74. SAINT PHILIP AND SAINT JAMES'S DAY.

O ALMIGHTY GOD, Whom truly to know is everlasting life; grant us perfectly to know Thy Son Jesus Christ to be the Way, the Truth, and the Life: that following the steps of Thy holy Apostles, Saint Philip and Saint James, we may stedfastly walk in the way that leadeth to eternal life, through the same Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Quest. What is meant by "knowing God truly ?" Ans. To know Him in truth of doctrine, with sincerity of practice.

Quest. What will be the reward of this knowledge diligently attained?

Ans. "Everlasting life."

"This is life eternal, that

they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom Thou hast sent." John xvii. 3.

Quest. How did our Lord grant to St. Philip and His other Apostles to know Him?

Ans. As "The Way, the Truth, and the Life." John xiv. 6.

Quest. How is Jesus Christ "the Way ?"

Ans. "No man cometh unto the Father but by Him." John xiv. 6.

Quest. How is He "the Truth ?"

Ans. As He is the performance of "the mercy promised." Luke i. 72. "The Only-Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." John i. 14.

H

Quest. How is He "the Life ?"

Ans. "As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." 1 Cor. xv. 22.

Quest. How may we "stedfastly walk in the way that leadeth to eternal life?"

Ans. By "following the steps of the holy Apostles St. Philip and St. James."

Quest. How was the stedfastness of these Apostles manifested?

Ans. In being unmoved from the service of God by popular fury; and suffering martyrdom cheerfully.

75. SAINT BARNABAS THE APOSTLE.

O LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, Who didst endue Thy holy Apostle Barnabas with singular gifts of the Holy Ghost; leave us not, we beseech Thee, destitute of Thy manifold gifts, nor yet of grace to use them always to Thy honour and glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Quest. With what did Almighty God "endue the holy Apostle Barnabas ?"

Ans. "With singular gifts of the Holy Ghost."

Quest. What do you mean by "singular gifts ?"

Ans. Such as were very remarkable and preeminent. "He (Barnabas) was a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith." Acts xi. 24.

Quest. What are the "manifold gifts" of the Holy Ghost?

Ans. They are generally reckoned seven. "The spirit of wisdom and understanding; the spirit of counsel and

ghostly strength; the spirit of knowledge and true godliness; and the spirit of God's holy fear." Confirmation Service.

Quest. When is the increase of them specially invoked?

Ans. When we renew and ratify the vows of Baptism; and the promised aid of Divine grace is confirmed to us with laying on of hands by the Bishop.

Quest. Is it possible after all to be "destitute of these manifold gifts?"

Ans. Yes; if we "neglect the gift that is in us ;" 1 Tim. iv. 14. or, quench the influences of the Holy Spirit. 1 Thess. v. 19.

Quest. What do these blessed influences afford us? Ans. Grace to profit withal, and to "use the manifold gifts of God always to His honour and glory."

76. SAINT JOHN BAPTIST'S DAY.

ALMIGHTY GOD, by whose providence Thy servant John Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of Thy Son our Saviour, by preaching of repentance; make us so to follow his doctrine and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching; and after his example constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth's sake, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Quest. How was John the Baptist "wonderfully born?” Ans. When his father Zacharias was "an old man, and his wife well-stricken in years." Luke i. 18.

Quest. For what purpose was John the Baptist sent? Ans. "To prepare the way of the Son of God our Saviour." "Thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest; for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways." Luke i. 76.

'Repent ye, for Matt. iii. 2.

Quest. How did he set about this? Ans. "By preaching of repentance." the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." Quest. How are we "to follow the doctrine" of St. John the Baptist?

Ans. By "truly repenting according to his preaching." Quest. What do you mean by "according to his preaching ?"

Ans. Thinking of the argument by which he enforced repentance.

Quest. What was that?

Ans. The coming of Christ.

Quest. What else does the example of this holy man teach us?

Ans. "

Constantly to speak the truth, and boldly

rebuke vice."

Quest. When did John the Baptist do this?

Ans. When he said to Herod, respecting Herodias his brother Philip's wife, "It is not lawful for thee to have her." Matt. xiv. 4.

Quest. How did he "patiently suffer for the truth's sake?"

Ans. Being shut up in prison, and afterwards beheaded.

77. SAINT PETER'S DAY.

O ALMIGHTY GOD, Who by Thy Son Jesus Christ didst give to Thy Apostle Saint Peter

many excellent gifts, and commandedst him earnestly to feed Thy flock; make, we beseech Thee, all Bishops and Pastors diligently to preach Thy holy Word, and the people obediently to follow the same; that they may receive the crown of everlasting glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Quest. What did our Lord Jesus Christ give to St. Peter? Ans. "Many excellent gifts," and in particular the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Quest. How was St. Peter instructed to use these keys ?

Ans. In opening the gate of Christ's Kingdom to the Gentile world. See Acts x.

Quest. Were the other Apostles invested with like authority?

Ans. Yes; for St. Paul says, "Have we not power, as the brethren of the Lord and Peter ?" 1 Cor. ix. 5. and, "I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest Apostles." 2 Cor. xi. 5.

Quest. What did our Lord Jesus Christ, having " given St. Peter many excellent gifts," "earnestly command him ?"

Ans. "To feed His flock."

Quest. What is to be learnt from this?

Ans. We learn to pray that God would "make all Bishops and Pastors diligently to preach His holy Word ?"

Quest. Of what use is their diligently preaching God's holy Word?

Ans. That "the people may obediently follow the

same."