uties have been deputed to
Committees, to Judges, and to Parliament. The Cabinet of Chief
Ministers of State may be regarded as a Committee of the King's Council.

In the reign of Charles II., when the Prayer Book was last revised, the
Council was still the body whose advice guided the King, although it
was growing too large for the secrecy which is often necessary in such
weighty matters. It is still a very great honour to be made a Privy
Councillor, but the Privy Council very seldom, or never, meets for
business except by its Committees, which are not chosen by the Council.

When therefore we use this petition, we may think rather of the members
of the Cabinet than of those whom the King has honoured with the title
of Privy Councillor. A petition for the House of Commons might with
advantage be introduced into the Litany.

17. _to execute justice_, in the case which is being tried, is the
first duty of a magistrate; _to maintain truth_ is also his duty, for
he must have regard to other cases which will come before the Court.

18. This concludes the petitions for our own nation. We now go on to
things which affect all nations alike.

19. _Unity, peace, and concord_. The general meaning of these words is
the same, but there may {168} be unity without peace, and peace without
concord: therefore we pray for all the three; and concord is placed
last as being the inward temper which gives reality to unity and peace.

20. Here the order is reversed--proceeding from love which is the
highest kind of bond, to _dread_ which should keep us from
disobedience, and coming finally to the outward result viz. _a diligent
life of obedience to the commandments_.

21. Takes up the last thought of the previous suffrage.

The life of obedience is here traced from hearing to receiving, and so,
_to the fruits of the Spirit_ (see Gal. V. 22-24).

22. _Erred_ is when the fault is in ourselves only; _deceived_ is when
we give way to the evil guidance of others.

23. Those who _stand_ need strength: those who are _weak-hearted_ need
comfort and help: those who _fall_, restoration.

24. See p. 161.

25. Emigration has become more common since this petition was prepared:
those who settle in foreign lands should here be remembered.
_Captives_ are war-prisoners.

26. We may mentally supply the thought of _motherless_ children.
Widows may be supposed to include widowers. Both sexes are described
as widows in some parts of England