ven from inclination. Our nature, which is now prone to depart from God, will then be conformed to his; and instead of doing his will reluctantly, we shall feel his service a perfect delight. Not a wrong thought will enter our minds, nor an improper desire arise in our hearts; much less shall we be led to do any thing contrary to the purity and holiness of the divine nature. Have you thus done the will of God? If you answer this question according to the dictates of your conscience, must you not be compelled to acknowledge, that you have come very far short of it, and that you have rather followed the devices and desires of your own heart, than either done, or attempted to do, the will of God on earth, as angels do in heaven! With how much fervour and sincerity ought you then to offer up this petition; how diligently ought you to inquire, on all occasions, what is the will of God; and what is the line of conduct which will be most pleasing to him;-and how watchful ought you to be over your corrupt inclinations, lest they lead you out of the path in which he has directed you to walk! David is honourably distinguished for his conduct in this respect: David, a man after mine heart, shall fulfil all my will. Acts xiii. 22. Endeavour to imitate him. Do not be content with praying daily, "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven:" nor even with desiring, however fervently, that this may be the case. Activity becomes a Christian. Perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Cor. vii. 1. May the God of peace-make you perfect in every good work to do his will. "Heb. xiii. 21. If we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. 1 John v. 14. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life. Rev. xxii. 14. Do not cease to pray, "Teach me to do thy will," (Ps. cxliii. 10,) and desire that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will, (Col. i. 9,) so as both to love it and do it. People may be zealous for God's will being done by others, who have no heart to do it themselves. 20th Sunday after Trinity.-Keep us, we beseech thee, from all things that may hurt u; that we, being ready both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things which thou commandest. Collect for Circumcision.-Grant-that we may in all things obey thy blessed will. ON THE LORD'S PRAYER. § 6. THE FOURTH PETITION. WHAT is the fourth petition? "Give us this day our daily bread." You said, that the first three petitions respected the glory of God; to what do the last three refer? To our own necessities. Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Matt. vi. 33. What is here meant by the word bread? Bread being the most common and useful nourishment the body, is often used in the Scriptures to signify all kinds of necessary food; and it here seems to include every thing we need to preserve life and health. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread. Gen. iii. 19. He brake the whole staff of bread. Ps. cv. 16. I will satisfy her poor with bread. Ps. cxxxii. 15. Bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. Isa. xxxiii. 16. I will break your staff of bread. Ezek. v. 16. What further is included in this petition? We pray for the preservation of our lives; for health and strength of body; for success in our lawful callings, and endeavours to procure the comforts and conveniences of life; and for God's blessing upon the mercies we enjoy. The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich. Prov. x. 22. She did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil. Hos. ii. 8. Why are we taught to pray for our daily bread? In order that we may trust to God's providence, and look to him daily for fresh supplies. When we ask for bread, it seems to imply that we shall be content with what is necessary to support our lives, and are not anxious about superfluities: and when we pray that we may have it daily, we express our willingness to be supplied with food and raiment from day to day, without being eager to Such a pehave "much goods laid up for many years." tition is equally suitable for rich and poor; for though a man have abundance of the good things of this life, they can do him no good, unless accompanied by the blessing of God. And though a poor man may have but a scanty subsistence, he should not murmur, but remember that he is indebted to divine mercy for every morsel he receives. They gathered it [manna] every morning. Exod. xvi. 21. Ye shall eat, and not be satisfied. Lev. xxvi. 26. They that seek the Lord shall want no good thing. Ps. xxiv. 10. Trust in the Lord-and verily thou shalt be fed. Ps. xxxvii. 3. Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me. Prov. xxx. 8. Therefore, take no thought, saying, What shall we eat, &c., but seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matt. vi. 31-33. Having food and raiment, let us be therewith content. 1 Tim. vi. 3. Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Pet. v. 7. What is taken from others by fraud or force cannot be called our daily bread, nor can we consider it sent us by our heavenly Father. All that is obtained by fraud is the wages of unrighteousness, and the maintenance given by Satan to his servants. Does this dependence upon God, render our own exertions needless ? No: while we lay aside every anxious care, we should endeavour to gain a livelihood in an honest way, avoiding slothfulness, and looking up to God for his blessing. The hand of the diligent maketh rich. Prov. x. 4. He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread. Prov. xxviii. 19. These hands have ministered unto my necessities. Acts xx. 34. Not slothful in business. Rom. xii. 11. This we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 2 Thess. iii. 10. 12. If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith. 1 Tim. v. 8. Should you not also understand this petition in a spiritual sense? Yes: "I pray unto God that he will send us all things that are needful both for our souls and bodies." We should pray daily that our souls may be fed by faith in Christ, who is "the bread of life." John vi. 35. And we should labour more diligently for his grace, than for the support of our bodies, remembering, What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, an lose his own soul? Matt. xvi. 26. I have esteemed the words of his mouth, more than my necessary food. Job xxiii. 12. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that pro ceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matt. iv. 4. Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. Luke xiv. 15. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life. John vi. 27. My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. John vi. 32. Lord, evermore give us this bread. John vi. 34. -Desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. 1 Pet. ii. 2. Take care that you do not lose sight of God in your daily mercies. Do not depend too much on your health and strength, on your habits of industry, or on any prospects, however promising. Remember, God can send you sickness, destroy your property, or deprive you of employment, whenever he thinks proper. Labour with all diligence, and then look for his blessing on the work of your hands. Spiritual prosperity, also, is a state which can only be secured by a constant and diligent use of those means of grace which God has appointed, and which those who are slothful in religious duties can never enjoy. Watch continually, pray without ceasing, and whatever work of piety or charity your hand findeth to do, do it with your might. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower, both minister bread for your food, and increase the fruits of your righteousness; being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. 2 Cor. ix. 10, 11. Collect, 8th Sunday after Trinity.-O God, whose never failing providence ordereth all things, both in heaven and earth; we humbly beseech thee to put away from us all hurtful things, and to give us those things which are profitable for us. ON THE LORD'S PRAYER. $7. THE FIFTH PETITION. WHAT is the fifth petition? "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." Trespasses mean sins. We here ask mercies for our souls, and entreat God to save us from that punishment which our numerous offences against him deserve. Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up. Ps. xl. 12. Unto us belongeth confusion of faces. (See pages 4, and Dan. ix. 7. 98.) Why must we pray daily for the forgiveness of our sins? Because we daily commit sin, and therefore need forgiveness daily. For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity: for it is great.-Forgive all my sins. Ps. xxv. 11. 18. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Ps. li. 9. The wages of sin is death, (Rom. vi. 23,) even the second death, to which we are therefore exposed; for we can make no satisfaction for our sins: Through whom, then, must we pray for pardon? Through Christ only, who has saved us by his grace. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts iv. 12. Him hath God exalted-to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. Acts v. 31. Who his ownself bare our sins in his own body on the tree: by whose stripes ye were healed. 1 Pet. ii. 24. (See also pages 99, 100.) Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Ps. xxxii. 1, 2. Rom. iv. 6, 7. Have we reason to expect that the Lord will hear our prayer? Yes, if we come to him in faith, and with a deep sense of our need of pardon. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Isa. lv. 7. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord, &c. I will heal their backsliding. I will love them freely. Hos. xiv. 2. 4. (See also page 101.) Let us earnestly beg, "that he will be merciful unto us, and forgive us our sins." What do we learn from the latter part of this petition, "as we forgive those who trespass against us ?" It should teach us to exercise a forbearing and forgiving temper towards our fellow creatures. This is a most difficult duty, and requires much selfdenial before we can practise it. Our Saviour's example ought always to be before our eyes. Luke xxiii. 34. If ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matt. vi. 14, 15. How oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto the |