\" 
 
 tihmry of ^he Irheolo^ical ^cminavy 
 
 PRINCETON . NEW JERSEY 
 
 
 ^J^«S- 
 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 P^rs. Bertha Solomon 
 
 
 BV 255 .T4 1851 
 
 
 Thornton, Henry, 1760-1815. 
 
 
 Family prayers, and prayers 
 
 
 on the Ten Commandments, &c 
 
y^ 
 
 '-T^-T^-'tr?-/^ 
 
 A Ryland U.-Solomon, 
 WEST Freehold, N, J, 
 
FAMILY PRAYERS,^ ^^^ 25 1966 
 
 AND ^*^ I . -"^^ 
 
 PRAYERS ON THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, & . 
 
 TO WHICH IS ADDED, 
 
 A FAMILY COMMENTARY 
 
 UPON THE 
 
 SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 
 
 BT THE LATE 
 
 HENRY THORNTON, ESQ., M. P. 
 
 EDITED BY THE RIGHT REV. 
 
 MANTON EASTBURN, D. D., 
 
 BISHOP OF MASSACHUSETTS. 
 NINETEENTH THOUSAND. 
 
 NEW-YORK : 
 STANFORD AND SWORDS, 137, BROADWAY. 
 
 1851. 
 
nuersd accordiug to act of Cop^ress, in the year 13B6, by 
 
 SWOUDS. STANFORD. & CO, 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the Di-vtrict CouJt of the Southern Distr?«t of New Yort 
 
 Hobart Press ; 
 
 JOHN R. M'GOWN, PRINTKH. 
 
 No. it, Aun-«treet, N. Y. 
 
PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION. 
 
 The present Volume contains two works, which have 
 been separately published in England ; the Family 
 Commentary upon the Sermon on the Mount having 
 appeared there, about a year after the first edition of 
 the Family Prayers. The arrangement now adopted 
 will, it is thought, be found convenient for domestic 
 worship ; as combining within the same volume a 
 Manual of prayer, and portions of scriptural exposition 
 for reading. 
 
 It may seem presumptuous in the Editor to say any 
 thing by way of introduction, to proui.!i:,"'^ns. bearing on 
 their title-page the name of Thornton ; — a name, fa 
 mihar not to England only, but to the world ; and indis 
 solubly associated with our tlioughts of whatever is 
 enlarged in Christian beneficence, sound in religious 
 views, and beautiful in consistency of daily practice. 
 He will take the liberty, however, of simply saying, in 
 regard to the Family Prayers, that, without at all de- 
 tracting from the merit of other works of the same 
 description, they appear to him to preserve, in a re- 
 markable degree, the difficult and happy medium b*^.- 
 tween verboseness on the one hand, and a cold concise- 
 
iV AMERICAN PREFACE. 
 
 ness on the other. It is beheved that none can use 
 them, without feehng that they impart a spirit of grati- 
 tude and self-humiliation. They are what prayers 
 should be, — fervent, and yet perfectly simple. 
 
 He would beg the indulgence of saying also, that he 
 has seldom read any work of a purely practical char 
 acter, with more delight and instruction, than the Com- 
 mentary upon the Sermon on the Mount. It is remark- 
 able throughout for the profound insight into human 
 nature which it manifests : for its clear exhibition of the 
 fundamental truths of the gospel ; and for the faithful- 
 ness, honesty, and, at the same time, the true refine- 
 ment and dignity, of the language in which its instruc- 
 tions are conveyed. 
 
 The Editor cannot but indulge the confident belief, 
 that the. publication of these two works, in this united 
 form, will be a rich spiritual benefit to the community 
 May God graciously add his blessing ! 
 
 MANTON EASTBURN. 
 
 New York, Decerrjer, 1836, 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The following Prayers were prepared by the late Mr. 
 Henry Thornton, for the use of his own family. Many 
 of those, who, in his lifetime, were admitted to hear them 
 in that circle, and many of those, who have heard them 
 since, within the same walls, have expressed a wish, that 
 the benefit, there enjoyed, might be more widely extended. 
 Copies were, therefore, sometimes given : and from one of 
 these, carried to a distant dependency of the empire, an 
 imperfect edition was printed. From that time, perhaps, 
 all delicacy with respect to the publication of an authorized 
 edition was removed. 
 
 Those, who are familiar with other manuals of devotion, 
 may here occasionally find passages which are not new to 
 them ; and may, indeed, recognise . two* entire prayers, 
 which, as specimens of family devotion, have already been 
 published in another work, to which they were contributed, 
 anonymously, by Mr. Henry Thornton. His object was 
 not human praise : giving thus to the work of another, — or 
 borrowing, here and there, a phrase or a sentence from elder 
 divines to enrich his own collection of prayers, — his sino-le 
 aim was to promote the glory of God in the edification of 
 His people ; providing, by these prayers, in the first place, 
 for the household which Providence had united around him ; 
 and endeavouring, in the second place, by the specimens 
 of family prayers which have been already mentioned, to 
 excite in others a taste for domestic worship, and to furnish 
 same aid to them in its exercise. 
 
 * The first draughts of two or three others were contributeC in the 
 same manner to another work. 
 
 1* 
 
VI PREFACE. 
 
 The world will be wiser and better, and therefore happier, 
 in proportion as it shall imbibe the spirit of the life and of 
 the prayers of Mr. Henry Thornton. Admirable as have 
 been the examples of excellence which the present gener- 
 ation has been permitted to witness, there has not been 
 perhaps one individual, in the whole number, who mani- 
 fested in a more striking manner that combination of qual- 
 ities, which constitutes Christian consistency. His piety 
 was fervent, and yet sober ; his liberality was magnificent, 
 and yet discriminating ; his charity was large, and yet not 
 latitudinarian ; his self-denial was rigorous, yet unobtrusive. 
 At one time, there was some hope, that these principles — 
 as embodied, by the grace of God, in his habitual conduct 
 — might have been exhibited to the world by the hand of 
 his dearest and most intimate friend : a life of Hen'ry 
 Thornton, by William Wilberforce, would, indeed, 
 have been a legacy of wisdom and piety, which would have 
 enriched many generations. This hope, long cherished, is 
 now finally lost : and the character of Mr. Henry Thornton 
 must, perhaps, be left to be collected from his works ; — his 
 original and intellectual powers, from his Essay on Paper 
 Credit, (the publicati«n of which, as Dr. Miller observed in 
 his Philosophy of History, forms an epoch in the history 
 of the science to which it belongs ;) — his views of religion, 
 from the prayers now published, — and from some practical 
 Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, portions of 
 which (complete, though not intended for publicati(m) are 
 now. in the press. These, indeed, like the present volume, 
 he drew up for the use of his own family : but it is hopod, 
 that both the Prayers and the Commentaries, while tliey 
 contribute to illustrate the character of tlieir author, (an ob- 
 ject which he certainly never contemplated,) will, also, by 
 the Divine blessing, promote, after his death, the great 
 designs of his life, — the good of his fellow-creatures, and 
 the glor)'' of God. 
 
 R. n. I. 
 
 Battersea Rise, June 6, 1834. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 PRAYERS FOR THE MORNING. 
 
 PASS. 
 
 First MoRMnia • H 
 
 Second Morning 13 
 
 Thiril Morning 16 
 
 Fourlh Morning 13 
 
 Fifth Morning 21 
 
 Sixth Morning 23 
 
 Seventh Morning 25 
 
 Eiglith Morning 27 
 
 Ninth Morning 29 
 
 Tenth Morning 31 
 
 Eleventh Morning 33 
 
 Twelfth Morning 35 
 
 Thirteenth Morning 37 
 
 Fouiteenth Morning 39 
 
 Fifteenth Morning 42 
 
 Sixteenth Morning 44 
 
 Seventeenth Morning 47 
 
 Ei^Iitecnth Morning 49 
 
 Kitieteenth Morning ..51 
 
 Twentietii Morning 53 
 
 Twenty-first Morning 55 
 
 Twenty-second Morning 57 
 
 Twenty-tliird Morning 60 
 
 Twenty- fourth Morning 62 
 
 Twenty-fiftli Morning 64 
 
 Twenty-sixtli Morning 67 
 
 Twenty-seventh Morning 70 
 
 Twenty-eighth Morning 73 
 
 PRAYERS FOR SUNDAY MORNING. 
 
 First Sunday Morning > 73 
 
 Second Snnday Morning 78 
 
 Third Sunday Morning 81 
 
 Fourth Sunday Morning 83 
 
 Fifth Sundav Morning 86 
 
Vm CONTENTS. 
 
 PRAYERS FOR SUNDAY EVENING. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 First Sunday Evening 89 
 
 Second Sunday Evening 9'^ 
 
 Third Sunday Evening 96 
 
 Fourth Sunday Evening 99 
 
 Fifth Sunday Evening 102 
 
 PRAYERS FOR THE EVENING. 
 
 First Evening 105 
 
 Second Evening 107 
 
 Third Evening 109 
 
 Fourth Evening HI 
 
 Fifth Evening.... 114 
 
 Sixth Evening H^ 
 
 Seventh Evening 119 
 
 Eighth Evening 1^ 
 
 Ninth Evening 13* 
 
 Tenth Evening 126 
 
 Eleventh Evening 128 
 
 Tvfelfth Evening 130 
 
 Thirteenth Evening 132 
 
 Fourteenth Evening 134 
 
 Fifteenth Evening 136 
 
 Sixteenth Evening 139 
 
 Seventeenth Evening 141 
 
 Eighteenth Evening 143 
 
 Nineteenth Evening 145 
 
 Twentieth Evening l^'^ 
 
 Twcniy-first Evening 149 
 
 Twenty-second Evening 152 
 
 Twenty-third Evening 164 
 
 PRAYERS FOR SATURDAY EVENING. 
 
 First Saturday Evening l-"^ 
 
 Second Saturday Evening 159 
 
 Third Saturday Evening 161 
 
 Fourth Saturday Evening 163 
 
 Fifth Saturday Evening 166 
 
FAMILY PRAYERS. 
 
OUR FATHER, who art in heaven, Hallowed be 
 Thy liame ; Thy kingdom come ; Thy will be done on 
 earth, as it is in heaven : Give us this day dnr daily 
 bread ; And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive 
 those who trespass against us ; And lead us not into 
 temptation ; But deliver us from evil : For thine is the 
 kingdom, and the power, and the gloiy, For ever and 
 ever. Amen. 
 
 THE gi-ace of our Lord Jesus Chiiist, and t^e love 
 of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with 
 us all, evermore. Amen. 
 
FAMILY PRAYERS. 
 
 FIRST MORNING. 
 
 O Lord, God Almighty, who art the Creator and the 
 Governor of the world, and hast abundantly provided for 
 the various wants of Thy creatures ; who hast ordered 
 the day and the night to succeed each other, and when 
 Thou hast refreshed man with sleep, requirest him to 
 pursue his work until the evening; who hast also or- 
 dained that he shall be born to trouble, and hast ap. 
 pointed the grave to be the end of all living ; We thank 
 Thee, that, while Thou hast thus placed our lot in this 
 life, Thou hast not left us without hope in that world 
 which is to come. We adore Thee for the gift of Jesus 
 Christ Thy Son, by whose Gospel life and immortal- 
 ity are brought to light, and we are fully instructed in 
 all those things which concern our salvation. We bless 
 Thee for the pardon of sin, through faith in a Redeemer; 
 for the guidance of Thy providence ; and for the con- 
 solations of Thy Spirit. We thank Thee for Thy holy 
 sabbaths ; for Thy WTitten word ; and for all the other 
 means of grace, which Thou hast entrusted to us. 
 
 Grant, we beseech Thee, that we may this day pur- 
 sue, with fidelity and diligence, that work which Thou 
 hast assisned to us ; and that we may, at the same time 
 
12 FIRST MORNING. 
 
 maintain a spiritual and heavenly mind. In the midst 
 of life we are in death ; let us remember this awful 
 truth ; and let us live this day as we shall wish that we 
 had done, if it should, indeed, prove our last. Save us 
 from the sins to which we are most prone. Leave us 
 not to the natural dispositions of our own minds, which 
 are ever inclming us to evil ; but put Thy Spirit within 
 us , and teach us to cultivate every Christian temper, 
 and to abound in every good work. Strengthen oui 
 faith in the glorious promises of the Gospel ; and fill us 
 with that joy and peace m believing, which shall be 
 more than a compensation for all the temporal sacrifices 
 to which we may be called. Dispose us to bear afflic- 
 tion with a patient and quiet mind ; or, if Thou shouldesl 
 continue to us prosperity, to be ever watchful over our- 
 selves, and moderate in our enjoyments ; and let us 
 impart freely to others the good gifts which Thou show- 
 erest down upon us. Inspire us with zeal in the fulfil 
 ment of our relative duties ; with integrity in our deal- 
 ings ; and the spirit of kindness to all men. Let us 
 continually examine ourselves ; and, advancing in self- 
 knowledge, let us prevail over our several infirmities. 
 Let us grow in grace, and in all goodness, and in meet- 
 ress for Thy heavenly kingdom. 
 
 We pray for Thy blessing on all our friends and 
 relations : may they also be filled with the knowledge 
 of Thy will, in all wisdom and spiritual understandinjj ; 
 and may we, and they, be of one heart, and one mind, 
 loving each other as brethren in Christ, and uniting our 
 endeavours to promote both the good of all men and 
 Thy glory. 
 
SECOND MORNING. 13 
 
 Have mercy on the poor and tlie afflicted — strengthen 
 the weak — succour the tempted — and guide the igno 
 rant into the way of knowledge. 
 
 Bless the rising generation ; save them from the dan- 
 gers of this evil world ; sanctify to them the events 
 wliich shall befal them ; make them instruments in 
 Thy hand for the advancement of the interests of Thy 
 Church on earth, and members of Thy blessed family 
 in heaven. 
 
 We offer these our humble and imperfect prayers ii 
 the name of Jesus Christ, oiu: Lord and Saviour. 
 
 Our Father, <^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, ^c. 
 
 SECOND MORNING. 
 
 Almighty and Eternal God, our Creator and Pre 
 server, and continual Benefactor, we desire to begin this 
 day with the acknowledgment of Thy power and good 
 ness, and of our obligation to love and serve Thee ; ano 
 we beseech Thee to grant us grace to pass the whole 
 of it in Thy fear, and in the fulfilment of Thy com 
 mandments. 
 
 Thou hast appointed to each of us our work m life : 
 O Lord, enable us diligently to perform our respective 
 duties. Let us not waste our time in unprofitablenes. 
 or idleness ; nor be unfaithful to any trust committed tp 
 
 2 
 
14 SECOND MORNING. 
 
 US. Let us not put on the mere appearance of good- 
 ness ; nor endeavour in any respect to deceive those 
 around us . but let us remember, that Thine eye is 
 upon us ; and let us have the testimony of our con- 
 sciences, thai., in simplicity and godl}^ sincerity, we 
 have our conversation in the world. Let truth be evei 
 on our lips. Let us be examples of all integrity and 
 uprightness. Help us, also, to perform a kind and 
 Christian part towards those who may come under our 
 mfluence. May we labour to do them service ; and 
 may we continually deny ourselves, that we may the 
 more effectually and abundantly minister to the various 
 wants of others. May we rejoice with them that rejoice, 
 and weep with them that Aveep ; and be kindly affec- 
 tioned one to another, with brotherly love, in honour 
 preferring one anotlier. 
 
 We also beseech Thee to give us patience to beai 
 the several trials and vicissitudes of life, with an equal 
 and contented mind. Let us not be perplexed with the 
 cares of this world ; nor overwhelmed with unnecessary 
 fears ; but let us ever trust Tliy gracious providence, 
 and hope in Thy goodness and mercy. 
 
 Give to us, when we are in prosperity, a spirit of 
 moderation and sobriety. Save us from pride, and from 
 self-indulgence. Deliver us from the too great love of 
 earthly things ; and teach us to remember, that it is 
 Thou who givest us all things richly to enjoy. 
 
 Bless unto us the afflictive circumstances through 
 which we may pass. May we see Thy hand in all Thy 
 various dispensations ; and adore Thee for the several 
 events of Thy p^-ovidence. knowing that, if we truly 
 
SECOND MORNING. 15 
 
 tove and serve Thee, all things shall work together foi 
 our good. 
 
 We commend to Thy kind and fatherly care all our 
 friends and relations. Direct, Lord, their steps in 
 life ; and bless them with all spiritual blessings in Jesus 
 Christ. Vouchsafe unto them the pardon of then- sins, 
 and the blessed hope of eternal life. 
 
 We pray for the rising generation. May they re- 
 member their Creator in the days of their youth ; and 
 find Thee to be their refuge in all the scenes through 
 which ihey pass. 
 
 Have mercy on all who are in any sorrow or trouble. 
 Do Thou provide for them through the riches of Thy 
 mercy, and send special help in their hour of need. 
 
 Be favourable to this nation. Bless tlie President 
 of these United Slates,* and all who are in aulliority. 
 Direct our counsellors. Give loisdom to our Congress. 
 Inspire our magistrates with integrity ; and our clergy 
 with the spirit of true religion. Deliver us from the 
 hands of all our enemies ; and give us peace among 
 ourselves. 
 
 We offer up these our imperfect prayers in the name 
 of Jesus Christ our Saviour. 
 
 Our Father, <SfC. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, ^c, 
 
 * In this passage, and others of a simna* Kind, rne English edition hsw 
 been altered, so as to apply to the form of government in this country. 
 
THIRD MORNING. 
 
 O Lord, our Heavenly Father, most gracious and 
 merciful God, who hast preserved us through all the 
 •stages of our past lives, and hast blessed us with un- 
 numbered benefits, being never weary of doing us good, 
 give us grace, we beseech Thee, most humbly and 
 heartily to thank Thee for all thy loving-kindness vouch 
 safed unto us ; and let us renew the solemn dedication 
 of ourselves unto Thee. 
 
 We confess, before Thee, the sins of our lives, which 
 are more than we can number or express. We lament 
 the evil which, day by day, in thought, word, and deed, 
 we have committed against Thee ; and we adore the 
 riches of that mercy which forgiveth all our sins, and 
 healeth all our iniquities, and still aboundeth even unto 
 US, who have so grievously rebelled against Thee. 
 
 We also pray, that while we rejoice in the thought 
 of that exceeding goodness which is revealed in the 
 Gospel to us sinners, we may be in all respects suitably 
 impressed with the various doctrines of Thy word ; and 
 may bring forth all those fruits of righteousness which 
 are, by Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of Thy 
 jiame. 
 
 We pray, that we may this day walk worthy of the 
 Lord •- that we may honour Thee by our patience unrler 
 every trial ; by our self-denial in the midst of our tempt- 
 ations ; by our meekness under provocations ; and by 
 our unwearied zeal in doing good. We pray, that we 
 may surrender up our wills to Thy most hely will in all 
 
THIRD MORNING. 1*7 
 
 things ; readily accommodating ourselves to every nev» 
 circumstance, which Thou, in Thy providence, art 
 pleased to send. 
 
 Grant that, through J)e daily contemplation of the 
 doctrines of Thy Gospel, every good disposition may 
 be formed in us. May the faith of Christ be made 
 effectual to bring down our pride, to subdue our self 
 ishness, to improve our temper, to direct and restrain 
 our tongues, to animate us with the purest zeal, and to 
 fill us with charity to our neighbour. May it, also, 
 sanctify our daily work, furnishing the motive to it, 
 exciting our diligence in it, and teaching us to look to 
 Thee, O Lord, for our great and final reward. O God, 
 bless us this day ; and, not this day only, but to the end 
 of our lives. Defend us in all our future dangers; 
 succour us in all our sorrows and adversities ; lead us 
 through every difficulty and trial ; and, when all the 
 troubles of this mortal life shall be over, conduct us at 
 length, in peace and safety to the haven of everlasting 
 rest. 
 
 If it please Thee to send us prosperity, enable us to 
 devote the good things, which Thou givest us, to Thy 
 service ; and as Thou extendest Thy mercies, do Thou 
 enlarge, also, the thankfulness of our hearts. Or, if it 
 be Thy jighteous will either to try us with temptations, 
 or to visit us with any sore afflictions, O may we learn 
 to bow meekly to Thy gracious providence in all things ; 
 and still to trust Thine unchanging purposes of mercy 
 to us amidst all Thy various dispensations. 
 
 To Thee, O God, who hast been the support of our 
 infancy, the help of our youth, and the guide of ous 
 
 2* 
 
18 FOURTH MORNING. 
 
 advancing years, do we commit ourselves for the days 
 which are to come. Thy providence hath ordained our 
 lot in Hfe, and hath ordered hitherto all things concern- 
 ing us. Unto Thee, the same gracious God, do we 
 iiow resign all our affairs : to Thee do we commend 
 our bodies and souls, our temporal as Well as our eter- 
 nal interests. Especially, we beseech Thee to save us 
 from sin ; as well as from those fears which our past 
 cransgressions might justly bring upon us. 
 
 We offer up these our prayers in the name of Jesus 
 Christ, our Lord, 
 
 Our Father, ^-c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, ^c. 
 
 FOURTH MORNING. 
 
 Almighty Lord, our God, whose eyes are in ever)' 
 place beholding the evil and the good, and wlio seest 
 ,not only our outward actions, but all our most secret 
 thoughts, we pray Thee to maintain in us this day a 
 constant sense of Thy presence, and to preserve us from 
 sinning against Thee. We are exposed to dangers by 
 niglit and by day ; our lives arc in Thy hands, and unto 
 Thee do we look for preservation from every evil. O 
 Lord, teach us to be ever mindful of Thee. When we 
 go out and come in. and when we are alone and in 
 company, ma\ we bear in mind that Thou art contin 
 
FOURTH MORNING. 19 
 
 ually with us, and that Thou takest account of all we 
 think, and speak, and do. 
 
 Wc pray Thee, merciful Father, to pardon oui 
 past sins, for Jesus Christ's sake. When we reflect 
 how strict and holy is Thy law ; and how often we have 
 yielded to anger and passion, lo pride and vanity, to 
 negligence and indolence, or to the desire of some for- 
 bicWen thing, we are filled with shame and confusion 
 of face, on account of our many trespasses against 
 Thee. But we desire to bless Thy holy name, that 
 Thou hast not left us without hope ; for Thou hast 
 revealed Thyself to us, as pardoning iniquity, trans- 
 gression, and sin, for the sake of Thy Son Jesus Christ. 
 We therefore pray Thee now to receive us into Thy 
 favour, and to make us all children of God by faith in 
 Jestjs Christ. 
 
 We draw near unto Thee, trusting in His name, and 
 not in our own righteousness ; and we also beseech 
 Thee, for His sake, to strengthen our weakness, and to 
 enable us this day to fulfil every duty to which we are 
 called. May we be kind and affectionate, one to an- 
 other; sincere and upright in all our dealings, and dili- 
 gent in our proper work. May we rejoice in every 
 opportunity of doing good ; and may we have grace to 
 deny on- - :dves, that we may the more abundantly min- 
 ister to tlie wants of others. Put into us a spirit of 
 compassion for the poor, as well as of thankfulness to 
 Thee, who hast made us to differ. Teach us to forgive 
 those who have injured us ; since we ourselves have so 
 mai.y sins for which we hope to be forgiven. Produce 
 in us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, every Christian 
 
20 FOURTH MORNING. 
 
 grace. Raise us up to be instruments in Thy hand for 
 the good of many : and, while we are serving our gen- 
 eration, may we be abundantly blessed in our own 
 sculs ; and rejoice in the sense both of Thy pardoning 
 mercy, and of Thy constant and special protection 
 
 We pray thee, O Lord, to look down in compassion 
 on all our dear friends and relations. Bestow upon 
 them all things which Thou knowest to be needful for 
 them. Sustain and comfort them in this life; but 
 especially, vouchsafe unto them, the blessings of the life 
 to come. 
 
 Bless our President. Direct the public councils of 
 the nation. Give success to every endeavour to relieve 
 the oppressed, and to establish righteousness and peace 
 on the earth. 
 
 Have mercy on the young. Grant that they may be 
 trained up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord , 
 and may thus learn to do Thy will, and to walk in Thv 
 fear, all the days of their lives ; and to hand down Thy 
 truth to the latest posterity. 
 
 O Lord, we beseech Thee to bring us all, by the 
 multitude of Thy mercies, through this world of many 
 temptations and trials, to that place of everlasting rest 
 and peace, which Thou hast prepared for them who 
 love Thee. 
 
 We offer up these our humble supplications, in the 
 name and through the mediation of our Lord and Sa 
 viour, Jesus Christ, 
 
 Our Father, ^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, <^, 
 
FIFTH MORNING. • 
 
 O Lord, God Almighty, enable us, we beseech 
 Thee, to call upon Thee with humble and devout hearts. 
 Let us not mix any worldly or wandering thoughts with 
 the supphcations which we offer up unto Thee ; but 
 let us remember, that we are now in Thy presence ; 
 and let us worship Thee in spirit and in truth. 
 
 We thank Thee, God, for Thy mercy to us during 
 the past night. We bless Thee for our renewed health 
 and strength ; and for the various comforts by which 
 we are surrounded. And we desire now to dedicate 
 again to Thee all the faculties of our bodies and of our 
 minds, and to spend the day, which is before us, to Thy 
 glory. 
 
 DeHver us, O Lord, from all the temptations of the 
 day. Help us to resist the world, the flesh, and the 
 Devil. Let us not be drawn aside to any thing which 
 is contrary to our Christian duty, either by the propen- 
 sity to sin which is within us, or by the evil example 
 of those around us ; but let us watch and strive contin- 
 ually, that all our ways may be pleasing in Thy sight. 
 We confess, that we are weak, and helpless, and laden 
 with iniquity. But do Thou, for our merciful Saviour's 
 sake, have compassion on ov.r infirmities ; and give us 
 grace snfEicient for us in every hour of our necessity. 
 Lord, grant that we may thus be preserved from sin ; 
 and, putting our trust in Thee, may not be confounded. 
 
 Give us faith in all the truths of Thy word ; may we 
 be daily warned by the terrors of the Lord, and invited 
 
22 FIFTH MORNING. 
 
 by Thy mercy. May we meditate on the awful pun- 
 ishments denounced against the wicked, and call to mind 
 the reward which Thou hast promised unto those who 
 please Thee by patient continuance in well-doing. And 
 thus may we be prepared to make every sacrifice, to 
 which Thou mayest be pleased to call us. May we 
 cut off the right hand, and pluck out the right eye, when 
 Thou requirest us to do it. And may we consider all 
 our interests in this life as of no value compared with 
 the eternal welfare of our souls. May we seek first 
 the kingdom of God, and His righteousness ; trusting 
 that all things which are needful for the body shall be 
 added unto us. 
 
 Pardon, O Lord, all our sins in time past ; we pray 
 for mercy, in the name of Jesus Christ ; and we bless 
 Thee for this great Mediator ; in whom we would place 
 all our confidence and hope. 
 
 We ask every blessing in the name of the same J^ord 
 and Saviour. 
 
 Our Father, ^-c 
 
 The grace of our Lord, t^c. 
 
SIXTH MORNING. 
 
 O Lord, God Almighty, infinite in power, in good 
 iiess, and in mercy, help us now to worship Thee wiJh 
 reverence and humility. Before Thee the Angels veil 
 their faces. May we, therefore, approach Thee with a 
 deep sense of Thine awful Majesty, and of Thy spotless 
 purity and holiness ; and may we so address Thee that 
 Thou mayest hear our prayers, and pour down Thy 
 blessing upon us. 
 
 We beseech Thee, O Lord, to grant us this day Thy 
 Holy Spirit ; that we may be strengthened to fulfil our 
 several duties, and to resist the temptations which may 
 come upon us. We call upon Thee, in the name of 
 Jesus Christ ; through whom Thou vouchsafest 
 strength to the weak, and suppliest all the spiritual 
 wants of the soul. Have compassion upon us, for our 
 Saviour's sake ; and give us grace to do whatever Thou 
 requirest of us. O cleanse us, for His sake, from the 
 stain of every sin, from pride, and envy, sjid malice, 
 and selfishness, and uncharitableness ; and make us 
 meek, and lowly, and gentle, and kind, and forgiving. 
 Let us not live to please ourselves, or indulge any evil 
 inclinations of our own heai'ts ; but let us aim to glorify 
 Thee, our God, and to do good in our generation. Thou 
 hast appointed, unto each of us, our work in life. We 
 pray, that we may have grace to fulfil, each of us, the 
 duties of our several stations, with integrity and fidelity. 
 May we remember, that, this day. Thine eye is contin- 
 ually upon us ; and, while we think of Thee, may we 
 
24 SIXTH MORNING. 
 
 put our cheerful trust in Thee, and commit all our ways 
 unto Thee, and be found in the fear of the Lord all the 
 day long. 
 
 We desire to acknowledge Thy various mercies to 
 us. We bless Thee, that Thou coverest our table with 
 plenty, that Thou makest us to abound with the good 
 things of this life, and causest us to go out and come m,- 
 in safety. O Lord, help us to use, with moderation, 
 the gifts which Thou bestowest ; and to maintain, while 
 we enjoy them, continual thankfulness of heart. 
 
 Especially, we bless Thee for Thy mercies in Jesus 
 Christ ; by whom we obtain pardon of sin, and the 
 blessed hope of eternal life. We beseech Thee, for 
 His sake, to give us a right understanding in all things ; 
 that we may know how to walk so as to please Thee, 
 and how to avoid all that is hateful in Thy sight. Guide 
 us in all difficulties ; and strengthen us under all tempt- 
 ations ; and supply Thou our spiritual, as well as tem- 
 poi"al, wants, for Thy great mercy's sake in Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. 
 
 Our Father, ^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, <fc. 
 
SEVENTH MORNING. 
 
 O Lord, God Almighty, who hast safely brought 
 as to the begmnhig of another day, we pray Thee to 
 conduct us through the same in peace ; and to enable 
 us so to pass all the time of oiur pilgrimage on earth, 
 ihat, when we go hence, we may be prepared to meet 
 Thee in Thy heavenly kingdom. When we think of 
 this life and its various temptations, when we look 
 abroad, and behold the wickedness of the world, and 
 then contemplate also the weakness and corruption of 
 our nature, we might well sink through fear of the diffi- 
 culties with which we have to struggle, and tremble 
 lest we should fall under the power of our manifold 
 temptations. But we bless Thee, O Lord, for that 
 abundant grace which is treasured up for us in Jesus 
 Christ. We thank Thee for all the motives, promises, 
 and encouragements, afforded us in Thy gospel ; and 
 we would daily rejoice in it as the power of God unto 
 salvation unto every one that believeth. We bless 
 Thee, that Thy Son hath died a sacrifice for sin ; and 
 that the Spirit of Christ is sent to sanctify us. We, 
 therefore, now pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit ; that 
 we may go forth to our daily occupations and trials, 
 having the Lord for our righteousness and our strength. 
 
 Prepare us, we beseech Thee, for every duty of this 
 day ; arm us for every trial which may come upon us. 
 Do thou sanctify us, Lord, in body, soul, and spirit. 
 May w^e now seriously devote ourselves to Thee ; and 
 may we be found walking in Thy fear all the day long ; 
 
 3 
 
26 SEVENTH MORNING. 
 
 fulfilling, each of us, our proper Avork with Christian 
 humility and simplicity. Deliver us from a careless 
 and unbelieving life ; from a life of idleness and unprof- 
 itableness, as well as of wickedness and vice. Save 
 us from the sins which, in times past, may have most 
 easily beset us ; and from those temptations to which 
 we may now, through our age and circumstances, be 
 most exposed. May our hearts be occupied with love 
 to Thee ; and may all our faculties be so employed in 
 doing good, that no place maybe given for those tempt- 
 ations by which those who know not the gospel of their 
 salvation are continually overcome — And may Thy grace 
 increase in us ; and our corruptions be weakened, day by 
 day : at the same time, forgetting the things which are 
 behind, and looking forward to those things which are 
 before, may we bo pressing forward towards the mark 
 of the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus. 
 
 We, also, beseech Thee to deliver us from every 
 prejudice and error by which we may be in danger of 
 being deceived. Save us from a blinded conscience, 
 and a false and misguided zeal. Suffer not, that, 
 through our fault, the way of truth should ever be evil, 
 spoken of; and make us fearful lest we hinder the 
 gospel of Christ 
 
 O Lord, help us also this day to remember, how 
 short and vmcertain is the time of our sojourning here 
 on earth ; so that, whatsoever our hands find to do, we 
 may do it with all our might. May we fulfil, zealously, 
 the duties of our respective stations ; and, at the same 
 time, may we maintain a spiritual and heavenly mind. 
 May we often think of that blessed region where Christ 
 
EIGHTH MORNING. 27 
 
 ititteth at the right hand of God ; and, whether we eat, 
 or drink, or whatsoever we do, may we do all to Thy 
 glory. 
 
 We offer up these our humble and imperfect prayers, 
 in the name of Jesus Chri-st, our Lord. 
 
 Our Father, 6fC. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, ^-c. 
 
 EIGHTH MORNING. 
 
 O Lord, God Almighty, we pray Thee, now to de- 
 Hver us from all wandering thoughts. Help us to 
 remember in whose presence we are ; and let us wor- 
 ship Thee in spirit and in truth. 
 
 O Lord, our Heavenly Father, who art the preserver 
 of our lives and the giver of all the good things which 
 we enjoy, we ihank Thee for the mercies of the past 
 night. We bless Thy name, that we are here met 
 together in so much health and comfort : and that we 
 have now the prospect of passing another day in the 
 enjoyment of the bounties of Thy providence ; while 
 we have also set before us the blessed hope of everlast- 
 ing life. We beseech Thee to give us this day gi'ace 
 to serve Thee in our several stations, and to walk ac- 
 cording to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Save us from 
 the temptations of the day ; strengthen us for the fulfil- 
 ment of our duties ; direct us in all our J ifficuiTies ; anil 
 
28 EIGHTH MORNING. 
 
 comfort us under any trouble or adversity, into which 
 we may this day come ; and grant, that, when we ho 
 down at night, we may be able to look back on the 
 hours which shall have passed, with an humble confi- 
 dence that Thou acceptest our services, and wilt pardon 
 our infirmities, for Jesus Christ's sake. 
 
 We beseech Thee to deliver us from all evil passions, 
 from pride and envy, from hatred and ill-will, from cen- 
 soriousness and uncharitableness ; and, especially, from 
 the want of Chi-istian kindness towards those who dwell 
 with us in the same family, and worship Thee, together, 
 as partakers of the same faith. Preserve us, also, from 
 those secret transgressions which Thine eye alone can 
 discern in us. Deliver each of us from the sins which 
 most easily beset us. O Lord, grant that Thy good 
 Spirit may this day abide within us ; and dispose us to 
 every good work. 
 
 And help us also to call often to remembrance the 
 great love of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ; 
 who came down from heaven to die for us, that we, 
 being delivered from the dread of Thy wrath, and re- 
 joicing in the hope of Thy mercy, might serve Thee, 
 day by day, in newness of life. O Lord, strengthen 
 our faith in Him who hath suffered on the cross for us. 
 Teach us to walk according to His example. May we, 
 like Him, be kind and compassionate, forbearing and 
 orgiving, holy and harmless, undefiled and separate 
 from sinners. 
 
 And bless us, not this day only, but to the end of our 
 lives. We pray, that, so long as we remain in this 
 world of trial, Tho'i wouldst strengthen us by Thy Holy 
 
NINTH MORNING. ^ 29 
 
 Spirit, and comfort us, and continually direct us. Suffer 
 us not, at any time, to depart from Thee, who art our 
 Father and our God, through any allurements of the 
 world, or any temptations of the flesh, or of the Devil ; 
 but make us ever stedfast in Thy trulh, and faithful to 
 Thy cause, and devoted to Thy service. 
 
 We offer up these our imperfect prayers, in the name, 
 and through the mediation, of our only Saviour, Jestjs 
 Christ. 
 
 Our Father, <^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, ^c. 
 
 NINTH MORNING. 
 
 O God, who hast commanded us in Thy word to call 
 upon Thy name, and hast declared that Thou hearest 
 and answerest the prayers of those who make their 
 supplications unto Thee, we desire now to offer up our 
 petitions, under a deep sense of our unworthiness, and 
 of Thy manifold and great mercies. 
 
 We bless Thee for Thy preservation of us during 
 the past night ; and we desire to acknowledge again 
 our dependence upon Thee, and our unfeigned obliga- 
 tions towards Thee. We thank Thee for having poured 
 down upon us so many blessings of this life : we thank 
 Thee for our health, and strength ; for our food, and 
 raiment; and for all the comforts, and conveniences 
 
 3» 
 
30 NINTH MORNING. 
 
 which we enjoy. But, above all, we praise Thee for 
 the inestimable privilege of being born in a land of re- 
 ligious light and knowledge. For these, and for all 
 Thy various and great mercies, we would render unto 
 Thee a grateful heart : and w^e would endeavour to 
 show our gratitude, not with our lips only, but with our 
 lives ; by giving up ourselves to Thy service, and by 
 walking before Thee, in holiness and righteousness, all 
 our days on earth. 
 
 We now beseech Thee to enable us by Thy grace 
 to pass the whole of this day, in Thy fear. May we 
 employ ourselves in doing those things which become 
 our station and circumstances : may we mortify all our 
 corrupt affections : may we exercise ourselves in main- 
 taining a conscience void of offence towards Thee, and 
 towards all men • may we rise superior to our tempta- 
 tions ; and, by Thy grace, prevail over our several in- 
 firmities. 
 
 We pray Thee, Lord, to animate our minds by 
 those glorious hopes which are set before us in Thy 
 word ; so that if we have any present sacrifices to make, 
 they may seem small to us, in comparison of that in- 
 ward satisfaction and joy, which the gospel gives in the 
 midst of worldly disappointments. And, at the same 
 time, deliver us from every false hope. May we ex- 
 amine well our title to Heaven, till we know that our 
 foundation is sure, and shall never fail ns. We confess 
 that w^e are daily compassed with infirmity : but w^e 
 pray, that every evil habit may be weakened in us ; 
 that every temptation may, by degrees, be overcome ; 
 and that every terroi may at length be done away. 
 
TENTH MORNING. 31 
 
 May we thus be brought into the true liberty of the 
 children of God.; and serve Thee without fear, in holi- 
 ness and righteousness, all the days of our lives. 
 
 Hear, O Lord, these our prayers ; and supply both 
 our temporal and spiritual wants, for the sake of Jesus 
 Christ, our blessed Saviour. 
 
 Our Father, ^-c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, <^c. 
 
 TENTH MORNING. 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, we kneel down 
 to thank Thee for Thy merciful care and protection 
 during the past night ; and we beseech Thee now to let 
 Thy blessing rest upon us. Help us to begin the day 
 with the solemn dedication of ourselves to Thy service : 
 and then to go to the duties of our several stations ; 
 with an earnest desire to do every thing in Thy fear, 
 and with a view to Thy glory. 
 
 We beseech Thee, O Lord, to establish us in the 
 gi-eat doctrines of Thy Gospel ; may we be grounded in 
 the faith of Christ crucified for us : may that history 
 which we read in Thy holy word, of our Saviour's 
 coming down from heaven, to live as our example, and 
 to die as the Atonement for our sins, affect us deeply, 
 and have its full influence upon us : may it excite our 
 warmest gratitude to Him who died for us : may it in- 
 
32 TENTH MORNING. 
 
 spire us wiih liatrecl against sin : may it elevate us 
 above the fear of wicked men ; and may we learn to 
 take part with our siiireriiig and despised Lord. May 
 that zeal to save ns, which He showed, awaken, in each 
 of us, a concern for our own salvation ; and may it be. 
 the chief desire of our hearts to be made partakers of 
 all the benefits both of His death and of His glorious 
 resurrection. 
 
 But since we are by nature so prone to evil, and so 
 little disposed to spiritual things, we pray Thee, God, 
 to purify our minds from all sinful and vain desires, by 
 the powerful efficacy of Thy grace. Lord, grant 
 unto us Thy Holy Spirit. May it dwell within us, as 
 a spirit of purity and holiness, a spirit of truth and of 
 wisdom, of peace also, and love, and of holy joy, and 
 consolation. May we pass this day in the thankful 
 remembrance of Thy mercies, and in the diligent 
 performance of Thy commandments. May no evil 
 thoughts, no angry tempers, no distressing doubts or 
 fears disturb us. May we serve Thee our God ; and 
 live peaceably with all men. May we be kind, and 
 humble ; patient and thankful ; and sober-minded, and 
 temperate in all things. May we fulfil the duties of the 
 day ; and may we lie down at night, praising Thee 
 again for all Thy goodness ; and committing ourselves 
 witii holy confidence, to Thy mercy. 
 
 We ask tiiese blessings, in the name of Jesus Christ, 
 our only Mediator. 
 
 Our Father, <^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, <^c. 
 
ELEVENTH MORNING. 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, on whom all Thy 
 creatures every where depend for life, and breath, and 
 all things ; in whose favour all their true happiness 
 consists ; and whose wrath is insupportable ! we, Thy 
 creatures, whom Thy hand hath made, and whom Thy 
 bounty hath supported, kneel down to acknowledge the 
 Author of our being, and to pray for Thy blessing upon 
 us. 
 
 We lament, that we are by nature so prone to evil ; 
 and that, amidst the many gifts bestowed upon us, we 
 so seldom lift up our thoughts to Him who is the givei 
 Every night. Thou again refreshest us with sleep ; and 
 every morning. Thou renewest Thy various mercies to 
 us ; giving us health, and strength, and talents for Thy 
 service, and affording to us fresh opportunities for our 
 usefulness in the world. 
 
 We pray, that, as our days pass away, we may be 
 improving the time, which is allotted to us. May we 
 gather wisdom from Thy sacred word. May we dili- 
 gently attend on the means of grace : and may we la 
 hour, each of us, as Thy faithful servants, in our several 
 calHngs. 
 
 We pray Thee to impress upon us a deep sense of 
 the importance of eternity. May we be looking con- 
 tinually to the end of our course ; and, remembering 
 how soon all in which we here delight, shall have pass- 
 ed away for evei% may we prepare to give up our ac- 
 count of all things done in ihe body ; and, day by day, 
 
34 ELEVENTH MORiNlNG. 
 
 may we have our conversation in heaven ; moderating 
 our affections towards the things of this world, and 
 living here below a life of faith in the Son of God. 
 
 And now, O Lord, whatsoever may be that employ- 
 ment which Thy providence allotteth to us, may we 
 fulfil it as in Thy fear, and with a view to Thy glory. 
 And wheresoever we are this day, be Thou present with 
 us to bless us. May Thy Spirit enlighten, strengthen, 
 and direct us. May we fall into no sm ; nor run into 
 any kind of danger. We pray, especially, for grace to 
 conquer those sins which do most easily beset us. Thou 
 knowest, O Lord, our several infirmities. give us 
 grace to be careful and circumspect. Let us avoid 
 every approach to our former temptations : and let us 
 renew our repentance, with unfeigned sorrow, and con- 
 trition of heart. 
 
 Hear us, we now beseech Thee, in these our imper- 
 fect supplications. Forgive us all our past transgres- 
 sions ; and grant us grace for the time to come. All 
 which we ask for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 
 Our Father, <^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, <^c. 
 
TWELFTH MORNING. 
 
 Al.mighty God, by whose will we were created, and 
 by whose providence we have been sustained, by whose 
 mercy we have been called to the knowledge of our 
 Redeemer, and by whose grace whatever we have 
 thought or done, which hath Ijeen acceptable to Thee, 
 'hath been inspired and directed, — vouchsafe unto us, 
 this day. Thy blessing. Strengthen us for the perform 
 ance of the duties now before us. And, since Thou 
 hast ordained labour to be the lot of man, and hnowest 
 the wants and necessities of all Thy creatures, bless, 
 from time to time, our several endeavours and employ- 
 ments. Give us, this day, our daily bread. Feed us 
 with food convenient for us. If it be Thy pleasure to 
 cause us to abound with the good things of this life, 
 give us a compassionate spirit, that we may be ready 
 to reheve the wants of others : but let neither riches, 
 nor poverty, estrange our hearts from Thee : nor cause 
 us to become negligent of those treasures in heaven 
 which can never be taken from us. And, into whatever 
 circumstances of life we may be brought, teach us to 
 be cheerful and content. In our affliction, let us re- 
 member how often we have been succoured ; and, in 
 our prosperity, may we acknowledge from whose hand 
 our blessings are received. 
 
 And do Thou dispose us all, most merciful God, so 
 to remember our sins, that we may be brought to true 
 repentance, and unfeigned sorrow, and conlrilion of 
 soul. Strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ our Lord ; 
 
36 TWELFTH MORNING. 
 
 and grant, that through tlie gracious help of Thy Holy 
 Spirit, we may obtain that peace which the world can 
 not give ; and may be enabled to pass the residue of our 
 lives, in humble resignation and willing obedience. We 
 acknowledge, O God, that every day is Thy gift, and 
 ought to be used according to Thy command. O Thou, 
 in whose hands are life and death, and by whose mercy 
 we are spared, help us so- to improve the time, that we 
 may every day become more holy in Thy sight ; and, 
 when it shall please Thee to call us from this mortal 
 state, may we resign om: souls into Thy hands, with 
 confidence and hope ; and may we finally find mercy, 
 and obtain a joyful resurrection to eternal life, through 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 
 We commend to Thy fatherly goodness all our rela- 
 tions and friends, especially those who are the most 
 closely united to us. We beseech Thee to look mer- 
 cifully upon them ; and to grant them whatever may 
 most promote their present and eternal joy. 
 
 Bless the President of these United States, and all 
 in authority. Extend Thy goodness to our whole na- 
 tive land. Pity the sorrows, and relieve the necessi- 
 ties, of all mankind. And let Thy kingdom come ; and 
 Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 
 
 O Lord, hear our prayers, for Jesus Christ's sake , 
 to whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour 
 and glory, world without end. Amen. 
 Our Father, ^c. 
 The grace of our Lord, ^c. 
 
THIRTEENTH MORNING. 
 
 Most gracious and merciful God, who hast protected 
 us ihrougii the night, hast refreshed us with sleep, and 
 hast brought us together this morning in peace, — Wo 
 desiie to present unto Thee our unfeigned thanks and 
 praise for all Thy various and great mercies. We con- 
 fess that we are unworthy to come into Thy presence, 
 before whom the angels veil their faces, and in whose 
 Aslil the heavens are not clean ; for our lives have been 
 unlioly, and our sins many and great. If, therefore, 
 Thou shouldst mark iniquity, Lord, who shall stand ? 
 Bot we rejoice that there is with Thee forgiveness and 
 plenteous redemption, through Jesus Christ Thy Son. 
 Pleading, therefore. His sacrifice, and trusting in His 
 intercession, we approach the throne of Thy gi'ace, and 
 sav, " God be merciful to us sinners, for Jesus Christ's 
 sake." O Lord, grant unto us true repentance, and a 
 lively faith. Convince us of our guilt. Discover to us 
 every thing, (either in our hearts or lives,} wrJcu 'HiA 
 been displeasing to Thee. 
 
 We pray, thai, through faith in the blood of Thy Son. 
 we may obtain peace in our consciences ; and thr.t, 
 tlirougli that blessed hope which is set before us, we 
 mav be raised above the various troubles, disappoint- 
 ments, and temptations, of this present evil world 
 
 We pray, also, that through the knowledge of Thy 
 Irath, and the help of Thy Spirit, we may be disposed 
 to fuiSl every precept of Thy word. May we do unto 
 all mar. as we would that they should do unto us ; and 
 
 A 
 
38 THIRTEENTH MORNING. 
 
 may we forgive one another, even as we hope to be for- 
 given. May we be clothed with humiUty ; and, deny- 
 ing all ungodliness and worldly lusts, may we live 
 soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. 
 May we be content with such things as we have ; ful- 
 filling, each of us, our proper duties ; and watching 
 against anger, malice, hatred, envy, and aJl other evil 
 tempers, which are ready to rise up within us. And 
 thus doing Thy will, and walking in Thy ways, and 
 improving every talent committed to us, may we wait 
 for the second coming of our Lord. 
 
 We, also, most humbly beseech Thee, O Father of 
 mercies, to look down with an eye of favour on all our 
 friends and relations. 
 
 Bring home to Thy flock all those who arc wander- 
 ing in the ways of sin. Strengthen and confirm those 
 who love Thy name, that they may rejoice in Thy sal- 
 vation. 
 
 Be gracious unto all whom Thou hast disposed to be 
 kind to us: sanctify them to Thyself; and shower 
 down Thy best blessings upon them. 
 
 Pity those who are afflicted, tempted, persecuted 
 enslaved, or oppressed; and in Thy good time give 
 them deliverance. 
 
 Give success to the labours of the ministers of Thy 
 gospel. Bless and purify Thy Church. Have com- 
 passion on our native land ; and, though many sins 
 testify against us, take not away the means of grace so 
 long afforded us. 
 
 Bless the President of these United States, and all 
 in authority • direct the public measures to our best 
 
FOURTEENTH MORNING. 39 
 
 interests, and to Thy glory : and leach all orders of 
 men to serve their generation according to Thy will. 
 And grant that all the changes in the kingdoms of the 
 world may issue in Thy glory, and in the furtherance 
 
 of Thy gospel. 
 
 These, and all other thmgs needful for us, we ask in 
 the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 
 Our Father, <^-c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, ^rc. 
 
 FOURTEENTH MORNING. 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, who art the giver 
 of all the good things which we enjoy, we, Thy crea- 
 tures, who are here assembled together in Thy name, 
 desire to offer our unfeigned thanks for all Thy tem- 
 poral as well as spiritual mercies. We bless Thee for 
 our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this 
 life ; but, above all, for Thine inestimable love in the 
 redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 We thank Thee, that the knowledge of this salvation 
 hath extended to us ; and that we have been instructed 
 in the will of God, and in the blessed doctrines of Thy 
 Gospel. We praise Thee for that good providence 
 which hath directed our steps in life. We thank Thee, 
 if Thou hast in any measure enlightened our niinds to 
 understand the truths which we have heard; and to 
 
40 FOURTEENTH MORNING. 
 
 know the things which make for our everlasting peace. 
 Lord, grant, we now nriost humbly beseech Thee, 
 that we may not walk in darkness ; but, as He that 
 hath called us is Holy, may we also be Holy in all 
 manner of conversation. Give us grace to overcome 
 our sinful appetites and passions ; and to be sober and 
 temperate in all things. Assist us, also, by Thy Holy 
 Spirit, to subdue the corrupt affections of the mind ; all 
 anger, and malice, and envy, and pride, and covetous- 
 ness ; and make us patient- and contented, kind and 
 charitable, humble and spirilually-minded. We pray 
 Thee also, to make us diligent, and useful, in that 
 world in which Thou hast placed us. May we not 
 misspend our time, nor neglect any opportunity of do- 
 mg good ; but may we be willing daily to deny our- 
 selves, that we may the more abundantly minister to the 
 various wants of others. 
 
 We pray Thee, Lord, to give unto each of us 
 grace to know the several duties to which we are called ; 
 and to be both faithful and zealous in the performance' 
 of them. 
 
 May those who bear rule in this house remember, 
 that they are only the stewards of the good things which 
 Thou entrustest to them ; and that they must give 
 account hereafter to their Master who is in heaven. 
 
 Give to the children of this famihj grace to be obe- 
 dient in all things ; and to learn to walk in the fear 
 of the Lord, and to exercise brotherly kindnest toivards 
 each other. 
 
 May the servants of this house remember, that Thine 
 eye is upon them ; and that the Gospel, which they have 
 
FOURTEENTH MORNING. 41 
 
 ^en taught, requires them not only to approve them- 
 selves to their master after the flesh, but also to please 
 God who trieth the heart. 
 
 May Ave all live together in Christian peace, harmo- 
 ly, and love ; endeavouring to administer to each other's 
 romfort, to bear each other's burdens, and to promote 
 :uch other's temporal as well as spiritual good. Teach 
 ,s, al^o, to abound in charity towards all those with 
 vhom wo. jnay this day have any intercourse. 
 
 Pardon, we beseech Thee, for Christ's sake, the 
 multitude uf cur past negligences and sins ; and help 
 IS to awake uato righteousness, and to be diligent in 
 jvery f^ood work ' snd, when we shall lie down at night, 
 .«iay we have tho testimony of our consciences, that we 
 have been serving Thee according to our best opportu- 
 nities and abilities, with humility and integrity of heart. 
 
 We pray for Thy blessing on our President and 
 country ; on our friends and relations ; and on all who 
 are afflicted in mind, body, or estate. Have pity on 
 those who are walking after the way of their own hearts; 
 and bring ihem home, O Lord, to Thy flock. 
 
 Pardon the coldness and imperfection of these our 
 prayers ; and accept them for Thy Son our Lord Jesus 
 Christ's sake. 
 
 Our Father, ^c. 
 The grace of our Lord, <f o 
 4» 
 
FIFTEENTH MORNING 
 
 O Thou Great and Eternal Being, God oi dl power 
 and might, giver of every good and perfect gift, and 
 author of all our mercies, — We kneel down, imploring 
 Thee to bestow Thy protection and blessing on this 
 family. Through the bountiful goodness of our Heav- 
 enly Father, we have been favoured with innumerable 
 mercies ; and we would humbly thank Thee for them : 
 but we beseech Thee to add to all our other blessings 
 the forgiveness of our sins through faith in that Saviour 
 whom Thou hast revealed to us in the gospel. We 
 pray Thee, therefore, to impress deeply on our minds, 
 through the power of Thy Holy Spirit, the great doc- 
 trines of Thy word ; to give us a clear perception of the 
 evil of sin, a deep conviction of our own guile, a solemn 
 belief in heaven and hell, and a true sense of our obli- 
 gations to the Lord who bought us. Suffer not that 
 we, who have been baptized into the Christian name, 
 and taught the truths of the gospel, should live in the 
 same manner as unbelievers ; but enable us, by apply- 
 ing those heart-affecting doctrines, which we have learnt, 
 to our daily use in life, to become distinguished as the 
 disciples of Jesus Christ our Lord. May we indeed 
 cleave to the Lord, with full purpose of heart, being 
 pure in our most secret thoughts and imaginations ; 
 suppressing those high and self-exalting thoughts which 
 are so apt to rise up within us ; and constantly bearing 
 in mind how much we sin in all we do, and how en- 
 tirely we owe every thing which we either have, or 
 
FIFTEENTH ?,10RNING. 43 
 
 hope for, to Thy bountiful goodness, and to Thy mer- 
 cies in Christ Jesus. 
 
 And being supported by Thy grace, and grounded m 
 the faith of Christ crucified for us, we pray that we 
 may be enabled to practise every good work. May we 
 be just and true in all our deaimgs ; doing unto others 
 as we would that they should do unto us. May we be 
 humble, thankful, and contented ; and may we do hon- 
 our to Thy gospel by the manifestation of every Chris- 
 tian temper. 
 
 Give us grace to maintain a constant controversy with 
 all evil : — may we ourselves avoid every approach to 
 it ; and may we endeavom-, according to our opportu- 
 nities and ability, to persuade all those, over whom we 
 have any influence, to keep at the greatest distance 
 from temptation. O Lord, enable us thus to show that 
 we are Christians not only in general profession, but in 
 all sincerity and seriousness. May we be strict and 
 self-denying ; yet kind and liberal to others, candid and 
 charitable, pitiful and courteous. Teach us to under 
 stand Thine abounding grace in the gospel, that we 
 may ourselves abound in every work of charity. Enable 
 us to find favour in the sight of those around us ; and 
 especially of those who are dearest to us ; that so we 
 may improve our influence, for their benefit in this life, 
 and for the furtherance of their everlasting salvation. 
 
 Bless us, O Lord, in these Christian purposes, for 
 irom Thee alone cometh the strength to serve Thee ; 
 and to Thee would we continually look up. Hear us, 
 we beseech Thee, in these our supplications ; and grant 
 unlo us the help of Thy Holy Spirit, that we may live 
 
44- ■ SIXTEENTH MORNING. 
 
 this day according to these our prayers ; and that all the 
 fruits of holiness may abound in us. 
 
 We ask every blessing, in the name of Jestjs Christ 
 
 Our Father, ^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, <^c. 
 
 SIXTEENTH MORNING. 
 
 O Lord God Almighty, who hast made the world 
 and all things in it, whom all Thy creatures are bouna 
 to serve, in whose favour is life, and in whose displeas- 
 ure is misery insupportable ; who hast placed us here 
 for a little season, and wilt ere long call us all to judg- 
 ment, — We kneel down, O Lord, praying Thee to 
 strengthen our faith in all the promises and threatenings 
 of Thy word ; that we may indeed live as those who 
 know themselves to be frail and dying creatures on the 
 brink of an awful eternity. 
 
 We bless Thee for having brought life and immor- 
 tality to light by the Gospel. We thank Tliee that Thy 
 Son hath died and risen again, hath broken the bonds 
 of death, and hath opened unto us the gates of everlast 
 ing life. We thank Thee for the glorious hopes hela 
 out to each believer in His name : and at the same time 
 we would rejoice with trembling ; remembering that 
 condemnation which belongs to the despisers of His 
 
SIXTEENTH MORNING. 46 
 
 Gospel, and to all who receive this gi-ace of God in 
 rain. 
 
 Lord, grant unto us faith in that eternal world to 
 which we are hastening. May we realize these unseen 
 things : — may we turn from the love of this vain w^orld : 
 — may we perceive the sin which dwelleth in us, and 
 the evil which lieth around us, and be looking forward 
 to that blessed time when we shall put away the body 
 of this death, and dwell for ever with the Lord. Give 
 us grace to follow the faith and patience of Thy saints, 
 who turned from sin to follow God, and who endured 
 even to the end ; whose hearts were estranged from 
 things below, angl whose affections were set on things 
 above ; who went through trials, and persecutions, and 
 a great fight of afflictions, counting that He, whom they 
 served, was worthy of all obedience, and was able at 
 length to save and dehver them. O may we, who have 
 the example of their faith, be willing to deny ourselves, 
 and take up our cross, and follow Christ ; not livmg 
 an idle, careless life, w^hile we call ourselves the fol- 
 lowers of them who now inherit the promises. May 
 we daily mortify the body of sin, and daily renew the 
 conflict with our spiritual enemies. May we be look- 
 mg continually to Jesus, the author and finisher of our 
 faith ; who, for the joy set before Him, endured the 
 cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right 
 hand of God. 
 
 May we be so animated by our Christian faith, as to 
 be willing cheerfully to endure the evils of life ; and to 
 submit to all Thy ricrhteous will concerning us. If 
 there be any of us who are still strangers to Thee, O 
 
46 SIXTEENTH MORNING. 
 
 teach us to remember how short and uncertain are all 
 our days on earth : — Or if there be any of us wlio are 
 indolent and trifling, too much occupied with this pres- 
 ent world, O raise our thoughts to those things which 
 are above, that we may be fellow-citizens with Thy 
 saints and with the household of God. May we all 
 give diligence to make onr calling and election sure — 
 may we ail repent, and forsake our sins, and believe in 
 Christ — may we all die daily to the things of time, 
 and rise to newness of life — may we all so pass through 
 '.lungs temporal, tliat we lose not the things eternal. 
 
 We ask every blessing in the name of Jesus Christ 
 jur Lord. 
 
 Our Father. <|c. 
 
 The; grace of our Lord, ^c. 
 
SEVENTEENTH MORNING. 
 
 O Lord Almighty, who art merciful and gracious, 
 long-suffering, and of great goodness, — We approach 
 Thee as the God of mercy, imploring Thee to hear 
 these our prayers, and to pardon the multitude of our 
 sins, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Day after day, we 
 add to the number of our transgressions ; every night, 
 we have the sins of the preceding day to repent of; 
 and every morning, we have reason to fear lest we 
 should again yield to temptation, and return to our 
 former iniquities. We pray, therefore, for Thy pre- 
 serving and protecting grace. Lord, put Thy Spirit 
 into all our hearts ; that we, being made pure and holy 
 in our secret thoughts, may not fail to perform all that 
 is good and acceptable in Thy sight. 
 
 Dispose each of us on this day habitually to employ 
 our several faculties in Thy service. While we pursue 
 the various duties of our calling, may we have a single 
 eye to Thy glory ; and may we vmdertalce no employ- 
 ment on which we cannot hope for Thy blessing. And 
 give us such a portion of Thy grace, Lord, we be- 
 seech Thee, that we may desire to do not only that 
 which is in some degree beneficial ; but that which is 
 most excellent and most extensively useful. May no 
 spirit of self-indulgence, no love of ease, no dread of 
 opposition, no fear of shame, prevent our laying out our 
 lives heartily in Thy service. Make us willing in all 
 respects to deny ourselves, that we may live unto Thee. 
 Teach us to enter into the spirit of those Christians 
 
48 SEVENTEENTH MORNING. 
 
 and Apostles of old, who counted not their lives dear 
 unto themselves, so that they might finish their course 
 with joy : and who rejoiced that they were counted 
 worthy to suffer shame for the name of Christ ; who 
 living in unity and godly love, were seen striving to- 
 gether for the faith of the Gospel, in nothing terrified by 
 their adversaries. 
 
 Grant unto every member of this family Thy peace, 
 and all Thy heavenly consolations : and make us to be 
 of one heart and one mind, praising Thee for Thy mer- 
 cies, praying to Thee for Thy grace, and uniting in the 
 confession of our daily sins before Thee. 
 
 Establish us in Thy faith, and fear, and love ; and 
 enlighten us, that we may understand Thy whole will 
 concerning us. Where we mistake, have pity on our 
 errors ; and if we have wandered from the right way, 
 do Thou in mercy bring us back. Lead us, O Lord, 
 into the paths of righteousness and peace. And, if we 
 have in any measure attained to the knowledge of Thy 
 truth, may we bring our faith into active exercise. May 
 we watch our hearts, and bridle our tongues, and govern 
 our tempers. IMay we be ready to forgive, even as we 
 liope to be forgiven. May we be stedfast, and im- 
 moveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, 
 knowing that our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. 
 
 We now commit ourselves to Thee for this day ; 
 help us to live according to these our prayers ; and thus 
 may we be prepared for Thy heavenly kingdom : we 
 ask it for our Saviour's sake. 
 
 Our Father, dfC. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, <^c. 
 
EIGHTEENTH MORNING. 
 
 Most merciful and gracious God, we kneel down 
 to thank Thee for Thy protection and care during the past 
 night : and we now Hft up our voice unto Thee in the 
 morning, imploring Thee this day to bless us ; watch- 
 ing over us by Thy merciful providence ; putting Thy 
 Spirit withhi us, and delivering us from all evil. 
 
 We are prone, O Lord, to fall into sin. How many 
 incidents, every day, arise, which, if Thy grace be with- 
 held from us, draw forth our natural corruptions ! We, 
 therefore, pray Thee, who knowest our frame, and 
 foreseest the trials which are to come upon us, merci- 
 fully to prepare us for them ; and enable us, amidst the 
 various difficulties, temptations, and sorrows of life, to 
 walk as the patient followers of Christ, and as the 
 faithful servants of the Most High God. 
 
 We bless Thee, O God, for all Thy goodness to us 
 in times past : — for every trial which Thou hast light- 
 ened ; for every difficulty and snare which Thou hast 
 taken out of our way ; and for every affliction which 
 Thou hast either sanctified or removed. 
 
 We thank Thee, that we are here met together, in so 
 much peace and comfort, to offer up our praises to 
 Thee , we thank Thee, that we are yet in the land of 
 the living ; having time given us for repentance, and 
 having every opportunity of knowing Thy Holy Will. 
 We thank Thee for all Thine unnumbered mercies ; 
 for our health and strength, and all our worldly goods ; 
 for our friends and kind benefactors ; and we pray that 
 
 5 
 
60 EIGHTEENTH JIOPvNING. 
 
 we may, each of us in our stations, be instruments in 
 Thy hand for the benefit of our fellow-creatures, and at 
 the same time, faithful witnesses, in the world, of the 
 truth and excellency of Thy Gospel. 
 
 O Lord, grant that this day, we may walk in a man- 
 ner worthy of oiu- great obligations to Thee, and of our 
 high and heavenly calling. May we remember both 
 Thy spiritual and temporal mercies, and be occupied in 
 acts of grateful obedience to Thee. And we pray Thee 
 to impress upon us more deeply those truths of Thy 
 Gospel, by which our hearts become prepared for every 
 good and beneficent work. May we think of that Sa- 
 viour who died on the cross for us ; who endured all 
 the extremities of misery that we might be saved, and 
 is now at Thy right hand, making intercession for us. 
 May we remember our Christian profession ; living as 
 believers xu this crucified Lord, deeply affected with 
 the remembrance of His death, and animated by His 
 glorious resurrection. May we all die unto sin, and 
 live unto righteousness ; and, as He, who hath called 
 us, is Holy, may we also be holy in all manner of con- 
 versation. We pray, O Lord, for Thy protection this 
 ^ay : and may we faithfully follow Him whose name 
 we bear ; may we have hope in His mercy, and may 
 we at length enter into His glory. 
 
 Our Father, ^-c. 
 
 The. grace of our Lord, ^c. 
 
NINETEENTH MORNING. 
 
 Lord, God Almighty, our Creator, Preserver, 
 and Benefactor, we desire to thank Thee for all Thy 
 past mercies ; at the same time beseeching Thee to 
 give us Thy continual grace, and to pour down Thy 
 blessing upon us. 
 
 We pray Thee to conduct us by Thy merciful prov- 
 idence in our passage through this life ; to defend us 
 amidst our many dangers ; to save us from every trial, 
 which we are loo weak to endure ; and so to order 
 all the circumstances which befall us, that we may 
 not be overpowered with difficulties, nor overwhelmed 
 with temptations, which may come upon us unpre- 
 pared. 
 
 Preserve us, O Lord, from day to day, and from 
 year to year. Give us grace to hate sin, and to avoid 
 those societies and employments, which would lead our 
 hearts from Thee. May our eyes be opened to see the 
 v/ickedness around us ; and may we carefully abstain 
 from all conformity to the sinful customs of this evil- 
 world. But when we reflect on the many hindrances 
 to our leading a Christian life ; when we contemplate 
 our temptations, both from within and from without ; 
 when we look back to the past instances of our weak- 
 ness, and forward to the yet untried scenes of danger 
 and of difficulty, through whicli we may, each of us, 
 have to pass before we leave the world, — on Thee, O 
 Lord, and on Thee alone, are we led to trust ; and to 
 Thee do we lift up our daily prayer, for grace to pre- 
 
52 NINETEENTH MORNING. 
 
 serve us in the paths of righteousness, so that we may 
 end our days in peace. 
 
