2. That his holy Name is to be glorified by us. lxxxvi. 9-12; Rev. xv. 4; John, xii. 28. 3. That this is to be done Ps. (a) By innocency of life. 2 Cor. vi. 14-18; 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20; Titus, ii. 11-14; 1 Peter, ii. 11, 12. (b) By constancy of faith unto death. Rev. ii. 10; 1 Peter, v. 9; Rev. xii. 11; 1 Tim. i. 19. 4. That to be able to do this we need (a) To have our vices mortified and killed. Rom. vii. 23, 24; viii. 13; 1 Cor. ix. 27; Col. iii. 5. (b) The strengthening grace of God. Phil. iv. 13; Gal. ii. 20; 2 Cor. xii. 9; Isa. xli. 10. For which two things, therefore, we here earnestly To what classes of persons is our attention called in this Collect? What is it here stated that infants have been made to do? And what to have been ordained out of the mouth of babes ? And by Whom has this been brought about? To what Scriptural fact is there here a reference? For what do we pray in connexion with these state ments? What is here stated as to the character of God's Name? How are we to act towards that Name? In what way are we to do this? What do we need in order to this? To Whom, therefore, must we turn, and how? No. IX. The Sunday after Christmas Daq. (The same as for Christmas Day itself.) No. X. The Circumcision of Christ. A PRAYER THAT OUR HEARTS, AND ALL OUR MEMBERS, BEING MORTIFIED TO SIN, MAY OBEY THE WILL OF GOD. The Invocation is: "Almighty God, who madest thy blessed Son to be circumcised, and obedient to the law for man," Here, invoking God as "almighty,” we state: 1. That his Son is a blessed Son. Rom. ix. 5; John, xii. 13; Rev. v. 12. 2. That this blessed Son has been circumcised and obedient to the Law. Luke, ii. 21; Matt. v. 17; Heb. v. 8. 3. That this was for man's sake. Rom. x. 4; Gal. iii. 13; Rom. viii. 3; Heb. ii. 17; Isa. liii. 6. 4. That it was by God's appointment. Rom. viii. 3; 2 Cor. v. 21; Isa. liii. 4-6; Gal. iv. 4, 5. The Petition is: 66 grant us the true Circumcision of the Spirit; that our hearts, and all our members, being mortified from all worldly and carnal lusts, we may in all things obey thy blessed will," In this are involved the following truths: 1. That the will of God is a blessed will. Rom. xii. 2; Luke, ii. 14. 2. That in all things that blessed will is to be obeyed. Matt. vii. 21; Col. iv. 12; 1 Peter, iv. 2; John, xiv. 15; Matt. vi. 10. 3. That in order to such complete obedience, our hearts and all our members must be mortified from all worldly and carnal lusts. Rom. vii. 18, 19; 2 Cor. x. 5; Jer. iv. 4; 1 John, ii. 15-17; Gal. v. 16, 17; Rom. xii. 1, 2; James, i. 14-16; Rom. vi. 11-13; Rom. xiii. 13, 14. 4. That in such mortification of our hearts and members, the true Circumcision of the Spirit consists; of which Circumcision of the Spirit the other of the flesh was only a type or sign. Rom. ii. 28, 29; Deut. xxx. 6; Phil. iii. 3; Gal. v. 24; Col. ii. 11; Acts, vii. 51; Jer. ix. 26. The Conclusion is: "through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." (All which we have examined before.) Supplementary Questions. What is the Son of God called in this Collect? been obedient? For what purpose was this? By whose appointment did it take place? Of what other circumcision was this a type or sign? No. XI. The Epiphany. A PRAYER FOR THE FULL ENJOYMENT OF GOD The Invocation is: "O God, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy only-begotten Son to the Gentiles,' Here we have it stated: 1. That God's Son was manifested to the Gentiles. Matt. ii. 11; Isa. lx. 3. 2. That this was by the leading of a star. Matt. ii. 1-10. 3. That it was God who did so manifest him. Ps. cxix. 91; viii. 3; Luke, ii. 30–32. The Petition is: 66 'mercifully grant, that we, which know thee now by faith, may, after this life, have the fruition of thy glorious Godhead,” Here we also declare: 1. That the Godhead is a glorious Godhead. Exod. xxxiii. 18; Ps. xix. 1; Acts, vii. 55; Rev. xxi. 23. 2. That this Godhead is now only known by faith. 2 Cor. v. 7; Heb. xi. 1; 1 John, iii. 2; John, xiv. 7-11. 3. That after this life there will be a full enjoyment thereof. Rev. xxii. 3-5; xxi. 22-24; 2 Cor. v. 8; Ps. xvi. 11; 1 Cor. xiii. 12; 1 Thess. iv. 17. Whence the prayer, that we who have that knowledge which is by faith now, may have this full enjoyment thereof hereafter. The Conclusion is: "through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." As before. Supplementary Questions. To whom is God's Son here said to have been manifested? In what manner was this done? Where in Scripture is the event recorded? By Whose appointment or ordering did it so happen? What do we mean by that expression? How only is that Godhead now known? Why so? What is it we desire to have after this life? What do we mean by "fruition ?” But will all so enjoy God then? Who only ? In what will the enjoyment of God after this life consist? (See Rev. vii. 9-17.) No. XII. First Sunday after Epiphany. A PRAYER FOR A KNOWLEDGE OF OUR DUTY, AND ABILITY TO DISCHARGE IT. And, therefore, contains no statement except what the title implies. L |