Images de page
PDF
ePub

Q44. What are the evil things of this world, which may prove temptations?

A. The outward troubles and afflictions we meet with therein, John xvi. 33-In the world ye shall have tribu

lation.

Q: 45. Is God the author of all outward afflictions?

A. Yes; Anios iii. 6. Shall there be evil in a city and the Lord hath not done it? Though men may indeed have an inftrumental and finful hand in their own troubles and diftreffes, Jer ii. 17, Haft thou not procured this unto thy. self, in that thou hafi forfaken the Lord thy God?

Q. 46 When do afflictions prove temptations?

A When we either defpife the chaftening of the Lord; or, faint when we are rebuked of him, Heb. xii. 5.

Q: 47. What should we pray for when trifted with af flictions?

A. That when the Lord is pleafed to chaften us, it may be for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness, Heb, xii. 10.

Q48. Which is the third spring or fountain of our temptations? A. The FLESH, Gal. v, 17. Q: 49: What is meant by the flesh?

A. Oor corrupt and depraved nature, Rom, vii. 8. They that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Q. 5c. How is the fl:fh, or corrupt nature, the spring of temptation?

A. As it entices thereunto, James i. 14; and is the inlet to temptations from Satan and the world, Jer. xvii. 9. 2. 51. How fhould we pray against fuch temptations as have their rife from corrupt nature?

A, that God would not only reftrain the pernicious tent ncy of our natural difpofitions, Pfal. xix. 13. but likefortify our fouls, by the powerful influence of his grace ainft all these evils, to which we are naturally addicted, ph. iii. 16.

9.52. May we pray abfolutely against temptations? A. No; but we may put an alternative into God's hand with reference to them.

23. What alternative may be put into God's hand with reference to temptations?

A That he would either keep us from being tempted to fin or fupport and deliver us when we are tempted.]

24 What do we mean, when we pray, [that God would keep us from being tempted to fin]?

[ocr errors]

A. We mean by it, that fince the event of a temptation, with refpect unto us, is fo dangerous and uncertain, if God has not fome gracious ends to answer thereby, he would rather be pleased, by his providence, to prevent the temptation, than fuffer us to fall into it, Pfal. xix. 13

2. 55. What do we mean, when we pray, that God would [fupport and deliver us when we are tempted]?

4. We thereby defire," that if tempted, we may, by "his Spirit, be powerfully enabled to ftand in the hour of "temptation, Eph. iii. 16.; or, if fallen, raised again and "recovered out of it, Pfal. li. 12. and have a fanctified "use and improvement thereof, 1 Pet v. 8.*

[ocr errors]

2.56. How doth the Lord enable his people to ftand in the hour of temptation?

A. By making his grace fufficient for them, and perfect. ing his ftrength in their weakness, 2 Cor. xii. 9.

2. 17. How does he raife and recover them out of temptation, when fallen into it?

A. By difcovering the corrupt and natural bias of their heart toward the temptation; humbling them on account thereof, and the offence done to God by their compliance; and by quickening their faith, to draw virtue from the righteoufnefs of the Surety, for a fresh intimation of pardon, Pfal. li. 4, 5, 7.

258. When have they a fanctified use and improvement of temptations?

A.When they are made more circumfpect, watchful, and dependent on Chrift for the future, as being fenfible of their inability to refift the leaft temptation without him, for he has faid, Without me ye can do nothing, John. xv. 5.

259. What fhould be our habitual fcope, and general end, in offering up this petition," Lead us not into temp"tation, but deliver us from evil?

A. Our aim and end therein fhould be, "that our fanc❝tification and falvation may be perfected, 2 Cor. xiii. 9.; "Satan trodden under feet, Rom. xvi. 20; and we fulty "freed from fin, temptation, and all evil for ever, Thess. " v. 23. +"

[blocks in formation]

107. QUEST. What doth the conclufion of the Lord's prayer teach us?

ANSW. The conclufion of the Lord's prayer, which is, (For thine is the kingdom, and 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, afcribing kingdom, power, and glory to him. And in teftimony of our defire and affurance to be heard we fay, AMEN.

2. 1. What doth the particle [for, ] which ufhers in the conclufion of the Lord's prayer, teach us?

