Quest. Will God "mercifully receive the prayers of His people ?"

Ans. Yes; David says, "The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer." Ps. vi. 9. Quest. Who are the "people" of God?

Ans. All true Christians "who call upon Him."

Quest. What is "calling upon God?"

Ans. Praying to Him earnestly in any danger or perplexity. "Call upon Me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee." Ps. 1. 15.

Quest. Why do you ask that you "may perceive what things you ought to do?"

Ans. Lest through blindness or negligence I should overlook them.

Quest. Why do you also ask to "know them?"

Ans. That I may rightly understand my duties.

Quest. When we "both perceive and know what we ought to do," does this ensure that we shall "faithfully fulfil the same?"

Ans. No; we must "have grace and power" from God. Quest. Why must we "have grace?"

Ans. To change and overcome a sinful aversion from our duties.

Quest. Why must we ask to "have power" also?

Ans. Because of our unassisted weakness, "He giveth power to the weak, and to those that have no might He increaseth strength." Isaiah xl. 29.

Quest. What do you mean by "fulfilling the things we ought to do faithfully?"

Ans. Doing them with sincerity and earnestness.

C

13. SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY.

ALMIGHTY and Everlasting God, Who dost govern all things in heaven and earth; mercifully hear the supplications of Thy people, and grant us Thy peace all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Quest. Why do you call upon God as " Almighty and Everlasting?"

Ans. Because He has so declared Himself for our encouragement and comfort. Genesis xvii. 1. Psalm xc. 2. xci. 1. Isaiah xl. 28. 2 Cor. vi. 18.

Quest. Who"

governs all things in heaven and earth ?” Ans. God, Who is "Almighty and Everlasting." Quest. What should we do when cross accidents disturb us?

Ans. We should pray that Almighty God would “ 'give His people the blessing of peace." Psalm xxix. 11. Quest. What kind of peace do we here ask for, "grant us Thy peace ?"

Ans. Peace with Him "Who doth govern all things in heaven and earth." "The peace of God which passeth Philipp. iv. 2.

all understanding." Quest. How long

remain with us?

do we pray that this peace would

Ans. "All the days of our life."

Quest. If the peace of God is "granted to us all the days of our life," will it then leave us?

Ans. No. For "the righteous shall enter into peace," Isaiah lvii. 2. and have "quietness and assurance for ever." Isaiah xxxii. 17.

14. THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities, and in all our dangers and necessities stretch forth Thy right hand to help and defend us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Quest. What do you mean by "infirmities ?"

Ans. Sins committed unintentionally through weakness or surprise.

Quest. Have we any encouragement to think that Almighty God will" mercifully look upon our infirmities ?"

Ans. Yes; "He knoweth our frame: He remembereth that we are dust." Ps. ciii. 14.

Quest. Can we ask God" mercifully to look upon" our wilful sins?

Ans. Not until we have repented of, and forsaken them. Quest. What are our infirmities" liable to bring upon

us?

Ans. "Dangers and necessities."

Quest. How shall we escape from them?

Ans. By entreating that Almighty God would "stretch forth His right hand to help and defend us."

Quest. Why do you ask that God would "defend" as well as "help" you?

Ans. I pray that He would "defend" me from "dangers," and help me in " all my necessities."

Quest. What do you mean by asking that Almighty God would" stretch forth His right hand" to do this? Ans. I entreat Him to exert His special Power and Providence in my favour. "Save with Thy right hand, and hear me." Ps. lx. 5. "Thy right hand shall save me." Ps. cxxxviii. 7.

Quest. Is Almighty God likely to do this if we are careless of offending Him?

Ans. No: we must "watch" as well as " enter not into temptation." Matt. xxvi. 41.

pray that we

15. FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY.

O GOD, Who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright; grant to us such strength and protection, as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Quest. What dangers are we "set in the midst of?"
Ans. "Many and great dangers."

Quest. What do you mean by saying that we are

in the midst" of them?

Ans. That they surround us on all sides.

Quest. What kind of dangers are they that are many and great?"

set

Ans. Chiefly of three kinds: error of doctrine; sinful practice; and the evil accidents of life.

Quest. Are we often exposed to these?

Ans. Yes, continually.

Quest. What makes the "danger" of them so "great?" Ans. The "frailty" or weakness" of our nature." Quest. What is the consequence of "this frailty of our nature."

Ans. That " by reason of it we cannot always stand upright."

Quest. What do you mean by standing upright? Ans. Keeping strict and firm in adherence to our duty. Quest. What do weak persons need who "cannot always stand upright?"?

Ans. " Strength and protection."

Quest. What is "strength and protection granted to us by God" sufficient for?

Ans. "To support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations."

Quest. What do you mean by "temptations ?"

Ans. Whatever tempts or persuades us to disbelieve the power and goodness of God, or to disobey Him.

Quest. Has Almighty God any where promised to support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations ?

Ans. Yes: "Cast thy burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain thee." Psalm lv. 22. "God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 1 Cor. x. 13.

16. FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY.

O LORD, we beseech Thee to keep Thy Church and household continually in Thy true religion; that they who do lean only upon the hope of Thy heavenly grace, may evermore be defended by Thy mighty power; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Quest. Is the "Church" God's "household ?"

Ans. Yes; for St. Paul says to the Church at Ephesus, "Ye are of the household of God." Eph. ii. 19.