268. By whose merits do we become heirs

By the merits of the most precious death and passion of God's dear Son. "Who was delivered for our offences, and rose again for our justification." (Rom. iv. 25.)

269. In what do we pray to continue?

In the holy fellowship of all faithful people. "In the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayers." (Acts ii. 42.)

270. What do we beseech God to assist us in doing?

All such good works as He has prepared for us to walk in. For Christ " 'gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus ii. 14.)

271. What hymn follows this prayer?

The hymn called the Angelic Hymn, the former part of it being that which was sung by the angelic host at the birth of Christ. 272. Is it an ancient hymn?

It is more than 1500 years old in the Eastern Church, and the Church of England has used it either at the beginning or end of the Liturgy for above 1200 years.

273. Repeat the Angelic Hymn.

Then shall be said or sung,

GLORY be to God on high, and in earth peace, good will towards men. We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only-begotten Son Jesu Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.

For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

274. Repeat the words used by the angelic host at the birth of Christ.

66

Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will towards men." (Luke ii. 14.)

275. What does Dean Comber say of the words which follow next? "Each has its peculiar signification. We 'praise' God by setting forth his greatness; we bless' Him by declaring his goodness; we worship' Him with our bodies; we glorify Him with our mouths; we 'give thanks' with our hearts for the great glory which He hath gotten to Himself by these his mercies towards us.'

276. Why is the Lord called the only-begotten Son?

He is so called in Scripture. "The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only-begotten Son of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John i. 14.)

277. Why is He called the Lamb of God?

He is so called in Scripture. "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (John i. 29.)

278. Why is He called Son of the Father?

He is so called in Scripture. "And, lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." (Matt. iii. 17.)

279. What does Christ take away? The sins of the whole world.

iniquity of us all.” (Isa. liii. 6.)

"The Lord hath laid on him the

280. What do we pray Him to shew towards us?

His mercy.

"Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer." (Ps. iv. 1.)

281. Where is the expression "Thou only art holy" used?

In Revelation xv. 4.

282. With what expression does the phrase " Thou only art the Lord" correspond?

With "who is the blessed and only Potentate, King of kings, and Lord of lords." (1 Tim. vi. 15.)

283. Shew that Christ, with the Holy Ghost, is most high in the glory of God the Father.

"Thou, Lord, art most high for evermore." (Ps. xcii. 8.)

284. Repeat the next Rubric.

Then the Priest (or Bishop if he be present) shall let them depart with this blessing.

285. Repeat the Blessing.

THE peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen.

"And he

286. Why is the service concluded with a blessing? Our Lord took his leave of his disciples with a blessing. led them forth as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands and blessed them." (Luke xxiv. 50.) St. Paul (Phil. iv. 7) takes leave of the Philippians with the blessing here used, and the primitive Church took this form, ordering the bishop, if present, to pronounce it, and all to stay till this blessing was given, which is a solemn desire that the peace of God may remain in us, and his blessing be upon us for ever.

287. Repeat the Rubric which now follows.

¶ Collects to be said after the Offertory, when there is no Communion, every such day one or more; and the same may be said also, as often as occasion shall serve, after the Collects either of Morning or Evening Prayer, Communion, or Litany, by the discretion of the Minister.

288. Repeat the first Collect.

ASSIST us mercifully, O Lord, in these our supplications and prayers, and dispose the way of thy servants towards the attainment of everlasting salvation; that, among all the changes and chances of this mortal life, they may ever be defended by thy most gracious and ready help; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

289. In what do we pray God to assist us? In these our supplications and prayers. "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." (Rom. viii. 26.)

290. How do we pray God to dispose our hearts ? Towards the attainment of everlasting salvation. "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Ps. cxxxix. 23, 24.)

291. By what do we pray to be defended among all the chances and changes of this mortal life?

By God's most gracious and ready help. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Ps. xlvi. 1.) 292. Repeat the second Collect.