 O Lord, grant unto us, this day. Thy Holy Spirit. 
 Ceep ahve in our souls the sense of spiritual tilings. 
 Impress us with a recollection of the great truths which 
 we have been taught. Fill us with a knowledge of 
 those doctrines of Thy Gospel, v/hich Thou hast ap- 
 pointed to be the means of delivering man from sin, and 
 of preserving him in the ways of holiness, in the midst 
 of an ungodly world. 
 
 Enable us to walk worthy of the Lord throughout 
 the day which is now before us. May we be obedient 
 to Thy will, submissive to Thy providence, and ever 
 thankful for Thy mercies. 
 
 Hear, Lord, and answer these our prayers ; for- 
 give us also our numberless transgressions, and accept 
 our imperfect services, for Thy mercies' sake in JESuia 
 Christ our Lord. • 
 
 Our Father, <f-c. 
 
 The grace of our Lmd, <^c. 
 
TWENTIETH MORNING. 
 
 O Lord, God Almighty, whose creatures we are, 
 to whom our prayers are constantly addressed, and 
 whom we daily profess to serve, bestow upon us Thy 
 grace, that we may yield up to Thee our hearts, and 
 place our delight in acts of obedience to Thee. We 
 beseech Thee so to strengthen our faith, and to animate 
 our hearts with Thy continual love, that we may be 
 enabled to triumph over those temptations to which we 
 are exposed. Give us Thy Holy Spirit ; turn us from 
 the love of sin, if we are in any measure inclining to it ; 
 and put into us such an ardent desire to please Thee, 
 that we may be always employing our time and talents 
 m Thy service. We desire to acknowledge Thy right 
 over us ; we are bound 'to honour Thee by all we do, 
 and to seek our Maker's glory. 
 
 We thank Thee, O Lord, that besides our obliga- 
 tions as creatures to the great AiUhor of our existence. 
 Thou hast added the most affecting motives to win us 
 to obedience. We are not oiu- own : we are bought 
 with a price. Thy Son hath died to save us. He hath 
 suffered on the cross, that we might be free. He hath 
 given his life a ransom for us ; that He might constrain 
 us by the greatness of His love, to give up our powers to 
 Him. Grant, therefore, O Lord, that we, being daily 
 mindful of what our Saviour hath done for us, may show 
 that we are sensible of our obligations, by the habitual 
 readiness o^ oui minds to do and suffer all things which 
 Thou shalt appoint for us, or in any v^rise require of us 
 
 5* 
 
54 TWENTIETH MORNING. 
 
 Enable us, O Lord, this day to deny ourselves, that 
 we may live unto Thee. As the redeemed of the Lord, 
 may we abstain from sin. and flee from every snare. 
 May we be holy in all manner of conversation ; awfully 
 impressed with a sense of Thy holiness, knowing that 
 we are called to become pure in heart, if we hope to 
 see God. And help us to contend with the iniquity of 
 the world around us. Let us not yield to its influence 
 and example ; but let us consider ourselves as passing 
 on to a better country ; accounting it our great concern 
 to escape from the snares wnich now surround us ; to 
 make sure, each of us, our own salvation ; and to be 
 doing good, before we die, with the talents committed 
 to us. Thus may we pass the day which is now be- 
 fore us ; and, when tlie hour of our death shall come, 
 may we then have abundant proof, that we have walked 
 by faith, and not by sight ; and that we shall be num- 
 bered with Thy chosen people, in glory everlasting. 
 
 We present these our imperfect supplications, in the 
 name of Jesus Christ our Saviour. 
 
 Our FatJter, c^-c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, <^-c. 
 
']• WENT V-FI RST MORNING. 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God ! we acknowledffe 
 ourselves bound by innumerable obligations^ to praise 
 and adore, to love ap.d serve Thee. From Thee we 
 have received our being. Thou art our constant pre- 
 server, and bountiful benefactor ; the source of every 
 present enjoyment, and of all our hopes. Thou hast, 
 in Thine infinite condescension, been pleased to look 
 down with pity on our fallen race ; and freely to ofTcr 
 salvation to us through Jesus Christ. We adore Thee, 
 for the promises of Thy mercy and grace, and for the 
 joyful prospect of eternal life, so clearly revealed in 
 Thy holy word. Impress our minds, O Lord, with 
 that deep sense of the important truths made known to 
 us, which shall regulate all our thoughts, and words, 
 and actions. 
 
 But while we celebrate Thy goodness to us, we have 
 cause to be ashamed of our conduct. We have great 
 reason, O Lord, to be humbled before Thee, on ac- 
 count of the coldness and insensibility of our hearts ; 
 the disorder and irregularity of our lives ; and the prev- 
 alence of worldly affections within us. Too often have 
 we indulged the tempers which we ought to have sub- 
 dued, and have left our duty unperformed. O Lord, 
 be merciful to us for Thy Son Jesus Christ's sake. 
 Produce in us deep repentance, and a lively faith in that 
 Saviour who hath died for our sins, and risen again for 
 our justification. 
 
 And may Thy pardoning mercy be accompanied with 
 
56 TWENTY-FIRST MORNING. 
 
 the sanctifying influence of Thy Spirit; that we may 
 no more sin against Thee, but may hve from henceforth, 
 as becomes tiie redeemed of the Lord, and the candi- 
 dates for a happy immortahty. Put Thy fear into our 
 hearts, tliat we may never more depart from Thee, Fix 
 our afTections on those things which are eternal. Con- 
 vince us more effectually of the vanity of this world, 
 and its insufficiency to make us happy ; of the evil of 
 sin, and its tendency to make us miserable ; of the value 
 of our souls, and the awfulness of that everlasting state, 
 on the borders of which we stand. 
 
 We also desire to thank Thee for the watchful care 
 of Thy providence during the past night. We have 
 Iain down to sleep ; and, blessed be Thy name, we 
 have arisen in safety. May the hves which Thou hast 
 prolonged be devoted to Thy service. Lord, con- 
 tinue to us Thy favour and protection on this day. Save 
 us from sin, and from all evil. Enable us faithfully to 
 perform every relative duty. May we as a family dwell 
 together in peace. May we subdue every angry passion ; 
 and, loving Thee with a supreme affection, may we 
 love each other with pure hearts, fervently. Preserve 
 us from those temptations to which Ave are daily ex- 
 posed. j\Iake us sensible of our weakness, so that our 
 hearts may be often raised to Thee, in humble and 
 fervent supplications for Thy grace. Wlien we are in 
 company may it be our care to do and to receive good. 
 When we are alone, may we remember that our heav- 
 enly Father is with us. 
 
 Bless the President of these United States, and all 
 who are in authority. Be favourable to this nation 
 
TWENTY-SECOND MORNING. 57 
 
 Save us from the evil designs of our enemies ; and con 
 tanue to us, if it please Thee, the blessing of peace. 
 
 Visit all mankind with the light of Thy Gospel ; and 
 let its influence increase in this land. 
 
 in tender mercy, regard all who are in affliction. 
 Grant unto our dear friends and relations every blessing 
 which is needful for them. May they and we experi- 
 ence Thy favour in this life, and in the worl(?to come, 
 life everlasting. 
 
 We off'er up these our imperfect prayers in the name 
 of Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 
 Our Father, <^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, <^c. 
 
 TWENTY-SECOND MORNING. 
 
 O Lord God, our Heavenly Father, unto whom all 
 hearts are open, and from whom no secrets are hid, wf» 
 beseech Thee to look down on us Thy servants ; who 
 desire now, witli true humility of soul, to offer up unto 
 Thee our prayers and supplications. We thank Thee 
 for Thy merciful protection during ^he past night ; and 
 we adore that goodness which hath hitherto supplied 
 our wants, and Hghtened our troubles ; which hath pre- 
 served our lives, in the midst of dangers; and hath 
 caused us to lie down, arid rise up, in peace and safety. 
 
 We pray Thee to preserve us this day from evil. 
 
5S TWENTY-SECOND MORNING. 
 
 Save us from all tilings which afflict the body, and 
 especially from whatsoever can hurt the soul. Mav we 
 go forth in Thy strength, to contend against the world, 
 the flesh, and the Devil ; and to fulfil the various duties 
 of our Christian calling. Save us from the sins which 
 most easily beset us. Preserve us from idleness and 
 negligence, as well as from presumptuous transgres- 
 sions ; and deliver us from that insensibility of con- 
 ar'^nce, which might lead us to justify ourselves, though 
 nving a careless and unprofitable life. Grant unto us 
 such knowledge of Thee, that we may love Thee above 
 all things, and earnestly desire to obey every ])recept 
 of Thy holy w^ord. Teach us to redeem the time ; to 
 be watchful and circumspect; and to abstain from all 
 appearance of evil. Teach us to be fervent in spirit, 
 serving the Lord, and to be never weary of well-doing : 
 and let us take continual care, lest, through some lib- 
 erty in which we indulge ourselves, we should draw 
 others into sin, or should cause the Gospel, which we 
 profess, to be evil spoken of. 
 
 O Lord, help us also seriously to consider the short- 
 ness of life, and the nearness of death and of eternity; 
 that, whatsoever our hands jfind to do, we may do it 
 with all our might. Let us have our loins girded and 
 our lamps burning, and be as servants waiting for their 
 Lord. Let us not say in our hearts, that our Lord 
 delayeth his coming ; but let us remember, that the day 
 of our death may overtake us suddenly : and that 
 blessed is that servant whom his I<ord when He com- 
 eth shall find watching. 
 
 And grant, most merciful God, that when at length 
 
TWENTY-SECOND MORNING. 59 
 
 we shall be called before Thine awful throne, to give 
 account to Him who is the Judge of quick and dead, 
 we may hear that joyful sentence proclaimed in our 
 ears : " Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the 
 kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of tl e 
 world :" — may our portion then be with the children of 
 God, and our inheritance among the saints I 
 
 We beseech Thee to bless all our friends and rela 
 tions. Pardon their sins ; supply their temporal as well 
 as spiritual wants ; and conduct them safely, through all 
 the temptations and dangers of this evil world, to the 
 same land of everlasting rest and peace. 
 
 Have mercy on all for whom we are bound to pray : 
 succour the tempted ; comfort the dejected ; sustain 
 those who are bowed down with age, or with infirmity, 
 and are drawing near to death. Have pity on all thine 
 afflicted servants, and enable them to believe, that whom 
 the Lord loveth He chasteneth ; and that, through much 
 tribulation, they shall enter into the Kingdom of God. 
 And give unto each of us grace to feel for the various 
 wants of others, and to minister liberally to their relief. 
 
 We offer up these our humble and imperfect prayers, 
 in the name of our only Saviour, Jesus Christ. 
 
 Our Father, <^c. 
 
 TTie grace of our Lord, 4-c. 
 
TWENTY-THIRD MORNING. 
 
 Blessed God, who hast caused ihe Holy Scriptuios 
 to be written for our learning, grant unto us, we beseech 
 Thee, such faith in the truth of Thy holy word, that we 
 maybe made partakers of Thine everlasting promises, 
 through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 
 Dispose our minds to receive, with meekness, every 
 doctrine which Thou hast revealed ; and save us from 
 that spiritual blindness and ignorance which naturally 
 overspread our minds. Teach us to know Thee our 
 God : to adore Thee for Thy greatness ; to admire 
 Thee for Thy holiness ; and to love Thee for Thy 
 goodness to the children of men. 
 
 Open Thou our eyes, that we may perceive ourselves 
 to be sinners in Thy sight,— partakers of a fallen 
 nature, as well as actual transgressors against Thee : 
 and make us to feel, that we stand in continual need, 
 both of Thy pardoning mercy, and of Thy quickening 
 grace. Enable us to receive Jesus Christ as the only 
 Saviour of our souls ; and, while w^e trust in the merits 
 of His death, and in the efficacy of His intercession, let 
 us acknowledge Him as our Lord, whom we are bound 
 unreservedly to obey. 
 
 Give us grace, also, to believe the awful threatenings 
 of Thy word. Thou hast declared to us, that the day 
 is coming when all who are in their graves shall come 
 forth, — they, that have done good, to the resurrection 
 of life ; and they, that have done evil, to the resurrec- 
 tion of condemnatioR. Help us to preserve in our minds 
 
TWENTY-THIRD MORNING. 61 
 
 Ihe remembrance of this approaching Judgment ; that 
 we may not dare to sin against Thee, but may abound 
 in all those fruits of hoUness which Thou wilt acknow- 
 ledge and approve in the Great Day of Jesus Christ 
 
 And we pray Thee, Lord, to dispose our minds 
 to receive, with the true obedience of faith, every part 
 of Thy holy word. May it be made profitable to us for 
 doctrine, for correction, for reproof, for instruction in 
 righteousness : that we may be thoroughly furnished 
 for every good work. May we be prepared by it, not 
 only for this our daily employment of prayer, and praise, 
 and thanksgiving, but for all the duties of our Christian 
 calling. May we keep continually in our minds those 
 things which we have learnt: — and, putting on the 
 v/hole armour of God, may we be enabled to stand fast 
 in every enl day ; and to overcome the world, the flesh, 
 and the Devil. 
 
 Defend us, Lord, we most humbly beseech Thee, 
 from all evil. Save us from the sins which most easily 
 besc. uS. Let us command our tempers, and restrain 
 our tongues. Let us add to our faith, virtue ; and to 
 virtue, knowledge ; and to knowledge, temperance ; and 
 to temperance, patience ; and to patience, brotherly 
 kindness ; and to brotherly kindness, charity. Let u.s 
 be rich in good works, to the praise and glory cf Thy 
 name. And while Ave are thus receiving Thy truths 
 into an honest heart, and are endeavouring, by Thy 
 grace assisting us, to walk according to the precepts 
 of Thy written word ; may Thy Providence direct our 
 steps in life, and watch over us, for good. Defend us, 
 we beseech Thee, to the end of our lives ; and let Thy 
 
 6 
 
62 TWENTY-FOURTH MOKNING. 
 
 good Spirit abide within us, that we may not faint 
 in ouv Christian course, nor become weary of well- 
 doing 
 
 We pray for Thy blessing on all our friends and rela- 
 tions. May they walk by the light of the same blessed 
 Gospel, May both they and we possess, in this world, 
 knowledge of Thy truth ; and, in the world to co;ne, 
 life everlasting. 
 
 We offer up these and all our supplications in the 
 name of Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Re- 
 deemer. 
 
 Oar Father, <SfC. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, <^c. 
 
 TWENTY-FOURTH MORNING. 
 
 Lord, our Heavenly Father, through whose provi- 
 tjfential goodness, we are now permitted to see the light 
 of another day, grant unto us grace to devote the lives 
 which Thou lengthenest, to Thy service. 
 
 Assist us in all the duties to which we shall be called 
 this day: and direct us to those employments which 
 shall be fittest for us. Tiiou hast appointed unto every 
 man his work in life : help us to be faithful and diligent 
 in our calling ; to be, at the same time, cheerful and 
 contented with our lot ; and, amidst all our earthly oc 
 cupatior.s, to be mindful of a better world. Deliver us 
 
TWENTY-FOURTH MORNING. 63 
 
 from all those anxieties and cares by which we are too 
 apt to be disturbed. 
 
 We desire to remember that our life is as a shadow 
 which soou passeth away ; and that the difficulties and 
 trials, which we must meet with here, will soon cease 
 for ever. Teach us, also, moderation in our temporal 
 enjoyments. May we chiefly desire those spiritual 
 blessings which bring comfort to the soul. O grant 
 unto us pardon of our sins, and a true faith in Jesus 
 Christ, our Lord. Enable us to lay hold on the prom 
 ises of Thy Gospel ; and to delight ourselves with the 
 sense of Thy favour here, and with the hope of eternal 
 life hereafter. And make all things to work together 
 for our good. Be Thou pleased so to order the events 
 of our lives, that we may see continual reason to praise 
 Thee for Thy dispensations towards us ; and thus, 
 being guided by Thy providence, and sanctified by 
 Thy Spirit, may we attain at length to the end of our 
 faith, even the salvation of our souls. 
 
 We pray, also, for all our dear friends and relations. 
 Pardon, O Lord, their trespasses and sins ; and make 
 them partakers of the proiaaises of Christ in His Gospel. 
 Lead them through their various temptations and trials : 
 — make them happy in themselves ; and blessings to 
 us, and to all around them. 
 
 Have pity on the sons and daughters of affliction : — 
 sanctify to them their troubles in this life ; and leach 
 them to rejoice in the Lord amidst all their worldly 
 tribulation. Bless the rising generation ; and may there 
 be never wanting in this land a seed to serve Thee. 
 We 'pray, especially, that the children of this family 
 
64 TWENTY-FIFTH MORNING. 
 
 may he brought up in Thy fear. May the Lord save 
 them from this evil luorld. May the Lord " strengthen, 
 stablish, and settle''' them ; and, after a life full of good 
 works, give them an abundant entrance intQ His Jieav- 
 enly kingdom. 
 
 We present iliesc our imperfect prayers, in the name 
 of Jesus Christ, our ever-blessed Redeemer. 
 
 Our Father, <j-c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, <^c. 
 
 TWENTY-FIFTH MORNING. 
 
 Almighty and ever-blessed God, who art the 
 Father of all the families of the earth, and the ever- 
 present help of those who put their trust in Thee — wlio 
 hast sustained us amidst the weakness of infancy ; hast 
 guided us in youth ; and preserved us during our ad- 
 vancing years ; — who, by Thy providence, hast united 
 us in one household ; — who hast supplied our wants, 
 and abundantly provided, as well for our bodies, as for 
 our souls ; — who hast delivered us from some of the 
 scenes of temptation, and of sorrow, to which we see 
 others exposed ; and permittest us to lie down, and rise 
 up, in peace and safety ; — We are now met together to 
 thank Thee for the mercies of the past night, and to 
 acknowledge that it is by Thy power and goodness 
 alone that we are preserved from day to day. O Lord, 
 
TWENTY-FIFTH MORNING. 65 
 
 protect us this day from evil. Go Thou forth with us 
 to the several duties of our stations ; and enable us to 
 do all things in Thy fear, and to Thy glory. 
 
 We beseech Thee to put Thy Spirit into our heart, 
 that we may not depart from Thee ; nor forget any of 
 Thy commandments. May we serve Thee with hum- 
 ble, patient, and quiet minds ; and may our love abound 
 both tov/ards Thee, and towards all men. Deliver us 
 from those angry tempers to which our natures are so 
 prone ; and from all those sins which war against the 
 soul. And may we grow in grace : — may we, more 
 and more, prevail over the temptations by which we 
 have formerly been overcome. May we lay aside every 
 weight, and the sins which have most easily beset us ; 
 ever looking unto Him who is the Author and Finisher 
 of our faith, and pressing towards the mark of the prize 
 of our high calling, in Christ Jesus. May we remem- 
 ber that, in due time, we shall reap if we faint not ; and 
 may w.ebe stedfast, immoveable, always abounding in the 
 work of the Lord ; — may we be faithful, even unto death ; 
 knowing that our labour £./iall not be in vain in the Lord. 
 We pray for Thy special blessing on the employ 
 ments in which we shall this day engage. May we 
 undertake nothing which is contrary to Thy will ; and 
 may our good endeavours be crowned by Thee with 
 success. We would remember, that, without Thee, 
 we can do nothing: — that without the concurrence of 
 Thy providence, we can fulfil no purpose of our minds , 
 and that we can do nothing spiritually good without the 
 aid of Thy grace :— unto Thee, therefore, let our eyes 
 be continually lifted up, 
 
 6* 
 
66 TWENTY-FIFTH MORNING. 
 
 Bless, Lord, every member of this family. [Gram 
 unto the children a spirit of docility and obedience.'] 
 [Make every servant to know the duties of his station, 
 and to maintain a conscience void of offence ;] and may 
 none of us forget Thee our God, nor be indiifercnl to 
 the great and glorious hope which Thou hast f^et before 
 us. grant, that, in all our works — begun, continued, 
 and ended in Thee, — we may, each of us, glorify Thy 
 holy name ; and, finally, by Thy mercy, obtain ever- 
 lasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 
 Have m.ercy on all our friends and relations. Pity 
 the poor and the afflicted. Give peace to those who 
 are troubled in mind ; and supply the various necessi- 
 ties of all Thy creatures. 
 
 We ask every blessing, in the name of Jesus Christ 
 
 Our Father, i^c. 
 
 The g^ace of our Lord, <jf-c. 
 
I 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH MORNING. 
 
 Almighty and most merciful God ! We beseech 
 Thee to pour down Thy blessing on us Thy servants, 
 who are now assembled to worship Thy holy name. 
 
 Thou art infinitely great and glorious ! Before Thee, 
 the angels veil their faces ; and the heavens are not 
 pure in Thy sight ! We are weak, and helpless ; sin- 
 ful, and corrupt ; exposed to dangers on every side, and 
 in continual need of Thy gracious assistance. Lord, 
 preserve us through this day. By Thee we have been 
 protected during the niglit. Continue to us Thy wonted 
 care ; and guard, we pray Thee, both our bodies and 
 our souls from every kind of evil. 
 
 We are now entering on the duties of our several 
 callings. May the Lord enable each of us to be faith- 
 ful and diligent in them ; as those who must hereafter 
 " give account of all things done in the body," to Him 
 who is the Judge of quick and dead. 
 
 We desire to remember that Thine eye seeth us 
 wheresoever we are ; and pierceth even into our inmost 
 thoughts. We pray, therefore, that all our most secret 
 ways may be pleasing unto Thee, TIiou searcher of 
 hearts ! Let us not attempt to deceive either ourselves, 
 or those around us, by the mere appearance of good- 
 ness ; but may we have the testimony of our conscien- 
 ces, that in simplicity and godly sincerity we have oui 
 conversation in the world. 
 
 Give us grace to overcome our sinful appetites and 
 passions ; to mortify our pride ; and to bring every 
 
68 TWENTY-SIXTH MORNING. 
 
 member of our bodies, and every faculty of our souls^ 
 into captivity to the law of Christ. May we put away 
 all hatred and variance, all anger and strife, all malice 
 and evil-speaking ; and may this day be a day of peace 
 and harmony to every member of this family ; that so, 
 when we assemble again to worship Thee at night, our 
 prayers may be accepted, being the offering of those 
 who dwell together in love ; and who have learnt to 
 forgive one another, even as they hope to be forgiven. 
 
 We pray Thee to bless the events which shall befal 
 us on this day. Thou, O Lord, orderest all things for 
 us ; and we knov/ not what a day m.ay bring forth. 
 sanctify to us our prosperity, and our adversity ; out 
 health, and our sickness ; our daily comforts and enjoy 
 ments, as well as our anxieties and disappointments. 
 Purify our hearts, more and more, by the various dis- 
 pensations of Thy providence ; and fit us, by the sev- 
 eral vicissitudes of this mortal life, for that great and 
 final change which we must soon experience. 
 
 We desire, also, to pay unto Thee our grateful thanks 
 for Thy past mercies. Thou hast sustained us in our 
 infancy ; hast guided ns in youth ; and hast preserved 
 us during our advancing years. Thou hast often raised 
 us when we have been brought low : — Thou hast suc- 
 coured us in trouble; hast delivered us in sickness; 
 and healed all our infirmities. While others have fallen, 
 we have been kept alive. Day after day, we remain 
 the monuments of Thy mercy ; and comforts surround 
 us on every side. Lord, we bless Thy name for 
 what is past ; and wo pray, tiiat the remembrance of 
 Thy goodness may lead us to repentance ; and may 
 
TWENTY-SIXTH MORNING. 69 
 
 make us careful lo walk according to Thy will, for the 
 days which are yet to come. Pardon our many offen- 
 ces ; and grant us perfect remission of our sins, for the 
 sake of Jesus Christ. 
 
 We further beseech Thee to bestow Thy blessing on 
 our dear friends and relations. Thou hast encouraged 
 and commanded us to intercede for one another ; and 
 we desire, therefore, most earnestly to commend to Thy 
 fatherly care all those whom, it is our duty to remember 
 in our prayers. We entreat Thee to be merciful to 
 those who have at any time shown us mercy : — to pity 
 the poor and the afflicted — to strengthen the weak — and 
 to comfort the desponding mind. 
 
 Have mercy on the rising generation. Save them 
 from the follies and ignorances of their youth ; and 
 raise them up to be a seed to serve Thee, when we 
 shall be gathered to our fathers. 
 
 Hear us, O Lord, in these our prayers and interces- 
 sions, for the sake of our only Saviour Jesus Christ. 
 
 Our Father, <^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, ^c. 
 
TWENTY-SEVENTH MORNING. 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, who art the Au 
 thor of our being, the Preserver of our lives, and tne 
 Giver of every blessing which we enjoy : — unto Thee 
 do we now direct our Prayer, beseeching Thee this day 
 to supply our retunung vv^ants and necessities. Grant 
 unto us all things needful both for the body and soul : 
 and especially, vouchsafe unto us pardon of our sins, 
 through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 
 We confess, that we are unworthy of Thy favour ; 
 for we have contnmally trespassed against Thee : but 
 Thou art good, and gracious, unto those who freely 
 acknowledge their transgressions, and cast themselves 
 on Thy mercy. O Lord, we pray, that we, being 
 delivered from the fear of Thy wrath, through a lively 
 faiih in Jesus Christ Thy Son, may serve Thee with 
 cheerful and quiet minds ; and may partake in all the 
 consolations cf Thy Spirit as well as walk in the way 
 of Thy commandments. 
 
 We pray for integrity and diligence in our several 
 callings. May we this day remember that Thine eye 
 is upon us. May we carefully avoid hypocrisy, and 
 deceit, and every approach to dishonesty and unfaith- 
 fulness. May we, also, watch against pride, and van- 
 ity ; against envy, and hatred ; against selfishness, and 
 covetousness ; and against w^hatsoever sin may most 
 easily beset us. May we each fulfil our proper work 
 with humility of mind ; and approve ourselves not only 
 
TWENTY-SEVENTH MORNING. 71 
 
 to those around us, but to Thee, God, who searchest 
 the heart. 
 
 May we, hkewise, exercise fervent charity towards 
 all men. Teach us to weep with them that weep, and 
 to rejoice with them that rejoice ; and to minister, to the 
 utmost of our opportunities and abilities, to the various 
 wnnts of our fellow-creatures : following the example 
 of our Lord and Saviour, who hath taught us that " it 
 is more blessed to give than to receive." And grant 
 unto us grace in every respect to adorn by our lives 
 that holy Gospel which we profess. 
 
 We pray Thee, also, to guide our future steps. Be 
 Thou our constant helper and defender, ordaining for 
 US that condition in life which shall most conduce to 
 our eternal welfare. Tf Thou sendest tr.ouble, impart 
 unto us strength 1o bear it; and save us from those 
 temptations which might prove tlie occasion of our 
 falhng. If prosperity be our lot, give us grace to be 
 thankful foy it ; and to use wnth moderation our several 
 enjoyments ^If^y we remember that the lime is short 
 — that our light affliction is but for a moment — that our 
 earthly pleasures, also, will soon be past — that all the 
 glory of man is but as the flower of the grass — and thai 
 the fashion of this world passeth awa3\ 
 
 We Avould, further, intercede wath Thee in behalf 
 of all our friends and relations. Bless them in their 
 persons, in their families, and in all their undertakings. 
 Grant unto them the comforts of Thy grace here ; and 
 make them finally partakers of glory everlasting. 
 
 We implore Thee to bestow Thy special favour on 
 tlie rising creneration. Save them from the contagion 
 
^ 72 TWENTY-SEVENTH MORNING. 
 
 of this vain and evil world. Watch over ihem during 
 the weakness and inexperience of their youth ; and 
 prepare them for the duties to which Thy providence 
 shall call them. 
 
 We commend to Thy fatherly care the poor, and des- 
 titute ; the prisoner, and captive ; the sick, and the 
 afflicted. Send help from above to those who are under 
 sore temptations : — strengthen the feeble knees, and 
 raise up those who have fallen : — and teach us all to 
 exercise patience, and forbearance, and loving kindness, 
 towards each other. 
 
 We offer these our imperfect prayers, in the name 
 of our only Saviour, Jesus Christ. 
 
 Our Father, ^c. 
 
 The grace of ovr Lord, 4-c. 
 
TWENTY-EIGHTH MORNING. 
 
 Lord God, our Heavenly Father, who art the 
 Giver of all good things, we desire to thank Thee for 
 Thy mercies dunng the past night, and for all the num- 
 berless blessings which we enjoy. We would begin 
 this day with Thy solemn worship ; thus acknowledg- 
 ing Thine hand in the bounties of Thy providence, and 
 professing our gratitude and obedience unto Thee. We 
 would, also, praise Thee for the gift of Jesus Christ 
 Thy Son, by whom we obtain pardon of sin, and all 
 things necessary for our everlasting salvation. Adored 
 be Thy name that Thou hast not left us in ignorance 
 of Thee ; but hast given us Thy holy word ; and hasi 
 caused us to abound with the means of grace. We 
 would daily remember these Thy spiritual gifts ; and 
 w^e would now resolve to spend this day in a manner 
 worthy of our Christian profession. 
 
 Assist us, Lord, by Thy Holy Spirit, to bring 
 these our prayers to good effect. Strengthen us against 
 our temptations : — direct us in every difficulty : — com 
 fort us in all our sorrows, and adversities ; and enable 
 us to fulfil every part of that Christian duty m which 
 we have been instructC'l. 
 
 May we love our neighbour as ourselves ; and do 
 unto ail men as we would that they should do unto us 
 May wc honour and obey the Civil authority. May we 
 submit ourselves to all our governors and teachers. May 
 we hurt nobody by word or deed. May we be true and 
 just in all our dealings ; and bear no malice nor hatred 
 7 
 
74 TWENTY-EIGII'iM MORNING. 
 
 in our hearts. Pvlay we keep our hands from sleahng ; 
 and our tongues from evil-speaking, lying, and slander- 
 ing. May we preserve our bodies in temperance, so- 
 berness, and chastity. May we not covet other men's 
 goods ; but learn, and labour truly, to get our living ; 
 and to do our duty m that state of life to which it hath 
 pleased God to call us. 
 
 Pardon all our negligence in time past ; and give us 
 grace continually to examine ourselves ; and to amend 
 our lives according to Thy holy word. 
 
 We desire to add oiu: humble supplications for all 
 those whom it is our duty to remember in our prayers. 
 Have compassion on the poor and the affxicted : — send 
 them help, O Lord, in their hour of need ; and sustain 
 them with Thy heavenly consolations, when all human 
 aid shall fail. We pray for the young and the ignorant : 
 -^may they be instructed in the way in which they 
 ought to walk ; and may tliey become instruments by 
 which the knowledge of Thee and of Thy Son .Jesus 
 Christ shall extend to distant generations. 
 
 Hear us, Lord, in these our imperfect prayers, 
 which we humbly present to Thee, in the name of our 
 blessed Saviour Jesus Christ. 
 
 Our Father, ^-c. 
 
 77te grace of our Lord, ^c 
 
FIRST SUNDAY MORNING. 
 
 Almighty and ever-bles-sed God ! Thou art the 
 King Eternal, Immortal, and Invisible : Thou sittesl in 
 the highest heavens ; and art exalted above all blessing 
 and praise : — ^before Tiiee the dngels veil their faces ; 
 and the heavens are not pure in Thy sight. Thou didst 
 create all things : — Thou upholdest all things : — Thou 
 sustainest the lives of the creatures whom Thou hast 
 made : — And Thou governest all events, by Thine un- 
 ceasing Providence. Thou art continually present with 
 us ; and seest the secrets of all hearts ; — and Thou wilt 
 hereafter, bring every work into judgment, whether it 
 be good, or whether it be evil. 
 
 We bless Thee, that, of Thy great goodness. Thou 
 hast sent Thy Son Jesus Christ to redeem for ever 
 from death and hell our immortal souls, which were 
 made in Thine own image ; and that Thou hast given 
 us an assurance of our own resurrection, by raising Him 
 from the dead on the third day. 
 
 We praise Thee for these Thy sabbaths, on which 
 we maintain a perpetual commemoration of this victory 
 of our once crucified and now ascended Lord ; and are 
 continually instructed, by the ministers of His gospel, 
 in all things which concern our everlastmg salvation. 
 Grant, we beseech. Thee, that we may this day hear 
 Thy sacred word with reverence and holy fear, with 
 serious and deep attention, and with all humility and 
 thankfulness. Enable us to join in the prayers of Thy 
 people, with devout and contrite hearts ; and be Thou 
 
7e> FIRST SUNDAY MORNING. 
 
 pleased so to bless both our public worship, and oui 
 private meditations, that we may be made partakers of 
 Thine everlasting promises in Christ Jesus, and maj 
 advance in all holiness. 
 
 Lord, strengthen our faith on this day by means 
 of those religious exercises in which we shall engage : 
 — deliver us from every slavish fear of Thy wrath ; — 
 fix our hope on our ever-blessed Redeemer ; — and give 
 us joy and peace in believing. Let us love Thee, for 
 the unnumbered bounties of Thy providence ; and, 
 especially, for Thy mercies in our redemption through 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. Give us an increasing sense 
 of our unworthiness, and a clearer knowledge of those 
 peculiar sins which most easily beset us ; that we may 
 more fully compreliend the riches of Thy grace in 
 Christ ; and ma}^, also, better know how to reform that 
 which hath been evil in us. 
 
 We pray, that Thy Gospel may from time to time 
 be so delivered to us, that we may grow in all wisdom. 
 Suffer not, that any of us should continue self-deceived. 
 Let not death overtake us unprepared ; but do Thou, 
 by Thy Holy Spirit, give such effect to the preaching 
 of Thy word, and to all other means of grace, that we 
 may, each of us, heartily repent, and unfeignedly be- 
 lieve, and bring forth abundantly fruits meet for repent- 
 ance, to the praise and glory of Thy name. 
 
 Let Thy blessing every where accompany the preach- 
 ing of Thy Gospel on this day. May the God of Grace 
 pour forth the abundance of His Spirit on the ministers 
 and on the hearers. May they who have lived in sin 
 be awakened to a sense of their danger. May the un- 
 
FIRST SUNDAY MORNING. 77 
 
 believers be convinced ; the thoughtless be alarmed ; 
 and the weak be strengthened. May the young be 
 guided in the riglit way ; and the afflicted soul be com- 
 forted. May the foundation of Thine universal Church 
 be eidarged ; and may believers be built up in faith, 
 and hope, and love ; and learn to understand what is 
 the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 
 
 Bestow Thy special blessing on those who are labour- 
 ing to extend in foreign lands the knowledge of a cruci- 
 fied Redeemer. Assist them by Thy providence and 
 grace, that they may contend successfully against idol 
 atry and superstition. Strengthen them by Thy Holy 
 Spirit ; and, in the midst of all their difficulties and 
 trials, impart unto them the abundance of Thy consola- 
 tions. Open the hearts of many to receive Thy Gospel 
 in the love of it. Let every wilderness at length blos- 
 som as the rose. Let the light spring up to them who 
 have long sat in darkness ; and let the days come when 
 the lion shall lie down with the lamb, when wars shall 
 cease, and the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the 
 earth, as the waters cover the sea. 
 
 Hear us, Lord, in these our prayers and interces 
 sions, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our only Mediator 
 and Redeemer. 
 
 Our Father, ^-c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, <f c 
 
SECOPnI) SUNDAY MORNING 
 [Co}7i?nuition of The LoklVs Supper. 1 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, who clidsl make 
 man in I'hine own image ; and, when he had fallen 
 from his first estate, didst send I'hy Son from heaven 
 to save him ; — and who hast appointed the ministers 
 of Thy word to preach repentance, and remission of 
 sins ; and to bring ail men to the obedience of faith ; — 
 we pray "^riiee to give us grace this day to hear with 
 reverence Thy holy word, [and to profit by Thy sacred 
 ordinances.^ 
 
 We would enter upon the duties of the Sabbath, 
 humbly beseeching Thee to impress our minds with 
 an earnest desire of those things which concern our 
 salvation. Deliver us from the love of this world ; and 
 from that multitude of anxieties and cares, to which, 
 through the sinfulness and frailty of our nature, we are 
 continually prone. Elevate our thoughts to things 
 above • — convince us of the shortness of lime, and of 
 the value of eternity ; of the uncertainty of this our 
 mortal state ; and of the near approach of that day when 
 we shall give account of all things done in the body ; 
 and shall hear from Thee uur eiemal doom. O Lord, 
 what is our life : — it is but as a watch in the night :— 
 it is as a vapour that vanisheth away : — it is as the 
 grass of the field, which in the evening is cut down and 
 withered. But, while we feel and know that we must 
 shortly die, and that here all is vanity and vexation of 
 
SECOND SUNDAY MORNING. 79 
 
 spirit, we desire to bless Thy holy name, that, however 
 few and evil may be the days of our pilgrimage, Thou 
 nast provided us with many great and glorious hopes, 
 which, we trust, shall issue in the final gift of everlast 
 ing life. 
 
 O grant us grace to lay hold on those promises which 
 are set before us ; and to give all dihgence, that we 
 may make our calling and election sure ; and thus may 
 that world, in which we dwell, become the door of en- 
 trance to a better state ; the passage to a heavenly 
 Canaan ; the blessed moans of bringing us to Thee, 
 our Father, and to Jesus Christ our Saviour, to the 
 whole company of angels, and to the spirits of just 
 men made perfect. 
 
 We pray Thee to make the present Sabbalh instru- 
 mental to this holy end. May we examine ourselves, 
 and repent of our sins, and renew our vows of obedi- 
 ence to Tliee. May we shake off our indolence and 
 self-indulgence ; and learn, more and more, to walk in 
 the Spirit, and to mortify the whole body of sin. A;kI 
 while we thus strive to purify our souls through the 
 love of the truth, may Thy preached word come to us 
 with increasing power, and with demonstration of the 
 Spirit, and with much assurance. May we grow in the 
 knowledge of Thee and of Thy Son Jestjs Christ : — 
 may we abound more and more in faith, and hope, and 
 love : — and may these holy seasons prepare us for that 
 rest which remaineth for the people of God. 
 
 O Loud, go forth with us this day to Thy public 
 worship ; and pour down upon us Thy Holy Spirit. 
 Repress om: vain imaginations. Dispose our minds to 
 
80 SECOND SUNDAV MORNING. 
 
 prayer, and praise ; and to fervent gratitude for Thy 
 temporal, as well as spiritual, mercies, \llelp us to 
 commemorate Thy redeeming love; and to renew our 
 exercise of faith in Him roho died for our si?is, and 
 rose again for our justi-fication.] 
 
 We beseech Thee, O Lord, to bless the preaching 
 of Thy Gospel on this day to all who shall be the 
 hearers of it. Send forth Thy light and Thy truth to 
 every part of our benighted world ; and shower down, 
 especially on this nation, the abundance of Thy grace, 
 through the diligent and faithful ministry of Thy word 
 among us. Purify every part of Thy professing Church. 
 Unite us in the bonds of a common faith ; and teach us 
 all to love one another. 
 
 Give success to every endeavour to enlighten the 
 ignorant ; to relieve the poor ; to comfort the afflicted ; 
 to deliver the oppressed from him who spoilcth him ; 
 and to promote peace and good will among men. Poui 
 into the hearts of all, who know Thy truth, a spirit of 
 enlarged benevolence ; and raise up many who shall go 
 forth in Thy strength, both to multiply their deeds oi 
 charity, and to carry Thy Gospel into all lands. 
 
 We offer these our humble and earnest suppjicaiions, 
 iu the name of Jesus Christ, our blessed and only 
 Saviour. 
 
 Our Father, <^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, <^c. * 
 
THIRD SUNDAY MORNING. 
 
 Almighty Lord our God, Creator of all things 
 Judge of all men, who art also the merciful Father of 
 all Thy creatures, we adore Thee for Thy great good 
 ness, in providing not only for our temporal necessities, 
 but also for the spiritual wants of our souls. 
 
 We thank Thee for Thy holy word, by which we 
 are instructed in Thy will, and are made wise unto sal- 
 vation. We thank Thee for all the means of grace 
 which Thou hast appointed for our edification. We 
 thank Thee, also, for these Thy Sabbaths, on which 
 our thoughts are called away, from the cares and em 
 ployments of this present life, to the consideration of 
 those things which are eternal. 
 
 Grant, O Lord, we beseech Thee, that we may not 
 neglect those great religious advantages which we pos- 
 sess ; but may attend reverently to the truths which we 
 shall this day hear ; and worship Thee with truly hum- 
 ble and contrite hearts. Prepare our minds to receive 
 the seed which shall this day be sown in them ; and 
 suffer not that we should give way to wandering 
 thoughts, and to an indolent and worldly spirit. May 
 we remember, when we are in the house of God, in 
 whose service we are engaged ; and whose word it is 
 that we hear ; and, when Thy Gospel is preached, may 
 we be so awed by the terrors of tlie Lord, and so affect- 
 ed by the sense of Thy mercy, that we may lay to heart 
 those things which we hear ; and may none of us 
 receive this jrrace of God in vain. And when we return 
 
82 THIRD SUNDAY MORNING. 
 
 from Thy house, dispose us all to coDsider our ways 
 Let us turn our thoughts to whatever hath been amiss 
 in us during the past week : — let us implore Thy mercy 
 in our secret prayers • — and let us read witii care Thy 
 holy scriptures. 
 
 O Lord, help us to consider how few are our days 
 on earth ; and how soon we may be called to give up 
 our account of the privileges which we have enjoyed, 
 and of the talents committed to us. We have only a 
 short and uncertain life between us, and — eternal hap- 
 piness, or. misery. O let us now redeem the time ; — 
 before the day of our death shall come, and our sen- 
 tence be sealed everlastingly. Let us make haste to 
 obey Thy voice : — let us be diligent in enaeavourmg to 
 know Thy will ; and to imderstand the doctrines of Thy 
 Gospel. 
 
 And to this end may Thy Spirit enlighten and direct 
 us ; — guide us into all truth : — save us from all igno- 
 rance, and blindness, and hardness of heart : — preserve 
 us from those delusions which are fatal to the soul. Lei 
 us not speak peace to ourselves, when there is no peace; 
 nor hope that we have an interest in Christ, when we 
 have not repented of our sins, and have no true faith in 
 His name. O Lord, produce in us sincere repentance. 
 If we are yet living in sin, show us, we pray Thee, our 
 danger ; — make us to understand botli our own sinful- 
 ness, and Thy mercy ; and lead us to that Lamb of 
 God, who taketh away the sins of the world. 
 
 Bless, we pray Thee, the ministers of Thy Gospel, 
 Do Thou give great success to their labours. May 
 they, by the word which they shall deliver awaken 
 
FOURTH SUNDAY MORNING. • 83 
 
 those who are yet dead in iheh' sins ; and may they 
 convince the wavering ; and establish the weak ; and 
 comfort the feeble-m.inded ; and raise up those who are 
 fallen : and may Thy true servants be built up in their 
 most holy faith, and be made perfect in every good 
 work. 
 
 Hear us, most merciful Lord, in these our humble 
 supplications, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Saviour. 
 
 Our Father, cj-c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, ^c. 
 
 FOURTH SUNDAY MORNING. 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, who didst send 
 Thine only Son into the Vv^orld to die upon the cross, 
 and to become a propitiation for sin, and hast promised 
 to all who repent and believe in Him, that they shall 
 be made heirs of eternal life ; — grant unto us such 
 humble and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting 
 our misdeeds, may be made partakers of that blessed 
 hope, which is set before us in Jesus Christ. 
 
 We also beseech Thee to grant us Thy Holy Spirit, 
 that we may not continue to transgress Thy laws, nor 
 harden our hearts in unbelief. Turn us, O Lord, from 
 our evil ways. Teach us, while we adore Thee for 
 Th}?- redeeming mercy, to live to the praise of that 
 Saviour who hath died for us. May wc remember that 
 
84 FOURTH SUNDAY MORNING. 
 
 He, Avlio descended from heaven to save us from con- 
 demnation, came also " to redeem us from all iniquity, 
 and to purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous 
 of good v/orks." May we have grace to walk accord- 
 ing to His example, and to do whatever is pleasing m 
 Thy sight. 
 
 We pray Thee to send Thy blessed Gospel over the 
 world. Put an end to infidelity and atheism, to super- 
 stition and false religion, to heresy and schism, to igno- 
 rance and vice, and to war and discord. Let the nations 
 of the earth receive Thy truth in the love of it ; and 
 being reconciled to Thee through Jesus Christ, may 
 they live in peace and unity. 
 
 We also pray Thee to purify Thy professing church 
 in this land. We would lament the iniquity even of 
 our holy things ; and would beseech Thee to strengthen 
 the faith of Thy servants, and to enlarge their charity, 
 that they, being examples of holiness, may lead others, 
 who " see their good works, to glorify their Father 
 which is in heaven." 
 
 We implore Thy blessing on all the faithful preach- 
 ers of Thy word. May Thy grace both prevent and 
 follow them ; and may they eminently adorn, by their 
 lives, that holy doctrine which they teach. 
 
 Look down in mercy on the rising generation. Put 
 into the hearts of parents and teachers zeal for the 
 spiritual good of those over whom Thou hast placed 
 them. Give them wisdom from above, that they may 
 know how to inculcate true and strict religion ; and open 
 the minds of the young, that they may receive instruc- 
 tion with a teachable spirit ; and, as they grow in years, 
 
FOURTH iSUINDAY MORNING. 35 
 
 may advance not only in useful knowledge, but in all 
 virtue, and godliness of life. 
 
 And, finally, we intercede with Thee in behalf of the 
 poor and the afflicted. Do Thou, who art the God of 
 all consolation, provide for them. Send down help 
 from above in every hour of their need ; and turn their 
 earlhlv trials and tribulations to their eternal good. In- 
 cline those who are in prosperity, to remember all who 
 are in trouble. Teach as many as are rich in this world, 
 to be ready to communicate ; and those, who are strong, 
 to bear with the infirmities of the weak. 
 
 Into Thy hands, O Lord, we now commit ourselves, 
 and all who are dear to us ; beseeching Thee to hear 
 these our imperfect prayers and intercessions, for the 
 sake of Jesus Christ, our ever blessed Redeemer. 
 
 Our Father, SfC. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, ^c. 
 
FIFTH SUNDAY MORNING. 
 
 I) 'iof. God Almighty, who didst in the beginning 
 ■;re;ile ths heavens and ihc earth ; who rulest the world 
 ''3' T'hine unceasing Providence, and orderest all the 
 afl'iii-s of men; who hast made us what we are, and 
 nasi rtppointed the lime, and the place of our existence ; 
 we thank Tlice for our creation, preservation, and all 
 th.e blesssings of this life ; — We bless Thee, that Thou 
 IhiiU not made ihe wilderness our habitation, nor a 
 barren land our dwelling-place ; but that Thou hast 
 placed us in the midst of plenty, and of enjoyment. 
 
 We also adore Thee, that Thou hast given us im 
 mortal souls ; and that Thou hast made Thyself known 
 unto us, both by the works of Thy hand, and by the 
 express revelation of Thy word. We praise Thee, 
 that, while the heavens declare Thy glory, and the 
 firmament showelh Thy handy-work, Jesus Christ 
 hath also descended from heaven, and hath, still more, 
 revealed Thy grace unto us. We rejoice that Thy 
 power, and Thy greatness, and the excellency of Thy 
 wisdom, and also Thine unspeakable love and mercy to 
 the creatures whom Thou hast made, have been de- 
 clared to us. We adore Thee for all the treasures of 
 wisdom and knowledge which are in Jesus Christ; 
 especially for the pardon of our sins through faith in 
 His name ; and for the hope which is laid up for us in 
 licavcn, through His Gospel. 
 
 But we desire to lament, Lord, that we liave not 
 rendered unto Thee according to the greatness and 
 
FIFTH SUNDAY WOUNING. 87 
 
 multitude of Thy mercies ; for we have walked after 
 the way of our own hearts, and have suffered Thine 
 exceeding grace and goodness to be forgotten by us. 
 Help us, therefore, wit'i unfeigned sorrow, aivl con- 
 trition of heart, to acknowledge our offences against 
 Thee. We coiifess (/ur worldlincss, and tliougluless- 
 ness of 'Iliee ; our cokliicsis and indifference in Thy 
 service ; our pride, our ambilion, and our covetousness 
 We also acknowledge and lament our loo irritable tern 
 pers, and angry. passions, and our too great readiness 
 to justify ourselves and to find fault with others. We 
 confess our indolence, our v. aste of time, and our fre- 
 quent negligence in our employments. We confess, 
 also, all the various sins of our tongues, — our hasty, 
 sudden, as well as flattering and deceitful words. We 
 confess the want of purity and holiness, in our secret 
 thoughts and imaginations. We now pray Thee, O 
 God, to pardon our iniquities, for the sake of that Sav- 
 iour, in whom Thou hast invited us to trust. And, 
 Vv'hile we exercise this faith, may we condemn ourselves 
 on account of our transgressions ; may we resolve to 
 forsake them, and to walk henceforth in newness of 
 life. 
 
 God, strengthen us, w^e pray Thee, by Thy Holy 
 Spirit, that we may not fall again under the power of 
 our temptations ; but that all our ways may be pleasing 
 in Thy sight. O grant, that we who are hearers of Thy 
 word, may also always be doers of it, — lest we fall into 
 tenfold condemnation. May we remember Thine awful 
 punishments denounced against the ungodly, as well as 
 the glorious recompense of reward laid up for thoaf 
 
88 FIFTH SUNDAY MORNINGN 
 
 who seek for it by patient continuance in weil-doing. 
 May Ave, therefore, lav aside every Vv-eight, and the sins 
 wliich do most easi!}'- beset us. May we be faithful 
 and dihgent ; may we put on the whole armour of God ; 
 and may we fight manfully under the banners of our 
 Saviour, against the world, the flesh, and the Devil ; 
 remembering, that to him that ovcrcometh, He will give 
 a crown of life. 
 
 Bless unto us the preaching of Thy word this day. 
 Grant that it may sink into all our hearts ; and may 
 make u.s anxious to please Thee, and mindful of our 
 latter end. And whensoever we may come to die, we 
 pray that no terrors may then dismay us ; but that we 
 may have so repented of our sins, while we were in life 
 and in health, and have so obeyed the voice of God in 
 His Gospel, that, trusting in the mercies of Him who 
 hath died for us, we may yield up our departing spirit 
 to God who gave it, in the hope of a joyful resurrection 
 to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 
 Our Father, <^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord tf-c. 
 
FIRST SUNDAY EVENING. , 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, we bless Thee 
 for Tliy great, goodness, in creating, and preserving, 
 and redeeming us ; and 'for ail Thy various mercies 
 from our birth (into this hour. We adore Thee as the 
 Author of all things ; but, especially, as our Father and 
 our friend, the God of our lives, the source of our hopes, 
 and the giver of all spiritual as well as temporal good. 
 
 We desire to praise Thee, on this Thy holy day, for 
 the gift of Jesus Christ Thy Son ; by whom we ob- 
 tain pardon of sin, and all things necessary for our 
 eternal salvation. We thank Thee, that He hath de- 
 scended into this our world ; that He hath set us an 
 example by His holy life ; hath made atonement for us 
 by His painful death ; and, liy His resurrection from 
 the grave on the third day, hath given assurance, that 
 He is able to raise our bodies from the dust, and to 
 exalt us to His own right hand in the Kingdom of 
 Heaven. 
 
 We pray Thee, O Lord, to impress deeply on our 
 minds these great and solemn truths, that we may not 
 forget them amidst the cares and occupations of the 
 world ; but may be daily reminded of our Christian 
 privileges, as well as of the duties to which we are 
 called. Convince us of the vanity of the world, of the 
 shortness of life, and of the unspeakable importance of 
 eternity. Save us from indifference, and thoughtless 
 ness, and levity ; as well as from wickedness and sin 
 Purify our hearts by Thy Holy Spirit ; and teach us 
 
90 FIRST SUNDAY EVENING. 
 
 habitually to remember that Thou seest oiir secret 
 thoughts, and rcquiresi truUi in the inward parts. 
 
 Pardon, we pray Thee, the multitude of our sins in 
 times past, — our pride and vanity, our covetousness and 
 worWliness, our anger and passion, our indolence and 
 negligence, our too careless performance of the duties 
 of our station, and our want of Christian kindness and 
 of brotherly love. Pardon, especially, our forgetfulness 
 of Thee, our God : for how seldom have we thought 
 of Thee ; how coldly have we worshipped Thee ; how 
 little have we honoured Thee as we oiight ! Thou hast 
 caused us to abound with the good things of this life : — 
 Thy hand hath protected us : — Thy goodness hath rais- 
 ed us, when, through. sickness, or calamity, we have 
 been brought low : and the knowledge of Thy mercies 
 in Jesus Christ hath been added to all Thine other 
 blessings : so that we are under peculiar obligations to 
 love and serve Thee, and to praise and magnify Thy 
 holy name. Lord, forgive our ingratitude to Thee 
 our great Benefactor ; and enable us to trust in Jesus 
 Christ, for the remission of every sin, as well as for 
 the acceptance of those imperfect services which we 
 would offer up unto Thee. 
 
 We pray Thee O Lord, to send Tliy blessed Gos- 
 pel over the world. May the nations hear the joyful 
 sound ; and may Thy kingdom come ; and Thy will 
 be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Bless the labours 
 of Thy ministers in every place. Fill them with zeal 
 for Thine honour, and with love to Thy name. May 
 multitudes in this land repent and believe ; and may the 
 spirit of true religion both revive among ourselves, and 
 
FIRST SUNDAY EVENING. 91 
 
 overspread all nations. May Christ be preached, from 
 llie rising to the setting sun : and may each of us en- 
 deavour to recommend those truths which we have been 
 taught, that there may be no occasion for the enemie? 
 of the Gospel to blaspheme. 
 
 We would intercede for all our relations, connexions, 
 and friends ; especially for those who are in sorrow, 
 sickness, or trouble. Grant unto them those consola- 
 tions which Thou only canst bestow. Put into their 
 hearts a holy trust in Thee, and a sure hope in Thy 
 promises. And may those, who feel that their infirmi- 
 ties come upon them, and that their outward frame 
 decays, be enabled to believe, that, when earthly things 
 fail, they shall have a building of God, a house not 
 made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 
 
 Take us now, God, under Thy gracious care this 
 night. Let Thy blessing attend us : and Thy good 
 Spirit rest upon us. May the words, which we have 
 heard this day, sink into all our hearts : and may we, 
 through the ensuing week, rise up, and lie down, at 
 peace with Thee, and under a constant sense of Thy 
 presence. 
 
 We offer up these our imperfect supplications, in tne 
 name of Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Redeemer. 
 
 Our Father, <^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, <^c. 
 
SECOND SUNDAY EVEN/NG. 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, our Creator, and 
 Preserver, and Redeemer, we would now enter into 
 Thy sacred presence, under a deep sense of oar weak- 
 ness and unworthiness, and of Tliine unspeakable great- 
 ness and majesty. We approach Thee, at the same 
 time, as a God of goodness and mercy ; for Thou hast 
 made Thyself known to us in Jesus Christ Thy Son ; 
 and hast proclaimed pardon to every repenting sinner 
 through faith in that sacrifice which He hath offered on 
 the cross, for us, the guilty children of men. We de- 
 sire to bless Thee for this strong foundation of our 
 hope ; and we would now address Thee in the full 
 assurance of faith, renouncing all confidence in our- 
 selves, rejoicing in Him who is become the hope of all 
 the ends of the earth, and is the Lamb slain from the 
 foundation of the world ; — who, having died for us, hath 
 also risen again, and is now exalted at Thy right hand, 
 where He ever liveth to make intercession for us. 
 
 We beseech Thee, O God, to accept for His sake, 
 the imperfect worship which we have on this day 
 offered up in Thy house. We implore Thee tU bless 
 to our continual good, the instruction which we have 
 this day heard. Having been taught to know Thy will, 
 may we be diligent to fdfil it. Thou hast given us 
 line upon line, and precept upon precept ; and hast 
 placed us in the midst of light and knowledge. O grant 
 unto us a true and lively faith in all the doctrines of 
 
SEco?v^"D sit?:day evi:ning. 93 
 
 Thy holy word, and a spi;i!. of imfcserved obedience to 
 lliem. 
 
 We pray Thee to make us diligent and faithful in all 
 the occupations of life, to which in Thy providence we 
 shall be called. Let us not live in indolence and self- 
 indulgence ; but let us endeavour to be useful in our 
 generation. Let us be fervent in spirit, serving the 
 Lord, Let us walk in Thy fear from day to day ; and in 
 all things aim to please our heavenly Father. Make us to 
 be the same in secret which we would wish tobe in public. 
 
 We beseech Thee to inspire us with a spirit of 
 Christian kindness to all around us. Thou hast been 
 very bountiful and gracious to us. Thou hast multi- 
 plied our temporal comforts ; and Thou pardonest our 
 numberless transgressions. O grant that we may follow 
 the example of Thy beneficence ; and that we may also 
 be like Thee, ready to forgive. May we be watchful 
 over ourselves, but tender towards the infirmities of 
 others ; full of meekness, and gentleness, and patience, 
 and loving-kindness and charity. 
 
 Enlighten us, O Lord, by Thy good Spirit, that we 
 may exercise every holy temper, and understand every 
 part of our Christian duty^ Strengthen us in our sea- 
 sons of trial and temptation ; guide us through all the 
 difficulties into which we may fall ; and bless us in all 
 the scenes of life through which we may pass. If 
 affliction should come upon us, inspire us with liumble 
 resignation to Thy will : Tiiou, Lord, dost not wil- 
 lingly grieve the children of men ; O visit us not in 
 Thine indignation ; but turn the mournful events )f Thy 
 providence to our spiritual and endless good. 
 
94 SECOND SUNDAY EVENING. 
 
 Prepare us, by all the events of life, for our great and 
 final cliange ; for we know not how soon it may come 
 upon us. May the appointment of Thy sabbaths, and 
 the preaching of Thy word, — may every opportunity 
 of holy meditation, and of pubhc, social, and secret 
 prayer, — and all the other means of edification, which 
 we so abundantly possess, concur with the successive 
 events of Thy wise and merciful providence, in so cal- 
 ling off our minds from this earthly scene, that we may 
 be fitted for that everlasting state, on the borders of 
 which we stand. May Thy good Spirit sustain and 
 strengthen us in our last hours : when the shadows of 
 the evening shall come upon us, when age and sickness 
 shall arrive, and human help shall fail, be Thou, O 
 Lord, the strength of our hearts and our portion for 
 evermore ; and let an abundant entrance be ministered 
 unto us into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and 
 Saviour. 
 
 With these prayers for ourselves, we desire to join 
 our intercessions for others also. Bless our President 
 and all who are in authority : [give loisdom to our 
 houses of Congress ;] and inspire all orders of men 
 with the spirit of cheerful obedience to Thy laws. Save 
 us from pubhc war, as well as from intestine discord. 
 Bless every attempt to spread Thy true Gospel among 
 the nations. Have mercy on all Jews, Turks, infidels, 
 and heretics : and so bring them home, blessed Lord, 
 to Thy flock, that they may be saved among the rem- 
 nant of true Israelites : and crown with Thy continual 
 blessing the labours of the ministers of Thy Gospel in 
 our own favourer! countrv. 
 
SECOND SUNDAY EVENING 95 
 
 Have mercy on all who are troubled in mind , o? 
 whom Thou hast visited with any sorrow. Grant unto 
 them peace with Thee, through our Lord Jesus 
 CnuisT ; and let the light of Thy countenance be more 
 than a compensation for every worldly sacrifice to which 
 they are called. 
 
 Be favourable to the rising generation. Keep them 
 from the follies and vanities of youth; and let them 
 learn to walk in Thy fear, and in the way of Thy com- 
 mandments. 
 
 And, finally, we beseech Thee to take us all under 
 Thy protection, this night. Grant unto these our frail 
 bodies that refreshment which is needful for them ; and 
 enable us to lie down, exercising a holy trust in Thee, 
 and having fervent charity towards all men. 
 
 We offer up these our imperfect prayers in the name 
 of our blessed Saviour Jesus (Jurist. 
 
 Our Father, ^-c 
 
 The grace of our Lord, <^c. 
 
THIRD SUNDAY EVENING. 
 
 O Lord, God Almighty, who understands the 
 secrets of every heart, — who art also a God of infinite 
 perfection and purity, and claimest not only the out 
 ward service of Thy creatures, but requirest truth in 
 the inward parts, — we sinners, who in thought, word, 
 and deed, have offended against Thee, desire most 
 humbly to confess our sins, and to implore Thy mer- 
 ciful forgiveness. 
 
 We pray Thee to assist us by Thy Holy Spirit, to 
 know wherein we have sinned against Thee. Give us 
 a deep conviction of the necessity of seriously examin- 
 ing ourselves, and of comparing all our ways with the 
 standard of Thy holy law, that we may thus become 
 acquainted with our transgressions : and, freely con 
 fessing them before that God whom we have offended, 
 may obtain perfect remission, through our Lord and 
 Saviour Jesus Christ. 
 
 O Lord, we acknowledge that forgetfulness of Thee, 
 and that rebellion of our hearts against Thee, which 
 have been the cause of so many disorders in our lives. 
 We have not honoured Thee as God : but have set up 
 our own will as our law; choosing to follow our own 
 vain imaginations. We have neglected Thy written 
 word ; we have not duly attended to the instructions 
 of Thy ministers ; we have been careless under the 
 means of grace ; and little anxious to improve the sab- 
 bath to our spiritual edification. 
 
 Thou hast called to us by many dispensations of Thy 
 
THIRD SUNDAY EVENING. 97 
 
 providence, often reminding us of our latter end. "^'bou 
 hast shown us the vanity of all our earthly hopes , and 
 hast taught us lessons of wisdom, both by the mercies, 
 and by the afflictions, and all the various trials and dis- 
 appointments, with which Thou hast visited us. But 
 we have too often repined at Thy dispensations, instead 
 of profiting by them ; and have complained of our con- 
 dition in life instead of turning our thoughts to a happier 
 R'ld better world. 
 
 Or if Thou hast multiplied our comforts, how prone 
 have we been to place our chief happiness in these, and 
 not in Thee, who art the Giver ! How many and vari- 
 ous have been our sins, both secret and open, from our 
 youth until this time ! How many have been the sinful 
 thoughts which we have indulged ; of which Thou, and 
 Thou only, hast been the witness ; for which also unless 
 they are repented of in this w^orld, Thou wilt call us to 
 account in the Day of Judgment ! How many rash 
 and angry words, also, have we continually spoken ! 
 How often have we injured our neighbours ; judging 
 harshly of others, while we hope to be judged mercifully 
 by Thee ; — not willing to forgive, though we ourselves 
 hope to be forgiven ! 
 
 We would confess, O Lord, the ungodliness ot our 
 hearts and lives, and the frequent impatience of our 
 spirits. Thou hast appointed our lot in life, and hast 
 ordered all things concerning us : but how little have 
 we adorned the stations in which Thou hast placed us .' 
 — how unfaithfully have we employed the talents en- 
 trusted to us : and how soon have we been weary in 
 well-doing ! 
 
OS THIRD SUNDAY EVENING. 
 
 ^Y'^.pray Thee, O Loud, to make us duly sensible 
 of 311*^6 sins, whereby we have offended against Thee ; 
 and give us grace to repent and turn to Thee ; and to 
 believe in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ ; and 
 to walk in newness of life. We thank Thee, that, on 
 each returning sabbath, there is forgiveness preached to 
 us in our Saviour's name ; that we are encouraged 
 to confess our sins ; to renew our repentance ; and to 
 call upon the Lord, our God. And, Lord, grant 
 unto us, together with the pardon of our sins, the aid 
 of Thy Spirit, that whatever truths we have heard this 
 day, may make a serious and lasting- impression ; and 
 that whatever sins have been this day brought to our 
 remembrance, may be repented of and forsaken. 
 
 May we be enabled especially to contend agamsl 
 those sins which have most easily beset us. Lord, 
 oless us in the ensuing week. May it be spent in a 
 manner worthy of our Christian profession, and of these 
 our supplications unto Thee. Ee Thou our counsellor 
 and guide, and our defender in whom we trust. Do 
 Thou guard us throughout the week from all dangers : 
 and continually keep us in all our ways. Do Thou 
 maintain Thy grace in us ; and bring us at length to 
 Thine everlasting kingdom, through our Lord and Sav- 
 iour Jesus Christ. 
 
 Our Father, ^c. 
 
 The grace of oij^' Lord, <^. 
 
FOURTH SUNDAY EVENING. 
 
 O Lord, our Heavenly Father, we beseech Thee 
 to accept the worship which we have rendered unto 
 Thee on this Thy holy day. Give Thine abundant 
 blessing to all the means of grace ; and impart unto us 
 a full conviction of those doctrines of Thy Gospel which 
 have been delivered to us. May they not only excite 
 our fears and hopes, while the sound of them is yet in 
 our ears ; but may they be engraven on all our hearts, 
 by the power of Thy Holy Spirit. 
 
 Thou hast favoured us witli many and great advan- 
 tages. Thou hast given us Tiiy sabbaths. Thou hast 
 enlightened us by Thy holy word. Thou hast sent us 
 ministers instructed in Thy truths, and hast multiplied 
 our opportunities of edification. Thou hast removed 
 from us many obstacles which others meet with in theii 
 heavenly course and hast made our way plain before us 
 
 We bless Thee, Lord, for these unspeakable mer 
 cies ; but we would rejoice with trembling ; knowing 
 that unto whom much is given, of them shall much be 
 required. O Lord, grant unto us Thy Holy Spirit ; to 
 enlighten our darkness, to strengthen our weakness, 
 and to supply all that is wanting in us for our spiritual 
 necessities, and for the everlasting salvation of our 
 souls. 
 
 We beseech Thee to manifest to all our hearts the 
 abounding grace and love of Christ, that we may be 
 delivered from slavish fears, and «iay advance with 
 cheerful and willing steps in the way of Thy command- 
 
100 FOURTH SUNDAY EVENING. 
 
 merits. Give us that hope, which is the anchor of the 
 soul, sure and stedfast. Vouchsafe unto us that most 
 excellent gift of charity, without which we are but as 
 the sounding brass, and the tinkling cymbal. May we 
 more plainly perceive, and more often reflect on, the 
 cause of our having so imperfectly obeyed Thee in 
 limes past : — God, we have not loved Thee, — and, 
 therefore we have not served Thee, — as we ought. 
 Our hearts have been too cold, and insensible ; — 
 Christ, our Saviour halh died for us ; but we have 
 remained little afiected by all that He did and suffered 
 for us. 
 
 do Thou impress upon us those all-powerful doc- 
 trines of Thy word which are al)le to draw our hearts 
 to Thee : and especially, may redeeming love, that great 
 theme of the Gospel, be the favourite subject of uur 
 meditation. And grant, O Lord, that, having learnt to 
 love Thee for Thine unspeakable mercies in Jesus 
 Christ, and having obtained an interest in His salva- 
 tion, we may have the consolation of trusting, that we 
 are safe in life, in death, and in eternity. May we pass 
 through all the future scenes of life, secure from the 
 sins by which we have been overcome ; and having 
 surmounted some of the trials which once threatened 
 us, may the recollection be an encouragement for us to 
 trust, that we shall, in due time, trium.ph over them all. 
 
