O LORD, we beseech thee, absolve thy people from their offences; that through thy bountiful goodness we may all be delivered from the bands of those sins, which by our frailty we have committed: Grant this, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ's sake, our blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.

2. From what do we beseech God to absolve his people?

From their offences. "O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not for thine own sake, O my God." (Dan. ix. 19.)

3. How are we delivered from the bands of our sins?

By God's bountiful goodness. "For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee." (Ps. lxxxvi, 5.)

4. What causes us to commit these sins ?

Our frailty. "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.)

5. For whose sake do we beseech God to grant what we have asked ?

For Jesus Christ's sake, our blessed Lord and Saviour. "O, wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom. vii. 24, 25.)

1. Repeat the Collect for the TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

STIR up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

2. What do we beseech God to stir up?

The wills of his faithful people. "Quicken me after thy lovingkindness: so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth." (Ps. cxix. 88.)

3. What ought God's faithful people plenteously to bring forth? The fruit of good works. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." (Gal. v. 22, 23.)

4. When we plenteously bring forth the fruit of good works, what may we humbly expect?

To be plenteously rewarded. "Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again, and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest." (Luke vi. 35.)

5. Is the reward for the work's sake?

No; "the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom. vi. 23.)

1. Repeat the Collect for SAINT ANDREW'S DAY.

ALMIGHTY God, who didst give such grace unto thy holy Apostle Saint Andrew, that he readily obeyed the calling of

thy Son Jesus Christ, and followed him without delay; Grant unto us all, that we, being called by thy holy Word, may forthwith give up ourselves obediently to fulfil thy holy commandments; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

2. Who was St. Andrew?

He was first of all a disciple of John the Baptist; but when he heard John proclaim Christ as 66 the Lamb of God," he left the Baptist, and followed Christ.

3. Where was St. Andrew born?

At Bethsaida, a city of Galilee: he was the son of Jonas, and brother of Simon Peter.

4. Where did he preach the Gospel?

In Cappadocia, Galatia, and also in Scythia; and v

to death for the Gospel's sake at Ægea.

I was at last put

5. What did God give the apostle Andrew grace to do? To obey readily the calling of Jesus Christ, and to follow Him without delay. "As he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him." (Mark i. 16, 17, 18.)

6. By what means are we generally called unto God?

By his holy word. "The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart." (Rom. x. 8.) "Go, preach the Gospel to every creature; he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." (Mark xvi. 15, 16.)

7. When we are called, what ought we obediently to fulfil? God's holy commandments. "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." (James i. 22.)

1. Repeat the Collect for SAINT THOMAS THE APOSTLE.

ALMIGHTY and everliving God, who for the more confirmation of the faith didst suffer thy holy Apostle Thomas to be doubtful in thy Son's resurrection; Grant us so perfectly, and without all doubt, to believe in thy Son Jesus Christ, that our faith in thy sight may never be reproved. Hear us, O Lord, through the same Jesus Christ, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and for evermore. Amen.

2. Who was St. Thomas?

He was an apostle of Christ, and was called also Didymus: his birth and extraction are not mentioned in Scriptue, but it is probable that he was a Galilean.

3. Where is he said to have preached the Gospel ?

In India, where he suffered martyrdom, being put to death by the Brachmans, or Indian priests, who hated him for preaching the Gospel of Christ.

4. Why did God suffer the holy apostle St. Thomas to be doubtful of his Saviour's resurrection?

For the more confirmation of the faith.

5. How does this tend to confirm the faith?

The proofs which were given to Thomas confirm our faith in Christ's resurrection, and convince us by the plainest evidence that the very body of our Lord, in which He suffered, was raised again.

6. How was Thomas cured of his infidelity?

"Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. After eight days, again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then said he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." (John xx. 24-29.)

7. How do we pray to believe in Christ?

So perfectly, that our faith in God's sight may never be reproved. "He that believeth on him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God." (John iii. 18.) 8. Through whom do we beseech God to hear us? Through the same Jesus Christ.

