SERM. be sensible of them and to confess them. IV. "If we say that we have no sin, we de- IV. "Lead us not into temptation, but de- SERM. "liver us from evil," is the last petition; for I think, though it consists of two clauses, it may be considered as one petition. I have seen these words changed for others, which are in my opinion more agreeable to the sense of the original language. "Abandon us not to temptation, but pre serve us from evil." The phrase, "lead us not into temptation," seems to imply, that we believe God to be the author of it, which he certainly never is of the sort of temptation here intended: whereas aban'don us not, nor permit us to go into temp 'tation,' steers clear of this seeming impropriety. The word, which is translated deliver, means more than that-it means preserve, by which may be understood, not merely free us from the evils into which we have fallen, but prevent us from fall ing into any evils at all.' Temptation is of two kinds; one is sent to give the vir tuous E 3 SERM. tuous an opportunity of displaying their IV. good qualities such was that of Abraham, : when he was commanded to offer up his son; such were those into which the early Christians fell, when they were so severely persecuted; and such are those which good men now experience, when they meet with vexations and afflictions, and pass victo riously through them. The other sort of temptations are those occasions of sin, which but too often occur, that are by their own violence, and the weakness of those to whose lot they fall, insurmountable. It is obvious that they are these latter against which we pray, as these only are prejudicial to us, the former tending to the glory of God and the good of our own souls. "Preserve us from evil:"that greatest of all evils, Sin, and the consequences of sin, the anger of God, are here principally intended: but yet, in an inferior degree, it is certainly allowable to IV. have in our eye a preservation from tem- SERM. poral evils; but this must be accompanied with the filial submission of our blessed Saviour to the disposal of the Almighty The concluding clause of the Lord's Prayer is called the Doxology, the meaning of which is, a form of ascribing glory to God:-" For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. "Amen." Thou hast a perpetual and immoveable authority, by which at all ' times thou directest and governest all things, wherefore we profess to rely on thee alone, and have a full confidence in thee in all our wants; thine is the glory; all honour and reverence, all love and thankfulness, are due unto thee, as in the beginning, so at this present time, and will be to all eternity.' SERM. IV. Having thus gone through with each ar ticle of the Lord's Prayer separately, I shall conclude with taking a more connected view of it, by presenting you with it in a short paraphrase. O thou, the great creator and preserver of me and all the rest of the universe, who art enthroned in majesty above all height, and dwellest in light which no eye can approach; mayest thou be honoured by all thy innumerable creatures, as thy unspeak able greatness requires! may their minds be impressed with just sentiments of thy wisdom, goodness, and omnipotence ! Thy kingdom come." Oh! hasten the period, when the religion which thou hast graciously revealed to us by thine only begotten son, may be professed all over the world in its original purity, and may obtain such an influence over the hearts and lives of all its votaries, that thy will may be submitted to, and per formed |