 Give us such a deep sense of our obligations to our 
 blessed Saviour, and such a stedfast hope of immortal 
 life through Him, that no temptations may prevail over 
 us. May we be occupied, whenever we may have sea- 
 sons of retirement, by ihe hope of heaven, and the love 
 
FOURTH SUNDAY EVENING. 101 
 
 of Christ ; and when we are engaged in business in the 
 world, may our love to Thee inspire us with such con- 
 tinual zeal in doing good, and such holy activity in our 
 calling, that we may be preserved from those snares to 
 wliich the careless and the profane are constantly ex- 
 posed. And thus may we pass on through life : grow- 
 ing m grace ; attached more and niore to every principle 
 of the Gospel ; looking to the Author and Finisher of 
 our faith ; and anticipating a happy resurrection. O 
 may we hold fast the profession of our faith without 
 wavering ; and, in the ensuing week, may we remem- 
 ber what this day we have been taught ; and may we 
 obtain of Thee, by daily prayer, the constant aid of Thy 
 heavenly grace : we ask it for Jesus Christ our Sav 
 iour's sake. 
 
 Ou7- Father, ^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, <^c. 
 
FIFTH SUNDAY EVENING. 
 
 Almighty and most merciful God, who hast encour 
 aged and commanded us in Thy word, both to make 
 known our wants, and to confess our sins, unto Thee, 
 — we desire now to approach the throne of Thy grace, 
 deeply sensible of our manifold necessities, and implor- 
 ing Thy forgiving mercy. 
 
 We beseech Thee to have compassion upon us for 
 the sake of Thy Son Jesus Christ. Blessed be Thy 
 name for this great Mediator between God and man ; 
 through whom alone we hope for acceptance in our 
 prayers ; and for all things necessary, both for the body 
 and the soul. We have sinned grievously against Thee ; 
 we have trespassed in thought, word, and deed. We 
 have left undone that which we ought to have done ; as 
 well as done that which we ought not to have done ; 
 and there is no health in us. We cannot tell hoAv often 
 we have oflfended. O Lord, cleanse Thou us from 
 our secret faults. Teach us to know ourselves, that 
 we may more fully understand our great unworthiness ; 
 and more entirely rely on Thy grace in Jesus Christ 
 
 We would especially lament the sins of the paei 
 week. We profess, day by day, to amend our lives 
 but we too often leave a great part of our duty unper- 
 formed : we yield to indolence and negligence ; to sel- 
 fishness and covetousness ; to our evil tempers, and to 
 many sins which most easily beset us ; and our daily 
 repentance is incomplete. Assist us now to acknow- 
 ledge, with deep contrition cf soul, the guilt which we 
 
FIFTH SUNDAY EVENING. 10 
 
 have incurred ; that we may obtain perfect remission 
 through that Saviour in whom Thou hast encouraged 
 us to hope. 
 
 And grant unto us, for His sake, the gift of Thy Holy 
 Spirit ; that we may be enabled to advance in our Chris- 
 tian course, and prevail over the enemies of our souls. 
 Save us from the world, the flesh, and the Devil. Give 
 us strength, that we may fight under the banners of our 
 Saviour ; and may be made more than conquerors over 
 every temptation. May Ave become habitually fearful 
 of sinning against Thee, and diligent in every good 
 work. 
 
 We beseech Thee to grant Thy blessing to the words 
 which we have heard this day ; that they may be grafted 
 inwardly in all our hearts ; and may bring forth in us 
 the fruit of good living. May our faith be strengthened 
 by every religious exercise in which we engage ; and 
 may the successive sabbaths, Avith which we are fa- 
 voured here on earth, prepare us for an eternal sabbatli, 
 in Thine immediate presence in heaven. 
 
 Give success to every endeavour which has been 
 made on this day to bring sinners to repentance. O let 
 Thy name be known on earth, Thy saving health to all 
 nations. May they who sit in darkness behold the Sun 
 of Righteousness arise ; and may Thy word every 
 where be glorified. 
 
 We pray for all who are appointed to dispense Thy 
 truth. Do Thou, Lord, so enlighten them by Thy 
 gi-ace, that they may be able to instruct others, and lead 
 them safely forward in the way of everlasting life. 
 
 Have mercy on the biui in uhich we live. Bless 
 
104 FIFTH SUNDAY EVENING. 
 
 our President. [Direct the consultations of our Houses 
 of Cong}-ess.] Inspire our magistrates with integrity, 
 and our people with the spirit of obedience. Have pity 
 on the poor and the afflicted. Bestow Thy blessing on 
 the rising generation. May they be trained up in the 
 nurture and admonition of the Lord ; and advance not 
 only in useful knowledge, but in all virtue and godliness 
 of life 
 
 Finally, we pray for our Christian friends, and for all 
 our dear relations. Being united in the bonds of Chris- 
 tian love, may we all seek each other's welfare, and 
 bear each other's burthens, and thus fulfil the law of 
 Christ. May those, who are strong, have grace to 
 bear with the infirmities of the weak ; and may we 
 severally minister to each other's necessities, according 
 to our opportunity and ability. 
 
 We present these our imperfect prayers, in the name 
 of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. 
 
 Our Father, c|-c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, <^c. 
 
FIRST EVENING. 
 
 O Lord God, our Heavenly Father, who art the 
 Maker of all things, and the Judge of all nien, we Thy 
 creatures, who live upon Thy daily bounty, and are 
 accountable to Thee for all we do, desire now to offer 
 up our acknowledgments of Thy goodness during the 
 past day, and to implore Thy forgiving mercy. 
 
 We would lament the trespasses which we have, this 
 day, committed. Thou seest, O Lord, all our hearts 
 We are blind and ignorant, prone to error, yet impatient 
 of reproof. We often deceive ourselves with the mere 
 appearance of goodness ; but Thou knowest every false 
 way in which we allow ourselves to walk. Pardon, we 
 beseech Thee, for Jesus Christ's sake, whatever evil 
 we have either said, or thouglit, or done, on this day 
 Pardon all the multitude of om iniquities. Teach us 
 continually to examine our lives by the light of Thine 
 unerring word ; and vouchsafe unto us true repentance, 
 and faith in Jesus Christ. 
 
 We pray Thee, also, to pour out upon us the gift of 
 Thy Holy Spirit, that we may amend our ways, and 
 walk in newness of life. Thou hast favoured us with 
 much religious knowledge, and Avith many means of 
 grace. let us remember, that, unto whom much is 
 given, of them shall much be required. Let us not live, 
 as the children of this v/orld, employing our time in 
 vain and unprofitable things ; but let us endeavour to be 
 useful in that station m which Thou hast placed us. 
 As we have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so let ug 
 
106 FIRST EVENING. 
 
 walk in Him. May we excel especially in llios«. lem 
 pen, and abound in those works, which His Gospel iiaa 
 required. May we be full of meekness and patience, 
 of kindness and forbearance, of benevolence and charity. 
 Being established in the love of God, may we also love 
 our neighbour with a pure heart, fervently. Let us not 
 have a name to live, while we are dead ; or possess 
 only that faith which is without works, and can profit 
 neither ourselves nor those around us ; but let us aboimd 
 in all the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus 
 Christ, to the praise and glory of God. 
 
 We also beseech Thee to bless unto us the events 
 of Thy providence : and so to order all things, during 
 the remainder of our lives, that they may issue in om 
 eternal good. We know not what a day may bring 
 forth. O sanctify unto us our prosperity, and our ad- 
 versity ; our sickness, and our health ; and whatever 
 may be the vicissitudes which Thou art pleased to send, 
 may we consider them as coming from Thy fatheily 
 hand, and never repine under them. May we maintain 
 a cheerful and contented mind ; and being reconciled 
 to Thee our God, may we enjoy peace within ourselves, 
 and be in charity with all men. 
 
 These our imperfect supplications we humbly pre- 
 sent in the name of Jesus Christ our Saviour. 
 
 Our Father, <^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, <^c. 
 
SECOND EVENING. 
 
 O Lord, God Almighty, wlio knowest all things, 
 and understandesl the secrets of every heart, suit Thy 
 mercies, we pray, to our necessities ; and grant unto all 
 the members of this family such things as Thou scest 
 to be most needful for us. 
 
 We pray Thee especially to bring our hearts into full 
 obedience to Thy Gospel. Take away from us all 
 pride, impenitency, and unbelief: all undue love of this 
 present world, all inordinate affection, and every evil 
 inclination. Take from us every thing which opposes 
 itself to the knowledge of Thy truth: and is contrary 
 to the Spirit of Thy grace. 
 
 May we humble ourselves as children in Thy sight . 
 receivmg, in sincerity and simplicity of heart, the vari- 
 ous doctrines of Thy word. Give us, also, grace to 
 maintain a Christian spirit, and to abound in every good 
 work. May we be patient,- and contented, thankful for 
 our lot in life ; praising and blessing Thee for all our 
 providential as well as spiritual mercies ; imploring the 
 continuance of Thy favour ; and jealous over ourselves, 
 lest, by any evil habits which we indulge, we draw 
 down Thine anger upon us. Make us strict in our 
 integrity, sincere in every word, faithful in every trust, 
 diligent in every duty, amiable in every temper of our 
 lives. May we be zealous to do honour to the cause 
 of Thy Gospel ; and thus to recommend the religion 
 of Christ. 
 
 O teach us to exercise all those virtues which shone 
 
108 SECOND EVENING. 
 
 so brightly m our Lord. At the same time, may we 
 remember our exceeding sinfulness ; and thus learn to 
 bear with all the various infirmities of others. Give us 
 grace, also, to testify, on suitable occasions, our abhor 
 rence of evil ; and give us courage and integrity to 
 exhort one another daily, lest any of u*s be hardened 
 through the deceitfulness of sin ; and leach us, in the 
 spirit of love, to serve and edify one another. 
 
 And now, O Lord, wherever on this day we have 
 tailed in the performance of our duty, and in the exer- 
 cise of any Christian temper, or wherever we have in 
 any respect offended Thee, we implore Thy pardon, in 
 the name of JEsrs Christ. 
 
 Take us under Thy protection this night ; may we 
 be safe under the shadow of Thy wings ; may we com 
 mit ourselves to Thee, in peace and comfort ; may the 
 Gospel be our consolation, in our lying down, and in 
 our rising up : — may it be an ever-present source of 
 happiness to us : — may it lighten every trial, and recon- 
 cile us to every disappointmQnt. May there be no place 
 or time, no situation or circumstance, when the satis- 
 faction, which it imparts, shall entirely leave us : but, 
 being under its blessed influence, may our hearts be 
 ever filled with thankfulness ; and our lips, with 
 praises. 
 
 We ask every blessing, in the name of Jesus Christ 
 our only Saviour and Mediator 
 
 Our Father, SfC. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, c^-c 
 
. THIRD EVENING. 
 
 Gre.at and glorious God, we adore Thee for all 
 Tliine infinite perfections ! Righteous art Thou in all 
 Thy ways, and holy in all Thy works ! We are weak 
 and helpless, sinful and guilty, exposed to danger on 
 every side ; and in continual need of Thy gracious 
 assistance. 
 
 Grant unto us a due sense of our dependence upon 
 Thee ; and enable vis to lie down to rest, exercising 
 faith in Thy divine power, and in Thy never-failing 
 goodness. We desire to remember, that Thine eye 
 seeth us wheresoever we are ; that Thou art about our 
 bed, and art every where present with us. O Lord, 
 pardon, for Jesus Christ's sake, the sins which Thou 
 hast seen in us this day. Many are the oflfences which 
 we continually commit : for we are, by nature, prone to 
 evil ; and our own hearts too often deceive us. But 
 we desire to trust in the all-powerful mediation of Thy 
 blessed Son ; who died for our sins and rose again for 
 our justification ; and who ever liveth at Thy right hand 
 to make intercession for us. O Lord, grant unto us 
 peace with Thee, and a cheerful hope of being finally 
 made partakers of everlasting life. We beseech Thee 
 to give us Thy Holy Spirit, to comfort us ; and also to 
 dispose us to every good work. 
 
 Let us not return to sin, nor love the ways of ungod- 
 liness. Let us not allow ourselves in any of those 
 things which Thou hast forbidden ; — but let us irortiiV 
 
 10 
 
110 THIRD EVENING. 
 
 all our corrupt afFeclions ; our pride and vanity ; our 
 anger and passion ; our selfishness and worldliness. Let 
 us put on, as the elect of God, mercy and loving-kind- 
 ness, and tender compassion towards all men. Let us 
 follow-the example of our Saviour's lowliness and meek- 
 ness, of His holy zeal. His constant beneficence. His 
 love to the bodies and souls of" men. Let us daily im- 
 prove, through Thy grace, in every Christian temper ; 
 and let us exercise ourselves in repentance for whatever 
 we have done amiss. 
 
 Accept our thanks, Lord, for the mercies of the 
 paet day, and for all Thy goodness during our past lives. 
 We bless Thee for every gift which Thou hast bestow- 
 ed upon us ; for every deliverance which Thou hast 
 wrought out for any of us from pain and sickness, from 
 sorrow and from danger ; and for every event which 
 Thou hast caused to work for our good. Be with us, 
 we pray Thee, to the end of our days. Bless to us all 
 the estates of life through which we pass; make us 
 humble in prosperity, and patient in adversity ; grateful 
 for all Thy temporal mercies ; but especially for Thine 
 unspeakable love in our redemption through Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 We commit to Thy gracious care all our friends and 
 relations. May we live in peace and harmony with 
 tliem all ; bearing each other's burthens, helping each 
 other's infirmities, and ministering to each other's tem- 
 poral and spiritual good. 
 
 Have compassion on the children of this family. 
 Save them from the follies and dangers of youth, and 
 make them obedient in all things. Prepare them for 
 
FOURTH EVENING. Ill 
 
 Tliy future service ; and when they shall have done 
 Thy will on earth, may they he joint heirs with us in 
 that inheritance which Thou hast prepared for all ivho 
 love Thee. 
 
 Hear us, Lord, in these our prayers, for Jesus 
 Christ's sake. 
 
 Our Father, <^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, <^c. 
 
 FOURTH EVENING. 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God ! Thou art un- 
 speakably great and glorious ! Thou art the King, 
 Eternal, Immortal, and Invisible ! Thy throne is in the 
 highest heavens ; and Thou art exalted above all bles 
 sing and praise : — -we, the creatures whom Thy hand 
 hath made, and whom Thy providence sustains from 
 day to day, desire at this time humbly to bow down 
 before Thy divine majesty ; and to acknowledge our 
 obligations to Thine infinite goodness and mercy. 
 
 We bless Thee for all the comforts of this life ; but, 
 above all, for Thine inestimable love in sending Thy 
 Son from heaven to become the Saviour of our souls. 
 We thank Thee for having provided this Mediator, 
 through whom sinners may draw near unto Thee. We 
 beseech Thee, Lord, to grant unto us pardon of our 
 sins through Jesus Christ. Remember not against us 
 
112 FOURTH EVENING. 
 
 the transgressions either of this day or of our former 
 lives ; but be Thou pleased to receive us into Thy 
 favour, and to adopt us into Thy family, as members 
 of Christ, as children of God, and heirs of the kinffdom 
 of heaven. And vouchsafe unto us the gift of Thy 
 Holy Spirit, that we may be enabled to love Thee with 
 all our hearts ; and faithfully to perform Thy righteous 
 will. We beseccli Thee to renew us in the spirit of 
 our minds. Help us to put off that, old man, which is 
 corrupt according to th.e flesh ; and to put on ihat new 
 man which is created after Thine own image in righ- 
 teousness and true holiness. Deliver us from blindness 
 and hardness of heart ; from too great a love of this 
 present world ; as well as from coldness and indolence 
 in Thy service. May Thy blessed Spirit produce in 
 us a deep and sincere repentance ; and make us fruitful 
 in every good word and work. 
 
 We also pray Thee to enable us to put our whole 
 confidence in Thee. May we commit all our concerns 
 into Thy merciful hands, who art ever ready to protect 
 those who sincerely love and serve Thee. Let Thy 
 watchful providence defend us by night and by day, in 
 adversity and prosperity, in sickness and in health ; and, 
 whenever the awful hour of our death shall draw near, 
 may we find our consolations in Christ abound. 
 
 We most humbly address Thee, in behalf of all those 
 for whom it is our duty to pray. We would intercede 
 Avith Thee for our native land, that it may still be fa- 
 voured with the light of Thy Gospel; and that the 
 seeds of divine knowledge sown in it may bring forth 
 abundant fruit. Bless the President of these United 
 
FOURTH EVENING. ]]3 
 
 States, and all in authority ; and give them wisdom to 
 fulfil the arduous duties to which they are called. Have 
 mercy on all who are in any sorrow ; on the widows 
 and the fatlierless, and on those who have none to help 
 tb.eni. Look down with compassion on those w^ho 
 suffer from the calamities of war. Be merciful to our 
 dear friends and relations. Let the light of Thy Gos- 
 pel shine into all their liearts. Grant, that they may 
 be now united with us in the bonds of Christian love ; 
 and that we may all be members of Thy blessed family 
 in heaven. 
 
 We pray Thee to take us under Thy care this night. 
 We are unable to protect ourselves ; but Thou, Lord, 
 art ever present with us. hear us from heaven Thy 
 dwelling-place ; and, for Thy mercy's sake, bestow 
 upon us more than we are able to ask, or think, or are 
 worthy to receive. 
 
 We present these our humble and imperfect prayers, 
 in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 
 
 Our Father, <Sj-c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, ^~c. 
 iO* 
 
FIFTH EVENING. 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, who art of puur 
 eyes ihan to behold iniquity, yet hast promised forgive- 
 ness to all those who repent of the evil which they have 
 done, — we draw near to Thee under a deep sense of 
 our luivi^orthiness, for we have transgressed in thought, 
 word, and deed ; and when we look back on our past 
 lives, we are confounded by the multitude of our offen- 
 ces. Many have been the sins, of which Thou, and 
 Thou only, hast been the witness. O Lord, save us 
 from that wrath which we have merited. Thou wiliest 
 not the death of a sinner ; but, rather, that he should 
 turn from his wickedness and live. Fulfil towards each 
 of us those gracious promises which Thou hast made 
 in Jesus Christ : and enable us to rejoice, in the sense 
 of Thy favour here, and in the hope of eternal life in 
 the world to come. 
 
 And lest, through our frailty, we should agair. yield 
 to the power of our manifold temptations, grant unto us 
 both the guidance of Thy providence and the help of 
 Thy Holy Spirit. Put into our hearts good desires ; 
 and enable ViS, by Thy grace, to bring the same to good 
 effect. Correct whatever is amiss in us. Deliver us 
 from pride and vanity, and from the too great love of 
 earthly things ; from that fear of man which bringeth a 
 snare, and from all inordinate indulgence. Save us 
 from envy, hatred, and malice. Let not the sun go 
 down upon our wrath. Let us go to rest, tiiis night, 
 full of charity and benevolence ; r-^d maintaining a 
 
FIFTH EVENING. 115 
 
 conscience void of offence towards Thee and towards 
 all men May o'v hearts be a fit habitation for Thy 
 Spirit ; and may our souls and bodies be preserved 
 blameless, unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 With these prayers for ourselves, we offer up our 
 intercessions for others also. Let the light of Thy 
 Gospel shine upon all mankind. Have mercy on this 
 land. Bless our President, and all in authority under 
 him. Strengthen their hands, that they may effectually 
 repress wickedness and vice ; and maintain Thy true 
 religion among us. Give grace to all ministers of the 
 Gospel, that they may both preach Thy word, and be 
 examples of virtue and godliness. Send down Thy 
 blessing, both temporal and spiritual, upon our several 
 relations and friends ; and unite with us in Christian 
 bonds those who are already joined to us by the ties of 
 nature and affection. Be merciful to those who are in 
 any trouble of mind, body, or estate. 
 
 Regard in tender compassion the young of this fam- 
 ily. May they daily learn the fear of the Lord ; and 
 may they ever lualk in Thy commandments. 
 
 We now beseech Thee to continue to us Thy gra 
 cious protection through this night. Into Thy hand 
 we commend our bodies, and our souls ; our temporal, 
 and our eternal interests. Thou, O Lord, neither slum- 
 berest nor sleepest : — take us all under Thy special 
 care : — defend us from every danger ; and grant as such 
 refreshing sleep, that we may be fitted for the duties 
 of the following day. And give us grace so to live, 
 that we may never be afraid to die ; bat that whether 
 we live, we may live unto the Lord ; or whether we 
 
•^^ SIXTH EVENING. 
 
 die, we may die unto the Lord :— all which we ask in 
 the name, and through the mediation of Jesus Christ, 
 our blessed Saviour. 
 
 Our Father, cj-c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, ^c 
 
 SIXTH EVENING. 
 
 Almighty and everliving God, Author of our 
 being, supporter of our lives, and source of all our hopes 
 both in this world and in that which is to come :— we 
 lift up our evening prayer to Thee, in acknowledgment 
 of Thy divine goodness, and of our continual depend- 
 ence upon Thee. 
 
 We thank Thee for Thy merciful protection this day 
 By Thee have we been sustained ever since we were 
 born; and by Thy gracious care we are now enabled 
 to lie down in peace. Blessed be Thy name if we have 
 been in any measure preserved from evil. We are 
 exposed to dangers on every side; to innumerable ills, 
 which afflict the body ; and to many sorrows of the 
 mind. We live in the midst of an ensnaring world ; 
 our own hearts are ever ready to deceive us; and our 
 great spiritual adversary goeth about seeking whom he 
 may devour. Lord, our hope and confidence are 
 only in Thee. Be Thou unto us a rock of defence, that 
 we may be saved from the power of our enemies. In 
 
SIXTH EVENING. 117 
 
 every season of temptation, in i! c period of adversity 
 in the time also of prosperity, in t!ic hour of death, and 
 in the Day of Judgment, good Loud, deliver us ! 
 
 We beseech Thee to pardon the sins which we have 
 this day committed. Although we profess to love Thy 
 name, yet, in how many things do we continue to offend. 
 We often hear Thy holy word ; Ave are instructed in 
 every part of Thy sacred truth : — but how little fruit do 
 we bring forth whicii is worthy of our Christian calling; 
 and of tnat care which Thou in Thy providence and 
 grace, hast bestowed upon us ! We earnestly implore 
 Th)'- pardon, in the name of Jesus Christ. Be Thou 
 merciful to us, for our Saviour's sake ; and send Thy 
 Holy Spirit into our hearts, that v>'e may more deeply 
 repent, and may reform our lives, and be disciples of 
 Christ not in name only, but in deed and in truth. 
 
 Be pleased to sanctify to the good of our souls what- 
 soever events have befallen us on this day. May we 
 be gathering wisdom from the scenes which we see 
 around us. When we behold instances of patience and 
 long-suffering, of meekness and gentleness, of loving- 
 kindness and charity, may we follow them : and when 
 we witness the mortality of others, may we be remind- 
 ed that our time also is short; and that blessed is that 
 man whom his Lord, when He cometh, shall find 
 watching. 
 
 Bless, we earnestly beseech Thee, our several friends 
 and relations. Be Thou bountiful to our benefactors. 
 
 Shoro Tliy special mercy to the children of this fam- 
 ily. Give ivisdom, to those who shall he appointed to 
 instruct them : and provide for them friends who shall 
 
J 18 SIXTH EVENING. 
 
 guide them in the right loay, and shall jprooe a blessing 
 to the end of their lives. 
 
 We pray for ihe President of the United States, thai 
 he may experience Tliy best blessings : [for our Con- 
 gress, that their counsels maij be directed to our true 
 interests, and to Thy glory ;] for our magistrates, that 
 they may not fail to be a terror to evil doers, and a 
 praise to them who do well : for the ministers of the 
 Gospel, that they may go forth in Thy strength, and 
 preach Thy pure and unadulterated word, and have 
 abundant success : for our great men, that they may be 
 examples of virtue to those beneath them : for the poor, 
 that they may be preserved from repining at their lot, 
 and may live in all godliness and honesty : and for those 
 who are sick or in trouble, that they may patiently en- 
 dure the afflictions of the Lord, and in due time find 
 deliverance. We thus commend to Thy gracious care 
 both ourselves and others ; and we desire to lie down 
 in perfect charity with all men. 
 
 Lord, hear us in these our prayers, lor Jesds 
 Christ's sake ; to whom, with Thee and the Holy 
 Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. 
 
 Our Father, <^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, ^c. 
 
SEVENTH EVENING. 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, who seest all 
 our thoughts, and words, and works, and who wilt judge 
 us at the last day ; we beseech Thee to pardon what- 
 soever sms we have this day committed against Thy 
 divine majesty ; and to give us grace to examine our- 
 selves, that we may know wherein we have offended 
 against Thee. 
 
 We fear that we have this day done many things 
 which we ought not to have done ; and have left undone 
 many things which we ought to have done : that we 
 may have indulged our pride, and our evil tempers ; and 
 harboured many sinful thoughts : that we may have 
 been negligent in the performance of the duties of our 
 station ; and may have omitted opportunities of doing 
 good. We profess to be Thy servants ; but how great 
 a part of our duty do we often leave unperformed ! O 
 pardon our offences, for Jesus Christ's sake ; and 
 teach us continually to amend our lives, that we may 
 become His disciples, not in name only, but in deed 
 and in truth. 
 
 We pray Thee to take us under Thy gracious care 
 this night : we are surrounded by dangers ; and are at 
 all times unable to help ourselves ; but the darkness 
 and the light are both alike to Thee ; and Thou art ever 
 present with those who put their trust in Thee. How 
 many are there who will pass this night in sorrow and 
 in pain ! How many, who will mourn through the dis- 
 
120 SEVENTH EVENING. 
 
 quietude of their hearts ; and are without any oure hope 
 in their God ! O Lord, grant unto us, if it please 
 Thee, refreshing rest ; but, especially, teach us to put 
 our trust in Thee. 
 
 Enable us to rejoice in our most merciful Saviour, 
 .imidst all the tria'.s which we may meet with here ; 
 and to look forward with humble and cheerful hope, to 
 the great day of our appearing before Thee. May we 
 know in whom we have believed : and may our souls 
 be safe in the hands of that Redeemer to whom we have 
 committed them ; and in whose merits alone we desire 
 to trust. Accept, also, for His sake, the imperfect ser- 
 vices of this day ; pardon what hath been evil in us ; 
 and look down with favour on whatsoever hath been 
 good ; since we present unto Thee even our best works 
 only in the name of Jesus Christ, Thy Son. 
 
 We beseech Thee to have mercy on our dear friends 
 and relations ; to relieve their sorrows, and to supply 
 their wants, as well as to direct their steps. Grant unto 
 them a lively faith in the promises of Thy Gospel ; and 
 make them fruitful in every good work. 
 
 We pray for our President, and country. O Lord, 
 deliver us from the hands of our enemies, and direct 
 the public measures to our true interests and to Thy 
 g^ory. 
 
 Have pity on the poor, the desolate, and the oppress- 
 ed. Be Thou a father to the fatherless ; and a God 
 of consolation to the widow. Look down with an eye 
 of favour on the rising generation ; and raise Thou up 
 a seed to serve Thee who shall hand down Thy truth 
 to the latest posterity. 
 
SEVENTH EVENING. 1« 
 
 1 
 Bless especially the children of this family ; may 
 
 they he trained up in the nurture and adjnonition of the 
 Lord ; may they he submissive and dutiful in all things ; 
 may they live in harmony and love, one towards an- 
 other ; may they he kept from the contagion of the 
 luofod ; and, after a life of holy ohedience to Thy laws, 
 ?nay they all be made members of Thy blessed family 
 above. 
 
 Lord, pardon the infirmity of these our prayers : 
 and answer us, not according to what we either desire 
 or deserve, but according to the riches of Thy grace in 
 Jesus Christ ; for whom we bless Thee, and to whom, 
 with Thee, and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and 
 glory, world without end. 
 ' Our Father, (^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, <^. 
 
 n 
 
EIGHTH EVENING. 
 
 O Lord God Almighty, Father of mercies, from 
 whom we derive the temporal comforts which we enjoy, 
 and to whom we owe the blessed and glorious hope of 
 everlasting life, we desire to render unto Thee this our 
 evening sacrifice of prayer, and praise, and thanksgiv- 
 ing. We acknowledge Thy goodness to us during the 
 past day ; and we beseech Thee to continue to us Tjiy 
 gracious protection during the darkness and silence oi 
 the approaching night. Thou art ever present with us. 
 Thou sustainest our lives, though we see Thee not. 
 Thou art our protection in all dangers. Thou art our 
 support in trouble ; our guide in difficulty ; our best 
 consolation in time of sickness ; and our only refuge in 
 the hour of death. 
 
 We pray Thee to increase our trust and confidence 
 in 'i ee. Deliver us from the love of this changeful 
 and ui ertain world. Strengthen our faith in the great 
 promises of Thy Gospel ; and grant that, having com- 
 mitted ourselves to Thy mercies in Jesus Christ, we 
 may find in Him continual rest, and peace. 
 
 We beseech Thee, for His sake, to pardon whatever 
 sins we have this day committed against Thee. Al- 
 though we profess to know Thy word, and to live in 
 obedience to Th}' will, in how many things do w^e con- 
 tinue to offend. We arc often slothful in the perform- 
 iance of our duties : we fail to watch against our pecu- 
 liar temptations; we yield to the evil example of those 
 around us ; we gratify our nridc : we indulge our evil 
 
EIGHTH EVENING. 123 
 
 tempers ; we renew our sins, to the great disquiet of 
 our souls. Lord, forgive, for Jesus Christ's sake, 
 the oifences of this day ; and pour out uf)on us Thy 
 Holy Spirit ; that we may become more stedfast and 
 zealous in Thy service, and more diligent in every good 
 work. 
 
 We commit to Thy gracious and fatherly care all 
 those for whom it is our duly to pray. Have compas- 
 sion on our dearest relations and friends. Supply their 
 various wants through the riches of Thy mercy in Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 Bless our President, and all who are in authority ; 
 and give them wisdom lo fulhl the arduous duties to 
 which they are called. 
 
 Be merciful to all who are hi sorrow. Look down 
 with pity on those who suffer through the calamities 
 of war ; on prisoners and captives ; and on all who are 
 destitute and oppressed. Bestow Thy special favour 
 on Thine afflicted servants ; and cause their earthly 
 troubles to issue in their eternal joy. 
 
 Have mercy on the young : may there be never want- 
 ing in this land a seed lo serve Thee ; and may those, 
 wlio shall come after us, obtain from Thee an increase 
 of light and knowledge, as well as of faith, and hope, 
 and love ; that the fruits of righteousness may abound ; 
 and the excellency of Thy Gospel may be more and 
 more manifested in the world. 
 
 We present unto Thee these our imperfect supplica- 
 tions, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. 
 
 Our Father, ^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, ^c. 
 
NINTH EVENING. 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, by whose powei 
 \\c were created, by whose providence we are sustain- 
 ed, and by whose grace in Christ we are made heirs 
 of eternal life ; we desire to bless Thee for all Thy 
 mercies, both temporal and spiritual ; and, especially, 
 for Thy goodness to us on the day which is now past. 
 
 We thank Thee for our food and raiment ; for our 
 various comforts and enjoyments , for our freedom from 
 pain and sorrow ; and for our deliverance from many 
 of those temptations which are common in the world. 
 We bless Thee, also, for the religious advantages which 
 we so abundantly enjoy ; for the light which shines 
 around us ; for the various means of grace ; and for the 
 gift of Thy written word. 
 
 We desire, at the same time, to confess our number- 
 less sins. We have trespassed in thought, word, and 
 deed : we have done that which we ought not to have 
 done ; we have left undone that which we ought to have 
 done ; and our only hope is in Thy mercy. Pardon, 
 O Lord, for Christ's sake, all the evil whicli we have 
 committed on this day. Forgive whatever pride and 
 vanity we may have indulged : whatever anger and 
 passion, whatever fretfulness and impatience, we may 
 have betrayed; and whatever evil thoughts we may 
 have harboured m our minds. Pardon, also, the vari- 
 ous sins of our tongues, by which we so often violate 
 the law of charity towards our neighbour. We plead 
 the merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son ; and we would 
 
NINTH EVENING. 125 
 
 rejoice, that there is this great Mediator between God 
 and man, through whom there is perfect remission of 
 sins for all those, who, with penitent and contrite hearts 
 confess their trespasses against Thee. 
 
 And grant, we beseech Thee, that we may endeavoai 
 continually to amend our lives, and to walk in the way 
 of Thy commandments. Put witliin us Thy Holy 
 Spirit, that we mav turn from every sin ; and may de- 
 light in doing the will of our heavenly Father. Make 
 us humble and lowl}'^, kind and benevolent, and fruitful 
 in every good work. May we follow the example of 
 our blessed Saviour, who went about doing good ; and, 
 remembering how short is the time of onr sojourning 
 here on earth, may we use all diligence both in serving 
 others, and in making our own calling and election 
 sure. 
 
 We desire, also, before VvC lay down to rest, to com- 
 mend to Thy grace and Thy care all our dear friends 
 and relations. We beseech Thee to protect them from 
 all evil : and to grant unto them all things convenient 
 for them ; and, when they shall have experienced Thy 
 favour here, to bring them to Thine everlasting King- 
 dom. 
 
 Bless the children of this fa?nily : — strengthen them, 
 that they may resist sin ; may overcome the world ; 
 may deny themselves ; and bring forth fruit in their 
 lives to the praise and glory of Thy name. 
 
 And, finally, we implore Thy blessing on our Presi- 
 dent and country, [on our Cong7'ess,] our magistrates, 
 our ministers of the Gospel, and all orders of men 
 among us. Teach us to fill up our stations witli fidei- 
 11* 
 
126 TENTH EVENING. 
 
 ity ; and to walk in the fear of God, and in charity 
 towards all men. 
 
 We offer up these our imperfect prayers and suppli- 
 cations, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and 
 Saviour. 
 
 Our Father, ^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, <^c. 
 
 TENTH EVENING. 
 
 O Lord, our heavenly Father, Almighty and most 
 merciful God, we are met together to offer as a Chris- 
 tian family our united prayers and supplications ualo 
 Thee. Thou underslandest the secrets of all our hoarls. 
 Thou hast known all the circumstances of our past 
 lives ; and art acquainted with the present disposition 
 of all our minds. Thou knowest whether we are of the 
 number of those who live in thoughtlessness and forget- 
 fulness of Thee, and persist in their impenitence, not 
 seeing their danger : or whether we are of that happy 
 number, who have embraced Thy Gospel with true 
 contrition of heart ; and have obeyed its solemn call to 
 repentance and newness of life. 
 
 O Lord, suffer not that any of us should harden our 
 
TENTH EVENING. 127 
 
 hearts against Thee. May we fear, lest death should 
 overtake us in our sins : and, if we are yet negligent 
 of the things which make for our everlasting peace, may 
 we begin to seek the salvation of our souls, with earn- 
 estness and anxiety. But, if any of us have already 
 received Thy truth in tlie love of it ; if any of us have 
 already repented truly of our sins, and begun to lead a 
 new life, and to walk in ihc way of Thy command- 
 ments, we pray that we may learn to follow them to the 
 end, fully. 
 
 O Lord, how great is the privilege of those who c;ui 
 thus look up with holy confidence unto Thee ! Hov/ 
 blessed are they who have Him for their friend, who 
 made heaven and earth, and hath all things under His 
 government ! We pray Thee to receive us into Thy 
 favour ; to adopt us into Tliy family ; and to m.ake all 
 things work together for our good. 
 
 Having sought, first, the kingdom of GoD and His 
 righteousness, may all other things be added unto us 
 May Thy merciful providence direct the events of oui 
 lives. May Thine arm be stretched out to protect us 
 May Thy Spirit sustain and strengthen us ; and, if ii 
 should please Thee to visit us with trials and afflictions, 
 may Thy grace sanctify all our sorrows ; and cause 
 them to be instrumental to our eternal benefit. 
 
 We now commit ourselves to Thee for this night ; 
 earnestly beseeching Thee to pardon our sins, and lo 
 take us under Thy gracious protection. May we rise 
 in the morning with every good desire growing up in 
 us : and go to the duties of the following day, remem- 
 bering, that we ?.\'c cnndidates for a heavenly prize ; 
 
128 ELEVENTPI EVENING. 
 
 and looking, beyond these temporal things, to a better 
 and more enduring inheritance. 
 
 We offer up these our imperfect prayers in the name 
 of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. 
 
 Our Father, <SfC. 
 
 The grace of our Lardy <^c. 
 
 ELEVENTH EVENING. 
 
 Lord Almighty, who art the God of our lives, 
 the author of all our happiness, and the only source 
 from which we can derive any true consolation ana 
 hope : — and who hast also declared in Thy word, that 
 Thou hearest the prayers of Thy creatures, and art rich 
 in mercy unto all who devoutly call upon Thee ; — en- 
 couraged by Thy gracious promises, we sinners, hope- 
 less in ourselves, and exposed to Thy just condemna- 
 tion, presume to call upon Thy name and to implore 
 Thy blessing and Thy mercy. 
 
 We confess, that we have all trespassed against 
 Thee. We have sinned by our early forgetfulness of 
 Thee ; our iniquities have advanced with our advancing 
 years ; and if we now attempt to recollect all the evil 
 which we have done, we are confounded by the multi- 
 tude of our offences. AVe confess, that we have been 
 vain and Avorldly : proud and self-willed ; professing, 
 
ELEVENTH EVENING. 129 
 
 indeed, the Christian faith ; but too much engrossed by 
 the present world, and too thoughtless of eternity ; in- 
 clined to cherish delusive hopes of much earthly good ; 
 eager also for reputation with our fellow-creatures ; but 
 little anxious to please Thee, and to secure our ever- 
 lasting salvation. 
 
 We lament especially that though Thy Gospel hath 
 ocen preached to us, we have heard it with so much 
 indifference. We lament that, notwithstanding the 
 powerful nature of its doctrines, we have been so little 
 affected by it ; so often refusing to follow Thy will, 
 and the precepts of Christ : choosing, rather, to live 
 according to the will of men, and the corrupt customs 
 of this sinful world. Lord, grant, we beseech Thee, 
 that we may not remain insensible to Thy mercies in 
 Jesus Christ. May we lie down this night deeply 
 aiTccled with the importance of eternity ; and resolved 
 to give up our future lives to that God who made us, 
 and to that Saviour who hath redeemed us by His 
 most precious blood. 
 
 We desire, also, to thank Thee for Thy many tem- 
 poral gifts. * Blessed be Thy name for all the m.ercies 
 which we have experienced this day — for our health 
 and strength — for our food and raiment — for the various 
 accommodations and comforts of this mortal life. We 
 are not worthy, Lord, of the least of all Thy boun- 
 ties. May we be enabled to view them as the gifts of 
 our reconciled Father : and, while we enjoy these 
 earthly blessings, may we look forAvard, with cheerful 
 and humble hope, to those greater things, which, as yet, 
 eye hath not seen, nor the ear heard, nor hath it entered 
 
130 TWELFTH E\'ESU\G. 
 
 into the heart of man to conceive ; but which Thou 
 hast prepared for them who love Thee. 
 
 Accept, for our Saviour's sake, whatever we may 
 have done this day in any measure according to Thy 
 commands ; and receive these our imperfect prayers, 
 which we offer in His name. 
 
 Our Father, ^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, ^c. 
 
 TWELFTH EVENING. 
 
 O Lord God, our heavenly Father, we are met to 
 gether as a Christian family, to thank Thee for the 
 mercies of the past day, and to implore Thy blessing 
 before we lie down to rest. We would ever remember 
 the frailty of our nature : and our utter uncertainty how 
 long we may have to live. We are placed in ttis world for 
 a short season, and must soon enter into eternity. We 
 must go to the Father of our spirits, and give account 
 of all things done in the body, and must then receive" 
 our eternal doom. 
 
 O may this awful thought return to our minds with 
 each returning day ; that we may enter upon our du- 
 ties, reflecting on the ends for which we Avere born ; 
 and may lie down each night, examining whether we 
 are so passing our time on earth, as we shall wish we 
 
TWELFTH EVENING. 131 
 
 had done — ^when we are about to die, and to appear 
 before Thy tribunal. 
 
 We pray Thee, Lord, to give us a sacred jealousy 
 over ourselves ; lest we fall short of our heavenly cal- 
 ling. May we learn to put our whole trust in Thee, 
 and to place our delight in serving Thee. Pardon all 
 our disobedience in the time past : — pardon our many 
 negligences, as well as sins : — pardon the wasted lime, 
 the idle words, and the evil tempers of this day. 
 
 Wc would lie down, trusting in the merits of Jesus 
 Christ our Lord ; in whose gracious promises to every 
 repenting sinner we place nil our hope. And while we 
 thus commend our souls to Thy mercies in Christ, to 
 Thee do we commit all our worldly affairs. In Thine 
 hand, O Lord, whose piovidence it is that bringeth 
 every thing to pass, we leave the issue of all our under- 
 takings ; for Thou knowest, better than ourselves, what 
 is for our good. 
 
 We beseech Thee to bless us with all spiritual bles- 
 sings ; and to sanctify to us the daily eve nts of our lives 
 We pray Thee to lay upon us no greal 3r burthen that 
 we are able to bear ; and to train us, by Thy mercifuj 
 goodness and Thy tender care, for the performance of 
 better services than we have yet rendered Thee in the 
 world. We pray for strength against every temptation • 
 and for final victory over every sin. Arm us for every 
 conflict ; fit us for every duty which we have to fulfil. 
 Let us diligently perform our work in life ; let us, at the 
 same time, live in peace and love, and abound in al! 
 offices of kindness to each other. 
 
 O Lord, unite us as one Christian family together. 
 
132 TPIIRTEENTH EVENING. 
 
 May we be partakers of the same faith ; and heirs of 
 the same hope. May our united prayers continually 
 ascend to the throne of Thy heavenly grace ; and may 
 Thy blessing rest upon us. 
 
 Hear us, we beseech Thee, in these our humble sup- 
 plications, for Jesus Christ oui Saviour's sake. 
 
 Our Father, ^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lardy <^c. 
 
 THIRTEENTH EVENING. 
 
 O God, who of Thy tender mercy didst send TIi) 
 Son Jesus Christ into the world to die for our sins 
 we beseech Thee to bestow upon us all those abundant 
 blessings, which, through Him, Thou hast provided for 
 the children of men. Numberless are our wants ; and 
 we would, the refore, daily abound in supplication and 
 prayer. We pray Thee to bestow upon us all things 
 which Thou knowest to be needful for us : to carry u& 
 in safety through this life, nnd to bring us to the end 
 of our days in peace. We pray Thee to protect us in 
 all dangers ; to guide us in all our difficulties ; to siis- 
 tain us in all our temptations and trials ; and to lay upon 
 us no greater burthen than we are able to bear. We 
 pray Thee to support us Avith Thy heavenly grace ; to 
 strengthen our faith ; to animate our hope ; and to en- 
 large our charity. We pray Thee to impress upon us 
 
THIRTEENTH EVENING. 133 
 
 every doctrine of Thy Gospel, and thus to purify our 
 hearts. 
 
 We thank Thee, O Heavenly Father, that, for us 
 sinners, who have wandered from Thy flock, and have 
 all gone out of the Avay, Thou hast provided the bles- 
 sing of salvation. May we resign all our affairs to that 
 merciful God, who, having rescued our souls from 
 destruction, and shown us the path of life, hath prom- 
 ised also, that all things shall work together for good to 
 them who love Him. 
 
 And, while we trust Thee, let us also diligently obey 
 Thee. Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things 
 are honest, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever 
 things are of good report, may we think of these things. 
 Fill us, O Lord, with compassion to our fellow-crea- 
 ures ; even as Thou hast had compassion on us. Give 
 js hearts to deny ourselves ; and to be kind and liberal 
 o others ; always remembering, that it is more blessed 
 to give than to receive. 
 
 We beseech Thee to give us tender consciences, that 
 we may flee from all evil. We desire, as much as is 
 possible in this state of trial, to be kept in paths of 
 safety ; we ask not for wealth, reputation, honour, or 
 prosperity ; but we pray for a calm and peaceful spirit ; 
 for every opportunity of leading a holy life ; and for 
 such circumstances in this world as may be most free 
 from temptation. We pray for Thy preserving grace, 
 for holiness of life, and for eternal salvation at the last. 
 
 Pardon, we now beseech Thee, all the sins of the 
 past day : and grant, that, before we lie down to rest, 
 we may repent sincerely of the evil which we have 
 
 12 
 
134 FOURTEENTH EVENING. 
 
 done ; and, also, of our neglect of the good which we 
 might have done. And we would implore both the 
 pardon of our sins, and the acceptance of our imperfect 
 services, in the name of our only Lord and Saviour, 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 Our Father, <^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, <^c. 
 
 FOURTEENTH EVENING. 
 
 LoRi> God, our Heavenly Father, whose mercies 
 are over all Thy works, and who hast, on this day, 
 supplied our returning wants, we render thanks to Thee 
 for all the bounties of Thy providence ; and we desire 
 now to lie down under a deep sense both of our own 
 unworthiness, and of Thine unspeakable goodness. 
 
 We adore Thee, r>.specially, for the gift of Jesus 
 Christ, Thy Son ; through whom we hope for the 
 pardon of our snis, and the gift of everlasting life. We 
 are all smners in Thy sight ; and are exposed to Thy 
 just condemnation ; but, though our offences have 
 abounded, yet Thy grace hath still more abounded 
 through Jesus Christ. 
 
 Wc desire to confess and lament the sins of the day 
 which is now past. Forgive, O Lord, all our neglige« 
 ces, as well as our more manifest offences. Forgive all 
 our evil thoughts, and words, and works. We would 
 
FOURTEExNTH EVENING. 135 
 
 lament every mis-spent hour, and every neglected op 
 portunity of doing good. We lament our veant of love 
 to Thee our God, and our want of zeal in Thy service 
 We lament, also, the great imperfection of our charity 
 towards those around us. Tliou hast commanded u? 
 to love our neighbour as ourselves : but we are contin 
 ually seeking our own interest ; indulging our own ease ; 
 and consulting our own hiunour. Help us, we pray 
 Thee, to follow the example of our blessed Saviour ; 
 who pleased not Himself; but went about doing good* 
 and hath commanded us continually to deny ourselves, 
 and take up our cross, and follov/ Him. 
 
 We beseech Thee to bless unto us the events of this 
 day. We would remember that all things are directed 
 by Thine unerring wisdom ; and that they shall work 
 together for good to them who love Thee. May any 
 trial which we may this daj^ have experienced, teach 
 us more and more to know ourselves : — may every 
 sorrow wean us from this present world : and may 
 every enjoyment be the means of exciting our gratitude 
 to Thee, the author of all good. May the afflictions of 
 others call forth our Christian sympathy ; and render 
 us abundant in the exercise of our benevolence. 
 
 We pray for Thy blessing on all our friends and 
 relations. Guard them from evil by night and by day; 
 and especially from whatsoever may hurt their souls 
 Establish them in Thy true faith : and make them fruit- 
 ful in good works. Bestow Thy special blessing on 
 the rising generation. 
 
 May the children of this family live in thy fear, and 
 maintain Thy cause in the world. May they recp-i»e 
 
136 FIFTEENTH EVENING. 
 
 the truths taught them into an honest heart, and be ever 
 followers of that which is good. 
 
 [May llie servants of this house bear continually in 
 mind that Thine eye is upon them ; may they be 
 faithful in all things ; and live in peace one with an- 
 other.] 
 
 Bless our Rulers, and country. Give grace to all 
 ministers of Thy Gospel. Have pity on the poor and 
 the afflicted ; and make it the daily business of all our 
 lives to minister lo the sorrows and wants of others, 
 and to abound in every good work. 
 
 We present these our humble and imperfect suppli- 
 cations, in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 Our Father, cf-c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, ^c. 
 
 FIFTEENTH EVENING. 
 
 O Lord God, our Heavenly Father, we beseech 
 Thee now to deliver us from all wandering thoughts, 
 and to enable us to worship Thee in an acceptable 
 manner, through Jesus Christ our Lord 
 
 We pray Thee, O God, to pardon all the sins of this 
 day. We confess, that we have not served Thee as 
 we ought ; but we desire to lament both our negligences 
 and our sins , and we would seriously resolve, that, by 
 
FIFTEENTH EVENING. 137 
 
 Thy grace assisting us, we will endeavour coi.linually 
 to amend our lives, and to w^ilk more conformably to 
 the precepts of Thy holy word. 
 
 Pardon whatever pride or vanity we liave this day 
 indulged ; whatever angry words we have spoken ; and 
 whatever sinful thoughts we have harboured in our 
 minds. Forgive our want of sufficient tenderness of 
 conscience in the performance of those duties in which 
 VvC have been engaged. Pardon, especially, that want 
 of love both to Thee and to our fellow-creatures, which 
 causes us to live so much to ourselves, and to do so 
 little either for the benefit of others, or for Thy glory 
 
 We pray Thee, O Lord, to give us hearts more de- 
 voted to Thee ; and more dead to sin, as well as to all 
 the tlungs of this world. Teach us to know how fraii 
 is our life ; and how short may be the time of our 
 sojourning here ; and how awful may be the account, 
 which we shall have to give of all things done in the 
 body, as soon as we shall be called hence. O let us 
 lie down, night after night, as those who know not 
 wlielher they may not lie down to rise no more. May 
 we repent daily of our sins ; — may we be accepted of 
 Thee through Jesus Christ our Lord : and may we 
 resolve, by Thy grace assisting us, to bring forth all 
 those fruits of righteousness which are by Him to the 
 praise and glory of God. save us from a barren and 
 unfruitful faith ; by which we do but the more misera- 
 bly deceive our own souls. Give us that true peace 
 of mind which they alone possess, who love Thy law: 
 and save us from that hope of the hypocrite, which shall 
 perish when God taketh away his soul. May we be 
 12* 
 
138 FIFTEENTH EVENING. 
 
 living a life of purity, and holiness, of watchfulness, and 
 self-denial, and of diligence in every good work. 
 
 O Lord, take us now under Thy care, both pardon- 
 ing our sins, and accepting our imperfect services on 
 the past day. 
 
 We implore Thy special p-rotection on the children 
 of this family. Save thernfrom the temptations of this 
 vain and evil world. Watch over them during the 
 weakness and inexperience of their youth, and prepare 
 them for the duties to which Thy providence shall call 
 them. 
 
 And bless with us all others who are dear to us ; and 
 make us to lie down in perfect charity with all men. 
 
 We ask every blessing in the name, and through the 
 merits, of the great Mediator and Intercessor, Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. 
 
 Our Father, <^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lardy ^ 
 
SIXTEENTH EVENING. 
 
 O Eternal God, Father of men and angels, who 
 hast established the heavens and the earth in a wonder- 
 ful order, causing day and night to succeed each other : 
 — we make our humble address to Thy divine majesty, 
 begging of Thee mercy and protection, this night and 
 for ever. 
 
 O Lord, pardon all our sins, our light and rash words, 
 the vanity and impiety of our thoughts, our unjust and 
 unkind actions, and whatever we have done amiss this 
 da)'', or at any time before. O God, our souls are 
 troubled through the remembrance of our past trans- 
 gressions : and we are daily exposed, through the frailty 
 and sinfulness of our natures, to every new temptation, 
 which of om'selves we are not able to resist. We, 
 therefore, earnestly beg of Thee to give us a great por- 
 tion of Thy grace ; such as may be sufficient and 
 effectual for the mortification of all our corruptions : 
 that, as we have formerly served sinful desires, so now 
 we may give up ourselves to Thy service, in all the 
 duties of a holy life. 
 
 Teach us to walk always as in Thy presence : and 
 put into our souls great love to Thee, that it may be- 
 come our chief employment to promote Thy glory, and 
 to root out all habits of sin ; so that, in faith and purity, 
 we may wait patiently for the coming of our Lord Jesus. 
 
 Into Thy hands we now commend ourselves : pray- 
 ing Thee so to bless and sanctify our sleep unto us^ 
 that It may be a refreshm^ent unto our wearied bodies ; 
 
140 SIXTEENTH EVENING. 
 
 to enable us the belter to serve Thee. And whether 
 we sleep or wake, live or die, may we be Thy servants. 
 
 We also beseech Thee, O God, to send down Thy 
 blessing on all our dear friends and relations. Bless 
 them in their persons, in their families, and in all their 
 undertakings ; and dispose them to advance Thine 
 honour, and to live to Thy glory. 
 
 Be Thou a father and a friend to the children of 
 this family. Let Thy providence lead them through 
 the dangers, and temptations, and ignorances of their 
 youth, that they may not run into folly, nor give way 
 to any unbridled apjjetite. Be pleased so to order the 
 events of their lives, that, by a good education, and by 
 'prudent counsel, and, by Thy restraining grace, they 
 may be trained up to serve Thee, in the midst of an 
 evil generation ; and, after an useful and holy life 
 may come to a peaceful and happy death ; and may be 
 7nade heirs with Christ in the glories of His heavenly 
 kingdom. 
 
 Look down with an eye of favour on the whole 
 Church of Christ. Have compassion on Thine afflicted 
 servants. Give them increase of faith, and patience, 
 and hope ; and, in Thy good time, give them deliv- 
 erance. 
 
 And, O Thou who wiliest not the death of a sinner, 
 have pity on the multitudes who walk not in obedience 
 to Thy commandments. Turn them from all their sins, 
 so that their souls may be saved in the day of Jesus 
 CHRIST. Support also the weak ; establish the doubt- 
 ful and wavering ; succour the tempted ; and raise up 
 those who are fallen ; and teach us all to have com- 
 
SEVENTEENTH EVENING. 141 
 
 passion on the infirmities of our brethren : and to walk 
 charitably one towards another. 
 
 Hear, O Lord, these and all our prayers, for the sake 
 of Thine only Son Jesus Christ, our Mediator and 
 Redeemer. 
 
 Our Father, ^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, ^c. 
 
 SEVENTEENTH EVENING. 
 
 Almighty, and ever blessed God, who preservest 
 our lives, and sustaincst our health and strength, and 
 mullipliest our comforts and enjoyments, we are met 
 logeiher to praise Thee for the mercies which we have 
 experienced, since we were last assembled to worship 
 Thy hol}'^ name. Thou art the author of all good : — 
 without Thee, we are utterly weak and helpless, as well 
 as miserable. Lord, continue to us Thy gracious 
 care : and preserve us, this night, both in body and soul 
 from every evil. 
 
 We beseech Thee, especially, to grant unto us all the 
 pardon of sin, and a cheerful confidence in Thy favour, 
 through Jesus Christ our Lord. Give us peace 
 through His atoning blood ; and being thus reconciled 
 to Thee our God, may we also be in charity with all 
 men. Take from us, Lord, every angry passion, as 
 well as every tormenting fear of Thy wrath. We be- 
 
142 SEVENTEENTH EVENING. 
 
 seech Thee, also, to dehver us from those anxieties and 
 cares which are too apt to distress our minds. Let us 
 trust Thy gracious piovidence ; and ever commit our- 
 selves and all our concerns to Thee, as to a wise and 
 faithful Creator, and a Father and Friend in Christ. 
 
 Bless us, we pray Thee, to the end of our lives. 
 Support us in all our future trials, — guide us in all our 
 difficulties — strengthen us for the several duties of our 
 stations — sustain us in sorrow, sickness, and adversity ; 
 and, whenever the trials and labours of this mortal life 
 shall have passed, receive us into the haven of ever 
 lasting rest. 
 
 , We beseech Thee to bless our friends and relations 
 Deliver them from all the dangers and sorrows of this 
 evil world ; save them, especially, from sin ; unite ihem 
 with us in the bonds of a common faith ; and make us 
 all members of the same blessed family above. 
 
 Have compassion on the children of this house ^ 
 Jill them ivith the knoiviedge of Thy luill ; and give 
 them grace to serve Thee, tuithout fear, in holiness and 
 righteousness all the days of their lives. 
 
 Have mercy on our President. Direct the councils 
 of this nation. Bless our magistrates. Inspire our 
 clergy with the spirit of true religion. Give to the 
 poor, contentment wiih their lot ; — and to the rich, a 
 spirit of compassion and benevolence. Extend Thy 
 goodness to all mankind. Put an end to war and dis- 
 cord, as well as to vice and superstition ; and send Thy 
 Gospel over the earth, to enlighten those who still sit 
 in darkness, and in the shadow of death. 
 
 These prayers we would humbly present, with one 
 
EIGHTEENTH EVENING. 143 
 
 heart and one mind, at the throne of Thy heavenly 
 grace ; and we beseech Thee to hear and answer 
 them, according to the riches of Thy mercy in Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 Our Father, <^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lordy <^c. 
 
 EIGHTEENTH EVENING. 
 
 O Lord, God Almighty, who hearest the prayera 
 of all who devoutly call upon Thy name, we kneel 
 down to make our supplications unto Thee, this night ; 
 imploring Thee to take us under Thy protection ; and 
 to pardon, also, every sin which we may, this day, have 
 committed against Thee. 
 
 We, at the same time, beseech Thee to impress upon 
 us ihe importance of eternal things. May we be deeply 
 persuaded, through the powerful help of Thy Holy 
 Spirit, that we can never prize our salvation too highly; 
 nor strive too earnestly or unceasingly after it. Teach 
 us to remember, that we are dying creatures, who must 
 soon enter into eternity ; and must either rise to a state 
 of immortal happiness, or sink into everlasting despair. 
 May we never forget that " one thing is needful ;" and 
 may we, comparatively, despise all the tilings of this 
 
144 EIGHTEKNTH EVENING. 
 
 world, while we think of that better part which can 
 never be taken from us. 
 
 And pour out upon us, we beseech Thee, the spirit 
 of wisdom and of a sound mind. Deliver us from every 
 error by which we may be in danger of being deceived 
 Convince us of the evil which hath been hidden in our 
 hearts ; and of the many sins which in our lives we 
 have committed. And do Thou bestow upon us deep 
 repentance for them : and, at the same time, grant us 
 such a lively faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, that we 
 may be comforted by the hope of His pardonmg mercy ; 
 .nd may be encouraged in pursuing our Christian 
 -ourse. 
 
 We would, also, implore Thee, as the God of provi- 
 lence, to suit Thy various dispensations towards us to 
 our several cases and necessities. Send us, we beseech 
 Thee, such circumstances in life, such degrees of health, 
 5uch friends, and such opportunities of instruction, as 
 may most effectually tend to promote the edification 
 and salvation of our souls. May Thy Holy Spirit dwell 
 within us ; and may all things, which befall us, be 
 ordered by Thee for our good. And may we see and 
 adore Thy hand, both in Thy chastisements, and in Thy 
 mercies ; and be enabled always to say, " it is the Lord 
 that giveth, and the Lord that taketh away : — blessed 
 be the name of the Lord." 
 
 We commit ourselves to Thy mercy and protection, 
 for this night ; and we desire to lie down at peace with 
 Thee, and in perfect charily with all men. 
 
 And now, O Lord, if Ave have, this day, mis-spent 
 our time, or have forgotten Thee, or have in any wise 
 
NINETEENTH EVENING. 145 
 
 sinned againpt Thee, we here implore Thy pardon, in 
 the name of Jesus Christ. 
 
 We present these and all our prayers through the 
 merits, and mediation, of the same Blessed Saviour. 
 
 Our Fathe7% <^-c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, <^'C. 
 
 NINETEENTH EVENING. 
 
 O Lord, God Almighty, disposer of all events, and 
 Lord over all Thy creatures, who art great in power, 
 infinite in wisdom, and complete in justice, goodness, 
 and mercy ; we, Thy creatures, made by Thy hand, 
 and upheld by Thy continual power, kneel down in 
 humble adoration of Thy divine majesty, imploring 
 Thee to have compassion upon us, pardoning our sins, 
 and receiving us into Thy favour, for the sake of Jesus 
 Christ, our I^ord. 
 
 We desire now to confess the sins of another day ; 
 and we pray, that we may do it with humble, broken, 
 and contrite hearts. O Lord, we acknowledge our 
 guilt in every neglect of the duties of the day ; in every 
 evil temper which we have indulged ; and in every 
 sinful thought and imagination. We lament our forget- 
 fulness that we are Thy creatures, accountable to Thee 
 for all we do ; seen by Thine all-piercing eye, where- 
 soever we are ; bound, also, by the strongest obligation* 
 
 13 
 
146 NINETEENTH EVENING. 
 
 to pay unto Thee constant gratitude and love, to fulfil 
 Thy will, and to do all to Thy glory. 
 
 We desire to thank Thee for Thy patience and long 
 forbearance with us. Though we continually offend 
 against Thee, Thou still waitest to be gracious ; and 
 though we have been so deaf to the calls of Thy provi- 
 dence, and to the invitations of Thy Gospel, still Thou 
 hast not cast us off: but permittest us, day after da}^ 
 to read Thy sacred word, — to join in social prayer, — 
 and to call upon the God of our salvation. 
 
 We now pray Thee, for Christ's sake, to nave mercy 
 upon us ; to fill our hearts with a sense of Thy good- 
 ness ; and to teach us how to serve Thee henceforth in 
 a more acceptable manner ; that so we may dwell in 
 the light of Thy countenance, and that Thy blessings 
 may descend upon us. Help us to be faithful in all the 
 duties of life to which Thou hast called us. As mas- 
 ters, may we remember that we have a Master in 
 heaven. As servants, may we serve the Lord Christ. 
 As parents, may we be careful to train up our children 
 in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. As chil- 
 dren, may we be obedient to our parents in all things ; 
 proving that this is good and acceptable to the Lord. 
 As citizens, may we obey magistrates, and all who are 
 put in authority over us. And, as members of the same 
 family, may we remember how blessed a thing it is for 
 brethren to dwell together in unity. May we, there- 
 fore, exercise towards each other all patience, and lov 
 ing kindness, and charity ; and endeavour to preserve 
 the unity of the spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righ 
 teousness of life. 
 
TWENTIETH EVENING. 147 
 
 Lord, pardon the sins and negligences of this day; 
 and help us to amend our ways, and to adorn the doc- 
 trine of God our Saviour in all things. 
 
 Let us now lie down in Thy fear ; and, in tne morn- 
 ing, let us again seek Thy favour : and let us ever 
 remember, that Thou, Lord, art with us, by night, and 
 by day ; and that Thou alone causest us to dwell in 
 safety. 
 
 These prayers w^e humbly present to Thy divine 
 majesty, trusting in the name of Jesus Christ our 
 Saviour. 
 
 Our Father, SfC. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, <^c. 
 
 TWENTIETH EVENING. 
 
 Almighty God, Creator of all things, in whose hands 
 are life and death, glory be to Thee for all Thy mer- 
 cies. We thank Thee for Thy preservation of us 
 during the past day ; and for the many bounties of Thy 
 providence. Pardon, O most merciful God, all the 
 offences against Thee which we have committed ; and 
 also our negligence of those duties which Thou hast 
 required. Have mercy on our souls for Jesus Christ's 
 sake ; and vouchsafe unto us the comforts of Thy Holy 
 Spirit. 
 
148 TWENTIETH EVENING. 
 
 Enable us, Lord, to pass our future time on earth, 
 in Thy fear and to Thy glory. Save us from the power 
 of our sins ; and from all our spiritual enemies. O 
 Thou, in whose hand are the wills and affections of 
 men, kindle in us, we pray Thee, all holy desires. Re- 
 press our sinful and corrupt imaginations. Dispose us 
 to love Thy commandments, and to desire Thy prom- 
 ises : strengthen and establish us in every good work ; 
 and grant, that, by Thy constant help and protection, 
 we may so pass through things temporal, as finally not 
 to lose the things eternal. 
 
 Grant, that, amidst the hopes, and fears, — the pleas- 
 ures, and sorrows, — the dangers, and deliverances, — 
 and all the various changes of this mortal life, our hearts 
 may be surely fixed on those joys which arc eternal. 
 O merciful Father, do Thou continually direct and bless 
 us. Give us in this world knowledge of Thy truth, 
 and confidence in Thy mercy ; and, in the world to 
 come, life everlasting, for the sake of Jesus Christ. 
 
 We pray, O Lord, for all our dear friends and rela- 
 tions. Guard them from evil by night and by day. 
 Support, comfort, and assist them ; and bring them to 
 eternal happiness, through the merits of the same 
 blessed Saviour. Have mercy on the young; may 
 thoy be trained up in the nurture and admonition of the 
 Lord ; and thus learn to do Thy will and to walk in 
 Thy fear, all the days of their lives. We commend 
 unto Thee the President of these United States, and all 
 who are in authority. Bless all the ministers of Thy 
 Gospel. Pity the sorrows of the afflicted ; and supply 
 Uie various wants of all Thy creatures. Be gracious to 
 
TWENTY-FIRST EVENING. 149 
 
 our benefactors. We pray Thee, also, to forgive our 
 enemies : and to teach us to exercise kindness and 
 good-will towards all men. 
 
 Take us, now, Lord, under Thy gracious protec- 
 tion ; defend us from all the dangers of this night ; and 
 prepare us, if it please Thee, by the refreshment of 
 sleep, for the duties which Thy providence shall, on the 
 ensuing day, appoint for us. 
 
 Accept, O Lord, these our humble and imperfect 
 supplications, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Sav 
 iour. 
 
 Our Father, <^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, ^. 
 
 TWENTY-FIRST EVENING. 
 
 O Lord God, our heavenly Father, who art our daily 
 protector in all dangers, and the giver of every blessing 
 which we enjoy ; we desire most humbly and heartily 
 to thank Thee for Thy mercies to this family during the 
 day which is now past ; and we pray Thee to preserve 
 us through the night, and to cause Thy peace, at this 
 time, to rest upon us. 
 
 Forgive, we beseech Thee, all our sins ; — ^remember 
 not against us the transgressions of this day, or of our 
 former lives ; but grant unto us true repentance and 
 faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 13* 
 
150 TWENTY-FIRST EVENING. 
 
 Help us daily lo exercise ^odly sorrow for all that 
 we do amiss. Put into us a due sense of our great 
 unvvorthiness, and of our continual guilt ; and vouchsafe 
 unto us the light of Thy reconciled countenance ; and 
 the comforts of Thy Holy Spirit : that, while we lie 
 down to rest, we may enjoy peace in our consciences, 
 and the hope of pardon for all our sins, through Him 
 who hath died for us. • 
 
 And teach us, O Lord, to number our days, and to 
 consider our latter end. Let us remember that we are 
 continually drawing nearer to the grave ; and tiiat we 
 know not how soon it may please Thee to call us hence. 
 Thou, by Whose mercy we have now been spared 
 another day, help us to redeem the time, and to fulfil 
 the work appointed for us, before we give up our ac 
 count to Thee. Let us not neglect, nor delay, to exe- 
 cute any good resolution which, by Thy grace, we may 
 have formed. 
 
