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venient for us. Prov. xxx. 8, Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me.

Q. 3. May we not have convenient outward provisions without our asking?

A. We may have convenient outward provisions without our asking, but we cannot have them without God's giving. Psalm cxlv. 15, Thou givest them their meat in due season.

Q. 4. Why need we ask of God daily outward provisions, if we may have them without asking?

A. We ought to ask for our daily outward provisions, 1. Because God requireth that we should ask for these things; and he hath promised only unto such, that they should not want them. Psalm xxxiv. 10, The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they, that seek the Lord, shall not want any good thing. 2. Because in asking aright our daily outward provisions, we ask and obtain the blessing of God with them; and without asking, if we have these things, we have them with God's curse. Exod. xxiii. 25, And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water.

Q. 105. What do we pray for in the fifth petition?

A. In the fifth petition, which is, forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, we pray, that God for Christ's sake, would freely pardon all our sins, which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by his grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others.

Q. 1. What is meant by our debts ?

A. By our debts, is meant our sins against God, whereby we are indebted unto his justice, which we can no otherwise satisfy than by undergoing eternal punishment.

Q. 2. Have all need of forgiveness, and may any debt be forgiven?

A. All being sinners, have need of forgiveness, and ́ any sins (excepting the sin against the Holy Ghost) may be forgiven. Psal. cxxx. 3, 4, If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

Q. 3. May we pray unto God for the forgiveness of our sins upon the account of our own merits?

A. We have no merit, in the sight of God of our own; and therefore we must pray, that God would free ly pardon all our sins of his own mercy and loving kindness. Psal. li. 1, Have mercy upon me, O God, accord ding to thy loving kindness; according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Q. 4. May we hope by prayer to obtain forgiveness, of God's mercy, without any merits?

A. God being infinitely just as well as merciful, we must bring merit before him, that we may obtain for giveness of him; but because we have it not of our own, and he hath provided it for us in his Son, we must pray for pardon for the merit sake of Christ, who hath pur chased forgiveness for us with his blood. Eph. i. 7, In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Q. 5. What may encourage us to ask forgiveness from God?

A. We may be encouraged to ask forgiveness from God, when, by his grace, we are enabled with our hearts to forgive others. Matth. vi. 14, For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you.

Q. 106. What do we pray for in the sixth petition?

A. In the sixth petition, which is, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, we pray, that God' would either keep us from being tempted unto sin, or support and deliver us when we are tempted.

Q. 1. What do we request in praying, Lead us not into temptation?

A. In praying, Lead us not into temptation, we request, that God would keep us from being tempted unto sin. Q. 2. How doth God keep us from being tempted unto sin?

A. God keepeth us from being tempted unto sin, ei ther when he restraineth the devil (the great tempter of

mankind) from assaulting us with his prevailing temptations; or else restraineth us from coming into those way's where temptations are waiting for us, and where we should be tempters unto ourselves. Matth, xxvi. 41,

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. Psal. xix. 13, Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins, let them not have dominion over me.

Q. 3. What do we request in praying, Deliver us from evil?

A. In praying, Deliver us from evil, we request, that, when we are tempted by the devil, or the flesh, or the world, unto sin, we may be supported and strengthened to resist and overcome the temptations, so as to be delivered by the power of God's sufficient grace, from falling into the evil of sin. James iv. 7, Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 1 Cor. x. 13, God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able. 2 Cor. xii. 7, 8, 9, There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, my grace is

sufficient for thee..

Q. 107. What doth the conclusion of the Lord's prayer teach us?

A. The conclusion of the Lord's prayer, which is, For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever, Amen, teacheth us, to take our encouragement in prayer from God only, and in our prayers to praise him, ascribing kingdom, power and glory to him; and in testimony of our desire and assurance to be heard, we say, Amen. Q. I. What is the conclusion to the Lord's prayer itself?

A. The conclusion to the Lord's prayer itself, is in these words, For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever, Amen.

Q. 2. What is the first thing which this conclusion of the Lord's prayer doth teach us?

A. The first thing which this conclusion of the Lord's

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prayer doth teach us, is, to take our encouragement in prayer, not from ourselves, or any worthiness of our own,` but from God only, who having the kingdom and eternal sovereignty, the power, and eternal all-sufficiency, the glory forever, and therefore incomparably glorious in his faithfulness, goodness, and most tender mercy, we may persuade ourselves, that he is both able to give what we ask, and that he is willing, and will give what he hath promised unto us. Dan. ix. 18, 19, We do not present our supplications for our righteousness, but for thy great mercies. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken, and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my` God. Psal. v. 2, Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my king, and my God; for unto thee will I pray. Eph. iii. 20, 21, Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Q. 3. What is the second thing which this conclusion of the Lord's prayer doth teach us?

A. The second thing which this conclusion of the Lord's prayer doth teach us, is, in our prayers to God, to praise him, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory unto him. I Chron. xxix. 10, 11, 13, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our Father, for ever and ever. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, and thou art exalted as head above all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name? 1 Tim. i. 17, Now unto the king eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Q. 4. Why are we to say, Amen.

A. We are to say, Amen, which signifieth, so be it, or 80 shall it be, in testimony of our desires and assurance to be heard. Rev. xxii. 20, Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

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PRAYER

RAYER is not only an indispensable duty, but an inestimable privilege. It is an important part of that worship which all men owe to God, and so essential to religion, that without it there can be none. It affords the noblest relief and support to the christian in all his dangers and distresses; is an important mean of his growth in grace, of communion with the Father of his spirit, of his overcoming the world, and of obtaining the inheritance of the saints in light. It has great prevalence in averting divine judgments from a people, and in obtaining for them the richest blessings. It is the surest defence of individuals, families, and whole nations. Family religion, including prayer, pious instruction, and government, is no less important. On these two very much depend the religion, comfort and salvation of individuals, the religion, good order, bonor and prosperity of families, of the church and commonwealth. In these the divine honor, and the present and endless happiness of men are most deeply concerned. Scarcely any thing, among a people whose

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