19. Why do we pray to be delivered from fornication and all other deadly sin? Because "neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven." (1 Cor. vi. 18.) 20. Why do we pray God to deliver us from lightning, and tempest, &c.? Because we are told that "God is a very present help in trouble: therefore will we not fear, though the earth be moved, and the hills be carried into the midst of the sea." (Ps. xlvi. 1, 2.) 21. Why do we beseech God to deliver us from sudden death? Reason and religion direct us so to do. Even to the believer, longer space is desirable for more complete preparation; and the unbeliever may well exclaim, like the Psalmist, "O my God, take me not away in the midst of days!" (Ps. cii. 24.) 22. Why do we pray to be delivered from sedition, privy conspiracy, and rebellion? Because "the works of the flesh are hatred, variance, wrath, strife, seditions." (Gal. v. 19, 20.) 23. Why from false doctrine, heresy, and schism? Because the Apostle says, "Let there be no divisions among you ; but be ye all joined in the same mind, and in the same judgment." (1 Cor. i. 10.) 24. Why from hardness of heart, and contempt of God's Word and commandment? Because "their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom go up as the dust, who have cast away the law of the Lord of Hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel." (Isa. v. 24.) 25. In what do the beauty and force of the eleventh and twelfth verses consist, and which commence "by the mystery of thy holy Incarnation, by thy holy Nativity," &c. ? We beseech God for the sake of all that Christ has done, and suffered for us, from his Incarnation to his glorious Ascension, and by the coming of the Holy Ghost, that He would be gracious and be merciful unto us. The most striking events in the Redeemer's life are here enumerated in order, and presented before God as the ground and foundation of our prayer. 26. Why do we pray to God for deliverance in all time of our tribulation? Because "He is the God of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulation." (2 Cor. i. 3, 4.) 27. Why in the time of our wealth? "Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord." (Prov. xxx. 9.) 28. Why do we beseech Him to deliver us in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment? Because at death we should be ready to exclaim, "Into thy hand I commend my spirit; thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth." (Ps. xxxi. 5.) 29. What portion of the Litany now follows? That which is called the Intercession, wherein we intercede with God for all orders and degrees of men in their due places, so that there is no sort of persons who are not enumerated therein. 30. Repeat part of the Intercessions, from the beginning of the 14th to the end of the 23rd verse. 14. We sinners do beseech thee to hear us, O Lord God; and that it may please thee to rule and govern thy holy Church universal in the right way; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. 15. That it may please thee to keep and strengthen in the true worshipping of thee, in righteousness and holiness of life, thy servant VICTORIA, our most gracious Queen and Go vernour; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. 16. That it may please thee to rule her heart in thy faith, fear, and love, and that she may evermore have affiance in thee, and ever seek thy honour and glory; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. 17. That it may please thee to be her defender and keeper, giving her the victory over all her enemies ; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. 18. That it may please thee to bless and preserve the Prince Albert, Albert Prince of Wales, and all the Royal Family; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. 19. That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, with true knowledge and understanding of thy Word; and that both by their preaching and living they may set it forth, and shew it accordingly; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. 20. That it may please thee to endue the Lords of the Council, and all the Nobility, with grace, wisdom, and understanding; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. 21. That it may please to bless and keep the Magistrates, giving them grace to execute justice, and to maintain truth; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. 22. That it may please thee to bless and keep all thy people; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. 23. That it may please thee to defend, and provide for, the fatherless children, and widows, and all that are desolate and oppressed; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. 31. For what do we make our first intercession? For the holy Church universal, that it may be governed in the right way, that it may ever hear God's word behind it, saying, "This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn to the left." (Isa. xxx. 21.) 32. What petition respecting the Queen is made in the 15th verse? That she may be orthodox, that is, a true worshipper of Almighty God. "Teach me thy way, O Lord, I will walk in thy truth." (Ps. lxxxvi. 11.) 33. What is the petition of the 16th verse? That the Queen may be pious, evermore having affiance in God, and ever seeking his honour and glory, like Hezekiah," who trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like unto him among all the kings of Judah, nor any before him; for he clave to the Lord, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments." (2 Kings xviii. 5, 6.) 34. What does the 17th verse pray for? That the Sovereign may be prosperous, by God's help obtaining the victory over all her enemies. "Through God shall we do valiantly for it is he that shall tread down our enemies." (Ps. lx. 12.) 35. Why do we intercede for the Royal Family, particularly for the Prince of Wales, the heir apparent? Because the security and welfare of the government in a measure depends upon them. And as the Prince of Wales is the future head of the realm, we beseech God to bless and preserve him. "Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son." (Ps. lxxii. 1.) 36. Why do we pray God to illuminate all bishops, priests, and deacons ? That "they may speak the things which become sound doctrine, shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sound speech that cannot be condemned." (Tit. i. 7, 8.) 