A. It" teacheth us to enforce our petitions with argu"ments, Rom. xv. 30.

[ocr errors]

2. 2. From whence are thefe arguments to be taken ? A." Not from any worthiness in ourselves or in any "other creature, but from God, Dan. ix. 19 †”

Q. 3. What argument, for inftance, may we fetch from God, to enforce our petitions?

A. That mercy and truth have met together; righteouf nefs and peace have kiffed each other, Pfal. lxxxv. IC.

Q4. What force is there in this argument?

A. A very great force, namely, that all the perfections and excellences of the divine nature, harmoniously agree, in conferring all promifed bleffings upon finners of mankind, on account of the meritorious obedience, and fatisfaction of Chrift, imputed to them, Cor. iii. 21, 23. All things are yours, and ye are Chrift's

[ocr errors]

For what end fhould we use arguments with God

in prayer?

A. Not to prevail with him to grant what he does not fee fit for us; but to quicken our own faith, and encourage our hope, to expect the good things of the promise which we want in his own time and way, Dan. ix 18 Q6. Why should we effay [in our prayers to praise him]!

[blocks in formation]

A. Becaufe praife glorifies God, Pfal. 1. 23. and engageth him to hear our prayers, Pfal Ixviii. 5, 6.

2. 7. What way fhould we praife him in our prayers? A. By [afcribing kingdom, power, and glory to him.]

2. 8. What is meant by [kingdom, power, and glory]? A. "Eternal fovereignty, omnipotency, and glorious "excellency," as appertaining "to God alone," Chron. xxix. 10-14. *

Q. 9. What [kingdom] do we ascribe unto God as his ? A. The kingdom of nature, as God Creator; and the kingdom of grace, as God Redeemer.

Q10. What encouragement may we take in prayer, from the kingdom both of nature and grace being his?

A. That we fhall want nothing that is good for us, either as we are his creatures, Pfal. cxlv, 16. or his children, Mat. vii. 11.

Q. Why do we afcribe [power] to God, as well as kingdom?

A. Becaufe without power, his fovereignty could not be maintained, or his kingdom managed, Pfal. Ixvi. 3, 7. 2. 12. What encouragement may we take in prayer, from the power being his ?

A. That no difficulty whatfoever fhall hinder the accomplishment of the promise, Rom. iv. 21.

2. 13. What do we mean by afcribing [glory] to him? A. We thereby acknowledge, that he is poffeffed of all thefe excellences, that render him' glorious in the eyes of men and angels; and that the praise and honour of every thing that is great and excellent, or has a tendency to raise our esteem and admiration, is due unto him, Pfal. lxxviii. 4. 2. 14. What encouragement may we take in prayer, from the glory being his?

A. That the accomplishing his glorious purpofes, and performing his gracious promifes, will bring in a revenue of glory and praise unto him, Pfal. xlv. 17.

2. 15. How long will the kingdom, power, and glory

be his?

A. [For ever], without intermiffion through eternity, Exod. xv. 18.

2. 16. What is the difference, in this refpect, between God and all earthly kings and potentates whatfoever ?

[blocks in formation]

A. Their kingdom, power, and glory is only of a fhort duration, Pfal. lxxxii. 6, 7.; whereas the God with whom we have to do changes not, but is ever the fame, James i.

17.

?

2 17. Why do we fay [Amen] in our prayers A. We fhould do it [in teftimony of our defire, and affurance to be heard.]

218. How may we know we fay Amen [in teflimony of our defire]?

A. When" by faith we are emboldened to plead with "God, that he would-fulfil our requests, 2 Chron. xx. 46 6. 11. *""

Q19. What doth the word fignify, when we say it in teftimony of our defire?

[ocr errors]

A. In this view it properly fignifies, fo be it, or fo let it be. Q. 20. When do we fay Amen in teftimony of our [af furance to be heard]?

[ocr errors]

A. When "by faith we are emboldened-quietly to rely upon him that he will fulfil our requests," 2 Chron. xiv. 11. t

Q21. What doth the word fignify, when we fay it in teftimony of our affurance to be heard?

A. In this fenfe it denotes, fe it is, or fo it shall be.

Q. 22. In which of thefe views is the word, Amen, to be understood in the conclufion of this prayer?

A. It is to be understood as fignifying both; namely, as including a teftimony of our defire, and likewife affurance of being heard.

Q. 23. How doth this appear?

A. Because there cannot be a defire of any promised blefling in faith, but there must be fome measure of affurance that it will be granted in God's time and order, Pfal.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]
« PrécédentContinuer »