h. Transgressions, offences against God's holy law. i. Depravity, corrupt nature.

j. Always, at all times.

k. Cleaves, sticks; adheres. 1. Feel, are sensible of.

m. Evidence, testimony; proof. n. Grace, divine influence.

o. Firm, fixed; steady.

p. Resolution, purpose or determination of the mind.. q. From the heart, sincerely.

r. Our neighbor, our fellow men.

DOCTRINES SEPARATED AND PROVED.

1. We are to pray to God, that he may be pleased not to im pute to us, poor sinners, our transgressions, nor that deprav ity which always cleaves to us. Psalm li. 1, 2, 7, 9-Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.- -Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.- Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities, Psalm xxv. 7-Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me, for thy goodness sake, O Lord.

2. We are to ask God thus not to impute to us our transgressions nor our depravity, for the sake of Christ's blood. Eph. i. 7-In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins according to his grace. 1 John ii. 12-I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

3. We are to forgive our neighbor. Col. iii. 13-Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

4. We are to forgive our neighbor with firm resolution from the heart. Math. xviii. 35-So likewise shall my heavenly father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

5. It is by the grace of God in us only, that we are able

with firm resolution from the heart to forgive our neighbor. Gal. v. 22, 23-But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

EXERCISES.

What is the one hundred and twenty-sixth question? What answer is returned to this question? What does the answer say the fifth petition is? What do you mean by forgive? (a.) What by our debts? (b.) What by our debtors? (c.) How does the answer explain this petition? What do you mean by impute? (f.) What by poor sinners? (g.) What by our transgressions? (h.) What by depravity? (i.) What by always? (j.) What by cleaves? (k.) How do you prove, that we are to pray to God, that he may be pleased, not to impute to us, poor sinners, our transgressions, nor that depravity which always cleaves to us? (1.) Upon what ground are we to ask God, not to impute to us our transgressions, nor our depravity? What do you mean by the expression, for the sake of? (d.) What by Christ's blood? (e.) How do you prove, that we are to ask God not to impute to us our transgressions, nor our depravity for the sake of Christ's blood? (2.) What measure is laid down in the answer, in accordance with which we are to ask God not to impute to us our sins, nor our depravity? Whom do you mean by our neighbor ? (r.) How do you prove, that we are to forgive our neighbor? (3.) How are we to forgive our neighbor? What do you mean by firm? (o.) What by resolution? (p.) What by the expression from the heart? (q.) How do you prove that we are to forgive our neighbor with firm resolution from the heart? (4.) By what are we enabled to forgive our neighbor with firm resolution from the heart? How is this expressed in the answer? What do you mean by feel? (1.) What by evidence? (m.) What by his grace? (n.) How do you prove, that it is by the grace of God in us only, that we are able with firm resolution from the heart to forgive our neighbor? (5.)

LII. Lord's Day.

Q. 127. Which is the sixth petition?

A.-"AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL;" that is, since we are so weak in ourselves, that we cannot stand a moment; and besides this, since our mortal enemies, the devil, the world, and our own flesh, cease not to assault us; do thou, therefore, preserve and strengthen us by the power of thy Holy Spirit, that we may not be overcome in this spiritual warfare; but constantly and strenuously may resist our foes, until at last we obtain a complete victory.

EXPLANATIONS.

a. Temptation, a situation in which we may be inclined, or persuaded to sin.

b. Deliver, save or rescue from.

c. Evil, sin; that which is contrary to the law of God. d. Weak, destitute of strength.

e. Stand, continue our existence.

f. Mortal, deadly; violent.

g. Enemies, those that hate us and seek our injury. h. Devil, the spiritual enemy of man.

i. World, the corrupt maxims and ungodly influences with which we are surrounded in the present state of human society.

j. Flesh, our corrupt human nature.

k. Assault, attack; fall upon with violence.

1. Preserve, keep safely; sustain.

m. Strengthen, cause to increase in power and security. n. Power, influence.

o. Holy Spirit, the third person in the Holy Trinity. p. Overcome, vanquish; conquer.

q. Spiritual, not material.

r. Warfare, struggle with enemies,

s. Constantly, without interruption or cessation.

t. Strenuously, vigorously; with eager and pressing zeal. u. Resist, withstand; oppose.

v. Foes, enemies.

w. Obtain, arrive at; secure.

x. Complete, perfect.

y. Victory, conquest.

DOCTRINES SEPARATED AND PROVED.

1. We are so weak in ourselves that we cannot stand a moment. Math. xxvi. 41-Watch, and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. John xv. 5-For without me ye can do nothing. Psalm ciii. 14.

2. The devil, as our mortal enemy, ceases not to assault us. 1 Pet. v. 8-Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. Luke xxii. 31, 32-And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, Behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not. Eph. vi. 12.

3. The world, as our mortal enemy, ceases not to assault us. Prov. i. 10-My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. John xv. 19-But because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 1 John ii. 15–17.

4. Our own flesh, as our mortal enemy, ceases not to assault us. Gal. v. 17-For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. James i. 14-But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Rom. vii. 23.

5. We are to pray to God that he would preserve and strengthen us in our spiritual warfare. 2 Cor. xii. 7 and 8 -And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan, to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

6. We are to pray to God, that he would preserve and strengthen us in our spiritual warfare by the power of his Holy Spirit. Eph. iii. 14-16-For this cause I how my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the

Inner man.

7. We are to pray to God to preserve and strengthen us in our spiritual warfare, by the power of his Holy Spirit, that we may not be overcome therein. Eph. vi. 10-13-Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 1 Thess. v. 23 and 24.

8. We are to pray to God to preserve and strengthen us in our spiritual warfare by the power of his Holy Spirit, that we may constantly and strenuously resist our foes until at last we obtain a complete victory. 1 Thess. iii. 13-To the end that he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. 1 Thess. v. 23-And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. xvi. 20.

EXERCISES.

What is the one hundred and twenty-seventh question? What answer is returned to this question? What does the answer say the sixth petition is? What do you mean by temptation? (a.) What by deliver? (b.) What by evil? (c.) How does the answer explain the sixth petition? What do you mean by weak? (d.) What by stand? (e.) How do you prove, that we are so weak in ourselves, that we cannot stand a moment? (1.) What do you mean by mortal? (f.) What by enemies? (g.) Whom by the devil? (h.) What by assault? (k.) How do you prove, that the devil, as our mortal enemy, ceases not to assault us? (2.) What do you mean by the world? (i.) How do you prove, that the world, as our mortal enemy, ceases not to assault us? (3.) What do you mean by our own flesh? (j.) How do you prove, that our own flesh, as our mortal enemy, ceases not to assault us? (4.) What do you mean by preserve? (1.) What by strengthen? (m.)