 And, especially, may we none of us put off our 
 repentance ; or refuse to hear Thy voice in Thy Gos- 
 pel ; lest death should come upon us unawares. Dis- 
 pose us, every evening, to try and examine our ways 
 by the standard of Thy holy word. Save us from a 
 hardened heait, — from an unawakened conscience, — and 
 from a worldly and unbelieving spirit. May we remem- 
 ber, that, as Thy mercies are sure to the humble and 
 penitent, so also are Thy judgments sure to him who 
 lives and dies in his iniquity. May we, therefore, daily 
 call upon Thee ; and truly humble ourselves before 
 Thee ; and may we so worship Thee and serve Thee 
 in this world, that we may be accepted in the world to 
 
TWENTY-FIRST EVENING. 151 
 
 come, through the single merits of Jesus Christ our 
 Saviour. 
 
 Bless, we pray Thee, all cur relations and friends. 
 Make them partakers of Thy grace, and of all the prom- 
 ises of Thy Gospel. Have mercy on our native land ; 
 and continue to us, if it please Thee, the blessings 
 which we have so long and so unthankfully enjoyed ; 
 and dispose us to employ them to Thy glory. Direct, 
 we beseech Thee, the President of the United States 
 and all others in authority, that they may, above all 
 things, seek Thy honour ; and enlighten us, God, to 
 discharge the Cliristian duties of the stations in which 
 Thou hast severally placed us. 
 
 These and all other things needful for our bodies and 
 our souls, — for our temporal and our eternal interests, 
 we humbly ask in the name of our only Mediator and 
 intercessor Jesus Christ. 
 
 Our Father, 6fC. 
 
 The grace of our Lord itc 
 
TWENTY-SECOND EVENING. 
 
 O Lord, our heavenly Father, we beseech Thee to 
 hear the prayers which we are about to offer up unto 
 Thee. Dehver us from all wandering thoughts ; and 
 help us to remember that we are now in the presence 
 of that God, unto whom all hearts are open, and from 
 whom no secrets are hid. 
 
 O God, we pray Thee to forgive the sins of the past 
 day. We acknowledge that we have, this day, left 
 undone many things which we ought to have done ; and 
 done many things which we ought not to have done. 
 We have trespassed against Thee in thought, word, and 
 deed. And though we have been encouraged by Thy 
 Gospel to repent of our iniquities, and to serve Thee in 
 newness of life, yet we have many times returned to 
 those sins, of which we profess to have repented ; and 
 we have fallen under Thy just wrath and displeasure. 
 
 But we pray Thee, O Thou God of all grace and 
 goodness, for the sake of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, to 
 pardon all that is past ; and to take us, tliis night, into 
 Thy favour, not weighing our merits, but forgiving our 
 offences, and causing us to place our humble trust in 
 Thy mercy. Deliver us, we pray Thee, from the 
 troubles of a guilty conscience, now that we are about 
 to lie down to rest. Save us, Lord, from the dread of 
 dcnih, and from the terrors of the wrath to come. Grant 
 unto us, if it please Thee, a quiet night ; and make us all 
 to be at peace with Thee, through ovu" Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 At the same time w^e beseech Thee, not to suffer that 
 
TWENTY-SECOND EVENING. 153 
 
 we should deceive ourselves by any false hope ; but 
 give us grace, day by day, to examine ourselves with 
 care and diligence, that we may discover all that is 
 amiss in us. Lord, deliver us from continuing in 
 any known sin. Save us from every secret iniquity. 
 May we each of us resolve, before we go to rest this 
 night, to forsake, by Thy grace assisting us, every 
 former transgression ; and may we now devote ourselves 
 entirely to Thy service. 
 
 We further beseech Thee to bless all our relations, 
 friends, and connexions ; take both us and them under 
 Thy protection, this night. And have mercy on all 
 tliose who are in pain, sickness, or any other adversity ; 
 do Thou lighten their troubles, and support them by 
 Thy heavenly grace. 
 
 And accept our thanks for all Thy goodness vouch- 
 safed unto us this day. Praised be the Lord for all 
 His mercies ; for the health and strength, and food and 
 raiment, and comforts of every kind, which we have 
 enjoved. But, above all, we desire to bless Thy name 
 for the gift of ,Tp:s"[JS Christ Thy Son ; for the instruc- 
 tions of Thy sacred word ; and for the hope of ever- 
 lasting life. O Lord, grant unto us grace to receive 
 these, and all Thy blessings, with a thankful heart : and 
 let us show forth Thy praise, not with our lips only, 
 but with our lives. 
 
 Accept, we beseech Thee, our imperfect supplica- 
 tions and prayers, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our 
 only Lord and Saviour. 
 
 Our Father, ^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, <$-c. 
 
TWENTY-THIRD EVENING. 
 
 O Lord God, our heavenly Father, assist us now to 
 draw near unto Thee with reverence : and grant us the 
 Holy Spirit, that we may worship Thee in an accept- 
 able manner, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 
 O Lord God Almigiit^y, we thank Thee for all Thy 
 mercies during the past day : and we are now met 
 together both to praise Thee for Thy goodness, and to 
 commend ourselves to Thy protection. Preserve us 
 from all the dangers of this night ; and grant us, if it 
 please Thee, such quiet and refreshing rest, that we 
 may be prepared for all those duties of life which are 
 before us. 
 
 We also earnestly beseech Thee to pardon the sins 
 which we may, this day, have committed : and to this 
 end, help us now to confess them before Thee, examin- 
 ing ourselves with all impartiality and seriousness. 
 Pardon every evil temper which we have shown this 
 day, and every rash and angry word which we may 
 have spoken. Pardon also any want of strict integrity 
 in our conduct. Pardon whatever insincerity and hy- 
 pocrisy Thy holy eyes may have, this day, seen in any 
 of us. Pardon our want of due watchfulness over our- 
 selves, and our too great readiness to cast blame con- 
 tinually on others. Pardon all our disobedience to Thy 
 laws ; pardon also our want of submission to Thy prov 
 idence, and of zeal in Thy service. 
 
 For these, and all other sins, which we have any of 
 us, either on this day, or at any other time, committed, 
 
TWENTY-THIRD EVENING. 155 
 
 we here unite in imploring mercy, through the name 
 of our most blessed Saviour O Lord, forgive us, for 
 Jesus Christ's sake. Lay not any of our past sins to 
 our charge ; but blot them out from Thy remembrance, 
 for the sake of Him who hath died for us. Give us 
 penitent and contrite hearts , and let us lie down this 
 night in Thy favour. 
 
 We also implore Thy blessings on all our friends and 
 relations. Watch over them, we beseech Thee, by Thy 
 good providence ; teach them all to live in Thy fear, 
 and to hope in Thy mercy. Bless the land in which 
 we live, and especially the faithful followers of Jesus 
 Christ. Have pity on those who are deprived of the 
 comforts which we enjoy ; and are lying down this 
 night in pain, sorrow, and affliction : grant them patience 
 under their sufferings ; and make them at length par- 
 takers of Thy heavenly kingdom. And teach us, O 
 Lord, to have compassion on the afflicted ; and to pray 
 for them : and to do good unto all men ; and to live in 
 peace and harmony one with another. 
 
 We offer up these our imperfect prayers in the name 
 of Jesus Christ, our only Lord and Saviour. 
 
 Our Father, SfC. 
 
 The grace of our Lordy ^c. 
 
FIRST SATURDAY EVENING. 
 
 Lord God, our lieavenly Father, who preservesl 
 us from week to week ; and continually renewest Thy 
 various mercies to us ; — we kneel down this evening, 
 desiring to express our gratitude and love to Thee, who 
 art the Author of our being and the source of all our 
 happiness. 
 
 We thank Thee, that while so many thousands are 
 suffering in misery and want, we are provided with 
 innumerable comforts ; and are passing day after day, 
 in quietness and peace. 
 
 We pray Thee, O Lord, that, as we look back on 
 our days which are passed, and consider our lot in life, 
 we may become more thankful for all that goodness 
 which is showered down upon us ; and more earnest tc 
 employ the opportunities and talents which are given 
 to us, in fulfilling Thy will, and in diminishing, as much 
 as in us lies, both the wickedness and the misery which 
 are in the world. We would lament every neglect and 
 abuse of Thy providential gifts, — of which we may have 
 been guilty in times past : confessing with shame and 
 humiliation of soul, that our talents have not been turned 
 to a religious and profitable use, as they ought to have 
 been. 
 
 We would now, especially, lament our mis-spent 
 time, and neglected opportunities, and all our other sins, 
 daring the past week. How many sinful thoughts have 
 we indulged ! How many hasty and unbecoming words 
 have we uttered ' And how little has it been in our 
 
FIRST SATURDAY EVENING. 157 
 
 minds to exercise every Christian grace ! We lament, 
 also, tiie coldness of om* hearts in our religious duties. 
 Though instructed in the affecting truths of the Gospel, 
 and blessed with the knowledge of Christ crucified for 
 us, we confess, that we have been listless and lukewarm 
 in our worship : too much alienated from the life of 
 God ; and too much occupied with the cares of this 
 world. Though living, O Lord, on Thy continual 
 bounty, kept by Thy power, and indebted to Thy par- 
 doning grace, how little have we laboured to fulfil Thy 
 holy will, and to walk blamelessly in all Thy statutes 
 and commandments. We now present ourselves before 
 Thee, freely confessing these our sins, and imploring 
 Thy forgiveness in the name of Jesus Christ : and we 
 would lie down this night, trusting in His all-sufficient 
 sacrifice on the cross for us : and looking for Thy mercy 
 unto eternal life. 
 
 And we pray, that, being thus prepared by repent- 
 ance and deep humiliation of soul, we may go forth on 
 the ensuing sabbath to hear Thy Gospel, with teachable 
 and submissive minds. May we receive the seed sown 
 into an honest and good heart. May the Gospel of our 
 salvation be the chief desire of our minds, and the con 
 solation of all our hearts. As the sabbath returns, may 
 we welcome the joyful sound ; and bless that God, who 
 not only increases our temporal mercies, but also sets 
 before us the hope of everlasting life. 
 
 And enable each of us, Lord, who are met here 
 together, to set an example of pure and undefiled reli- 
 gion to all who hve around us. 
 
 Have compassion on the young in this family. In- 
 
158 FIRST SATURDAY EVENING. 
 
 dine them to hear Thy word with attention, that llieij 
 may grow wiser every day they live ; and teach ihem 
 to lift up their hearts in prayer, while they kneel down 
 with us to worship Thee. 
 
 Confirm the wavering in the ways of true religion. 
 May they see that godliness has the promise of the life 
 whicli now is, as well as of the life which is to come. 
 May they, also, be convinced of their sins ; and expe- 
 rience what is that peace of conscience, which the Gos- 
 pel brings to the truly humble and penitent. 
 
 To Thee do we now commit ourselves, beseeching 
 Thee to bless every member of this family. May we 
 lie down in the fear of God, in the faith of Christ, and 
 in the comfort of the Holy Spirit ; and may we rise in 
 th'i morning, rejoicing in our Christian privileges, and 
 desiring to employ the Sabbath in Thy service. 
 
 Hear us, O Lord, in these our supplicaUons, for 
 Jesus Christ's sake. 
 
 Our Father, ^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, <^c. 
 
SECOND SATURDAY EVENING. 
 
 O God, who hast appointed a day in which Thou 
 wilt judge the world in righteousness, give us grace so 
 to try and judge ourselves, that we may not be finally 
 and everlastingly condemned at the judgment-seat of 
 Jesus Christ. Dispose us daily to examine both our 
 hearts and lives ; for Thou, O Lord, regardest our 
 secret thoughts. Grant unto us repentance for what- 
 ever sins we have committed — either in thought, word, 
 or deed ; and forgive all our trespasses, both against 
 Thee and against our neighbour, for the sake of Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 We confess that we too easily forget " the prize of 
 our high calling in Christ Jesus." Thou hast sent Thy 
 Son from heaven to save us : — Thou hast invited us by 
 Thy promises, and restrained us by the threatenings 
 of Thy word : — Thou hast set before us " an inherit- 
 ance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not 
 away :" — and Thou hast warned us of " a worm that 
 never dieth, and of a fire which is not quenched." 
 
 We beseech Thee to deliver us from all hardness of 
 heart. May Thy Holy Spirit impress our minds with 
 a deep sense of the importance of eternal things. O 
 may we labour " to make our calling and election sure !" 
 May we be diligent, and hope to the end ; knowing that 
 we must soon put off these mortal bodies, and that the 
 coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is at hand. 
 
 We desire to thank Thee for the advantage of Thy 
 holy sabbaths ; for the gift of Thy sacred word ; and 
 
160 SECOND SATURDAY EVENING. 
 
 for all the means of grace. We have abundant light 
 and knowledge ; — we have " Ime upon line, and precept 
 upon precept." 
 
 Assist us, this night, to look up to Thee with pure 
 and humble minds. Let us commit ourselves to Thy 
 gracious care : sensible of Thy constant presence with 
 us ; and earnestly desiring to partake both of Thy fa- 
 vour here, and of those joys which are at Thy right 
 hand for evermore. And let not the cares and anxieties 
 of life, nor the lawful business in which we have been 
 engaged, prevent our now meditating on a better world. 
 
 We pray Thee to bestow Thy blessing on our dear 
 friends and relations ; on our country ; and on all for 
 whom we are bound to pray. Pity those who are af- 
 flicted, and who shall pass this night in wakefulness and 
 pain. Succour the tempted. Give peace to the trou- 
 bled in miind. Be Thou a Father to the fatherless, and 
 a God of consolation to those who are desolate and 
 oppressed. And give us all grace, that we m.av abound 
 in charity one towards another ; and do good unto all 
 men, according to our Lord's example and command- 
 ment. 
 
 Pardon the imperfection of these our humble suppli- 
 cations ; and grant unto us whatsoever things Thou 
 knowest to be needful for us, for the sake of Jesus 
 Christ our Saviour. 
 
 Our Father, <^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, <^c. 
 
THIRD SATURDAY EVENING. 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, in Avhose favour 
 is life, and in whose presence there are joys for ever ; 
 whom angels and archangels continually adore ; and 
 whom all Thy saints in heaven delight to worship ; we, 
 who are not worthy to take Thy name into our lips, 
 whose foundation is in the dust, whose very natures are 
 unholy, and whose daily and hourly sins testify against 
 us, desire, nevertheless, to join with all the heavenly 
 host, in blessing and praising and magnifying Thy holy 
 name ; imploring, at the same time, that the light 
 of Thy reconciled comitenance may shine upon us ; 
 and that we may be pardoned and accepted in Thy 
 sight. 
 
 O God, we praise Thee, we bless Thee, we glorify 
 Thy name, that Thou hast not left us in our low estate ; 
 but hast sent salvation to us . We adore Thee for Thine 
 infinite love and mercy, that Thou hast not spared Thine 
 only-begotten Son, but hast freely given Him up for us 
 all ; that this Lamb hath been slain, and this atoning 
 sacriUce hath been made for the sins of the world ; and 
 that God is in Christ, reconciling the world unto Him- 
 self, not imputing our trespasses unto us. 
 
 Lord, we lament that we have felt during the past 
 week so little love to Thee, who hast done such great 
 things for us. We lament that earthly things have 
 carried away our thoughts ; and that sin hath had such 
 dominion over us ; and that the Gospel of our salvation 
 14* 
 
162 THIRD SATURDAY EVENING. 
 
 hath had so little power to make us humble and thank- 
 ful, spiritual and heavenly-minded, patient and meek, 
 and diligent in well-doing. 
 
 We now beseech Thee to bless unto us Thy ap- 
 proaching sabbath. May our hearts be warmed wilh 
 love to Thee. May our prayers and our praises ascend 
 with acceptance to the throne of Thy grace. May 
 heavenly things occupy our thought ; and may the ^vorId 
 lessen ni our esteem. 
 
 O God, we lament with shame and sorrow before 
 Thee, that, notwithstanding all the means of grace, we 
 have so little improved our time and talents, — have so 
 little honoured Thee by our lives, — or advanced in true 
 holiness. Day after day, we propose to amend our 
 lives, to repent of ail our past sins, and to forsake them 
 henceforth for ever : — but how soon do our hearts again 
 return to the world ; and our temptations again come 
 upon us, and overpower us ; for our own utmost strength 
 is weakness. 
 
 To Thee, the God of all might and mercy, do we, 
 therefore, now pray for grace to serve Thee. Thy face, 
 O Lord, would we seek ; on Thee do we humbly wait ; 
 beseeching Thee to deliver us from the power and do- 
 minion of our sins, and to make Thy strength perfect 
 in our weakness. 
 
 Make us, henceforth, to be more fervent in prayer,' 
 and more conscious of our entire dependence on Thee, 
 and of our infinite obligations to Thee ; that, so obtain- 
 mg from Thee the efficacious help of Thy Holy Spirit, 
 we may be estabhshed in Thy most holy ways ; and 
 may be carried safely through all the dangers and trials 
 
FOURTH SATURDAY EVENING 163 
 
 of this mortal life ; till at length we shall sit down with 
 Christ in His heavenly kingdom. 
 
 We offer up these our imperfect prayers, in the name 
 of that blessed Mediator. 
 
 Our Father, <^c. 
 
 TTie grace of our Lord, ^c. 
 
 FOURTH SATURDAY EVENING. 
 
 Almighty and most merciful God, unto whom ah 
 hearts are open, and from whom no secrets are hid, we 
 beseech Thee to look down on us. Thy servants, who 
 are here assembled to worship Thy holy name. 
 
 We thank Thee for Thy daily goodness towards us ; 
 for Thou hast made us to abound with the comforts of 
 this life ; and hast delivered us out of many dangers 
 to which we have been exposed. Thou hast also blest 
 us with opportunities of religious luiowledge ; and hast 
 set continually before us the glorious hope of everlast- 
 ing life. Thou hast guided us by Thy providence ; 
 and, after many years of goodness and mercy, hast 
 brought us to the conclusion of another week. 
 
 We desire, O Lord, humbly to confess our manifold 
 sins and trespasses against Thee, We have erred and 
 strayed from Thy ways, like lost sheep. We have 
 often wandered from the right path, through our igno- 
 
164 FOURTH SATURDAY EVENING. 
 
 ranee and folly ; our pride and vanity ; our eager, 
 selfish, and covetous desires ; our blindness, and preju- 
 dice, and hardness of heart. Too often have we called 
 evil, good ; and good, evil ; and shut our eyes against 
 the truth. O Lord, pardon these and all our trans- 
 gressions, for Jesus Christ's sake ; and make us to 
 be, henceforth, more watchful and circumspect, more 
 faithful and upright, more earnest to know our duty, as 
 well as more diligent to perform it. 
 
 Save us from a life of unprofitableness and sloth. 
 Let us remember that Thou wilt require an account 
 of the talents committed to us ; and that to whomso- 
 ever much is given, of them shall much be required. 
 Now, while we have life and a measure of health and 
 strength, let us avail ourselves of those opportunities, 
 which we possess of doing good in this evil world : 
 and let us endeavour to abound more and more in every 
 useful and benevolent work. 
 
 We beseech Thee to prepare our minds for Thy 
 service on the approaching sabbath. Deliver us from 
 all eager thoughts concerning the things of this life ; 
 and enable us on Thy sacred day to give our undivided 
 attention to the great concerns of eternity. May we 
 rsjoice in every return of this holy season ; and may 
 we go forth with willing feet to the worship of Thy 
 sanctuary. 
 
 We commend to Thy gracious care our several 
 friends and relations. Save them from the dangers of 
 this evil world : sanctify them to Thyself; and prepare 
 them both by the events of Thy merciful providence, 
 and by the guidance of Thy good Spirit, for that day, 
 
FIFTH SATURDAY EVENING. 165 
 
 when both wo, and they, shall be summoned to appear 
 before Thee. 
 
 We pray Tliee to have mercy on the poor, the sick, 
 and the afflicted ; and to dispose the hearts of many to 
 have compassion upon them. 
 
 Bless tlie President of these United States and all in 
 authority. Give loisdom to our Houses of Congress. 
 Inspire our clergy with the spirit of true religion ; and 
 unite us all in the bonds of a common faith, one with 
 another. 
 
 Put an end to war and discord throughout the world. 
 Do Thou, who art the God of love, dispose the nations 
 to unity and concord ; and so order all events, that 
 peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and 
 piety, may be established among us for all generations. 
 
 These and all other blessings we humbly ask in the 
 name of Jesus Christ, our only Saviour. 
 
 Our Father, <^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, <^c. 
 
 FIFTH SATURDAY EVENING. 
 
 O Lord, God Almighty, who art our Creator and 
 Preserver, and our daily Benefactor, assist us now to 
 thank Thee, according to Thy will, for the mercies of 
 the past day : enable us to confess our sins, with devout 
 and contrite hearts ; and teach us to pray, with fervent 
 
166 FIFTH SATURDAY LVENING. 
 
 faith, unto Thee for Thy grace and protection, this night 
 and for ever 
 
 We bless Thee, O Lord our God, that thou hast 
 permitted us to go out and come in, this day, in safety; 
 that Thou hast given us health and strength ; hast 
 covered our table with plenty ; and has kept us free 
 'from trouble, and anxiety, and alarm. But we thank 
 Thee, especially, for that knowledge of Thy Gospel, 
 with which Thou hast blest us. We praise Thee for 
 that glorious and rich inheiitance in a life to come, 
 which Thou hast set before us ; and for the gracious 
 promise of the pardon of our sins, through Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 For these Thy various and great gifts we desire to 
 praise and magnify Thy holy name : and we pray that 
 we may never forget the Author of our blessings ; but 
 that, day by day, we may abound in thanksgiving ; and 
 may, also, freely confess unto Thee all our sins, and 
 may cry unto Thee, in deep penitence, for mercy. 
 
 Forgive, O Lord, we now beseech Thee, whatso- 
 ever evil Thou hast seen in us this day. We have 
 done many things which we ought not to have done ; 
 and we fear that we may at present be aware of only a 
 small part of our offences ; for who can tell how oft he 
 offendelh ! 
 
 Lord, cleanse Thou us from our secret faults. 
 
 Pardon, we pray Thee, all the negligences of this 
 day, as well as the more grievous transgressions. Par- 
 don all our wasted time, our idle words, and our negli- 
 gence in our several employments. Pardon, also, our 
 evil tempers, our pride, and our envy ; — our anger and 
 
FIFTH SATURDAY EVENING. 167 
 
 violence of spirit. O forgive whatsoever Thou knowest 
 to have been amiss in us, — Thou, O God, who seest 
 our hearts, and piercest into our most secret thoughts. 
 
 And, in order that we may obtain forgiveness of the 
 sins both of this day and of our hves past, we now 
 plead that name of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, m which 
 we have been taught by Thy Gospel to place all our 
 confidence and hope. Father Almighty, pardon 
 us, for His sake. We confess our guilt ; we desire to 
 be truly sorry for our sins. Accept, therefore, this our 
 repentance, since w^e trust not in ourselves, but only in 
 Jesus Christ our Lord and our God. May His death 
 on the cross atone for our offences : — may His inter- 
 cession with Thee prevail on our behalf. May we be 
 of the number of those, who, renouncing their own 
 righteousness, are saved by His grace. May we be- 
 lieve unfeignedly in His name. May we be justified 
 by this faith : and may we go to rest, night after night, 
 having peace with Thee through Him, our Redeemer. 
 
 We pray, also, that we may lie down in charity with 
 all mankind. May we bear no malice nor hatred to 
 any one in our hearts ; but may we commit ourselves 
 to rest with thoughts of kindness, and forbearance, and 
 meekness, and good-will to all. 
 
 And we pray, also, that while we are commending 
 ourselves to Thy grace and mercy, we may resolve, 
 by Thy help, henceforth to cease from every sin, and 
 to devote ourselves to Thy service. And to this end, 
 may Thy Spirit continually strengthen and assist us. 
 Do Thou, in the ensuing sabbath, put within us good 
 desires, and holy thoughts ; and defend us from alJ 
 
168 FIFTH SATURDAY EVENING. 
 
 kind of evil ; and enable us to worship Thee, accepta- 
 bly, in the services of Thy house. Help us, day by 
 day, to amend our ways. May we grow in grace, and 
 learn more and more how we may walk so as to please 
 Thee ; and thus may we be prepared for the hour of 
 death, and for the day of judgment. 
 
 O Lord, take us now into Thy holy keeping. Let 
 Thy blessing be this night upon us, and upon all be- 
 longing to us. 
 
 We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our only 
 Saviour. Amen. 
 
 Our Father, ^c. 
 
 The grace of our Lord, ^c. 
 
PRAYERS 
 
 ON THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, 
 
 BY THE LATE HENRY THORNTON, ESQ. 
 
 ON THE FIRST COMMANDMENT. 
 
 Lord Almighty, Three Persons and One God, 
 Blessed for ever, teach us devoutly to adore Thine 
 awful Majesty. Enlighten our understandings, and 
 sanctify our affections, and strengthen our faith, that 
 we may see Thee, and love Thee, and trust Thee, ac- 
 cording to Thy word and will. Thou hast made Thy- 
 self known unto us at sundry times and in divers man- 
 ners, by the Law, the Prophets, and the Gospel, as 
 our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. Grant us grace, 
 we beseech Thee, to live in the perpetual sense of 
 Thy Presence, and of our continued obligations to 
 Thee, and of our entire dependence upon Thee. 
 Enable us to retain Thee ever in our knowledge ; and 
 give us not over to a reprobate mind : but so reveal 
 Thyself to us, by Thy Blessed Spirit, that, in all our 
 thoughts, and words, and actions, we may glorify Thee 
 our God, and be thankful. 
 
 Thankful we ought to be : — make us thankful for 
 all Thy gifts in Providence and in Grace ; since all 
 are Thine : and, above all other blessings, grant us, 
 God, a grateful heart, ever looking up to Thee in 
 faith and love, and desiring to employ to Thy glory all 
 the talents of the stewardship which Thou hast com- 
 mitted to us. 
 
 Long have other lords had dominion over us; and 
 we have served the world, and the flesh, and the Devil. 
 Day by day, we have offended against JThee ; and 
 have indulged evil inclinations, and have followed the 
 
 15 
 
170 PRAYERS ON THE 
 
 ways, and earned the wages, of sin. Grant, that the 
 time past of our lives may suffice for these things ; 
 and that, henceforth and for ever, we may flee from 
 them ; and may cast down all the idols of our hearts, 
 and may never again bow down to them ; but may 
 take up our cross, and follow Thee. 
 
 And in order that the knowledge of Thy will may 
 always be diffused in the world, bless, we pray Thee, 
 the Holy Catholic Church, which Thou hast appoint- 
 ed to be a witness and keeper of Thy Holy Word ; 
 and, especially, bless that pure and reformed branch 
 established in these realms : — and, that there may 
 never be wanted a fit supply of persons qualified to 
 promote Thy glory in every station of society among 
 us, bless, we beseech Thee, the Universities and all 
 other seminaries of religious learning. Bless, also, all 
 those who are labouring, whether as Bishops or as 
 Missionaries, to extend Thy kingdom in distant or in 
 foreign lands. And grant, that, in Thy good time, 
 and through the single merits of our Lord and Saviour, 
 all Avho now name His name on earth, and all who 
 shall hereafter believe on Him, may be united in Thy 
 Blessed Presence for ever. Lord, hasten that time, 
 and prepare us for it. 
 
 Enable us now and ever to feel the solemn obliga- 
 tiop of prayer. Worms of the earth, we approach the 
 Lord Jehovah : — creatures, we approach our Creator : 
 — sinners, we approach our Judge : yet are permitted, 
 and encouraged, to remember, that this Judge, for our 
 sakes, took our nature upon Him ; and in our flesh 
 died for us : — and while on earth, taught and com- 
 manded His people always, in His own words, to pray, 
 and to say, — 
 
 Our Fatpier, &c. 
 
 The Grace of our Lord, &c. 
 
TEN COMMANDMENTS. 171 
 
 ON THE SECOND COMMANDMENT. 
 
 LoEi) God Almighty, who hast described Thyself 
 as a jealous God not willing- to give Thine honour to 
 another, teach us to worship Thee with a pure and 
 holy service. Enable us always to remember that 
 Thou art a Spirit, and that Thou requires! them, 
 who worship Thee, to worship Thee in spirit and in 
 truth. Enable us always to remember that Thou art 
 love : and that Thou requirest the affections of the 
 creatures whom Thou hast made. 
 
 Grant to us, Lord, we beseech Thee, such a 
 measure of Thy grace, that we may never mock Thee 
 by the mere forms of worship, while our hearts are 
 far from Thee : but may we live in prayer, and bear 
 about with us continually an awful sense of Thy pres- 
 ence ; and whether we eat, or drink, or whatever 
 we do, may we do all to Thy glory. 
 
 Enlighten us that we may see the evil of our past 
 ways ; and strengthen us that we may cast away every 
 idol of this world. May we hate the service of sin; 
 and for ever renounce every evil inclination, which, 
 contrary to Thy command and to our Christian profes- 
 sion, we may hitherto have retained and cherished. 
 
 And teach us to thank Thee with our whole hearts 
 for the knowledge of Thy will, and the precepts and 
 promises of Thy Gospel. May we ever remember — 
 when we behold the state of the world around us, and 
 consider our own happier privileges — that of him to 
 whom rpuch is given, shall much be required. Thou 
 hast placed us in the midst of light and knowledg-e ; 
 and hast given to us continual opportunities of serving 
 Thee, according to Thy holy word. If then the light 
 which is in us be darkness, how great is that darkness ! 
 
172 PRAYERS ON THE 
 
 Grant, Blessed Spirit, that our hearts may oe 
 renewed by Thy Grace, so that we may feel our bless- 
 ings and our duties ; and may show forth our gratitude 
 to Thee for our own portion — by diffusing to others also, 
 through our example and our influence, the light and 
 the privileges which Thou hast entrusted to us. Teach 
 us ever to know, that while, in ourselves, we can do 
 nothing, we can do all things through Christ that 
 strengtheneth us. 
 
 Enable us, then, Lord Jesus, to extend in the 
 world, by our life and conversation, and by all the 
 means committed to us, the knowledge of Thy truth. 
 Bless the labours of those, who, more especially in 
 heathen lands, are endeavouring to enlarge Thy king- 
 dom. Bring home to Thy flock all Jews, Turks, in- 
 fidels, and heretics ; and take from them all ignorance, 
 hardness of heart, and contempt of Thy word ; and 
 grant that they and we may become one fold, under 
 Thyself the One Shepherd. 
 
 These blessings for ourselves, and for all whom we 
 are bound to remember in our prayers, we humbly 
 ask, Father Almighty, in the name of our only 
 Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 Our Father, &c. 
 
 The Grace of our Lord, &c. 
 
 ON THE THIRD COMMANDMENT. 
 
 Lord Almighty, help us to approach Thee with 
 the deepest reverence ; and in prayer, and ij^ praise, 
 and in thanksgiving, to feel the solemn obligation of 
 calling upon Thy name. Grant, that we may not 
 mock Thee by taking it in vain by a cold and formal 
 lip-service ; but enable us by Thy Grace to pray with 
 
TEN COMMANDMENTS. 173 
 
 the spirit and to pray with the understanding ; that so 
 our sacrifice may be accepted, and our supplications 
 may be hallowed before Thee. 
 
 And while we dread, lest we should unworthily, and 
 carelessly, and hypocritically draw near to Thee in 
 prayer, teach us also with watchfulness and anxiety to 
 avoid every approach to levity and profaneness in our 
 daily course of life ; and habitually to cultivate truth 
 and purity and sobermindedness in our conversation. 
 Enable us to keep our hearts diligently ; and thus to 
 keep our tongues from lying and slandering ; from ir- 
 reverent talking, from foolish jesting, and from blas- 
 phemy. And if, in Thy good Providence, the temp- 
 tations of some of these sins should not assault us so 
 much or so frequently, as they assault other men our 
 fellows, may we labour, more and more, to show forth, 
 in meekness and in charity throughout our whole con- 
 duct, the seriousness and holiness which become our 
 Christian profession. Thou requires! us to honour 
 Th^e in our hearts and lives ; and Thou hast gracious- 
 ly promised, that them, who honour Thee, Thou wilt 
 honour. Enlighten us by Thy Grace, we beseech 
 Thee ; and teach us hourly to recollect, that — alike 
 in our thoughts, and in our conduct ; in our conversa- 
 tion and in our actions ; — we are responsible to Thee : 
 and that not only for the outward deeds of the body, 
 but for the idle words of the lips, Thou wilt call us all 
 to account in the Day of Judgment. Help us, 
 Lord, in time to repent ; and in time to flee from Thy 
 wrath — to Thy mercy : for who can abide Thy coming, 
 or stand before Thy appearing ? We desire now to 
 confess with meek contrition our past trangressions ; 
 we acknowledge with deep humility our present weak- 
 ness ; — our only hope and our only strength are in 
 Thee. 
 
 15* 
 
174 PRAYERS ON THE 
 
 We beseech Thee always to guide and govern our 
 hearts by Thy Blessed Spirit ; and thus to enable us to 
 regulate our tempers, and thus to hallow the workings 
 of our minds, and thus to bridle our tongues, so that in 
 thought and word as well as in deed, we may be gen- 
 tle and watchful, holy and harmless before Thee, — 
 doing all to Thy Glory, Father Almighty, in the 
 name of the Lord Jesus ; — at the same time, deeply 
 feeling, that without Him we can do nothing; and 
 that, when we have done all, we are unprofitable ser- 
 vants ; and that our refuge and salvation are in Him 
 alone. For His sake, O Lord, and in His words, hear 
 our prayer ; 
 
 Our Father, &c. 
 
 The Grace of our Lord, &c. 
 
 ON THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT. 
 
 Lord Almighty, who, as on the Sabbath, didst 
 rest from Thy labours, and didst command us to keep 
 one day in seven holy in remembrance thereof for 
 ever, give us grace without doubting to hallow the 
 Lord's Day always before Thee, and to acknowledge 
 the wisdom and the mercy of this Thy commandment. 
 
 Teach us to devote the Day, not grudgingly, or of 
 necessity, to Thy service ; but cheerfully, and happi- 
 ly; and enable us by Thy Holy Spirit to feel, that, 
 while it is a blessing to our wearied bodies, it is also a 
 privilege to our immortal souls. May we be watchful 
 of the opportunities of instruction which it affords to 
 ourselves, and considerate of the opportunities of rest, 
 also, which it may afford to others. 
 
 And may we feel, not only that the day is separate 
 as a day of rest from common uses, but that it is set 
 
TEN COMMANDMENTS. 175 
 
 apart as a day of prayer and praise, of meditation and 
 contrition, of public, social, and secret devotion — to all 
 Thy Church, in all countries. 
 
 Teach us, then, Lord, to abstain from all con- 
 formity to the sinful levity with which the duties and 
 the privileges of the day are often profaned. May it 
 be our delight to serve Thee in Thy House of Prayer ; 
 and to withdraw for a season from the world, that so 
 we may be taught and reminded that this world is not 
 our home ; that here we have no abiding place ; that 
 we are strangers and pilgrims, who have professed to 
 seek an heavenly inheritance, — " a city whose builder 
 and maker is God." 
 
 Blessed Jesus, grant us to be in the Spirit on the 
 Lord's Day. May our supplications and our confes- 
 sions, our prayers and our praises, unite with those of 
 Thy faithful people in all nations and languages as 
 the Day returns : may the frame of our minds be on 
 that Day always more and more conformed to Thy 
 will ; and thus growing into the image of our L®rd, 
 and feeling an increasing delight in Thy service, and 
 throwing off the chains of sin, and of Satan, may we 
 rise to the full liberty of the children of God; and be 
 fitted. Sabbath after Sabbath, as we advance in age, 
 for the enjoyment of an eternal Sabbath in Thy Pres- 
 ence in Heaven. 
 
 And, to this end, grant that we may have, day by 
 day, a reverent sense of Thy Presence on earth : and 
 may feel a growing comfort in the thought, that Thou 
 art always nigh unto us : and thus may every day be 
 Thy day ; and our whole souls and bodies be Thine 
 for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 
 Our Father, &c. 
 
 The Grace of our Lord, &c 
 
176 PRAYERS ON THE 
 
 ON THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT. 
 
 O Lord Almighty, teach us to reverence Thee 
 above all things, as our Father which art in Heaven ; 
 and, in obedience to Thy will, to discharge all the du- 
 ties, which Thou hast required of us, towards the 
 earthly superiors, relations, and friends, with whom 
 Thy Providence hath surrounded us. 
 
 Enlighten our understandings that we may see, and 
 sanctify our hearts that we may feel, that our duty is 
 ever our interest ; and that, while all Thy command- 
 ments are profitable to those who obey them. Thou 
 hast, in Thine infinite mercy, been pleased to give a 
 special honour to this Thy first Commandment with 
 promise ; and hast thus directed us to look to the 
 earthly blessings which follow obedience, as well as to 
 the glorious recompense which Thou hast prepared 
 for Thy people in the world to come. But while we 
 freely trust Thee, and fully desire to obey Thee, and 
 look forward with humble confidence to the rewards 
 of obedience, enable us, likewise, to feel, that the 
 will to serve Thee, and the power to serve Thee, as 
 well as the reward of serving Thee, are all alike Thy 
 gifts ; and that we can do nothing good without Thee. 
 
 We beseech Thee to make us watchful and diligent 
 in the fulfilment of every relative duty : — to our rulers, 
 and to all magistrates ; to all our spiritual pastors, 
 and to all our personal and family connexions. Grant 
 that we may always honour and obey all who are 
 placed over us by Thy good Providence ; and may 
 pray for them continually. Guard them, O King of 
 Kings, from all dangers, temporal and spiritual ; en- 
 lighten them, that they may seek, first, their own sal- 
 vation ; and, then, the good of Thy people committed 
 
TEN COMMANDMENTS. 177 
 
 to them. Give wisdom to our counsellors ; and grant 
 them grace to employ their influence to the promotion 
 of Thy glory in the good of Thy Church. 
 
 Bless all the bishops and pastors of Thy flock; and 
 give to us the willing ear, and the cheerful heart, that, 
 in teachableness and in obedience, wc may maintain 
 the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace ; serving 
 Thee humbly and holily in that pure and reformed 
 branch of Thy universal Church, of which we are 
 members. 
 
 Grant us grace, also, to discharge faithfully and af- 
 fectionately all our duties in social and domestic life, 
 according to the various relations, to which we may, 
 each of us, have been called; and to fulfil all those 
 duties as in Thy sight, — fearing Thee, and obeying 
 Thee in love. 
 
 These and all things needful for our bodies and our 
 souls, for our temporal and our eternal interests, we 
 ask in the name of Jesus Christ. 
 
 Our Father, &c. 
 
 The Grace of our Lord, &c. 
 
 ON THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT. 
 
 Lord, who hast taught us, that he who hateth his 
 brother without a cause is a murderer ; that no mur- 
 derer hath eternal life abiding in him ; and that love 
 is the fulfilling of the law; — enable us by Tby Grace, 
 to govern our hearts and regulate our tempers accord- 
 ing to the perfect rule of charity. May we ever feel, 
 that the indulgence of evil in small things is the most 
 fatal snare of Satan : that an unrestrained look may 
 lead to adultery ; and an unrestrained emoti::)n of anger 
 may lead to murder. May Tby Blessed Spirit, then, 
 
178 PRAYERS ON THE 
 
 rescue us from the beginnings of sin ; and pour into 
 our minds such love to Thee, — and such love, for Thy 
 sake, to all our fellow-creatures, — that no place may 
 be found in us for those temptations of malice and un- 
 charitableness, from which the lastguilty deed of mur- 
 der may proceed. Make us meek and gentle and kind 
 and forgiving : — in honour preferring one another ; not 
 seeking our own ; not easily provoked ; thinking no 
 evil. may we follow the spirit of our Blessed Mas- 
 ter, who, when he was reviled, reviled not again ; but 
 went about doing good ; and who taught us, after His 
 example, to love our enemies ; to bless them that per- 
 secute us, and to overcome evil with good : and, when- 
 ever the pride and selfishness of our own sinful nature 
 shall resent these lessons, and shall rouse us to wrath 
 and malice, subdue, we beseech Thee, God, by the 
 working of Thy power, that rising of anger, which, if 
 indulged, might make us, in heart, murderers before 
 Thee. 
 
 May we ever remember how much we ourselves sin 
 in all Ave do; and how much, therefore, sve have to 
 be forgiven by Thee. If, then. Thou shouldest be ex- 
 treme to mark what is done amiss, Lord, who shall 
 stand 7 We have much, indeed, to be forgiven by 
 our neighbour, also. grant us grace meekly to ac- 
 knowledge these our offences ; — our sins before Thee, 
 and our faults towards our fellows; and, while we ask 
 forgiveness for ourselves, cheerfully to forgive others. 
 And may Ave labour to do good to them, not only 
 Avorking no ill to our neighbours, but seeking their 
 welfare, and continually bearing about Avith us a spirit 
 of compassion ready to relieve the Avants of others; 
 and a spirit of love ready to forgiA^e their AvroHg-doing; 
 even as we ourselves hope to be forgiven. 
 
 And may the awful thought recur to our consciences, 
 
TEN C*MANDMENTS. 179 
 
 that we may — by our example in evil, or by our in- 
 fluence towards evil, or by our neglect of doing the 
 good which our duty towards our neighbour required U3 
 to do — have been guilty of endangering his soul. 
 From such a woe, good Lord, deliver us ; and lay not 
 to our charge the sins of those, whose souls we may 
 thus have hazarded. Have mercy upon us, God, 
 and blot out from the book of Thy remembrance all 
 our offences, all our ignorances, and all our sins ; and 
 may the Grace of Thy Holy Spirit watch over us for 
 good ; and teach us, in the brotherhood of Christ, to 
 love all Thy creatures for His sake. Amen. 
 
 Our Father, &c. 
 
 The Grace of our Lord, &c. 
 
 ON THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT. 
 
 O Lord God Almighty, who hast taught us, that 
 without holiness no man shall see Thee, and hast 
 commanded us to be holy as Thou art liDly, enable us 
 now and for ever to overcome all corrupt affections ; 
 and, being renewed and sanctified by Thy Grace, to 
 serve Thee in body, soul, and spirit. 
 
 Enable us ever to remember that we carry about an 
 evil heart and a frail and feeble nature ; that we are 
 daily compassed with infirmities ; and that we have to 
 struggle with temptations from within and from with- 
 out. Teach us, therefore, to make a covenant with 
 our eyes that they look not on any thing which may 
 lead us to evil: — teach us to make a covenant with 
 our imaginations that they abstain from all approach 
 to a thought of sin : — teach us habitually to feel and 
 fear our own weakness, and to tremble, lest, by yield- 
 'ng to the least indulgence in unlawful things, we 
 
180 PRAYERS of 
 
 THE 
 
 should grieve Thy Blessed Spirit ; and lest, finally 
 losing the power of resistance, we should be drawn 
 into everlasting destruction. 
 
 O, Blessed Jesus, save us from this awful state. 
 Thou, God, seest us now : Thou seest us always. 
 Thou knowest, whether we are deceiving ourselves, 
 and mocking Thee ; or whether we really and solemn- 
 ly desire to be saved from the power of Satan ; and to 
 be rendered for ever holy and happy beings before 
 Thee. Grant, that we may never speak peace to our- 
 selves, when there is no peace ; or indulge the false 
 hope that we have attained the purity which Thou re- 
 quirest — by abstaining, if we have abstained, from the 
 grosser sins of the flesh. Enlighten us to see, that 
 Thou commandest us to be pure in heart if we hope 
 to see Thee ; and convince us, by Thy Holy Spirit, 
 that the pleasures of sin are but for a season ; — that, 
 even in this world, those pleasures lead to death ; or 
 are fleeting, and unworthy of immortal natures ; and 
 that, in the world to come, they will render us for ever 
 the miserable slaves of the Devil. 
 
 O Father of purity, enable us to feel, that even a 
 look may be sin; and that sin — unrepented of — is 
 death. Grant us grace, then, to avoid every thought, 
 word, and action, which is displeasing to Thy holy 
 nature ; and to crucify the flesh with its affections 
 and lusts. Enable us to keep under our bodies, 
 and to bring them into subjection ; and to abstain 
 from all appearance of evil ; and may our hearts be 
 a fit habitation for Thy Blessed Spirit, this day and 
 for ever. 
 
 Blessed Spirit, enter, then, into those hearts; and 
 evermore dwell in them: and guard us, and all Thy 
 people, and all for whom we are bound to pray, from 
 every spiritual and every fleshly wickedness ; and 
 
TEN COMMANDMENTS. 181 
 
 make us Thine now and for ever, for the sake of Jesus 
 Christ, Amen. 
 
 Our Father, &c. 
 
 The Grace of our Lord, &c. 
 
 ON THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT. 
 
 Lord God, from whom alone proceed all the good 
 things which we enjoy, who hast determined the 
 bounds of our habitation, and hast allotted to each of 
 us such a share of Thy gifts as Thou seest best for us, 
 grant us, we beseech Thee, the further and greater 
 blessing — to receive our portion at Thy hands, wheth- 
 er it be much or little, not only with contentment, but 
 with gratitude. We are unworthy, O Lord, of the 
 least of all Thy mercies. Enable us to employ them 
 heartily in Thy service ; and to do good in our gener- 
 ation with the talents which Thou hast entrusted to 
 us. Grant that we may be ever watchful and ever 
 active ; continually alive to the unseen realities of 
 Heaven and Hell; and mortifying all the corrupt af- 
 fections of earth ; — not seeking the wealth of this world 
 as a good; — but receiving it, if, in the course of Thy 
 Providence, it shall be committed to us, reverently as 
 a trust. 
 
 Enlighten our understandings, and sanctify our de- 
 sires, so that we may never seek that which Thou hast 
 forbidden; or injure our neighbour in respect to that 
 which Thou hast bestowed upon him. May we be 
 guarded from that inordinate selfishness, which our 
 fallen nature too often exhibits ; and may we do unto 
 all men whatsoever we would that they should do 
 unto us. 
 
 And lest we should yield to great sins ; enable us, O 
 16 
 
182 PRAYERS ON THE 
 
 God, to avoid the least sins ; and to watch against 
 every approach to evil. Grant us grace not only to 
 keep our hands from picking and stealing, but to keep 
 our hearts, also, from every inordinate desire. Pour 
 down upon us, we beseech Thee, Thy Holy Spirit, thai 
 we may never deceive ourselves ; or allow ourselves 
 in any false way : — speaking peace to ourselves when 
 there is no peace ; and either secretly, or openly, 
 wronging our neighbour by the indulgence of any 
 covetous desire, and the exercise of any selfish and 
 covetous act. Grant us grace to render to all their 
 dues ; tribute, to whom tribute is due ; custom, to 
 whom custom. And give us tender consciences, 
 God, that we may not defraud our brother m any mat- 
 ter; but may ever act towards him and towards Thee, 
 as those who are hereafter to give account before Thine 
 awful Throne. Make us ever mindful that the time 
 is coming when the gold and silver of this world will 
 be cankered ; and when at last, if not even now, we 
 shall see the folly and the guilt of heaping up ungod- 
 ly treasure together for the last days. We brought 
 nothing into the world ; and we shall carry nothing 
 out of it : and the only question then will be, whether 
 we have been faithful in that stewardship which Thy 
 good Providence may have entrusted to us. Enable 
 us, O Lord, to see that Thy grace only can make us 
 thus faithful : and enable us also always to feel, that, 
 whatever else Thou mayest grant, or withhold. Thou 
 wilt always give the Holy Spirit to them who ask it. 
 Pour out, then, upon us, Father Almighty, this gift 
 of the Holy Ghost, for the sake of our only Mediator 
 and Advocate, Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
 Our Father, &c. 
 
 The Grace of our Lord, &c. 
 
TEN COMMANDMENTS. 183 
 
 ON THE NINTH COMMANDMENT. 
 
 God, who hast taiig-ht ns that all our doings with- 
 out charity are nothing worth, and that love is the ful- 
 filling of the Law, pour out into our hearts Thy Bless- 
 ed Spirit, that we may daily be renewed in the exer- 
 cise of every Christian grace towards Thee and to- 
 wards our neighbour. Teach us to love Thee above 
 all things, and to love our neighbour as ourselves. 
 
 Thou, who art the God of all truth and holiness,*" 
 strengthen us that we may flee from every snare of 
 the Devil, who is the father of lies : and enlighten 
 and direct us, that we may always speak truth to our 
 neighbour ; and that, while we avoid all malice and 
 deceit towards him, we may likewise avoid all hypoc- 
 risy towards Thee. 
 
 Shed the Spirit of Wisdom from above into our 
 souls, that we may be pure and peaceable, gentle and 
 easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits. 
 And while we are taught by Thy holy Apostle, that 
 the tongue can no man tame, if he trust to his own 
 strength or wisdom ; do thou, God, enable us to 
 bridle it and the whole body. Grant us grace, that 
 we may not think it enough to avoid falsehood when 
 we call upon Thee solemnly to listen to us ; but may 
 habitually watch against all those temptations and mo- 
 tions which may lead us in smaller things to violate 
 truth. Keep us from inconsiderate ness, and levity, 
 and vanity ; which may induce us to injure our fellow- 
 creatures for our own pleasure : guard us from the 
 deeper sins of malice and envy; which may induce 
 us to injure him by deliberate falsehood. 
 
 In all our thoughts may we have Thee, Blessed 
 Jesus, ever before vs : and in all our communications 
 
184 PRAYERS ON THE 
 
 with the world around us, may we desire to act as in 
 Thy presence. While we deal charitably and truly 
 with our neighbour, may we still be strengthened unto 
 holy boldness in Thy sight : — not ashamed of Thee 
 and of Thy word, when the cause of truth shall re- 
 quire us to speak out ; but ever ready to maintain right 
 against wrong ; and to contend earnestly for the faith ; 
 and — in Thy name — when Thou shalt require us — to 
 go forth agamst all gainsay ers. Yet teach us ever, in 
 Thine own Spirit, to prefer, where we may, a lowly 
 tind charitable intercourse with all men : — at all times 
 speaking the truth in love : and whenever Thine hon- 
 our shall require it, speaking that truth, if it be 
 against our neighbour, simply because Thine honour 
 doth require it. 
 
 Finally, grant us grace ever to bless Thee with our 
 tongues; and, still more, in our hearts and lives, as 
 well as with our lips, to show forth Thy praise. 
 
 Our Father, &c. 
 
 The Grace of our Lord, &c. 
 
 / 
 
 ON THE TENTH COMMANDMENT. 
 
 Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, 
 and from whom no secret desire can be concealed, 
 grant us, we beseech Thee, such a measure of Thy 
 Blessed Spirit, that we may both discern Thy will, and 
 faithfully perform it. 
 
 Thou hast commanded us in Thy word not merely 
 to abstain from grosser sins, from adultery, and from 
 theft; but to avoid every thought and wish of "evil, 
 and ever^ covetous inclination. Grant us grace ever 
 to remember that Thou thus requirest purity and self- 
 denial and holiness in the inner man ; and not only 
 
\ 
 
 TEN COMMANDMENTS. 185 
 
 the outward service of our lips and members, but the 
 absence of every sinful imagination. Enable us, 
 then, we implore Thee, to cut off the right hand, and 
 to pluck out the right eye, which may cause us to of- 
 fend : and teach us to restrain every motion of sin in 
 our souls. 
 
 Enable us, in respect to the things of this world, 
 to be contented and thankful ; in prosperity, to be 
 meek and humble ; in adversity, to be resigned and 
 cheerful : and, in every vicissitude of life, to seek hot 
 our own will, but Thy will, God. 
 
 Teach us, day by day, to watch more and more the 
 state of our heart, for out of it are the issues of life. 
 How easily may we deceive our neighbours by our 
 outward conduct and profession ! how fatally may we 
 deceive ourselves ! but Thou art not deceived : and in 
 all our evil thoughts, in all our covetous desires, in all 
 the imaginations of sin, which we have indulged, 
 Thine eye hath been upon us. May the awful truth 
 be henceforth always present in our souls. Thou, O 
 God, seest us : Thou hast known all the secret trans- 
 gressions of the heart ; and Thou wilt hereafter bring 
 our desires, as well as our works, into judgment, un- 
 less they are repented of, and forsaken, and blotted 
 out by the blood of Jesus. 
 
 Pardon, God, for His sake, all in our past lives 
 which hath been displeasing to Thee : strengthen us 
 in the days which may yet be to come ; and grant us 
 wisdom and grace to abstain from every thought of 
 evil. 
 
 And while we confess our past offences, and feel 
 
 and deplore our present weakness, and acknowledge 
 
 that our only help and our only strength are in Thee, 
 
 teach us to thank Thee with our whole hearts for Thy 
 
 ong-suffering Providence, which still, in the midst of 
 
 16* 
 
186 PRAYERS ON THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. 
 
 all our transgressions, hath surrounded us with so 
 many mercies of this life — with the means of grace, 
 and with the hope of glory, 
 
 Grant, Almighty God, that we may shov/ forth our 
 sense of Thy goodness by dedicating ourselves anew 
 to Thy service. Enable us to take up our cross, and 
 to follow Thee : — to abstain from every sin, and to 
 flee from every snare ; to regulate every desire of our 
 minds ; and to let our light so shine forth in our lives, 
 that others — seeing our good works — may, with us, 
 glorify Thee, through whose Grace alone those good 
 works proceed. 
 
 We ask every blessing in the name of Jesus Christ j 
 and in His words desire to conclude our prayers • 
 
 Our Father, &c. 
 
 The Grace of our Lord, &c. 
 
 END OF PRATERS OX THE T£N COMMANDMCMT*. 
 
[FROM THE NEW MANUAL.] 
 
 PRATERS TO BK USED BY ONE OR MORE IN A FAMILY, IN THE 
 PRESENCE OF A SICK PERSON ; AND WHICH MAY BE ALSO USED 
 BY A PERSON IN PRIVATE, IN BEHALF OF SICK FRIENDS ; AND 
 BE ADDED TO THE MORNING AND EVENING PRAYERS IN THE 
 FAMILY. 
 
 [When the Prayers are used by one person only, he must use T instead 
 of toe ; me instead of us. The words him, he, his, are printed ia 
 italics, that if the sick person be of the other sex, him and his may be 
 more readily changed for her, he for s/;f.] 
 
 I. Almighty God, the help of all that put their 
 trust in Thee, the relief of the needy, the sovereign 
 good of all mankind ; hear the prayers we now offer 
 unto Thy Divine Majesty in behalf of Thy servant, 
 now lying upon the bed of sickness. Look upon Aim, 
 we pray Thee, with Thy tenderest pity and compas- 
 sion, and be Thou gracious and favorable unto Aim, 
 according to the necessity of his case, and to the mul- 
 titude of Thy tender mercies in Christ Jesus. 
 
 In submission to Thy most wise disposal of things, 
 we beseech Thee to abate his distemper, to ease his 
 pains, and restore Aim, in Thy due time, to his former 
 health and strength, that he may have a longer time 
 to work out his salvation, and be more useful in his 
 station, and do more good in his generation : but how- 
 ever Thou shalt be pleased to deal with him as to the 
 concern of his body, yet, O Lord, let his soul be ever 
 precious in Thy sight ; wash and cleanse it, we beseech 
 Thee, in the blood of Thy dear Son, that it may be 
 delivered from all the defilements it hath contracted 
 in this sinful life, and be presented pure and spotless 
 before the throne of grace. 
 
 ! give him a right discerning of the things which 
 
188 PRAYERS FOR THE SICK. 
 
 belong to his peace, and let them never be hid from 
 his eyes. 
 
 Enable him to finish the great work he has to do; 
 give him a true and unfeigned repentance of all his 
 sins ; and a firm reliance on Thy gracious promises ; 
 and grant that he may find that, peace of God which 
 passes all understanding. 
 
 Fit him,, O Lord, for living and dying, and for what- 
 ever, in Thy wise and righteous providence. Thou hast 
 designed for him. And if Thou hast determined that 
 this sickness shall be a sickness unto death, and this 
 visitation his last visitation, prepare him, merciful 
 God, by Thy grace, for Thy blessed self, and grant 
 him a safe and comfortable passage out of this world 
 to that which is infinitely better, through the merits 
 and mediation of Thy blessed Son, our only Saviour 
 Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
 O God, the Father of heaven, 
 
 Have mercy upon him, 
 
 Keep and defend him. 
 O God the Son, Redeemer of the world, 
 
 Save him, and deliver him, 
 
 Have mercy upon him. 
 God the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father 
 and the Son, 
 
 Have mercy upon him, 
 
 Strengthen and comfort him. 
 holy, blessed and glorious Trinity, 
 
 Have mercy upon him. 
 Remember not. Lord, his offences, nor call to mind 
 the offences of his forefathers ; but spare him, good 
 Lord, spare this Thy servant, whom Thou hast 
 redeemed with Thy most precious blood, and be not 
 angry with him for ever. 
 
 Spare him, good Lord. 
 
PRAYERS FOR THE SICK. 189 
 
 From Thy wrath and heavy indignation ; from the 
 fear of death; from the guilt and burden of his sins ; 
 and from the dreadful sentence of the last judg- 
 ment, 
 
 Good Lord, deliver him. 
 
 From the sting and terrors of conscience ; from dis- 
 trust or despair ; from anguish or agony, that may any 
 way withdraw his mind from Thee, 
 Good Lord, delivt*r him. 
 
 From the bitter pains of eternal death ; from the 
 powers of darkness ; and from the illusions and as- 
 saults of our spiritual enemy. 
 
 Good Lord, deliver him. 
 
 By Thy manifold and great mercies ; by the mani- 
 fold and great mercies of Jesus Christ Thy Son; by 
 His agony and bloody sweat ; by His strong and cry- 
 ing tears; by His bitter cross and passion; by His 
 glorious resm'rection and ascension ; by His effectual 
 and most acceptable intercession, and by the graces 
 and comforts of Thy Holy Spirit, 
 
 Good Lord, deliver him. 
 
 In the time of extremity ; in his last and greatest 
 need ; in the hour of death, and in the day of judg- 
 ment, 
 
 Good Lord, deliver him. 
 
 We sinners do beseech Thee to hear us, Lord 
 God; that it may please Thee to assauge Aw pains, 
 and give him patience to bear his sickness ; and when 
 Thou shalt call him hence, give him a quiet and joy- 
 ful departure : 
 
 We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord. 
 
 That it may please Thee to make Awn- partaker of 
 all Thy mercies and promises in Christ Jesus : 
 We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord, 
 
 That it may please Thee, after this life, to bestow 
 
190 PRAYERS FOR THE SICK. 
 
 upon him the state of joy, bliss and happiness, -with 
 all Thy blessed saints in Thy heavenly kingdom : 
 
 We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord. 
 
 Son of God, v)e beseech Thee to hear us. 
 Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the 
 world, 
 
 Grant him Thy peace. 
 Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the 
 world, 
 
 Hear our prayers, and have mercy upon him. 
 
 [This is to be used when there appears little hope of recovery.] 
 
 n. Lord, raise up Thy power and come among 
 us, and with great might succor Thy poor servant now 
 languishing under great weakness of body ; look with 
 an eye of mercy upon Am, who in appearance is now 
 drawing near the time of his dissolution ; perfect, 
 God, his repentance, and make it effectual through the 
 blood of the ever-blessed Jesus ; and for Christ's 
 sake, pardon all the errors oi his past life, that he may 
 come to his great change without guilt, and feel its 
 near approach without fear and terror. give him, a 
 firm and well-groimded assurance that thou art fully 
 reconciled unto him ; and now he is entering into the 
 valley of the shadow of death, take care of him, and 
 carry him, through that dark passage into the bright 
 regions of eternal bliss : but whether Thou seest it fit 
 to give him such a foretaste of happiness, yet, mer- 
 ciful God, take him, not out of this world before he is 
 fitted and prepared ; that when he goes to meet the 
 Bridegroom, he may not find the door to everlasting 
 happiness shut against him. 
 
 O Lord, with Thee nothing is impossible ; if Thou 
 wilt. Thou canst even yet raise him up, and grant him 
 a longer continuance among us ; but, nevertheless, not 
 
PRAYERS FOR THE SICK. 191 
 
 our will but Thine be done ; we d^esire to leave him in 
 Thy hand, and commend him to Thy mercies, and to 
 the love and compassion of the blessed Jesus. 
 Lord, hear his prayers, and the prayers of all his 
 friends for him ; support him in his dying- ag-onies ; 
 strengthen him under all his weaknesses ; visit him, 
 with the strong consolations of Thy Holy Spirit, and 
 receive him into the blessed society of saints and 
 angels ; there to love, praise and adore Thee for ever, 
 through the merits of Thy beloved Son Jesus Christ 
 the rig-hteous. Amen. 
 
 EJACULATIONS FOR SICK AND DYING PERSONS. 
 
 blessed Lord, who scourgest every son whom 
 Thou receivest, let me not be weary of Thy correction. 
 
 Give me such a perfect submission to Thee, the 
 Father of Spirits, that this chastisement may be for 
 my profit, and that I may thereby be made a partaker 
 of Thy holiness. 
 
 1 confess, Lord, that I have deserved much great- 
 er pimishments than I now feel. 
 
 make me cheerfully and thankfully to bear my 
 present pains; chasten me as Thou seest fitting; d' 
 with me what Thou pleasest here, so I may not b« 
 condemned in the world hereafter. 
 
 Christ, who first sufferedst many and grievou 
 things, and then enteredst into Thy glory, make me 
 to suffer with Thee, that I may also be glorified with 
 Thee. 
 
 Lord God most holy, Lord most mighty, 
 holy and most merciful Saviour, deliver me not, I 
 beseech Thee, into the bitter pains of eternal death. 
 
 cast not off the bowels of Thy tenderest compas- 
 
192 PRAYERS FOR THE SICK. 
 
 eions, but, even as a father that pitieth his own chil- 
 dren, be Thou so merciful unto me, Thy sinful but 
 repenting servant. 
 
 blessed High Priest, who art able to save to the 
 utmost them who come unto God by Thee ; save me, I 
 beseech Thee, who have no hopes but in Thy merits 
 and intercession. 
 
 Suffer not, my Redeemer, my soul, which Thou 
 hast purchased with the invaluable price of Thy own 
 blood, to perish ; but say unto me, I am thy salvation. 
 
 dear Jesus, who humbledst Thyself even to the 
 death of the cross for me, let that precious death of 
 Thine sweeten all the bitterness of mine. 
 
 1 believe that Thou shalt come to be my Judge. 
 
 I pray Thee, therefore, help Thy servant, whom 
 Thou hast redeemed with Thy most precious blood. 
 
 Make me to be numbered with Thy saints in glory 
 everlasting. 
 
 O receive me into that place of rest, where all tears 
 shall be wiped from my eyes ; where there shall be 
 no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. 
 
 O take me where I shall for ever behold Thy face, 
 and follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. 
 
 Into Thy hands I commend my spirit, for Thou hast 
 redeemed me, Lord, thou God of truth. 
 
 O Lord, in Thee is my trust ; cast not out my 
 soul. 
 
 O Lord, in Thee have I trusted j let me never be 
 confounded. 
 
PRAYERS FOR THE SICE. 193 
 
 A PRAYER FOR TRUST IN GOD IN SICKNESS. 
 
 O Almighty God, our only help in time of trouble, 
 look with pity and compassion upon me, now under 
 Thy afflicting hand. Be Thou my stay and confidence 
 under all my sorrows and afflictions, and suffer me not 
 to sink under the weight of them, through any dejec- 
 tions or faintness of spirit. 
 
 Give me such an entire trust and confidence in Thy 
 mercy, through the merits of my dear Redeemer, that 
 I may cast all my care upon Thee, and with cheerful- 
 ness commit myself into Thy hands, assuredly believ- 
 ing that all things shall work together for good to them 
 that love Thee ; and, Lord, grant that I may be 
 found such an one as, through Thy great mercy, may 
 be entitled to the benefit of Thy gracious promises. 
 Make me willing and ready to yield to Thy wisdom, 
 and to prefer Thy will before my own ; to be content- 
 ed to bear what Thou pleasest, and to be eased of my 
 burden in Thy time, which is always best. But, 
 Lord, however Thou art pleased to deal with my 
 body, yet spare my soul, I beseech Thee, and deliver 
 it from the bitter pains of eternal death. take me 
 not out of this world till Thou art reconciled unto me, 
 and hast fitted me in some measure for Thy heavenly 
 kingdom. Grant, Lord, that whether I live, I may 
 live unto Thee, or whether I die, I may die unto 
 Thee ; so that, living and dying, I may be Thine, 
 through Jesus Christ, my ever-blessed Saviour and 
 Redeemer. Amen. 
 
 17 
 
FAMILY COMMENTARY 
 
 SERMON ON THE MOUNT, 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 In tlie Preface to a volume of " Family Prayers," by 
 the late Mr. Henry Thornton, which was printed last 
 year, (1834,) it was stated, in substance, that portions of a 
 "Family Commentary," by the same wise and good man, 
 which, though never, indeed, intended for publication, were 
 yet complete and fit for it, might, at no distant period, be 
 expected to issue from the press. The present Comment- 
 ary, upon the Sermon on the Mount, is one of those por- 
 tions. The favourable reception of the " Famuy Prayers'* 
 deepens the Editor's regret, that, when, at length, after the 
 lapse of many years from the Author's death, the publica- 
 tion had been undertaken, any cause should have occurred 
 to deprive the world, even for a day, of the benefit of the 
 present Work. 
 
 Those who have become familiar with the " Prayers," 
 will recognise in this "Volume the work of the same piety; 
 and will require no other notice of the Author, than that 
 they already owe to him — the manual, abovementioned, of 
 domestic worship. Without presuming to anticipate the 
 judgment of others, the Editor, in committing this work to 
 the blessing of God, and looking to that blessing, only, for 
 17* 
 
198 PREFACE. 
 
 its success, cannot withhold the expression of his own 
 opinion, as more than justifying him in the publication, that, 
 so far as he knows the works of the best divines, no other 
 Commentator, on the same portion of Scripture, has com- 
 bined, in an equal degree, a deep knowledge of the human 
 heart, with an extensive experience of human life ; vigor- 
 ous common sense, with high and holy wisdom ; Christian 
 love, with Christian faithfulness. He has no hesitation in 
 adding his belief, that, so far as can be said of any human 
 Peing, the Author lived in the spirit of his Commentary. 
 