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh to the Father but by me." (John xiv. 6.)

9. To whom do we ascribe all honour and glory?

To the holy Trinity. "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.' (Rev. iv. 8.)

1. Repeat the Collect for the CONVERSION OF SAINT PAUL.

O GOD, who, through the preaching of the blessed Apostle Saint Paul, hast caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world; Grant, we beseech thee, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may shew forth our thankfulness unto thee for the same, by following the holy doctrine which he taught; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 2. Where was St. Paul born?

At Tarsus, the chief city in Cilicia. Having acquired the knowledge of human literature there, he went to Jerusalem, to study the sacred writings of the Jews under Gamaliel, and became one of the strict sect of the Pharisees, who were zealous observers of the law of Moses, and rigid persecutors of the Christians.

3. How did he become a Christian?

He was converted in a miraculous manner, and some years afterwards was ordained, and sent to preach the Gospel of Christ in various countries.

4. Where did he suffer martyrdom?

At Rome, under the tyrant Nero, at the same time with St. Peter.

5. Where has God caused the light of the Gospel to shine through the preaching of the blessed apostle St. Paul?

Throughout the world. "And the Lord said, Arise, enquire for one Saul of Tarsus; for he is a chosen vessel unto me to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel." (Acts ix. 11.) "Their sound is gone out into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world." (Rom. x. 18.)

6. Give an account of St. Paul's wonderful conversion, and which we ought to have in remembrance.

"And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" (Acts ix. 1-6.)

7. What was the effect of this heavenly vision?

He went to Damascus, and "straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God." (Acts ix. 20.)

8. How ought we to shew forth our thankfulness for his conversion?

By following the holy doctrines which he taught. "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.” (Col. ii. 16.)

1. Repeat the Collect for the PURIFICATION OF SAINT MARY THE VIRGIN.

ALMIGHTY and everliving God, we humbly beseech thy Majesty, that, as thy only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple in substance of our flesh, so we may be presented unto thee with pure and clean hearts, by the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

2. Why is this feast observed ?

Principally in memory of our Lord's being made manifest in the flesh when he was presented in the temple.

3. Has this feast been long observed ?

Yes; some say from about 540 years after Christ; others, that it was kept in St. Chrysostom's days, about the year 400.

4. Why is the term "thy Majesty" applied to God in this Collect?

It denotes the infinite dignity of God. "The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty." (Ps. xciii. 1.)

5. Shew that his only-begotten Son was presented in the temple in the substance of our flesh.

"And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms, and blessed him." (Luke ii. 25-28.) 6. How do we pray to be presented before God? With pure and clean hearts. "Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Eph. v. 25. 27.)

7. By whom do we pray to be presented unto God?

By Jesus Christ our Lord. "Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are." (John xvii. 11.)

1. Repeat the Collect for SAINT MATTHIAS'S DAY.

O ALMIGHTY God, who into the place of the traitor Judas didst choose thy faithful servant Matthias to be of the number of the twelve Apostles; Grant that thy Church, being alway preserved from false Apostles, may be ordered and guided by faithful and true pastors; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

2. Was St. Matthias chosen to be an apostle by Christ himself?

No; he was chosen after Christ's ascension.

3. How was he qualified for the office of an apostle ?

He had been a constant attendant upon our Saviour all the time of his ministry, from his being baptized by John in Jordan, till his ascension into heaven, and therefore was well qualified to proclaim abroad those facts concerning Christ, of which he had equal evidence with the apostles.

4. Relate the manner in which St. Matthias was chosen as an apostle.

"They appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles." (Acts i. 23-26.)

5. From whom do we pray God always to preserve his Church? From false apostles. "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." (Acts xx. 29, 30.)

6. How do we pray God to order and guide the Church?

By faithful and true pastors. "I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." (Jer. iii. 15.)

1. Repeat the Collect for the ANNUNCIATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.