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No. LVII.

Fifteenth Sunday after Crinity.

A PRAYER FOR THE LORD TO BE THE KEEPER
OF HIS CHURCH.

The Invocation is simply:

“O Lord,”—

As in many previous cases.

The Petition is :

(Consisting of two distinct clauses :)

"Keep, we beseech thee, thy Church with thy perpetual mercy; and because the frailty of man without thee cannot but fall, keep us ever by thy help from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation;”—

Here, in the first clause, our Petition implies,— 1. That God's Church requires His keeping. 2 Cor. iv. 7; Ps. cxxi.; John, xvii. 11, 15; Isa. xxvii. 3. 2. That with God there is mercy, and that perpetual mercy. Ex. xxxiv. 6, 7; Ps. ciii. 8-11; cxxxvi.; Lam. iii. 22.

3. That in the exercise of this His mercy He can, and will, keep His Church. Ps. cxxv. 1, 2; Zech. ii. 5; 1 Pet. i. 5; Isa liv. 10; li. 11–13.

In the second clause it is implied,—

1. That the great end we all desire is salvation. 1 Pet. i. 9; Rom. x. 1; Tit. i. 2.

2. That there are certain things hurtful to us and our

salvation, from which we need to be kept. 1 Pet. ii. 11; Jer. vii. 6; 1 Tim. vi. 9; Mark, vii. 20-23; 2 Cor. x. 5; Ps. cxix. 113.

3. That there are other certain things profitable to our salvation, to which we require to be led. 2 Tim.

iii. 16; iv. 11; Eph.iv.11–13; Ps. cxix. 71; 1 Pet. ii. 2; Matt. vii. 11; Luke, xi. 13. Cf. Heb. xii. 10; 1 Cor. xii. 7; Tit. iii. 8.

4. That to be kept from the one and led to the others, we need the help of God, for without Him we cannot but fall. John, xv. 5; 2 Cor. iii. 5; Isa. xl. 30, 31; Rom. v. 6; Jer. x. 23; Prov. iii. 5, 6. 5. That this our inability to stand arises from the frailty of our nature as men. 2 Cor. iv. 7; Rom. viii. 3; Heb. ii. 14, 15; Ps. xxxix. 4, 5; ciii. 14; Mark, ix. 38.

Whence our prayer to God that we may be so kept and so led.

The Conclusion is:

66

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

As before.

Supplementary Questions.

What do we here ask God to keep?

Why so?

What do we mean by the " Church" of God?

Of whom does that Church consist?

What attribute of God have we here brought forward as an encouragement to us in offering this prayer? What is the character here given of the mercy of God? What do we ask God to keep us from?

What are these?

What to lead us to ?

What are these?

Why do we ask to be led to the one and to be kept from

the other?

Why do we ask God to do this for us?
Why is it we cannot but fall without God?
What do we mean by "the frailty of man ?"
Whence does it arise?

How is it to be remedied?

iii. 5; Deut. xxxiii. 25.

Phil. iv. 13; 2 Cor. xii. 9;

No. LVIII.

Sixteenth Sunday after Crinity.

A PRAYER FOR THE CLEANSING AND PRESERVING OF THE CHURCH OF GOD.

The Invocation is:

66 O Lord,"

Simply, with no statement save what the title implies.
The Petition is:

(Embracing two clauses :)

"We beseech thee, let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without thy succour, preserve it evermore by thy help and goodness;"

Here, in the first clause, is implied,—

1. That God's Church requires these two things,

(a) Cleansing from corruptions within. Eph. v. 25-27; 2 Cor. vii. 1; 1 Cor. v. 7; Tit. iii.

10, 11; 1 Tim. i. 18–20; Isa. i. 10-31; 2 Thess. iii. 6; 2 Cor. vi. 14-18. (b) Defence from dangers without. Acts, viii. 1-3; xii. 1-3; John, xv. 19; xvi. 4; 1 Pet. v.

8; Isa. xxxi. 5; Ps. lxxxix. 18.

2. That, God's pity being continual, we hope He will be pleased to do these on its behalf. Ezek. xxxvi. 25; John, xv. 3; Rev. xix. 8; Isa. lxii. 1, 2; Jer. xxxiii. 6-11; Matt. xvi. 18; Acts, ix. 31; Joel, iii. 10; 1 John, i. 7.

In the second clause it is further implied,

1. That the Church of God requires preservation also, and that for evermore. 2 Cor. iv. 7-11; Ps. cxxvii.

1; cxxi.; cxxv. 1, 2; 1 Sam. ii. 9; Isa. xxvii. 3; Jude, 24.

2. That this want arises from its inability to continue in safety if left to itself, and without God's succour. Isa. xxxv. 3; Ps. vi. 2; John, xv. 5; 2 Cor. iii. 5; Jer. x. 23; Matt. xxvi. 41.

3. That God, by His help and goodness, is able fully to preserve it. Job, vii. 20; Ps. xxxi. 23; xxxvii. 28; cxlv. 20; Isa. xlix. 8; Jer. xlix. 11; 2 Cor. vi. 2. And therefore we earnestly beg that He may be pleased so to do.

The Conclusion is:

66

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

As before.

Supplementary Questions.

For what do we here offer a prayer?

Amen."

What do we here seek on behalf of this Church?

From what does the Church need cleansing?

By what things is the Temple of God, i. e. the Church of God (see 1 Cor. iii. 16; 2 Cor. vi. 16), polluted and defiled?

What directions have we given us on this subject in the

word of God?

From what does the Church need defence?

What is the promise given to the Church in connexion with this subject?

On what is the Church of Christ said to be built?

What besides cleansing and defence does the Church

require ?

Whence arises this want?

Will it ever cease?

What is able to supply this want?

What do we mean by succour ?

What attribute of God do we make use of as a plea when offering this prayer?

Establish all the preceding points by appropriate Scripture references.

No. LIX.

Seventeenth Sunday after Crinity.

A PRAYER FOR THE HELP OF GOD'S GRACE TO
PERFORM GOOD WORKS.

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"We pray thee, that thy grace may always prevent and follow us; and make us continually to be given to all good works ;"

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