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In this Petition we seek for three things for the Church:

1. That God's word may be loved by it. Ps. i. 1, 2; xix. 7-11; cxix. 9, 11, 35, 47, 140; Tit. i. 9.

2. That it may be preached by it. xl. 9, 10; 1 Cor. i. 17, 18, 21,

Rom. xvi. 25, 26.

3. That it may be received by it.

2 Tim. iv. 2; Ps. 23; Luke, ix. 60;

Rom. i. 16, 17; 1

Cor. ii. 14; Jam. i. 21, 22; 1 Thess. i. 5-8; ii. 13; 2 Thess. iii. 1; Heb. iv. 2; xii. 25.

The Conclusion is:

"through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

As before.

Supplementary Questions.

What had Bartholomew grace given him to do?

By whom was this grace given?

Who was this Bartholomew ?

By what other name is he also spoken of in Scripture ?

On behalf of what do we here pray?

What do we pray that that Church may love?

Why should God's word be loved?

What that it may preach ?

Why should God's word be preached?

What that it may receive?

Why should God's word be received?

No. LXXXI.

Saint Matthew the Apostle.

A PRAYER FOR GRACE TO GIVE UP THE WORLD AND FOLLOW CHRIST.

The Invocation is:

"O Almighty God, who by thy blessed Son didst call Matthew from the receipt of custom to be an Apostle and Evangelist;"—

Here, invoking God as " Almighty," we declare,

1. That Matthew was called by Him from the receipt of custom, i.e. from the place where custom or tribute was received. Matt. ix. 9; Luke, v. 27-29; Mark, ii. 14.

2. That he was called by God's blessed Son, Jesus Christ. See preceding texts.

3. That he was called to be an Apostle and an Evangelist. Mark, iii. 14–19; Luke, vi. 13–16; Acts, i. 13.

The Petition is (reaching to the end):

"Grant us grace to forsake all covetous desires, and inordinate love of riches, and to follow the same thy Son Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.' In this Petition are set forth the following:

1. That we ought also to follow God's Son, Jesus Christ. Matt. xvi. 24; xix. 21; xi. 28-30; Luke, xiv. 33; xviii. 28-30, 35-43; John, xii. 26; Pet. ii. 21; Rev. xiv. 4.

2. That to do this requires of us that we forsake,—

(a) All covetous desires. Luke, xii. 15-21; Heb. xi. 24-46; Josh. vii. 20, 21; 1 Cor. vi. 10; Col. iii. 5; Prov. xxviii. 16.

(b) All inordinate love of riches. 1 Tim. vi. 9, 10; Ps. lxii. 10; Matt. vi. 19; Luke, xviii. 18-30.

3. That to this end we need grace from God. John, vi. 44; xv. 16; 1 Cor. i. 4-8; xv. 10; Phil. ii. 13 ; 2 Cor. iii. 5; Heb. xiii. 20, 21.

For which grace, therefore, we here offer our prayers.

Supplementary Questions:

By whom was Saint Matthew called?

Whence was he called?

And for what purpose was he called?

What place do we mean by "the receipt of custom?”

In what town was this place situated?

Near what water?

What is the meaning of " Apostle ?"

What of "Evangelist ?"

Could a person be one and not the other?

Whom ought we also to follow ?

What must we forsake in order to do so?

What do we mean by "covetous?"
What by "inordinate?"

Who alone can give us grace to do this?

No. LXXXII.

Saint Alichael and all Angels.

A PRAYER FOR THE SUCCOUR AND DEFENCE OF GOD'S HOLY ANGELS.

The Invocation is:

"O Everlasting God, who hast ordained and constituted the services of Angels and men in a wonderful order ;"

Here God is invoked as 66

clared,

'Everlasting," and it is dc

1. That the services, i.e. particular duties and callings, of men and of angels, have been ordained and constituted by Him. Ps. cxix. 91; Dan. iv. 35; ii. 21; Ps. lxviii. 17; Rom. xiii. 1; Heb. i. 14; Ps. lxxv. 6, 7; Neh. ix. 6.

2. That this has been done in a wonderful order, i.e. in, or with, an order or arrangement which is wonderful. Gen. i. 31; Ps. cxix. 91 (first clause); Ps. viii. 3-6; lxxxix. 5; civ. 24; cxi. 2-4; cxlv. 5-;12 Isa. xxv. 1; Mark, vii. 37; Eph. iv. 11, 12; Phil. ii. 9, 10; Col. i. 16.

The Petition, consequently, is:

"Mercifully grant, that as thy holy Angels always do thee service in heaven, so by thy appointment they may succour and defend us on earth;"

In which Petition we have stated or implied,―

1. That God's angels are holy angels. Matt. xxv. 31; Mark, viii. 38; Rev. xiv. 10; 1 Tim. v. 21; 2 Pet. ii. 4; Jude, 6.

2. That these angels are always serving God in heaven. Rev. iv. 8-11; vii. 9–17.

3. That they are also capable of assisting us on earth. Ps. xxxiv. 7; Acts, xii. 7–11; xxvii. 23, 24; Matt. 4-11.

4. That, if God be pleased so to appoint, they will certainly do so, and come to our succour and defence. Ps. xci. 11; Heb. i. 14; Dan. vi. 22; iii. 24, 25; viii. 15-17; ix. 20-22.

For such an appointment, therefore, we here offer a prayer.

The Conclusion is:

66

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

As before.

Supplementary Questions.

What is God here said to have "ordained and consti

tuted ?"

What do we mean by those words?

In what manner has all this been performed?

How in a "wonderful order ?"

What are God's angels here styled?

What are they always doing?

What are they also capable of doing for us?

What do we mean by "succour ?"

Whose appointment is necessary before they will do this?

If so appointed may we expect their support?

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