How did he answer to the call?

What enabled him to do this?

Are we also called of God?

By what agency or means?

To fulfil what are we now called?

Wherein are God's holy commandments contained?
In what manner should this call be attended to by us?
What is the meaning of "forthwith?"
What do we require to enable us to do this?

No. LXIX.

Saint Thomas the Apostle.

A PRAYER FOR A PERFECT FAITH IN THE
SON OF GOD.

The Invocation is:

Almighty and ever-living God, who, for the more confirmation of the faith, didst suffer thy holy Apostle Thomas to be doubtful in thy Son's resurrection ;"

Here, after addressing God as "Almighty and ever-living," we state,

1. That Thomas was a holy Apostle of God. Matt. x. 3;

Mark, iii. 18; Luke, vi. 15; Acts, i. 13; John, xi. 16. 2. That this Thomas was doubtful in the matter of the

resurrection of the Son of God. John, xx. 24-29. 3. That this was of, i.e. from, God, who in His wisdom suffered it for wise and good ends. Rom. viii. 28; 2 Cor. v. 18; 1 Cor. iv. 7; Rom. xi. 36.

4. That the reason why God suffered this was for the more confirmation of the faith; i. e. that faith might have a stronger assurance to rest upon, when it is seen that the doubting Thomas was afterwards fully convinced. 1 John, i. 1-4; John, xx. 30, 31; Acts, ii. 31, 32; Phil. i. 12; 1 Cor. xv. 3-8, 12-20; Rom. viii. 34; Heb. x. 22.

The Petition is:

"Grant us so perfectly, and without all doubt, to believe in thy Son Jesus Christ, that our faith in thy sight may never be reproved;"Here is implied,—

1. That belief in God's Son Jesus Christ is also required of us. 1 John, iii. 23; v. 10; John, xiv. 1;

iii. 36.

2. That our faith should be a faith needing no reproof; to which end it is necessary that it be perfect, and without all doubt. Matt. viii. 23-26, 5-10, cfd.; Gen. xii. 10-13; Dan. vi. 23; Matt. xiv. 28–31; xv. 28; xvii. 14-20; xxvi. 35, 69–75; Heb. xi. 3. That to do this we must have grace granted us by God, without which we, too, shall be found wanting. 1 Cor. iv. 7; Phil. i. 29; Luke, xvii. 5; Mark, ix. 24; Heb. xii. 2.

The Conclusion is:

"Hear us, O Lord, through the same Jesus Christ; to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and for evermore. Amen."

Which Conclusion, though varying a little in terms from previous forms, has in substance been examined before. See Nos. IV. and XXII.

Supplementary Questions.

To which of the holy Apostles does this Collect relate? In what matter is this Thomas here said to have been

doubtful?

What do we mean by " doubtful?"

How came this about?

Wherefore did God suffer Thomas to be thus doubtful? What do we mean by "confirmation ?”

What by "the more confirmation of the faith?”

In what way could the doubtings of Saint Thomas tend

to this end?

Is belief in this Son of God required of us now?

In what way ought we now to believe in the Son of God, Jesus Christ?

Wherefore is it necessary that this should be the character of our faith?

From whom must we seek grace to exemplify such a faith?

What will such a faith ultimately lead to?

No. LXX.

Che Conversion of Saint Paul.

A PRAYER FOR GRACE TO FOLLOW THE HOLY
DOCTRINES TAUGHT BY ST. PAUL.

The Invocation is:

66

"O God, who through the preaching of the blessed Apostle Saint Paul, hast caused the

light of thy Gospel to shine throughout the world;"

Here we state,

1. That God's Gospel is light. 2 Tim. i. 10; John, i. 4-9; iii. 19-21; 2 Cor. iv. 4-6; Luke, ii. 30–32. 2. That this light He has caused to shine throughout the world. John, iii. 19-21; Isa. lx. 1-3; Matt. iv. 16; Col. i. 23; Eph. v. 8-14; Luke, i. 78, 79; iv. 18.

3. That this He did at first by the preaching of Saint Paul particularly. Rom. x. 18; xv. 19; Acts, xiv. 27; xv. 3; Col. i. 23.

4. That this Saint Paul was a blessed Apostle of God. Acts, xxvi. 16-20; 1 Cor. ix. 1; Rom. i. 1, 5, 15, 16; Acts, ix. 15; 1 Cor. xv. 9; Gal. i. 17; ii. 8, 9. The Petition is:

66

Grant, we beseech thee, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may shew forth our thankfulness unto thee for the same by following the holy doctrine which taught;"

We state or imply here,—

he

1. That the conversion of St. Paul was a wonderful conversion. Acts, ix. 1-20; xxvi. 12–15.

2. That this wonderful conversion should ever be had in our remembrance. Ps. lxxvii. 11-14; cxi. 2-4; 2 Pet. i. 12-15; Job, xxxvi. 24; Isa. xliv. 21, 22. 3. That this conversion should not only be matter of remembrance, but of thankfulness also; thankfulness should be shewn unto God for the same. Gal. i. 23, 24; Phil. i. 3, 4; Col. i. 3-5; 2 Thess. ii. 13; Luke, xv. 6, 10; Acts, xv. 3.

4. That this thankfulness should be shewn, not in our lips only, but in our lives, by our following the holy doctrine which he taught. 1 Cor. xi. 1; Heb. vi. 12; 1 Thess. i. 5-10; Heb. xiii. 7, 8.

For grace to do which, therefore, we here offer a prayer.

The Conclusion is:

66

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

As before.

Supplementary Questions.

What is Saint Paul here called?

What is God here said to have made to shine throughout

the world?

How has He done this?

What is "preaching?"

What is God's Gospel here said to be?

Produce Scriptural proof of all these assertions.
What kind of conversion was Saint Paul's?

Ought this ever to be forgotten?

In what manner did it take place?

And where?

What should be shewn unto God for this conversion?

Wherefore?

How should we manifest our thankfulness?

What did Saint Paul teach ?

For what purpose did he teach this?

Whose help do we need to enable us to do this?
How is it to be obtained?