On the Sixth Petition.
428. What is meant in the Lord's Prayer by temptation ?
Any conjuncture of circumstances in which there is imminent danger of losing the faith, or falling into great sin.
429. Whence come such temptations?
From our flesh, from the world, or other people, and from the devil.
430. What do we ask in these words of the prayer, Lead us not into temptation?
First, that God suffer us not to be led into temptation; secondly, that if it be needful for us to be tried and purified through temptation, he give us not up wholly to temptation, nor suffer us to fall.
On the Seventh Petition.
431. What do we ask in these words of the prayer, Deliver as from evil?
We ask for deliverance from all evil that can reach us in the world, which since the fall lieth in wickedness (1 John v. 19): but especially from the evil of sin, and from the evil suggestions and snares of the spirit of evil, which is the devil.
On the Doxology.
432. Why after the Lord's Prayer do we subjoin the Doxology?
First, that when we ask mercies for ourselves from our heavenly Father, we may at the same time render him that honor which is his due; secondly, that by the thought of his everlasting kingdom, power, and glory, we may be more and more established in the hope that he will give us what we ask, because this is in his power, and makes to his glory.
433. What means the word Amen T
It means verily, or so be it.
434. Why is this word added to the Doxology?
To signify that we offer the prayer in faith, and without doubting, as we are taught to do by the Apostle James. James i. 6.
On the Doctrine of Blessedness.
435. What must we join with prayer in order to be grounded in the hope of salvation and blessedness?
Our own exertions for the attainment of blessedness.
Of this point the Lord himself says: Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Luke vi. 46. Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matt. vii. 21.
436. What doctrine may we take as our guide in these exertions?
The doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is briefly set forth in his Beatitudes, or sentences on blessedness.
437. How many such sentences are there? The nine following:
1. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
3. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
4. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filed.
5. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
6. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
7. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
8. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
9. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven. Matt. v. 3-12.
438. What is to be observed of all these sentences in order to their right understanding?
This: that the Lord proposed in these sentences a doctrine for the attainment of blessedness, as is expressly said in the Gospel: He opened his mouth, and taught; but, being meek and lowly of heart, he proposed his doctrine not in the form of commandment, but of blessing, to those who should of their own free will receive and fulfill it. Consequently in each sentence or Beatitude we must consider, first, the doctrine or precept; secondly, the blessing or promise of reward.
On the First Beatitude.
439. What is the Lord's first precept of blessedness?
They who would be blessed must be poor in spirit.
440. What is it to be poor in spirit?
It is to have a spiritual conviction that we have nothing of our own, nothing but what God bestows upon us, and that we can do nothing good without God's help and grace, thus counting ourselves as nothing, and in all throwing ourselves upon the mercy of God; in brief, as St. Chrysostom explains it, spiritual poverty is humility. (Hom. in Matt. xv.)
441. Can the rich, too, be poor in spirit?
Doubtless they can: if they consider that visible riches are corruptible and soon pass away, and can never compensate for the want of spiritual goods. What is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul for what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matt. xvi. 26.
442. May not bodily poverty serve to the perfection of spiritual?
It may, if the Christian choose it voluntarily, for God's sake. Of this, Jesus Christ himself said to the rich man: If thou wilt be perfect, go, sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me. Matt. xix. 21.
443. What does our Lord promise to the poor in spirit?
The kingdom of heaven.
444. How is the kingdom of heaven theirs?
In the present life inwardly, and inchoately, [314] by faith and hope; but in the life to come perfectly, by their being made partakers of everlasting blessedness.
On the Second Beatitude.
445. What is the Lord's second precept for blessedness?
They who would be blessed must mourn.
446. What is meant in this precept by the word mourn?
Sorrow and contrition of heart, with unfeigned tears, for that we so imperfectly and unworthily serve the Lord, or even rather deserve big anger by our sins, for godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation not to be repented of; but the sorrow of this world worketh death. 2 Cor. vii. 10.
447. What special promise does the Lord make to mourners?
That they shall be comforted.
448. What comfort is here to be understood?
That of grace, consisting in the pardon of sin, and in peace of conscience.
449. Why is this promise added to the precept for mourning?
In order that sorrow for sin may not reach to despair.
On the Third Beatitude.
450. What is the Lord's third precept for blessedness?
They who would be blessed must be meek.