 R. H. I. 
 September 15, 1835. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Com L St. Matt. V. ver. 1—3 7 
 
 n. « " " 4 9 
 
 m. •* " " 6 12 
 
 W. " « « 6 14 
 
 V, " " " 7 16 
 
 VL B u « 8 19 
 
 vn. " " " 9 21 
 
 Vin. " " " 10—12 2& 
 
 K. " « " 13-16 as 
 
 X. « « " 17—19 31 
 
 XI. " " " 20 33 
 
 Xn. « " " 21—26 36 
 
 XUL " « " 27, 28 39 
 
 XIV. « « « 29, 30 41 
 
 XV. « « « 31,32 44 
 
 XVI. " " " 33—37 47 
 
 XVII. " " " 38-42 50 
 
 XVm. " " " 43—18 53 
 
 XIX. St.Matt. VI. ver. 1-4 E6 
 
 XX. « « " 6-8 60 
 
 XXI. « " « 9 63 
 
 XXn. " " " 9 65 
 
 xxm " " " 10 66 
 
 XXIV. « e « 10 67 
 
 XXV. « •« « 11 63 
 
 XXVI. « o « 12 69 
 
 xxvn. « " " 13 w 
 
 XXVin. " " " 13 73 
 
 XXK. •' " " /3 78 
 
200 CONTENTS. 
 
 Com. XXX. St. Matt. VI ver. 14, 15 80 
 
 XXXI. " « « 16—18 81 
 
 XXXU. '« " « 19-21 83 
 
 XXXIII. « " « 22, 23 91 
 
 XXXIV, « « •< 2i 97 
 
 XXXV. « « «' 25—34 103 
 
 XXXVI. St.Matt.VIL ver. 1, 2 107 
 
 XXXVII. « « « 3-6 110 
 
 XXXVIII. " « « 6 112 
 
 XXXIX. « « « 7—11 115 
 
 XL. « « 12 120 
 
 XLL « « « 13, 14 124 
 
 XI.n. « « " 15, 16 128 
 
 XLIIL » « «' 17—20 133 
 
 XLIV. « « «• 21 137 
 
 XLV. « « « 22, 23 145 
 
 XLVL • » « !^— 29 (Part L) 149 
 
 XLVn. « « " (Part n.) 152 
 
 XLVIQ. « " • (Part ffl.) 166 
 
FAMILY COMMENTARY 
 
 ON THE 
 
 SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, V. 1—3. 
 
 Anrf seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain : and when he 
 was set, his disciples came unto him ; and he opened his mouth, and 
 taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit : for theirs is the 
 kingdom of heaven. 
 
 Towards the end of the last chapter, we read that our 
 Saviour, while He healed the bodily diseases of the peo- 
 ple, preached to them the gospel of the kingdom. From this 
 and the following chapters we may learn the manner in 
 which He preached it. 
 
 In the beginning of His Sermon on the Mount, He de- 
 livers many short but important sayings, sayings charac- 
 teristic of His Gospel, sayings calculated to strike through 
 their novelty, and their contrariety to the common maxims 
 of his hearers. " And He opened his mouth, and taught 
 them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is 
 the kingdom of heaven." This would be a complete con- 
 tradiction to the prevailing opinions of his hearers. It is 
 the common sentiment that they are the most blest, who 
 think the most favourably of themselves, and are the most 
 fully persuaded that they are highly thought of by others. 
 
202 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 Self-complacency is the great source of human felicity 
 The mind of the man of this world dwells with pleasure on 
 the thoughts of his own talents, of his own exertions, of 
 his own attainments, his own wealth, his own influence. 
 He also delights himself with the idea of his own moral 
 excellence. He easily persuades himself, and he rejoices 
 in the persuasion, that his dealings are just ; his integrity, 
 strict ; his feelings, kind ; his charity, large ; his conduct, 
 irreproachable ; and his heart, excellent. His very religion 
 also becomes a source of self-complacency. He pleases 
 himself with thinking how regular are his prayers ; and how 
 punctual his attendance on divine service : how complete, 
 in short, is the performance of his duty both to God and to 
 man. Thus he is rich in his own eyes, in reference both 
 to his natural endowments, his moral qualities, and even 
 his religious observances. 
 
 The religion of Christ stands directly opposed to the turn 
 of mind which has been described. " Blessed are the 
 poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Man 
 has no title to that complacency which is so natural to him. 
 Has he endowments of body and mind ? These were 
 bountifully given to him by God : and God, therefore, should 
 haA'e all the glory. Does he reply, " 1 have improved my 
 natural talents by my own diligence." — " But on what 
 motive have you been thus diligent ? Your very diligence 
 has been your sin, if it have proceeded from an ambitious, 
 worldly, covetous, or selfish principle. Let it, however, be 
 admitted, that y(mr diligence has arisen from the right 
 motive, namely, that of pure love to God and to your fellow- 
 creatures : — let it be admitted, that you have been a true 
 Christian : yet, even in this case, your goodness has been 
 imperfect ; — you have done less than you ought to have 
 done ; after all, you are ' an unprofitable servant.' And 
 moreover the little, which you have done aright, has been 
 performed through the helj) of Goo's free grace working in 
 you, so that there is no ground for seir-comj)lacency." The 
 truth is, that man is a poor, dependent, weak, and sinful crea- 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 203 
 
 tiire ; and that he stands indebted to the divine goodness 
 and mercy for every thing which he either has or hopes 
 for. He cannot prove the justice of that praise which he 
 assumes ; and the knovirledge of this his weak and fallen 
 state, is a fundamental point in religion. A man must be 
 emptied of himself, in order that he may be filled with the 
 blessings of the Gospel. He must become poor in spirit, 
 in order that he may become rich in faith and a partaker 
 of the kingdom of heaven. Blessed therefore is the man 
 who thinks meanly of himself, and highly of his Maker and 
 Redeemer. Blessed is the man who walks humbly with 
 his God, and is also humble towards his fellow-creatures. 
 Blessed is the man who both feels and manifests this pov- 
 erty of spirit. This temper may not exalt him in the eye 
 of the world ; but it is the temper befitting his condition — 
 it is a temper honourable to God, and truly beneficial to his 
 fellow-creatures. It is the temper which Christ has 
 pronounced to be characteristic of the Christian. 
 
 11. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, V. 4. - 
 
 Blessed are they thai moarn : for they shall be comforted. 
 
 '•Blessed," says the world, " are the joyful and the gay 
 Blt^ssed are the rich, the prosperous, and the healthy. 
 Blessed are they who cast away care ; who laugh, and 
 drink, and sing ; who are vexed by no earthly calamities, 
 on the one hand ; and by no qualms of conscience, on the 
 other ; who dread no devil ; who fear no hell ; who feel 
 no awful forebodings of a judgment to come ; but having 
 
204 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 passed merrily through life, slip easily out of it, without 
 much horror in their minds, and without even a dying 
 groan." Such are the world's happy men ; such is their 
 blessedness. How many songs have been written in praise 
 of the life which we have described, and have been sung 
 with a chorus of joy by many a large company! But 
 blessed, says our Saviour, are they that mourn, for they 
 shall be comforted. 
 
 Our Saviour thus warns us against the common joy of 
 the world ; for it is a joy which shall terminate in sorrow : 
 whereas this is a horrow which shall as assuredly end in 
 joy. " Blessed arc. they that mourn." This may be inter- 
 preted, first, as referring to the afflictions which many pious 
 men endure ; while the gay and the thoughtless seem to 
 be free from them. " They come into no trouble," said 
 the Psalmist, " like other folk ; neither are they plagiied 
 like other men : their eyes stand out with fatness. They 
 have more than heart could wish :" while he says of him- 
 self, " All the day long have I been plagued, and chastened 
 every morning." 
 
 Many parts of Scripture speak of the afflictions of the 
 righteous ; as for instance — " Whom the Lord loveth he 
 chasteneth ; and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth :" 
 and again, " Many are the troubles of the righteous, but 
 the Lord deliverelh him out of them all." The truth is, 
 that affliction and trouble are the means by which God very 
 frequently brings the sinner to himself: while worldly hap- 
 piness and prosperity are often the portion of tlipse who 
 possess the most hardened hearts. How many Christians 
 can bear witness to the truth of this saying of Christ. 
 They were once as gay and unconcerned, as their most 
 thoughtless friends are now. They joined in the midnight 
 feast and revelry ; and they praised the god of laughter and 
 the god of wine. But while proceeding in this course, they 
 were overtaken by some calamity, by sickness, poverty, or 
 some bitter disappointment; and the affliction, which seemed 
 at first to be the deathblow to their hopes, subdued in them 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 205 
 
 the lovG of this world ; and became the beginning of a new 
 life of faiih and hope and joy and satisfaction in God. They 
 exchanged, therefore, a turbulent and heedless joy, which 
 would have soon ended in sorrow, for a sorrow which has 
 led to permanent and real joy. 
 
 But secondly, the mourning spoken of in this passage 
 may be understood as referring to that sorrow, on account 
 of sin, which the Christian has felt, especially on his first 
 repentance ; and which he continues to feel, in the daily 
 exercise of the same grace. The sorrow of Avhich we 
 before spoke often ends in joy ; this always does : for this 
 is that godly sorrow mentioned by St. Paid, which " work- 
 eth repentance unto salvation not to be repented of." Re- 
 pentance is the foundatien of all true comfort in religion. 
 And repentance is accompanied with many a distressing 
 thought, perhaps by many a tear, certainly by many a sor- 
 rowful remembrance of past negligences and sins ; but such 
 sorrow is soon turned into joy ; therefore " blessed are they 
 who thus mourn, for they shall be comforted." 
 
 Let us not, then, complain of religion as gloomy ; though 
 we should see some pious persons severely afflicted and 
 often much cast down. They are cast down perhaps only 
 for a time. They may be suffering under a deep sense of 
 their own un worthiness, and as yet but imperfectly ac- 
 quainted with the grace of their Redeemer. A Mary 
 weeping at the feet of Jesus, and even a Lazarus lying at 
 the gate full of sores, are happier than a Dives clothed 
 with purple and fine linen, and faring sumptuously every 
 day. One in his lifetime receives his good things ; and 
 the other, his evil things ; but soon the one shall be com- 
 forted ; and the other, tormented. " Blessed" then (as oux 
 Saviour is represented to say in another gospel) " are ye 
 that hunger now, for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye 
 tliat weep now, for ye shall laugh. But woe unto you who 
 are rich, for ye have received your consolation. Woe unto 
 you who laugh now, for ye shall mourn and weep."* The 
 
 » St. Luke, vi. 21, 25. 
 18 
 
206 FAMILY COMMfiNTARY ON 
 
 laughter of the ungodly is as the crackling of thorns which 
 is soon over ; but the affliction of the righteous, though for 
 the present it be not joyous but grievous, afterwards bringeth 
 forth the peaceable fruits of righteousness. 
 
 III. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, V. 5. 
 
 Blessed are the meek : for they shall inherit the earth. 
 
 Our Saviour here delivers another important truth, 
 and he borrows his language from the 37th Psalm. The 
 psalmist, after speaking of the wicked, who seem for a 
 while to prosper in the world, exhorts the righteous not to 
 fret on that account ; for " evil doers shall be cut off: but 
 those that wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth ;** 
 and he adds in another verse, " But the meek shall inherit 
 the earth." We may discover, partly from these words, 
 and partly from other passages in the same Psalm, what 
 was the precise meaning of our Saviour. By the meek, 
 those persons are intended, who, laying aside that ambition 
 vvhich is common in the world, resort to no violent or un- 
 just means of advancing their fortune ; but commit them- 
 selves quietly and patiently to God, wait His lime, trust 
 His providence, are content to let others gain an advc^ntage 
 over them, and even bear the injustice of a naiglibour, a 
 rival, and an enemy, witliout being ruJiIed by it. The meek. 
 says David, shall inherit the earth. The promises of the 
 Old Testanient were generally temporal ; life and immor- 
 tality having been brought clearly to light, only by the Gos- 
 pel. Nevertheless under the veil of these temporal prom- 
 ises, spiritual blessings were shadowed forth. The term 
 used in the Old Testament, •' shall inherit the earth," might 
 
THE SERjIOTs" on THE MOUNT. 207 
 
 therefore, under the New T" 'ament dispensation, be prop- 
 erly rendered " shall be bleased." We may, then, deduce 
 from this saying of Christ, that to the meek were the 
 pronnses made under the Old Testament, by modes of ex- 
 pression suited to that dispensation ; and that to the meek 
 also, were the promises made under the New ; the Old and 
 the New Testament being in this respect perfectly agreed. 
 
 Perhaps it would not be difficult to show that the promise 
 of a blessing to the meek is often fulfilled even in this life, 
 under our dispensation ; for though the turbulent frequently 
 seize the possession of the earth, the meek more truly enjoy 
 it. To occupy peaceably a small estate, is better than to 
 gain by violence a large domain ; of which the right is 
 disputed; and the possession, continually interrupted. It 
 is more truly to " inherit the earth." 
 
 Let us then value the advantages of meekness, above all 
 the precarious power and riches which may be acquired 
 by t;!rbulence of spirit. Let us also remember that we are 
 specially called by Christ to the exercise of this 'grace. 
 Christians must be the quiet persons of the land ; they 
 must not be forward, and assuming, and ambitious ; — eager, 
 factious, and dissatisfied. They must be content with such 
 things as they have : they must not envy the prosperous : — 
 they must, in their very religion, avoid noise and disputa- 
 tion, " for the servant of the Lord must not strive, but must 
 be gentle unto all men : — in ?neek?iess inHtrucling those that 
 oi)pose themselves." That violence, which is so common 
 among other men, should have no place among believers. 
 In women, particularly, meekness is a most becoming grace. 
 Their chief ornament should, as the Apostle says, be that 
 " ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight 
 of God of great price." But it is a virtue which is excel- 
 lent in ail, and is required of all. To be meek, is to follow 
 Christ ; it is to follow both His precepts and His example. 
 ' Come, take my yoke upon you," said our Saviour, " and 
 .earn of me ; for I am meek and lowly of heart : and ye 
 hall find rest unto your souls." 
 
208 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 rv. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, V. 6. 
 
 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousfjess : foi 
 they shall be filled. 
 
 The word " rigliteousness," when it occurs in the Old 
 Testament, commonly stands for the whole of religion. It 
 there includes duty to God as well as to man, — faith as well 
 as practice : and the word is here to be understood in a no 
 less general sense ; for Christ, who was by birth a Jew, 
 and who for the most part spoke to Jews, addressed thoni 
 in those expressions which were common in the Old Tes- 
 tament ; usually inteniling, however, to give His words that 
 more exalted meaning which was required by the spiritu- 
 ality of the new dispensation. 
 
 The term " righteousness," when here used by Christ, 
 may, therefore, be understood to imply every thing which 
 characterizes His religion. As the expression, when used 
 by David, stood for the whole of the religion of the Old 
 Testament ; so here in the mouth of Christ, it stands for 
 the whole Gospel : for things to be done, as well as truths 
 to be believed ; for doctrine, and for practice ; for duties, 
 and for privileges also. " Blessed, then, are they who, 
 thus, hunger and thirst after righteousness." 
 
 Now the generalitjr of mankind hunger and thirst after 
 far other things. Wealth is the chief good of soiue. If 
 they were asked what is the great object at which they 
 aim, they would admit that it is to make their fortunes ; 
 and perhaps would be surprised to hear an insinuation, that 
 there could be any harm in allowing this to be the cliief 
 desire of the heart. Others desire not wealth so much as 
 the things which wealth can purchase. They wish for 
 ease and enjoyment; and, because they seek these in no 
 very scandalous or forbidden way, they are unconscious of 
 
f 
 
 THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 209 
 
 their falling short of the Christian character. Others desire 
 honour : — they wish above all things to be in repute among 
 their neighbours. Credit at home, or honour abroad, are 
 the things which they hunger and thirst after ; and these, 
 especially if they pursue reputation by means which are not 
 ordinarily deemed dishonourable, are no less confident of 
 the sufficiency of their virtue. Thus, all seek some worldly 
 good ; and all imagine, that they shall be supremely blest. 
 if they can but attain their object. 
 
 But "blessed," says our Saviour: (who here again is 
 opposing the common maxims of mankind) " blessed are 
 they who hunger and thirst after righteousness.'''' — " Blessed 
 is the man who no longer hungers and thirsts after the 
 things of this life, of which the attainment is uncertain, and 
 which will be found unsatisfying, if they should be attained ; 
 but blessed is he who hungers and thirsts after righteousness ; 
 — that is, blessed is he who longs, like one who is hungry 
 and athirst, to obtain possession of every thing which is 
 included in my Gospel. Blessed is he who desires pardon 
 of his iniquities, and peace with God, a share in the atone- 
 ment which I am to offer up for man ; and the aid of all 
 the influences of my Spirit. Blessed is he who longs to 
 have the victory over his sins, and to have all holy aflfections 
 excited in him. Blessed is he who wishes to have his un- 
 derstanding enlightened, that he may know all the doctrines 
 of my religion ; to have his conscience made tender and 
 afraid of sinning ; and to have his heart purified by faith. 
 Blessed is he who accounts his chief joy to be joy in God ; 
 'and his chief consolations, the consolations of my Spirit. 
 Blessed is the man whose hungering and thirsting is of this 
 description ; for he shall be filled : he shall obtain the things 
 which he desires ; his very longing for them is a pledge 
 that he shall possess them. Worldly things disappoint him 
 who pursues them : but it is the maxim of my kingdom, 
 that he who has the true desire after righteousness, — he 
 who hungers and thirsts, not after a part only, but after the 
 whole of my Gospel, shall assuredly be filled; and such is 
 18* 
 
210 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 the gracious and encouraging promise which I now pro- 
 mulgate to my disciples ; he shall possess all the privileges 
 of the children of God ; he shall be a member of my king- 
 dom here ; and, in the world to come, he shall have life 
 eA'crlasting." 
 
 Such is plainly the meaning of this saying of Christ. 
 Let us then be fearful of fixing our hearts on earthly things ; 
 and let us remember that the promise extends to all gen- 
 erations : " Blesskd are they which do hunger and 
 
 THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS : FOR THEY SHALL BE 
 FILLED." 
 
 V. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, V. 7. 
 
 Blessed are the merciful : for they shall obtain mercy. 
 
 No temper of mind has been more absolutely required by 
 Christianity than a disposition to show mercy ; and the 
 reason is plain. The Gospel teaches that man is himself 
 an offender against his Creator ; and that he owes to the 
 grace of God all his own hope of salvation. If, then, we 
 expect to have the benefit of the Divine Mercy, we ought 
 to be ever ready to show mercy to our fellovz-crealures. 
 Christ, in many modes, and on various occasions, urged 
 this duty on his disciples. At one time. He related to them' 
 the story (or parable) of a servant, who, having had the 
 great sum of ten thousand talents freely forgiven, cast his 
 fellow-servant into prison, on account of a debt of only one 
 hundred pence. " Oh thou wicked servant," said his lord, 
 " I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me . 
 shouldst not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow- 
 servant, even as 1 had pity on thee ? and his lord was 
 wroth ; and delivered him to the toimentors, till he should 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 211 
 
 pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my 
 heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts 
 forgive not every one his brother their trespasses." Our 
 Saviour, even in that short summary of a prayer, which 
 He taught to his disciples, has inserted an expression which 
 forcibly inculcates the necessity of this forgiving spirit. 
 He instructs us to say, " forgive us our trespasses, as we 
 forgive them that trespass against us." And it is observable, 
 that, after He had delivered the prayer, He addressed these 
 words to his disciples, " for if ye forgive men their tres- 
 passes, your heavenly Father will also torgive you : but if 
 ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father 
 forgive your trespasses."* 
 
 This expression remarkably accords with those words 
 in the Sermon on the Mount which we are now considering. 
 " Blessed are the merciful : for they shall obtain mercy ;" 
 and it might have been added, woe be to the unmerciful, for 
 they shall not obtain mercy : or, as the Old Testament 
 expresses it, " he shall have judgment without mercy who 
 hath showed no mercy." 
 
 This saying of Christ, like many others which preceded 
 it, would undoubtedly seem new to the multitude ; for the 
 world was then much less inclined to mercy, than it is at 
 present. On the one hand, the Jews, though taught by their 
 Prophets to show mercy, were become false interpreters 
 of their own Scriptures. They admitted, indeed, that th3y 
 were taught to love their neighbour ; but they deduced from 
 this very precept a right to hate their enemy. On the other 
 hand, the heathen had no idea of the duty of forgiving 
 injuries. 
 
 Now, indeed, we all agree, that it is a Christian duty to 
 show mercy. Christ has said this so plainly, that it is 
 not possible to deny it. But has the spirit, which is here 
 condemned by Christ, been expelled out of the Christian 
 world? Far from it. If this were the case, if this one 
 Christian temper were fully attained, we might fairly hope 
 * St. Matt. vi. 14, 15. 
 
212 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 that other graces might be possessed in liAe perfection; foi 
 one Christian disposition fails not to accompany another , 
 and thus, according to the expression of this passage, 
 since all were become truly merciful, so all might obtain 
 mercy. 
 
 It is much to be suspected, that many, who freely admit 
 the excellency of this saying of Christ, contrive to evade 
 it. They, for instance, who say that they freely forgive 
 an injury but cannot forget it, break this admonition of 
 Christ. They also, \v\io profess both to forget and to for- 
 give, may manifest by some part of their conduct that they 
 are transgressors on this point. And even they who confer 
 some favour on the person who has injured them, may not 
 be clear of the sin in question ; since the very pride of 
 superiority may lead a man to confer a favour on him from 
 whom an injury has been experienced. To receive a fa- 
 vour from an enemy is a better proof of a forgiving spirit 
 than to bestow it. 
 
 The chief point for examination is the temper of mind in 
 which we live towards those whom we account our ene- 
 mies. Do we, then, rejoice to show mercy to others, 
 heartily and freely, and in the same manner in which God 
 shows mercy to us, who giveth to all men liberally, and 
 upbraideth not 1 Are we the first to seek to be reconciled 
 when we have had a quarrel against any, or do we expect 
 the other party to make previous submission ? Are our 
 reconciliations, also, sincere and complete 1 Is there no 
 root of bitterness left within us, even after a seeming agree- 
 ment has taken place ? Do we feel alienated from no one^ 
 would our very heart, if it could be seen, exhibit compassion, 
 and tenderness, and benevolence, and lovingkindness to all, 
 not excepting him whom we have accounted to be wanting 
 in proper kindness, and beneficence towards us ? 
 
 Do we live, in short, under the powerful influence of that 
 great principle of the Gospel, — that we ourselves have sin- 
 ned against God, ten thousand times more than any felfow 
 creature has ever trespassed against us ; and that, as we 
 
TitE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 213 
 
 hope nevertheless to find mercy, so we must also show 
 mercy, and show it not only by some special acts, but by 
 our whole character and conduct among our fellow-sinners? 
 
 VI. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, V. 8. 
 
 Blessed are the pure in heart : for they shall see God. 
 
 Purity of heart is another principal point in the char- 
 acter of the religion of Christ. In this respect, Chris- 
 tianity differs from the common systems of the world. Men 
 of the world make morality to consist in the external act, 
 and pay little regard to the motive. They are, also, partial 
 in their morality. Men, for instance, who are occupied in 
 the administration of go\'ernment, are apt to consider obe- 
 dience to the laws to be the great test of morality. Only 
 the outward act, indeed, is cognizable by them. They do 
 not concern themselves about purity of heart. Masters, in 
 like manner, are inclined to judge of the character of their 
 servants by what those servants are to them. If the external 
 conduct of the servant be proper, the master is satisfied. 
 He adverts not to the secret sins which the servant may 
 commit ; nor does he know Avhether the servant's motive 
 to obedience to him be religious, or not. Many a servant, 
 therefore, is called a good servant, who in the sight of God 
 is a wicked man ; " for God judgeth the heart." Traders 
 estimate the character of their fellow-traders by the honesty 
 of their dealings : and all men, indeed, are agreed in 
 esteeming honesty very highly, because they have an ob- 
 vious interest in maintaining it. The poor judge of the 
 moral character of the rich, by the liberality of their char- 
 acter ; and do not inquire whether the beneficence spring 
 from ostentation, or from any other evil principle in the 
 
214 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 heart. They do not consider whether an act of bounty to 
 themselves may not be cruelty to others. Even ministers 
 of the Gospel, (through the weakness natural to man,) 
 sometimes perhaps too easily assume that person to be good 
 who attends their ministry, who swells their congregation, 
 and is moral in respect to the outward actions of his life : 
 since ministers see not the heart. 
 
 It is, therefore, an easy thing to acquire a good character 
 in the world. In general, you have only to act towards any 
 person in the manner which shall gratify his feelings, agree 
 with his convenience, and promote his interest ; and you 
 shall be pronounced by him to be a worthy man. Such is 
 the world's morality. He is moral who serves and pleases 
 us ; and he is immoral who contradicts or injures us ; we 
 assume his heart to be good if the man have been good to us. 
 
 This false mode of judging others tends to false judg- 
 ment of ourselves ; because too many attend more to the 
 character vvhich they have with men, than to what they are 
 in the sight of God. It is exceedingly difficult to call men 
 away from the consideration of what others think of them : 
 to make them meditate on their own way, scrutinize their 
 motives, and examine whether amidst all the accomplish- 
 ments which they receive, they are sincere in the sight of 
 their Omniscient Judge. 
 
 " Blessed," says our Saviour, " are the pure in heart, 
 for they shall see God." Purity of heart, indeed, leads to 
 the fulfilment of every part of morality ; and not of morality 
 alone, but of religion also. To this purity it is the great 
 end of Christianity to bring us. The Pharisees did all to 
 be seen of men. Their very alms became a sin ; because 
 they were not done from a right motive. Their religion 
 also consisted in forms and ceremonies in which the heart 
 had no part. The religion of Christ stands opposed to all 
 systems of partiality and hypocrisy. All the doctrines of 
 Christianity have, therefore, a manifest tendency to promote 
 this purity. A principle of purity is connected with its 
 faith, its hope, and its charity. Of its faith, it is observed 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT 215 
 
 m Scripture, that God "purified men's hearts by faith." 
 Every one that hath this hopii, is said to purify himself as 
 God is pure: and the great Christian grace of love, oi 
 charity, is thus spoken of by the Apostle ;— " Now the end 
 of the commandments is charity, out of a pure heart, and a 
 good conscience, and faith unfeigned." 
 
 " Blessed are the pure in heart ; for they shall see God." 
 The words imply, that they, and they only, shall see Him ; 
 for " without holiness, no man shall see the Lord." God 
 is pure ; and they who hope to enter into His presence 
 must be pure also. Heaven is a place into Avhich nothing 
 shall enter that defileth. Spotless purity, indeed, is not to 
 be attained here ; but it is to be cultivated on earth, in 
 order that it may be perfected in heaven. It is, indeed, for 
 this purpose, that the Holy Spirit is bestowed. To purify 
 our hearts is the great end of His coming. Let us then 
 pray for His divine influence upon us. The death of 
 Christ, — the great atonement for sin, — is spoken of in 
 Scripture as tending also to our purification ; for " He gave 
 himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, 
 and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good 
 iTorks." 
 
 VII. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, V. 9. 
 
 Blessed aie the peacemakers ; for they shall be called the children 
 of God. 
 
 Our Saviour here names another of those dispositions 
 by which a Christian was to be known : and pronounces 
 ihe possessor of it to be blessed. The introduction of a 
 more peaceable spirit into this violent and contentious 
 world was one of the great ends to be brought about by the 
 
216 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 Gospel : and the Apostle, in exact agreement with his 
 Master, speaks thus to all Christians : " If it be possible, 
 as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.'" 
 
 Here, however, it will perhaps be objected : — " But has 
 not Christianity been the cause of many wars, as well as 
 of heats and animosities among the several sects who pro- 
 fess it ? Do not individuals often quarrel on the very sub- 
 ject of religion ? Does not Christianity, therefore, hinder 
 peace, instead of promoting it ; and are not many Christians 
 very far from peaceable ?" Two answers must be given to 
 this objection. First, it must be admitted, that Christianity 
 (and we mean real Christianity) has been the innocent cause 
 of many differences. It has necessarily created a new di- 
 versity of opinion. Imagine to yourself a family in which 
 all the members agree to forget God ; and to live wickedly, 
 without upbraiding or reproving one another. And, then, 
 imagine- a part of this wicked family (and at first only a 
 small part) to become sensible of their former wickedness, 
 and to begin to lead a new life, and to wish to bring the rest 
 of the family to the same sentiments. Do you not see, that, 
 in such a case, a contention will arise which there was not 
 before ; the good, by their conduct, and sometimes also by 
 their speech, reproving the wicked ; and the wicked be- 
 coming exasperated at the reproof? And to whose fault 
 ought this new contention to be charged ? The wicked, no 
 doubt, will be inclined to say, that it is the fault of those 
 who have introduced the new opinions ; and who assume 
 themselves to be so much better than their neighbours , 
 but is it not much fairer, to affirm that the wicked are in 
 fault, who are determined to retain their wickedness ; espe- 
 cially if the good should be peaceable in their behaviour, 
 and if this peaceableness of temper should have made a 
 striking part of their very change 1 
 
 Such is the fair explanation of the manner in which 
 Christianity has been the occasion of new differences. In 
 this respect, we grant that it has broken the peace of the 
 world 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 217 
 
 But there is another cibservation to bo made in answer to 
 the objection. Many false Christians have appeared ; and 
 these have caused much disputation respecting religion. A 
 rash, A'ehement, and unguarded conduct has often been con- 
 founded with zeal for the Gospel. Some persons think 
 that every kind of religious stir in the world is good and 
 desirable. They forget that the Gospel is the Gospel of 
 peace : and should never even be preached in a spirit of 
 hostility and disputation. Reconciliation and peace with 
 God, and peace and love among men, are the chief things 
 which it teaches. Whoever, therefore, in attempting to 
 spread the Gospel is only indulging his own natural 
 passions, should not be considered among the real Chris- 
 Uans ; nor should his Gospel be accounted to be the true 
 (iospel of Christ. 
 
 Having thus answered the objection, let us proceed more 
 particularly to consider the duty which is implied in this 
 precept of Christ — " Blessed are the peacemakers ; for 
 they shall be called the children of God." The Christian, 
 then, though by his holy singularity he may innocently 
 cause others to take offence, will himself endeavour to be 
 at peace with every one. He will be engaged in healing 
 quarrels, not in inflaming them ; his very profession will be 
 that of a peacemaker. Are any persons at variance ? — He 
 is glad to compose strife, to lessen differences, and to calm 
 down all the bad passions of men. His own tempers 
 having been subdued and regulated by the Gospel, he is 
 qualified to become a mediator to others ; and he is willing 
 •o become umpire in any dispute, which he can indulge the 
 hope of being able to compose. While other men, by their 
 iingoverned tempers, enter into quarrels themselves, and, 
 also, by the rashness of their tongues, encourage heats and 
 animosities in others, the Christian is prudent and gentle ; 
 he fears lest, by spreading a false tale, or by- making a 
 hasty charge, or by taking too strong a side either with one 
 party or another, ho should be the means of increasing 
 feuds ; he therefore keeps his tongue as with a bridle ; ho 
 19 
 
218 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 does not repeat one half the tales which he has heard, be- 
 cause he knows that peace will best be promoted by his 
 silence ; and he prefers peace to the indulgence of his 
 vanity, or of his talkativeness. Do any speak violently to 
 him ? He does not answer them as violently, for he wishes 
 to be at peace with them ; he is such a lover of peace that 
 he will not break i% though he should be reflected on for his 
 quietness. He pursues this cautious plan, healing many 
 quarrels, and causing none ; and labouring to bring all men 
 to love one another. War and discord are his aversion. A 
 national war he will be slow to justify : he will join in it 
 only on the ground of self-defence, and of its appearing 
 not to be avoided with safety. And lastly, he will be a 
 promoter of peace in matters of religion. " The wisdom 
 which is from above, is first pure, indeed, and then peace- 
 able." It is pure in the first place, and peaceable in the 
 second. After looking well, therefore, in the first place to 
 the purity of religion, he will next consider how peace may 
 best be consulted. " Peace, he will say, as well as grace, 
 be with all them that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity." 
 He will rate very highly the importance of preserving 
 peace in the Church of God ; and will be very fearful of 
 multiplying sects and creating needless dissension. He 
 knows that edification is best promoted amidst the tran- 
 quillity of the Church : for the " fruit of righteousness ia 
 sown in peace of them that make peace." It is not sown 
 amidst the noisy disputation and virulent invectives of 
 Angry and contending parlies. 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 219 
 
 VIII. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, V. 10, 11, IJJ. 
 
 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' s«ke; To; 
 
 theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
 Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall 
 
 say all manner of evil against you, falsely, for my sake : 
 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven ; for 
 
 ao persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 
 
 Our Saviour here sets before his disciples the oppo- 
 sition and persecution which they were to expect in this 
 world, on the one hand ; and the glorious reward in a life 
 to come, on the other. His doctrine w^ould, in this respect, 
 seem new to his hearers. The Pharisees were of a re- 
 ligion which brought to them much honour from men ; and 
 the general body of the Jews had no idea that a man's re- 
 ligious faith would expose him to trial and persecution. 
 The religion, indeed, both of the Pharisees, and of the body 
 of the Jews, was an easy and popular religion ; it was not 
 the struggling religion of a minority. The professors of it 
 had only to swim with the stream ; they neither combated 
 their own natural corruption, nor the common errors and 
 iniquities of the age. 
 
 In this respect the disciples of Christ were to differ 
 from the Jews ; and of this difference our Saviour gives 
 notice, in the passage which we are considering. It is, as 
 if He had said, " Think not that if you are my followers, 
 all men shall speak well of you. Far from it ; — if you 
 follow me, you must expect much reproach." The servants 
 of God have in all ages been the objects of censure to those 
 who lived at the same time with them ; though they may 
 have been extolled by the worldly people of succeeding 
 ages. Learn, therefore, to consider the opposition of the 
 Rge in which you live, as a proof that you are followers of 
 
220 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 the Prophets who went before you ; and be content to be as 
 ill received as they. " Blessed am they which are per- 
 secuted for righteousness' sake. Blessed are ye wlien men 
 shall revile j'ou, and persecute you, and say all manner of 
 evil against you, falsely, for my sake : Rejoice and be exceed- 
 ing glad." Account yourselves happy in the midst of your 
 persecutions ; for great is your reward in Heaven. Look 
 forward to that immense recompense which awaits you ; 
 and which shall be proportioned to your persecutions here 
 on earth. Take care, indeed, that you are reviled not for 
 that which is evil, but for tliat which is good. Be sure 
 that whatever is said against you, be said " falselv," and 
 " for my sake." Let the reproach be on account of faith- 
 fulness to my cause ; and while you coniinue thus faithful 
 and thus reproached, not only be not cmsL down, but rejoice, 
 even, and be exceeding glad ; for " great is your reward in 
 Heaven." 
 
 Such was our Saviour's language to his disciples ; and 
 It is no small proof of the truth of his religion that it was 
 received under such discouraging circumstances. They 
 embraced persecutions and tribulations, having been told 
 to expect them. ; but they embraced at the same time the 
 hope of eternal glory ; and this hope supported them, even 
 under the pains of martyrdom. Though, for a time, fearful 
 and weak in faith : yet, when endued with that " power 
 from on high," which they received on the day of Pentecost, 
 they learned to fear the face of no man. We find, that, 
 when beaten with many stripes, " they rejoiced, that they 
 were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of 
 Christ ;" we read, also, that Paul and Silas, when in prison, 
 "sung praises to God;" and we hear the Apostle thus 
 expressing himself — " For Thy sake we are killed all the 
 day long. We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 
 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ ? Shall 
 tribulation or distress, or persecution, or famine, or na- 
 Kedness, or peril, or sword ? Nay, in all these things, 
 we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us " 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 221 
 
 Let us now consider how far we are to apply this pas- 
 sage to ourselves. 
 
 And, first, it shall be allowed, that the same persecution, 
 to which the Apostles and early Christians were exposed, 
 by no means threatens us. The world is now governed by 
 better laws : and this is one reason why the modern Chris- 
 tian does not experience the same degree of ill-treatment : 
 another reason is, that the faith of Christ has now been 
 established. The Christian minister of this day does not 
 like the Apostles, proclaim a faith entirely new ; he does 
 not oppose as they did, all the professed opinions of men. 
 Still, however, the case is not altogether changed. Perse- 
 cution indeed has, generally speaking, ceased ; but oppo- 
 sition to the Gospel of Christ (we mean to the Gospel 
 preached and practised in its primitive purity and strictness) 
 certainly has not. It is but too plain, that the world at this 
 day is not truly Christian ; and that, even in Christian lands, 
 the majority are very unchristian people. Vice and wick- 
 edness prevail openly in many places. Practical infidelity 
 is in the hearts of thousands who fancy themselves to be 
 true believers : and every where we meet with unchristian 
 maxims, sentiments, and customs. It is, therefore, as plain 
 a duty in the modern Christian to resist the stream of the 
 world, as ever it was in the primitive one. l^ike the 
 prophets of old, he has to bear his testimony on the side 
 of God and holiness ; amidst a multitude of gainsayers. 
 lie has not to expose, like the Apostles, his back to stripes, 
 and his life to martyrdom. But since he is delivered from 
 these greater trials, let him the more cheerfully endure the 
 smaller. Let him not fear to assert his Christian singu- 
 larity, to resist the corrupt customs of this generation, and 
 to avoid those amusements of the world which are accom- 
 modated to its unchristian taste, and are unbecoming the 
 purity and strictness of the Gospel. Let him refuse, in 
 short, in a thousand instances, to do as others do ; and let 
 him practise many things which others, deeming them un- 
 necessary strictnesses, do nnt care to practise. Let him 
 19* 
 
222 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 sometimes reprove others for their sins, — a duty which is 
 indeed quite indispensable in Christian ministers. Finally, 
 let him, who has as yet experienced no opposition, examine 
 whether his faith and his practice be not accommodated to 
 the taste of the world in a manner quite unauthorized by 
 Scripture ; and if the dread of opposition have been the 
 hindrance to his profession of a purer Christianity, let him 
 remember who hath said, " Except a man take up his cross 
 daily, he cannot be my disciple ;" and " except a man for- 
 sake even his father and mother and wife and children 
 (when they are his hindrance in the Gospel,) yea, and his 
 own life also, he cannot be my disciple." And again, 
 " WhosocA'er shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of 
 him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in 
 the glory of his Father, and with his holy Angels." 
 
 IX. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, V. 13, 14, 15, 16. 
 
 Ye are the salt of the earth : but if the salt have lost his savour, where- 
 with shall it be salted 1 It is thenceforth good for nothing but to be 
 cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 
 
 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill, cannot be hid. 
 
 Neither do nnen light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candle- 
 stick ; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 
 
 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, 
 and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 
 
 How high an idea of Christianity does our Saviour 
 here present to us. Christians are the " salt of the earth." 
 In them ought to be that savour by which *he whole world is 
 to be seasoned. Again, Christians are the " light of the 
 world." By them is the moral darkness of this wicked 
 world to bft enlightened And again, " they are like a city 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 223 
 
 set upon a hill." They are to be conspicuous to all around, 
 for iheir superior virtue and excellence. Such did Christ, 
 when He was on earth, require his disciples to be ; and 
 such in fact they were, in the first ages of the Church. In 
 these degenerate days an opinion prevails, and even among 
 many who call themselves Christians, that we should not 
 be particular in any respect ; that we ought not to profess 
 any more religion than our neighbours ; that it is presump- 
 tuous to suppose that we can enlighten others ; and illiberal 
 to think that our own mode of faith is the best. But how 
 inconsistent is such language with these sayings of 
 Christ' Are we not required to be singular? it is to 
 be feared, that they, who entertain sentiments so lowering 
 to the character of religion, are the persons who are 
 condemned in the latter part of the thirteenth verse.^^ I 
 mean that they are salt which has Most its savour, - 
 Christians without the spirit of Christianity ; and, just as 
 salt, which has become tasteless, is only " fit to be cast on 
 the ground, and trodden under foot of men," so are these 
 ordinary and insipid Christians fit only to be cast out of the 
 
 Christian Church. , j . 
 
 Let us now, more particularly, consider the duty re- 
 quired bv these words of Christ. Undoubtedly it is not 
 intended' by them that vve should be ostentatious in our re- 
 liaion: for we are commanded to be "poor in spirit" and 
 to" be meek and lowly in heart. Christ, nevertheless, 
 must mean to insist that there should be such a character 
 and tone in our religion, as shall distinguish us from the 
 world He expects the difference between us and other 
 men to be so great, that other men shall be struck by that 
 difi-erence This is the manner in which He has ordained 
 that the work of converting mankind shall be carried on. 
 Our li-ht is so to shine before men, that they (seeing 
 our good works) may glorify our Father which is m 
 heaven. Christ has appointed preaching to be one of the 
 means of extending His kingdom: but He has not more 
 plainly directed ministers to preach, than He has com- 
 
S.24 FAMILY CO^IMENTARY ON 
 
 manded private Christians so to shine by their life anr} 
 conversation that men may thereby be brought to the 
 knowledge of tlie Gosjx^l. A Christianity, therefore, which 
 has in it nothing particiiiar, which exhibits no other virtue 
 than that of njariy hifidels, v/hich allows its professors to 
 conform themselves to the vvorld, and in no respect rises 
 above mediocrity, is no Christianity in His sight : for how 
 <;an he, who has none of that higher virtue which attracts 
 notice, be compared to " a city set on a hill which cannot 
 be hid ?" — How can he, who never endeavoured by th*j 
 brightness of his example to enlighten the circle of his 
 worldly neighbours, be likened to " a candle which is set 
 upon a candlestick, and giveth light to all that arc in the 
 house V — And how can he, who does not differ from the 
 mass of mankind, be compared to salt, by the virtue of 
 which the rest of the world is to be seasoned? Such persons 
 should stand reproved by these sayings of Christ : and, 
 indeed, there is scarcely a sentence in this Sermon on the 
 Mount, which might not reprove them. 
 
 But we may also apply this passage to the case of some 
 seriously disposed persons ; we mean to the case of those 
 who are so engrossed by the consideration of the remaining 
 corruptions of their nature, and so fearful both of ostentation 
 in religion, and of self-righteousness, that they do n&t 
 enough consider themselves as called by Christianity to an 
 open profession of their faith, and an open exercise of their 
 good works. It is true, that we are directed to let our alms 
 be in secret, and not let our left hand know what our right 
 hand doelh. But are v/e not instructed in this passage, 
 that we are to resemble a candle, which men do not put 
 imder a bushel, but on a candlestick, that it may give light 
 fo the whole house ? There is, therefore, a middle way 
 between Pharisaical ostentation, and a false and studied 
 humility. Our works should be seen, thougli they should 
 not be done in order to be seen. They should be so far 
 plain and public, that men may be led by them " to glorify 
 our Father which is in neava " 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 225 
 
 May our light in every respect shine before men ! may 
 we, as citizens of the government imder which we live, as 
 husbands and wives, as parents and children, as master-? 
 and servants, fulfil the duties of our several stations in a 
 maimer so exemplary and striking, that all those who are 
 acquainted with us may acknowledge how excellent a thing 
 it is to be a Christian. 
 
 X. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, V. 17—19. 
 
 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets ; I aiii not 
 
 come to destroy, but to fulfil. 
 For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle 
 
 shall in nov/ise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 
 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and 
 
 shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of 
 
 heaven : but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be 
 
 called great in the kingdom of heaven. 
 
 One error of the Jews, and one ground of their prejudice 
 against Christ, consisted in an opinion that He was come 
 " to destroy the law and the prophets :" — that is, to over- 
 throw whatsoever Moses and the prophets had said. Christ 
 here declares that He came for the very contrary purpose : 
 " I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." 
 
 The religion of Moses came from God. The one, there- 
 fore, could not be contrary to the other. Christ was not 
 the rival, or the enemy, of Moses ; and consequently, it 
 ought not to be supposed, that the Jev/s who joined them- 
 selves to Christ, apostatized from their own lawgiver. 
 
 It is true, that, after the coming of Christ, many cere- 
 monies belonging to the former dispensation were abolished ; 
 for these were no longer necessary. They had been 
 
226 FAMILY COMMENTAKV OH 
 
 " figure:, for ihe time then present." 'I'hcy had been estab- 
 lished in order to prefigure Christ; and to supply some 
 divine information of the doctrines, which He and hia 
 apostles were more fully to reveal. Christ on this account 
 ought to be considered as having come to fulfil the law and 
 the prophets, not to overthrow them. He fulfilled that which 
 was said by the prophets, — by accomplishing their prophecies 
 concerning Himself. He fulfilled that which was said by 
 Moses, — by accomplishing the types and ceremonies which 
 Moses had enjoined. He also fulfilled the law of Moses, 
 by being himself perfectly obedient to that law : and He 
 fulfilled it, by requiring from His disciples obedience to all 
 the moral parts of it; an obedience indeed, far stricter than 
 that which was paid to it by the Pharisees. " Verily I say 
 unto you," said Christ, " till Heaven and earth pass, one 
 jot or one tittle shall in nowise pass from the law, till all be 
 fulfilled : whosoever therefore shall break one of these least 
 commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called 
 the least in the kingdom of heaven ; but whosoever shall 
 do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the 
 kingdom of heaven." How does Christ do honour to the 
 law by these words. Woe be to those, who, though they 
 may profess to honour it, do not honour it by their obedience 
 Some have fancied, that to speak contemptuously of the 
 Lav), is a sign of their proficiency in the Gospel. " Since 
 the Gospel," say they, " is the Gospel of Grace, there is no 
 necessity to be obedient to the Law ; for the Law cannot 
 justify us." It is true, that our obedience is imperfect ; 
 and, since it is imperfect, cannot save us. We must be 
 justified by Christ alone through faith. But this doctrine 
 of justification by faith does not diminish the necessity of 
 obedience. Let us reflect on the nature of the Law ; it 
 commands love to God and love to man ; and can any man 
 doubt whether it be a duty to love God and his fellow- 
 creatures ? He who violates the Law, even in the least 
 pomt, and teaches others to despise it, is said by Christ 
 to be " the least in the kingdom of heaven ; but whosoever 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 227 
 
 shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in 
 the kingdom of heaven." Doubtless, the meaning of this 
 expression is, that Christ will estimate the character of 
 the members of His Church by the degree of their obe- 
 dience. This is our Saviour's mode of judging. May it 
 be ours also. He who fails the most in obedience to the 
 law, is accounted by Christ the least of His disciples ; 
 and he, who rises highest in obedience, shall also rise 
 highest in the kingdom of God. 
 
 XL 
 ST. MATTHEW, V. 20. 
 
 For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the 
 righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter 
 into the kingdom of heaven. 
 
 The Scribes were the expounders of the Jewish law ; 
 and the Pharisees were reputed the strictest sect among the 
 Jews. Both the Scribes and Pharisees were held in high 
 reputation by the people. This saying of Christ, there- 
 fore, would exceedingly surprise His hearers. Must we 
 then be stricter, they would say, than the strictest sect of 
 the Jews 1 — more religious than our very teachers in reli- 
 gion ? Our Saviour, nevertheless, ought not to be consid- 
 ered severe, on account of this expression. The case was 
 this : The Scribes and Pharisees were corrupt, both in 
 ioctrine and practice : they were " blind leaders of the 
 blind." Nothing, therefore, could be more essential to the 
 success of the Gospel than the exposure of their error and 
 wickedness. How prejudicial, indeed, to the cause of true 
 religion has the corruption of priests ever been ! The 
 stream in that case is polluted at the fountain ; and if there 
 
228 FAINIILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 should be a disposition in the people to admire a false and 
 hypocrilical priesthood, as was the case in the days of 
 Christ, and again, at the period of the Reforination, the 
 strongest measm-es may be necessary, in order to expose 
 ihe existing daiigor, and to introduce the light of true religion. 
 
 Let us now ])roceed to cosisider in what respects tVie 
 righteousness of the followers of CnRrsT was to exceed 
 the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees. 
 
 And, first, it was to exceed, inasnnich as the righteousness 
 of the followers of Christ was to be inward and real ; 
 while that of the Scribes and Pharisees was merely in 
 appearance. The sanctity of the Pharisee was an altogether 
 external and affected sanctity. He loved to clothe himself 
 in a long robe ; and to receive frequent greetings in the 
 market place ; and to be called. Rabbi, He made in the 
 very streets long prayers ; gave alms in the most public 
 manner ; and thus endeavoured to attract the veneration of 
 the people. He did all to be seen of men. 
 
 It may be material here to remark, that, in these days, 
 vanity will not show itself in the same manner. Devotion 
 is not in the same credit now, as in the days of the Phar- 
 isees. Men are sometimes tempted in our age to lay claim 
 to less religion than they really possess, rather than to 
 pretend that they have more. The love of estimation led 
 the Pharisee to say long prayers. Let us beware, lest our 
 love of estimation should ever lead us to neglect saying our 
 prayers, through the fear of some fellow-creature who may 
 be present. We may be guilty of the same sin Ayith the 
 Pharisee ; and yet act in a different, and even a contrary, 
 manner. 
 
 The vanity of the Pharisee, was his sin. Beware, then, 
 of vanity. Act not, as he did, from mere regard to char- 
 acter. Be not honest, only from a regard to character. 
 Be not sober, only from a regard to character. Be not 
 chaste, only from a regard to character. If reputation be 
 the spring of all your morality, then your morality is jnsi 
 as superficial, as was the religion of the Pharisees. 
 
THE SERI\ION ON THE MOUNT. 229 
 
 Again, liie righteousness of Christians must exceed that 
 of the Scribes and Pharisees, inasmuch as it must be uni- 
 versal, and not partial. The Pharisees discharged some 
 duties, and overlooked others. They performed the smaller, 
 and omitted the greater. They paid tithes on mint, cummin, 
 and anise ; but they neglected the weighter matters of the 
 law — ^judgment, mercy, and truth ; they strained at a gnat, 
 and swallowed a camel. Let us beware of selecting certaiw 
 parts of duty which are easy, and of slighting others ; and 
 especially of being veiy scrupulous in small things, and 
 yet far from conscientious in great. Let us endeavour to 
 fulfil every duty ; for " he, that keepeth the whole law, and 
 yet offendeth in one point, is guilty of all ; for the same 
 God who hath said, thoxi shalt not commit adultery, hath 
 said also thou shalt not steal : — Now therefore, if thou 
 commit not adultery, yet if thou steal, thou art become a 
 transgressor of the law." 
 
 Lastly, our righteousness must exceed that of the Scribes 
 and Pharisees, inasmuch as they carried no virtue to its 
 proper height. They fell short of true goodness. It was 
 the habit of the Scribe to lower the meaning of Scripture, 
 to explain down the law of God, to devise exceptions to it, 
 to make abatements from it. The Scripture had no force 
 or strength, no strictness o'i meaninff, no heart-searching 
 quality, when interpreted by these teachers. Let us be 
 fearful of all lax expositions of the word of God. — of all 
 worldly ways of understanding it. The Scribes " took 
 away the key of knowledge ;" and^ the Scripture being 
 perverted by the priests, neither true religion, nor true 
 morality, prevailed among the peoole. The particular 
 nature of those erroneous internretations of Scripture, 
 which the Pharisees introduced, is m some degree ex- 
 plained by Christ in the passage wHch we shall have 
 jjext to consider. 
 
 20 
 
230 FAMILY COMMENTARY OS 
 
 XII. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, V. 21—26. 
 
 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kii! 
 
 and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment . 
 But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a 
 
 cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall Siy 
 
 to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council : but whosoev3i 
 
 shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 
 Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest th.'?: 
 
 thy brother hath aught agai.ist thee ; 
 Leave tiiere thy gift before the altar, and go thy way : first be reconciled 
 
 to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 
 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him 
 
 lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the 
 
 judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 
 Verily I say unto thee, thou shall by no means come out thence, till thou 
 
 hast paid the uttermost farthing. 
 
 We have here an example of the manner in which our 
 Saviour explained the precept of the law of Moses. 
 " Thou shalt not kill," was one precept of it. The Scribes 
 and Pharisees interpreted this, as forbidding only the direct 
 act of murder : and thought it sufficient to bring the meo 
 who had committed this crime before one of their courts 
 Such was their interpretation of this law ; " Whosoever 
 shall kill," said they, " shall be in danger of the judgment. 
 Christ, however, considered, that the sin of murder pro- 
 ceeded from anger in the heart ; and He, therefore, inter- 
 prets the prohibition of murder, as a prohibition of ange? 
 also. He likewise explains this law, as forbidding every 
 degree of haired which is without a cause : in doing vvhicn 
 He uses some expressions, of which the meaning was then 
 probably familiar to the Jews, though now become a little 
 obscure ; we mean the expressions of " Raca," and " Thou 
 fool." He also intimates, that in whatever degree men 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 231 
 
 indulge their anger against each other, in the same degree 
 will God be angry with them : and he does this by alluding 
 to ihe several Jewish courts of law, some of which took 
 cognisance of the smaller offences, and others of the 
 greater, each inflicting a proportionate punishment. The 
 judgment was the lower court ; the council was the next ; 
 and the word " hcll-fire" stands for the highsst punishment 
 which could be inflicted by the highest court, — the punisli* 
 mont of being burnt alive. 
 
 Our Saviour then proceeds to remark, that he who en- 
 tertains in his mind any hatred against his brother, cannot 
 be an acceptable worshipper of God : — a most important 
 truth, and one which we ought to call to mind, as often as 
 we engage in divine worship. If, therefore. He says, 
 •' thou bring thy gift to the altar, and ,i\ere rememberest 
 that thy brother hath anght against thee, leave there thy 
 gift before the altar, and go thy way ; first be reconciled to 
 thy brother, and then come, and offer thy gift." He then 
 advises those who have any quarrel, to agree with their 
 adversary quickly ; and by adverting to the present con- 
 sequences, which, in this world, attend the delay of the 
 recoiiciiiation, suggests the line of conduct, which it is our 
 highest wisdom to pursue. 
 
 Let us make some piactical application of this part of 
 the subject. The Pharisees offered up many a sacrifice to 
 God, with hearts full of ill-will to their neighbours. Their 
 religion vvas also on this account a religion which God 
 abhorred : He will have a pure heart in his worshippers 
 He will accept no worship for Himself, while His worship- 
 per is at enmity with his neighbour. The Church ot 
 England expects her members to examine whether they 
 are in charily with all men, before they venture to receive 
 the sacrament. Nothing can be more seasonable than such 
 an expectation. This passage, however, may suggest the 
 propriety of questioning ourselves, on the same point, not 
 only then, but, also, as often as we offer up our worship; 
 %ince tliere is no part of it which is consistent with an 
 
232 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 angry state of the heart. He that would acceptably worship 
 God must also love his neighbour. 
 
 Are we then well assured that we indulge no malice or 
 hatred ? Is none of this seed of murder in our hearts 1 
 Let it not satisfy us to say that we would not kill. This 
 was the scanty morality of the Pharisees. This was their 
 narrow way of explaining the law. Christ hath taught 
 us a larger mterpretatiou of it. Are we followers of 
 Christ, — and have we learnt from Him fully to examine 
 ourselves on this point ? Do we perceive the sin, even of 
 an angry word or of an angry motion within the heart ? Do 
 we therefore watch the heart? Do we keep the heart (as 
 David expresses it) with all diligence, knowing that out of 
 it are the issues of life ? Is our religion a religion of the 
 heart, and not of the knee only, and of the lip ? In vain do 
 we repair to the house of God ; in vain do we prostrate our 
 bodies before Him ; in vain does our tongue make even the 
 fullest profession of our guilt ; in vain is all our Christian 
 confidence and hope ; if we maintain a quarrel against 
 any : — if we do not in our hearts love every man his neigh- 
 bour : — " for he that hatelh his brother," says the Apostle, 
 " is a murderer ; and ye know that no murderer hath 
 eternal life abiding in him."* 
 
 These observations seem particularly applicable to per- 
 sons of a very narrow and sectarian spirit ; to those, I mean, 
 whose religion, like that of the Jews, has rendered them 
 severe, unsocial, and uncharitable. Men of this class are 
 in great danger of carrying their religious hatred of some 
 opposite sect, up to their very house of worship. It is true, 
 that we should neither tolerate the heresies of any sect, 
 nor the sins of any individual ; we should nevertheless 
 anxiously inquire, whether our religious opposition to the 
 errors of men may not degenerate into hatred of them, and 
 thus corrupt our relisious service. Let us breathe, espe 
 cially when we are in the house of prayer, a spirit of kindness 
 
 • 1 St. John, iiL 13. 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 233 
 
 and reconciliation towards all. Let us remember, tlia\, 
 " love is of God ;" and that he is the most likely to be both 
 pure in his own worship, and right in his own creed, who 
 most loves God and his fellow-creatures ; " for he, that 
 saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in dark- 
 ness, even until now:" and "by this shall all men know 
 that ye are my disciples, if ye have love, one towards 
 another." 
 
 XIII. 
 
 ST. MA.TTHEW, V. 27, 28 
 
 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, thou shalt not com- 
 mit adultery : 
 
 But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her 
 hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 
 
 We have here another instance of the strict manner in 
 which our Saviour explains the law of Moses. The 
 seventh commandment had said " Thou shalt not commit 
 adultery ;" and the Jews, after the example of the Scribes 
 and Pharisees, seem to have considered actual adultery 
 alone as forbidden by it ; a crime which prudence, which 
 reputation, which self-interest, which the most common 
 regard to conscience might be sufficient to prevent ; and 
 which was far from common, even among many heathen 
 nations. Was this then the whole sin which the religion 
 of Christ was to forbid ? Was it fit, or was it even to be 
 tolerated, that the law of Moses should be so interpreted, 
 that a man might fully obey that law, and yet be no better 
 than many heathen ? Christ in this passage gives a most 
 extensive meaning to this law ; and thus rescues it out of 
 the corrupt hands of the Scribes and Pharisees ; " But I 
 say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lusl 
 
 20* 
 
234 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his 
 heart." How awful is this saying ! Is there not then an 
 irregular thought, however deeply hidden in the heart, 
 which can be indulged without the commission of this sin ? 
 How great is that puiily to which we thus find ourselves 
 called ; and how are all men brought in guilty before God! 
 " Blessed," our Saviour had already said, " are the pure in 
 heart; for they shall see God." The Son of God came 
 from heaven that He might purify the sons of Levi; and 
 baptize men with the Holy Ghost and with fire ; that He 
 might put his law in their inward parts, and write it on the 
 table of their hearts : He came to abolish that scanty and 
 superficial system of morality, which the Scribes and 
 Pharisees had established ; and with which the people of 
 all ages have been apt to satisfy themselves : He came to 
 substitute, in the place of it, a religion which should govern 
 the most secret thoughts, and should be seated in the heart ; 
 a religion which, bv discovering to man the exalted nature 
 of true purity, should also reveal to him his own corruption ; 
 should teach him, therefore, to come as a sinner to his God, 
 and to trust in that Sacrifice which in due time was to be 
 offered up for the sins of the world. 
 
 The words of Christ in this passage may seem strict. 
 Let us, however, ask ourselves, whether the most effectual 
 means of preventing the highest degrees of a sin, be not to 
 check that sin in the first rising thought. Men commonly 
 are betrayed into great crimes, nearly in the following man- 
 ner. First, an evil thought occurs ; and they indulge it, 
 saying ; " Surely, there can be no harm in allowing to my 
 imagination so trifling a latitude as this." The sin is, at 
 first, despised as too little to deserve regard. The evil 
 thought having been allowed to enter, a second evil thouglit 
 is added to the first. The mind is now j)ossessed ; and the 
 imagination becomes inflamed. And, now, the temptation, 
 which had been despised for its insignificance, appears so 
 powerful (as Satan in this stage of the trial would persuade 
 us) that it is no longer possible to resist it ; and the samo 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 235 
 
 sin, which was at first tolerated through presumption, is at 
 last submiUed to in despair. 
 
 How merciful then is our Saviour in thus inspiring us 
 with that fear of the risings of sin, by wliich we are led to 
 resist its first assault. May we then learn to watch the 
 heart. May we resist sin there. And may we remember 
 that not only the sin here spoken of, but that all sin takes 
 its rise in the same manner ; and must be resisted in its 
 first beginnings. May we direct our attention to the secret 
 motions of our own minds. May God, by His Spirit, give 
 us light to discern not only every licentious, but every en- 
 vious, angry, vain, and self-exalting thought, every discon- 
 tented and repining thought ; and give us grace to suppress 
 them, before they break out into words or actions. May 
 He cleanse all the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration 
 of His Holy Spirit. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 ST MATTHEW, V. 29, 30. 
 
 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee : for 
 
 it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not 
 
 that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 
 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee : for it 
 
 is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not 
 
 that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 
 
 Our Saviour in this passage, as in many others, speaks 
 metaphorically. The right eye and the right hand are 
 some of our most valuable members. They are so dear to 
 us that no man would be willing to part with them, unless 
 it were for the sake of saving his life. If, indeed the life 
 can be saved by sacrificing one of these, and by no other 
 means, then undoubtedly a man may be supposed wiliing to 
 
236 FAMILY CO.M]MENTARY ON 
 
 make the sacrifice. Such is our way of judging in temporal 
 things ; and it is by appealing to our conduct in common 
 life, that our Saviour often teaches us spiritual wisdom. 
 " If," says He, " thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, 
 and cast it from thee ;" that is, if there be any thing, how- 
 ever dear to thee, which causes thee to sin, part with it, 
 and remove it far from thee ; for it is better to enter into 
 life, having one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into 
 hell fire. As it is wise in the case of the body to preserve the 
 life at the expense of having only one eye : so it is wise, 
 also, in the case of the soul, to sacrifice the dearest object 
 rather than to retain it at the hazard of the life of the soul. 
 So, also, if our right hand offend us, we are told to " cut it 
 off, and cast it from us ; for it is better to enter into life 
 having one hand ; than having two hands, to be cast into 
 hell fire." Our Saviour, by repeating his expression, in- 
 creases the strength of His remark : and by speaking of 
 plucking out an eye, in the one case, and of cutting off & 
 hand, in the other. He seems to intimate, that not one 
 favourite object only, but cuery favourite object which proves 
 an occasion of sin, must be sacrificed. In one of the other 
 Evangelists, (St. Mark, ix. 44, 46, 48,) He is represented 
 as awfully addressing Himself to our fears on this subject, 
 by adding the words, "where the worm dieth not, and the 
 fire is not quenched." He, who so loves his sin as to say 
 that he cannot part vviih it, would do well to weigh these 
 tremendous words of Christ. It may be hard to part with 
 a favourite sin ; but it is still harder to dwell with everlast- 
 ing burnings. It may be a painful task to remove ourselves 
 out of the way of a temptation ; but it will be still more 
 painful, after having been taken in the snare of the Devil, 
 and led captive by him at his will, to share the condemna- 
 tion of that Evil Spirit, and to be commanded to depart, 
 accursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and 
 his Angels. 
 
 The fear of hell is often a salutary and most necessary 
 fear. Many a man would never break from his sins with' 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 237 
 
 out it. Our lusts and passions are often very importunate ; 
 they seem as if they would not be refused indulgence. 
 They are not always to be checked by fears of an inferior 
 sort. The condemnation of the soul must be set before 
 men, as the sure consequence of persisting in the indul- 
 gence of a favourite passion ; for Christ himself hath said 
 it. Even the compassionate Savtour hath said it. He, 
 who was so merciful as to go about healing all manner of 
 sick — He, who came down from heaven to save us, and to 
 die for us, nevertheless cannot, will not, save us, (as is 
 plain from this as well as from many other passages,) if we 
 will hold fast our iniquity. We ought, therefore, to learn, 
 from this metaphorical expression of Christ, the danger 
 of living on in any wilful sin. 
 
 But we may also learn from it, secondly, the peril of 
 remaining in the way of temptation. Some persons, finding 
 themselves repeatedly betrayed into great guilt, and being 
 much wounded in their consciences, resolve to yield no 
 more to the sin which has so often grieved them, and 
 determine, also, to avoid in some degree those societies, 
 those circumstances, and those places, which have proved 
 the occasion of their falling. They resolve to avoid these 
 in some degree, but not in a sufficient degree ; for, if the sin 
 be fallen into again and again, it is then rendered plain by 
 experience, that they ought to remove themselves still far- 
 ther from temptation. But they will not advance a suffi- 
 cient length in the case in question : that is, they will not 
 proceed so far as to contradict some worldly companion 
 who is their tempter ; or to sacrifice some worldly iiiterest 
 which is their snare ; or to abstain from some scene of 
 dissipation, where their virtue is put to greater trial than it 
 can bear. Such persons, though they have made, it is true, 
 some feeble opposition to the tyrant sin v/hich has pos- 
 session of them, can by no means be said, according to the 
 strong language of our Saviour, to have plucked out their 
 right eye, or to have cut ofi' tlieir right hand and cast it 
 from them. They have as yet been on the plan of sparing 
 
238 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 themselves ; they have not had the heart to pay the pric? 
 which is necessary for their deliverance ; and hence they 
 continue enslaved. Let such persons gather instruction 
 from these words of Christ. Let ihem remember that 
 even the most innocent thing, if it prove a snare, must be 
 plucked out, and cast from them, though it be done with as 
 much pain as if they were plucking out the eye, or cutting 
 off the hand, which is most dear to them. 
 
 It is better surely to do this, it is better surely to affront 
 our friend, to sacrifice our profit, or to absent ourselves from 
 our accustomed place of entertainment, than having kept 
 our friend, having increased our wealth, and having re- 
 tained our amusement, to be cast into hell fire. It is better 
 to be safe landed in Heaven, though at the expense of 
 having in this world bereaved ourselves of some things 
 which seemed as dear to us, as if they had been a part of 
 ourselves. It is better to enter into life halt or maimed, 
 than, having two eyes or two hands, to be cast into hell 
 fire ; where, as already quoted from St. Mark, "the worm 
 dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." 
 
 XV. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, V. 31, 32. 
 
 It hath been said, whosoever shall put away his wife, let hun give her a 
 writing of divorcement : 
 
 But I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for 
 the cause of fornication, causes her to commit adultery ; and whoso- 
 ever shall marry her tliat is divorced committeth adultery. 
 
