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. All kinds of bereavement are of course included in _desolate and oppressed_. 27. Just as 19 concluded a section of petitions {169} for our own nation, so 27 concludes a section about the people of all nations. 28 adds a petition which the Lord particularly enjoined (S. Matth. v. 44). 28. _enemies, persecutors_, and _slanderers_--in ascending order of malignity. Similarly in the Commandments, where the worst sin of each sort is the one mentioned, we find false witness, or slander, named, in the Commandment which forbids all falsehood. _and to turn their hearts_--a nobler prayer even than asking God to forgive them: for when we have asked Him for their forgiveness, we may still long to overcome their hostility, rather than to see it withdrawn. As Christ's disciples we here desire to forego our triumph, and to rejoice over their conversion from evil. 29. Kindly fruits of the earth. 'Kindly' means 'natural'; from an Old English word 'cynd' or 'gecynd,' meaning _nature, kind, manner, condition_. (Cf. Gen. i. 11, 12, 21, 24, 25.)[7]