lowing question and answer is illustrated in Sects. III. 3, IV. 4, V. 5, VII. 8.

2. That of the second table is illustrated in Sects. VIII. 1, 4, 5, 6; IX. 6; X. 6; XI. 5; XII. 6; XIII. 2, 5.

PART IV.

THE CHRISTIAN PRAYER.

Catechist: MY GOOD CHILD, KNOW THIS, THAT

THOU ART NOT ABLE TO DO THESE THINGS OF THY

SELF, NOR TO WALK IN THE COMMANDMENTS OF
GOD, AND TO SERVE HIM, WITHOUT HIS SPECIAL
GRACE; WHICH THOU MUST LEARN AT ALL TIMES
LET ME

TO CALL FOR BY DILIGENT PRAYER.
HEAR THEREFORE IF THOU CANST SAY THE LORD'S
PRAYER.

I. 1. THESE THINGS, i.e., which are enjoined in the Ten Commandments, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO DO OF OURSELVES, by our own unassisted power, because we are by nature weak and corrupt.

"For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not," Rom. vii. 18. "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please GOD; Rom. viii. 8. "The natural man receiveth not the things of the SPIRIT of GOD: for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned," 1 Cor. ii. 14. "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our

sufficiency is of GOD," 2 Cor. iii. 5. Compare Gen. viii. 21; Ps. xiv. 3; lviii. 3; Eccles. vii. 20; ix. 3; Jer. x. 23; xvii. 9; Rom. iii. 9, 23; Gal. iii. 22; S. James iii. 2; 1 S. John i. 8, 10.

2. We are not able to do them, NOR TO WALK IN THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, AND TO SERVE HIM, WITHOUT HIS SPECIAL GRACE, that is, without His favour and help freely granted for this particular purpose, namely, to enable us so to walk, and to serve Him.

3. It is here implied, that, with the aid of GOD'S grace, we shall be able to walk in His Commandments, and to serve Him truly.

"My grace is sufficient for thee, for My strength is made perfect in weakness," 2 Cor. xii. 9. "I can do all things through CHRIST Which strengtheneth me," Phil. iv. 13. Compare Ps. cxix. 25, 32, 34; Rom. xvi 25; Heb. ii. 18; 2 S. Pet. ii. 9; 1 S. John iv. 4. See Part I. Sect. VII. 11.

4. Not that we can ever be able to attain to a perfect and unsinning obedience in this life; but only to such perfection as can consist with our present condition, and such as is acceptable to Him.

5. The admonition also implies that GOD will grant to us the special grace which we call for by diligent prayer.

Ask, and it shall be given you," S. Matt. vii. 7. "All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive," S. Matt. xxi. 22. "If ye abide in Me, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you," S. John xv. 7. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask

L

of GOD That giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him," S. James i. 5. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much," Ibid. v. 16. "If we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us," 1 S. John v. 14. See Job xxii. 27; Ps. xxxiv. 15; cxlv. 19; Isa. lxv. 24; Jer. xxix. 12, 13; S. Luke xi. 13; Rom. x. 13; S. John ix. 31; 1 S. Peter iii. 12.

6. Divine Grace is both pre-venient and cooperative.

First. "Preventing grace comes upon us before we have any good inclinations, and puts into our minds good desires.

"Without Me ye can do nothing," S. John xv. 5. "No man can come unto Me, except the FATHER Which hath sent Me, draw him;" S. John vi. 44. "It is GOD Which worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure," Phil. ii. 13. Compare Ps. cx. 3; Acts xvi. 14; Rom. v. 5; 2 Cor. iii. 5.

Secondly. "Assisting or co-operating grace" enables us to carry these good intentions and good desires into practice.

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"Likewise, the SPIRIT also helpeth our infirmities," Rom. viii. 26. "By the grace of GOD, I am what I am; and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain," 1 Cor. xv. 10. My grace is sufficient for thee; for My strength is made perfect in weakness," 2 Cor. xii. It is GOD Which worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure," Phil. ii. 13. See S. John xv. 5; Ephes. iii. 16; Phil. i. 29; Hebrews iv. 16.

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7. Preventing and co-operating grace is thus described in Article X. of our Church.

"The condition of man after the fall of Adam is such that he cannot turn and prepare himself, by his own natural strength and good works, to faith, and calling upon GOD. Wherefore we have no power to do good works pleasant and acceptable to GOD, without the grace of GOD preventing us, that we may have a good will, and working with us, when we have that good will." See also the Collects for Easter-day; fifth Sunday after Easter; third, ninth, seventeenth, nineteenth, twentyfifth Sunday after Trinity; second Collect for the Evening Service; and fourth Collect at the end of the Communion.

8. This special grace, therefore, we MUST LEARN AT ALL TIMES TO CALL FOR BY DILIGENT PRAYER;

since this is the appointed means of obtaining it, Sect. I. 5: and therefore we are taught to use the LORD's Prayer, in which we DESIRE OUR LORD GOD, WHO IS THE GIVER OF ALL GOODNESS, TO SEND HIS GRACE UNTO US, AND TO ALL PEOPLE.

9. Prayer is an address offered up to GOD, which may be done either inwardly and mentally, or by word of mouth; and it consists of the following parts, viz.:

1st. Confession; or an acknowledgment of sin. 2ndly. Supplication; or intreating for the grant of some good, or the removal of some evil. 3rdly. Intercession; or petitioning for others. 4thly. Praise and thanksgiving.

10. There are three kinds of prayer:

1st. Public prayer; or the worship of GoD jointly with the congregation of the people.

2ndly. Domestic prayer; or the worship of GoD with our families.

3rdly. Private prayer; or the worship of GoD in private.

11. For the due performance of these several parts and kinds of prayer, instruction is needed, as is implied in the expression, WE MUST LEARN TO CALL, &c. The ability to pray aright requires a training. It must be learned by much pains and practice.

12. Hence arises the necessity of early training, and the supreme importance of a religious educa

tion.

13. We must call upon GOD not merely at the times of public worship or of family prayer, but AT ALL TIMES, whenever opportunity offers, without intermission. We are to be always in the spirit of prayer; to be continually lifting up our hearts to GOD.

"Continue instant in prayer," Rom. xii. 12. " Praying always with all prayer," Ephes. vi. 18. "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same," Col. iv. 2. "Pray without ceasing," 1 Thess. v. 17. See Acts x. 2; Phil. iv. 6; 1 Tim. ii. 8; 1 S. Pet. iv. 7.

14. We must also call upon GOD BY DILIGENT PRAYER, for the proper exercise of which suitable dispositions are required; as for instance,

1st. Repentance; 2 Chron. vii. 14; Ps. ix. 12; x. 17; xxiv. 3, 6; xxxiv. 15; Prov. xv. 8; 2 Tim. ii. 22; Heb. x. 19-22; S. James iv. 8; v. 16.

2ndly. Faith; S. Matt. xxi. 22; S. Mark xi. 24; S. John xv. 7; Heb. xi. 6; S. James i. 6; v. 15; S. Jude 20.

3rdly. Sincerity; Ps. xvii. 1; cxlv. 18; Jer. xxix. 13; S. Matt. vi. 5; 2 Tim. ii. 22; Heb. x. 22. 4thly. Humility; Ps. ix. 12; xcv. 6; Dan. ix. 18; Isa. lxvi. 2; S. Matt. vi. 5, 6; Acts ix. 11.