What we

here pray against.

gainst them to fay, Go number Ifrael and Judah.

Q. Saint James faith, that God tempteth_no
Man, i. e. fo as to perfuade him, or incline him
to what is evil. Ch. i. 15. How then
can it be
faid that a Man is tempted of God? Is it not
1. By withdrawing his Grace and Help from
him? A. Yes. 2 Chron. xxxii. 31. How-
beit in the Business, of the Emballadors of
the Prince of Babylon, who fent unto him
to enquire of the Wonder that was done
in the Land, God left him to try him,
that he might know all that was in his
Heart.

2. By permitting Satan and wicked Men to
tempt him? A. Yes. Mat. iv.1. Then was
Jefus fed of the s
into the Wilder-
3nefs to be tempted of the Devil.
3. By prefenting to him fuch Occasions in his
Providence, as he knows he will turn to Sin
of his own free Will and Choice, and not by
God's willing it, or any pofitive Decree of his?
A. Yes. As in the Fall of Adam, and in
the Hardening of Pharaoh's Heart.

Do we not then defire in this Part of this fixth Petition, (lead us not into Temptation) that God would keep us from being tempted, by either any of thefe, or any other Ways and Means?

QYes. Mat. xxvi. 41 Pray that ye en ter not into Temptation.

QWhat is the Evil that you pray to be deli vered from, in the latter Part of this Petition? Is it not

ir. That greatest of all Evils, the Evil of Sin?

Q. Yes. Habar, i. 13. Thou art of pu

rer

rer Eyes than to behold Evil, and canft
not look on Iniquity.

2. The Evil of Affliction and Punishment?
A. Yes. Fer. xviii. 8. If that Nation
turn from their Evil, I will repent of the
Evil that I thought to do unto them.
The evil World, with all the Blandifhments,
and Terrors of it? A. Yes. 1 John ii.
15, 16. Love not the World, neither
the things that are in the World, &c.
Mat. X. 28. Fear not them which kill
: the Body.

The Devil? A. Yes. He is the Temp.
ter to Sin. Mat. iv. 3.

4. Damnation, or eternal Death and Mifery
A. Yes. Rom. vi. 23. The Wages of
Sin is Death.

Q. Do we not then defire in this Part of this Petition, 1. That God would ftrengthen us, and uphold us when we are tempted? A. Yes. Pf.li. 11. Uphold me with thy free Spirit. 2. That if we fall, he would graciously restore and raise us up again? A. Yes. Pf. li. 12. Reftore unto me the Joy of thy Salvation.

3 That he would vanquish, and tread down Sa

tan under us? A. Yes. Rom. xvi. 20.
The God of Peace fhall bruise Satan un-

der your Feet shortly.

4. That he would wholly fanctify us, by his Grace and holy Spirit, and fully deliver us from all Evil for ever? A. Yes. 1 Thell. v. 23. And the very God of Peace fanctify you wholly And I pray God, your whole Spirit, and Soul and Body be preferved blame

R 2

for,

Applica

tion.

blameless unto the Coming of our Lord Jefus Chrift.

Catechift. Of the fix Petitions that are contained in this Prayer, we have only one for corporal, and five for fpiritual good things. And this teacheth us, that we must principally esteem, love and feek for these Spirituals, as best in themselves, and most defirable for us. Hence we are exhorted, not to labour for the Meat that perifheth, but for that which endureth to everlasting Life: To feek firft the Kingdom of God, and his Righteousness, and to fet our Affections t supon the things that are above, and not on things on the Earth.

Sect.4. The Conclufion, or Reasons of the foregoing Petitions.

"For thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, for ever and ever. « Amen.

Catechift. By Kingdom is here meant God's perfect Dominion and Sovereignty over all; by which he actually governs and difpofeth of all things. And this is the immediate Caufe of all the Bleffings we pray for.

By Power is here meant that All-fufficiency of God, in his infinite Ability, Underftanding and Goodness, whereby he can, and do's manage this his Government or Kingdom.

And by the Glory of God is meant, that most high Efteem, Honour, Praise and Admiration, which refult and shine forth, from this his Kingdom and Power.

Thefe Excellent and Divine Titles of Kingdom, Power and Glory, are here appropriated unto God alone, as is fignified by the Word (Thine) and all Creatures are excluded from any Fellowship with him therein. For how foever these Attributes of Kingdom, Power and Glory, are communicated to fome Creatures, (namely Kings and Princes, Dan.ii. 37.) as God's Inftruments, and Vice-gerents, yet God alone claimeth them originally of himself, and abfolutely without Restraint, or Dependence on any other. And the Everlastingness of these his Attributes is here acknowledged in this Word [ for ever].

Now all these Attributes are here afcribed unto God, not only as due Acknowledgments of his fupereminent Excellencies, but alfo as Arguments or Reafons for our Petitions. Becaufe his is the Kingdom, and Government of all the World, he may therefore difpofe of all things, and difpenfe them to us as he pleafes. Because his is the Power,and nothing is too hard for him, he is able to do for us above all that we ask or think. And because that the things which we desire in these Petitions, are fuch, as being granted us, will end in his Praife and Glory, they are therefore a fit Close and Confirmation to our Requests. And in Teftimony of our Defires, that fo we would have it be, and of our Faith, that fo it will be, we fay Amen. R 3

Que

The Con "Elufiom."

Questions and Answers.

Q. What is the Conclufion or Close of this Prayer?

A. For thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, for ever, Amen.

Q. Doth the Conclufion contain in it any Arguments or Reafons, that we may offer up to God, for the obtaining of our Requests 3

A. Yes. As this Word (For) doth intimate. And they are

1. His Kingdom, whereby it is his Right,
2. His Power, whereby he hath Ability,
3. His Glory, whereby it is his Interest, to
grant unto his People all those things,
that in thefe Petitions they are taught
to pray for.

Q. Muft we acknowledge and afcribe to God bis Kingdom, Power, and Glory?

A. Yes. Thine, O Lord, is the Great- nefs, and the Power, and the Glory, and the Victory, and the Majefty. 1 Chron. xxix. 1 1. Q. Doth not Amen fignify

I

1. A fervent Defire, that God would grant us our Requests? A. Yes. So be it, O Lord, Jer. xi. 5.

2. A lively Hope and Belief, that he will grant them? A. Yes. Rev. i.7. Even fo. Amen. Q. Is not this Word, therefore, a proper Conclufion of our Prayers and Praises?

A. Yes. Pflxxii. 19. And blessed be his glorious Name for ever, and let the whole Earth be filled with his Glory, Amen, and Amen.

Cate