A. In the fourth petition, which is, " give us this day our daily bread," we pray, that of God's free gift we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy his blessing with them.

A competent portion. A sufficient share.

The blessing of God. The favour of God, which alone can make the creatures comfortable and useful to us.

105. Q. What do we pray for in the fifth petition? A. In the fifth petition, which is, "and 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.

106. Q. 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 to sin, or support and deliver us when we are tempted.

Temptation. Any thing that entices or persuades us to sin, or that diverts or discourages us from our duty, or that becomes an occasion of our offending God.

Support and deliver, &c. Keep us from sinning when we are tempted to it.

107.Q. 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 encouragement from God only, and in our prayers to praise him, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory to him; and in testimony of our desires, and assurance to be heard, we say, Amen. Conclusion. The close or end.-Ascribing. Acknowledging as due.-Testimony. Witness.

Amen. A wish and hope that it may be as we ask.

End of the Assembly's catechism.

PRESERVATIVE

FROM THE

SINS AND FOLLIES OF CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH.

INTRODUCTION,

1. Quest. WHAT are the chief dangers that at

tend childhood and youth?

A. We are in danger of many sins; and there are many frailties and follies attend us in younger years. 2. Q. What is it that is most properly called sin? A. Doing what God has forbidden, or neglecting to do what God hath required.

3. Q. What is it you call frailties and follies ?

A. Those things which God hath not so plainly forbidden; but if they are indulged, will lead us into sinful practices, and are attended with many inconvenien

ces.

Note. The word vice is sometimes used to signify sins, and sometimes follies.*

Though it is sufficiently evident that there are some fool. eries or frailties of children, which cannot properly be called sins, yet there are also some sins or follies wherein it is had to distinguish some of the kinds or branches of them from one another in their own natures; nor is it easy to my under which head they should be ranked. The scripture often calls sin folly; and if any of those which I have mentioned be ranked under an improper name, the candid reader will excuse it,

4. Q. How many sorts of sins are committed by mán. kind?

A. Our sins are of three sorts, viz. The sins of the heart, the sins of the tongue, and the sins of the life.

5. Q. Against whom are these sins committed?

A. Some more directly against God, some against our neghbours, and some against ourselves.

6. Q. But are not all sins committed against God? A. Yes, we sin against God in all the evil which we do, because his law forbids it all: but in some sins we do more particular injury to our neighbour or ourselves. 7. Q. Are children and youth in danger of all these sorts of sins?

A. Yes, our natures being sinful, we children are in danger of these sins, as well as grown persons.

8. Q. What are the best ways to avoid these sins, and to free yourself from them?

A. I must do these six things.

1. I must endeavour to see the evil nature and the ill consequences of every sin I am in danger of.

2. I must be sorry for what evil I have done in time past.

3. I must be more watchful for time to come.

4. I must pray to God to change my sinful nature, and to give me strength against these sins.

5. I must trust in Jesus Christ and his grace to keep me from them.

6. I should have some good reason and some proper scripture in my memory always ready to oppose them. Thus far of sins in general-let us now come to par

ticulars.

PART I.

OF SINS AGAINST GOD.

9. Q. What are the chief sins more directly against God, of which children are in danger?

A. Our sins against God may be ranked under these

three heads, viz. Ungodliness,* Profaneness, and Selfsufficiency.

10. Q. What is ungodliness?

A. To forget God continually, and have nothing to do with him—and it appears in four things.

11. Q. What is the first sign of ungodliness.

A. If I never honour nor praise God for his own greatness and glory.

Reason against this sinful neglect. The great and glorious God, who is our Maker, deserves our honour, and demands it of us on the account of his own excellencies, manifested in all his works.

12. Q.

What is the second mark of ungodliness?

A. When I do not pray to God for the blessings which I want.

Reason for prayer to God. God is gracious, and will hear when we pray to him; but I have no reason to hope he will bless me, if I do not ask it of him, nor acknowledge any dependence on him.

13. Q. What is the third sign of ungodliness?

A. When I do not give thanks to God for the mercies I receive.

Reason against unthankfulness. I may justly expect God will take away all the blessings he has bestowed, if I never thank him for them.

14. Q. What is the fourth mark of ungodliness?

A. When I do not hearken to the word of God, nor obey his commands.

Reason for hearkening to the word of God and obeying his will. Gol, who made me, is my Owner, and my Governor, and my great Judge; and his word and will should be the rule of all my behaviour.

15. Q. Having heard your account of ungodliness, tell me now what is profaneness ?

*Ungodliness is a neglect of God; profaneness is an actual contempt of him: one is negative, or a sin of omission; the other is positive, and a sin of commission, as we may well distinguish them. And perhaps some may think that a sinful selfsufficiency is implied in the neglect of God; but children must have every thing spoken in a plain and explicit manner to make them attend and remember it, and therefore I have made it a distinct head.

A. Abusing or despising any thing that is holy o that belongs to God,

16. Q. When may you be profanely said to despise or abuse what belongs to God?

A. Four ways.

17. Q. What is the first instance of profaneness?

A. 1. If I make a mock of God, or reproach his name, which is called blasphemy; or if I swear, or take the name of God in vain, or use it in a trifling manner, without seriousness.

Reason against this sin. Because if I make light of the name of God, I shall quickly come to make light of God himself, and live as an enemy to God in the world.

18. Q. What is the second mark of profaneness ?

A. 2. If I spend that time amiss, which God has appointed for his own worship and service.

Reason. When God has appointed times of worship, man must not put them to other uses without necessity, for he is not lord of his time.

19. Q. What is the third mark of profaneness ?

A. 3. If I laugh at persons, or jeer them because they are God's ministers or God's people.

Reason against this sin. When persons are abused because they are religious and holy, and belong to God, God takes the abuse as done to himself: and those, who laugh at saints, are not likely to become saints themselves.

20. Q. What is the fourth mark of profaneness?

A. 4. If I make a jest of the word of God, or preaching, or prayer, or any part of true religion.

Reason against this sin. They who jest with the bible and holy things, will not long continue to esteem the bible, or to practise holiness.

21. Q. We come next to inquire, what do you mean by self-sufficiency, as a sin against God?

A. It is when I live as though I had no need of God; and it appears in these three things chiefly.

22. Q. What is the first ?

A. 1. When I fancy I have knowledge and wisdom enough to direct me, without seeking to God for more. Reason against this sin. No man on earth has wisdom enough to direct all his own actions, and God will give wisdom to them that ask it.