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6. What is the conclusion of this and all the other forms of thanksgiving, which we have been considering?

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. That is, with an acknowledgment that all the mercies we have prayed for, and for which we return thanks, are vouchsafed to us, through Jesus Christ. Therefore, "unto him be glory in the church, by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Eph. iii. 21.)

THE COLLECTS.

1. WHAT is the meaning of the term Collect?

The Collects are so called either because the substance of them is collected out of the Epistles and Gospel, or because they are a brief collection of all things necessary for soul and body.

2. Are they in general of great antiquity?

Yes; most of them are at least 1200 years old, and many of them older, and were composed before the main errors of popery were introduced. When our Reformers reviewed the Collects, they found that some of the most ancient had been left out by the Roman Catholics, and others corrupted by superstitious alterations; they, therefore, corrected those which had been corrupted, and restored those which had been laid aside.

3. How many Collects are there?

Eighty-four.

4. Repeat the Rubric at the commencement of the Collects.

¶Note, that the Collect appointed for every Sunday, or for any Holyday that hath a Vigil or Eve, shall be said at the Evening Service next before.

1. Repeat the Collect for the FIRST SUNDAY IN Advent. ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty to judge both the quick and dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.

This Collect to be repeated every day, with the other Collects in Advent, until Christmas Eve.

2. How many Sundays are there in Advent?

Four.

3. What object has the Church in appointing them?

They are intended to prepare us for the religious commemoration of the Advent of Christ in the flesh, which takes place at Christmas, and also to direct our thoughts to his second coming.

4. To whom is the Collect for the first Sunday in Advent addressed?

To Almighty God.

5. For what purpose do we ask his grace?

1st. That we may cast away the works of darkness. "Now the

works of the flesh are manifest, which are these, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulation, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like." (Gal. v. 19, 20, 21.)

And, secondly, that we may put on the armour of light. “Having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace: above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked, and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Eph. vi. 14, 15, 16, 17.)

6. When should this be done?

Now in the time of this mortal life. "Behold, now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation." (2 Cor. vi. 2.) 7. How did Jesus Christ come to visit the earth? In great humility.

"For he made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men." (Phil. ii. 7.)

8. How will He come again at the last day?

In his glorious majesty. "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all his holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory." (Matt. xxv. 31.)

9. For what purpose will He come?

To judge the quick and the dead. "I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing, and his kingdom." (2 Tim. iv. 1.)

10. What do we pray we may rise unto?

The life immortal. For "he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John iii. 16.)

11. Through whom is this blessing vouchsafed?

Through him who liveth and reigneth with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, "Jesus Christ, who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God, angels, and authorities, and powers being made subject unto him." (1 Pet. iii. 21, 22.)

1. Repeat the Collect for the SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT. BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience, and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

2. For what purpose did our blessed Lord cause the holy Scriptures to be written?

"Whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning." (Rom. xv. 4.)

3. What do we beseech the Lord to grant?

1st. That we may hear the Scriptures. "And the king went up into the house of the Lord, and all the men of Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the pro

phets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the Lord." (2 Kings xxiii. 2.)

2ndly. That we may mark them. "Give me understanding and I shall keep thy law; yea, I will observe it with my whole heart.” (Ps. cxix. 34.)

3rdly. That we may learn them. "Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (2 Pet. iii. 18.)

4thly. That we may inwardly digest them. "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein." (Josh. i. 8.)

4. Why are we thus to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the holy Scriptures?

That "through patience and comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope." (Rom. xv. 4.)

5. What hope shall we be thus enabled to embrace and hold fast?

The blessed hope of everlasting life. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance uncorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you." (1 Pet. i. 3, 4.)

6. In whom has God given us this blessed hope?

In our Saviour Jesus Christ. "He is able to save to the uttermost them that come unto God by him." (Heb. vii. 25.)

1. Repeat the Collect for the THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT.

O LORD Jesu Christ, who at thy first coming didst send thy messenger to prepare thy way before thee; Grant that the ministers and stewards of thy mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at thy second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in thy sight, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

2. What messenger did our Lord Jesus Christ send to prepare his way at his first coming?

John the Baptist, of whom Zacharias said, "and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways." (Luke i. 76.)

3. To whom has He granted to make ready his way for his second coming?

To the ministers and stewards of his mysteries, that is the clergy of his Church. "Let a man account of us as the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God." (1 Cor. iv. 1.) 4. How are they to prepare his way?

By turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just. "To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the

disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke i. 17.)

5. How do we pray we may be found at Christ's second coming? An acceptable people. "I give thee charge in the sight of God, that thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Tim. vi. 13, 14.)

6. With whom does Christ reign?

With the Father and the Holy Spirit. "The Lord sitteth a king for ever." (Ps. xxix. 10.)

1. Repeat the Collect for the FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT.

O LORD, raise up (we pray thee) thy power, and come among us, and with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness, we are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us, thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through the satisfaction of thy Son our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

2. What do we pray God to raise up?

His power. 66 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord,

awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old." (Isa. li. 9.) 3. What do we pray Him to do?

To come among us, and with great might succour us. thy strength and come and save us." (Ps. lxxx. 2.)

"Stir up

4. By what are we sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us?

Through our sins and wickedness. "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." (Heb. xii. 1.)

5. What do we pray may speedily help and deliver us?

His bountiful grace and mercy. "Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake." (Ps. xliv. 26.)

6. Through whose satisfaction do we pray for this?

Through the satisfaction of thy Son our Lord. "Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins." (1 John ii. 1, 2.)

7. How is this Collect concluded?

By ascribing honour and glory to the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only true God, be honour and glory, for ever and ever, Amen." (1 Tim. i. 17.)

1. Repeat the Collect for the Nativity of our Lord, or the Birthday of Christ, commonly called CHRISTMAS DAY.

ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure Virgin; Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

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