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This prayer implies,

1. That to be given to all good works, and that continually, is the duty of the people of God. Tit. iii. 8; Col. i. 10; 1 Thess. iv. 1; John, xv. 1-8, 16; Jam. ii. 14-17; i. 18-27; Eph. ii. 10; Gal. vi. 9, 10; 1 Cor. xv. 58; xiii. 1–3; x. 31; Phil. iv. 8, 9; Gal. v. 22, 23; Luke, xvii. 10; Heb. xi. 6; Rev. xiv. 13; Matt. xxi. 33-41.

2. That to this end they need the grace of God,—

(a) To prevent, i.e. go before them and prepare
their minds. Acts, xvi. 14; Luke, xxiv. 45;
Acts, x. 44,45; Eph. i. 17, 18; John, vi. 44; 1 Cor.
xii. 3; Acts, ii. 37; Zech. iv. 6.
(b) To follow after them and assist. 1 Cor. xv.
10; iii. 5-7; 2 Cor. xii. 9; Gal. ii. 20; Phil.
iv. 13; Deut. xxxiii. 25; Isa. xl. 29-31; Eph.
ii. 9; Rom. iii. 27; xi. 6.

3. That when this grace does so prevent and follow us, we shall be given to do these good works which are required. Cant. i. 4; Ps. cx. 3; Acts, ix. 6; Gal. iv. 15; 2 Cor. viii. 11; Phil. iv. 10, 16–18; ii. 12, 13.

We therefore make this gift of God's grace the subject of our prayer.

The Conclusion is:

66

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

As before.

Supplementary Questions.

To what does this prayer imply that we ought to be continually given?

What only are considered as "good works" in God's sight?

Why ought we to be continually given to good works? Are good works meritorious, i. e. do we deserve anything

for doing them?

T

Why, then, need we be so anxious about them?

What do we require to make us to be given to such good

works?

What do we mean by the "grace of God" here ?

What do we mean by "prevent?" (See Ps. xxi. 3, & 1 Thess. iv. 15, for meaning of this word "prevent" as used in the Sacred Scriptures.)

Does the word express the same idea now?

What is its present signification?

Will this grace be sufficient aid for the work required of us?

If all we do is by the help of God's grace, what feelings are thereby excluded from our minds?

No. LX.

Eighteenth Sunday after Crinity.

A PRAYER FOR GRACE TO OVERCOME SIN, AND
WALK HOLILY IN GOD'S WAYS.

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“We beseech thee, grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil: and with pure hearts and minds to follow thee, the only God;"

Here we have the following truths involved :—

John, xvii. 3; 1 Cor. viii.
Jude, 4; 1 Kings, xviii.

1. That God is the only God. 4-6; 1 Tim. vi. 15, 16; 36-39; Isa. xliv. 6; xlvi. 9; Josh. xxiv. 23, 24; Eph. iv. 5, 6.

2. That to follow this only God is the duty of His people. Ex. xx. 2-6; Matt. iv. 10; xxii. 37; Ps. xvi. 4.

3. That He is to be followed with pure hearts and minds. Isa. i. 10-17; Tit. ii. 14; Heb. x. 22; Ps. lxvi. 18, 19; Heb. i. 3; ix. 12-14; 1 John, i. 7; Acts, xv. 9; 1 Pet. i. 22; Matt. xxiii. 27.

4. That in doing this they are hindered by the tempta

tions of

(a) The world. Matt. xix. 21, 22; John, xv. 19;
Matt. xiii. 22; Gal. i. 4; 1 John, v. 19; 2 Tim.
iv. 10. (Demas.)

(b) The flesh. Gal. v. 17; Rom. vi. 12;
12, 13; Gal. vi. 8; Ps. lxxviii. 18, 31.
Israelites, Achan, Gehazi.)

viii. 8,

(The

(c) The devil. 2 Cor. iv. 4; 1 Pet. v. 8; 2 Cor. ii. 11; Job, ii. 1-7; John, xiii. 2. (Judas, Eve.) 5. That to withstand these they need the grace of God. Eph. vi. 10-13; 1 John, v. 4; Gal. ii. 20.

Hence our prayer for this grace, so as to be able to withstand them, and walk after God in the manner marked out. 1 Cor. x. 13; xv. 10; 2 Chron. xx. 12; Jam. i. 12.

The Conclusion is:

"through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

As before.

Supplementary Questions.

What is God here said to be?

How do we know this?

What are we to do with respect to this God?

How is He to be followed?

What are the great hindrances in the way of doing this?

What do we mean by "temptation?"

How does the world tempt us?

What do we mean by the "flesh ?"

Who is the devil?

What is the devil also called?

Mention some of his names, and their meanings.

Why do these tempt God's people?

How are their temptations to be resisted?

Need we be afraid of them?

What promise on this subject do we find in the Scripture? What have we to incite us when labouring under such temptations?

No. LXI.

Kineteenth Sunday after Crinity.

A PRAYER FOR THE DIRECTION AND GUIDANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

The Invocation is:

"O God, forasmuch as without thee we are not able to please thee ;”—

Herein it is implied,―

1. That to please God should be our great aim. 1Thess. iv. 1; Col. i. 10; Ps. li. 17-19; lxix. 30, 31; Mic. vi. 6-8; Heb. xiii. 16; Prov. xvi. 7; 1 John, iii. 22.

2. That still, try as we may, we cannot do it without His aid. Rom. viii. 8; Heb. xi. 6; Phil. i. 29; 1 Cor. xii. 3; Heb. xiii. 20, 21; 1 Cor. ii. 14; Prov. xvi. 1.

Hence the prayer which follows.

The Petition is:

66

Mercifully grant that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts ;”

In this Petition, taken in connexion with the Invocation, the following points are involved:

1. That, in order to please God, our hearts need direction and ruling, and that in all things. Jer. x. 23; Ps. cxliii. 8; Prov. xvi. 9; iii. 5-16.

2. That the direction and ruling thus required is that of God's Holy Spirit. Ps. cxliii. 10; li. 12; John, xvi. 13; Job, xxxii. 8.

3. That, if so directed and ruled, we shall then be able to do as we desire. Isa. xxx. 18-21; Prov. ii. 3-5; Ps. xxv. 8, 9; 2 Thess. iii. 5; Prov. iii. 21-26.

The Conclusion is:

66

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

As before.

Supplementary Questions.

What do we learn from this Collect that we should all

try to do?

Can we do this of ourselves?

Whose aid do we stand in need of?

What does a sense of this lead to?

What is that which our hearts particularly require in order to our pleasing God?

Whose direction and ruling do they require?

Is there no case in which this can be dispensed with ? If this direction and ruling be vouchsafed, will it then enable us to do what is required of us?

What, then, should a conviction of that lead us to do?

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