Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

of high importance. Thereon depends the peace of our consciences, the holiness of our hearts and lives, and our admission at last into God's everlasting kingdom.

It is supposed in this petition that our stedfastness in the faith will be tried; and, indeed, it is "the trial of our faith, which, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, shall be found unto praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ." The subtilty of Satan, the sophistry of men, and the pride and unbelief of our own hearts, will bring our stedfastness to a severe test, which nothing but the sustaining power of Almighty grace can enable us to withstand. And besides these internal conflicts, which all may expect to endure in a greater or less degree, we know not to what outward tribulation the profession of a true faith may expose us. That man

does not know the force of temptation, the sophistry of infidelity, nor the pride and treachery of his own fallen heart, who is not conscious of his danger; and who doth not discern clearly the necessity of crying to the strong for strength, that he may be "kept stedfast in the faith.

In the use of this petition we implore grace, not only that we may be preserved in the outward and unremitted profession of sound doctrine, but also in the inward experience and enjoyment of it. The doctrine of the Trinity in Unity, as connected with redemption, is the ground of all spiritual comfort, and the motive to all evangelical holiness; so that on the stedfastness of the mind in the belief of it depend our consolations and our hopes, our energies and unremitted acts of obedience. We pray, therefore, that we may be enabled so to believe in the Deity of Christ and of his Spirit, that we may derive from that belief the comfort which it affords, and the sanctification which it produces. If our views of the dignity which belongs to the person of Christ be at any time clouded, the validity of his atonement will proportionally become suspicious, the efficacy of his death appear to be doubtful, and the prevalency of his intercession be called in question. If the glory of the Spirit's Godhead be obscured, we can have no confidence that the work of grace will ever be accomplished, that sin will be eradi

cated from our hearts, and our souls be made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light. We shall then fear the power of our enemies; and if the doubt become predominant, shall either fall back into indifference and the spirit of the world, or sink into despair. Faith in the doctrine of the Trinity is the very sinew of godliness; without it, spirituality of mind, victory over the world, peace of conscience, and a good hope in death, are impossibilities. O how needful, then, is the petition of our collect, that we may be kept stedfast in this faith! A dereliction of this would be apostacy from God and from Christianity; it would leave us under the guilt of our sins and the curse of the law, with all the "additional criminality of having trampled under foot the Son of God, and done despite to the Spirit of grace."

We proceed to pray for defence from all adversities. This is added with great propriety; for a confession of a true faith will expose us to adversities. In the early ages of Christianity, its confessors were exposed to all manner of outward adversities. They "had trials of cruel mockings and scourgings; yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword; they wandered about in sheep-skins and goat-skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented." And though, through the merciful providence of God, we are at present free from the danger of imprisonment or death for an avowal of the truth, yet "all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." The siftings of Satan, the sneers of the world, and the raging of corruption, are adversities from which none are exempt; and the bitterness of which the heart that endures them only knows, and from which God only can defend us. The confessor of a true faith is enlisted as a soldier, and must fight the good fight, finish his course, and keep the faith, ere he can wear the crown of righteousness. 'But God is faithful, who will not suffer" those who lean on his protection "to be tempted above that they are able; but will, with the temptation, also make a way to escape, that they may be able to bear it." And while we "believe in God the Father, who made us and all the world," as

66

our reconciled Father, our "Almighty and everlasting God;" while we "believe in God the Son, who redeemed us and all mankind," as our "Almighty and everlasting God" and Saviour; and "in God the Holy Ghost, who sanctifieth the elect people of God," as our sanctifier and comforter; we have an hope that maketh not ashamed, a ground of confidence of which we may boast before men and devils. For our Triune God "liveth and reigneth world without end. Amen."

First Sunday after Trinity.-"O God, the strength of all them that put their trust in thee, mercifully accept our prayers; and because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without thee, grant us the help of thy grace, that in keeping of thy commandments we may please thee, both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

There are two acknowledgments in this Collect.

I. That God is the strength of all them that trust in him.

II. (Which is the ground of our prayer for help,) that we can do no good thing without him.

I. The weaker we are, and feel ourselves to be, the more is God's strength vouchsafed for us.

Hence St. Paul's declaration. (2 Cor. xii. 10.) For (2 Cor. xii. 9.) God's strength is shewn :

1st. In hearing his people. (Ps. xx. 6.)

