Hope and Prayer Explained.
Q. WHAT is Hope?
A. It is a virtue infused by God into the soul, by which we have a confident expectation of glory to be obtained by the grace and merits of Christ, and our own merits proceeding from his grace.
A. It is a virtue infused by God into the soul, by which we have a confident expectation of glory to be obtained by the grace and merits of Christ, and our own merits proceeding from his grace.
Q. On what is the confidence chiefly grounded?
A. On the merits and promises of Christ, who hath promised glory to such as hope in him, and do his works, as also grace whereby to do them.
A. On the merits and promises of Christ, who hath promised glory to such as hope in him, and do his works, as also grace whereby to do them.
Q. Are our good works then meritorious of a reward of glory?
A. As proceeding from the grace of Christ, and built upon his promises, they are.
A. As proceeding from the grace of Christ, and built upon his promises, they are.
Q. How prove you that?
A. First, out of Mark ix. 14. "For whosoever shall give you to drink a cup of water in my name because you are Christ's, Amen, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward."
Secondly, out of 1 Cor. iii. 8. "And every one shall receive his own reward, according to his own labour, for we are God's coadjutors."
Thirdly, out of Matt. v. 11. "Blessed are ye (saith our Lord) when they shall revile and persecute you; for very great is your reward in heaven."
A. First, out of Mark ix. 14. "For whosoever shall give you to drink a cup of water in my name because you are Christ's, Amen, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward."
Secondly, out of 1 Cor. iii. 8. "And every one shall receive his own reward, according to his own labour, for we are God's coadjutors."
Thirdly, out of Matt. v. 11. "Blessed are ye (saith our Lord) when they shall revile and persecute you; for very great is your reward in heaven."
Q. Is it lawful for us to do good works in the hope of a reward?
A. Not only lawful but laudable, according to that, I "have inclined by heart, to do thy justifications for ever, for a reward." Psalm cxviii. 12.
A. Not only lawful but laudable, according to that, I "have inclined by heart, to do thy justifications for ever, for a reward." Psalm cxviii. 12.
Q. What other proof have you?
A. Out of 1 John iii. 22. "Whatsoever (saith he) we shall ask of God, we shall receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing before him."
A. Out of 1 John iii. 22. "Whatsoever (saith he) we shall ask of God, we shall receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing before him."
Q. How declare you the necessity of hope?
A. Because it produces in us obedience to the law of God, as also a willingness to suffer for his sake, and final perseverance.
A. Because it produces in us obedience to the law of God, as also a willingness to suffer for his sake, and final perseverance.
Q. How prove you that?
A. Out of Job xiii. 15. "Although he kill me, yet will I hope in him." And Psalm lv. 5. "In God have I hoped, I will not fear what flesh can do unto me."
It is according to the Psalmist, "Him that hopeth in our Lord, merely shall encompass." Psalm xxxi. 10. And, "Our Lord is well pleased in them that hope in his mercy." Psalm cxlvi. 11.
A. Out of Job xiii. 15. "Although he kill me, yet will I hope in him." And Psalm lv. 5. "In God have I hoped, I will not fear what flesh can do unto me."
It is according to the Psalmist, "Him that hopeth in our Lord, merely shall encompass." Psalm xxxi. 10. And, "Our Lord is well pleased in them that hope in his mercy." Psalm cxlvi. 11.
Q. What other good doth Hope?
A. It moves us to devout and humble prayer.
A. It moves us to devout and humble prayer.
Q. What is prayer?
A. It is the lifting up of the mind to God, by which we beg for good things and to be free from evils, or by which we bless and praise God.
A. It is the lifting up of the mind to God, by which we beg for good things and to be free from evils, or by which we bless and praise God.
Q. What are the conditions of good prayer?
A. That it may be made with reverence, attention, humility, and perseverance.
A. That it may be made with reverence, attention, humility, and perseverance.
Q. What vices are opposite to hope?
A. Despair and presumption.
A. Despair and presumption.
Q. What is despair?
A. It is a diffidence in the mercy of God, and merits of Christ, even to death.
A. It is a diffidence in the mercy of God, and merits of Christ, even to death.
Q. What is presumption?
A. It is a foolish and desperate confidence of salvation, without endeavouring to live well or keep the commandments.
A. It is a foolish and desperate confidence of salvation, without endeavouring to live well or keep the commandments.
Q. How is the despair the cause of sin?
A. Because despairing men are wont to say, if I shall be damned, I shall be damned, and so use no endeavour to do good or avoid evil.
