Luke 11:2

Observe here, the favor which Christ does us in prescribing. form of prayer to us;. great favor no doubt, though the world grows weary of it: we know not alas what to ask, but he himself teaches us, and frames our application for us, that it may be accepted. Should. king's son draw. petition for. poor subject, to be put up to his father, what. ground of hope would there be, that whatever is desired would be obtained! If any of us then think meanly of our Lord's prayer, oh how meanly may He think of us, and of our prayers!

The sense and signification of this best of prayers is this: "O thou our Father in Jesus Christ, who remains in thy throne in heaven, and art there perpetually praised and perfectly obeyed by glorious angels and glorified saints. Grant that thy name may be glorified, thy throne acknowledged, and thy holy will obeyed here on earth below by us thy sons and servants, as readily, as cheerfully, and sincerely, and in some degree of proportion to what is done in heaven above. And because, by reason of the frailty of our natures, we cannot subsist without the comforts and supports of life, we crave our daily bread at thy bountiful hand; even such. proportion of the good things of this life as thy wisdom shall be convenient for us. And knowing that thy holiness and justice does oblige thee to punish sin and sinners, we plead with thee, for the sake of thy Son's satisfaction, to forgive us our daily trespasses; for it is our desire and endeavor, heartily to forgive those that have offended us. And seeing this wicked world wherein we live is so full of snares and temptations of all sorts, we pray that by the power of thy grace, and the concurrence of our own careful endeavors, we may be kept from Satan's temptation, from the world's allurements, and from our own evil inclinations, and be preserved unblamable to thine everlasting kingdom. And in testimony of our desires and assurance to be heard, we say, Amen, so be it; even so,. Lord, let it be forever."

Learn,

1. That God is the Father of all his people: as. Father he knows all his children, he loves them and takes care of them: as his children, it is our duty to honor him, to obey him, to imitate him, to cast our care upon him, and to long for the enjoyment of him.

2. From the word our, learn that it is our duty to pray for others, as well as for ourselves. We cannot pray acceptably for ourselves, if we pray only for ourselves.

3. That the hallowing, honoring, and sanctifying of God's name, as it is the first thing we are to pray for, so it ought to be preferred before all other things whatsoever: we pray for it before we pray for our own salvation; we say, Hallowed be thy name, before we say, Forgive us our debts.

4. Learn, that sins are debts, and sinners are indebted to divine justice. Sin is an infinite debt,. multiplied debt, an inexcusable debt, and if not discharged by our surety, we must lie in prison to all eternity for non-payment of this debt.

5. That God has made our forgiveness of others, the condition of his forgiving us: the word as, is not. note of equality, but of similitude; we cannot equal God in forgiving, but we must imitate him.

6. No sooner is sin pardoned, but Satan will be busy with his temptation: Forgive us our sins, and lead us not into temptation.

7. That it is. greater mercy to be delivered from the evil of temptation, than from temptations to evil. The evil of temptations is the evil of sin, but temptation to evil is at most but the evil of punishment. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; suffer us not to be led into temptation, or, if so, leave us not when we are tempted.