2nd. In delivering them from fear. (Ps. xxvii. 1. and Is. xli. 10.)

3rd. In delivering them from trouble. (Ps. xlvi. 1.) 4th. In making them glad with a holy joy. (Ps. xxviii. 7, 8.)

God is the strength of his people now in Christ. (Phil. iv. 13.)

II. That we can do no good thing without God.

1. Because while we are yet sinners-that is, standing alone in our iniquities-we are without strength. (Rom. v. 6.)

2. Because in our flesh dwelleth no good thing. (Rom. vii. 18.)

3. Because in our natural state we bring forth "fruit unto death." (Rom, vii. 5.)

E

4. Because they only who live by faith in the Son of God do what is good, (Gal. ii. 20.)

One Article of Prayer in this Collect:

That God would grant us the help of his grace.
I. In order that we may keep his commandments.
Grace came by Jesus Christ. (John i. 17.)

Christ commands us to ask for grace. (John xvi. 24.) God gives grace. (James iv. 6.)

In what frame of mind we must ask it. (James iv. 6.) According to what we must ask it. (1 John v. 14.) What the grace of God was intended to teach us. (Titus ii. 12.) What the end of God's grace is. (Titus iii. 7.)

The motive on which we are to keep God's commandments is, John xiv. 15. Our prayer therefore should be, 1 Kings viii. 57, 58.

II. That, herein, we may please him both in will and deed.

General declaration of our natural state. (Rom. viii. 8.) Our doings are pleasing in God's sight according as our motive is right, for he looks at the heart. (1 Sam. xvi. 7.)

And as our hearts are naturally unclean, our wills, and so our deeds, must be unclean. (Job xiv. 4.) The apostle, therefore, recognized that God only works in us what is pleasing to him. (Heb. xiii. 20, 21. Phil. ii. 13.) Our prayer, therefore, should be, Ps. cxix. 36. From this collect we may deduce the three following principles :

1. That our moving principle in securing God must be alone the love of Christ.

2. Our moving power must be the grace of God.

3. Our moving object unto which we look, the glory of God.

Second Sunday after Trinity.-"O Lord, who never failest to help and govern them whom thou dost bring up in thy stedfast fear and love; Keep us, we beseech thee, under the protection of thy good providence, and make us to have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

There is one acknowledgment in this Collect:

That God never fails to help and govern his children, whom he is bringing up.

If we are God's true children, we may be sure, as is

here contemplated, that we must grow in grace, and that God is "bringing us up."

God looks upon his redeemed people as children. (Gal. iv. 56.) Unto such, God is a Father in Jesus Christ. (John xx. 17.) God promises never to leave or forsake them. (Heb. xiii. 5.)

Our prayer, therefore, should be, Ps. xxxviii. 21, 22.
There are two Articles of Prayer.

I. That God would keep us under the protection of his good providence.

Providence is the Almighty power of God, by which he protects each one of his people from evil, and provides them with good, in the smallest as well as the most important things of life. David, in the midst of Saul's persecution, (see 2 Sam. xxii.) and Daniel, in the reigns of Nebuchadnezzar and Darius-particular instances of Providence.

God promises that a man, viz., Jesus Christ, in figurative language, shall thus protect. (Is. xxxii. 2.)

This Providence of God shewn,

1. In providing for the bodily wants of his children. (Matt. vi. 30, 34.)

2. In providing for their spiritual wants. (Ephes. iii. 20.) 3. In keeping them from falling. (Jude 24.)

4. In enabling them to stand against the devil. (Ephes. vi. 11-13.)

5. In giving them an escape from particular temptations. (1 Cor. x. 13.)

Our point of enquiry should be, whether we are of that number to whom these promises are assured. (Rom. viii. 28. and Matt. vi. 33.)

Second Article of Prayer.

That God would make us to have a perpetual fear and love of his holy name.

The wicked hath no fear of God. (Ps. xxxvi. 1.)
The fear of the Lord is shewn. (Prov. viii. 13.)

The Christian should walk in the fear of God. (Neh. v. 9.) His fear is not that which should lead him to hide from God. (Rev. vi. 16, 17. and Is. ii. 10.) There is none of this fear in his love. (1 John iv. 18.)

Fear and love are the character of a Christian. (1 Pet.

« AnteriorContinuar »