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No. LXII.

Twentieth Sunday after Trinity.

A PRAYER FOR ABILITY CHEERFULLY TO DO GOD'S

The Invocation is:

66

WILL.

O Almighty and most merciful God,"

Here God is invoked as 66

Almighty and most merciful," and then we pass to

The Petition, viz.:

"Of thy bountiful goodness, keep us, we beseech thee, from all things that may hurt us; that we being ready both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things that thou wouldest have done;"

Herein are set forth the following:

1. That there are certain things which God wills to have done. Matt. vi. 10; vii. 21; Mark, iii. 35; John, iv. 34; Col. iv. 12; 1 Thess. iv. 3; v. 18; 1 Pet. ii. 13-15; iv. 2.

2. That all these things are to be done cheerfully. Eph. vi. 6, 7; 1 Chron. xxviii. 9; xxix. 5; Chron. xvii. 16; 2 Cor. viii. 3; Ps. cxvi. 1, 12-14; Neh. iv. 6.

3. That to accomplish these things cheerfully there needs a twofold readiness,

(a) A readiness of body. 2 Sam. ix. 13; xix. 24-26; John, v. 3-9; Acts, iii. 2, 8; Matt. viii. 14, 15; 1 Cor. ix. 27; Matt. xxvi. 36-43; Heb. xii. 12; Isa. xxxv. 3, 4.

(b) A readiness of soul. 2 Cor. viii. 12; Ex. iv. 1, 10-14; Matt. xix. 22; Luke, v. 27, 28; Gen. xxii. 1-12; Ps. xl. 6-8; Prov. xxiii. 26; 2 Chron. Xxx. 8.

4. That to be thus ready it is necessary that we be kept from all hurtful things. Ps. xi. 1, 2; Acts, xviii. 9-11; Ps. cxl. 1-5; cxlii. 4-6.

5. That this keeping we trust God of His bountiful goodness will be pleased to vouchsafe. 1 Chron. iv. 10; Isa. liv. 17; Ps. cxlv. 18, 19; 2 Tim. iv. 18.

The Conclusion is:

66

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

As before.

Supplementary Questions.

From what do we here pray to be kept?

What things are these?

Mention some of them.

Why do we ask this?

What things do we wish to be ready to accomplish?

What do we mean by "accomplish?"

Where are we instructed as to the things which God de

sires to have done?

In what spirit are we always to work for God?

What is necessary that we may thus "cheerfully accomplish" the duties required of us?

In what two respects is a readiness required?
Wherein does readiness of body consist?
And wherein readiness of soul?

What is there to hinder this readiness?

What, then, do we stand in need of?

What attribute of God gives us encouragement in seeking

His aid?

How is His goodness spoken of here?

Prove it from Scripture.

No. LXIII.

Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity.

A PRAYER FOR CLEANSING FROM SIN AND A QUIET

The Invocation is:

MIND.

"We beseech thee, merciful Lord ;' Containing nothing beyond what these titles import. The Petition is:

"Grant... to thy faithful people, pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind;"Herein we have involved the following,

1. That God's people require especially these two things,

Ps.

(a) Pardon, or a cleansing from all sin. li. 6, 7, 10; Isa. i. 16-18; 1 John, i. 7; Zech. xiii. 1; Heb. ix. 13, 14; x. 22; 1 Cor. vi. 9-11; Rev. vii. 14. (b) Peace, or a quiet mind wherewith to serve God. John, xiv. 27; Rom. v. 1; 1 Tim. ii. 2; Eph. ii. 13, 14, 17; Rom. xiv. 17; Isa. xxvi. 3, 12; xxxii. 1, 2, 17, 18; Jam. ii. 14-18. 2. That to obtain these God must be sought, as alone able to bestow them. Neh. ix. 17; Ps. cxxx. 4, 7; ciii. 8; Isa. xliii. 25; lv. 7.

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Supplementary Questions.

What do God's faithful people here ask?

Why do they need pardon?

Wherein does pardon consist?

When pardoned what are men cleansed from?

What besides pardon do they require ?

Why do they wish for peace?

Can we have peace before pardon?

How is peace to be procured?

Through Whom do we obtain it ?

How is the peace of God described in the Word of God?

No. LXIV.

Twenty-second Sunday after Trinity.

A PRAYER THAT THE CHURCH OF GOD MAY
DEVOUTLY SERVE HIM IN GOOD WORKS.

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"We beseech thee to keep thy household the Church in continual godliness; that through thy protection it may be free from all adversities, and devoutly given to serve thee in good works, to the glory of thy Name; "

Herein we have the following points involved,

1. That the Church is the household of God. Eph. ii.

19; Gal. vi. 10; Rom. viii. 29; Heb. iii. 6; Gal. iii. 26; iv. 4; Rom. viii. 14-17.

2. That this household needs to be kept in a state of continual godliness. 1 Thess. v. 21; Heb. iv. 14; 1 Tim. ii. 2; 2 Pet. iii. 11; 1 Tim. iv. 7, 8.

3. That such a state consists in devoutly serving God in good works. 1 Tim. ii. 10; Eph. ii. 10; Tit. ii. 14; Col. i. 10; Tit. iii. 8; Gal. vi. 9; John, xv. 8. 4. That such service of God is to be solely for the glory of His Name, and not for our own praise. 1 Cor. vi. 20; Matt. v. 16; Gal. i. 24; 1 Pet. ii. 12; Ps. cxv. 1; 1 Cor. x. 31.

5. That adversities hinder from such devout service of God; so that the Church must be freed from them all in order to give itself up to it. Acts, viii. 1–3; xii. 1–3 ; ix. 31 ; xvii. 5, 6, 13; xix. 23-41; 2 Cor. i. 8; Ps. xlii. 1-4; lxiii. 1.

6. That to be freed from all adversities the Church must have the protection of God, and be kept by Him in this godly state. Ps. cxix. 117; cxxi. 8; cxxvii. 1; Isa. xxvi. 3; xxxii. 16-18.

For which blessings, therefore, we here put forth
a prayer.
Ps. xvii. 5.

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Supplementary Questions.

What is the Church of God here called?

What do we mean by "household?"

What do we pray for on behalf of this household ?

What is "godliness?"

How is it explained in the following part of the Collect?

Wherefore is godliness required of us?

What end are we to aim at therein ?

What is there to hinder us from this godliness?

How do adversities hinder us from this service?

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