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T. What did Jesus declare of him?

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S. Yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet." T. Where is the prophecy written which our Saviour repeats ?

S. Malachi, iii. 1. "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me."

T. Why are we reminded of the mission of John the Baptist at this time?

S. To prepare our hearts to commemorate the coming of Christ with repentance and amendment of life.

THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT.

The Collect.

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.

T. How do we pray God in this Collect?

S." O Lord, raise up, we pray Thee, Thy power, and come among us, and with great might succour us."

T. Give some remarkable instances of God raising up His power, and coming to deliver His people in ancient times.

S. He brought the children of Israel "out of Egypt with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with won

ders." Deut. xxvi. 8. And He sent His angel before them "to drive out the Canaanite, and the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite." Ex. xxxiii. 2. In Hezekiah's reign, when the Assyrians encamped about Jerusalem to take it, “The Angel of the Lord went out and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning they were all dead corpses." 2 Kings, xix. 35.

T. How has He come among us since?

S. In the person of Jesus Christ, "the Son of Man, who came to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke, xviii. 10; and by "the Holy Spirit of God, whereby we are sealed unto the day of redemption." Ephes. iv. 30.

T. Why do we pray to God to raise up His power, and come to our help?

S. Because" through our sins and wickedness we are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us."

T. What do we mean by "sore let?"

S. Grievously opposed.

T. What is the race that is set before us?

S. Our mortal life.

T. Are we all subject to sin ?

S. Yes; "by one man sin entered into the world." Rom. "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of Rom. iii. 23.

v. 12.

God."

T. How does St. Paul describe the hindrance of sin? Rom. vii. 23.

S. "I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members."

T. How does St. Paul exhort us to run the race that is set before us?

S. "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us. . . . Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." Heb. xii. 1, 2.

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T. And if God hears our prayer, what may we hope ?

S. "His bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us through the satisfaction of Jesus Christ."

T. How did He accomplish that satisfaction? Heb. iii. 14, 15.

S. "As the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who, through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage."

The Epistle. Philip. iv. 4.

REJOICE in the Lord alway; and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing: but in every thing, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

T. What is the earnest exhortation of St. Paul?

S. "Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I say, Rejoice."

T. Why ought we to rejoice?

S. That we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in the hope of

the glory of God;" Rom. v. 1, 2. And "the fruit of the Spirit is joy." Gal. v. 22.

T. Show from the words of Scripture that it is our duty to serve God always with joy and gladness of heart.

S. David says, "Let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice." Ps. Ixviii. 3. "God loveth a cheerful giver." 2 Cor. ix. 7. "He that showeth mercy," must do it "with cheerfulness." Rom. xii. 8. "Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted; but the rich, in that he is made low. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations," James, i. 2, 9; and “rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that when His glory shall be revealed ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." 1 Pet. iv. 13.

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T. ["Moderation means meekness, gentleness, the restraint of our wills and affections, without which we cannot have this holy joy.] What are we told of them that are Christ's? Gal. v. 24.

S." They have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts."

T. What does the grace of God teach all men? Titus, ii. 12.

S. "That, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world."

T. What reason for moderation does the Epistle give

us ?

8. "The Lord is at hand."

T. Is not the Lord ever near us?

S. Yes. He "compasseth my path and my lying down, and is acquainted with all my ways." Ps. cxxxix. 3. "Doth not He see my ways, and count all my steps?" Job, xxxi. 4.

7. How must we believe Him "at hand" in another sense?

S. As the time of His second coming draweth near. T. How may we best learn to be careful for nothing? S." Casting all our care upon Him, for He careth for us." 1 Pet. v. 7.

T. How do the cares of this world hinder our faith?

S. They choke the good seed in our hearts. Matt. xiii. 32.

T. How does our Saviour teach us perfect trust in God? Matt. vi. 31-34.

S. "Take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Take, therefore, no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."

T. How shall we preserve moderation and trust in God?

S. "By prayer and supplication."

T. How does St. James teach us to do this at all times?

S. "Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms." James, v. 13.

T. What must accompany our prayers?

S. Thanksgiving. "Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him." Col. iii. 17.

T. What ought we to observe here, "that though our Father knoweth our necessities?"

S. "Still we must make our requests known unto Him."

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