A. No. That might be impossible, and often calculated to do more harm than good. What then did he mean to teach? A. That as Christians we should be always charitably disposed. What are you not to do towards him that would borrow of you? VER. 43-47. section. What was formerly said of our conduct towards our neighbour and our enemy? But what rule does Christ give us? What are you to do to those who curse you? What to those that hate you? What to those that despitefully use you, and persecute you? What argument does Christ use to persuade you to this conduct? Who is your heavenly Father? What instance does our Saviour give of God's kindness to his enemies? What persons is it not enough for us to love? What shall we not have for doing so? Who are said by our Saviour to do the same? VER. 43-47. To love our enemies. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you: That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Whom is it not enough that we salute? Whom does our Saviour liken us to, if we do no more? What more must you do? A. We must love those that hate us, and be kind to our enemies, as well as our friends. VER. 48. What ought you to strive to be? Whom does our Saviour propose, as a pattern of perfection, for you to imitate? Can you be as perfect as God? Since you cannot be as perfect as God, what do you understand by this rule? A. That we must endeavour to be as perfect, and as much like him as we can. ST. MATTHEW vi. VER. 1-4. Repeat the head of this section. How are we not to do our alms? What is meant by "doing alms ?" A. Giving relief to the poor. What will be the consequence of our doing alms in order to be seen of men? How do hypocrites do their alms? What is meant by that? about it, that people may see it: Who is meant by an hypocrite? A. One who pretends to be religious without being really so. What gogue ? is meant by syna A. A place of worship among the Jews. What is the object of such hypocrites? What have they? A. The praise of men, but not the praise of God. What rule does our Saviour give us for doing alms? What are we to understand by this? A. That they should be as private as the circumstances of the case will allow, and that we should not value ourselves upon them. If our alms are done in secret, who will reward us? Who sees in secret? How will he reward us? When? A. At the day of judg ment. VER. 5-13. What is the head of this section? Who are the persons whom you must not be like when you pray? How do they love to pray? What is their object? men. Where does Christ direct you to go when you pray ? To whom must you pray? Where is your heavenly Father? Where does he see? What will he do to those who pray to him in secret? What direction does Christ give you concerning your prayers? Who use vain repetitions? Who were the heathen? A. All who were not Jews. Why do they use them? What reason does our Saviour give for not using vain repetitions? What has Christ here taught his disciples to do? Repeat his prayer. What do you pray respecting God's name? What is the meaning of being "hallowed ?” A. Used in a holy and reverent manner. What do you pray respecting his kingdom? What is meant by the petition that God's kingdom may come? A. That the Gospel of Christ may be believed and practised upon earth, and that God would be pleased be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do; for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them; for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy to hasten his heavenly kingdom. What do you pray respecting God's will? What do you mean by that? A. That it may be done by men on earth as readily and fully as it is by angels in heaven. What do we pray God to give us? What is meant by "daily bread ?" A. All such things as are necessary for us. What do we pray that he will forgive? What do you mean by "debts or trespasses?" A. Sins-offences. When do we trespass against God? A. When we break his laws. When do we trespass against our neighbour? A. When we in any way injure or ill-treat him. What do we pray God not to lead us into? What do you mean by "lead us not ?" A. Suffer us not to be led. What do you mean by "temptation ?" A. A hard trial, or enticement to sin. From what do we pray God to deliver us? What do we acknowledge to belong to God? kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil : For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. |