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Here, after invoking God as "Almighty" we pass on to state,

1. That Saint Peter, His Apostle, had many excellent gifts bestowed upon him by God. Acts, ii. 1-4, 14-18; iii. 12-16; iv. 7-10; v. 12-15; ix. 32–43; 2 Cor. iv. 6, 7; Jam. i. 17.

2. That these gifts were given him by, or through, God's Son, Jesus Christ. Luke, xxii. 31, 32; Acts, iv. 13; v. 34; Gal. ii. 8; 2 Pet. i. 1-3; 2 Cor. i. 20.

3. That he was also commanded, and that earnestly, by the same Son, to feed God's flock, for which work these gifts had prepared him. John, xxi. 15-17; 1 Pet. v. 2-4; 2 Pet. i. 12–15; iii. 1, 2; Ezek. xxxiv. 2; John, x. 12; Jer. iii. 15; Acts, xx. 28.

The Petition is:

"Make, we beseech thee, all Bishops and Pastors diligently to preach thy holy Word, and thy people obediently to follow the same; that they may receive the crown of everlasting glory; "

In this Petition the following points are involved:

1. That the subject-matter of all preaching should be God's holy word. Acts, iv. 29; v. 20; 2 Pet. i. 16-21; Col. i. 27, 28; 1 Cor. i. 17, 18.

2. That it is the duty of all bishops and pastors to preach, and that diligently, this holy word. 2 Tim. iv. 3; ii. 2, 15, 16; i. 13; 1 Cor. ix. 16–19; 1 Tim. i. 2; iv. 13-16; Eph. ii. 17; Rom. xv. 19; 1 Cor. xi. 1.

3. That when God's word is preached, it is the duty of all God's people to follow obediently its instructions and guidance. 1 Thess. i. 5, 6; Acts, ii. 37–41; Matt. vii. 21; Heb. ii. 1-4; iv. 1, 2; xiii. 7–17; Jam. i. 22; Matt. vii. 24-27.

4. That when pastors and people so act, the one diligently preaching and the other obediently follow

ing the word of God, a crown of everlasting life will be bestowed upon them both by God. Dan. xii. 3; 2 Tim. iv. 8; 1 Pet. v. 2-4; 1 Thess. ii. 12; Rev. ii. 10.

Whence our prayer, here earnestly put forth, that God would make all so to act as their respective positions require.

The Conclusion is:

"through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

As before.

Supplementary Questions.

What had Saint Peter bestowed upon him by God?
Through Whom were these gifts given?

For what purpose?

What command was also given to him by Jesus Christ? Of whom does the flock of God consist?

On what are they to be fed? See first point in the Petition.

What should be the subject-matter of all preaching?

Whose duty is it to preach that word?

How should they preach that word?

How should that holy word be followed after it has been preached?

By whom?

What will a diligent preaching of this word on the part of ministers, and an obedient following thereof on the part of hearers, respectively lead to ?

By Whom will those crowns of life and glory be bestowed?

No. LXXIX.

Saint James the Apostle.

A PRAYER FOR A READINESS TO FOLLOW GOD'S HOLY COMMANDS.

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"Grant that, as thine holy Apostle Saint James, leaving his father and all that he had, without delay was obedient unto the calling of thy Son, Jesus Christ, and followed him; so we, forsaking all worldly and carnal affections, may be evermore ready to follow thy holy commandments; "

Herein, among other points, it is declared:

1. That Saint James was a holy Apostle of God. Matt. iv. 21, 22; x. 2; Mark, i. 19, 20; iii. 17; Luke, vi. 14; Acts, i. 13; xii. 2.

2. That he was called by God's Son, Jesus Christ, and, when called, followed Him without delay. See preceding texts.

3. That in doing this he left his father and all that he had. See preceding texts.

4. That, in like manner, we should be always ready to follow God's holy commandments. Ps. cxix. 60;

John, xiv. 21; 1 Thess. v. 15;
12-14; iii. 8; 2 Pet. ii. 21;
Rev. xxii. 14.

Gal. vi. 9; Tit. ii. 1 John, ii. 15-17;

5. That to be so ready we must forsake all worldly and carnal affections; for they, being opposed thereto, would keep us back if they could. Mark, xiv. 38; Gal. v. 16, 17; Matt. xix. 16-22, 27-30; Rom. vii. 18-24; viii. 5-13; Gal. v. 24; 2 Tim. iv. 10. For grace to forsake these, therefore, and to be so ready, we here earnestly pray.

The Conclusion is:

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through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

As before.

Supplementary Questions.

What do we say of Saint James here?

By whom was he called?

What was he before his calling?

How did he act when called?

Whom and what did he leave when he did this?

Was not this wrong?

What should we be equally ready to follow?

Where are God's holy commandments contained?

What must we forsake if we would be so ready at all

times?

What is the meaning of " affections?"

What of "worldly and carnal" affections?

Why must we forsake these in order to follow God's commandments?

If we follow them, and not God's commandments, what difference will it make to us?

No. LXXX.

Saint Bartholomew the Apostle.

A PRAYER THAT THE CHURCH OF GOD MAY LOVE, PREACH, AND RECEIVE THE WORD OF GOD.

The Invocation is:

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O Almighty and everlasting God, who didst give to thine Apostle Bartholomew grace truly to believe and to preach thy Word; "

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Here, after invoking God as Almighty and everlasting," we further state,―

1. That Bartholomew was one of His Apostles. Matt. x. 3; Mark, iii. 18; Luke, vi. 14; Acts, i. 13. 2. That to him was given grace,

(a) Truly to believe, and

(b) Truly to preach, the word of God. John, i. 45-49. (This Nathaniel the same with Bartholomew.) John, vi. 67-69; xvi. 13; Mark, vi. 12; 2 Cor. ii. 17; Heb. xiii. 7.

3. That this grace was given to him by God Himself. 1 Cor. ii. 9-13; Matt. x. 19, 20. (These things being spoken of, all the Apostles of course include St. Bartholomew.)

The Petition is:

"Grant, we beseech thee, unto thy Church, to love that Word which he believed, and both to preach and receive the same ; ”—

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