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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 46
[introduction]
Of all those terse and expressive prayers of our English Liturgy—which are called Collects, because they collect, as it were, and sum up, in a few easily remembered words, some great Christian doctrine, and the petition for some urgent need—there is none which so nearly concerns the laity of the Christian Church, and yet is so often forgotten by them, as the second for Good Friday, in which we offer our supplications and prayers before God "for all estates of men in Mis Holy Church, that every member of the same, in his vocation and ministry, may truly and godly serve Him." Not of the clergy exclusively or even chiefly, but of you, my brethren, you the mass of this congregation, to many of whom it probably seems strange to be told that you have a ministry in the Church of Christ, are these words spoken. It is not ordination, but baptism, which makes us members of Christ, limbs, that is, of that great body whereof He is the head; bound, therefore, to make some exertion for the health and welfare of the whole, to do something, acccording to our powers and opportunities, for the service of Christ and of our brethren; for as we have many members, or limbs, in one body, and all members have not the same office; so we being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. It is not ordination, but baptism, in which Christians are consecrated as kings and priests to God in which they are called to be a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that they should shew forth the praises of Sim who has called them out of darkness into His marvellous light.
Bishop Cotton,
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