O ALMIGHTY Lord, and everlasting God, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to direct, sanctify, and govern both our hearts and bodies, in the ways of thy laws, and in the works of thy commandments; that through thy most mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

293. What do we here beseech God to do?

1st. To direct our hearts and bodies in the way of his laws and in the works of his commandments. "The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ." (2 Thess. iii. 5.)

2ndly. To sanctify them. "Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth." (John xvii. 17.)

3rdly. To govern them. "And I pray God your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thess. v. 23.)

294. Through whose most mighty protection are our bodies and souls preserved here and ever?

Through the protection of God.

"The Lord preserve thee from

all evil: he shall preserve thy soul." (Ps. cxxi. 7.)

295. Through whose intercession may we hope this prayer will be accomplished?

Through our Saviour Jesus Christ. the Lord, who made heaven and earth."

"Our help is in the name of

(Ps. cxxiv. 8.)

296. Repeat the third Collect.

GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that the words, which we have heard this day with our outward ears, may through thy grace be so grafted inwardly in our hearts, that they may bring forth in us the fruit of good living, to the honour and praise of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

297. What do we beseech God to grant concerning the words which we have heard with our ears?

That they may be grafted inwardly in our hearts. "I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God, and they shall be my people." (Jer. xxxi. 33.)

298. When the Word of God is grafted in our hearts, what will it produce?

The fruit of good living. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." (Gal. v. 22, 23.)

299. To whose praise and honour will this tend?

To the honour and praise of God. "Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ unto the honour and praise of God." (Phil. i. 11.)

300. Repeat the fourth Collect.

PREVENT US, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious favour, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name, and finally by thy mercy obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

301. What do we pray may prevent or go before us in all our doings?

God's most gracious favour. "Commit thy ways unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass." (Ps. xxxvii. 5.)

302. With what do we pray Him to further us?

His continued help. "O, continue thy loving-kindness unto them that know thee." (Ps. xxxvi. 10.)

303. In whom ought all our works to be begun ?

In God. "For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and

to do, of his good pleasure." (Phil. ii. 13.)

304. In whom ought they to be continued?

In God. "Continue ye in my love." (John xv. 9.)

305. In whom ought they to be ended?

In God. "That God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ." (1 Pet. iv. 11.)

306. What may we hope to obtain if we are blessed with God's favour and help?

Everlasting life. "Now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." (Rom. vi. 22.)

307. Repeat the fifth Collect.

ALMIGHTY God, the fountain of all wisdom, who knowest our necessities before we ask, and our ignorance in asking; We beseech thee to have compassion upon our infirmities; and those things, which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask, vouchsafe to give us, for the worthiness of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

308. Of what is God the fountain?

Of all wisdom. "The Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding." (Prov. ii. 6.)

309. What does God know?

Our necessities before we ask. "Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him." (Matt. vi. 8.)

310. What else does He see?

Our ignorance in asking.

ask amiss." (James iv. 3.)

"Ye ask and receive not, because ye

311. Upon what do we pray Him to have compassion?

Upon our infirmities. "For he knoweth our frame, he remembereth that we are but dust." (Ps. ciii. 14.)

312. Why dare we not ask some things?

On account of our unworthiness. "I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies." (Gen. xxxii. 10.)

313. Why cannot we ask others?

On account of our blindness.

heart." (Eph. iv. 18.)

"Because of the blindness of their

314. For whose worthiness do we pray that these things may be given to us?

For the worthiness of Jesus Christ our Lord. "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing." (Rev. v. 12.) 315. Repeat the concluding Collect.

ALMIGHTY God, who hast promised to hear the petitions of them that ask in thy Son's Name; We beseech thee mercifully to incline thine ears to us that have made now our prayers and supplications unto thee; and grant, that those things, which we have faithfully asked according to thy will, may effectually be obtained, to the relief of our necessity, and to the setting forth of thy glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

316. What has God promised to hear?

The petitions of them that ask in his Son's name. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you." (John xvi. 23.)

317. Unto what do we beseech Him to incline his ear?

Unto us who have now made our prayers and supplications unto Him. "O God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee; let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry." (Ps. lxxxviii. 1, 2.)

318. What do we pray God to grant?