 2, 3.

2. That these things are promised to us as well as prepared for us. Heb. iv. 1; 2 Cor. i. 20; Jam. ii. 5 ; Heb. vi. 12-19; 2 Pet. i. 4; Heb. x. 23.

3. That to obtain these promises we must love God above all things. Matt. x. 37, 38; xxii. 37; Luke,

xviii. 18-24; 2 Tim. iv. 10; 1 John, ii. 15–17; Ps. lxxiii. 25.

4. That, to be able to do this, He himself must pour the love of Himself into our hearts. Deut. xxx. 6; 2 Thess. iii. 5; Rom. v. 5; 1 John, iv. 19.

Which being done, our object will then be attained; and so for this we put forth our prayer.

The Conclusion is:

66

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

As before.

Supplementary Questions.

For whom are certain things here said to be prepared? What kind of things are they said to be?

How are they described?

Refer to passages of Sacred Scripture illustrating these statements.

What effect should the knowledge of this have on our minds? Phil. iii. 13, 14; 2 Tim. i. 12; ii. 10-14. What else is said with respect to these things?

What is the character given to God's promises by St. Peter? 2 Pet. i. 4.

Through Whom are all the promises given? Cor. i. 20.

What must we do to obtain these promised good things? How is God to be loved?

What is necessary in order to this?

No. XLIX.

Seventh Sunday after Crinity.

A PRAYER FOR GOD TO BEGIN AND CARRY ON A

WORK OF GRACE IN OUR SOULS.

The Invocation is:

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'Lord of all power and might, who art the author and giver of all good things; "

Here we state, in reference to the Being we address, that He is,

1. Lord of all power and might. Ps. lxxii. 11; 2 Chron. xx. 6; Ps. cvi. 8; Isa. xl. 29; Dan. iv. 35; Isa. xxvi. 4.

2. Of all good things, (a) Author.

2 Cor. v. 18; 1 Chron. xxix. 14; Ps. lxv. 9-13; Rom. xi. 36; Acts, xiv. 15. (b) Giver. Jam. i. 17; Ps. lxxxiv. 11; ciii. 5 ; Matt. vii. 11; Ps. cxlv. 9; Acts, xiv. 17.

And so we are led to pray as follows in

The Petition, viz. :

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Graft in our hearts the love of thy Name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of thy great mercy keep us in the

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In this are contained the following:

1. That the love of God's Name should be present in all our hearts. Deut. vi. 5; Ps. v. 11; xxxi. 23.

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