 Christ in this place, extends the law of Moses ; for that 
 law had allowed divorces to take place in cases in which 
 Christ no longer permits them. It however had never 
 been intended, that divorces should become so light and 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 239 
 
 easy as tliey were become among the Jews. Whilst, 
 thureforo, the Pharisees were loosening the obligations 
 of the liiw, Christ was giving to it additional strictness. 
 The case was this : The law of Moses was suited to the 
 age ill which it was given, and to the dispensation of reli- 
 gion under which the Jews lived ; and not, in all particu- 
 lars, equally accommodated to the new dispensation which 
 was introduced by Christ. For Christianity, by affording 
 a clear knowledge of God, and of all the doctrines of the 
 Gospel, brought men under stricter obligations. Moses 
 allowed some things to subsist for a while among the Jews ; 
 and this among the rest ; on account of the hardness of 
 their hearts, as is observed by Christ in the 19th ch. of 
 this Gospel : " but from the beginning," our Saviour there 
 adds, " it was not so ;" and He now, therefore, as the new 
 law-giver of the Jews, enjoins a stricter rule, both on them, 
 and on all his followers. Christ goes farther than Moses, 
 in several particulars. Christ sometimes speaks where 
 Moses is silent. Christ, at other times, extends to the 
 spirit, what Moses had chiefly spoken of in the letter. 
 Christ carried every part of morality to a sublimer height. 
 Two things may be observed in this passage. First, let 
 us learn from it how strictly Christians ought to think of 
 the bonds of marriage. Let us not lend an ear to that false 
 philosophy which woidd utterly break these bonds, as well 
 as all others : — which would allow men again to obtain 
 divorces according to their humour ; a philosophy which 
 would thus throw back the world into that state in which 
 the Jewish people were left only for a while, and on ac- 
 count of the hardness of their hearts ; and out of which 
 Christ hath delivered us. The prohibition of Christ is 
 like all his prohibitions, merciful. How hard is the situa- 
 tion of the children of those who are divorced ! and on this 
 ground how inexpedient is it to multiply divorces ! a child 
 often needs the aid, almost equally, of its father and of its 
 mother towards its education and support in life. How 
 mischievous, ilso, to tlie parents is a system of unre* 
 
^40 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 strained divorce ! If all men were to marry with the 
 knowledge that they might, when they pleased, send away 
 their wife, how light a ceremony would marriage become. 
 And how dismal, in particular, would be the case of the 
 female s«x. Among other reasons for valuing Christianity, 
 let us value it on account of this law against arbitrary 
 divorce. 
 
 Our other remark is general. Let us learn, from this 
 passage, to consider Christ as calling us, in every respect, 
 to greater purity of morals than was attained in the ancient 
 periods of the world. The Gentiles were left chiefly to 
 the light of their own conscience. They had no written 
 law of God. The times, therefore, of their ignorance God 
 is said in Scripture to have winked at; though now Ho 
 hath " commanded all men every where to repent,"* and to 
 " believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ."! 
 
 The Jews had a dispensation of religion which was dark 
 compared with ours. They, had, indeed, more instruction, 
 than we, in many ceremonials of worship: and, since the 
 Lord was their king, and their nation a theocracy ; they 
 had a code of laws relating to civil government. In all 
 that regards the substance of religion, the Jewish dispen- 
 sation was certainly inferior. To them the doctrines of 
 our Gospel were less clearly taught ; and the rule of morals 
 was less strictly and spiritually laid down. 
 
 Let us, then, remember, that we. Christians, are called 
 both to higher spirituality in our devotion, and to a stricter 
 morality. Let us reflect, that as, in a heathen, many things 
 were winked at by God, which woidd not have been equally 
 winked at in a Jew ; so also were many things tolerated 
 in a Jew, which will not now be allowed in a Christian. 
 Among the Jews, polygamy was practised ; and though 
 not expressly allowed, it seems not to have been directly 
 condemned. The minds of men were in those ages more 
 dark, in many respects, than the light, in which we live, 
 allows us to conceive. We have had line upon line, and 
 ♦ Acts xvii. 30. t 1 St. John «i 23. 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 241 
 
 precept upon precept. In our days how fully has every 
 branch of moral duty been defined ! how clearly are many 
 points important to our happiness in relative and social, as 
 well as in political life, which were scarcely adverted to 
 in the remote ages, now laid down, and understood ! How 
 do we stand indebted to Chr.ist, the great sun of righteous- 
 ness, for introducing that moral light which has so greatly 
 illuminated these latter ages of the world. 
 
 May we walk Avorlhy of it.. May we be as exact in our 
 practice, as we are instructed in the details of morality, as 
 well as in the articles of our faith. May we remember that 
 the darkness is past ; and that we are children of the ligh. 
 and of the day. May we not loalk in darkness. May every 
 mark of that inferior state of morals, which characterized 
 the ancient times, be done away. And in particular, may 
 the laws of marriage be upheld by our government, and 
 respected by our people. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, V. 33—37. 
 
 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, thou 
 
 shalt not forsweai thyself, but shah perform unto the Lord thine oaths : 
 But I say unto you, swear not at all ; neither by heaven ; for it is God's 
 
 throne : 
 Nor bv the earth ; for it is his footstool : neither by Jerusalem ; for it is 
 
 the city of the Great King. 
 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one 
 
 hair white or black. 
 But let your communication be, yea, yea ; nay, nay : for whatsoever is 
 
 more than these comcth of evil. 
 
 Our Saviour here prohibits common and profane swear- 
 ing. Is It then possible, that this vice can have place 
 among those who call themselves Christians? He ex- 
 plains himself clearly by naming several kinds of profane- 
 21 
 
242 FAMILY COMMENTA.IY ON 
 
 ncss which were in use in His days ; and He forbids ooth 
 these and all similar asseverations, adding, " Let youi 
 coininunicatiou be yea, yea, and nay, nay ;'' that is, let 
 your conversation consist, as much as possible, in plain 
 yes and no, in simple affirmation and denial, " for what 
 soeviv is more than this comelh of evil." 
 
 it ifi melancholy to reflect how little this precept of 
 CiiuisT is regarded ; and it may be useful to inquire, how 
 it happens, that a sin so distinctly forbidden, and producing 
 so little profit, is so common in a Christian land. 
 
 Profiiie swearii^g has prevailed in various countries and 
 ages. The heathen abo'uided much in oaths ; as the books 
 now extant, which describe their familiar conversntion, 
 most clearly show ; nnd we need not wonder, that the 
 names of the gods and demi-gods, Avhom they worshipped, 
 should have been used as expletives in ordinary discourse 
 Divinities like these were not likely to excite the smallest 
 degree of reverence in the mind. The Jews, who lived at 
 the time of Christ, appear to have falien into the same 
 habit of swearing. As the heathens swore by their temples 
 and altiirs, so the Jews seem to have sworn by the temple 
 at Jerusalem, and by- other things sacred in their worshjp. 
 The Pharisees had tolerated, ru\d in some degree regulated, 
 this profane habit. They forbad some oaths, and capri- 
 ciously allowed of others, as appears from the twenty-fifth 
 chapter of St. Matthew. They seemed to have pleaded 
 Scripture in favour of this permission ; as if the precept 
 which commanded men to perform unto the I^ord their 
 -^ows, authorized common swearing, and a general dispo- 
 sition to trifle with serious things. 
 
 Our Saviour corrects this error of the Pharisees ; and, 
 in correcting it, He promulgates a new law on the subject. 
 He lays down his rule so strictly, that some sects in our 
 country (not sufficiently attending, as we think, to the style 
 of spiritual langu;ige, and to the fpirif. of this precept) hav« 
 supposed that an oath taken in a judicial cause is prohibited 
 amons Christians. 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 243 
 
 The ground on which Christ rests his present pro- 
 hibition, is the point to which I would call your attention. 
 We are not to swear, He says, " by Heaven, because tt is 
 Gocfs throne ; nor hy the earth, because it is His footstool." 
 He thus points out to us, that reverence for God ought to 
 prevent profane swearing, — reverence, I mean, for that 
 God who made heaven and earth ; and who ought not to 
 be confounded with the gods of the heathen ; and who 
 should be had in honour by all those who profess to call 
 upon Him. 
 
 Here then we discover the root of that profaneness which 
 is now so common among Christians. Gor» is not honoured 
 by us. Though He is the Creator of all things ; though 
 He is the preserver of our lives ; though He is the source 
 of all our hopes both in this world, and the world to come ; 
 though He is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ; 
 though He has abounded towards us in all goodness and 
 mercy ; yet we feel little reverence for Him. We trifle, 
 we sport with His sacred name, as the heathen did with 
 the names of their .Tupiter, their Hercules, and their Apollo. 
 He is to us what their gods and demi-gods were to them. 
 We profess, indeed, like the Jews, to worship the true 
 Fehovah ; but, like the Jews, we show, by the levity with 
 which we treat sacred things, that we are a nation of 
 degenerate and nominal worshippers. Our profaneness, 
 indeed, is more criminal than theirs ; because we have 
 clearer light than they had ; we have also a most plain 
 and strict injunction given us in this passage against the 
 very sin in question. 
 
 Let us then fear to provoke God by the breach of this 
 commandment. Let us reverence His name ; and, for His 
 sake, respect every thing which is holy. Let us even 
 reprove, as far as becomes us, all profaneness in others. 
 Let plainness and simplicity characterize our conversation. 
 Let us avoid every kind of needless asseveration. Let us 
 cultivate calmness of temper and seriousness of mind ; thus 
 shall we be kept from every breach of this commandment. 
 
211 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 XVII. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, V. 38—42. 
 
 Ye have heard, that it hath been said, An eye for an eye and a toot.i (or 
 
 a tooth : 
 But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil : but whosoever shall smite 
 
 thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the otlier also. 
 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away ihy coat, let him 
 
 have thy cloak also. 
 And whosoever shall coiiipel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 
 Give to him that askeih thee ; and from hiin lliat would borrow of thee 
 
 turn not thou away. 
 
 Our Saviour, in this passage, proceeds to explain in 
 what manner the rigliteousness of his followers was to ex- 
 ceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees. " Ye have heard," 
 says He, " that it hath been said, an eye for an eye, and a 
 tooth for a tooth." This law of exact retaliation had been 
 given to the Jews by God, in His character of their law- 
 giver and king. It was the law, according to which the 
 Jewish judge was to deliver sentence against offenders ; it 
 was not a rule intended to authorize revenge among private 
 individuals; though it probably was so construed. by the 
 Scribes and Pharisees. They seem to have interpreted 
 that part of their civil law, — which, by saying an eye for 
 an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, prescribed a principle of 
 exact justice to the magistrate — as sanctioning the senti- 
 ment, that justice is all which is required of men in their 
 individual capacity; and as justifying every one in exacting 
 in all cases the utmost extent of his due. 
 
 Christ forbids this construction of the Mosaic law ; 
 
 and He subjoins some precepts of a contrary nature, which 
 
 are extremely characteristic of His religion. " But I say 
 
 unto you," says He, " that ye resist not evil ; but who- 
 
 oever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 245 
 
 other also." Certainly, expressions of this kind are not to 
 be taken literally: but let us beware of an altogether loose 
 interpretation. Let us not in this respect imitate the Phari- 
 sees. They interpreted the Old Testament in such a man- 
 ner as to favour their ow.i corrupt prejudices: let us not 
 bend the New to our crooked and imperfect practice. 
 
 The meaning of all those strong expressions of our 
 Saviour, which we are now considering, may be thus 
 explained. It is, as if He had said, " Think not because 
 the law hath declared, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a 
 tooth, that it will justify that spirit of private resentment 
 and retaliation which it is made to do. Such indeed is the 
 perverse turn given to it by your Scribes and Pharisees. 
 But I am come to prescribe to you a far higher rule of duty. 
 I teach that a man not only must not resent injuries, and 
 demand reparation to the utmost, but must learn patiently 
 to endure injuries, and to forbear from any revenge what- 
 ever. " I SAY UNTO YOU THAT YE RESIST NOT EVIL." 
 
 There must be such a spirit in my followers, that however 
 great may be the ill-treatment which they receive, they 
 must be willing quietly to suffer it ; as much so as if, Avhen 
 a man were to smite thee on the right cheek, thou wert to 
 turn to him the other also. Revenge is utterly excluded out 
 of my code. The law of My Kingdom is that of the free 
 forgiveness of each other. 
 
 Neither must ye be tenacious in any respect of that 
 which is your own. Ye must be of so free and liberal, of 
 so gentle and peaceable, of so kind and disinterested a 
 spirit as to be ready to yield your clearest right, if any good 
 be to be done, as it often is, by renouncing it. " If any 
 man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat," care 
 not for it, — be not eager to defend thyself; "let him have 
 thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go 
 with him a mile," (instead of becoming resentful and ill- 
 humoured, as men thus unreasonably treated commonly 
 do,) thou, that art my disciple, be willing freely to " go 
 with him twain." And again, " Give to him that asketh of 
 21* 
 
246 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 thee." Aim not merely at acts of justice, but do acts of 
 mercy also. Be willing to give, and ready to communicate. 
 Say not that either thy money or any other worldly pos- 
 session is thine own ; but let the spirit of a large and 
 liberal benevolence, and the feelings of a warm and ex- 
 pansive love dictate whose it shall be. Give, therefore, or 
 lend, as a prudent charity may suggest ; and " not grudg- 
 iuii'v, for God loveth a cheerful giver." " Give to hin» 
 tha; asketh of thee, and from him that v/ould borrow of 
 thee, turn not thou away." 
 
 Such is incontestibly the meaning of these sayings of 
 Christ. Are we then of this spirit? Have we learned 
 in the school of His gospel to bear affronts quietly and 
 meekly ; to forgive all men heartily and freely ; to take 
 cheerfully less than our due ; to condescend to serve even 
 the unthankful and the unreasonable ; to give and lend, 
 bountifully and largely : and, moreover, do we deny our- 
 selves, that we may have to give to him that needeth? 
 
 These are the duties enjoined upon us as Christians. 
 This is the nature of the morality of the gospel. There is 
 a scantiness in the virtue of worldly persons ; they may be 
 tolerably honest and just ; they may not demand more than 
 their due; but they are also strict in claiming their own. 
 They may wish to hurt no one ; but they also insist, that 
 no one shall hurt them. They may give to those from 
 ■whom they hope to receive something again; as well as to 
 those whom they particulaiiy love : but they cannot endure 
 to do good to the forward, or intruding ; or to the unthankful, 
 or unreasonable. They would not do mischief to any one ; 
 but they have not learnt to exercise that determined spirit 
 of kindness and condescension, which is absolutely neces- 
 sary in such a world as this, if ever we would hope to 
 achieve any great good. The virtue which is here recom- 
 mended to them by Christ is too high and heroical for 
 their minds. 
 
 It is important to remark, that the doctrines of the gospel 
 dispose exactly to the same spirit which is inculcated by 
 
THE SERJION ON THE MOUNT. 247 
 
 these sayings of our Saviour. Christ may be considered 
 as foretelling by means of the various precepts delivered in 
 His sermon on the mount, what should be the character of 
 His followers ; when they should be more fully instructed 
 in the truths of His Gospel, and more plentifully endued 
 with the gift of His Holy Spirit. Selfishness is obviously 
 the root of those evil tempers which He has here con- 
 demned : and how is selfishness more effectually to be 
 cured than by the contemplation of that great evangelical 
 truth, " ye are not your own ; ye are bought with a price ?"* 
 " live therefi)re no longer to yourselves, but unto Him that 
 hath died for you." 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, V. 43—48. 
 
 Ye have heard that it hath been said, thou shalt love thy neighbour, and 
 
 hate lliine enemy. 
 But I say unto you, love your enemies ; bless them that curse you ; do 
 
 good to tlicni lliat hate you ; and pray for them that dcspitefuUy use 
 
 you and persecute you ; 
 Tiiat ye may be the children of your father which is in heaven, for he 
 
 makeili his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendcth rain 
 
 on the just, and on the unjust. 
 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have yel do not even 
 
 the jjiiblicaiis the same 1 
 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others 1 do 
 
 not even the publicans so! 
 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your father which is in heaven is perfect. 
 
 Here our Saviour again insists on the necessity of a 
 more than ordinary virtue in His followers; and again 
 reproves the scanty as well as false morality of the Scribes 
 and Pharisees. " Ye have heard," saith He, " how it hath 
 
 » I Cor. vi. 20. 
 
248 rA:\iiLY coimmentary on 
 
 been said, Thou slmlt love thy neighbour, and hate thine 
 enemy." This saying was doubtless common at that time 
 among the Jews. The people assumed, (for how easily do 
 we adopt the errors of our teachers,) that the Old Testament 
 had taught this doctrine. 13ut the Old Testament had said 
 only, " 'I'hou shalt love ihy neighbour;" the Pharisees had 
 added, as their inference from these words, " and thou shalt 
 hate thine enemy." Declarations of Scripture had become 
 united in many minds with sayings of the Pharisees ; in 
 the same manner in which certain truths of God, and sayings, 
 of men, are now frequently confounded by credulous and 
 unthinking persons. " Bui I say unto you," says Christ, 
 "love your enemies." This precept was not altogether 
 new. The Old Testameiit breathed the same spirit, though 
 the New speaks more plainly on this and other points, 
 both of faith and of practice. The word " neighbour," in 
 ihe Old Testament, when rightly interpreted, has a very 
 large signification. Literally taken, it stands for any one 
 who lives near to us. It is however very naturally applied 
 to all with whom we have any intercourse. It here signifies 
 any one who comes vi'ithin the sphere of our notice, and 
 within the reach of our benevolence. The command to 
 Jove our neighbour implies therefore that we are to love all 
 men, not excepting our very enemies ; and it is worthy of 
 observation that our Saviour has supplied us with this 
 explanation of the term, by means of the parable of the 
 good Samaritan ; a parable which He employed for the 
 reproof of one v/ho had asked the queslioii, " Who is my 
 neighbour?" and who was not aware that even a Samaritan, 
 tliough of an abhorred sect, might be the neighbour to a 
 Jew, We are then to love, not our friends only, but stran- 
 gers ; and not strangers only, but our very enemies. " Bless 
 them," says He, "that curse you: do good to them that 
 hate you, and pray for them that despitt;fully use you and 
 persecute you." Hoav higli does Christian morality rise in 
 respect to the point before us ! This precept is one which 
 may be considered as peculiarly Christian. It is not like 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 249 
 
 human morality; it is eminently divine. The language of 
 the natural man is that of the Scribfs and Pharisees : " I 
 will love my neighbour, and hate my enemy." He is 
 willing to do the one, if he may be allowed also to do the 
 other. The publicans indeed, as Christ here says, Icved 
 their friends ; and yet they were accounted the vilest of 
 the people. There can be little praise, therefore, in such 
 virtue as this. It is a virtue to which many of the most 
 corrupt men are equal. " Love" then, says Christ, " your 
 enemies ; that ye may be ihe children of your Father 
 which is in heaven ; for He nuikeih his sun to rise on the 
 evil and on the good, and sendelh rain on tlie just and on 
 the unjust." 
 
 The goodness, which Christ teaches, is not that of the 
 natural heart of man ; but it is like the goodness of God, 
 perfect and universal. God is good to all; and vve should 
 imitate His perfections. We should be " perfect, even as 
 our Father which is in heaven is perfect." We should at 
 least aim at perfection like His ; and should not content 
 ourselves with that lame and partial virtue with which men 
 are satisfied. 
 
 Let us, then, often ask ourselves, whether we fulfil this 
 precept of Christ. Do we love our enemies ? Do we 
 love those who have injured us, and those whom we think 
 likely to injure us ? Do we love men of another nation, 
 of another party, of another religion, of another sect, of 
 another way of thinking in some most interesting particu- 
 lar ? If our nation be at war, do we love even those with 
 whom we may think it our duty to contend in battle ? 
 Neither public nor private enemy ought to be excepted from 
 this universal law of love. 
 
 And how happy would the world become, if a strict 
 obedience were paid to this precept of Christ. Men 
 withhold their kindness from their neighbour, because that 
 neighbour has not yet been kind to them : each waits for 
 some act of condescension in the other party. But let us, 
 if we are Christians, take the lead in showing kindness to 
 
250 FAMILY CO.MMiOKTARY 03! 
 
 pvery supposed as well as real adversary. " If our eneniv 
 luinger, let us feed him ; if he thirst, let us give him drink ;" 
 for in so doing, we shall quickly subdue his enmity against 
 us ; and, as the Apostle expresses it, " shall heap coals of 
 tire on his head."* 
 
 XIX. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, YI. 1—4. 
 
 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them 
 otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 
 
 Therefore, when thou doest thine ahns, do not sound a trumpet before 
 thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that 
 they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their 
 reward. 
 
 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand 
 doeth : 
 
 That thine alms may be in secret : and thy Father which seeth in secret 
 himself shall reward thee openly. 
 
 The Pharisees did all to be seen of men. They gave 
 alms, tliey prayed, they performed all their good deeds on 
 this corrupt principle. " Verily," therefore says our S.w- 
 louR, " they Jiave their reward ;" that is, they haA-e their 
 reward now; they shall have no reward hereafter. God 
 looks not so much at the act done, as at the motive for 
 doing it. Though the deed be good, yet if vanity, if mere 
 regard to character, or any other false principle, prompt us 
 to it, we shall go unrewarded b}'^ God. What could be 
 more right ihan for the Pliarisec to give alms ? yet the 
 Pharisee, as we are here assured, would have no reward 
 from his Father which is in heaven. 
 * Romans xii. 20. 
 
 i 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 251 
 
 The Pharisees, indeed, carried their vanity very far. 
 " When thou doest alms," says our Saviour, " do not 
 sound a trumpet before thee as the hypocrites," (or Phari- 
 sees) " do :" that is, do not proclaim, as it were by sound 
 of trumpet, thine own almsgiving, or other good deeds. 
 Do not publish thine own praises. The vanity of the 
 Pliarisees was gross ; but all vanity is forbidden. The 
 good breeding of modern times usually restrains even those 
 who are vain at heart, from extolling themselves ; and yet 
 it leaves to them a thousand indirect means of self-exalta- 
 tion. Indeed, vanity itself sometimes renders men profi- 
 cients in the art of seeming to lay aside their vanity ; for it 
 is a polite and creditable art : and therefore, although the 
 well-bred person of modern days may seem far removed 
 from the sin of the Pharisees, although he may not sound 
 a trumpet before him as they did, yet he may be as vain ls 
 a Pharisee in his heart. But let us each examine our- 
 selves strictly on this general subject. Are we prompted 
 to perform those good things which we do, chiefly by the 
 desire of appearing well before men ? Do we love, not so 
 much to do right, as to be thouglu to do right ? Ask your- 
 selves this question : " Supposing all my acquaintance to 
 recommend something which I know to be wrong, should 1 
 dare to act against their judgment ? And supposing them 
 all to frown upon me for doing right, should I proceed to 
 do it ?" If your conscience cannot give a reply, which is 
 in any degree satisfactory, then you, like the Pharisee, arc 
 under the dominion of the love of praise. Men in general 
 are enslaved by this principle. Witness the endeavours 
 which they use to conform their conduct to public opinion ; 
 witness their own acknowledsment that their leading- 
 motive is a regard to character ; Avitness their attention to 
 external acts of virtue, and their inattention to secret and 
 self-denying duties ; witness their dread of being thought 
 singidar. There is, indeed, an extreme of vice into which 
 they rarely fall. But is not Christian virtue practised al- 
 most as rarelv '^ Is not true holiness almost as much 
 
252 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 avoided as gross sin ? And for the same reason ; both 
 are discreditable. It is discreditable to be very profligate, 
 to lie, or to steal. It is also discreditable in this age to be 
 accounted stricter than others in religion ; and therefore, 
 men choose to be neither in one extreme, as they call it, 
 nor in the other ; that is, neither to practise Christian 
 virtue, r>or to yield themselves up to notorious vice. Re- 
 gard to character is the motive to all that middling kind of 
 virtue which most abounds : and since regard to character 
 is the motive, since all is done in order to be seen of men, 
 they shall have no reward from their Father which is in 
 heaven. These persons are not in favour with God ; these 
 are not the true Christians. We must look to persons who 
 are aiming at a higher virtue, at a virtue to which love 
 of reputation will not carry them, in order to find even 
 the existence of true Christian grace. Alas ! how many 
 decent and respectable persons would find themselves 
 tmehristianized if they would attend to this one considera- 
 tion. 
 
 But let our attention be turned chiefly to ourselves. And 
 does our imagination never present to us the idea of some 
 admiring friend or group of friends, whose expected praise 
 is the incentive to the diligence which we are using, to the 
 self-denial which we are practising, and to the honourable 
 deeds which we are performing ? Is our mind apt to 
 ruminate on the complimentary things likely to be said to 
 us, by this or the other man ? Is it a very mortifj-ing 
 thing to us. to be disappointed of some expected praise, 
 and a bitter thing to be blamed 1 Does our heart sink at 
 the thought of having to face unpopularity and reproach 1 — 
 On what principle do we choose our friends and acquaint- 
 ance ? Do we cultivate familiarity chiefly with those who 
 gratify our vanity, with those who flatter our persons, 
 admire our Avit, judge highly of our talents, respect our 
 judgment, and approve our sayings ? and on the contrary, 
 do we dislike those, however amiable and excellent, who 
 perceive our faults, who are too conscientious to flatter u-s 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 253 
 
 as ol.hers do ; or whose manifest superiority is a disadvan- 
 tage to us 1 
 
 Some there are even in this age who exhibit the coarsest 
 vanity ; who speak continually of theniselvea ; who recount 
 the things which they liave done ; and announce what 
 fhey intend to do. These may almost literally be said to 
 sound a trumpet before them as the Pharisees did. They 
 certainly do not take care not to let their left hand know 
 what their right hand doeth. But let us rather inquire 
 whether vjc are not circuitously and indirectly seeking oa: 
 own praise. Some endeavour to reflect honour on them- 
 selves by speaking highly of personages with whom they 
 are intimate. Some, in short, seek a reputation for humil- 
 ity by the modest things which they say ; some, the praise 
 of candour, by the liberal things which they say ; some, a 
 name for kindness, by the soft things which they say ; 
 some, a character for judgment, by the prudent things 
 which they say. The love of praise, it is to be feared, is 
 the mainspring of common conversation ; and they, who 
 have never examined their hearts, are little aware how 
 strong is this principle within them. It dictates to many 
 men almost every thing which they either speak, or think, 
 or do. The Pharisees therefore were not singular. 
 They sought praise in one manner ; we, in another : they 
 by alms and ostentatious prayers ; we, perhaps by our 
 whole conversation and conduct. Let us be fearful of 
 this principle ; which is often the greatest foe to true 
 virtue, though it is the chief prop of that virtue which ia 
 
254 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 XX. 
 
 ST. xMATTHEW, VI. 5—8. 
 
 •And when thou prayest, thou shall not be as the h'"pocrites are : for they 
 
 love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the 
 
 streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto ycu, they 
 
 have Ineir reward. 
 I3ut thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast 
 
 shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret ; and thy Father 
 
 which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 
 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do : for they 
 
 think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 
 Be not ye therefore like unto them : for your Father k.noweth what things 
 
 ye have need of, before ye ask him. 
 
 Religion in one view of it, is a secret thing. It con- 
 sists in a secret converse between the invisible God and 
 the soul. Our Saviour taught that it consisted not in the 
 parading prayer of the Pharisees, in the magnificence of 
 the worship of the temple, or in the vain repetitions of the 
 heathen. Our pious reformers, in like manner, affirmed 
 that it consisted not in the solemnities of the mass ; in the 
 grandeur of churches ; or in the vain repetition of the Latin 
 prayers of the papists. Again, religion at this day, consists 
 not in the mere forms, however decent, of our established 
 worship ; in the regularity of our attendance at church ; in 
 the careful articulation of our responses ; nor in any out- 
 ward forms of religion. And I will add, that Christianity 
 consists not in the mere extemporaneousness of prayer, nor 
 in modes of worship peculiar to any dissenting congre- 
 gation. Religion consists nut in being frequent at public 
 worship, and seldom engaged in secret prayer at home 
 Christ warns us agains. such suppossitions as this. " But 
 ihou," says He, " when thou pravest, enter into tliy closet, 
 ^.!ul when thou hast shut thy door, pray unto thy Father 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 255 
 
 which is in secret ; and thy Father which seeth in secret 
 shall reward thee opeidy." 
 
 The reliinon of many persons is merely oclward. Thev 
 do almost every thing, even in religion, to be seen of men 
 They suit their religious conduct to the religious taste or 
 the present time, just as the Pharisees accommodated theii 
 conduct to the more devout taste of the people of their day 
 Secret prayer is the great test of a Christian. There ig 
 something in public prayer, as well as in social prayer, 
 which may serve to amuse the mind, to gratify the ear, and 
 to draw the attendance even of an irreligious person ; but 
 in secret prayer, when no eye is upon us, but that of God, 
 we have a far better proof of the internal piety of the heart. 
 "Verily," says our Saviour, in reference to the Pharisees, 
 they have their reward." As the Pharisee had his reward 
 for the ostentatious prayers which he put up, — in the 
 estimation which he obtained; so now, the decent altender 
 on the public worship of God has some temporal recom- 
 pense for his attendance. He is rewarded, if he be a 
 servant, for the regularity of his church-going, by his ma- 
 ster's approbation of this act of obedience. He is rewarded, 
 if a master, by the respect and good opinion of his graver 
 acquaintance ; he is rewarded, if a father, by the more 
 decent and dutiful behaviour of the children who accom- 
 pany him to the place of his customary worship. Perhaps, 
 he is also paid by the self-complacency which he feels in 
 havino- performed, as he conceiyes, his religious duty ; he 
 's paid by the thought, that, because he has rendered to 
 God the homage of his public prayers, he shall be received 
 into heaven. " Verily," however, says our Saviour, "they 
 have their reward." Such persons have their reward in 
 this world ; they shall not have it in the world to come. 
 They have their whole recompense now ; there remains no 
 further blessing for them from God in a future life. They 
 were decent at public worship ; and they have had the 
 temporal advantages of this their decency. They meant 
 to set an example to children and servants ; and those 
 
256 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 children and servants may have derived some benefit from 
 the example. Their owrn souls they did not regard, as is 
 evident from their neglect of secret prayer at home ; and 
 their own souls, therefore, shall receive no benefit on that 
 day w^hich shall determine the eternal state of the soul. 
 
 But it is time to turn from such characters to the serious 
 Christian. He fulfils that precept of our Saviour which 
 we are considering. He " enters into his closet and shuts 
 his door :" that is, he takes the best opportunity of being 
 private, which is afibrded to him ; though he will rather 
 pray in a low voice, in the presence of others, than not 
 pray at all. He prays " unto his Father which is in secret;" 
 that is, he pours out his heart in prayer, and he prays for 
 every blessing which he needs : for pardon of sin, for 
 strength against temptation, for deliverance from his cor- 
 ruptions, for victory over the world, for direction in diffi- 
 culties, for consolation under afflictions, for submission un- 
 der pains and losses ; for the increase, in short, of faith, 
 of hope, and of charity ; and for all the graces of God's Holy 
 Spirit. And leading this life of fervent and secret prayer, 
 that " God who seeth him in secret rewards him openly." 
 He is rewarded by his obtaining evidently the very things 
 which he asks. By the means of secret prayer put up in 
 his closet, strength, to fulfil openly in the sight of men all 
 the various duties of life, is imparted to him. He is raised 
 above the power of those temptations by which the merely 
 formal worshippers are overcome. You see this man con- 
 quer his passions, and sustain his trials, and suff'er little 
 (compared with the worldly man) under afflictions. You 
 behold him upright and faithful to his God in all companies ; 
 daring to be religious in the midst of the profane world ; 
 and reproving that vice which the formal worshipper is too 
 timid to contradict or to resist. He, who prays earnestly to 
 God in secret, will generally be a decided character in 
 public ; and surely there is more comfort, as well as more 
 respectability, in being thus consistent, than in being a 
 taint with saints, and a worldly man with the worldly. In 
 
 1 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 257 
 
 this sense, then, we may probably interpret and apply the 
 passage. That peculiar strength of character, which the 
 world admires in some religious persons, may be referred 
 to the efficacy of those secret prayers, of which the world 
 takes no cognizance. They bow their kiiee.s before 5he God 
 and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ; and " He strengthens 
 them with might by His JSpirit in the inner man." Day by 
 day they implore His grace ; and, day by day, in answer 
 to their prayers. He pours down upon them a portion of 
 His own Spirit : and thus they are made strong to fulfil 
 every task which is required of them ; and to endure what- 
 ever trials may befal them : they are made happy in them- 
 selves, and often honourable in the sight of men ; and thus 
 they are rewarded openly. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, VI. 9. 
 
 After this manner therefore prav yc : Our Father which art in heaven. 
 
 The Lord's prayer is often in the mouths of many by 
 whom it is ill understood. We shall endeavour to afford 
 a clear and just interpretation of it. We must, however, 
 premise, that it was given by our Saviour to His disciples, 
 for the purpose, not only of explaining the general object 
 and nature of prayer ; but, also, of pointing out the manner 
 in which they were to pray, in order to avoid those " vain" 
 or useless " repetitions," and that " much spef».king," which 
 He nad been blaming in the heathen. 
 
 The Lord's prayer is, therefore, extremely short , much 
 shorter than we know some prayers to have been, which 
 were put up by our Saviour, himself. We doubtless ought 
 to imitate the general matter of this prayer, rather than the 
 length of it. ^^^ 
 
258 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 " Our Father which art in Heaven :" we are thii:< 
 taught to begin, by addressing God as " our Father." We 
 all have earthly parents, to whom we are accustomed to 
 look up. We know, that we have been depending on them ; 
 that we have received from them many good things ; and 
 that we owe them, in return, our reverence, affection, and 
 submission. By means, therefore, of this relation to our 
 earthly parents, an intimation is given us of the nature of 
 our relation to God : which is a very easy and simple 
 mode of being instructed in it, and the best, undoubtedly, 
 of which we are capable. Have we fathers after the flesh ? 
 God also is our Father. To Him we owe all, and indeed 
 more than all, that as children we ever owed to our natural 
 parents. But God, also, is our Father which is in Heaven ; 
 our parents dwell with us on earth: — they are seen among 
 us from day to day ; — God is that parent who can be seen 
 only by the eye of faith so long as we live in this world ; 
 for His dwelling place is in heaven. The first sentence 
 in the Lord's prayer implies, therefore, a profession of our 
 faith in Him who is invisible ; as well as an acknowledg- 
 ment of our being related to Him, as a child is to its parent. 
 Let us not attempt too much refinement in explaining the 
 Lord's prayer. 
 
 Nothing can be more simple, nothing more easy to un- 
 derstand, than this opening of it is. There is, however, a 
 more peculiar sense in which some men are called in 
 Scripture the children of God. Believers are said to be 
 adopted into His family. We are all, says the Apostle, 
 "the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus"* — "and 
 if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with 
 Christ."! May we be enabled to put up this prayer in the 
 spirit of adoption ; and thus to add a further meaning to the 
 more obvious one — may we do this, through the help of that 
 Spirit, which, as the Scripture expresses it, enables us to 
 say " Abba, Father." 
 
 * Gal. iii. 26 t Rom. viii. 17. 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 259 
 
 XXII. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, VI. 9. 
 
 Hallowed be thy Name. 
 
 The name of God, means commonly in Scripture the 
 same as God Himself: and ''hallowed" means had in rev- 
 erence, or honour. The expression " hallowed be thy 
 name" is, therefore, one by which we imply, that we con- 
 sider all honour as due to God, and wish it to be rendered 
 lo Him. This disposition of the heart to ascribe praise 
 and honour to God is a very sublime and excellent part 
 of religion. It is that branch of prayer which is commonly 
 called adoration. In thus adoring God, we, as it were, 
 forget ourselves. We adore Him for what He is, essen- 
 tially in Himself, and generally to all His creatures, rather 
 than for what He is particularly to us. By addressing Him 
 in this manner, our ideas of Him become exalted in the 
 beginning of our prayer : and we, then, descend to our 
 more particular petitions, with the greater reverence for 
 Him, to whom we offer our supplications. We have an 
 example of the spirit of adoration in that sublime language 
 of the Psalmist, in which he calls upon all created things 
 to unite with him in praising God. " Praise Him, all ye 
 angels of his; praise Him, all his host; praise Him, sun 
 and moon ; praise Him, all ye stars of light ; praise Him, 
 all ye heavens, and ye waters that are above the heavens :"* 
 " Oh, praise God in his holiness, praise Him in the firma- 
 ment of his power. Let every thing that hath breath, praise 
 the LoRD."t 
 
 • Ps. cxlviii. 2—i. t Ps. cl. 1, 2, 6. 
 
260 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, VI. 10. 
 Thy Kingdom come. 
 
 The establishment of the religion of Christ in the 
 world is represented in Scripture under the figure of the 
 erection of a kingdom. The kings of the earth have their 
 separate territories, over which they reign, and their sev- 
 eral interests, which they endeavour to extend ; and he is 
 deemed the greatest and most successful monarch who is 
 best able to maintain and enlarge his empire. God also 
 has a kingdom in this world. It interferes not, however,, 
 with those of earthly princes • for it is a spiritual kingdom, 
 consisting partly indeed of a visible church, but chiefly in 
 an empire over the hearts of men. This Kingdom of God 
 extends itself over many kingdoms of the world ; for the 
 subjects of the Messiah are of every nation, and tongue, 
 and people, and language. For the more complete estab- 
 lishment of this Kingdom we are taught by Christ to pray, 
 before we proceed to present our private petitions. The 
 Lord's prayer therefore supposes the success of the gospel 
 is to be near our hearts. Let us who so often use these 
 words, ask ourselves whether it be our ardent wish to see 
 the gospel every where flourish 1 We long for the aggran- 
 disement of our native country. We wish our rivals to be 
 laid low, and our own land to become great and victorious. 
 But do we bear in mind the far more important interests 
 of the kingdom of Christ ? 
 
 May the Lord take to Himself his great power and 
 reign ! may all kings fall down before Him, and all nations 
 do Him service ! may He go on, conquering, and to con- 
 quer, until all His enemies shall be laid under His feet ! 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 261 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW VL 10. 
 
 Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. 
 
 We know that God's will is perfectly fulfilled in heav- 
 en. The Angels stand ready to perform His pleasure : the 
 Saints are made perfect in holiness : and, because the 
 Divine will is thus accomplished, heaven is a place of 
 perfect happiness. It is the wish and prayer of the 
 Christian, that earth may in this respect resemble heaven : 
 that men may cease from preferring their own pleasure to 
 ihat of their Creator : and that, as angels are all minis- 
 tering spirits, ready to fulfil whatever embassy the great 
 Lord of all may assign to them ; so men also may learn to do 
 the will of God, by performing all those works of righte- 
 ousness, which He hath commanded and appointed. The 
 men of this world earnestly wish for their own happiness ; 
 and occasionally feel a desire to promote the general good : 
 but they do not consider, that, so long as the will of God 
 is not fulfilled, much happiness is not to be expected. 
 From whence come almost all the pains and miseries 
 which are experienced in our passage through life ? come 
 they not from the indisposition of man to do the will of 
 God ? May the time soon arrive Avhen the earth shall 
 resemble heaven in holiness : then will it also resemble 
 heaven in happiness. Hasten the time, O Lord, when 
 Thy kingdom shall come, and Thy will be done in earth 
 a.^ it is in heaven. 
 
262 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 XXV. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW VI. 11. 
 
 Give us this day our daily bread. 
 
 Man is a creature so constituted, that daily food (or 
 bread) is necessary for his continuance in life. This is 
 the great law of his earthly condition. We are therefore 
 taught in this prayer to pray daily to God for the supply ot 
 this our great and continually returning necessity. We 
 are instructed to implore of our heavenly Father, that He 
 will sustain these our perishable bodies, which would 
 otherwise come day by day into new peril of death. We 
 are taught to acknowledge, that, unless He, who created 
 us, will also constantly preserve us, the life, which He has 
 bestowed, would end ; and vain would be all the help of 
 man. Such is the obvious meaning of this brief request. 
 It implies moreover, that prayer is one of the appointed 
 means of supplying our daily wants : and that the very 
 food, which we earn by the sweat of our brow, is His 
 gift. For is it not His sun, His wind, and His rain, which 
 ripens every blade of corn which we eat ? Is it not God, 
 who gives health and strength to the reaper ? and does not 
 the same God bestow those bodily and mental powers, by 
 which we earn whatever we exchange for our necessary 
 food ? Is it not He, who blesses all our daily industry, and 
 causes our substance to increase ? 
 
 But this petition must be understood in an extensive 
 sense. Bread being the principal thing which we need, 
 it stands for all other necessaries. Whatever the weak- 
 ness and helplessness of man desires from his heavenly 
 Father during his passage through this mortal life— 
 whether of a temporal, or of a spiritual nature — is repre- 
 sented, in this short comprehensive prayer, by the term 
 
THE SERBION ON THE MOUNT. 263 
 
 Bread." Although, therefore, the words in the passage 
 are few, the meaning is large. " Give us this day our 
 DAILY BREAD :" — It is to say, " Give us all things which 
 Thou knowest to be needful to us. Suppl)', oh liOrd, all 
 our wants : we confess, that we cannot sustain ourselves ; 
 and ihat all our support is derived from Thee. We are 
 hrlpless as to our bodies ; and helpless as to our souls : 
 and we, therefore, lift up our prayer to Thee, for whatso- 
 ever things Ave need. Give unto us this day bread to sup- 
 port our bodies ; and give unto us this day grace to sustain 
 our souls : for on Thee alone do we depend." Such is 
 the meaning of the prayer ; and exactly as our hearts tell 
 us, that our wants are, so let our supplications also be. 
 They who think ordy of temporal blessings, will be likely 
 to consider the prayer as referring only to these ; but they, 
 who feel their spiritual poverty, will also pray, while they 
 utter these words, that their spiritual wants may be 
 supplied. 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW VI. 12. 
 
 And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. 
 
 Bv the word "debts" is here evidently meant "tres- 
 passes" or sins ; for the word " trespasses" is used in the 
 same prayer, instead of " debts," in another part of 
 Scripture. By our trespasses, we may be said to become 
 debtors to God ; for we incur a penalty proportioned to 
 the sins which we commit. Now the debts, which wo 
 thus incur, we cannot pay. There is no hope that we 
 shall ever pay them ; for the future obedience of our 
 
264 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 whole lives, even if it should be perfect, can never cancel 
 the trespasses, which are past : just as the paying regularly 
 all our future debts can never cancel a debt, which is 
 already standing out against us We are, therefore, taught, 
 in this prayer, to implore a free forgiveness ; and we are 
 in it likened to debtors who ha\e nothing to pay ; and 
 who, therefore, can only ask a free discharge. We are 
 enabled by other parts of Scripture to know on what 
 ground it is that we obtain this pardon of our sins. That 
 we ought to pray for pardon is all that we are here taught. 
 The more particular doctrine of the manner of that pardon 
 was to be divulged and explained when Christ should 
 have paid the ransom of His death. " In whom we have 
 redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of 
 sins."* Let us not be surprised that the doctrine of the 
 Atonement is not here declared. The Atonement was to 
 be made, before it was to be distinctly revealed. That 
 the sins of men might be forgiven ; and that the God of 
 the Christian is a God rich in mercy, was information 
 enough for this place : and it is information which should 
 be unspeakably prized by every one, who knows that he is 
 a sinner ; who perceives, also, that his sins are so many 
 debts due to God ; and that he must be bound hand and 
 foot, and cast into prison, having nothing to pay, unless 
 God will freely forgive them all. 
 
 But it is also said, " Forgive our debts, as we forgive 
 our debtors ;" and in another place, " Forgive us our sms, 
 for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us.""! By 
 means of these words we are required, in our very prayer, 
 to profess that we are in the habit of forgiving freely the 
 debts, or trespasses of our neighbours ; a profession, indeed, 
 which every Christian ought to be able confidently to make ; 
 appealing, as he makes it, to that God who searcheth and 
 knoweth the heart. 
 
 Let us, then, take care, that, while we put up this prayer 
 
 • Col. i. 14. Ephes. i. 7. t St. Luke, xi. 4. 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 265 
 
 for pardon, we do it in the spirit of free forgiveness to all 
 others. It is necessary to feel this temper, in order to our 
 praying acceptably, that our own sins may be forgiven. 
 God rejects, with abhorrence, the prayer of that man who 
 is not forgiving towards his neighbours. If we are unre- 
 lenting to others, God will be .unrelenting to us. We 
 may gather from this test, whether our supplications shall 
 be accepted. We need not ascend into Heaven, nor de- 
 sire to have thence a special revelation to tell us, whether 
 our prayers shall be heard, or not. If we draw near to 
 God, in the spirit of the humble publican, smiting on our 
 breasts, and saying, " Lord, be merciful to me a sinner ;" 
 and if, at the same time, we feel, within us, a spirit of 
 fervent charity towards all men, and of unreserved and free 
 forgiveness towards those, in particular, who have in any 
 way offended us, let us not doubt, that our heavenly Father 
 hears the voice of our supplication, and will have com- 
 passion upon us. " For if ye forgive men their trespasses, 
 your heavenly Father will also forgive you ; but if ye for- 
 give not men their trespasses, neither will your Father 
 forgive your trespasses." 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, VI. 13. 
 
 And lead us not into tempiation. 
 
 The excellency of this part of the Lord's prayer will be 
 best understood by those who are most acquainted with the 
 weakness of man, and his liability to be overcome by 
 temptation. We are very apt to be severe on others when 
 they fall into sin ; little thinking how likely to yield we 
 ourselves should be, in case we should be thrown into the 
 
 23 
 
266 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 same scene of trial. If some sin were to present itself to 
 us in its most inviting form, and at some of those moment,- 
 when we are the most unguarded ; if an opportunity should 
 be given us of committing it in perfect secrecy; if it shouitl 
 be that sin, moreover, 'o which, from our age, temperament, 
 circumstances, and condition in Ufe, we might be most in 
 danger of yielding ; who shall say that he^ould escape ? 
 " Lead us not into temptation," ought surely then to be 
 the language of all our hearts. The serious Christian feels, 
 that the temptations, which are in life, constitute his great 
 danger. He feels also, that it is safer to shun them ; than 
 to expose himself to them in the confidence of overcoming 
 them. He wants to be safe landed in heaven ; and, there- 
 fore, wishes only to pursue that course in life, which may 
 make his passage to heaven the most easy, by lessening 
 the occasions of his falling into sin. " Lead me not into 
 temptation" v/ill, therefore, be one earnest part of his 
 prayer ; and \vhile he thus makes his supplication, that 
 God, on Avhom he calls, will preserve him : God will give 
 him grace to bear his smaller trials ; and will break, in 
 some way or other, the force of those fiercer temptations, 
 which he may be too weak to endure. God will so order 
 the events of His providence, as to protect and preserve 
 him ; for as the apostle observes, " God is faithful, who 
 will not sufTer you to be tempted, above that ye are able ; 
 but will, with the temptation, also make a way to escape, 
 that ye may be able to bear it."* 
 
 One other remark is proper in this place. If we pray, 
 not to be led into temptation, we should also tak-e care, not 
 to lead ourselves into it. How inconsistent, in this respect, 
 is the conduct of many persons, with that Lord's prayer, 
 which they perhaps daily use. They go to such places; — . 
 they read such books ; — or they associate with such com- 
 panions, — as serve to inflame their passions, and to put 
 their virtue to more trials than it can bear. They sufler 
 
 • Cor. X. 13. 
 
I 
 THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 267 
 
 themselves to be carried to the very edge of sin ; they run 
 boldly and heedlessly into those very scenes of temptation, 
 from which they, with their lips, implore God to deliver 
 them, every time they Uter the Lord's prayer. Let us, 
 then, pray to be kept from temptation ; and let us also flee' 
 from it. In choosing our profession in life, our acquaint- 
 ance, our connexions, let us make it a principal point in 
 our consideiation, what the comparative degree of tempt- 
 ation is likely to be. By thus proceeding cautiously, we 
 shall proceed safely : and if we pray, at the same time, 
 with our heart, to God that He will lead us not into tempt- 
 ation, we may hope that He will make all things work 
 together for our good : and that, notwithstanding our extreme 
 weakness, he will bring us safely through this dangerous 
 and evil world, to His heavenly kingdom. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, VL 13. 
 
 But deliver us from evil. 
 
 The word evil as it stands in the original Greek may 
 either be rendered the evil one, that is, the Devil ; or that 
 which is evil. We shall choose, for our present purpose, 
 to consider it in the latter sense. First, then, what is it 
 to be delivered from that which is evil ? " Deliver us from 
 evil" is a short expression ; but, like some other expressions 
 in the Lord's prayer, it has a large and comprehensive 
 meaning. We have already shown that " give us this day 
 our daily bread" is a prayer for the gift of all that variety 
 of things, whether spiritual or temporal, which are truly 
 good for us. " Deliver us from evil," is in like manner a 
 prayer for deliverance from all that variety of things which 
 
268 FAMILY COMMENTARy ON 
 
 are truly evil. In explaining the word " evil," we may first 
 observe, that a very good exemplification of the meaning 
 of the term is furnished by the Litany of the Church of 
 England. We are there taught to pray for deliverance, as 
 well from temporal evils, " from lightning and tempest, from 
 plague, pestilence and famine, from battle and murder, and 
 from sudden (or violent) death." As, also, from the spirit- 
 ual evils of blindness of heart ; and pride, vain glory, and 
 hypocrisy, from envy, hatred, and malice, and all unchari- 
 tableness ; from fornication and all other deadly sin ; and 
 from all deceits of the world, the flesh, and the Devil : and, 
 further, from all false doctrine, heresy and schism, from 
 hardness of heart, and contempt of God's word and com- 
 mandment : and in short from the grand evil of sin, from 
 the crafts and assaults of the Devil, from God's wrath, and 
 from everlasting damnation. It would be easy to enlarge 
 very widely on this subject ; for we live in a Avorld where 
 we are exposed to ten thousand different evils. Dangers 
 threaten us, both at home, and abroad ; both by night and 
 by day ; both in solitude, and in company ; at every age, 
 under every circumstance, and in every situation. There 
 IS no place on earth to which we can retreat, and say, that 
 there we shall be secure from evil. What various pains 
 and diseases are there, which attack the body ; and how 
 many of these, which affect also the mind ? There is the 
 loss of reason ; there are pangs and torments of various 
 kinds to be dreaded by us ; and there are a thousand acci- 
 dents which may put an end to our comfort, or destroy our 
 lives, even in a moment. Besides which, how constantly 
 are we exposed to every kind of spiritual evil : — especially 
 to our great adversary the Devil, who " walketh about, 
 seeking whom he may devour." Let it only be remarked, 
 further, that we are in unceasing peril from the corruption 
 of our own evil nature ; for we are ourselves often our own 
 worst enemies. We are in peril from our unruly and tor- 
 menting passions, -w^hich both injure the body; and, also, 
 war against the soul. It is in vain, therefore, to count the 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 269 
 
 evils which threaten the sons of men. Man, in passing 
 through the world, may be compared to a traveller in a 
 wilderness, in which all manner of noxious and destroying 
 animals abound ; and to a traveller, moreover, who is totally 
 unarmed for his defence. What, then, can be more proper, 
 than that one in such circumstances should, day by day, 
 lift up his prayer to God, and say, " Oh Lord, deliver me 
 from evil." 
 
 Let us, then, each ask ourselves, first, whether we are 
 aware of all these evils ? whether we feel any lively sense 
 of the peril, in which we continually stand ; whether, espe- 
 cially, we know any thing of the evil of sin, and of our 
 own danger from it ? and, secondly, let us ask ourselves, 
 whether we are sensible, that God alone can save and 
 deliver us 1 It seems to be a great object of the Lord's 
 prayer to inculcate upon us our weakness and sinfulness 
 and danger, on the one hand ; and our dependence on God 
 for grace and strength, on the other. To this end it is, 
 that we are taught to call daily on God for all things which 
 we need ; for the possession of all things which are desi- 
 rable ; and for deliverance from all things which are hurtful. 
 God is stronger than our enemies : He can, and He will, 
 deliver as many as pray to Him for deliverance ; but He 
 will leave those, to the power of their adversaries, who 
 seek not their help from Him. Let us, then, daily implore 
 His aid. Let us not go forth from our chamber in the 
 morning, without first askj.ng His protection and blessing. 
 
 Let us fall down on our knees every morning ; aad say, 
 " Oh Lord, deliver me this day from evil." 
 
 23* 
 
270. FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, VI. 13. 
 
 For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 
 
 OuR Lord closes that prayer which he teaches to His 
 disciples, by thus ascribing dominion and power and glory 
 to God. To praise and magnify God, is no unimportant, 
 part both of public and of priA^ate worship. Why is it, 
 indeed, that we pray to God ? It is because He is able to 
 fulfil the requests which we make unto Him. There is, 
 therefore, a connection between that part of our prayer, in 
 which we supplicate, and that part in which we adore God, 
 and acknowledge His divine perfection. Ii is the acknow- 
 ledgment of God's greatness, which suggests to us our own 
 littleness. It is the belief of His power, which encourages 
 us to plead our own weakness ; and it is the view of His 
 exceeding glory, which disposes us to self-abasement and 
 humility. 
 
 But let us proceed, more particularly, to explain the 
 expressions which close the prayer taught us by our Lord. 
 " Thine is the kingdom." God is the true and rightful 
 sovereign of this lower world : the various powers and 
 authorities, which exist in it, are all derived from God : — 
 for all power is of God ;— and he who resisteth the power, 
 "resisteth the ordinance of God." Kings are siil)ject to 
 God. They are accountable to Him for all their actions ; 
 though we should suppose them accountable to no one else 
 As all the inferior authorities of the kingdoms of this world 
 are derived from the supreme authority of kings ; their 
 authority is derived from God, and centres in His authority. 
 His, therefore, is the kingdom. He is the true king over 
 all ; and earthly kings are but the subjects of this one great 
 eternal King, " who is the King of kings, and Lord of lords." 
 
THE SERMON ON '5HE MOUNT. 271 
 
 But God also is the true ana rightful sovc/eign of the 
 whole universe. The angels, principalities, and powers, 
 which are in heJiven, are subject to Him. Their power is 
 entirely subject to His power ; and their authority, to His 
 authority. 
 
 Christ, indeed, is also declared in Scripture to be our 
 Lord and King. He is the " King of Zion." " Behold I 
 have set my King upon my holy hill of Zion."* " All 
 Kings," it is also said, " shall be made subject unto Him ; 
 for He must reign till He hath put all enemies under His 
 feet." Nevertheless, we are taught to expect that a time 
 shall come, when the mediatorial throne shall be removed 
 away ; and that the Son Himself, when all things shall 
 have been subdued unto Him, shall himself also be subject 
 to the Father, " that God may be all in all."t 
 
 Again, thine also is the power. As we have shown 
 that there is no true dominion but that of God ; so, also, 
 there is no true power but that of God. All the power of 
 men and of angels is as nothing before Him ; such power 
 as they have, He gives them ; theirs is only an inferior 
 and delegated power : they have no power of their own. 
 Kings, indeed, may boast of their power. They may send 
 forth their armies into the field : they may command ; and 
 the thing commanded shall be done : but it is done, only 
 so far, as God permits it to be done. It is the power of 
 God which sustains all the inferior powers in the universe; 
 and when He pleases, all the strength of his creatures 
 utterly fails. It is He who setteth up kings at His pleasure. 
 It is He also, v/ho putteth them down. " He lifteth up the 
 poor man out of the mire, that he may set him among the 
 princes, even among the princes of the people :" for all 
 power is of God : and there is not a thing which any 
 individual does, but God gives him the power to do it. 
 His, is the power ; and His, therefore, we should, in our 
 prayer, acknowledge it to be. 
 
 • Psalm, ii. 6. +1 Cor. xv. 28. 
 
272 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 Again, lastly, think is the glory. If indeed, His be 
 the kingdom, and His the power, it follows that His also 
 ought to be the glory. There can be no true glory but that 
 of God. All the beings who are in heaven, and all the 
 creatures which are on earth, all the things which exist, 
 "whether animate or inanimate, in all the regions of 
 infinite space, were created by God. To God, therefore, 
 belongs the glory of what they are, and of all that they do: 
 for on Him do they depend ; and His was the glory of 
 creating them. 
 
 Let us now consider, whether there be any thing which 
 ■we have, of which we have a right to glory. Shall we 
 glory in our wisdom ? But who gave us that wisdom ? 
 Was it not God, who put into our minds whatever powers 
 of understanding we possess ; and not we ourselves, who 
 placed them there ? We have no more right, therefore, to 
 glory in any natural faculties of the mind, than we should 
 have to glory in having ourselves put the sun into the firma- 
 ment. All our exercise, also, of these natural faculties, is 
 through the power of God enabling us to exercise them. 
 Again, all virtue and goodness are from God : they are, 
 indeed, the immediate effect of His grace working in us. 
 " What hast thou, that thou didst not receive ? Now, if 
 thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst 
 not received it ?"* We see then, that all glory belongs to 
 God. His is the glory. The expression " thine is the 
 glory" implies, then, that' we renounce the glory : that we 
 pretend not to it : that we ascribe it all to Him. May we, 
 indeed, thus reject it: — may our ideas of God be such as 
 to raise Him in our eyes : and to make us sink in our own 
 esteem. May we exalt Him ; and annihilate ourselves : 
 and in this spirit of self-annihilation, may we address our 
 prayers unto Him. 
 
 The term " for ever" signifies, that the kingdom and 
 power and glory not only belong to God now; but shall 
 
 * 1 Cor. iv. 7. 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 273 
 
 belong to him for ever and ever. Thy kingdom, says the 
 Prophet, is an everlasting kingdom ; and Thy dominion 
 endureth throughout all generations :* or, as our own Church 
 expresses it ; " as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever 
 shall be, world without end." 
 
 The word amen, which closes the prayer, signifies " so 
 be it." It is a fresh affirmation of what had before been 
 said. It is like declaring the same thing a second time, for 
 the sake of confirmation. 
 
 We have now gone through our explanation of the Lord's 
 Prayer. Let us learn in future, when we use this prayer, 
 to say it, not with our lips only. Let us beware, lest we 
 fall into that very sin of the heathen, against which our 
 Saviour meant, by this prayer, to provide — the sin of nsing 
 vain repetitions as the heathen did. This prayer itself is 
 turned, as we fear, into a mere vain repetition, by thou- 
 sands ; for they repeat it over and over, without sense or 
 meaning. Let us turn it to the chief uses for which it was 
 intended. Let us take a lesson from it, as to the manner 
 in which we are to shape our prayers in general. Let us 
 learn from it to avoid all mere service of the lips, and mul- 
 tiplication of words, which are without meaning: and, 
 whenever we use this prayer itself, let us bear in mind the 
 interpretation which has now been given of every sentence 
 of it : and thus let us learn to " pray with the spirit, and 
 with the understanding also."t 
 
 • Psalm, cxlv. 13. \ 1 Cor. xiv. 1& 
 
274 FAMILY CO.AOIENTARY ON 
 
 ST. MATTHEV/, VI. 14, 15, 
 
 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also for- 
 give you : 
 
 But if ye forgive not men their tre.spasses, neither will your Father for- 
 give your trespasses. 
 
 Christ, in his sermon on the mount, had already in- 
 structed His disciples in the duty of showing mercy, and 
 of even loving their enemies, " Blessed" He had said " are 
 the merciful : for they shall obtain mercy."* And " Love 
 your enemies ; bless them that curse you ; do good to them 
 that hate you ; aud pray for them v/hich despitefully use 
 you, and persecute you."i And in the Lord's prayer. He 
 had taught His disciples to say " Forgive us our debts, as 
 we forgive our debtors."^ 
 
 The forgiveness of injuries is, as we before remarked, 
 one of the distinguishing doctrines of Christianity. We 
 also before observed, that, this doctrine having been most 
 plainly taught by Christ, there is no one now bearing the 
 Christian name who refuses to give his assent to it: though, 
 undoubtedly, there are multitudes who contrive, in one way 
 or another, to evade it in their practice. 
 
 We will here speak, more particularly than we have yet 
 done, if those occasions on which an unforgiving spirit is 
 now apt to show itself; as well as of those modifications 
 and disguises by which it is in this age apt to be concealed. 
 
 The occasions, on which different men are apt to take 
 ofTence, are indeed very different. It may however be ob- 
 served, in general, that, whenever the pride of men is wound- 
 ed, they are then wounded in the most tender part ; and that 
 they cannot so easily forgive an affront to their pride, as 
 
 ♦ St. Matt. V. 7. t St. Matt. v. 44. t St. Matt. vi. 12. 
 
THE SERMON ON TKE MOUNT. 275 
 
 they can an injury to their interest. Let us then not fancy 
 that we are of a forgiA'ing spirit, because we can forgive 
 those who have committed a trespass upon our property ; 
 because we can pardon the thief, or the house-breaker, 
 who has robbed us, and whose injury moreover we knoAv 
 that the law of the land will amply revenge. Let us 
 examine, rather, whether we forgive those who, by some 
 act or other, have offered an affront to the natural pride of 
 our hearts : and who, in this far more trying way, have 
 been guilty of some " trespass against us." Again, it is 
 worthy of remark, that it is by no means the greatest and 
 most notorious injuries, which are apt to give the greatest 
 offence. On great occasions, we know that the world 
 observes us ; and by forgiving a notable injury, we think 
 that we shall do ourselves credit with the world. Moreover 
 we usually find that where the injury is great, many 
 sympathize with us, and join together in blaming the guilty 
 persons. 
 
 This general defamation of the man who has offended 
 us, serves, much like the execution of the severe sentence 
 of law, to satisfy our anger, and to quiet an unforgiving 
 spirit. Let us not then take credit for forgiving our ene- 
 mies, merely because we forgive them in cases of this sort. 
 Let us inquire rather, whether we forgive him who injures 
 us, when he does it in such a manner that the world takes 
 part with him rather than with us : and when the offender 
 seems to suffer no punishment, or inconvenience of any 
 kind, for his offence. If we can forgive freely in cases of 
 this kind, it is a strong mark of our having attained to a 
 truly forgiving spirit. It is true, undoubtedly, that provo- 
 cations will sometimes be given which are so very great 
 that it is hard indeed, especially for men of certain natural 
 tempers, not to be much ruffled by them. But it is one. 
 thing, to be agitated, and even angry, for a moment ; it i* 
 another, to bear settled malice in the heart. Let us dread,, 
 above all things, to retain a secret ill-v/ill against any one.. 
 Let us be able to sav, "There is no man on earth whoms 
 
276 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 I account my enemy : I live in charity with all man- 
 kind." 
 
 Let us therefore inquire, not only whether we forgive 
 those who trespass against us ; but in what sort of humour 
 we are with them. Is it a benevolent and kind humour, 
 an unreserved and friendly humour, a communicative and 
 pleasant humour ? or are we reserved towards them, silent, 
 distant, and desirous of avoiding them ? Do we rejoice 
 with them when they rejoice ; and weep with them when 
 they have any thing to make them weep ; in the same 
 manner as we did, before they trespassed against us ? If 
 the trespass be thoroughly forgiven, undoubtedly this will 
 be very much the case : but if quite the contrary to this 
 happen ; if we feel secretly grieved at their cheerfulness 
 and prosperity, and glad at their adversity ; this is a strong 
 mark of our not feeling towards them in a forgiving spirit : 
 for forgiveness, be it remembered, does not consist in 
 saying "7 forgive." It consists in the general temper and 
 spirit. It consists in the perseverance of kindness after 
 the offence. How is this as to God ? We pray to be for 
 given by Him, in the same manner as xve forgive others; 
 but when we pray for his forgiveness, do we not mean by 
 it, that we pray for a kind and beneficent and friendly dis- 
 position in God towards us ? Should we consider Him as 
 forgiving us our trespasses, if we knew Him to be still 
 difficult of approach, cold and distant towards us, not 
 allowing us to draw near to Him, in prayer, as His chil- 
 dren ; but wishing us to depart from His presence, instead 
 of inviting us towards Him ? 
 
 Let us then examine ourselves closely, respecting the 
 nature of that forgiveness which we exercise ; for in the 
 same manner in which we forgive men their trespasses, our 
 Heavenly Father will also forgive us. Oh, how great is 
 the contrast between that forgiveness to which we lay 
 claim, from God towards us ; and our temper towards 
 others ; God, we expect, will forgive us great offences, 
 offences many times repeated, and will forgive them freely, 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 277 
 
 liberally, and from the heart. But we are offended at our 
 neighbour, perhaps, for the merest trifles ; and for an injury 
 only once offered : and we are but half reconciled, when 
 we seem to forgive. Even an uncertain rumour, an am- 
 biguous word, or a suspected look will ipflame our anger ; 
 and hardly any persuasion will induce us for a long time to 
 relent: by one, offence is taken by a neglect at not answer- 
 ing a letter ; by another, at not returning a visit ; by a third, 
 at some accidental failure in those attentions which it is 
 chiefly the pride and littleness of our own minds that has 
 taught us to expect. We are embittered perhaps, not 
 against enemies, but against our very friends, by some of 
 these causes ; and we find it hard, and almost impossible, 
 to forgive. 
 
 How different is this treatment of others, who have 
 trespassed against us, from that treatment which we expect 
 dt the hand of God ! In order, then, to cure this temper, 
 let us call often to mind our own trespasses against Him. 
 Let us earnestly implore of Him pardon for our great 
 offences ; and while we thus pray, let us abhor the thought 
 of retaining the slightest feeling of an unforgiving spirit 
 •o wards our neighbour. 
 
278 FAMILY C03IMENTARY ON 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, VI. 16—18. 
 
 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: 
 for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. 
 Vorily I say unto you, they have their reward. 
 
 But thon, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face ; 
 
 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in 
 secret : and thy Fallser, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openlv. 
 
 The Pharisees, who were hypocrites, fasted often ; and 
 they took great care to appear to fast ; for an appearance 
 of much praying and fasting was one path to reputation in 
 those days. They had little regard, however, to that God 
 who seeth in secret ; and did not reflect how much better 
 it is to practise some of that self-denial which is known 
 only to Him ; than to be full of sanctimonious pride, and 
 to be had in respect and reverence, on account of their 
 great austerities, by all the people. 
 
