Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

Who is this way that leadeth to life?

In what sense is Jesus Christ the way to eternal life? What else is Jesus Christ said to be?

How is He the "truth?"

And in what sense the "life?"

How must we know Jesus Christ, this way, truth, and life, in order to walk therein aright? From whom only can this knowledge come?

No. LXXVI.

Saint Barnabas the Apostle.

A PRAYER FOR GOD'S GIFTS, AND GRACE TO USE THEM ARIGHT.

The Invocation is:

"O Lord God Almighty, who didst endue thy holy Apostle Barnabas with singular gifts of the Holy Ghost; "

Here God is invoked as "Lord," and as "Almighty,” and it is stated, in addition to what these titles imply: 1. That Barnabas was His holy Apostle. Acts, iv. 36; ix. 27; xi. 22-30; xii. 25; xiii.; xiv.; xv. 2, 3641; 1 Cor. ix. 6; Gal. ii. 1, 9–13.

2. That he was endued with singular gifts of the Holy Ghost. See preceding texts, from whence this is of necessity deduced.

3. That it was God who so gifted and endued him. Luke, xxiv. 49; Acts, xiii. 1-3; 1 Cor. iv. 7 ; xv. 10. (If Paul, so Barnabas.)

Hence the prayer which follows.

The Petition is:

"Leave us not, we beseech thee, destitute of thy manifold gifts, nor yet, of grace to use them always to thy honour and glory;”—

Herein is set forth:

1. That God's gifts are manifold. 1 Cor. xii. 4-11; Rom. xii. 3-8; Eph. iv. 7.

2. That they are to be always used to His honour and glory. 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20; x. 31; Luke, xix. 12, 13; Pet. iv. 10, 11.

3. That it is our desire to possess these gifts, and to have grace to use them as required. Rom. xii. 6-8; 1 Cor. xii. 7; 1 Tim. iv. 14; 2 Tim. i. 6; John, xiv. 18, 26; xvi. 13.

The Conclusion is:

66

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

As before.

Supplementary Questions.

What is Saint Barnabas here styled?

With what is it said that he was endued?
What is here meant by "singular?"

By whom was he so gifted and endued?

How are God's gifts described in our petition following these statements?

What do we mean by "manifold," and in what respect are these gifts so?

In what way are such gifts to be always used?

What is our prayer with reference to these gifts?

What is the meaning of "destitute," and what of "grace," in this Collect?

Who can preserve us from this destitution, and grant us this grace?

No. LXXVII.

Saint John Baptist's Day.

A PRAYER FOR GRACE TO FOLLOW THE DOCTRINE AND PRACTICE OF JOHN BAPTIST.

The Invocation is:

66

'Almighty God, by whose providence thy servant John Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of thy Son, our Saviour, by preaching of repentance; "

Here, invoking God as "Almighty," we have it also set forth:

1. That John the Baptist was the servant of God. Mal. iii. 1; iv. 5, 6; John, i. 6.

2. That this John the Baptist was born in a wonderful manner. Luke, i.; Ps. cxiii. 9.

3. That, after his birth, he was sent to prepare the way

of God's Son, who is our Saviour. Matt. iii. 1–12; Mark, i. 1-8; Luke, iii. 1–18; Isa. xl. 3-8; Mal. iii. 1.

4. That this he did by preaching repentance. preceding texts.) Acts, xiii. 24, 25.

(See

5. That all this took place according to God's providence, i.e. by His ordering and appointment. Luke, iii. 2; Rom. xi. 36; John, i. 6.

The Petition, therefore, is:

"Make us so to follow his doctrine and holy life, that we may truly repent, according to his

preaching; and after his example constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth's sake;"

Hereby we declare,

1. That the doctrine and life of John are to be followed by all. Mark, vi. 20; John, v. 35; Phil. iii. 17; Heb. xiii. 7, 8.

2. That this is to be so done as to lead us,

(a) In obedience to his precepts, to repent truly
of sin. Matt. iii. 7-9; xxi. 32; Mark, vi. 12;
Luke, xiii. 3-5; Acts, xvii. 30; xx. 21; 2 Cor.
vii. 10-11.

(b) In conformity with his example,—
(i) To speak the truth constantly.

Matt.

xiv. 1-12; xi. 7; Prov. xii. 17-19-22; John, x. 41; Rev. xxi. 8; Eph. iv. 25.

(ii) To rebuke vice boldly. Mark, vi. 14-29; Luke, iii. 19; vii. 24; Lev. xix. 17; Eph. v. 11; 1 Tim. v. 20.

(iii) To suffer for the truth patiently. (See preceding texts.) John, v. 33; iii. 20; 2 Tim. i. 8; Jam. i. 3, 4; 1 Pet. ii. 20; iii. 17; iv. 16–19; Rom. viii. 18; 2 Cor. iv. 16-18.

So for grace to be able to do this we here offer our prayer.

The Conclusion is:

66

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

As before.

Supplementary Questions.

Who is John the Baptist here said to have been?
Why is he called " the Baptist," or "Baptist?
In what manner is he said to have been born?
Where have we the account of his birth?
What was he afterwards sent to do?

How was he to prepare the way of God's Son?

Y

What is "repentance?"

By whose arrangement and ordering did all this take

place?

What do we ask to be made to follow ?

In what manner?

What does he teach us to do by, or in, his preaching?

What by his example?

What are we constantly to speak?

What will be the portion of liars at the last?

What is boldly to be rebuked?

Did this John Baptist so act?

In what remarkable instance did he do this?
What did it lead to ?

What are we to endure patiently?

What have we to encourage us under such sufferings?

Who besides John has gone before us herein?

What will such sufferings end in?

No. LXXVIII.

Saint Peter's Day.

A PRAYER FOR DILIGENT PREACHERS AND OBEDIENT FOLLOWERS OF THE WORD OF GOD.

The Invocation is:

"O Almighty God, who by thy Son Jesus. Christ didst give to thy Apostle Saint Peter many excellent gifts, and commandedst him earnestly to feed thy flock;"

« ElőzőTovább »