A. Because despairing men are wont to say, if I shall be damned, I shall be damned, and so use no endeavour to do good or avoid evil.
Q. How is presumption the cause of sin?
A. Because presumptuous men used to say, God is merciful and will forgive our sins, how great soever, and at what time soever, we do penance; and out of this take liberty to sin.
A. Because presumptuous men used to say, God is merciful and will forgive our sins, how great soever, and at what time soever, we do penance; and out of this take liberty to sin.
Q. How must our hope be balanced between these two extremes?
A. By a filial fear, and an humble distrust of our own works, as they are ours.
A. By a filial fear, and an humble distrust of our own works, as they are ours.
Q. Is prayer good against both these?
A. It is, according to that of Luke xxii. 40, "pray ye that so ye may not fall into temptation."
A. It is, according to that of Luke xxii. 40, "pray ye that so ye may not fall into temptation."
Q. For what else availeth prayer?
A. For the avoiding of evils and the obtaining all benefits.
A. For the avoiding of evils and the obtaining all benefits.
Q. How prove you that?
A. Out of John xv 23. "Whatsoever (saith our Saviour) ye shall ask my Father in my name, he will give it you." And Luke xi. 9. "Ask and it shall be given you," &c.
A. Out of John xv 23. "Whatsoever (saith our Saviour) ye shall ask my Father in my name, he will give it you." And Luke xi. 9. "Ask and it shall be given you," &c.
Q. Is it lawful to pray in an unknown tongue?
A. It is, "for he that speaks in a tongue (unknown) speaks not to men but to God." 1 Cor. xiv. 2. And a petition has the same force if it be understood by him that is petitioned, whether the petitioner understood it or not.
A. It is, "for he that speaks in a tongue (unknown) speaks not to men but to God." 1 Cor. xiv. 2. And a petition has the same force if it be understood by him that is petitioned, whether the petitioner understood it or not.
Q. What other proof have you?
A. Out of the same chap. ver. 16, 17, where Paul saith, "but if thou bless in spirit, (that is in a tongue not known) he that supplieth the place of the vulgar, how shall he say Amen, &c. thou indeed givest thanks well, but the other is not edified." You see in itself the thing is good, for he gives thanks well.
A. Out of the same chap. ver. 16, 17, where Paul saith, "but if thou bless in spirit, (that is in a tongue not known) he that supplieth the place of the vulgar, how shall he say Amen, &c. thou indeed givest thanks well, but the other is not edified." You see in itself the thing is good, for he gives thanks well.
Q. What means the apostle, when he exhorts us to pray always? Thess. v. 17.
A. He means we should daily spend some time to prayer, according to James v. 16. "Pray for one another that you may be saved, for the continual prayer of a just man availeth much."
Q. Is it possible to pray always?
A. In some sense it is: namely, by offering up all our actions to God's honour.
A. In some sense it is: namely, by offering up all our actions to God's honour.
Q. In what place is prayer best?
A. In churches: because these are places consecrated and devoted to prayer, and there our prayers are elevated by the peculiar presence of God, and his special assistance besought by the Church's pastors in the consecration of those places.
A. In churches: because these are places consecrated and devoted to prayer, and there our prayers are elevated by the peculiar presence of God, and his special assistance besought by the Church's pastors in the consecration of those places.
Q. How prove you that?
A. Out of Matt. xviii. 20. "Where there are two or three gathered together in my name (saith the Lord) there I am in the midst of them."
A. Out of Matt. xviii. 20. "Where there are two or three gathered together in my name (saith the Lord) there I am in the midst of them."
Q. How prove you that material churches are of God's appointment?
A. First, Because God commanded Solomon to build him a temple, and dedicate it to his service. 2 Paral vii. 12.
Secondly, out of Luke xix. 46, where Christ calls the material temple his house, casing the buyers and sellers out of it. "My house, (saith he) is the house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves."
Thirdly, out of Luke xviii. 10, where the publican "ascended to the temple to pray, and descended into his house justified."
A. First, Because God commanded Solomon to build him a temple, and dedicate it to his service. 2 Paral vii. 12.
Secondly, out of Luke xix. 46, where Christ calls the material temple his house, casing the buyers and sellers out of it. "My house, (saith he) is the house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves."
