alacrity and constancy that it is by the angels in heaven. It next entreats the supply of all our essential wants, both temporal and spiritual; a sufficiency of those things that are absolutely necessary for our subsistence; the forgiveness of our transgressions, on condition that we forgive our brethren; and, finally, support under the temptations that assault our virtue, and deliverance from the various evils and calamities that every where surround us; expressing at the same time the utmost trust and confidence in the power of God, to grant whatever he sees it expedient and proper for his creatures to receive. The full meaning then of this admirable prayer, and of the several petitions contained in it, may perhaps be not improperly expressed in the following manner: O thou great Parent of the universe, our Creator, our Preserver and continual Benefactor, grant that we and all reasonable creatures may entertain just and worthy worthy notions of thy nature and attributes, may fear thy power, admire thy wisdom, adore thy goodness, rely upon thy truth; may reverence thy holy name, may bless and praise thee, may worship and obey thee. Grant that all the nations of the earth may come to the knowledge and belief of thy holy religion; that it may every where produce the blessed fruits of piety, righteousness, charity, and sobriety; that by a constant endeavour to obey thy holy laws, we may approach, as near as the infirmity of our nature will allow, to the more perfect obedience of the angels that are in heaven; and thus qualify ourselves for entering into thy kingdom of glory hereafter. Feed us, we beseech thee, with food convenient for us. We ask not for riches and honours; give us only what is necessary for our comfortable subsistence in the several stations which thy providence has allotted to us; and, above all, give us contented minds. We alacrity and consta angels in heaven. supply of all our temporal and spirit those things that ar for our subsistence our transgressions, forgive our brethren under the temptati virtue, and delivera evils and calamities! round us; expressin the utmost trust ar power of God, to g it expedient and proj to receive. The full meanin mirable prayer, and tions contained in it. improperly express manner: al providence, both outwardly in odies, and inwardly in our souls ; hou being in all cases our ruler and we may so pass through things ral, as finally to lose not the things !. r us, O Lord our governor, from thy dwelling place; and when earest, have regard to our petitions. are offered up to thee in the fullest ence that thy goodness will dispose, y power enable thee to grant whaty wisdom sees to be convenient for and conducive to our final happiness. e next thing which peculiarly deads our attention in this chapter is the Maration contained in the 24th verse, ich presents to us another fundamental nciple of the Christian religion; namely, the necessity of giving the first place in our hearts and our affections to God and nd pursuing other things only in relig :n to those great objects. says our Lord, "can serve ; for either he will hate the one, We are all, O Lord, the very best of us, miserable sinners. Be not extreme, we beseech thee, to mark what we have done amiss, but pity our infirmities, and pardon our offences. Yet let us not dare to implore forgiveness from thee, unless we also from our hearts forgive our offending brethren. We are surrounded, on every side, with temptations to sin; and such is the corruption and frailty of our nature, that without thy powerful succour we cannot always stand upright. Take us then, O gracious God, under thy almighty protection; and amidst all the dangers and difficulties of our Christian warfare, be thou our refuge and support. Suffer us not to be tempted above what we are able to bear, but send thy Holy Spirit to strengthen our own weak endeavours, and enable us to escape or to subdue all the enemies of our salvation. Preserve us also, if it be thy blessed will, not only from spiritual, but from temporal evil. Keep us ever by thy watchful |