multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Q. 4. May we hope by prayer to obtain forgiveness of God's mercy, without any merit? A. God being infinetly just, as well as merciful we must bring merit before him, that we may obtain forgiveness of him; but because we have it not of our own, and he hath provided it for us in his Son we must pray for pardon for the merit sake of Christ, who hath purchased forgiveness for us with his blood, Eph. i. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins. Q. 5. What may encourage us to ask forgiveness from God? A. We may be encouraged to ask forgiveness from God, when by his grace we are enabled with our hearts to forgive others, Mat. vi. 14. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you. 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 either God would keep us from being tempted unto sin, or support and deliver us when we are tempted. Q. 1. What do we request in praying, lead us not into temptation? A. In praying, lead us not into temptation, we request that God would keep us from being tempted unto sin. Q. 2. How doth God keep us from being tempted unto sin? A. God keepeth us from being tempted unto sin, either when he restraineth the devil the great tempter of mankind from assaulting us with his prevailing temptations; or else restraining us from coming unto those ways where temptations are waiting for us, and where we should be tempters unto ourselves, Matth. xxvi. 49. Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation. Psalm xix. 13. Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins, let them not have dominion over me. Q3. What do we request in praying, deliver us from evil? A. In praying, deliver us from evil, we request that when we are tempted by the devil, or the flesh, or the world unto sin, that we may be supported and strengthened to resist and overcome the temptations, so as to be delivered by the power of God's sufficient grace, from falling into the evil of sin, James iv. 7. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 1 Cor. x. 13. God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able. 2 Cor xii. 7, 8, 9. There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee. And he 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 for ever, Amen. Teacheth us, to take our encouragement in prayer from God only, and in our prayers to praise him, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory to him, and in testimony of our desire, and assurance to be heard we say, Amen. Q. 1. What is the conclusion of the Lord's prayer, itself? A. The conclusion of the Lord's Prayer, itself, is in these words, for thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory for ever. Amen. Q2. What is the first thing which the conclusion of the Lord's prayer doth teach us? A. The first thing which the conclusion of the Lord's prayer doth teach us, is to take our encouragement in prayer, not from ourselves, or any worthiness of our own, but from God only, who having the kingdom, and eternal sovereignty, the power, and eternal all sufficiency, the glory for ever, and there fore incomparably glorious in his faithfulness, goodness and most tender mercy, we may persuade ourselves, that he is both able to give what we ask and that he is willing and will give what he hath promised unto us, Dan. ix. 18, 19. We do not present our supplications for our righteousness, but for thy great mercies. O Lord hear, O Lord forgive, O Lord hearken; and defer not for thy own sake, O my God. Psalm v. 2. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my king, and my God; for unto thee will I pray. Eph. iii. 20, 21. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us; Unto him be glory in the church, by Jesus Christ, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Q. 3. What is the second thing which this conclusion of the Lord's prayer doth teach us? A. The second thing which this conclusion of the Lord's prayer doth teach us, is in our prayers to God, to praise him, ascribing kingdom, power and glory unto him, 1 Chron. xxix. 10, 11, 13. Blessed be thou Lord God of Israel our Father, for ever and ever. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power; and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: For all that is in heaven, and in the earth, is thine: Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head. above all. Now therefore, our God we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name, Tim. 1.17. Now unto the king eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Q. 4. Why are we to say, Amen? A. We are to say, Amen, which signifieth, so be it, or, so it shall be, in testimony of our desires, and assurance to be heard, Rev. xxii. 20. Amen, even so, come LORD JESUS. THE END. A SHORT METHOD WITH THE DEIST S. WHEREIN THE CERTAINTY OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION IS DEMONSTRATED, IN A LETTER TO A FRIEND. BY THE REV. CHARLES LESLIE. Magna est Veritas, et Prævalebit. |