They are an humble supplication to the Blessed Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and are set before the Lord's Prayer as a suitable preparation to it. 128. Who is to say the Lord's Prayer? T¶Then the Minister, Clerks, and people, shall say the Lord's Prayer with a loud voice. 129. Who are the clerks alluded to in the Rubric? Dr. Burns says, parish-clerks heretofore were real (ordained) clerks, of whom every minister had at least one to assist under him in the celebration of the divine offices. 130. Did the Church ever intend that the parish-clerk should repeat the responses and the Lord's Prayer by himself without the assistance of the congregation? Certainly not; he is only to lead the people, who ought themselves to join in these acts of devotion. 131. Repeat the verses which follow the Lord's Prayer. O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us. Answer. And grant us thy salvation. Answer. And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee. Answer. And make thy chosen people joyful. Priest. O Lord, save thy people. Answer. And bless thine inheritance. Priest. Give peace in our time, O Lord. Answer. Because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O God. Priest. O God, make clean our hearts within us. Answer. And take not thy Holy Spirit from us. 132. Where are those verses taken from? Chiefly from the Psalms, and they contain the sum of all the ensuing prayers. 133. Repeat the next Rubric. ¶ Then shall follow three Collects; the first of the Day, which shall be the same that is appointed at the Communion; the second for Peace; the third for Grace to live well. And the two last Collects shall never alter, but daily be said at Morning Prayer throughout all the Year, as followeth; all kneeling. 134. Repeat the Collect for Peace. O GOD, who art the author of peace and lover of concord, in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom; Defend us thy humble servants in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in thy defence, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 135. Is this an ancient collect? It has been used above 1200 years. Prove that God is the author of peace and lover of concord. "God is not the author of confusion but of peace." (1 Cor. xiv. 33.) 136. Shew that our eternal life depends upon the knowledge of God. "This is eternal life, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John xvii. 3.) 137. Why do we call his service perfect freedom? Because we enjoy "the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free." (Gal. v. 1.) 138. What do we beseech God to defend us in ? In all assaults of our enemies. "Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God, defend me from them that rise up against me.” (Ps. lix. 1.) 139. When we surely trust in God's defence, what shall we not fear? The power of any adversary. "The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom then shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom then shall I be afraid?" (Ps. xxvii. 1.) 140. Through whose might are we thus strengthened? Through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. "The Lord is on my side, I will not fear what man can do unto me." (Ps. cxviii. 6.) 141. Repeat the Collect for Grace. O LORD our heavenly Father, Almighty and everlasting God, who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day; Defend us in the same with thy mighty power; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all our doings may be ordered by thy governance, to do always that is righteous in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 142. Who do we acknowledge has safely brought us to the beginning of the day? Almighty and everlasting God. "I laid me down and slept, I awaked, for the Lord sustained me." (Ps. iii. 5.) 143. What do we pray God to defend us with? His mighty power. "The Lord is my defence, and my God is the rock of my refuge." (Ps. xciv. 22.) 144. What do we pray we may not fall into? Sin. "Hold thou up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not." (Ps. xvii. 5.) 145. What do we pray not to run into? Any kind of danger. "Order my steps in thy word, and let not iniquity have dominion over me." (Ps. cxix. 133.) 146. Why do we pray that all our doings may be ordered by God's governance? 66 That we may do always that is righteous in his sight." "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way." (Ps. xxxvii. 23.) 147. What follows the Collect for Grace? In Quires and Places where they sing, here followeth the Anthem. 148. Has the custom of singing anthems, hymns, and psalms been in general use in the Church? Yes; throughout all ages, both in the Jewish, and in the Christian Church. The Psalms of David were used in the service of the Jewish Temple; St. Paul exhorts the Ephesians to use psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs. The first Christians made this a constant part of their worship; and it continues to be their universal custom to the present day. 149. Repeat the next Rubric. Then these five Prayers following are to be read here, except when the Litany is read; and then only the two last are to be read, as they are there placed. 150. Repeat the first of the five prayers, that for the Queen's Majesty. O LORD our heavenly Father, high and mighty, King of kings, Lord of lords, the only Ruler of princes, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth; Most heartily we beseech thee with thy favour to behold our most gracious Sovereign Lady, Queen VICTORIA; and so replenish her with the grace of thy Holy Spirit, that she may always incline to thy will, and walk in thy way: Endue her plenteously with heavenly gifts; grant her in health and wealth long to live; strengthen her that she may vanquish and overcome all her enemies; and finally, after this life, she may attain everlasting joy and felicity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 151. Is it right and scriptural to pray for our Sovereign? Certainly; and that the Jews had special forms of prayer for kings, is clear, from Psalm xx. and Psalm lxxii. And St. Paul exhorts Christians also, that "prayers and supplications, and giving of thanks, be made for all men, for kings, and all that are in authority." (1 Tim. i. 2.) And all the Liturgies are full of evidence that this has been constantly done. 152. What do we acknowledge God to be in this prayer? King of kings, and Lord of lords, according to the Scripture," He hath on his vesture and on his thigh, a name written, King of kings, and Lord of lords." (Rev. xix. 16.) 