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this Title of Our Father who is in Heaven, to the whole following Prayer. For if you obferve it, these Things which our Saviour hath taught us to ask in this Form of Prayer, are the fittest Things imaginable to be asked of our Father, and our heavenly Father: From whence we may, by the way, gather a great Argument of God's Readinefs to hear us, and to grant our Requests, when we use the LOR D's Prayer, as we ought; Because Then we are fure we ask no other Things than what are proper for Children to ask of him. I fhall here therefore briefly and fummarily go thro' every Petition of the Lord's Prayer, fhewing you from the most general and obvious Senfe of each Petition, that Thefe Things, which our Lord hath taught us to pray for, are most fit and proper to be asked of our heavenly Father. And this I fhall the rather do, becaufe, altho' I intend a more large and par ticular Account of each Pétition, yet one that is more short and general may be of more Use to some Perfons, and of fome Ufe to all.

As to the first Petition, Hallowed be thy Name, we pray in thefe Words that we and all Mankind may have fuch an awful Regard of God's Majefty, that none of us may dare to profane his Worship, or to throw the leaft Contempt upon any thing that doth in a peculiar manner belong to him,

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that his Word and his Sacraments may be rever'd, that God may be honoured every where by the Profeffion of the true Religi on, and by the Purity and Conftancy of his Worship in religious Affemblies, and by a reverent Use of all Things that are holy to him.

And now you cannot but fee that it is very meet for a Child to be ftudious and zealous for his Father's Honour, and not only to abstain himself from doing any thing that is dishonourable to his Name, but to be defirous and careful, as much as in him lies, that he be not difhonour'd by any Bo-. dy else. And therefore it is moft proper for us to pray to our heavenly Father, that thro' his Grace not only we, but all Mankind, may confpire in giving him that Honour and Glory before the World, before Men and Angels, which is due to his Majefty; that it may not be violated any where by Idolatry, by Sacrilege, or any Kind of Profanenefs, but every where upheld by Purity of Worship, and a reverent Ufe of all holy Things: And by this very Defire we exprefs that Reverence we have to him our felves.

The next Petition is, Let thy Kingdom come, in which we defire to fee the Kingdom of God advanced above all Powers in the World, as it will be most visibly, at that Day, when he will fully reward the Righteous and punish the Wicked, and all Au

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thority fhall be put down under his Feet, to the Conviction and Confufion of all his Enemies, and the everlafting Security and Joy of all his true Children and Servants, and particularly that we our felves may in that Day be admitted into his Prefence, to live for ever with him in his Kingdom of Glory. And is it not a Petition meet for God's Children, that his Government, who rules not only with the Authority, but with the Justice and Clemency of a Father, may vifibly prevail against all Oppofition whatfoever that is made against it? For this is in effect to defire,That all Unrighteousness and Iniquity, that all the Sin and Misery of this World may vanish, and give place to Charity, Truth, Sincerity, Good-will, Righteoufnefs and Equity; that all Power may fall out of the Hands of Wickedness, and Oppreffion, and Deceit, and may be taken into the Hands of the infinite Goodness of the all-good and all-wife Father of Men and Angels, and committed to none but to the Wife and Good.

In the mean time we pray, as in the third Petition, that his Will may be done in Earth as it is in Heaven (i. e.) till the Kingdom of God thus glorioufly appear, that there may be fome Proportion between the Obedience that we pay unto him upon Earth, and the chearful and perfect Readinefs wherewith the Angels obey him in Heaven,

Heaven. And now fhall I need to fhew you that this is also a congruous Petition? What is more plainly the Duty of a Child than Obedience? To whom is Obedience more naturally due than to a Father?

Give us this Day our daily Bread; which is as much as to fay, while we live let us enjoy fuch a Proportion of Food and Rayment, and all other Neceffaries of this Life, as may be fufficient for the conftant Performance of our Duty. And upon whom have Children their Dependance? From whom do they expect Maintenance, but from their Parents? But their Defire ought to be within Reason, they ought not to ask Superfluities, but only what is convenient for them, all that is more must be left to a greater Wisdom and Judgment than their

own.

In the next Petition, Forgive us our Tref palles, as we forgive them that trefpafs against us, we do not only pray for Pardon of our Sins, but we make Profeffion of our Repentance. As we forgive others, we defire to be forgiven; for that is one Condition of being forgiven, and it being an Eminent one, and fomething Difficult, it is profefs'd in behalf of all the reft; forgive us, as we do engage our felves to be governed by thy good Will and Pleafure in all Things, particularly as we do from our Hearts remit Injuries done to us, and have no re

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vengeful Inclinations against those that have done them. Now is it not meet for a Sinner, To fay with the prodigal Son, I will arife and go to my Father, and fay, Father, I have finned against Heaven and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy Son? To beg Pardon for what is paft; To profefs a fincere Purpose not wilfully to offend him any more; and particularly To acquit himfelf of all Difpofition to be fevere with those that have offended himfelf; To proteft that he for God's Sake, who is a common Father to us all, doth from his Heart forgive them?

The last Petition, Lead us not into Temptation, but deliver us from Evil, doth in general fuggeft our Defire, that God would not forfake us, nor deprive us of his gracious Protection; in particular, that he would not put us upon very hard Trials of our Affection and Obedience to him, and also that he would not leave us to the Power of thofe Temptations to Sin which we are in Danger of; that by the Grace of his Providence, he would keep the Temptation from being over great, and by the Grace of his Spirit, enable us to refift and overcome it, how great foever it be. To make which Request to God we have this Encouragement, that he is our Father, and of himself inclined to fupply our Weakness by the Power of his Grace.

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