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we were affured they would continue as long as our lives, yet even in this deplorable condition we may with pleasure reflect, that the man that is born of a woman is of few days, fo that our misfortunes will foon have an end; we may triumphantly confider, that our momentary afflictions will work for us an eternal and far more exceeding weight of glory.

On the whole therefore, fince trouble springeth not out of the ground, but is fent and directed by an all-gracious, wife, and powerful God, fince afflictions are the common burthen of our nature, and the very fevereft of them are not the adequate wages of our crimes, fince they are generally more than counterpoifed with blefsings, are to be endured but a short time,. and will if properly borne turn to a good account, for these feveral reafons, if thou

come

come to serve the Lord, prepare thy foul for temptation. Set thy heart, and constantly endure and make not haste in time of trouble. Cleave unto him and depart not away, that thou mayeft be encreased at thy latter end. Whatsoever is brought upon thee take chearfully, and be patient when thou art changed to a low estate; that fo fuffering according to the will of God, we may commit the keeping of our fouls to him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Now to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghoft, &c. &c.

SERMON

SERMON

VII.

MATTHEW Vi. 11th.

Give us this day our daily Bread.

T

HIS is the only petition in the Lord's

Prayer, which immediately relates to our temporal profperity, and the obtaining of fuch things as are necessary to our Being and well-being in this life. Many of the primitive Chriftians were of opinion, that the Bread which our Lord here teaches us to pray for, was not to be understood of any good things relating to the body, but of the Euchariftical Bread in the Lord's Supper, and of the fpiritual fuftenance thereby conveyed to the foul by the increase

of

of grace; and hence arofe the custom of receiving that facrament every day. The error of this opinion however is fufficiently evident, from a confideration of the time wherein our Saviour taught his difciples. this prayer, and the time wherein he inftituted the facrament, the one in the very infancy of his miniftry, the other, not till the eve of his crucifixion; fo that during that interval, the Apoftles, and all who made ufe of this prayer, muft, in repeating this petition for their daily bread, have petitioned for they knew not what, and prayed without any effect upon the understanding and heart; a thing not supposable in any, much lefs in fuch a master as Chrift; whofe doctrines are all calculated for the edification of his difciples, and who cannot therefore be thought to have inferted in a form of prayer compofed for their use, a petition which, for fome

length

length of time, could not poffibly be of any use to them at all.

Instead therefore of perplexing ourselves with vain fuppofitions, I fhall embrace that plain and eafy meaning, which is most free from all objections, and was most probably intended by our Lord, and received by his difciples; namely, that by Bread here we are to understand all the neceffaries, conveniencies, and comforts of this life, all that may be neceffary for our fupport, and conduce to our refreshment.

Bread being the chief fupport of life, is, by a figure very common with all, but more especially with the Scripture writers, fet to denote all the other various things requifite for that purpose. By daily Bread here prayed for we are to understand fuch a portion of those good things as may be fufficient

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