our sins, we know that He is truly forgiving them. He is not seeking to impute to us our trespasses,* but He is seeking to cleanse us from them. But notice what our Lord adds to this petition, "Forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us." Can we go on our knees before God and say, "Forgive us our sins," when we have any grudge or resentment in our hearts towards any human being? Alas, how much is there of such secret ill-will and enmity among neighbours, and what unhappiness does it produce, for no heart can have happiness or peace in which there is ill-will. Perhaps you say you have received an injury, and that your neighbour has never said he was sorry for his conduct, therefore you are not bound to forgive him. Do you remember our Lord's prayer on the cross for those who were putting Him to death, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do?" Did that express ill will? Did He wait till His murderers asked forgiveness, before He forgave them? And are we not to walk in His steps? Oh, how much misery and sin would be prevented in the world, how many sore and angry feelings put away, if those who, receive an injury were saying of their enemies, "Father, forgive them!" how often would they be put to shame, and cease to be enemies! When

* 2 Cor. v. 19.

ever, then, we kneel down and say to God, "Forgive our sins; for we also forgive those who are indebted to us," let us see that we are not playing the hypocrite, and coming with a lie before Him who knows every thought of our hearts, and whom we cannot for one moment deceive. Fancy such a prayer going up to Him, and at the same time our evil, angry thoughts concerning our neighbour going up quite as distinctly, and giving the lie to what we are saying.

The next petition is, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” How needful is such a petition for us, while living in a world so full of temptation. Do you see that wretched drunkard there, with his haggard countenance and tottering limbs, whose evil habits have now become almost unconquerable? he was once a fine, healthy, cheerful youth, going to his work with a merry whistle, coming home from it with a light heart; but one evening, when he had his wages in his pocket, the tempter met him, in the form of a careless, godless companion; for, alas! whoever tempts another to sin is speaking for the devil. He was persuaded to go just for once to one of those dens where men are drawn in to destroy both soul and body for ever with intoxicating liquors, and see the consequence! How little he thought of it that day! Oh that he had that morning said from the heart to his Father in

heaven, "Lead us not into temptation!" How different would his lot now have been!

And could you look in at that prison window, and see the countenances where misery, and disease, and vice are mingled together—could you see the old men and women, hardened in sin, and the young boys and girls that already have lost all shame-could you hear their profane language, you might think that that place was the very entrance to hell: and yet the most hardened sinner there was once a little child as innocent as the one that sits on your own knee. And could you know their sad histories, could you learn the turning point at which they took the sad downward road which has brought them where they are, would you not hear of an hour of temptation that came and found them unprepared. They had not been crying to God, "Lead us not into temptation," so the temptation came, and they fell before it. They did not know where the road was leading to, on which they thought to go a few steps; they do know that it has brought them to ruin now; but how few wish to go back!

Is it not a most dreadful thought, that your dear, innocent little child may once be like one of those? And yet you know very well what dreadful dangers and snares your sons and your daughters must be exposed to, growing up in this city-surrounded by every form of evil, tempters

to

on all hands to take advantage of their inexperience. And how are you to save, how are you shelter them? A father's or a mother's eye cannot always be upon them. One thing, at least, you can and surely ought to do, to see that they never go out from under your roof a single morning until you have knelt down with them and cried to your Father in heaven, "Lead us not into temptation, and deliver us from evil." Then you may have the comfort of knowing, that when you cannot watch over your child, He that is the hearer of prayer seeth and watcheth, and can save in the hour of trial.

But remember, in conclusion, that our prayer must not be a mere form of words; our Lord goes on to teach us that we must be earnest, we must be importunate: we must ask, seek, and knock as those who can take no denial, and we shall receive; for "he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”*

* Heb. xi. 6.

SECOND SERIES.

VI.

The Gospel.

JOHN iii. 14-21.-" And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."

You remember the history of the serpent which Moses was commanded to set up in the wilderness.

E