And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.

This petition implies that relative duties generally are inseparably connected with our allegiance to God. When a trembling sinner has been made to see that there is forgiveness with Him, and when he can cherish a good hope that himself has been made partaker of that forgiveness; the first feelings of his unburthened heart will naturally be, to forgive the " pence which may be owing to him from his fellowservants, in consideration of the "ten thousand talents" from which his Lord has frankly discharged him.

O ransomed sinner, would'st thou know,
How freely to forgive,

How dearly to embrace thy foe,

Look where thou hop'st to live!'

And lead us not into temptation ;

What an affecting proof is this petition of the concern our blessed Redeemer takes in the happiness of his unworthy people: the fact of our being authorised to pray against temptation being one of the greatest comforts to those who know by painful experience what that terrible word imports. The believer knows that his

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Lord can preserve him through every temptation, and feel for him and with him in all; he remembers with much consolation, that God has promised to "make a way of escape" for each, but still he may legitimately dread the temptation: for he knows himself to be "as weak as his support is strong," and though not foiled, he may be wounded in the conflict: het remembers too, that of many of God's dear children it is recorded, that they fell in an hour of temptation into great sins, causing the way of truth to be evil spoken of, and giving the enemy" great" occasion to blaspheme ;" and as every converted man feels that he is individually "the chief of sinners," because he sees so much more sin in his own corrupt heart, than can be exhibited in the outward conduct of any fellow sinner; he knows that there is no depth of iniquity into which he may not openly fall, if Jesus withdraw his upholding hand; and possibly many of us may remember when we have been led by some dire temptation perhaps to the very brink of apostasy, and having been mercifully restored by the good hand of God, have found that it has been long before we could regain that calmness and equanimity, which so sweetly characterize the happy sons

of Zion: just as when a severe storm has turned a ship out of her course, and lashed all the surrounding sea into fury, she cannot recover her steadiness for some time; but when once more pursuing her proper course, she still feels the effects of the tempest, and it is too probable that her shattered condition will tell to every beholder the tale of her late danger and narrow escape. We know not the strength of temptation until actually brought into contact with it: behold an object at a distance, it appears like a mere speck; when we come near, it is large enough to hide the sun from us: temptations seen afar off seem insignificant, but as we approach, we find that Jesus will be hid by them, unless he is in the zenith of our souls, in which case, no trial can even cast a shadow!

"If strong temptations crowd my way,

And ills 1 cannot flee;

Oh, give me strength, Lord, as my day;
For good remember me!'

But deliver us from evil.

To use this prayer with sincerity, we must see him 'who wore the platted thorns with bleeding brows,'' sitting king for ever,' ' ruling in the midst of his enemies,' giving his angels charge' over his little ones' in all their

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ways,

making the revolutions of empires, and the destiny of princes, subservient to the good of his beloved church. We must recognise him as the God-man, the appointed destroyer of the works of the Devil, and our promised deliverer from sin, that fruitful source of all evil, and the object of his righteous abhorrence. When we can thus conceive of his unlimited power, and universal superintendence, the few words before us, uttered in the simplicity of faithful dependance, will speak volumes, as they come warm from a believer's heart. The restraining of the two-fold evil of a fallen world and a fallen heart, will furnish abundant matter for the uttered or unexpressed desires of those, who 'beset with snares on every hand,' feel it their only security, and only consolation that the Lord is on their side: to them

The ills of every shape and every name,

Transformed to blessings, miss their cruel aim;
And every moment's calm that soothes the breast,
Is given in earnest of eternal rest.'

For thine is the kingdom, And the power, and the glory, for eber and ever. Amen.

When the name of our Father shall be hallowed by every pardoned and sanctified sinner -when the kingdom of God shall have fully

come, and the stamp of God's character shall be impressed on all the works of his hands, and every imagination of the thoughts of our hearts be conformed to his will: when not only every creature in heaven, but those who are on the earth also, shall find it their meat to do his commandments; when, enjoying the "bread of life," we shall no longer need the daily 'manna' of the wilderness; when there will be no trespasses to forgive, no temptation to pray against, no evil to be delivered from; then will the whole creation join in a universal chorus of praise; and the grateful and overflowing hearts of those who are "redeemed from the earth," shall, in the presence of God, in heaven itself, amid "the general assembly and church of the first-born," ascribe "blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, unto him who sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever;" and ten thousand times ten thousand happy, holy beings, shall echo the loud "Amen" throughout immensity.

O Lord, open thou our lips: And our mouth shall show forth thy praise.

Every child of Adam is born into the world deaf to all the offers of a Redeemer's love, and