until seven times; but until seventy times seven. Matt. xviii. 21, 22. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. Matt. xviii. 32-35. Love ye your enemies-forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. Luke vi. 35-37. If thy brother trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. Luke xvii. 3, 4. Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven you. Eph. iv. 31, 32. Put on bowels of mercies, meekness, long-suffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. Col. iii. 12, 13. He shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy. James ii. 13. have done you, If you forgive others the injuries they may may you, on that account, expect to receive from God the forgiveness of your sins? No, it is only through the blood of Christ our sins can be forgiven; but if we can forgive others, how much more will God forgive us. The Christian religion inculcates a spirit of love. True repentance and faith always produce a disposition to forgive others; and habitual malice and revenge are proofs of impenitence and unbelief. We must not only forbear doing revengeful actions, but we must not harbour grudges in our bosom. However we may have been offended, we must bear no malice or hatred in our hearts, but freely forgive, even as God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven us. There cannot be a more likely method to destroy an unforgiving temper, than the frequent use of the Lord's Prayer. How can we use this prayer at night, and then lie down with malice and hatred rankling in our breasts. In such case we pray for a curse, when we say, "forgive us as we forgive." If a believer be betrayed into such a spirit, he must not expect communion with God till he be brought to a better temper. Before we can pray with earnestness that our sins may be forgiven, we must have a deep sense, wrought in us by the Holy Spirit, of the exceeding sinfulness of sin. Pray herefore, that God would show you the odious nature of in; that he would humble you under a sense of your sins; and that he would give you a greater love for Christ, through whom all pardon is procured. 24th Sunday after Trinity.-O Lord, we beseech thee, absolve thy people from their offences; that through thy bountiful goodness we may all be delivered from the bands of those sins, which by our frailty we have committed. ON THE LORD'S PRAYER. § 8. THE SIXTH PETITION. WHAT is the sixth petition? "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." The word temptation in Scripture often means trial. God did tempt Abraham. Gen. xxii. 1. When may God be said to lead men into temptation ? 1. When by his providence he suffers men to be tempted by objects which correspond with their inward lusts and corruptions. Achan saw the Babylonish spoils-he coveted and took them. Josh. vii. 20, 21. The Lord moved David against Israel, to number them. 2 Sam. xxiv. 1. Judas was tempted, by the offer of money, to betray his mas' Matt. xxvi. 15. Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed. James i. 14. 2. By permitting Satan and wicked men to tempt us. Satan provoked David to number Israel. 1 Chron. xxi. 1. Ananias and Sapphira were tempted by Satan to lie to the Holy 3. By withdrawing from us the influences of his Holy Spirit, and leaving us under the power of temptations. God left Hezekiah to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. 2 Chron. xxxii. 31. Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. Hos. iv. 17. But God cannot really tempt men to commit sin. God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man. James i. 13. Why does God permit us to be tempted? There are many reasons why he should allow us to be exposed to temptations:-He may see it necessary in order to try our faith, and to purify our hearts, that we may come forth as gold from the hands of the refiner; to humble and prove us, and to show the difference between hypocrites and believers. The Lord thy God led thee forty years in the wilderness to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart. Deut. vii. 2. 16. The Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the My servant Job still holdeth fast his integrity. Job ii. 3. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation. James i. 12. What then are we taught to pray for in the former part of this petition? That God would neither suffer us to be led into temptation to do what is evil, from our own lusts nor from the devil; but that he would support us under temptation, and not permit us to fall by it. Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Ps. xix. 13. Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation. Matt. xxvi. 41. Luke xxii. 40. 46. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able; but will with the temptation make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Cor. x. 13. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations. 2 Pet. ii. 9. Be watchful over your thoughts, desires, and tempers, which often prove strong temptations. See that you do not yourselves run into temptation, but shun all wicked companions which might lead you into sin, and all places where danger to your soul might be expected. We must not suppose, because we have been preserved for a great length of time from being overcome by any particular sin, that therefore we are no longer in danger of committing it. David and several other holy persons fell into gross sins in the decline of life, and after a long and consistent profession of religion. We must never cease to watch. What is the evil from which we pray to be delivered? 1. We pray "that it will please him to save and defend us in all dangers, both of soul and body," or those to which our persons are liable, as diseases, accidents of various kinds, and sudden death. Innumerable evils have compassed me about. Ps. xl 12. Because thou hast made the Lord-thy habitation, there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come near thy dwelling. Ps. xci. 1-13. That we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men. 2 Thess. iii. 2. The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work (of men,) and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom. 2 Tim. iv. 18. 2. "That he will keep us from all sin and wickedness." He will keep the feet of his saints. 1 Sam. ii. 9. O that thou wouldest keep me froin evil, that it may not grieve me. 1 Chron. iv. 10. I pray that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. Jo xvii. 15. 3. That he will keep us "from our spiritual enemy i. e. Satan, who uses all possible means to persuade us commit sin, that he may accuse and torment us. pages 24, 25. See Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Eph. vi. 11. Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Pet. v. 8. He that is begotten of God, keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. 1 John v. 18. Satan does not possess so much power as to compel us to sin, unless we consent to him. He is only permitted to use subtlety, not force, and if we resist him, he will fly from us. When our Saviour was exposed to his temptation, this wicked one, no doubt, put forth his utmost strength and yet "he forced him not: he touched him not: he only said, Cast thyself down; that we may know, that whosoever obeyeth the devil, casteth himself down; for the devil may suggest, compel he cannot."-Chrysostom on Matthew iv. 6. 4. That he will keep us "from everlasting death." Not the death of the body, which is not everlasting, but the dreadful state of the souls and bodies of the wicked in hell, where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. It is called death, because they are for ever separated from God, the fountain of life, and because they are no longer capable of enjoying happiness, or of doing any thing that is good. But they do not cease to exist. Life still animates them; but if the life that is in them be death, how dreadful is that death? These (the wicked) shall go away into everlasting punishment. Matt. xxv. 46. For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. Mark ix. 49. The wages of sin is death. Rom. vi. 23. Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. James i. 15. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. Rev. ii. 11. The lake of fire; this is the second death. Rev. xx. 14. The lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Rev. xxi. 8. To whom should we look for deliverance? To God, whose grace is all-sufficient, and who can so strengthen us with might by his Spirit, in our inner man, that we shall be able to stand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. And this I trust he will do, of his mercy and goodness, through our Lord Jesus Christ. O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself, but in me is thine help. Hos. xiii. 9. [Christ] gave himself, that he might deliver us from this present evil world. Gal. i. 4. He is able to succour them that are tempted. Heb. i. 18. 2 Pet. ii. 9. Unto him that is able to keep you from falling. Jude 24. How are we to obtain the assistance of God? We can only expect it in the way of prayer and obedience to his commandments. When Paul was buffeted by a temptation from Satan, he prayed for deliverance, and was answered. My grace is sufficient for thee. 2 Cor. xii. 9. The word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 1 John ii. 14. How little reason have men to be proud when they consider their helpless and dependent situation. If we are enabled to resist the power of temptation, we must ascribe our preservation to God, and not to ourselves, recollecting into what grievous sins some of the best men recorded in Scripture have been betrayed. Apply then to him who is mighty to save. Put your trust in him, and he will either prevent temporal evils from befalling you, or make them work together for your good. Above all, fly to him for refuge from the assaults of your spiritual enemy, and let it be with full purpose of heart. We should shun whatever we know has a tendency to cause us to sin. We find it very difficult to keep our hearts from sinful desires, |