153. Shew that He is the only Ruler of princes. "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water he turneth it whithersoever he will." (Ps. xxi. 1.) 154. Prove from Scripture that the Lord beholds all the dwellers upon earth. "Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high, who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!" (Ps. cxiii. 5, 6.) 155. Why do we pray God to replenish our Sovereign with the grace of his Holy Spirit? That she may always incline to his will and walk in his way. "Incline mine heart unto thy testimonies, teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes, and I shall keep it unto the end." (Ps. cxix. 33.) 156. What are the heavenly gifts with which we beseech God to endue our Sovereign plenteously? "The spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge, and the fear of the Lord." (Isa. xi. 2.) 157. In what do we pray our Sovereign may live long? In health and wealth. "Thou wilt prolong the king's life, and his years unto many generations." (Ps. Ixi. 6.) 158. Is it right to pray that our Sovereign may overcome all her enemies? Yes; because the Church supposes that Christian princes, acting on Christian principles, will engage in no wars but such as are just in themselves, and necessary for the defence of their kingdoms. 159. What do we pray our Sovereign may finally attain ? Everlasting joy and felicity, through Jesus Christ our Lord. "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." (2 Tim. iv. 8.) 160. Repeat the prayer for the Royal Family. ALMIGHTY God, the fountain of all goodness, we humbly beseech thee to bless the Prince Albert, Albert Prince of Wales, and all the Royal Family: Endue them with thy Holy Spirit; enrich them with thy heavenly grace; prosper them with all happiness; and bring them to thine everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 161. Why do we use a prayer for the Royal Family? Because they are the future hopes of the kingdom and Church, and our welfare in Church and State depends very much upon their righteousness. Therefore we pray, "give the king thy judgments, O Lord, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.” (Ps. Ixxii. 1.) 162. Repeat the prayer for the Clergy and People. ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who alone workest great marvels; Send down upon our Bishops and Curates, and all Congregations committed to their charge, the healthful Spirit of thy grace; and that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honour of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen. 163. Has this prayer been long used in the Church? It is as old as the fifth century, being found in the Sacramentary of Gelasius, A.D. 494. We can have no reasonable doubt that it has been used by the English Church for above twelve hundred years. 164. What do the Bishops, and Curates, and all congregations committed to their charge compose? C A Church. 165. Is it incorrect to call the clergy the Church? Yes; they are only the ministers of the Church, which consists of clergy and people united. 166. How is the word Church used in Scripture ? 1st. It comprehends the whole body of true believers. As where St. Paul calls "Christ the head of the Church." (Eph. v. 23.) 2ndly. It is applied to Christians in particular cities, as where St. Paul calls the Corinthians "the Church of God which is at Corinth.” (1 Cor. i. 2.) 3rdly. It is applied to believers in a single family, as where St. Paul says, "greet Priscilla and Aquila, likewise greet the Church that is in their house." (Rom. xvi. 3. 5.) What do we pray God to send down upon his Church? The healthful Spirit of his grace. "Grace unto you, and peace from God the Father, and from his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ." (Phil. i. 2.) 167. What do we beseech God to pour upon the Bishops and Curates, that they may truly please Him? The continual dew of his blessing. "He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation." (Ps. xxiv. 5.) .168. For whose honour do we pray God to grant these petitions? For the honour of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. "That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thess. i. 11, 12.) 169. Repeat the Prayer of St. Chrysostom. ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee; and dost promise that when two or three are gathered together in thy Name thou wilt grant their requests: Fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world a knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen. 170. Why is this prayer called the Prayer of St. Chrysostom? Because it is taken from the Liturgy of Chrysostom, who lived A.D. 398. 171. What has God given us grace to do? With one accord to make our common supplication unto Him, as the Christians of old, who continued " with one accord in prayer and supplication." (Acts i. 14.) 172. What promise do we here remind Christ of? "If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." (John xiv. 14.) 173. How many of our desires and petitions do we request Him to fulfil ? Such as are most expedient for us, leaving it entirely to his wisdom and goodness to decide how far the petitions are according to |