 It may be asked, whether fasting be a duty now required 
 of a Christian ? Our answer is, that Christ in this place, 
 seems to approve, rather than to forbid it. It had, indeed, 
 been on some occasions required of the Jews : and the 
 Pharisees were much accustomed to it. This being the 
 case, it looks as if our Saviour chose rather to assume the 
 practice to exist, and to direct the manner in which men 
 should fast ; than directly to prescribe any thing to His 
 disciples, respecting the frequency, or the strict obligation, 
 of the duty. And it seems in like manner proper now, 
 that ministers should rather insist on the principle, which 
 ought to govern Christians in respect to circumstances of 
 this sort , than attempt to define very closely what should 
 be the exact conduct of individuals. There are occasions 
 on which the nation is called upon to fust ; and to confess 
 the national sins: and a Christian need hardly be told, that 
 
THE SERMOJSi ON THE MOUNT. 279 
 
 his serious observance of such seasons is a part of" his 
 Christian duty. There may undoubtedly be occasions, for 
 individuals also, to set apart particular seasons for their 
 own personal humiliation, and repentance of their particular 
 sins. How far a literal fast ought in either of these cases 
 to be carried, it is liot, perhaps, easy to determine. But 
 the precept here given ought, as we think, chiefly to be 
 considered by us as a general precept respecting self-denial. 
 That general self-denial is a Christian duty, is proved by 
 many sayings of Christ, and by abundant passages of the 
 New Testament. " If any man will come after me," (that 
 is, will be my disciple,) " let him deny himself," said our 
 Saviour.* " I keep under my body," said St. Paul, " and 
 bring it under subjection ; lest that by any means, when I 
 have preached to others, I mysfelf should be a castaway."! 
 And again, "all things are lawful unto me," said St. Paul, 
 " bnt all things are not expedient : all things are lawful for 
 me ; but I will not be brought under the power of any."| 
 There is an habitual power over the body, to which it seems 
 to have been the plan of St. Paul to attain ; and at which 
 also all Christians should aim, by such means as they may 
 find by their own experience to be most conducive to this 
 end : and, in general, it is not so much fasting (which per- 
 haps is but a means) as the attainment of the end, which 
 "we ought to regard. Whoever has not attained this end, — 
 whoever, we mean, has not brought his body under any 
 subjection, is at the mercy of a thousand temptations. It 
 must then be the Christian's ambition to become, in this 
 sense, independent. It should be his holy resolution, in 
 the strength of that Saviour, to whom he continually looks 
 up, to habituate himself to such degree of bodily mortifica- 
 tion, and self-denial, as may best fit him for every part of 
 his heavenly Master's service. This, however, he will 
 not do by Popish or Pharisaical austerities ; nor by severi- 
 ties practised *'or mere severity's sake ; nor by prescribing 
 to himself any plar* of self-denial, which is so severe as 
 * St. Matt. xvi. 24. ;• I Cor. ix. 27. t 1 Cor. vi. 12. 
 
280 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 only to increase upon the whole his temptations, instead 
 of abating them ; nor by ostentatious display of his acts of 
 self-denial ; nor by such, severities as are meant to produce 
 only self-complacent recollection ; but he must endeavour 
 to gain his end, by suiting both the nature and the degree 
 of his self-denial to the object w^hich he has iu view ; 
 namely, the object of enabling himself better to resist his 
 temptations ; and better to serve God, in that situation and 
 condition of life to which God's providence has already 
 called him. 
 
 In order, however, to obtain this object, there will be 
 large occasion for acts of self-denial. Those acts, how- 
 ever, should be secret. There is many a secret rule, 
 which we should prescribe to ourselves as good for 
 our own particular case, which it is better, perhaps, 
 not even to avow to others. If our chief alms (as was 
 before said) should be in secret, much more so should be 
 ■)ur chief self-denial. There may be many occasions foi 
 iSelf-denial which are known to ourselves only ; and if w« 
 duly practise the secret duty, that God who seeth us in 
 secret shall reward us openly. The fair character, which 
 many a Christian has in the sight of men for morality, foi 
 self-command, for proper temperance in all things, is the 
 result, perhaps, much more of those secret struggles in 
 which he has been exercised, than is commonly imagined. 
 
 " But thou, when thou fastest," adds our Saviour, 
 " anoint thine head, and wash thy face :"* that is, put not on 
 the appearance of a man of great self-denial before the world. 
 Be easy, be cheerful, like other men. Let your private 
 chamber, and let your conscience witness your struggles 
 with yourself — but talk not of them — ^beware of giving a 
 Pharisaical air to your character. " Be not," it is said, 
 " as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance ; for they disfigure 
 their faces."t This, as apj lied to our days, may be con- 
 strued to mean, that we ought not to endeavour to inspire 
 an idea of our sanctity by means of any thing solemn and 
 * St. Matt. vi. 17. tSt. Matt. vi. 16. 
 
THE SERMON ON THE BIOUNT. 281 
 
 melancholy in our look, or any thing in our dress which is 
 unbecoming and very particular. " Anoint thine head, and 
 wash thy face."* In respect to dress and appearance, be 
 much like other people ; make not your religion to consist 
 in any disagreeable particularities of this sort. Much finery 
 and extravagance of dress are undoubtedly forbidden in 
 Scripture, by that passage which says, Let your adorning 
 " not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of 
 wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel."t But a mod- 
 erate conformity to the world, in things indifferent, seems, 
 to be authorized by the spirit of this passage ; anoint thine 
 head. 
 
 How amiable in all these respects is Christianity! It 
 requires of us nothing which ought to make us in any respect 
 disagreeable to any one ; and it consists in practice, much 
 more than in profession. While the man of the world pre- 
 tends, in every respect, to much more than he practises, 
 the Christian practises much more than he professes. In 
 secret, he exercises himself in much self-denial ; while in 
 all his outward garb he conforms himself to the innocent 
 customs of the world ; yet wi-thout being carried into any 
 fashionable extravagance. He is neat and decent, and in 
 nowise particular in his apparel. He is pure in heart ; but 
 not solemn and sanctimonious in look. He is very strict 
 with himself in secret, having many a private law of self- 
 denial and mortification, which he prescribes to himself; 
 but these escape the observation of the public. 
 
 May this be our character ! May we please that God 
 who seeth in secret ; and may He, who seeth us in secret, 
 reward us openly ! 
 
 * St. Matt. vi. 17. t 1 Peter iii. 3. 
 
 24* 
 
282 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 XXXIL 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, VI. 19—21. 
 
 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust 
 doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal : 
 
 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither rnoth not 
 rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal ; 
 
 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 
 
 There are, perhaps, few errors more common or more 
 mischievous, than that of supposing that Christianity was 
 intended only to be a cure for the greater vices and immo- 
 ralities of men ; and that a decent, orderly, and, at the 
 same time, worldly way of life is consistent with it. Our 
 Lord Jesus Christ came down from heaven, in order to 
 set before men the hope of everlasting life ; and to call 
 away their thoughts, affections, and desires from earthly 
 things, to those things which are heavenly. " Set your 
 affection on things above, not on things on the earth,"* is 
 one chief precept of the gospel. The bulk of mankind are 
 pursuing eagerly the things of this life ; and the acquisition 
 of money, in particidar, is the object which is nearest the 
 hearts of most men. It has been thus from the beginning : 
 — in the days of the prophets, men are spoken of, as adding 
 " house to house," and " field to field. "f In the days of 
 our Saviour, they are warned against " pulling down their 
 barns, in order to build larger;" and against saying to them- 
 selves, " Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years ; 
 take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry ."J And in these 
 days, how does the same spirit prevail : — most men both 
 act and talk as if the only end, for which they were sent 
 into the world, were that of increasing their worldly pos- 
 sessions ; how they may best improve the property which 
 they have in land ; how they may make an advantageous 
 • Colossians iii. 2. t Isa. v. 8. i St. Luke xii. 19. 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 283 
 
 purchase in the stocks ; or how they may turn to their 
 benefit a speculation in trade. These are the points on 
 which men discourse with the most anxiety ; and on whi»h 
 they most of all set their hearts. For the love of wealth 
 they are willing to toil and labour ; " to rise early, and late 
 take rest, and to eat the bread of carefulness."* They are 
 worn with anxiety respecting- these their worldly affairs. 
 They seem to long but for one thing in life ; and that is, to 
 get a good fortune for themselves ; and, then, they hope to 
 leave a good sum to each of their children, when they die. 
 But " lay not up for yourselves," says Christ, " treasures 
 upon earth : where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where 
 thieves break through and steal ; but lay up for yourselves 
 treasures in heaven."! Oh, if men Avere but as eager with 
 respect to the next world, as they are in respect to this, 
 what a rich inheritance might they obtain ! But they 
 labour merely for the perishing riches : — they lay up that 
 " wealth which moth and rust can corrupt, and which 
 thieves can break through and steal." They please them- 
 selves, indeed, with the good security for their money, 
 which they obtain ; they embark their property, as they 
 think, in none but safe and prudent speculations ; they 
 invest it in solid land, or in the safest sort of stocks ; and 
 little reflect, to how many accidents all earthly possessions 
 are exposed. 
 
 These are the times + which have remarkably shown to 
 us the great uncertainty of riches : for how many have 
 been lately wandering over tire earth, every where begging 
 their bread, or earning it by the hardest labour, who once 
 lived in affluence in their own land, and thought that they 
 had safe, as well as large, possessions ; but their riches 
 have made to themselves wings and flown away ; the 
 moth and rust have corrupted them, and the thieves have 
 broken through, and stolen them. 
 
 *Ps. cxxvii. 2. + St. Matt. vi. 19, 20. 
 
 X Written during the French Revolution ; after the emigration of 
 thousands, nobles and priests, from their own country to England. 
 
284 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 How many, indeed, of every country fall into sudder 
 and unexpected poverty : — some one breaks, who was in 
 their debt ; some article, in which their chief property had 
 consisted, sinks remarkably in value ; some trading specu- 
 lation proves unfortunate ; some crop from their land fails, 
 through the badness of the season ; or some one either 
 robs, or cheats them ; and, thus, their hoard is taken from 
 them. If the heart be fixed on money, how is a man pained 
 and griev ed in all cases of this sort. 
 
 But if, on the contrary, we have only laboured to get a 
 competency for ourselves, and our families, according to 
 the will of God ; not so much caring about the wealth 
 itself, as about the fulfilment of our own duty by the per- 
 formance of what belongs to our stations ; and if, in the 
 midst of our labour we have calmly left it to Providence to 
 send poverty, or riches, as He pleases ; — if, amidst all our 
 worldly business, our hearts have habitually been in Heaven ; 
 if we have often thought of Heaven, talked of Heaven, and 
 prayed to have our chief inheritance in Heaven ; if it have 
 been the end of all our actions in this life to provide our- 
 selves " bags which wax not old, a treasure in the Heavens 
 that faileth not ;"* if to grow in grace, to be rich in faith, 
 and to abound in every good work, have been accounted 
 by us the great ends of living ; and if we have thus learnt 
 to feel a holy disdain of all merely temporal riches ; then, 
 and then only, may we consider ourselves as having fulfil- 
 led the precept given us in this passage : — then may we 
 be said to have laid up our happiness in a place where it 
 shall not be liable to earthly accidents ; " where neither 
 moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break 
 through nor steal :"t and where our treasure is, there will 
 our heart be also. 
 
 The heart of every man accompanies his treasure ; for 
 
 that is a man's treasure which his heart runs after the most. 
 
 Would we therefore know where our chief treasure lies ? — 
 
 we have only to inquire where our chief affections are 
 
 * St. Luke xii. 33. t St. Mark vi. 20. 
 
THF SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 285 
 
 placed. Are they set on Heaven, or on earth? — on things 
 above, or on something here below ? This consideration 
 is indeed a A^ery awful one : for it implies, that they, whose 
 affections and desires do not point towards Heaven, have 
 certainly no treasure there. They, who take no thought 
 about Heaven, have no inheritance in that better world. 
 Their whole treasure is on earth, where their heart so 
 plainly is. May we try ourselves continually by this test : 
 for Christ hath given it to us for this purpose. May we 
 consider seriously how much this saying of Christ im- 
 ports : it is, as if we had heard Him saying, — Tell me 
 where your heart is, and there you shall find your treas- 
 ure : — tell me where your treasure is, and there assuredly 
 will be your heart. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, V. 22, 23. 
 
 rhe light of the body is the eye : if therefore thine eye be single, thy 
 whole body shall be full of light : 
 
 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness ; if there- 
 fore the light, that is in thee, be darkness, how great is that darkness ! 
 
 Our Saviour here instructs us, by means of one of our 
 bodily senses, in a very great and fundamental religious 
 truth. He says — " The light of the body is the eye ; and, 
 if thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of 
 light :" that is, the body is directed by the light which is 
 in the eye : and, if the eye be perfectly sound, and see 
 right, then the whole body will have the benefit of its light. 
 But " if the eye be evil," if the member which directs the 
 body be disordered; then, "the whole body shall be full of 
 darkness ; and if the light, that is in thee, be darkness, 
 how great is that darkness." 
 
236 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 Let us now apply this, as our Saviour undoubtedly 
 meant it should be applied, to the case of man in respect to 
 his spiritual condition. There is a certain spiritual faculty, 
 which is, to the whole moral man, much what the faculty 
 of the eye is to the whole body. We mean, that there is a 
 certain power of perceiving and distinguishing what is 
 morally right and morally wrong, and what is morally 
 true and morally false, without which our moral conduct 
 cannot be made rrght. If a man be used to " call evil, 
 good ; and good, evil ;" " to put darkness for light, "and light 
 for darkness ;"* if he be blind to all moral excellency; if 
 he have no taste for spiritual things ; if truth and upright- 
 ness, if purity and holiness, if religion and godliness have 
 no beauty in his eyes, it is in vain to talk of his moral con- 
 duct being made right. It is true, there may be an external 
 morality ; there may be certain acts done, which, in them- 
 selves, are moral and right ; and which may pass for virtues, 
 in the eyes of men : but they are no virtues in the sight of 
 God, who considers the moral quality of the act, as deter- 
 mined by the moral state of the mind and heart. 
 
 In order, therefore, to do any one action aright, the heart, 
 in the first place, must be turned to the love of true holi- 
 ness. The eyes of the understanding must be enlightened ; 
 the reason, which is in man, must be sanctified ; the natural 
 blindness, and prejudice against religious truth must be 
 removed ; the faculty of discerning spiritual things must be 
 acquired ; otherwise, the man, in spite of all his boasted 
 reason, will only grope in darkness in respect to spiritual 
 hings. He may do by chance, it is true, some things 
 which in themselves are right ; since even a blind man may 
 chance to walk for a while in the right path : but, in 
 general, he will take the wrong course ; though ignorant 
 that he does so ; and it is not his own eyesight, which will 
 lead him in any one instance aright : his whole body is 
 ^11 of darkness. 
 
 • Isaiah, v. 20. 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 287 
 
 A few remarks shall now be made on the subject, which 
 will serve further to illustrate it. 
 
 And, first, we may learn from hence, the reason why so 
 many neglect or reject the Gospel of Christ ; and among 
 them not a few who possess much human wisdom and 
 learning. They want that spiritual light in the mind, of 
 which our Saviour here speaks. They choose to them- 
 selves some principle of morals, or some system of what 
 they may call religion, less holy than the principle and 
 system of the Gospel, and which better suits the unholiness 
 of their hearts. " Light is come into the world," said our 
 Saviour, "and men loved darkness rather than light, be- 
 cause their deeds w^e evil."* All indisposition to receive 
 either the Gospel in general, or its peculiar doctrines, is 
 resolved in Scripture into blindness, and hardness of heart, 
 and want of spiritual discernment. For, " the natural man," 
 says St. Paul, " receiveth not the things of the Spirit of 
 God : for they are foolishness unto him ; neither can he 
 know them, because they are spiritually discerned."! And, 
 again, " But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are 
 lost: in whom the God of this world hath blinded the 
 minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the 
 glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, 
 should shine unto them."J So, also, it is said by St. John, 
 of him who wants the particular grace of charity, or love, 
 that " he walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he 
 goeth."i^ 
 
 Again, secondly, let us cease to wonder that there is 
 so much self-confidence, self-righteousness, and self-com- 
 placency, as there is in men ; and as there is in those men 
 111 particular, who are more than commonly depraved. The 
 light that is in them is darkness : — the faculty of discerning 
 spiritual and moral truth is corrupted and diseased. Hence 
 multitudes are continually doing evil, Avho think that they are 
 
 * St. John, iii. 19. t 1 Cor. ii. 14. t 2 Cor. iv. 4 
 
 i 1 St. John, ii. 11. 
 
288 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 (loino- good. They dress themselves out in certain fancied 
 virtues, which, in the sight of God, are sins. But woe be 
 unto them, the prophet seems to say, " who compass them- 
 selves with sparks of their own kindling."* Woe be to 
 those who create to themselves virtues which God never 
 made to be such ; and then trust to their performance of 
 these for their acceptance with Him. . It has often been 
 remarked, by some of the most accurate observers of man- 
 kind, that the persons, who trust most to their own good 
 works for salvation, are commonly those who have the least 
 of these to trust to. And this is a paradox, to the solution 
 of which we ought carefully to attend. The solution is 
 easy, if we do but take into consideration the saying of 
 Christ of which we are now treating. The light, which 
 is in these persons, is darkness ; and all the virtues, in 
 which they trust, are false virtues. How gross, indeed, is 
 the self-deceit of man in this respect! For if the light 
 which should be in them, " be darkness, now great is that 
 darkness !"t Who is there, for instance, however distin- 
 guished by the profligacy of his life, who has not some 
 sort of morality, or virtue, or religion, or honour, some sub- 
 stitute for true goodness, of which he boasts ? This false 
 and spurious goodness is made the theme of the wicked 
 man's conversation. It is the sort of goodness, which he 
 tells you that he approves in others, and that he is not 
 defective in practising himself. This false goodness be- 
 comes the rival and competitor of the true : and, being thus 
 preferred from a predilection for it, which is not insincere , 
 and being also thus practised, (for it is most easy to be 
 practised,) it commonly also is considered as meritorious in 
 its nature ; and is trusted to, as the ground of salvation. 
 That man, on the other hand, whose eyes it has pleased 
 God to open, so that he sees clearly into the nature of real 
 holiness, is sure to see also, how exceedingly defective in 
 it he is : — he is glad to accept of an interest in his Saviour's 
 
 ♦ See Isa. 1. 11. t St. Matt. vi. 23. 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 289 
 
 sacrifice ; being, on account of his ten tliousand deficiencies, 
 humbled to the very dust before his God. 
 
 Again, thirdly, let us beware of the error of those who 
 think, that it is only necessary for a man to act according 
 to his conscience, in order to make sure that his conduct 
 shall be right. It ought, first, to be inquired, whether it be 
 an enlightened conscience which he follows. For there 
 certainly is such a thing as a blinded conscience ; and, 
 also, a sleepy conscience, a corrupted conscience, a hard- 
 ened conscience, a "conscience seared as with a hot iron."* 
 'I'here have been those who have even thought, that in 
 killing the best servants of God, they did God service.f 
 More than half, perhaps, of the common sins of men, are 
 committed by them without the least violence to con- 
 science : and, f<»r this reason, — the " light that is in them 
 is darkness." If the mind and conscience are truly enlight- 
 ened, so as to discern religious truth, and error, and good, 
 and evil ; and so as to know the whole nature and extent 
 of religious and moral duty ; then, indeed, to follow con- 
 science is to follow a single or clear-sighted eye ; and the 
 eye being " single," the general conduct will be right : — 
 the whole body will be full of light. But if the " eye be 
 evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness ;" and it 
 " the light, that is in thee, be darkness, how great is that 
 darkness."+ Let us then dread an ignorant and blinded 
 conscience : it is the source of ten thousand sins, of which 
 we are not at all aware. Let us dread it as we would a dis- 
 eased eye, which, if it see at all, yet sees falsely. 
 
 But how, it will be said, are we to obtain this spiritual 
 faculty which has been so much spoken of ? Our answer 
 is, that it is to be obtained by prayer, and also by the use 
 of all those means which God hath appointed for the attain- 
 ment of it. The Holy Spirit is the author of all spiritual 
 light ; and our Saviour hath assured us, that God will 
 "give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him."§ Would 
 
 * 1 Tim. iv. 2. + St. John, xvL 2. t St. Matt. vi. 23. 
 
 ^ St. Luke, xi. 13. 
 
 25 
 
290 FAMILY COI\IMENTAIlY ON 
 
 we know the nrst principles of our religion, would we be 
 instructed aright respecting God the Father, and his Son 
 Jesus Christ ; — the same God, who said in the beginning, 
 " Let tliere be light, and there was light ;"* — the same 
 God, who then " commanded the light to shine out of dark- 
 ness," must shine into our hearts, " to give the light of the 
 knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Chrisc."t 
 David prayed thus for the divine illumination : " open thou 
 mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy 
 law."+ Saint Paul prayed for his converts thus : " the 
 eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may 
 knovv what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches 
 of the glory of His inheritance in the saints."§ 
 
 Let us pray to God for the same gift : let us pray also, 
 that we may " be filled with the knowledge of His will in 
 all wisdom and spiritual iinderstauding.*'|| 
 
 To prayer, however, we must add other means. We must 
 take all measures for detecting in ourselves every religious 
 error : we must avoid prejudice ; we must inquire, examine, 
 reflect, observe. We must read the Scriptures with great 
 attention j^y»^ must make honest use of the little light 
 which,>\ve have : " for whosoever hath, to him shall be 
 ^j^,>r^ ; and whosoever hath not" (that is, makes no use of 
 what he hath) " from him shall be taken away even that 
 which he seemeth to have."!" 
 
 But it may, also, be asked. How are we to know whether 
 we have the spiritual faculty or not 1 We answer, "to the 
 law, and to the testim.ony,"** examine what the Scripture 
 tc-slifies on this subject. A taste for the Scriptures is, in- 
 deed, of itself, a sign of our possessing some degree of this 
 spiritual light : we mean, provided it be a taste for the 
 entire and unadulterated word of Cod, and not for a few 
 favourite or perverted parts of it. 
 
 We will ordy ncil the following caution. Some are apt 
 
 • Gen. i. 3. 12 Cor. iv. 6. % Ps. cxix. 18. 
 
 4 Eph. i. 13. II Col. ».. 9. f St. Luke viii. 18 
 
 •♦ Isaiah viii. 20. 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 291 
 
 to think that spiritual light has respect chiefly either to the 
 mysteries, or to what are now commonly called the doc- 
 trines of the Gospel, which is certainly a great mistake. 
 Spiritual light is continually spoken of in Scripture as hav- 
 ing a reference also to every part of a man's practical 
 conduct. Thus, Saint Peter, after speaking of faith, virtue, 
 knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kind- 
 ness, and charity, observes, in respect to them all, " that he 
 that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, 
 and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins."* 
 And Saint John also observes, that he that " hateth his 
 brother, is in darkness even until now."f As the erye in- 
 structs the body how to move, and enables each limb to act 
 its proper part ; so the spiritual faculty of the mind, when 
 in its full v'igour and perfection, directs every action of the 
 life : it helps us to perceive our various duties, instructs 
 us what to aim at, and what to avoid : it enables us to 
 know v/hat tempers are good, and what are evil ; what 
 thoughts, what words, what actions. It informs us not in 
 doctrines only, or in the mysteries of our faith, but in every 
 branch and ramification of our various duties, whether to 
 God or man. For if " thine eye be single, thy whole 
 
 BODY SHALL BE FULL CF LIGHT."t 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, VI. 24. 
 
 No man can serve two masters : for either he will hate the one, and lovo 
 the other ; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye 
 cannot serve God and Mammon. 
 
 This is a most important and fundamental maxim of true 
 religion. " No man can ser\^e two masters :" that is, two 
 opposite masters. The word " Mammon" signifies riches, 
 *2 St. Pet. i. 9. 1 1 St John ii. 9. t St. Matt. vi. 22. 
 
292 FAMILY COMMENTA.RY ON 
 
 or tne god of riches. It may stand, however, for any other 
 idol, which men may be disposed to worship. This saying 
 of Christ, therefore, if taken in the narrow sense, means, 
 ye cannot be servants to God, and, at the sam.e time, ser- 
 vants (or slaves) to the love of money : or, if taken in the 
 largest sense, ye cannot be servants to God, and at the 
 same time servants (or slaves) to any other master — either 
 to riches, or to honour, or to pleasure ; either to the world, 
 to the flesh, or to the Devil. In whichsoever of these senses 
 we interpret the term, " Mammon ;" God and Mammon are 
 opposite masters ; and they command opposite duties. That 
 which the one directs us to hate, the other instructs us to 
 love ; and that which the one requires us to do, the other 
 commands us to leave undone. Allegiance to the one is 
 rebellion against the other. It is impossible to unite the 
 two services ; and it is hypocrisy, as well as folly, to at' 
 tempt to do it. Choose, therefore, which ye will serve : 
 ye cannot serve God and Mammon. 
 
 In enlarging on this passage, it may be observed, that 
 fidelity to God is here implied to be a leading principle of 
 true religion. God is held up to us, under the character 
 of a master ; and man, in that of a servant. God, indeed, 
 may also be considered as represented in this place in the 
 light of a lord or king ; and man, in that of a subject. To 
 be a Christian, therefore, is to be a faithful servant of our 
 heavenly Master, and to be a loyal subject of the King of 
 kings. It is, to take Him, and Him only, for our Lord. It 
 is, to refuse obedience to His competitors and His adver- 
 saries. It is, to obey the laws of God, and not any opposite 
 laws. It is, to bow to His authority, and not to any rival 
 authority. It is, to love God, to fear God, to delight in 
 God : and comparatively speaking, neither to love, nor fear, 
 nor delight in any other object. It is, to hate and despise 
 all other objects, when considered as competitors Mith God. 
 
 Many, who profess in general to be servants of God, are 
 far from being thus faithful to Him. They are like ser- 
 vants having two masters ; or like subjects pretending 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 293 
 
 allegiance to two kings, who are rivals of each other. They 
 obey God, as they think ; but they obey Mammon also 
 They endeavour to unite the two services : — they wish to 
 be in favour with God, and in favour also with men ; to 
 gain the riches of this life, and likewise a treasure in 
 heaven ; to possess the honour of the world, as well as 
 eternal glory. 
 
 IjCt us now speak particularly of those who serve Mam- 
 mon in the most literal sense ; and in treating of these, we 
 shall describe a large part of mankind. Most men, in 
 entering upon their profession, especially if it be that of 
 •trade, propose to make their fortunes, as they call it. 
 " What," say they, " is the use of following business, if we 
 are not to gain money by it 1 We will labour to be rich, 
 and even to be very rich ; but we will use honest means, 
 and take due care to fulfil, at the same time, all our religious 
 and moral duties." 
 
 Such persons mistake the nature of true religion. They 
 understand not, that it consists in mortifying those earthly 
 desires which naturally govern the heart, in order that by 
 so mortifying them, God may reign without a rival there. 
 They perceive not, that indifference to wealth, and a dis- 
 position to labour for the sake of duly, and not of covetous- 
 ness, are some of the chief marks of true religion. They, 
 moreover, mistake in supposing, that any man, influenced 
 by a strong love of wealth, can carry on his business with 
 perfect fairness. 
 
 The desire of money blinds the eyes, and betrays into 
 frauds which are unperceived. Would you be strictly 
 honest — would you avoid tlie crooked conduct common in 
 your profession — begin with determining that it shall be 
 your chief object to please God, and not to obtain money : 
 for be assured, that a man cannot be true to his gain, and 
 true to his God also. You cannot serve both these masters ; 
 either you must hate the one, and love the other ; or hold 
 to the one, and despise the other : you cannot serve God 
 
 and Mammon. 
 
 25* 
 
294 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 But wealth is by no means the only rival of God in the 
 heart. Wealth is even despised by some men of the world. 
 The object of their supreme desire is perhaps a proud pre- 
 eminence in their profession, or at least a very honourable 
 station in it. In comparison of this, the favour of God is 
 little thought of or regarded, ^^'ith others, to rise in the 
 general scale of society is the one object of ambition. Old 
 persons aim to gratify the same dispositions with the young, 
 by preferring, before all other objects, the worldly exalta- 
 tion of their children. In all these cases, and perhaps in 
 all of them equally, God is dethroned from His proper 
 place in the heart : and herein consists the sin of any one 
 ruling passion. All inordinate desire, therefore, is sin ; 
 though it should not issue in any particular crime : and all 
 desire is inordinate, which is greater than the desire of 
 pleasing and serving God. For " He that loveth father or 
 mother more than me," says our Saviour, " is not worthy of 
 me : and he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is 
 not worthy of me."* " Whosoever he be of you that for- 
 saketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."! 
 
 There are a variety of ways in which the subject before 
 us may be considered. The passage may serve to reprove 
 some persons who are loo much conformed to the world ; 
 and yet possess certain religious feelings. Perhaps, ihey 
 are free from great vices : they do many benevolent and 
 useful things : they also praise pious people ; and so far, 
 all is well. But there is another side to their character. 
 The world has a strong influence over them ; they wish 
 indeed, to ascend to heaven when they die ; but they cannot 
 bear the thought of losing that estimation among worldly 
 persons, of which they are in possession. They obey Grin. 
 in some things : they obey the world, in others. 1'hcy are 
 pious in the closet ; but when they come out of it, they are 
 conformed to the world. On the Sabbath-day, they are in 
 the house of God, and in the congregation of tlie faithful ; 
 out they are among the scenes of dissipation in the week 
 ♦ St. Matt. X. 37. t St. Luke xiv. 33. 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 295 
 
 " They say, as the world says ; they go, where the world 
 goes ; they do, as the world does." They are enslaved by 
 the customs and opinions of their worldly friends and 
 neighbours. The desire of the favour of the world being 
 therefore stronger in them, than the desire of the favour of 
 God, the world is their master, and not God : or they tr}-, 
 it may be said, to serve both; forgetting, that "no man 
 can serve two masters," and that " ye cannot serve God 
 and Mammon." 
 
 It is not uncommon to see parents cultivate a certain sort 
 of piety, as a thing graceful and ornamental to a young 
 woman; while, at the same time, they have the utmost 
 dread of its being carried to the inconvenient length of 
 rendering her in any way particular. But how ill do such 
 parents understand the true nature of the religion of Christ. 
 How little also do they consult the real interest of those, 
 whose souls God has committed to their charge. The 
 piety of young persons thus educated is commonly super- 
 ficial, and soon vanishes ; but if it prove real, they become, 
 perhaps, entangled through their parents in some worldly 
 connection, which constitutes the trial of their remaining 
 days. 
 
 We may also employ this passage in the way of reproof 
 to some apparently serious, but not very consistent persons. 
 We now speak of those who talk much of religion, and 
 pass many an hour among those, whom they deem reli- 
 gious ; who frequently attend on the means of grace, and 
 are zealous for the gospel : but, though much of their time 
 appears to be very properly spent, and a certain part also 
 of their substance ; yet a large portion of their day is con- 
 sumed in idleness ; and a part of their money, in minister- 
 ing either to their vanity or their luxury. They allot to 
 religion the time and money which they judge to be due 
 to it : but they conceive the remainder to be their own ; 
 and are not aware that true religion requires a constant 
 principle of fidelity to God in the heart ; and the devotion 
 of all our time, and of all our talents, to his service ; though 
 
296 FAMILV COMMENTARY ON 
 
 the manner of doing this, lilte the employments of different 
 servants, or of the same servant at different periods, will be 
 various. Such persons should be taught to fear, lest they 
 also should be found to serve two masters, permitting them 
 to reign by turns ; and thus to have a divided empire over 
 their hearts. 
 
 Finally, let ns all remember that our preference of God 
 over every other master must be decided. Let us also 
 bear in mind, that the world is the great enemy, and rival, 
 of God. " Love not the world, nor the things of the world. 
 If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in 
 him." It is called in Scripture, " the evil world,"* " the 
 wicked world," and the world which " lieth in wicked- 
 ness.^t Conformity to it is the great source of ruin to 
 persons of the upper class; and to break with it is the 
 great difficulty. But we must break with it, if we would 
 become the friends of God. " Ye adulterers, and adul- 
 teresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is 
 enmity with God ? Whosoever therefore will be a friend 
 of the world, is the enemy of God."| 
 
 Let us then follow the Lord fully. Let us follow Him, 
 and not the world; Him, and not our own lusts; Him, and 
 no ether master. Let it not even be suspected that we 
 have two masters. 
 
 • Gal. i. 4. 1 1 St. John, v. 19. J St. James, iv. 4. 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 297 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, VI. 25—34. 
 
 Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall 
 
 eat, or what ye shall drink ; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put 
 
 on. Is not the life more than meat, and As body than raiment ? 
 Behold the fowls of the air': for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor 
 
 gather into barns ; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Arc ye 
 
 not much better than they 1 
 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature 1 
 And why take ye thought for raiment 1 Consider the lilies of the field, 
 
 how they grow ; they toil not, neither do they spin : 
 And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not 
 
 arrayed like one of these. 
 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and 
 
 to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O 
 
 ye of little faith ■? 
 Therefore take no thought, saying What shall we shall eat ! or, What 
 
 shall we drink 1 or. Wherewithal" shall we be clothed 1 
 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek :) for your heavenly 
 
 Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 
 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all 
 
 these things shall be added unto you. 
 Take therefore no thought for the morrow : for the morrow shall take 
 
 thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil 
 
 thereoff. 
 
 Christianity not only instructs us in our duties; it also 
 provides for our comfort. The precepts of Christ in this 
 passage evidently tend to our happiness. All anxious care 
 is here forbidden; all uneasy fear respecting the future; 
 all distrust of the good Providence of God. The world is 
 full of perturbations : to-day, Ave dread one evil ; to-morrow 
 another . — at one time we are anxious about some friend, 
 or relation ; at another, we ourselves are threatened by 
 sickness, or some other adversity. We do not enjoy the 
 comforts of the present hour, because we dread the mor- 
 row : and life is spent perhaps in the anticipation of evils, 
 
298 FAMILY COABIEMTAHY OI"^ 
 
 which, after all, never afflict us. The anxiety most cora- 
 mon to man, is that of which Christ speaks in this passage, 
 — anxiety respecting our daily bread. In all ages and coun- 
 tries, the larger part of the community have lived in a state 
 of fear concerning the means of their subsistence. The 
 poor labourer of our day dreads, lest he should either fail 
 to find employment, or should be disabled by sickness ; lest 
 his family should grow too numerous and expensive to be 
 supported by him ; lest bread should rise in price, and the 
 times become too hard for him. Not a few also of the 
 higher class lead a life of no less anxiety, respecting the 
 means of obtaining that which they deem a decent and even 
 a necessary subsistence. But " take no thought," says our 
 Saviour, " for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall 
 drink ; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on."* Be 
 not at all careful respecting these subjects. " Is not the 
 life more than meat, and the body-than raiment?" God has 
 given you life : and, if you owe even this to Him, may you 
 not trust to His providing meat to sustain that life ? He 
 has given you a body; and may you not trust to his sending 
 raiment to cover that body ? Since you owe to Him that 
 which is greater, may you not trust Him for that which is 
 less 1 " Behold the fowls of the air ; for they sow not, 
 neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your 
 Heavenly Father feedeth them."t The birds of the air are 
 evidently provided for by God. They gather the food 
 which He sends ; not that which they have themselves 
 sown, and reaped, and collected : " Are ye not much better 
 than they ?" Are ye not of more value in the sight of God, 
 and therefore likely to be more the objects of His care, 
 than many sparrows ? " And which of you by taking 
 • thought can add one cubit to his stature ?" That is, where 
 is the use of this anxiety ? You can no more improve 
 your lot, by your anxious thought ; than you can by the 
 same thought, improve your stature. " And why take ye 
 though'.- for raiment ? consider the lilies of the field, how 
 • St. Matt. vi. 25. t St. Matt. vi. 26. 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 299 
 
 they grow ; they toil not, neither do they spin." As the 
 fowls of the air are provided for by God, so also are the 
 lilies of the field. The fowls of the air fail not to be fed 
 by Him ; and, therefore, why should yon not trust Him for 
 your food ? The lilies of the field fail not to be clothed by 
 Him ; and, therefore, Avhy should you not trust Him for 
 your raiment? They are clothed, without their taking 
 thought about it for themselves ; for they toil not, neither 
 do they spin; and yet they are clothed so beautifully, 
 "that even Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like 
 one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the 
 field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, 
 shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith ?"* 
 Weakness, or want of faith, is the cause of all this distrust 
 " Therefore, take no thought (or, be not anxious) saying, 
 what shall we eat ? or what shall we drink ? or, where- 
 withal shall we be clothed ?" Let not these common sub- 
 jects of anxiety trouble you (" for after all these things do the 
 Gentiles seek.") It is the character of the Gentiles, that is, 
 of the unbelieving v/orld, to be ever careful about these 
 worldly things. Leave it, therefore, to those who know 
 not God, to be thus corroded with care respectino- their 
 temporal interests. " But seek ye first the kingdom of 
 God, and His righteousness." Let your first concern be 
 to be a member of my kingdom, and a partaker of the 
 righteousness of mv gospel ; and having secured this better 
 part, encourage yourselves by the hope that the same God, 
 who enriches you^v/ith the great gift of salvation, will not 
 fail to add v/hatever worldly blessings He sees to be good 
 and necessary for you. Assure yourselves that all these 
 things shall be added unto you. "Take, therefore, no 
 thought for the morrow : for the morrow shall take thought 
 f )r the things of itself." Multiply not your sorrows, Tby 
 living in perpetual fear of sorrows. Enjoy the blessings 
 which you have: thank God for these; and trust HiiTi 
 for the future. Possibly, the evil which you dread, may 
 * St. Matt. vi. 29, 30. 
 
300 FAMILY COMMENTARY OTS 
 
 never come ; but trust, that, if it shall come, God will sup 
 port you under it, in some mode, of which as yet possibly 
 you can form no conception. Take care of to-day ; and 
 let to-morrow take thought for the things of itself; for it is 
 enough for every day to bear its own burden. " Suflicient 
 unto the day is the evil thereof." 
 
 Such is the meaning of the passage before us. We may 
 take occasion to remark upon it, how merciful a God is He 
 whom we serve. He does not delight in grieving the sons 
 of men ; His precepts tend to make our paths through this 
 'orld cheerful and easy. An Epicurean philosopher could 
 not have delivered a precept more calculated to spare pain. 
 Let us, however, remember, that the comfort here proffered 
 to us, can be fully enjoyed by him only, who has alreadr 
 secured an interest in the Gospel. We must first believe 
 in God; otherwise how can we trust Him? We must, 
 first, perceive that all things happen by His appointment ; 
 otherwise, how can we place confidence in his providential 
 dealings towards us 1 We must seek, first, his kingdom 
 and righteousness ; and then, and then only, may we hope 
 that, being assured of heaven and eternal glory, all these 
 inferior things, '* which are needful to the body, shall be 
 added unto us." 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT 301 
 
 XXXVI. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, VII. 1, 2. 
 
 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 
 
 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged : and with what 
 measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 
 
 Men of the world are accustomed to accuse the more 
 strict- and reUgious person of severity in judging them. " Is 
 it not," say they, " written in that very Bible which you 
 profess to follow, " Judge not, that ya he not judged V Why, 
 therefore, do you not obey your own Scriptures ? We, for 
 our part, judge no one; while you, both by thinking ill of 
 human nature in general, and of a multitude of individuals, 
 betray a want of that charity which we deem to be the 
 sum of Christian virtue. — By such language as this, many, 
 who are unacquainted with the superior strictness of 
 Christianity, and walk in the broad road, defend their 
 ovv'n cause, Avhile they pretend to be pleading that of 
 the Gospel. Many, also, who allow in themselves some 
 habitual vice, make a somewhat similar defence, when 
 charged with the sin Avhich they commit : " allow us to 
 practise the sin to which we are prone ; we will tolerate an 
 equal degree of iniquity in you." Let us, therefore, be 
 careful to construe this passage in such a manner as not to 
 favour any unworthy views of Christianity. 
 
 It is a maxim, in explaining Scripture, that one text must 
 always be so construed, that other texts may stand. Let 
 it, therefore, be noticed, that our Lord hath said to Chris- 
 tians, " Ye are the salt of the earth, j^e^are the light of the 
 world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid."* Did 
 Christ and his Apostles speak favourably of the common 
 practice of the world ? Our Saviour testified of it, that its 
 works were evil ; and St. John affirmed, " We know that 
 
 • St. Matt. V. 13, 14. 
 26 
 
302 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness."* 
 The precept "judge not'^ cannot, therefore, mean, that 
 Christians ought to judge favourably of the common maxims 
 and conduct of the world. Let us beware then of this 
 unchristian mode of interpreting the text. " He that justi- 
 fieth the wicked," said Solomon, " and he that condemneth 
 the just, even they both are abominariou to the LoRD."t 
 
 Let us now consider, whether sufficient force may not 
 be given to the precept in question, without inclining to any 
 dangerous interpretations of it. It may be considered as 
 forbidding three things : first, a rash and hasty judgment ; 
 secondly, a prejudiced -and partial judgment ; and thirdly, 
 a harsh and severe judgment. 
 
 First, it forbids a rash judgment. How many decide on 
 the character and conduct of their neighbour, before they 
 have had the means of forming a tolerable opinion. They 
 judge, before they have heard the cause. We should, first, 
 examine and cross-examine : we should, then, weigh and 
 deliberate; and, if the evidence be defective in any part, 
 we should still suspend our judgment. He, who is in haste 
 to determine, has not yet learnt one great rule of wisdom ; 
 and one of the most important lessons of the Gospel. 
 
 Secondly, this is a precept against partial judgment. We 
 are all, more or less, prejudiced ! If a man, for instance, 
 be of another nation, or of an opposite political party, or of 
 a contrary sect in religion ; or if he be our rival in trade, 
 or our opponent in any matter, how hard it is to judge fairly 
 of his conduct. It should be the great care of Christians 
 to divest themselves of partiality. Their ambition should 
 be to rise in this respect above the world. Never let us 
 join in the general abuse of some opposite and absent party, 
 which makes a leading part of the conversation oj many 
 circles. Candour is an essential Christian virtue ; a point 
 not sufficiently considered by many persons who are strict 
 in other respects. " Judge not that ye be not judged:" — if 
 you may judge uncandidly of others, have they not the 
 ♦ 1 St. John, V. 19. t Prov. xvii. 15. 
 
THE SERMOr^ ON THE MOUNT. 303 
 
 same right to judge uncandidly of you? If you have your 
 prejudices, why may they not be permitted to have theirs ? 
 
 But, thirdly, a too severe judgment is also forbidden. 
 We should consider the infirmity which is in man. We 
 sliould allow for the force of particular temptations. We 
 should reflect, that we may happen to be well informed 
 respecting, some sin of our neighbour, and to be totally 
 unacquainted with the bitterness of his repentance on 
 account of it. We should make a distinction between 
 deliberate and allowed sin ; and that sin which is the eflect 
 of surprise : we should remember, that a man may possibly 
 fall into great vices, through some> sudden assault on his 
 virtue ; who nevertheless, may be bent on following a 
 religious course of life ; and may, on the whole, be in 
 favour with God. 
 
 The practice of inferring a man's general habit from 
 some one particular act, and of deciding from a single cir- 
 cumstance on the state of his soul, seems a grievous offence 
 against this precefit. It is a bad symptom of the state of 
 their souls who presume to judge thus severely. 
 
 To conclude ; let us, if we would avoid this sin of judg- 
 ing others, reflect on the manner in which we ourselves 
 hope to be judged : our minds are sufficiently fertile in 
 inventing excuses for our own sin ; let us endeavour to be 
 as ingenious in respect to the errors of others. Let us 
 make for them the excuses which we expect that they shall 
 make for us. Above all, let us reflect how merciful must 
 be the manner in which we must be judged by Gors, in 
 order to escape His condemnation. As we hope to find 
 mercy, so let us show it; for "with what judgment we 
 judge, we shall be judged ; and with what measure W8 
 mete, it shall be measured to us again." 
 
804 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 XXXVII. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, VII. 3-5. 
 
 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but con- 
 
 siderest not the beam that is in thine own eye 1 
 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, let me pull out the mete out of thine 
 
 eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye 1 
 Thou hypocrite, first cast ojit the beam out of thine own eye ; and then 
 
 shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. 
 
 Our Saviour here intimates, that they, who have a beam 
 in their own eye, are commonly the most inclined to com- 
 plain of the mote which is in their brother's eye. And 
 does not our own observation justify this saying of Christ ? 
 Who is it, that commonly passes the rashest and the seA^erest 
 sentence of condemnation? Is it not the wicked, the 
 licentious, and the profane ? 
 
 There is, indeed, one occasion, .on which immoral per- 
 sons give full scope to the severity of their tongue ; namely, 
 where the person, whom they reproach, bears the character 
 of a religious man. He, who is a sincere servant of God, 
 resolved to lead a holy life, and to live no longer to himself, 
 but to Him who hath died for us, must expect to be most 
 harshly judged by the vain, the worldly minded, and the 
 wicked. They will wait for his halting : — they will dwell, 
 m their conversation, on some little incivility in his manner ; 
 some impropriety in his speech ; some inattention to the 
 decorum of life. If he should err from inadvertency, the 
 mistake will be charged to design ; if from rashness, it 
 will be ascribed to deliberate purpose of heart. A little 
 warmth of temper, in such a man, will be called fury ; and 
 any single sin, into which he may be surprised, will be 
 considered as one only of a course of crimes ; and will be 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 305 
 
 proclaimed as from llie house-top. Religious persons are 
 often charged with censuring the irreligious ; but it may 
 safely be afnrraed, that, in general, the saint is not so severe 
 against the sinner, as the sinner is against the saint. 
 
 Christ may properly be considered as here particularl}' 
 reproving this disposition in wicked men to censure the 
 pious. " Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of 
 thine own eye ; and then, shalt thou see clearly to cast out 
 the mote out of thy brother's eye." Thou, who art severe 
 against the children of God, and strict to mark in them 
 whatever is in the least amiss ; thou, who art, at the same 
 time, thyself an unchaste person, an adulterer, a drunkard, 
 an imjust man in thy dealings, a despiser, a hinderer of 
 God's word, " cast out, first, the beam out of thine own eye ; 
 and, then, shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote that 
 is in thy brother's eye." Thou, who knowest not God, 
 and art the enemy of His Christ, — thou who art thyself 
 sensual, and worldly, not having the Spirit, — presume not 
 to judge him who is spiritual ; him, who is struggling with 
 the burthen of his sins ; him who prays day and night for 
 mercy ; him who trembles, through fear of oflending God , 
 him whose soul is prostrate before the cross of his Saviour ; 
 and who is exercising himself with a watchfulness, of 
 which thou hast no conception, to preserve a conscience 
 void of ofience, both towards God, and towards man. Thou 
 Pharisee, also, who makest clean the outside, only, of the 
 cup, while corruption is within ; who art exact in outward 
 forms of religion, while pride and impenitence are in thy 
 heart ; thou, who boastest in thine own righteousness, 
 while thy secret thoughts are full of wickedness ; judge 
 not him, who, though less exact in some external observ- 
 ances, and possibly also enjoying less reputation among 
 men, is more truly turned to God, in the main bent of his 
 heart. Thou self-deceiver, thou hypocrite, cast out, first, 
 the beam out of thine own eye. Be converted from thj 
 pride, thy self-sufficiency, thy superficial morality, thy false 
 religion, and thy secret sin : then, shalt thou be able to 
 26* 
 
306 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 discern the errors, and to estimate the characters of the 
 children of God ; having thus " cast out the beam out of 
 thine own eye, then, shalt thou see clearly to cast out the 
 mote out of thy brother's eye." 
 
 XXXVIIL 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, VII. 6. 
 
 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls 
 before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again 
 and rend you. 
 
 The word holy signifies sacred, or separated for religious 
 uses. Among the Jews, certain meats were set apart for 
 sacrifice, and for the service of the Temple. " Give not 
 that which is holy to the dogs," would, therefore, seem to 
 a Jew to mean, if literally interpreted, — cast not among the 
 dogs that virhich is consecrated to the sacred uses of the 
 Temple. It is added, " Neither cast ye your pearls before 
 swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn 
 again and rend j^ou." A pearl is in itself of great value, 
 though of no estimation in the eyes of swine. To cast 
 pearls before swine is, therefore, to throw away that which 
 is very valuable ; and, perhaps, also to provoke those, on 
 whom we may think that we bestow a benefit. They may 
 only turn again and rend us. A lesson of religious prudence 
 is conveyed to us by these sayings of Christ : and it is 
 this — that a rash and undiscriminating mode of presenting 
 serious things ought to be avoided. If we speak freely on 
 these subjects before the light, the sensual, and the profane, 
 we may do to them no good ; and we may bring, — on our- 
 selves, and on our cause, — much harm. It is to cast pearls 
 before swine. It is to intrude upon them something, indeed 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOL\T. 307 
 
 very valuable in itself, but of whicli the value will not be 
 acknowledged. The result will be, that they will take 
 offence, and become our enemies ; they will turn again, and 
 rend us. There are some persons whom no reproof of 
 ours is likely to amend. In such a case let us remember 
 the caution given by our Lord : " Be ye wise as serpents," 
 said He to His seventy disciples, as well as " harmless as 
 doves."* It is recorded of himself, that, when He was in 
 a place, where there existed a remarkable prejudice against 
 Him, " He did not many mighty works there, because of 
 their unbelief."! It is observable, also, that the seventy 
 Disciples, when they were first sent forth, were command- 
 ed to go not to any house which might accidentally be 
 opened to them ; but to inquire, first, in every place, Avho 
 was worthy, and to take up their abode with such person ; 
 not going from house to house : and, if no persons resident 
 in the place should receive them, they were instructed not 
 to remain there ; but to cast off the dust of their feet upon 
 them. 
 
 This subject is applicable to our own time. Some per- 
 sons among us seem to have only one maxim in religion ; 
 and it is this — that religious truth cannot be too loudly, or 
 generally declared. They would proclaim it in the street, 
 in the market place, and from the house top, if a crowd of 
 persons could but be brought to hear. In preaching the 
 Gospel, they think that no decencies of time and place need 
 be consulted. They profess to be willing to brave every 
 danger in this cause ; but their forwardness is only the 
 consequence of a naturally bold and ardent temper, of a 
 temper which Christianity ought to correct and restrain. 
 They are obtrusive in religion, in the same manner as on 
 other subjects. 
 
 This passage may be applied in a more general sense. 
 It may, also, be applied, more literally, to those preachers 
 who, by proclaiming the doctrines of the Gospel at unsuita- 
 ble times and places, — by delivering their sermons, for 
 • St. Matt. X. 16. t St. Matt. xiii. 58. 
 
308 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 example, in the streets of our cities, — ^render the Gospel 
 ridiculous to the profane crowd which is passing by. They 
 ma)"^ also be said to cast their pearls before swine. They 
 render the Gospel a subject of joke to the giddy, and of 
 contempt and scorn to the profane ; who sometimes, also, 
 may literally be said, to " turn again and rend them." This 
 ill usage possibly may be termed persecution. Let it, how- 
 ever, be remembered, that Christ has given no direction 
 or authority, to preach his precious truths to the world after 
 this manner ; though, undoubtedly, in certain circumstances 
 of the world, this mode of preaching may have been justifia- 
 ble and even necessary. 
 
 We may apply this passage however, more generally, to 
 those who, in any respect, suffer their religious zeal to out- 
 run their prudence ; to those, for example, who, unguard- 
 edly, introduce religious conversation in mixed or profane 
 company. The world unhappily is far from being generally 
 Christian ; and the difficulty of introducing serious topics 
 without offence into an ordinary society is but too plain a 
 proof of this. Men being what they are, it is necessary 
 in some circles to abstain entirely from serious topics ; 
 and, in others, to handle them very cautiously, if we ven- 
 ture to touch up( 1 them. Let us not disdain this Christian 
 prudence. We 1 ave the authority of Christ in favour of it. 
 
 Let us not think that every religious word is good, be- 
 cause it is religious. Let us pay regard to person, time, 
 and place. Let us indeed introduce pious conversation 
 where we can with propriety ; but let us not force it too 
 much. Let us beware in particular of all singular, affected, 
 and sectarian phrases. These convey little meaning to 
 ihe irreligious hearer ; and yet they give him great offence. 
 
 We are aware, indeed, that the lukewarm, the timid, and 
 ihe time-serving, may avail themselves of this passage in 
 order to justify a contrary extreme, — that of hazarding little, 
 or nothing, in the cause of Christ. Let such persons be 
 reminded, that there are occasions, when, unquestionably, 
 the wicked should be plainly rebuked ; and that, even in 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 309 
 
 large irreligious companies, it may chance to be the indis- 
 pensable duty of a Christian openly to avow his diiference 
 from all around him, and his fidelity to the cause of Christ. 
 Opportunities may also be adroitly seized of urging the most 
 serious truths even on a crowd of unbelievers. St. Paul, 
 when brought before king Agrippa, took occasion, though a 
 prisoner at the bar, to preach concerning the faith of Christ; 
 and he must not be supposed to have cast his pearls before 
 swine in this case. Paul well knew when to speak ; and 
 when to be silent, or reserved.. He was carried away by 
 no violence, on the one hand ; he hod no sinful fear of 
 man, on the other. Free from prejudice himself, he knew 
 how to manage the prejudices of others. " To the Jews I 
 became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews ; to them that 
 are without law, as without law, that I might gain them 
 that "are without law ; to the weak became I as weak, that 
 I might gain the weak."* He was all things to all men, 
 that by all means he might gain some. May we learn this 
 spirit ! May we neither disguise our want of zeal by a 
 pretended regard to prudence ; nor disregard prudence on 
 the plea of an overflowing zeal. 
 
 • I Corinth, ix. 20—23. 
 
310 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 XXXIX. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW VII. 7—11. 
 
 Ask, and it shall be given you ; seek, and ye shall find ; knock, and it 
 
 sharll be opened unto you : 
 For every one that asketh receiveth ; and he that seeketh findeth ; and 
 
 to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 
 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him 
 
 a stone 1 
 Or^f he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent 1 
 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, 
 
 how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things 
 
 to them that ask him 1 
 
 * 
 
 The Gospel is most encouraging in its nature. What 
 can be more inviting than these sayings of Christ ? It is 
 considered among men, that, if any one be assured of 
 having that which he is disposed to ask ; if there be no 
 doubt of his finding the thing which he seeks ; and if, after 
 knocking at a door, it fail not to be opened to him ; this is 
 as much as he can desire. By a like assurance of success, 
 does our Saviour invite us to seek those spiritual blessings 
 which are conveyed to us by the Gospel. " Ask, and it 
 shall be given you ;" is one of the chief sayings of Christ; 
 and it is here added, " For every one that asketh, re- 
 ceiveth ; and he, that seeketh, findeth ; and to him, that 
 knocketh, it shall be opened." 
 
 But what is it exactly, that is intended by these several 
 expressions? To ask, that is, to ask of God, obviously 
 means, to pray to Him ; and the promise, that, if we ask, 
 we shall receive, signifies, that God will grant the things 
 for which we pray ; it being here indeed presumed, that 
 we chiefly ask that which we principally want, namely 
 spiritual blessings. 
 
 The direction to seek, seems an instruction to use all the 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 311 
 
 means of grace with due diligence and earnestness: " Seek, 
 and ye shall find." This is a promise on the part of God, 
 that the spiritual means, which we employ, shall infallibly 
 produce, through His aid, their proper spiritual end. The 
 phrnsc " knock, and it shall be opened unto you," is 
 another expression to nearly the same purport ; it serves 
 particularly to show the reasonableness of prayer, and of 
 all other means of grace, and the unreasonableness of 
 neglecting them. As a man wishing to enter into a house 
 knocks at the door, and is not otherwise admitted; so, if 
 we would be received into Christ's kingdom, we must 
 knock, that is, we must apply, according to the proper 
 mode, for admission. And as he who is now without, may 
 remain for ever without, if he do not knock at the door into 
 which he wishes to enter ; so may we remain for ever 
 strangers to the blessings of the Gospel, if we do not seek, 
 by prayer, and by the ordinary mesns of grace, to be ad- 
 mitted. If we ask, we shall have ; but if we ask not, it is 
 but reasonable that we should want the things most neces- 
 sar}' to us. If we seek, we shall find; but if we seek not, 
 we shall not gain the treasure : and if we knock, it shall be 
 opened to us ; but if we choose to take no means of enter- 
 ing, we shall remain without for ever. It is added, "or 
 what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will 
 he give him a stone ; or if he ask a fish, will he give him 
 a serpent ?" God here condescends to teach us His own 
 willingness to hear our prayers, by referring to the willing- 
 ness even of a common earthly parent, to grant the sup- 
 plication of his children. Nay, the case is still stronger ; 
 f\)r " if ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts 
 unto your children, how much more shall your Father, 
 which is in heaven, give good things," (or as it is written 
 in another place,) give His Holy Spirit — to them that ask 
 him. 
 
 Having thus explained the passage, let us make some 
 observations upon it. And, first, let us expose the error of 
 those who are ready to complain of the hardship of the 
 
312 FAMILY COMMENTARY OM 
 
 Gospel. You think it hard perhaps to be required to re 
 nounce the world ; to mortify your passions and affections 
 which are upon the earth ; and to attain the tempers and 
 perform all the works required. You conceive of religion 
 as of a hard service. But can that be properly called 
 hard, which sufficient means are given us to accomplish ? 
 The Gospel is a system of means most admirably adapted 
 to their end. Its doctrines, when duly believed, lead 
 naturally to the practice which is required. The Gospel 
 undoubtedly has much in it which is hard for flesh and 
 blood ; but we may observe, also, that it ceases to be hard, 
 when a man has, by prayer, engaged on his side, the 
 powerful help of God's Holy Spirit ; and this Spirit God 
 is as ready to bestow, as a parent is to give bread to a child 
 that cries to him. True hardship consists in toiling at that 
 for which no sufficient strength is afforded ; in seeking that 
 which we are without hope of finding ; or in knocking im- 
 portunately at a door which no one is willing to open to us. 
 True hardship consists in being required, like the Israel- 
 ites under Pharaoh, to make bricks without straw ; or in 
 being required to produce the fruits of the Spirit, while God 
 is unwilling to give to our supplications the help of that 
 Spirit, by which alone they can be produced. 
 
 This species of hardship is often experienced in the 
 affairs of the present life ; the men of this world often toil 
 for that which there is little hope of attaining. The beggar 
 asks, and asks again for some miserable pittance, which, 
 after all his earnestness, it is more than probable that he 
 will not receive. The man, who pursues preferment, em- 
 ploys all the means of obtaining it, though encouraged only 
 by a faint hope. The covetous seek wealth ; and the am- 
 bitious, honour ; animated by no certain knowledge that 
 they shall obtain them. It is not thus in spiritual things. 
 Christ here assures us, that the search after these shall 
 infallibly be crowned with success. Let us then labour, 
 having this hope. God demands that we should use the 
 means, — means indeed which ave suited to the very weak- 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 313 
 
 ness of our state. To use them is our part ; it shall be 
 His, to malve them effectual to their end. 
 
 But some will reply, " Is it not necessary that I should 
 wait, till God inclines me to ask, to seek, and to knock ?" 
 Has not Christ himself said, that " without me ye can do 
 nothing ?"* And has not St. Paul also declared, that we 
 are not " sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of 
 ourselves : but our sufiiciency is of God ?"t 
 
 We say, in answer, as we have said before, let us take 
 care so to interpret one text of Scripture, that other texts 
 maj' stand. Our present business is chiefly with the pres- 
 ent text ; and, therefore, it may be sufficient to remark in 
 this place, that the passage before us breathes the very 
 spirit of encouragement ; and that we, therefore, unques 
 tionably pervert it, if we deprive it of this spirit. How 
 difTerent are the plain unsophisticated precepts of Christ 
 often found to be, from the same precepts with man's com- 
 ment added to them. How clear and encouraging the one ! 
 How perplexing and discouraging the other ! 
 
 Is not this precept a direction to ask without hesitation 
 or delay — without fear or distrust ? What can be plainer 
 than the words ? But you reply, " I suspect, that there is 
 something ambiguous in them." Was Christ then an 
 equivocator ? Can you imagine, that He used terms en- 
 couraging in their sound, and not in their real sense ; terms 
 involving some hidden meaning, which defeats the plainer 
 one, and renders this apparently precious promise of none 
 effect ; — terms which restrict to a few the encouragement 
 apparently offered to all ? Let us beware of thus discred- 
 iting Christ. He is best honoured when we believe His 
 words in their natural and obvious sense, and venture our 
 souls upon them. 
 
 But it is not a cold and listless manner of seeking spiritual 
 blessings which will suffice. A cold prayer, indeed, is no 
 prayer; and an idle search is no search. Our Saviour 
 spoke a parable to His disciples for the express purpose of 
 
 • St. John XV. 5. +2 Cor. iii. .5. 
 
 27 
 
314 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 teacliing them thai it was only by importunity in prayet 
 that they were to prevail. " My son," said Solomon, " if 
 thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for 
 understanding ; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest 
 for her as for hid treasures , then shalt thou understand the 
 fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God."* May 
 v/e then so call upon God, that we may be heard by Him. 
 May we seek Him with all our hearts. Then shall we 
 not fail to be made partakers of that Holy Spirit, which 
 includes all spiritual blessings. 
 
 XL. 
 
 ST. MA.TTHEW, VH. 12. 
 
 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do 
 ye even so to them : for this is the law and the prophets. 
 
 This is one of the golden rules given us by Christ. It 
 is a rule easy to be remembered, as well as to be understood; 
 and it is applicable to a thousand cases. It comprehends, 
 indeed, when taken in its most extensive sense, our whole 
 duty to our neighbour. The law of the Jews consisted of 
 two Darts, the one regarding God ; the other, man. Dut)' 
 to God is taught in tlie four first of the ten commandments ; 
 and duty to our neighbour, in all the following ones. " On 
 these two commandments," says Christ, in another place, 
 "hang all the law and the prophets." And here He says, 
 " For this is the law and the prophets." The duty of man 
 to his neighbour, was the whole subject now under consid- 
 eration. 
 
 Let us proceed to explain the rule. " Whatsoever ve 
 
 WOULD THAT MEN SHOULD DO UNTO YOU DO YE EVEN SO 
 
 CNTO THEM." The same rule is expressed in another place 
 • Prov. ii. 3—5 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 315 
 
 thus : " Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."* Inor 
 dinate self-love is the great source of injustice. How 
 universally does this prevail ! Who does not prefer his 
 own interest, his own pleasure, his own honour, to that of 
 other men ? When a man has these principles of inordi- 
 nate self-love reigning in him, he will, of necessity, act 
 unjustly, not in one instance, but in ten thousand : not in 
 matters of property only ; but in questions of every kind 
 between him and his neighbour. And while he commits 
 all this wrong, he will be ignorant of it ; for self-love blinds 
 the eyes : it makes that to seem just, vv^hich is utterly 
 unjust ; and it makes many an act which is no more than 
 equitable, appear to be a deed of exalted virtue and gen 
 erosity. 
 
 How important is it, then, to possess a principle of equity 
 for the heart, and not merely a code of rules for the exter- 
 nal conduct. "Thou shalt r.ovE thy neighbour as 
 THYSELF." This is the great principle of Christian morality. 
 Let us love our neighbour as ourselves ; and, then, we shall 
 feel for him as for ourselves ; then, we shall do to others, 
 as we would they should do to us. Indeed, he, who does 
 generally to others, as he would that others should do to 
 him, can hardly fail to love others as himself; for love is 
 the only principle which can secure so high a practice. 
 " Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do 
 ye even so unto them." Put yourself, then, in the place 
 of your neighbour. Imagine yourself to be in all respects 
 in his condition, and him to be in yours ; and, then, ask 
 yourself. How should I be likely to judge 1 How much 
 should I be disposed to claim? In doing this, we should 
 enter into a variety of considerations. We should imagine 
 ourselves, for instance, to have been educated imder the 
 same prejudices with our neighbour ; to be under his tempt- 
 ations, subject to his natural infirmities, possessed of no 
 more than his share of information, and accustomed to 
 dwell among his circle of friends and acquaintance. We 
 *St. Markxii. 31. 
 
316 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 should imagine ourselves pressed by the same want, whiih 
 perhaps he feels ; or tempted by the same false friends, by 
 whom he may possibly be deceived , we should fancy our- 
 selves in his situation, altogether, and not in part only. 
 
 Let us consider this golden rule as applied to persons 
 of various classes. And, first, if men in power were ofiei. 
 to place themselves in the situation of those whom they 
 govern, how great would be the advantage. How criminal 
 would that ambition, then, appear, of which the object is 
 to make the king great and renowned at the expense of the 
 happiness of the people I What sense of responsibility — 
 what economy in every department — what a strict regard 
 to all the interests of the poor — will be cultivated by a ruler 
 who often places himself in the circumstances of the 
 meanest of his people. And if the people would consider 
 the temptations, as well as difficulties, which kings and 
 ministers experience ; if they would reflect, how hard it is 
 to please the many, and how impossible, to please all ; how 
 provoking is a spirit of insubordination and discontent ; and 
 how strong an incentive to new severities ; surely, they 
 would learn more candour in judging their superiors, as 
 well as more acquiescence and submission. 
 
 Again, if masters would put themselves in the place of 
 their servants, and would contemplate the trials of that 
 more low and dependent state : — and if servants would ask 
 themselves, what they, if they were masters, would be 
 likely to require of a servant ? — if they would reflect, how 
 blameable would seem to them, if they were masters, either 
 the insolence, or the unfaithfulness, or the duplicity, or the 
 sloth, or even the forgetfulness of a servant : — surely, then, 
 each would be disposed to a more candid interpretation of 
 the other's conduct, and to a stricter fulfilment of his own 
 duty. 
 
 So also, if parents and teachers would imagine them- 
 selves in the place of the children who are subject to them : 
 if, instead of measuring the faults of every child by the 
 degree of inconvenience brought upon themselves, they 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 317 
 
 they would divest themselves of this selfishness, and would 
 make that allowance for the ignorance and heedlessness of 
 youth, which they themselves would think reasonable, if 
 they were children : — how different would be the judgment, 
 respecting many of the errors of youth ; and how much 
 milder often would be the piniishment. And if children 
 could be persuaded to reflect, how much pain a parent feels 
 ill seeing the stubbornness and disobedience, or the inat- 
 tention and ingratitude, of his offspring ; and how much 
 j)leasure, in witnessing the contrary dispositions ; then 
 children would learn to be more attentive and obedient. 
 
 If the buyer and the seller would put themselves in the 
 place of each other; then, the fraud and iniquity of trade 
 would cease. 
 
 If all those, who possess power, would imagine them- 
 selves to be in the condition of him who is subject to that 
 power ; if the slave owner would imagine himself the 
 slave ; and the oppressor suppose himself the oppressed ; 
 and would endeavour to do unto others whatsoever he would 
 that others (if they were in his place) should do unto him , 
 how many millions of mankind woidd experience a ter- 
 mination of their sufferings. 
 
