Standeth our eternal life. Notice the phrase standeth in as a substitute for is. We could not have said whose knowledge is eternal life, because of the momentary doubt whether it referred to the knowledge which God has, or to the knowledge which we have of Him. By the use of an idiom not now in common use, we express the belief taught by the Saviour's words S. John xvii. 3.
Notice also the phrase whose service is perfect freedom: here the Latin original has whom to serve is to reign. Our eagerness to do God's Will is, on the one hand, a service or bondage to Him; but, on the other hand, it is what makes us masters of ourselves, and, in the spiritual sense, kings (1 Cor. iv. 8; Rev. i. 6).
The prayer for defence from external assault has for its real motive the attainment of trust and fearlessness.
The Evening Collect for Peace asks more plainly for spiritual peace; in relation to (1) the tumults {142} occasioned in our consciences by disobedience to God's commands, (2) the tumults occasioned in our lives by outward interference. For (1), we appeal to God as the author of good and holy desires within us: for (2), we appeal to Him as the counsellor who helps us against our enemies. For both, we appeal to Him who enables us, and others, to do what is just.
The Third Collect in the Morning is styled a Collect for Grace. Because He is Almighty and Everlasting; because He is our Father and our God and Lord; and, in particular, because He has brought us to the beginning of the day; we ask Him to keep us from harm, and sin, and danger, as the day goes on.
The corresponding Evening Collect is styled a Collect for Aid against all Perils. Accepting the figure suggested by the close of the day, we ask God to defend us from the perils and dangers of darkness. The light which we seek is evidently inward and spiritual light; the defence, in like manner, a defence from spiritual perils, though not excluding the others: cf. Psalm xviii. 28: xxvii. i.
C. The other Prayers.
The change from the Three Collects to the Three Prayers which follow may be softened by the Anthem, (or Hymn), which comes between. The spiritual gifts, desired in the Collects, are the qualities which guide the lives of men. When we pray that we may have a good King, or a good Bishop, or a good People, we have evidently passed from the general to the particular; from that which is within us to that which is external.
{143}
The Prayer for the King was inserted in 1559.