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best, a happy issue out of all his afflictions.

As these last Scriptures fall upon our ears we may pray, Compassionate Father, grant me the pitiful. eye and the open, ready hand; grant me humbly and tenderly and wisely to help the sick and needy; and of Thine infinite mercy deal graciously with me when my time of trouble shall come.

We have only skimmed the surface of these sentences a patient study of them will reveal many lessons we have passed over; but the briefest consideration awakens many subjects of selfinquiry. Have we acted as faithful stewards of that which God has given us? Have we denied ourselves all vain and foolish expenses? Have we given a just proportion of our income to God and to His cause? Even under the patriarchal dispensation Jacob said, Of all that Thou givest me, I will surely give the tenth unto Thee." Many Christians give far more than this, constrained by love to Him who gave all for us. What is our rule? And, above all, do we give with gladness of heart, knowing that the Lord loveth a cheerful giver?

"God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ."-GAL. vi. 14.

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died,

a Gen. xxviii. 22.

My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ, my God;
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See, from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down ;
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,

Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were an offering far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.

WATTS.

THE PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH
MILITANT.

And when there is a Communion, the Priest shall then place upon the Table so much bread and wine as he shall think sufficient.

After which done, the Priest shall say,

Let us pray for the whole state of Christ's Church militant here in earth.

then

*If there be
no alms or ob-
lations,
shall the words
[of accepting
our alms and
oblations]
left out unsaid.

be

ALMIGHTY and everliving God, who by Thy holy apostle hast taught us to make prayers, and supplications, and to give thanks, for all men; We humbly beseech Thee most mercifully [* to accept our alms and oblations, and] to receive these our prayers, which we offer unto Thy Divine Majesty; beseeching Thee to inspire continually the universal Church with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord: And grant, that all they that do confess Thy holy Name may agree in the truth of Thy holy Word, and live in unity and We beseech Thee also to save and defend all Christian kings, princes, and governors; and specially Thy servant VICTORIA our Queen; that under her we may be godly and quietly governed: And grant unto her whole Council, and to all that are put in authority under her, that they may truly and indifferently minister justice, to the punishment of wickedness and vice, and to the maintenance of Thy true religion and virtue. Give grace, O

godly love.

heavenly Father, to all bishops and curates, that they may both by their life and doctrine set forth Thy true and lively Word, and rightly and duly administer Thy holy Sacraments: And to all Thy people give Thy heavenly grace; and especially to this congregation here present;

that, with meek heart and due reverence, they may hear, and receive Thy holy Word; truly serving Thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life. And we most humbly beseech Thee of Thy goodness, O Lord, to comfort and succour all them who in this transitory life are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity. And we also bless Thy holy Name for all Thy servants departed this life in Thy faith and fear; beseeching Thee to give us grace so to follow their good examples, that with them we may be partakers of Thy heavenly kingdom: Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ's sake, our only Mediator and Advocate.

Amen.

There

THE entreaty (Oremus, etc.) is instructive. is no similar preface to other prayers in this office. But the danger is great of being absorbed in our own personal needs and cares, perhaps spiritual needs and spiritual cares; but still, however momentous, not extending beyond ourselves or the immediate circle in which we move. When, therefore, the words, "Let us pray for the whole state of Christ's Church militant here in earth," fall upon our ears, it is as a trumpet call reminding us, "No man liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself;" we are soldiers in the army of the Lord of hosts; we are members of the whole family in heaven and earth. The very demand thus made upon us elevates us. It is like a strong arm lifting us out of the narrow cell of our own little interests, and advancing us to the high privilege of being intercessors for our brethren with God.

1. In the opening of the prayer we plead God's warrant for this, as if it might otherwise be pre

sumptuous in us to take so much upon ourselves. The inspired direction referred to" is express. We are the Lord's remembrancers; we are of the royal priesthood; and it appertains to the function of the priesthood to pray for others.

d

to

2. We then humbly beseech God most mercifully to accept our alms and oblations and prayers. Our alms are represented by those which we have then cast into the Lord's treasury. If our oblations refer to the bread and wine, which have also now been placed on the table of the Lord, it is a simple and beautiful token that we desire honour the Lord with our substance and with the firstfruits of all our increase. As one has said, "The bread and wine, God's good gifts to us, are offered to Him to be blessed by Him, and given back to us as the signs and sacraments of better gifts still." And then with our gifts we offer our prayers. Our alms can relieve but a few cases of distress out of many, but our prayers may embrace the needs of the whole Church of God. May it

a 1 Tim. ii. 1.

Isa. lxii. 6, margin. CI Peter ii. 9.

a The word oblations probably also embraced other offerings of fruits of the earth, which used aforetime to be given to God at this service. Some maintain that oblations refer to larger gifts of money; but as the words of the rubric in the margin are "alms or oblations," it seems that a distinction in kind is intended. There is no semblance of superstition in this act; indeed, it is a protest against Romish error, for the bread and wine are not consecrated when they are thus placed on the Lord's table and spoken of as "oblations."

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