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 requefts contain'd in it are only to be procur'd in and through him. The near relation to God our Father, and thofe bleffings which are included in that relation, are fo 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 cuftom of the primitive Church before baptifm to inftruct the new converts from hence in the principles of their Religion, which hath occafion'd many discourses of the primitive Fathers upon this fubject. I have generally made thefe my guide, both in the fenfe of each

petition,

petition, and in the practical obfervations from thence; because however they may seem to fall short 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 Separate 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 To good as to be fit to use it. The objection would be reasonable, if any less 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

or to have begg'd for so 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; so that we do not profefs by them a state of perfection, but the defires after it. If fome therefore cannot come up to thefe 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 bath 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 obftacles 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, this_manner Our Father which art in

heaven.

B

this

EFORE I enter upon the body of 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 form of words to be us❜d by all Christians. The former of these opinions hath been efpous'd by the modern afferters of extempore Prayer; who herein form their judgment by their own B practice:

practice: Because it is a strong prefumption in favour of fome forms of Prayer, that the Son of God hath both taught one in exprefs words, and requir'd his followers to use it. But the whole body of antient interpreters, and the fober part of the modern are agreed, that this command of our Saviour extends not only to the subject matter, but to the form of words here fet forth. This interpretation seems most agrecable to the gracious defign of our Saviour in this place, which was to give his followers the comfort of praying both with confidence and propriety, and of addreffing the King of Heaven in those words his Son had taught.

However it must be obferv'd, that tho' prejudice and obftinacy have occafion'd this difpute, yet the inaccurate reading of the Englifh verfion hath in a great measure continued it. The words after this manner, might eafily lead an unlearned perfon to think, that they were only a general direction to pray to that or the like effect. Whereas if the Greek (Tws) had been tranflated thus pray ye, or ye shall thus pray, I would charitably believe there would have been no controverfy upon this fubject. This is farther confirmChap. xi. ed from the parallel place in St. Luke, where there feems no difcretionary liberty left to

y. 2.

men,