37. Why do we pray God to endue the Lords of the Council, and all the nobility, with grace, wisdom, and understanding? Because, he says, "Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom. I am understanding; I have strength. By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth." (Prov. viii. 14, 15, 16.) 38. Why do we intercede with God for magistrates, praying that He will give them grace to execute justice, and to maintain truth? Because we are told to " pray for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty." (1 Tim. ii. 2.) 39. Why do we ask God's blessing upon all his people? Because if they be not prosperous, happy, and godly, the whole commonwealth cannot flourish. We therefore pray God "to save his people, and bless his inheritance, and lift them up for ever." (Ps. xxviii. 9.) 40. Why do we pray that it may please God to give to all nations unity, peace, and concord? "That they may beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up hand against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under his vine, and under his fig tree, and none shall make them afraid." (Micah iv. 3, 4.) 41. Proceed and repeat the Intercessions, from the beginning of the twenty-fourth to the end of the twenty-ninth verse. 24. That it may please thee to give us an heart to love and dread thee, and diligently to live after thy commandments; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. 25. That it may please thee to give to all thy people increase of grace to hear meekly thy Word, and to receive it with pure affection, and to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit ; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. 26. That it may please thee to bring into the way of truth all such as have erred, and are deceived; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. 27. That it may please thee to strengthen such as do stand; and to comfort and help the weak-hearted; and to raise up them that fall; and finally to beat down Satan under our feet; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. 28. That it may please thee to succour, help, and comfort, all that are in danger, necessity, and tribulation; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. 29. That it may please thee to preserve all that travel by land or by water, all women labouring of child, all sick persons, and young children; and to shew thy pity upon all prisoners and captives; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. 42. Why do we pray that God will give us an heart to love and dread him, &c. ? The Apostle Paul so prayed to the Thessalonians. "The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God." (2 Thess. iii. 5.) And "by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil." (Prov. xiv. 6.) 43. Why do we pray God to give all his people increase of grace, &c.? "That so we may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (2 Pet. iii. 18.) 44. What are the fruits of the Spirit for which we pray? "The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, faith, meekness, temperance." (Gal. v. 22, 23.) 45. Whom do we pray God to bring into the way of truth? All such as have erred, and are deceived. "If God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledgment of the truth, that they may recover themselves from the snare of the devil." (2 Tim. ii. 25, 26.) 46. Why do we pray God to strengthen such as do stand? Because "the Lord is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed." (Ps. xxviii. 8.) 47. Why do we ask Him to comfort and help the weak-hearted, and to raise up them that fall? Because "the Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down." (Ps. cxlv. 14.) 48. Why to beat down Satan under our feet? Because if we trust in God, "The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly." (Rom xvi. 20.) 49. Why do we pray God to succour, help, and comfort all that are in danger, necessity, and tribulation? Because "he will deliver the needy when he crieth, the poor also, and him that hath no helper." (Ps. lxxii. 12.) 50. Why do we intercede for those that travel by land or by water? Because "safety is of the Lord.” (Prov. xxi. 31.) 51. Why for all women labouring of child? Because "they shall be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, and charity, and holiness, with sobriety." (1 Tim. ii. 15.) 52. Why for all sick persons? Because "the prayer of faith shall heal the sick." (James v. 15.) 53. Why for young children? The Scripture says, "bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." (Eph. vi. 4.) 54. Why do we pray God to shew his pity upon all prisoners and captives? Because "the Lord looseth the prisoners." (Ps. clxvi. 7.) 55. Proceed with the Intercessions from the beginning of the 30th to the end of the 34th verse. 30. That it may please thee to defend and provide for the fatherless children, and widows, and all that are desolate and oppressed; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. 31. That it may please thee to have mercy upon all men ; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. 32. That it may please thee to forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and to turn their hearts; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. 33. That it may please thee to give and preserve to our use the kindly fruits of the earth, so as in due time we may enjoy them We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. 34. That it may please thee to give us true repentance; to forgive us all our sins, negligences, and ignorances; and to endue us with the grace of thy Holy Spirit, to amend our lives according to thy holy Word; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. 56. Why do we pray God to defend and provide for the fatherless children, and widows, and all that are desolate and oppressed? Because "a Father of the fatherless, and a Judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation." (Ps. lxviii. 5.) 57. Why do we beseech him to have mercy upon all men? Because "with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption." (Ps. cxxx. 7.) 58. Why do we intercede for our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers? |