451. What is meekness?
A quiet disposition of spirit, joined with care neither to offend any man, nor be offended at any thing one's self.
452. What are the special effects of Christian meekness?
These: that we never murmur against God, nor even against men, when any thing falls out against our wishes, nor give way to anger, nor set ourselves up.
453. What is promised by the Lord to the meek?
That they shall inherit the earth.
454. How are we to understand this promise?
As regards Christ's followers generally it is a prediction which has been literally fulfilled; for the ever-meek Christians, instead of being destroyed by the fury of the heathen, have inherited the universe which the heathen formerly possessed. But the further sense of this promise, as regards Christians both generally and individually, is this, that they shall receive an inheritance, as the Psalmist says, in the land of the living; that is, where men live and never die; in other words, that they shall receive everlasting blessedness. See Psalm xxvii. 13.
On the Fourth Beatitude.
455. What is the Lord's fourth precept for blessedness?
They who would be blessed must hunger and thirst after righteousness.
456. What is meant here by the word righteousness ?
Though this word may well stand for every virtue which the Christian ought to desire even as his meat and drink, yet should we here specially understand that righteousness of which, in the book of Daniel, it is said, An everlasting righteousness shall be brought in; that is, the justification of guilty man through grace and faith in Jesus Christ. Dan. ix. 24.
The Apostle Paul speaks thus: The righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God/ being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past. Rom. iii. 22-25.
457. Who are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness?
They who, while they love to do good, yet count not themselves righteous, nor rest on their own good works, but acknowledge themselves sinners, and guilty before God; and who, by the wish and prayer of faith, hunger and thirst after the justification of grace through Jesus Christ, as after spiritual meat and drink.
458. What does the Lord promise to them who hunger and thirst after righteousness?
That they shall be filled.
459. What is meant here by being filled?
As the filling or satisfying of the body produces, first, the cessation of the sense of hunger and thirst; secondly, the strengthening the body by food, so the filling of the soul means, first, the inward peace of the pardoned sinner; secondly, the acquisition of strength to do good, given by justifying grace. The perfect filling, however, of the soul created for the enjoyment of endless good is to follow in the life eternal, according to the words of the Psalmist: When I awake up after thy likeness, I shall be satisfied with it. Psalm xvii. 15.
On the Fifth Beatitude.
460. What is the Lord's fifth precept for blessedness?
They who would be blessed must be merciful.
461. How are we to fulfill this precept?
By works of mercy, corporal and spiritual; for, as St. Chrysostom says, the forms of mercy are manifold, and this commandment is broad. (Hom. in Matt. xv.)
462. Which are the corporal works of mercy t
1. To feed the hungry.
2. To give drink to the thirsty.
3. To clothe the naked, or such as have not necessary and decent clothing.
4. To visit them that are in prison.
5. To visit the sick, minister to them, and forward their recovery, or aid them to a Christian preparation for death.
6. To show hospitality to strangers.
7. To bury them that have died in poverty.
463. Which are the spiritual works of mercy?
1. By exhortation to convert the sinner from the error of his way. James v. 20.
2. To instruct the ignorant in truth and virtue.
3. To give our neighbor good and seasonable advice in difficulty, or in any danger of which he is unaware.
4. To pray for others to God.
5. To comfort the afflicted.
6. Not to return the evil which others may have done us.
7. To forgive injuries from our heart.
464. Is it not contrary to the precept of mercy for civil justice to punish criminals?
Not in the least; if this be done as of duty, and with a good intent, that is, in order to correct them, or to preserve the innocent from their crimes.
465. What does the Lord promise to the merciful?
That they shall obtain mercy.
466. What mercy is here to be understood?
That of being delivered from everlasting condemnation for sin at God's Judgment
On the Sixth Beatitude.
467. What is the Lord's sixth precept for blessedness?
They who would be blessed must be pure in heart.
468. Is not purity of heart the same thing as sincerity?
Sincerity which feigns not any good dispositions foreign to the heart, but shows the really good dispositions of the heart by good deeds, is only the lowest degree of purity of heart. This last a man attains by constant and strict watchfulness over himself, driving away from his heart every unlawful wish and thought, and every affection for earthly things, and ever keeping there the remembrance of God and our Lord Jesus Christ with faith and charity.