Thirdly, out of Luke xviii. 10, where the publican "ascended to the temple to pray, and descended into his house justified."
Q. How do you prove it lawful to dedicate of consecrate material temples?
A. Out of Paralip. above cited, chap. 7, and out of John x. 22, where it is recorded that Christ
himself kept the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem, instituted by Judas Maccabæus, 1 Mac. iv. 56, 59.
A. Out of Paralip. above cited, chap. 7, and out of John x. 22, where it is recorded that Christ
himself kept the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem, instituted by Judas Maccabæus, 1 Mac. iv. 56, 59.
Q. How do you prove it lawful to adorn the churches with tapestry, pictures, and the like?
A. Out of Mark, xiv. 15, where Christ commanded his last supper to be prepared in a great chamber adorned.
A. Out of Mark, xiv. 15, where Christ commanded his last supper to be prepared in a great chamber adorned.
Q. What proof have you for the order and number of the canonical hours?
A. For Matins, Lauds, and Prime, that of Psalm v. 4 "Early in the morning will I stand up to thee, early in the morning wilt thou hear my voice."
A. For Matins, Lauds, and Prime, that of Psalm v. 4 "Early in the morning will I stand up to thee, early in the morning wilt thou hear my voice."
Q. What for the third, sixth and ninth hours?
A. For the third out of Acts ii. 16. "At the third hour the Holy Ghost descended on the Apostles." For the sixth, out of Acts x. 9. "Peter and John went up into the higher part to pray about the sixth hour:" and for the ninth, out of Acts iii. 1. "And at the ninth hour Peter and John went up into the temple to pray."
A. For the third out of Acts ii. 16. "At the third hour the Holy Ghost descended on the Apostles." For the sixth, out of Acts x. 9. "Peter and John went up into the higher part to pray about the sixth hour:" and for the ninth, out of Acts iii. 1. "And at the ninth hour Peter and John went up into the temple to pray."
Q. What for the Even-song and Complin?
A. That of the Psalmist, "Morning and evening, will I declare the works of our Lord," Psalm liv. 18. and again, "lifting up of my hands is as an evening sacrifice," cxli 2.
A. That of the Psalmist, "Morning and evening, will I declare the works of our Lord," Psalm liv. 18. and again, "lifting up of my hands is as an evening sacrifice," cxli 2.
Q. Is it good to use outward ceremonies in a time of prayer, as kneeling, knocking the breast, and such like?
A. It is, for they declare the inward reverence and devotion of the heart; and Christ himself prostrated, when he prayed in the garden, Matt. xxvi. 39. And the poor publican beat his breast, and cast down his eyes in that prayer by which he merited to descend justified, Luke xviii. 13, 14.
A. It is, for they declare the inward reverence and devotion of the heart; and Christ himself prostrated, when he prayed in the garden, Matt. xxvi. 39. And the poor publican beat his breast, and cast down his eyes in that prayer by which he merited to descend justified, Luke xviii. 13, 14.
Q. Why is the morning so fit a time for prayer?
A. To open the windows of the soul to the light of divine grace and offer up the works of the whole day to God's honour.
A. To open the windows of the soul to the light of divine grace and offer up the works of the whole day to God's honour.
Q. Why is the evening also?
A. To shut the windows of the soul against the darkness of sin, and the illusions of the devil; as also to render thanks for all the benefits of the day past.
A. To shut the windows of the soul against the darkness of sin, and the illusions of the devil; as also to render thanks for all the benefits of the day past.
Q. What things ought we to pray for?
A. For all good things both spiritual and temporal, and to be freed from evil; for so our Lord bath taught us by his prayer.
A. For all good things both spiritual and temporal, and to be freed from evil; for so our Lord bath taught us by his prayer.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments are subject to deletion if they are not germane. I have no problem with a bit of colourful language, but blasphemy or depraved profanity will not be allowed. Attacks on the Catholic Faith will not be tolerated. Comments will be deleted that are republican (Yanks! Note the lower case 'r'!), attacks on the legitimacy of Pope Leo XIV as the Vicar of Christ, the legitimacy of the House of Windsor or of the claims of the Elder Line of the House of France, or attacks on the legitimacy of any of the currently ruling Houses of Europe.