 Again, if all those, who are disposed to quarrel with 
 their neighbours, if all the complaining and the censorious 
 and the prejudiced, would be careful to put themselves in 
 the place of the party whom they blame, before they allow 
 themselves to utter any thing to his prejudice ; how would 
 peace and harmony be promoted. How extensive is this 
 precept of Christ, and how favourable to the happiness 
 ct' the world ? 
 
318 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 XLI. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, VII. 13, 14. 
 
 Enter ye in at the strait gale : for wide is the gale, and broad is tlio way, 
 that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat : 
 
 Because strait is the gale, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unlo life, 
 and few there be that find it. 
 
 An expression of our Saviour, not unlike to this, is 
 recorded in the 13th chapter of St. Luke. One of His dis- 
 ciples having asked Him, " Lord, are there few that be 
 saved ?" He answered, " Strive to enter in at the strait 
 gate ; for many, I say utito you, will seek to enter in, and 
 shall not be able." It appears from these words, that 
 Christ was disposed not so much to satisfy the curiosity 
 of His disciples respecting others, as to direct them in the 
 choice of that path which they were themselves to take. It 
 is, as if He had said : the gate indeed is strait ; you are to 
 know it by its straitness. Strive therefore, and strive 
 earnestly, in order, that, however strait it may be, ye your- 
 selves may not fail to enter in by it. Remember, also, that 
 many deceive themselves on this important point ; many 
 shall seek, or expect, on the Great Day, to enter into 
 heaven, and shall not be able to find admission there. 
 
 The words of our Saviour, in this passage which we 
 have the more immediately to consider, evidently contain a 
 very similar admonition. Let us proceed to apply the 
 exhortation to ourselves ; and, in doing it, let us miite ihe 
 meaning of the two texts. Many, it is to be feared, who 
 live in the present day, im;>gin6 that they shall hero;iftei 
 enter into heaven ; and shall not be able. And what is iht 
 source of this delusion ? Perhaps no circumstance con- 
 'ributes more to confirm men in the neglect of religion, than 
 ;he sentiment, that they are as good as the multitude of 
 their neishbours : and that this nivdtitude cannot but bt 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 319 
 
 saved. How little is it now believed, that " strait is the 
 gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and 
 few there be few that find it !" The common sentiment is, 
 that the many cannot go to destruction ; and that it would 
 be injurious to the character of God, to suppose that He 
 can condemn to punishment any great proportion of His 
 creatures. To this opinion the words of the passage,— 
 which we are now considering, as well as of that other 
 text which we have quoted, — stand directly opposed. The 
 plain truth is, that, if we can suppose even a single person 
 to be justly punishable by God for his sins, and actually to 
 be punished ; we may equally suppose others to be punished 
 in like manner, without the least regard to the circumstance 
 of their being either many or few, if, by like sins and like 
 impenitence, they shall have made themselves obnoxious 
 to like punishment. It may be asked, — " might not the 
 saying of Christ in the text be confined to the age of the 
 apostles ? may there not be at least some hope, that it ap- 
 plies not in its full force to our own age, country, place of 
 residence, and circle of friends and acquaintance ?" Un- 
 doubtedly, this is a subject for fair examination. Let every 
 one, therefore, consider the character and manners of the 
 age, into which he is cast, and of the particular circle in 
 which he moves. Let him, however, do this, not forming 
 his judgment of what is necessary to salvation from the 
 ordinary or average practice of his neighbours — the error 
 into which most men fall — but from those Holy Scriptures 
 in which he professes to believe. Let him, in the true 
 spirit of solemn and serious inquiry, take the New Testa- 
 ment into his hand. "Let him run over those marks of true 
 discipleship, which are laid down in that sermon of our 
 S.wiouR which we are considering : and will he not be 
 constrained, though reluctantly, to own, that the saying of 
 the text is but too obviously applicable to the present age, 
 if we make Scripture our rule of judging ? " Cast your 
 eyes," says a late pious writer, " for one moment, upon the 
 state of your town or village, or of the neighbourhood where 
 
320 FAMILY co:mmentauy on 
 
 you live. Select now the best reputed character of youi 
 circle : you may mark, perhaps, the accomplished noble- 
 man, the hospitable and friendly gentleman, the fair and 
 civil tradesman, the diligent and expert mechanic, the in- 
 dustrious farmer, and the honest labourer ; but how rarely 
 can you superadd to these the forgotten character of a 
 Christian ! The highest character, which is commonly 
 aspired after, is to be a man fair in his dealings, complying 
 in his manner, courteous, hospitable, and generous, and of 
 similar popular and self-rewarding virtues. Let us, then," 
 he adds, " with the deepest humility, and the most affection- 
 ate thankfulness, take the New Testament into our hands ; 
 and examine it as we would any other record, or writing, 
 on which our greatest interests depended. Let us examine 
 what those works are, which are required of us in the 
 Christian vocation. For let public manners be what they 
 will, Christianity is the same to-day that it was in the days 
 of the Apostles ; the same terms are proposed, the same 
 practice is expected." The evil of the present day is, not 
 only that men do not believe the awful words of Christ in 
 this passage in their strictest interpretation, but, that they 
 do not at all, and in any sense, believe them. This 
 Scripture (like other Scriptures which contradict their pre- 
 judices and inclinations) is of no authority. Men even 
 reverse the passage before us ; and, while they confess, 
 perhaps, that neither they nor their friends attain to that 
 standard, which they in some degree perceive to be accord- 
 ing to Scripture, they comfort themselves by an opinion 
 formed in direct opposition to this text ; — that, because they 
 and their party are so numerous, therefore their numbers 
 shall save them. They reverse the passage, and say " wide 
 is, and must be, the gate ; and broad must be the way, 
 which leadeth to life ; and they must be the many who go 
 in thereat : and strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, 
 which leadeth to death ; and we trust that few there be 
 who find it." Thus, instead of taking warning from the 
 wholesome words of Christ, — instead of suspecting them- 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 321 
 
 selves to be in the wrong, because they resemble the 
 many ; they choose the broad road, because it is broad ; 
 perversely fancying, that the breadth of it is the mark, 
 rather that it is the right path, than that it is the contrary. 
 But let us tremble, if we are living, as others live ; if 
 we are thinking, as others think ; if we are saying, as 
 others say and doing, as others do. There are two 
 parties in the world : there is a religious party, which is 
 small ; whose ways are unpopular, and particular ; Avho 
 diller from the common class of men ; who lead such a 
 life of piety and strictness, that they are thought by the 
 generality to carry things nuicii too far. And there is 
 another large and numerous party, who seem to them- 
 selves, as if they were the whole world ; who are travel- 
 ling securely through life ; wlio are not afraid of temptation; 
 who feel little dread of sin ; who meet with no sjiritual 
 difficulties, or troubles ; who, for the most part, follow natural 
 inclinations ; to whom the example of other men forms the 
 great riue of action, the world not being suspected of being 
 an enemy. The very religion of such men is the customary 
 religion. The foundation of their hope is the largeness of 
 their body. " If we are not saved," say they, " a large part 
 of the world must be condemned : and this it is impossible 
 to admit, even for a moment, since God can never be so 
 harsh as to condemn to punishment so great a portion of 
 His creatures." On this ground, multitudes are content to 
 build their expectations of happiness in eternity. " Christ," 
 they say, " died for us, and he will surely save us ;" for- 
 getting that the same Christ, in whose words they pretend 
 to trust, is He who hath also said, that " strait is the gate, 
 and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there 
 be that lind it." 
 
 Now to which of these two parties do we belong ? To 
 the large, or to the little flock ? " Fear not," says our Sa- 
 viour, "little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to 
 give you the kingdom."* " Take heed," said the apostle, 
 • St Luke xii. 32. 
 
322 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 '* that )'e be not condemned with the world."* Noah was 
 a just man in his generation : but Noah only and his family, 
 out of all the multitude, who lived with him on the earth, 
 found favour in the sight of God. At a later time, not ten 
 righteous were to be found in a whole city. There was a 
 period when only seven thousand men of all the kingdom 
 of Israel refusbd to bow the kneel to Baal: and in the days 
 of Christ, the whole multitude, both of teachers and of 
 the people, set themselves against Ilim. Thus the histori- 
 cal, as well the perceptive, part of Scripture warns us not 
 to trust to this fatal and delusive argument of numbers. 
 How, indeed, is reformation ever to begin in .any one cor- 
 rupted nation, sect, or party, or circle of persons, if the cur- 
 rent pi'actice be to form the standard by which men are to 
 judge of their acceptance at the bar of the Almighty ? 
 The road to destruction will only cease to be that broad 
 road, which it is here described to be, when men shall 
 learn to take the word of God for their rule and the ground 
 of their confidence ; and when they shall cease to think, 
 that the circumstance of their numbers shall save them. 
 
 XLII. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, VH. 15, 16. 
 
 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but in- 
 wardly they are ravening wolves. 
 
 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, o? 
 figs of thistles 1 
 
 Our Saviour, when He said, " Beware of false pro- 
 phets," had a particular eye no doubt to the Scribes and 
 Pharisees ; whom, at another time, He termed hypocrites, 
 and blind leaders of the blind ; which come to you he 
 • 1 Corinth, xi. 32. 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUN'J . 323 
 
 «aicl, " in sheep's clothing." The Pharisees made clean 
 the outside ; they were, in appearance, harmless as sheep. 
 The people did not suspect them of enmity to God ; or to 
 His servants. They saw in them a remarkable scrupulosi- 
 ty ; much outward sanctity ; great regard to the forms of 
 religion ; and several other qualities, which were then likely 
 to constitute respectability, in the eyes of superficial men. 
 But though the Pharisees appeared to the people, in sheep's 
 clothing ; yet, inwardl}', they were ravening wolves. They 
 were more opposed to the truth than any class of persons ; 
 they were the chief antagonists of Christ, and of His fol- 
 lowers. St. Paul, before his conversion, remarkably ex 
 emplified the practice of a Pharisee : touching the righte- 
 ousness of the law, he was blameless ; yet he beyond 
 measure persecuted the Church of God, and wasted it. 
 But the precept of our Saviour, — to beware of false pro 
 phets, which should come in sheep's clothing, — ought not 
 to be limited to the Pharisees. Many deceivers appeared 
 in the first ages of the Church. The great apostle of the 
 Gentiles remarks to ihe elders at Ephesus : " For I know 
 this, that, after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in 
 among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your ownselves 
 shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away 
 disciples after them."* And this expectation, — of the false 
 prophets v/hich should appear, — constituted a chief source 
 of his anxiety; "therefore watch," said he, "and remem- 
 ber, that, by the space of three years, I ceased not to warn 
 every one, night and day, with tears. "f The same apostle 
 g-uarded the Corinthians against certain false apostles — de- 
 ceitful workers transforming themselves into the apostles 
 of Christ ; " for Satan himself," he added, " is transformed 
 into an angel of light."| In his epistle to the Galatians,he 
 complains of certain Judaizing teachers, by whom he had 
 been supplanted in their esteem. St. Jude, also, in his 
 epistle, speaks of certain men, who had crept in unawares, 
 "tm'ning the grace of our God into lasciviousness ; and 
 • Acts XX. 29, 30. t Acts xx. 31 } 2 Corinth, xi. 13, li 
 
324 FAMILY CORIMEyTArcY ON 
 
 denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."* 
 They are, further, described as despising dominion ;t as 
 •' speaking evil of dignities ;"+ and as going " in the way 
 of Cain ;" " and after the error of Balaam for reward ;" 
 and as perishing in the " gainsaying of Core."§ We have 
 made these several quotations from Scripture, in order to 
 show, that the intrusion of false prophets or teachers into 
 the church constituted one of the great evils of the first 
 ages. Well, therefore, might our Saviour say to the peof- 
 ple, " Beware of false prophets." But how was the simple 
 multitude to distinguish the true prophets from the false ? 
 " Ye shall knoAv them," says Christ, " by their fruits. Do 
 men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles ?"|1 This is 
 the great test by which the pretensions, both of public 
 teachers, and of private Christians, are to be examined. 
 Common sense, indeed, dictates this mode of judging : and 
 there is often a remarkable agreement beUveen the sayings 
 of our Saviour and our own common sense. As the na- 
 lure of a tree is known by its fruits, so is the nature of a 
 man's religion. " Bring forth," said John the Baptist to 
 the pretenders who gathered round him, " fruits meet for 
 repentance."^ " I have chosen you, and ordained you," 
 says Christ to his Apostles, " that yc should go and 
 bring forth fruit."** We are become dead to the law, says 
 St. Paul, and joined or married to Christ, " that we should 
 bring forth fruit unto GoD.'-tl In the time of the Reforma- 
 tion, the mode of judging resorted to was that which is here 
 recommended by Christ. The people perceived that the 
 Reformers were a strict and self-denying people, while the 
 body of the Popish priesthood were abominably corrupt. 
 Undoubtedly the people in some measure compared the 
 doctrines of the two parties ; but many of them judged, in 
 a still greater degree, by a comparison of the lives of each. 
 By their fruits, the true and the false prophets were then 
 
 ♦ St. Jude4. t 2 St. Peter ii. 10. $ 2 St. Peter ii. lO. 
 
 « St. Jude 11. il St. Matt. vii. 16. ?St. Matt. iii. 8. 
 
 ♦» St. John XV. If), n Rom. vii. 4. 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 325 
 
 known. And thus our Saviour's maxim was the means of 
 guiding the muhitude safely (even in a dark age) into the 
 true paths ; and of re-establishing a more pure religion in 
 the world. The precept reaches also to us ; and is of 
 standing use in the church. " Beware of false prophets, 
 who come to you in sheep's clothing." The multitude are 
 always easily imposed upon ; those especially become 
 dupes in matters of religion, who are not very religious 
 themselves. 
 
 There is a superstition, in whose eye the mere name, or 
 dress, of a minister exhibits all the sanctity which is re- 
 quired ; they reverence the robe, and the robe only. The 
 Pharisees acquired much respect after this manner. Others 
 require that to the sacred robe a little outward decency of 
 character should be added. Tliere is another class, who 
 think that bold pretensions to inspiration, or apostleship ; 
 that zeal, as ardent as that of Paul, and strong confidence, 
 like his ; (though without his faith and love, his humility 
 and patience, his gentleness and meekness, his prudence 
 and wisdom, and discernmeiit, and all his other graces,) 
 are sufficient marks of a true prophet. But by their fruits, 
 says Christ, they shall be known. Paul himself used 
 often to appeal both to his doctrine ; and to his manner of 
 life, conversation, faith, charity ; and he, by living amono- 
 his converts, afforded to them an opportunity of bein.o- 
 thoroughly acquainted with his character. " I have covet- 
 ed," he said, "no man's silver, or gold, or apparel : yea, ye 
 yourselves know, that these hands have ministered to my 
 necessities."* As he was foremost in authority and rank 
 in the Church ; so also was he foremost in labours, in suf- 
 ferings, and self-deni;i!s. To these, when competitors 
 arose and endeavoured to undermine him, he was accus- 
 tomed to make appeal ; insomuch that he sometimes would 
 appear guilty of vanity, or at least of too much egotism ; if 
 he had not pleaded the necessity for boasting, under which 
 these false teachers had laid him. Ministers, in all ages 
 
 ♦ Acts XX. 33, 34. 
 28 
 
326 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 musl be content to be judged of, in the same manner with 
 Paul the Apostle. By their fruits, they must be known ; 
 and not by the clerical decencies of their appearance ; not 
 by the mere profession of their faith ; not by the soundness 
 of iheir preaching ; not by the regularity of their ordination 
 ordy. If therefore, we would provide ourselves with means 
 of judging, adapted to all ages of the church; and if we 
 would be preserved safe, in spite of the degeneracy both of 
 ministers and people, let our rule be that of Christ. Let 
 us judse our very teachers, by their fruits. On the one 
 hand, indeed, we ought to reverence the office of a Chris- 
 tian minister. St. Paul reverenced the office of High 
 Priest ; and once testified his reverence, in a remarkable 
 manner : but, on the other hand, let us be cautious, how 
 we commit the instruction of our souls, respecting the way 
 to eternal life, to meu unacquainted with that way : to men, 
 especially, who show, by their works, that they are of the 
 number of those false prophets, against whom we are ex- 
 pressly warned by Jesus Christ. Let it, moreover, be 
 remembered, that ministers should be strict, with a truly 
 Christian strictness ; that they should be humble and self- 
 denying ; raised above the love of this world ; and above 
 the fear of worldly persons ; given to much prayer, as well 
 as to much exertion in the miniary ; alive to God, and 
 spiritually-minded ; being of that " kingdom which is not 
 of this world."* These are the virtues of a Christian 
 minister ; and when these adorn the character, let us esteem 
 the possessor of- them, very highly in love, for his work's 
 sake. It would tend much to the purification of the Chris- 
 tian church, and to the rectification of its very doctrine, if 
 private Christians would agree to judge of the excellencies 
 of their ministers much more by their works (taking works 
 in their large and scriptural sense) than they are accus- 
 tomed to do. And it would be well, if ministers also would 
 bear in mind, that it is neither parts nor learning, neither 
 pulpit eloquence, nor any power of attracting a congrega- 
 * St. John xviii. 36. 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MuUNT. 327 
 
 tioii ; that it is neither a right understanding of doctrines, 
 nor skill in interpreting prophecy, nor talent in explaining 
 the more difficult parts of Scripture, nor knowledge of all 
 the evidences of" Christianity, nor rank and station in the 
 Church, which constitutes their sufficient title to the minis- 
 try. We know, from Scripture, that if a man should pos- 
 sess even miraculous gifts, and yet be destitute of the one 
 lasting grace of charity, he is but as " sounding brass, or a 
 tinkling cymbal."* 
 
 XLIII. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW VII. 17—20. 
 
 Even so every good tree briiigeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt trea 
 
 bringcth forth evil fruit. 
 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring 
 
 forth good fruit. 
 Every tree that bringcth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast 
 
 into the fire. 
 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 
 
 Our Saviour having instructed the people to beware of 
 false prophets, having observed that by their fruits they 
 should be known, adds, in these words, a general truth of 
 great importance. " Every good tree bringeth forth good 
 fruit ; but a co.rrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit :" that is, 
 the nature of a tree is determined by its fruit ; a good tree 
 yielding good fruit, and a bad tree being known by the bad 
 fruit which it produces. 
 
 This is the truth, which we are now to consider ; a truth, 
 which seems plain and undeniable. Many men, neverthe- 
 less, are far from adopting it, as a maxim of their religion. 
 
 ♦ 1 Corinth, xiii. 1. 
 
323 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 The bad fruit of a tree is, indeed, willingly referred to the 
 evil nature of the tree ; but is bad fruit in the life as readily 
 charged to something bad in the heart ? How ready are 
 most persons to say, even while they acknowledge their 
 sins, that they trust, it was not any fault of the heart, which 
 was the cause of them : not knowing that sin proceeds but 
 from the heart. The heart is that fountain from which 
 flows every thing that is either good or evil. This is the 
 doctrine of our Saviour, — " A good man," says Christ, 
 " out of the good treasures of the heart bringeth forth good 
 things."* And again, " Out of the heart proceed evil 
 thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false- 
 witness, blasphemies."! This, also, is the doctrine of 
 reason and of common sense : though some, who have been 
 denominated " rational divines,'" seem to teach the contrary. 
 " It is true," say these teachers, " that most men are in fact 
 corrupt ; but this corruption arises not from any thing wrong 
 in the nature of man, but from external causes : the cor- 
 ruption is accidental, adventitious, and superinduced. It 
 results from a wrong education, from evil influence, from 
 some particular temptation, and from bad example ; and not 
 from any root of evil in the man, not from any evil nature, 
 and a naturally bad heart. The heart," say they, " is natu- 
 rally good ; though the life, we grant, is evil :" — that is, 
 the tree is good, though the fruit brought forth be evil. 
 How is it (it may be asked, in answer to the remark) that 
 men are so easily turned aside by a bad education ; and are 
 with so much difliculty restrained even by a good one ? are 
 so ready to be operated upon by an evil influence ; so 
 willingly yield to every temptation, and are so prone to 
 follow a bad example ? How can this happen, utdess there 
 be a previous bias to evil ? Surely a disposition to commit 
 some sin, as soon as any temptation to the sin shall ofler 
 itself, is an evil disposition ; and a heart and nature inclin- 
 ed to corrupt indulgences, as soon as the several occasions 
 of corrupt indulgence shall present themselves, may, with 
 • St. Matt. xii. 35. t St. Matt. xv. 19. 
 
THE SERMON ON THE ?.10UNT. 329 
 
 great propriety of language, be called an evil nature, and 
 an evil heart. 
 
 To apply, then, to ourselves this saying of Christ : — 
 Let us learn from it to consider the several sins of our 
 lives, not as so many separate, insulated, and merely exter- 
 nal, and incidental acts ; for if we do this, they will seem 
 very slight and inconsiderable ; but as so many indications 
 of an evil heart within, as so many concurring proofs that 
 our very nature is corrupt. This is the light, in which 
 Christianity teaches us that all our particular sins ought to 
 be considered. We shall err grossly and fatally for our- 
 selves, if we do not bear about with us this sentiment con- 
 cerning them. When we reflect on a sin which we have 
 committed, we should trace the sin to its source, namely, 
 to the evil disposition of the heart. Thus it was that David 
 did, when he was contemplating his peculiar sin in the 
 matter of Uriah : " Behold," says he, (after confessing his 
 particular guilt,) " I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did 
 my mother conceive me."* He did not plead, that his 
 crime was accidental, and the mere efTect of temptation ; 
 but while he is freely confessing his criminal act, he seems 
 to be naturally conducted on to an acknowledgment, that 
 -he seeds of this sin had been in him from his birth ; and 
 .hat the particular corruption, which he was deploring, was 
 only one instance of the general corruption of his very na- 
 ture. He, therefore, cries earnestly to God, and says, 
 "create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right 
 spirit within me."t This last expression of David declares, 
 that since evil actions proceed from an evil heart, it is 
 necessary, first, to make the heart good, if we would effect- 
 ually reform the life. Make the tree good, said our Sav- 
 iour, (in another place,) and then shall the fruit also be 
 good. It was the error of the Pharisees, that they looked 
 not to the heart, but only to the outward acts of the life : they 
 minded not the motive from which an action sprung : and 
 is there not among us the same error ? Do the generality 
 
 • Psalm h. 5. t Psalm li. 10. 
 
 28* 
 
330 FAMILY COMMENTARY Olf 
 
 of men, when they are considering the quality of un action 
 inquire whether the act be done in the true fear and love 
 of God, and in obedience to the commands of Jesus 
 Christ ? Do not men think it sufficient, if, either from 
 pride, from emulation, from a regard to character, from fear 
 of temporal punishment, or from a senseof worldly interest, 
 benefits to society are produced ? It is but a scanty pro- 
 duce, at the most, of useful works, which is obtained by 
 the help of corrupt and secondary motives. Make the tree 
 good ; and, then, shall the fruit also be good. Let the mind 
 and heart be renovated ; and, then, shall there be abundant 
 as well as right fruit, in the life. The man himself must 
 be new made : there is an old man in us, which must be 
 changed. " Put off," says the Apostle, " the old man ; and 
 put ye on the new man, which after God is created in 
 righteousness and true holiness."* " Be ye transformed by 
 the renewing of your mind."t " Lie not one to another,"| 
 says St. Paul ; and why 1 Because lying is a shameful 
 vice, or a very dreadful sin ? No ; not on this ground only : 
 but lie not, ye Christians, one to another, "seeing that ye 
 have put off the old man with his deeds."§ " For in Christ 
 Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncir 
 cumcision, but a new creature. ''1| " Verily, verily, I say 
 unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the 
 kingdom of God ;"T[ for '' that, which is born of the flesh, 
 is flesh ; and that, which is born of the Spirit, is Spirit."** 
 The renovation of the heart, or inward man, by the influ- 
 ence of the Holy Spirit, or, in other words, the doctrine of 
 regeneration, connects itself with the saying in the text. 
 " Create and make in us, I^ord, a new heart. Grant 
 unto us, that thing, which by nature we cannot have. May 
 we be baptized not with water only, but with the Holy 
 Spirit : and having made us partakers of a new nature, 
 help us to walk in newness of life." 
 
 * Eph. iv. 22, 24. t Romans xii. 2. t Col. iii. 9. 
 
 ^ Col. iii. 9. II Gal. v. 15. f St. John iii. 3. 
 
 •* St. John iii. 6. 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 331 
 
 But, lastly, let us notice, also, that awful admonition, 
 which is at the end of this passage, that " every tree, that 
 bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and cast into 
 the fire."* These are the same words which John the 
 Baptist had before used ;t for our Saviour and the Baptist 
 are in perfect unison with each other : they both thought, 
 that the tree was to be known by its fruits ; and also that 
 the corrupt tree was to be cut down, and cast into the fire. 
 By their fruits, as was before shown, all are^ to be tried. 
 By our fruits we ourselves are each of us to be known. 
 May we then be able to stand this test ; and in particular, 
 may we take care that our fruits are not merely a few of 
 those easy and self-rewarding virtues which nominal Chris- 
 tians, as well as unbelievers, are able to practise ; but that 
 they are those true fruits of righteousness, which are, by 
 Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of God. 
 
 XLIV. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, VII. 21. 
 
 rSol every cue that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the king- 
 dom of heaven ; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in 
 heaven. 
 
 There seems to be no subject on which men have occa- 
 sion for more strong and reherated warnings, than that of 
 the danger of mistaking a profession of the Gospel, and an 
 assent to it, for the faith which is at once practical and 
 saving. 
 
 The conclusion of our Saviour's Sermon on the Mount 
 is made up of successive cautions on this head; and, in 
 • St. Matt. vii. 19. t St. Ma'.f. iii. 10. 
 
332 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 another place, He says, " why call ye me, Lord, Lord, 
 and do not the things which I say ;"* that is, " whj do ye 
 profess to take me for your Lord, when ye show that I 
 am not your Lord, by not fulfilling the things which I re- 
 quire of you ?" Profession only binds a man the more to 
 practice ; it cannot be permitted to stand in the place of 
 practice. The attainment of heaven would be an easy 
 thing indeed ; wide would be the gate, and broad would be 
 the way ; if merely saying, " Lord, Lord," would suffice. 
 That, which makes the gate so narrow, and causes so few 
 to enter in, no doubt, is chiefly this ; — that they alone can 
 be permitted to enter into heaven, who do the will of their 
 Father which is in heaven. 
 
 We shall consider this passage, first, as it respected the 
 persons to whom it was immediately addressed ; and, then, 
 as applying also to modern Christians. 
 
 Among the multitude, who gathered round our Saviour, 
 there were many who lent a favourable ear to His preach- 
 ing ; and nevertheless, were not of that "little flock, "f to 
 whom only He promised the kingdom. There was much 
 in the character, as v/ell as sayings of Christ, which was 
 calculated to attract the notice of the Jews. They were 
 now expecting a Messiah : and Christ professed himself 
 to be that Personage. They saw Him work miiacles, in 
 proof of His mission ; and these were chiefly miracles of 
 mercy, which would be likely to produce a strong prepos- 
 session in His favour. He taught truths, which could not 
 fail to be interesting to their minds ; He spake much of a 
 new Kingdom, of heaven ; He attacked the religious senti- 
 ments of the age ; inveighed against the character, as well 
 as doctrine, of the priests ; delivered a variety of striking 
 parables ; and appealed to the common sense, and feelings, 
 and natural consciences of His hearers. We, therefore, 
 cannot wonder, that many gathered round Him. Among 
 these, there would be not a few light and inconstant hearers, 
 who might agree for the moment, but who, afterwards, pos- 
 * St. Luke vi. 46- St. Luke xii. 32. 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 333 
 
 sibly might make part of that muhitude, which cried, " Cru- 
 cify Him, Crucify Him." 
 
 It is likely, that there would be many who would go 
 much further than these ; many who would hear Christ 
 with attention, and respect, and wiih a prejudice in His 
 favour ; who would be ready to rank themselves among the 
 most faithful of His followers ; who would be eager in 
 making comparisons between Christ and his enemies, the 
 most honourable to Christ ; who would extol His charac- 
 ter, admire His sayings, and be forward in his cause ; and 
 who, in a word, would come short in nothing, except in ful 
 filling the things which He commanded them. 
 
 Our Saviour, in the close of His Sermon on the Mount, 
 makes a very close application of it to all His self-deluding 
 followers. He had, just before, warned them against false 
 teachers ; whom, said He, ye shall know by their fruits 
 and He now bids them use the same test for themselves. 
 
 The term " doeth the will of my Father which is in 
 heaven,'-* is certainly not to be understood in the strictest 
 sense which it will bear : for .we are told, that " there is 
 not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth 
 not ;"t and it is one design of this very Sermon on the 
 Mount, which remarkably exhibits the strictness of the Law 
 of God, to show to us our own violations of it ; and thus to 
 prove, that it is mere mercy which must save us. 
 
 There is, however, a real disposition to unreserved obe- 
 dience, and an actual attainment of some good measure of 
 it, to which it is a main intention of the Gospel that we 
 should be brought : and, unless we arrive at this point, the 
 Scripture teaches us, in divers places, that we must beware 
 of thinking that we are accepted by God : for " he, thai 
 doeth righteousness," says the apostle, " is righteous ;"| 
 and, again, "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers 
 only ; deceiving your ovvnselves."^ 
 
 The term " will of God" has a very broad signification. 
 
 ♦ St. Matt. vii. 21. f- Eccles. vii. 20. 
 
 t 1 St. John iii. 7. 9 St. James i. 22. 
 
334 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 It is sometimes extended in Scripture, even to that which 
 we are to believe, as well as to all which we are to prac- 
 tise. It is the will, the commandment, the work of God, 
 *' that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent." It often 
 means general holiness ; thus, it is observed by an apostle, 
 " for this is the will of God, even your sanctification."* 
 The general sanctification of the human heart is that which 
 God may be said to will ; and this is one very fair interpre- 
 tation of the expression of the text. The Sermon on the 
 Mount will itself explain to us, what it was that Christ 
 meant, by the expression in this place : for He uses it with 
 a reference to the several precepts and sayings which He 
 had been just delivering. 
 
 Let us, in the second place, apply this saying of Christ 
 to the people of our own age and country. " Not every one 
 that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the king- 
 dom of heaven ; but He that doeth the will of my Father 
 which is in heaven."t And, first, it may serve to reprove 
 some who, — because they are not Atheists or Deists, but 
 are professors of Christianity ; because they call Christ 
 " Lord, Lord," in the slightest of all the senses in which 
 the term can now be understood, — conclude, therefore, that 
 they are members of the kingdom of heaven. 
 
 An opinion has prevailed in modern times, that the mer- 
 cies of Christ belong, of right, to all who are baptized and 
 call themselves Christians ; with the exception only of 
 those few persons by whom some extraordinary crimes 
 have been committed. With a view to favour this opinion 
 some have given an unfair representation of the nature of 
 baptism : they have described it not so much as the taking 
 upon us of the profession of Christianity, and the receiving 
 of the outward sign of an inward regeneration, but as alto- 
 gether constituting regeneration itself. It may be asked of 
 such persons ; — can all those, who have been baptized, and 
 who profess Christianity, — with the exception only of a 
 few profligates — be said to fulfil in any Scriptural sense 
 • 1 Thess. iv. 3. t St Matt. vii. 26. 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 335 
 
 the will of their Father which is in heaven ? Is it not 
 clear, that many of thorn never even think of Scripture ; 
 nor of that will of God which Scripture is intended to 
 teach ? 
 
 Others carry their profession of Christianity somewhat 
 further. They profess to pay attention to the Scri[;tural 
 precepts ; and thus to do the will of their heavenly leather. 
 The persons, however, of whom I now speak, by no means 
 understand the will of God aright. They interpret Scrip- 
 ture carelessly and loosely. They are apt, on the one 
 hand, to weaken its doctrines ; while, on the other, they 
 also lower the practical part. They reduce, especially, 
 the spiritual sayings of Christ, in His Sermon on the 
 Mount, to something which is easy for a worldly man to 
 perform ; to something which may be attained without any 
 fervent prayer to God, or any influence of His Holy Spirit ; 
 to something, which may exist independently of the effica- 
 cious f lilh of the Gospel ; to something, which, instead of 
 amounting to the will of God, amounts to little more than 
 the morality of infidels. 
 
 But we must speak also of those, who are more zealous 
 for the doctrines of the Gospel, and profess to be more 
 strict in their interpretations of Scripture. There is in 
 many of these (what belongs indeed to the very nature of 
 man) a disposition to elude, in one way or other, the self- 
 denying and practical part of religion. Their zeal for 
 doctrine is of that kind which prevents their extending their 
 attention sufficiently to practice. The fault of such persons 
 is the converse to that of those, of whom I was before 
 speaking. They were described as deceiving themselves, 
 by imagining that they did the will of God, when they only 
 did a few ordinary moral duties. Those, of whom I now 
 speak, perceiving the mere morality of the others, and their 
 inattention to doctrinal truths, run towards the contrary 
 extreme — of rendering almost every text doctrinal ; and of 
 discrediting what is practical in the instructions of their 
 teachers, by giving to it the nnme of "moral." 
 
336 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 To some persons of this class the practical interpretation 
 even of a practical text gives dissatisfaction, if not offence. 
 It has happened, that the wliole Sermon on the JNTount, 
 while its spiritiiali'ty has been overlooked by some, has, by 
 others, been represented as a mere description of the 
 severity of the law, and as serving only to lay a foundation 
 for the doctrine of justification by faith. It has scarcely 
 been at all considered by these persons, as conveying any 
 direct exhortation to practice ; a mode of treating those 
 many practical pages, which must seem surprising to every 
 plain Christian, who is unacquainted with doctrinal dispute. 
 How completely practical, above all, is that text which we 
 are now considering. " Not every one, that saith unto me. 
 Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven ; but 
 he, that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven."* 
 Surely we shall find it hard to elude that obligation to do, 
 under which our Saviour has laid us by His expression in 
 this place. 
 
 Let us, then, bev/are of this error. Let us not, — under 
 the idea that the faith of the Gospel is of itself to produce 
 obedience, — refuse attention to obedience ; or be sparing 
 in our pains to become acquainted with any branch of 
 practice. Let us fear, lest, too much neglecting the sundry 
 precepts of Christ and His apostles, we should adopt, in 
 their stead, the uncertain dictates of our own feelings, and 
 imaginations, or the strictnesses of our own narrow sect ; 
 and lest we thus substitute the morality of men, in the place 
 of the true graces of the Gospel. 
 
 It has happened from this cause, that many persons, who 
 are strict in some particulars, have been greatly defective 
 in others. In particular, there is a meekness, and candour ; 
 a disposition to judge ourselves, rather than our neighbour ; 
 a modesty, and humility; and an exact uprightness, and 
 integrity in doing to others as wc would they should do 
 unto us ; to which some, who arc well instructed in doc- 
 trine, do not attain : and in which our Saviour's Sermon 
 *St. Matt. vii. 21. 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 337 
 
 on the Mount would instruct them, if they would give a 
 practical attention to it. 
 
 But there are several other classes, of whom we would 
 also briefly speak. 
 
 Some are enthusiasts. They have seen visions and 
 revelations of the Lord. All is miraculous in their religion. 
 Some of these persons are often seen evidently to fail in 
 doing the will of their Father which is in Heaven. There 
 is a sober performance of all the duties of life, and a 
 prudent and careful abstinence from sin, which as much 
 form a part of the will of God, as the most spiritual 
 exercises. 
 
 Others, again, speak onl)'^ of faith. They seem able to 
 believe every thing. They appropriate to themselves all 
 the promises of the Bible ; though no fruit of holiness be 
 to be seen in them : they substitute, in the place of faith in 
 Christ, an unbounded confidence in their own particular 
 salvation : they call Christ, " Lord, Lord ;" but do not 
 the will of their Father which is in Heaven. Many are 
 the ways in which men deceive themselves, so as to forget 
 the plain and practical nature of the Gospel. 
 
 A few, by too much confining their attention to the cor- 
 ruption which is in man, and too little admitting the readi- 
 ness of God, for Christ's sake, to give us grace to save 
 us, are led to mourn over their depravity, rather than to 
 oppose if. Theirs is a barren wish for holiness ; rather 
 than the actual attainment of it. Their religion consists in 
 profession, and in words ; or in sighs, and in tears, and in 
 sorrowful complaining of themselves ; rather than in real 
 action, and practice. 
 
 Let us make due allowance for the various kmds of 
 numan infirmity : nevertheless, let us not fail to remember, 
 and insist, that, after all, this is the test by which men 
 of every sect, character, and opinions, must be tried : — 
 ' Not every one, that saith unto me. Lord, Lord, shall 
 enter into the kingdom of heaven ; but he, that doeth the 
 will of my Father which is in heaven." 
 29 
 
338 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 Small as our fruits of holiness may be, yet some fruits 
 must be brought forth ; or we never shall be saved. 
 
 Religion must appear in the life ; it should not altogether 
 be hid in the heart. External works, indeed, which pro- 
 ceed from a false motive, avail nothing. To do these only, 
 IS not to do the will of our Father which is in Heaven. 
 
 There are, however, new dispositions to be attained, new 
 habits to be learned, new victories over sin to be achieved 
 by every Christian ; for, " if any man be in Christ, he is a 
 new creature ; old things are passed away ; behold, all 
 things are become new."* 
 
 " Be ye, therefore, doers of the word, and not hearers 
 only." Trust not to your being the followers of some true 
 minister of the Gospel ; nor to the delight which you may 
 feel in hearing him. Multitudes, as has already been 
 stated, heard Christ with pleasure, while He preached to 
 them from the Mount ; who were, afterwards, condemned, 
 Decause they did not the things which he commanded them. 
 He warned them, towards the end of His discourse, again 
 and again, on this great subject. Let this text, then, be 
 continually sounding in your ears ; let it recur to us at the 
 end of every sermon which we hear ; — " Not every one 
 that saith unto me. Lord, Lord, shall enter into the king- 
 dom of heaven ; but he, that doeth the will of my Father 
 which is in Heaven." 
 
 *2 Corinth, v. 17. 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 339 
 
 XLV. 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, VII. 22, 23. 
 
 Many will say lo me in tliat aay, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in 
 thy name 1 and in thy name have cast out devils 1 and in thy name 
 done many wonderful works ! 
 
 And then will I jirofess unto them, I never knew you : depart from me, 
 ye that work iniquity. 
 
 The Apostles, and first preachers of Christianity, were 
 endowed with the power of working various miracles ; in the 
 name of Jesus of Nazareth, they were able to make the 
 blind to see, and the lame to walk ; and they even raised 
 the dead. They, also, by their word, cast out devils. We 
 learn however, from this passage, as well as from some others, 
 that all these miraculous gifts were not to be accounted as 
 any proof that the soul of the possessor of them should be 
 saved : for the invariable doctrine of Scripture is, that, 
 when the Day of Judgment shall come, the point to be 
 inquired, respecting every individual, will be not, whether 
 he had wrought miracles ; not, whether he had cast out 
 devils ; not, whether he had done in the name of Christ 
 many wonderful works ; but whether he had been a worker 
 of iniquity. The division of mankind, on that day, will be 
 — into holy and itnholy — into righteous and wicked — into 
 those who were doers of the word, and those who were 
 hearers only. The worker of miracles, who lived in his 
 iniquity, shall then perish with the multitude of the un- 
 godly ; and if the man, whom God Himself had thus gifted, 
 sliali be condemned for being a sinner, what sinner shall 
 escape ? However men may plead their familiarity with 
 Christ, or the great things which they have done in His 
 name ; however confidently they may come and claim His 
 salvation, however numerous, also, such persons may be , 
 yet He will deny them before the assembled world : for 
 
340 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 there shall be but one reply to all the multitude of the 
 wicked, — " I never knew you ; depart from me ye that 
 work iniquity."* 
 
 Such is the meaning of the words before us. Let us 
 now extend in some degree their signification ; for the sake 
 of applying them the better to the times iu which we live. 
 
 Miracles have now ceased. We are in no danger of • 
 pleading, on the day of judgment, our performance of these 
 as a testimony that we were friends and followers of 
 Christ. There are, however, many other grounds of false 
 confidence and hope, on which we may build. And first, 
 there is a general danger, lest men should trust in their 
 gifts and talents ; rather than in their Christian virtues and 
 graces, as an evidence of their title to heaven. 
 
 It is hard, perhaps, for some people to avoid entertaining 
 religious hope on account of these. The preacher, for 
 instance, who has great powers of eloquence ; who can 
 move at his will the aflections of his audience ; who can 
 alarm their soule. with the fear of Hell ; can charm them 
 with the description of Heaven ; can present to them a 
 just and lively view of the dreadful nature, and conse- 
 quences, of sin ; who, perhaps, has really converted many 
 souls to God, and has witnessed this fruit of his labours ; 
 finds it hard to persuade himself, that all these are no suf- 
 fiicient evidence, that his own soul shall be saved. Has 
 the preacher himself learned not to do iniquity ? That will 
 be the question on the great day. The test will be the 
 same for the high, and for the low ; for the man of talents, 
 and for him who had the meanest parts ; for the author, 
 who edified half a nation by his writings ; for the minister 
 who converted thousands by his preaching ; and for every 
 individual among the people : and to all, in all ranks, and 
 in all ages, who, tried by that test, are found wanting 
 Christ will say, " Depart from me, ye that work iniquity." 
 
 Again, others trust to a certain zeal for the Gospel ; and 
 to some exertions which they have made, or trouble, which 
 ♦ St. Matt. vii. 23. 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 341 
 
 they have taken, in the cause ; and this is their evidence 
 of salvation. They have subscribed, and perhaps largely, 
 to the propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts : they 
 have been peculiarly forward in promoting the salvation of 
 the poor heathen : or, what is much more, they have them- 
 selves gone forth with the name of Jesus in their mouths, 
 as missionaries in the service : but have they left off to do 
 iniquity ? Have they conquered the sins of their own 
 hearts, — they, who go forth to contend against the sins of 
 others 1 We ask, not whether they are perfect; but only, 
 whether their own tempers have been subdued ; their pride 
 and vanity, brought down ; and their passions regulated in 
 that degree, which the word of God shows to be necessary 
 in every real Christian? Have they learnt, each to take 
 the lowest place ; to do nothing through strife and vain 
 glory ; and to esteem others better than themselves ? Have 
 they attained to the self-denial of a disciple ; as well as to 
 the spirit of peace, harmony, and love. It is not one great 
 act, which determines a man to be a true disciple of 
 Christ ; so much a? his daily and hourly temper and con- 
 duct. Let them not think, that some one heroic deed is 
 all, which is necessary to prove that they are sanctified by 
 God's Spirit. It is by the daily and hourly acts which 
 they perform, and by the general tempers which they 
 evince, that their real sanctification is to be known. It is 
 not a pilgrimage made once in a man's life, like that of the 
 Mahometan to Mecca ; it is not a Crusade to the Holy 
 Land ; it is not an ebullition of zeal to go forth in these 
 Jays as a missionary to the heathen ; which is a sufficient 
 evidence of discipleship. Many shall trust on the Day of 
 Judgment to some great thing, which they have achieved 
 in the cause of Christ ; who shall then be condemned on 
 account of their having never been cleansed from their 
 own iniquity. Many will have laboured, as they will plead, 
 to save others, who themselves shall not be saved ; for 
 nothing can stand in the stead of that sanctification of a 
 man's own heart, which the Scriptures describe as neces* 
 
 29* 
 
342 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 sary ; no religious language in the mouth ; no gifts, or 
 talents of the mind ; no confident hope of Heaven, in the 
 imagination ; no zeal to go forth in order to convert others ; — 
 for " without holiness no man shall see the Lord."* " Not 
 every one, that sailh unto me. Lord, Lord, shall enter the 
 kingdom of Heaven : but he, that doeth the will of my 
 Father which is in Heaven. Many will say to nie in that 
 day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name ? 
 and in Thy name have cast out devils ? and in Thy name 
 have done many wonderful works ? And then will I pro- 
 fess unto them, I never knew you ; depart from me, ye tiiat 
 work iniquity."!' 
 
 Again, lastV, there are some, perhaps, who trust to a 
 general exemplariness in their lives, and the great useful- 
 ness of their conduct; while, nevertheless, some allowed 
 sin is lived in. Such persons betray a total unsoundness 
 in their heart. A man may found hospitals ; may establish 
 seminaries of learning, or of religion ; may build Churches ; 
 may take the lead in all usefxd institutions ; and yet be 
 nc ning. He may do all this, in order to still his con- 
 science, which would otherwise trouble him on account of 
 his living in some secret iniquity. Though we should sup- 
 pose a man to be engaged in saving an empire from ruin , 
 and to be celebrated as the greatest patriot of his age ; and 
 as the best supporter both of the religion, and liberties, of 
 his country ; still, if he live in habitual iniquity, if, amidst 
 all those public deeds, by which he acquires a just renown, 
 he should be, in the sight of God, a secret sinner; — 
 unquestionably, the sentence in this passage is directed 
 against him, as much as against more known, and obvious, 
 and gross offenders : " I never knew you, depart from me, 
 ye that work iniquity." For, " mnriy, that are first, shall be 
 last; and the last shall be first ;"| "for many be called. 
 but few chosen."§ 
 
 * Heb. xii. . 4. t Si. Matt. vii. 21, 22, 23. 
 
 t St. Matt. XIX. 30. ^ St. Malt. xx. 16. 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 343 
 
 XLVL 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, VII. 24—29. 
 
 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I 
 
 will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock : 
 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and 
 
 beat upon that house ; and it fell not : for it was founded upon a rock. 
 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, 
 
 shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the 
 
 sand : 
 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and 
 
 beat upon that house ; and it fell : and great was the fall of it. 
 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people 
 
 were astonished at his doctrine : 
 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 
 
 PART I. 
 
 Our Saviour thus ends His Sermon on the Mount. He 
 had had many hearers : and they seem not to have disap- 
 proved of His sayings ; for all which is observed upon the 
 subject is, that " the people were astonished at his doctrine ; 
 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the 
 
 Scribes." 
 
 There are many parts of Scripture which show that a 
 mere disposition to hear religious truths is very far from 
 beincr a clear proof of true religion. In the parable of the 
 sower, our Saviour speaks of no less than four sorts of 
 hearers ; only one of which is represented as hearing to 
 good effect. Instances also abound, in the historical part 
 of the New Testament, of persons sufficiently willing to 
 hear, who were irreligious characters. Multitudes went 
 to hear John the Baptist, in the wilderness ; who were 
 described by him, a.s continuing in a state of utter impeni- 
 tence. Herod, also, heard John the Baptist, " gladly ;" yet^ 
 at a subsequent period, he put him to death. It is more 
 
344 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 than probable, as already intimated, that many of that mul« 
 titude, which heard Christ's Sermon on the Mount, made 
 afterwards a part of that other multitude which thought it 
 not fit that He should live ; and cried out, " Not this man, 
 but Barrabas."* 
 
 There was a certain time, during which the great body 
 of our Saviour's hearers were very far from feeling any 
 offence ; they often seemed to take part with Christ. They 
 gazed at His miracles ; and, while admiring them, they 
 were disposed (as is the common way of the multitude) to 
 extend their praise to every one of His sayings, and every 
 one of His acts. They said, " He hath done all things 
 well : He maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to 
 speak."t But the change, which soon followed in the dis- 
 position of the people, plainly shows, that, at the time, 
 when they appeared to be the partizans of Christ, and 
 were the willing hearers of his Gospel, they by no means 
 entered into the true nature of it. They neither perceived 
 what sacrifices the real followers of Christ would have to 
 make ; nor what loss of reputation, to incur ; nor what 
 worldly interests, to risk ; nor what self-denials, to exercise ; 
 nor what persecutions, to endure. All this, indeed, was 
 implied, and more than implied, in that Sermon on the 
 Mount, to which they had given ear ; but many of them 
 heard it, probably, in that loose and careless way, which 
 renders even the plainest and most searching discourse, of 
 no eff'ect. Others of them might admit the general truths ; 
 and neglect self- application of them. Others might apply 
 hem, but apply them carelessly ; and, because they already 
 practised some part of the precepts which they had heard, 
 or something like them, might too easily assume, that they 
 did as much as was strictly necessary : and not a few 
 might mistake their own transitory approbation of what 
 was spoken, for a disposition to pay steady and actual obe- 
 dience to it ; not considering, that to approve is one thing ; 
 and to do that, which we approve, is often quite another 
 * St. John xviii. 40. t St. Mark vii. 37. 
 
THE SER]\ION ON THE MOUNT. 345 
 
 It is worthy of notice, that, when our Saviour, on one 
 occasion, instead of declaring only the general tempers 
 necessary in His disciples, required of a young man, who 
 came to hear Him, a specific act of self-denial ; the indi- 
 vidual in question, though he had come in the very character 
 of a learner, ceased to follow Christ. And " what lack I 
 yet ?"* said this young man to our Saviour. And " Jesus 
 said unto him ; If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell all that 
 thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have trea- 
 sure in heaven ; and come and follow me : but when the 
 young man heard that saying, lie went away sorrowful ; for 
 he had great possessions."! 
 
 Our Saviour is represented to have taken many means 
 of deterring men from making that hasty profession of His 
 gospel, to which they were inclined. He was not ambitious 
 to draw a crowd about His person ; or to speak to a large 
 auditory; or, by the addition of a certain portion of super- 
 ficial followers, to swell the numbers of His sect. He 
 warned His hearers to count the cost, before they pre- 
 tended to become His disciples ; and to beware, lest they 
 should incur the shame which belongs to him who begins 
 to build a tower, and is not able to finish it. It may be 
 proper here, also, to remark, that one of the most pointed 
 charges brought by Christ, and His Apostles against the 
 Jewish nation — that nation, which, on account of sinful- 
 ness, was now about to be cast off — seems to have been, 
 that of having become mere hearers of their law, instead 
 of doers of it. " A certain man," said our Saviour, " had 
 two sons ; and he came to the first," ( that is, to the 
 Gentiles) " and said, Go, work to-day in my vineyard ; and 
 he answered and said, I will not : but afterward he repented, 
 and went. And he came to the second," (meaning the 
 nation of the Jews) " and said likewise : and he answered 
 and said, I go, sir ; and went not."| That is, the Gentiles 
 repented at last, and really paid that obedience to God, 
 which his former professing people, the Jews, had only 
 • St. Matt, xix. 20. i St. Matt. xix. 21, 23. J St. Matt. xxi. 28—30. 
 
346 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 pretended to pay. Our Saviour, also, takes notice of the 
 same indisposition to attend to practice, in the Pharisees. 
 " Whatsoever they bid you observe," said Christ to some 
 of his followers, " that observe and do ; but do not ye after 
 their works ; for they say, and do not."* Moreover the 
 apostle Paul, in the beginning of his Epistle to the Romans, 
 when summing up his heavy charge against the Jews, 
 dwells particularly on their disposition to hear their law, as 
 well as to become teachers of it to others, while they paid 
 no obedience to it themselves. " Thou, therefore," says 
 he, " which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? 
 Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou 
 steal ? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, 
 dost thou commit adultery 1 For the name of God is 
 blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is writ- 
 ten."! And it is partly in the same spirit, that he said to 
 them, before : " For not the hearers of the law^ are just be- 
 fore God ; but the doers of the law shall be justiiied."| 
 
 XLVIL 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, VII. 24—29. 
 SAME SUBJECT.— PART IL 
 
 The Scriptures, then, let it be remembered, repeatedly 
 guard us against that disposition, which there is in man, to 
 betake himself to a religion which consists merely in talk- 
 ing, or in hearing ; or, in some way, stops short of real 
 practice. 
 
 Let us now proceed to show, how this subject applies it- 
 self to the present age. It is obvious to any person of dis- 
 cernment, that the world now abounds with persons who 
 can read and admire religious books ; and can hear and ap- 
 • Rom. ii. 13. t Rom. "21, 22 24. Rom ii. la 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 347 
 
 prove very religious Sermons ; and yet, in their own lives, 
 are irreligious. And it is important, both that such persons 
 should themselves be reproved ; and that others should be 
 guarded against complimenting men of this class for their 
 religion ; and thus encouraging their delusion. 
 
 The causes, which now lead them thus to hear and ap- 
 prove, what, nevertheless, they will not practise, are, in 
 part, no doubt, the same as those to which v/e have already 
 adverted. Sometimes, men are prejudiced in favour of a 
 book or a sermon, by some high idea which they happen 
 to have conceived of the writer or of the preacher, either in 
 respect to his religious wisdom, and orthodoxy ; or to his 
 humanity, and benevolence ; or to his learning, and talents , 
 or to his rank and estimation, in the world, or in the 
 Church: — just as the multitude were disposed, atone time, 
 to faA^our the preaching of Christ, through that high idea 
 of His character, with which His miracles had just before 
 inspired them. For men do not choose suddenly to find 
 fault with him, whom they have been lately led to praise; 
 and under whose banners llieyhave recently been enlisted. 
 
 Again, there are also many now, perhaps, as there were 
 formerly, who both hear, and read, what relates to religious 
 subjects, with a degree of carelessness and inattention, as 
 well as of dulness and ignorance, which are almost incon- 
 ceivable ; and which are only to be accounted for, by the 
 unconcern in which they live in respect to their souls. 
 But v\^e ought here to speak, more particularly, of that class 
 of persons, who have both an ear to hear, and a tongue to 
 speak, concerning religion, and seem in some serious way 
 to receive the Gospel ; but are by no means prepared to 
 follow up those doctrines to which they assent, into all their 
 practical consequences. Some of these persons not only 
 profess the Gospel, and hear it, and speak of it ; but they 
 commend it also to others ; they extol the preacher of it; 
 and thevput themselves forward as the most zealous mem- 
 bers of his party : but they are not yet rightly aware, what 
 Dew tempers they have to exercise; what new trials, to 
 
348 FAMILY COMMENTARY ON 
 
 encounter ; what new self-denials, to practise ; what new 
 habits, to attain ; and, in short, what a completely new life 
 they will have to lead ; if they embrace the true Gospel, 
 as they profess to do. At present, they are perhaps eagei 
 for doctrine ; not understanding, if the doctrine be sound, 
 how vast must be the change of practice. They fail, 
 when a question arises respecting this, or the other, point 
 of Christian conduct ; and perhaps, are now led so to inter- 
 pret doctrine, or so to confine themselves to it under a 
 shew of zeal for doctrinal truth, as to justify, or at least, in 
 some degree to palliate, the lamentable deficiencies of their 
 own temper and life. 
 
 This class of persons, therefore, like many of Christ's 
 hearers of old, may be compared to those, who begin to 
 build a tower, but are not able to finish. For here, un- 
 doubtedly, is the difficulty of the present day. It lies, not 
 in hearing, as some seem to suppose, nor in agreeing to 
 what is heard : it consists, not in adopting the very same 
 sentiments with the preacher, and in following him with 
 eagerness, as the multitude followed Christ. The diffi- 
 culty is in doing. It consists both in receiving the doctrines 
 practically, for that is the true way of believing them ; and 
 also in following them up into all their proper consequences, 
 in our own actual practice. Men should take care, indeed, 
 in the first place, that the words, which they hear, are 
 sound words ; that they are not the mere opinions of men, 
 but the sayings of Christ ; but let not the care to hear 
 certain tenets supersede all other care. Unbelievers, in- 
 deed, have often reproached Christianity, for being a reli- 
 gion which impressed certain speculative articles of faith ; 
 while, to judge by the lives of its professors, it made no 
 very great demands, in the way of practice. Christ, 
 however, has given no ground for this observation of the 
 unbelievers. He has not been defective in urging practi- 
 cal duties : witness almost every part of His Sermon on the 
 Mount. 
 
 We say, indeed, that doctrine also is most important ; 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 349 
 
 but, then, we also say, that doctrine rightly received is the 
 sure and only foundation of all good practice. Let every 
 zealot for doctrine, then, remember, that there is something 
 new to be done, in consequence of every new truth, which 
 he receives ; and that every doctrine, every precept, every 
 mystery even of our faith, has its practical tendency, and 
 its proper practical use. The preaching of modern minis- 
 ters should, like that of Christ to the multitude, be so far 
 practical as to have an evident tendency to convert men 
 from their present practice ; or, if they have, in the main, 
 been already thus converted, to make them still go on, 
 examining and improving their practice, in a thousand par- 
 ticulars. The ear to hear the minister should be a conse- 
 quence of having a desire of this practical amendment in 
 the h'^art. 
 
 XLVIIL 
 
 ST. MATTHEW, VII. 24—29. 
 
 SAME SUBJECT.—PART HI. 
 
 In continuing the subject of these verses; it must be 
 borne in mind, that there is another large class, who have 
 another way of deceiving themselves : they are practical 
 in their ideas, both of morality and religion, and they take 
 great credit for being so. But their sayings are not the 
 sayings of Christ ; they are the sayings rather of the 
 heathen moralist, or of the prudent man of this world : their 
 morality does not amount to Christian morality ; nor their 
 practice, to Christian practice. It may be useful to call 
 to the recollection of such persons those Christian precepts 
 which are contained in the Sermon on the Mount ; and to 
 point out, in what manner a truly practical hearer of those 
 
 30 
 
350 FAMILY COMMENTARY O^S 
 
 sayings of our Lorl« would be likely to meditate upon 
 them. 
 
 " I perceive," he would say to himself, " that this new 
 Prophet, who is come into the world, and has been working 
 so many miracles', in proof of his Messiahship, delivers a 
 far different doctrine from that to vvhicli we, Jews, have 
 been accustomed. How many new truths have bef;n tatiLiu 
 ns.: trutlis also, which He declares, that we must rr^du.e 
 to practice ; for the conclusion of His Sermon has been one 
 continued warning, that we are not His real disciples, unless 
 we do the things which He hath commanded. I pecreive, 
 that the poverty of spirit, of which He hath spoken, must 
 be truly felt by me ; that I must also know, what it is to 
 hunger and thirst after righteousness ; that I must become 
 meek n.nd. peaceable ; that I must be content to be very 
 serious, and even to mourn for a while, if I may but be com- 
 forted hereafter; that I must acquire a disposition to show 
 mercy, to forgive injuries, to love even my enemies ; and 
 patiently to bear such provocations as may be offered to 
 me. I find, that I must also lend, and give away my sub- 
 stance, with a large and liberal spirit. I learn, that I am 
 no longer to do any thing, to be seen of men ; and that the 
 whole fabric of my superficial and external virtue, which 
 had been chiefly founded on a regard to character with my 
 fellow creatures, must be pulled down, in order that it may 
 be succeeded by a principle of real purity in my very heart. 
 How utterly have I mistaken that law of God, to which I 
 had been fancying that I paid obedience. 
 
 " I now understand, that the law requires me, not only not 
 to kill, but not to be so much as angry, without a cause : — not 
 on not to perjure myself, but not even to use an expression 
 which implies want of reverence towards God ; not only not 
 to commit adultery,but not to indulge an unchaste idea, in my 
 imagination. I find, also, that, if I become a follower of this 
 Jesus, I am to expect persecution for righteousness' sake. 1 
 have been informed that my prayers, instead of being offered 
 up, only or chiefly, in public, and consisting of vain repetitions, 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 351 
 
 must be pur, up daily in my secret diamber, and out of a 
 pure and forgiving heart, for the pardon of my sins, and 
 for the supply of the perpetually returning wants — both of 
 my body, and of my soul. By this heavenly teacher I have 
 also been instructed, that I must no long<n- lay up treasure 
 in this w^orld ; and that, if 1 hope to have a treasure in 
 heaven, my heart must be there also : that, so elevated 
 must be my mind above earthly things, that I must lay aside 
 all mat multitude of anxieties by which I have been trou- 
 bled ; that 1 must not be careful even for my necessary 
 food and clothing ; nor fo) any of the things of this mortal 
 life ; but that 1 must acquire a new calmness, and resigna- 
 tion, as to all the events of this world, whether prosperous 
 or adverse; seeking, first, the kingdom of God, and His 
 righteousness ; and. quietly trusting, that, the greater bles- 
 sings being obtained, all other things, which are really 
 needful for the body, will be added unto me. 
 
 " Moreover, that disposition, which I have had, to judge 
 others, must now, as 1 perceive, be exchanged for a dispo- 
 sition to judge myself. To do, also, to others, as I would 
 ihey should do unto me, must, henceforth, be the great rule 
 of my life. How exalted is that purity to which I am 
 called : — I am to be a light of the world : — I am to be as 
 a city set on a hill : — 1 am to be that salt, which is to 
 season the whole earth. I am to be one of only a little 
 flock : for strait, I am assured, is the gate, and narrow is 
 the way, which leadeth unto life ; and few there be that 
 find it. But how," he would likewise add, " shall I ever 
 be sufficient for these things ? Do thou, O my Saviour, 
 still direct and teach me. Do thou also sustain and com- 
 fort me. To whom shall I go, but unto Thee ; for Thou 
 hast the words of eternal life 1 Already Thou hast opened 
 mine eyes, in some measure, to see both my past sinful- 
 ness, and my further duty. Pardon, O Lord, all that is 
 past. Show me more clearly that w;iy, by which 1 may 
 be forgiven ; and instruct me whence I may gather strength 
 lo perform those great things, which Thou requirest of me." 
 
352 FAMILY COMMENTAHY ON 
 
 In some such manner as this, would the practical hearer 
 apply the Sermon on the Mount, and meditate upon it. 
 Such an one would continue to be found among the follow- 
 ers of Christ ; his faith might fail for a time, like that of 
 the Apostles at the trying period of the crucifixion ; yet he 
 would afterwards be numbered among the hearers of the 
 Apostles, and among the multitude, that met together on 
 the Day of Pentecost. This man would also be of the 
 number of that infant Church, which continued stedfast hi 
 the Apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of 
 bread, and in prayers. I add, that he would also begone 
 of those persons to whom the Epistles, now extant, aro 
 addressed : he would be one of the saints, the called, the- 
 sanctified in Christ Jesus. He would be a serious anc 
 earnest reader of those epistles ; and a partaker of tha ■ 
 excellent spirit with which they are written. 
 
 It is unnecessary, after giving this description, to draw 
 a second picture of the serious and practical hearer, o^ 
 reader, of the same Sermon on the Mount, who lives at the 
 present day. 
 
 Suffice it, generally, to remark, that such an one will 
 partake in all the same feelings, with the man whom vrc 
 have just described ; and also will unquestionably be dis- 
 posed, in like manner, to attend not to this Sermon only 
 but to all the other words, both of Christ, and of His 
 Apostles. 
 
 This point is here particularly mentioned, by way of 
 reply to those who profess to draw the whole of their reli- 
 gion, from the Sermon on the Mount; assuming that all. 
 which is material in Christianity, must of course be found 
 there; and forgetting that saying of Christ Himself to 
 His disciples, at a period subsequent to this, — " I haveyel 
 many things to say unto you : but ye cannot bear then now. 
 Howbeit, when He, the Spirit of truth, is come. He will 
 guide you into all truth :— He shall glorify me ; for He 
 shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you."* 
 • St John xvi. 12—14. 
 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 353 
 
 The serious and practical hearer of the present day will, 
 therefore, add — to the precepts given in the Sermon on the 
 Mount — all the other precepts of his Bible : and, to the 
 whole preceptive part of it, he will add all that is doc- 
 trinal. Alarmed by those declarations of the spirituality 
 and strictness of the divine law, which the Sermon on the 
 xMount furnishes, he will receive with joy that soul-revi- 
 ving truth, that " God was in Christ, reconciling the world 
 unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them."* 
 And that "by Him, all, that believe, are justified from all 
 things from which ye could not be justified by the Law of 
 Moses ;''! for it is unquestionably one end of that search- 
 ing discourse of Christ to prepare the mind for these doc- 
 trines. 
 
 Filled also, with a sense both of his own weakness, and 
 of the high nature of that holiness, to which (as the same 
 Sermon shows) it is absolutely necessary that he should 
 attain, bow earnestly will he now seek by prayer the help 
 of Gop's Holy Spirit. He will put on the whole armour 
 of Goo : he will search, through all parts of Scripture, for 
 every thing which can contribute to make him wise unto 
 salvation ; he Avill attend in an especial manner to the af- 
 fcti'ig history of his Saviour's death, and to the doctrines 
 resulting out of it ; nor will he lightly esteem the writings 
 of those apostles, whom Christ sent forth for the express 
 pu'pose of evangelizing the nations, baptizing them in the 
 name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy 
 Ghost. 
 
 This, then is the man, who builds his house upon a rock. 
 His is a religion which shall never disappoint him. It is no 
 baseless fabric, which shall be overthrown by the first rising 
 storm. This man, if affliction and trouble should fall upon 
 him, shall find the consolations of Christ dwelling in 
 him : if persecutions should come upon him, because of 
 the word, he shall not be offended : if death should draw 
 near, he shall face that king of terrors : and, when the 
 
 * 2 Cor. V. 19. t Acts xiii. 39. 
 30* 
 
354 , FAMILY COMMENTARY. 
 
 Day of Judgment shall arrive, be shall be counted worthy 
 to escape all those things which are coming on the earth, 
 and to stand before the Son of Man : for he has not been 
 a mere hearer of the word, but a doer of it. His faith in 
 Christ has not been that faith which is without works, 
 and which is dead, being alone ; but it has been proi'cd to 
 have been true failh, by its fruits. His confession of sin 
 has not been confession of the lip ; but the real language 
 of an humble, broken, and contrite heart: his love to his 
 Saviour has not consisted in saying "Lord, Lord ;" but 
 in doing the things which He hath commanded. 
 
 Being, therefore, thus safe, for life, for death, and for 
 eternity, he may be likened unto a wise man who built his 
 house upon a rock : and the rains descended, and the floods 
 came, and the winds blew, and beat upon thai house: and 
 it fell not ; for it was founded on a rock. 
 
 " But whosoever heareth these sayings of mine," says 
 Christ, " and doeth them not, I will liken him unto a fool- 
 ish man, that built his house on the sand." It matters 
 not what profession such a man has made ; what doctrine 
 he has heard ; or what preacher he has followed. Only to 
 hear even the best doctrine is not to build on the right 
 foundation. His house is upon the sand : the religion of 
 such an one is a slight and unsubstantial thing. It will not 
 abide the test, when the storm comes, which is to try it ; 
 and there is a time approaching, when everyone's building 
 shall be tried. That fair edifice, with which he had for a 
 while pleased himself, shall fail. All his high hopes and 
 confidences shall be thrown down. The house, which he 
 had reared to himself for eternity, shall fall ; for he had 
 built it on the sand : and great shall be the fall thereof. 
 
 THE END. 
 
WORKS 
 
 THE REV. C. B. TAYLEE. 
 
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