The PREFACE.

T

HE fubject of the following dif courfes requires very little apology; one reason that induc'd me to the choice of it was, that the Lord's Prayer being of frequent ufe becomes through inadvertency too much a matter of course; so that it is too often. faid without fruit, becaufe without ferioufness and attention. I therefore hop'd it would be of fome fervice to Religion to remind men, both of that hope which they profefs, and that obedience which they promife, as often as they use this Prayer. But I had likewife another reafon for treating upon this fubje&t; because it gave me a fit opportunity of difcourfing upon fome forgotten principles of Christianity, which are fo far from

being generally purfu'd at this time, that they are scarce understood. The greater part of the world needs frequently to be reminded that this Prayer was taught by our Lord Jefus, and that the feveral requests contain'd in it are only to be procur'd in and through him. The near relation to God our Father, and those bleffings which are included in that relation, are so many ftipulations of the New Covenant; and are no otherwife to be obtain'd, but by performing the conditions of it. So that both the title to use this Prayer, and all the expectations of fuccefs from it, belong to us only as we are the faithful difciples of our Saviour. It was the custom of the primitive Church before baptifm to inftruct the new converts from hence in the principles of their Religion, which hath occafion'd many difcourfes of the primitive Fathers upon this fubject. I have generally made these my guide, both in the fenfe of each

petition,

petition, and in the practical obfervations from thence; because however they may seem to fall fhort in the folidity of their reasonings, (though much might be faid in their vindication even upon this head,) yet I am fo unfashionable as to think, that they in their moral precepts exceed any writings of the moderns. I thought fit however, for the convenience of common readers, to feparate into marginal notes fome citations from them, which were deliver'd in the body of the difcourfes.

I cannot but take notice in this place of the common, and probably the only now remaining objection against the Lord's Prayer, which is, that none are So good as to be fit to use it. The objection would be reasonable, if any lefs perfon than the Son of God had been author of this Prayer; without this encouragement it would have been prefumption, either to have call'd God Father,

or

1

or to have begg'd for fo many inftances of favour. But befides the words themfelves in teaching us to beg for pardon, grace and protection, fuppofe us to be weak, infufficient, and finners; fo that we do not profefs by them a state of perfection, but the defires after it. If fome therefore cannot come up to these defires, this is not fo much an objection against the Prayer, as against the general obligations of the Chriftian Religion; nothing more being requir'd to pray usefully as our Saviour hath taught, than fome tolerable difpofition to obedience. However, let those who thus object know, that the omiffions of the Lord's Prayer will be no leffening to their unrepented fins at the last day; but as the obstacles to the good use of it are laid by themfelves, it concerns them to remove them by a speedy repentance.

SERMON

SERMON I

MATT. VI. 9.

After this manner pray ye, Our Father which art in heaven.

B

EFORE I enter upon the body of this Prayer taught by our Saviour, it will be neceffary to examine, whether He, by commanding to pray after this manner, defign'd to give only a general model or directory to all our Devotions, or a particular forin of words to be us'd by all Chriftians. The former of thefe opinions hath been efpous'd by the modern affertors of extempore Prayer; who herein form their judgment by their own practice:

B