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formed on earth as it is in heaven! that SERM. we, as far as the weakness of humanity

will allow, may as exactly be guided by thy good pleasure as the blessed angels!

"Give us this day our daily bread." During our passage through this transitory state, do thou, who gave us life, give us the means of supporting it; we pray not for superfluities to consume on our own lusts, nor do we too anxiously look forward into futurity; we will be satisfied with a moderate present provision, nor have we the foolish desire to be independent of thee.

"Forgive us our trespasses, as we for" give them that trespass against us." Remember that we are but dust, and, on our sorrow and amendment, pardon us all in which we have offended; be not extreme to mark what we have done amiss. And as thou hast justly made it a condition of obtaining mercy from thee, that we shew mercy

IV.

IV.

SERM. mercy to our brethren, afford us thy assistance to conquer any imperfections in

our temper; subdue in us all tendency towards malice and resentment; and grant that our benevolence may be universal, and without exception!

"Lead us not into temptation, but de

liver us from evil." Permit us not to fall a sacrifice to the snares of the world, the allurements of the flesh, or the artifices of the devil: let us not be tempted above what we are able to bear; in every age, in every station, in every change of circumstances, surround us with the shield of thy all-powerful protection! In prosperity, and in distress, in health, and in sickness, let thy holy spirit guard us from the approach of spiritual evil; and when we arrive at the closing scene of our earthly pilgrimage, still be thou near to aid and support us; suffer us not at our last hour, for any pains of death, to fall from

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from thee; nor let thy care of us conclude SERM. with this mortal life, but in the day of judgment also, of thy great mercy, good Lord, deliver us! Save us from the bitter pains of eternal death, and receive us into the happy mansions of saints and angels. These petitions we humbly offer to the throne of thy grace, in full confidence both of thy mercy and omnipotence; thou who spake and it was done, commanded and it was made fast, all that we can ask or want, thou canst abundantly confer on us; for boundless and uncontrolable is thy power and dominion, and to thy glory and kingdom there is no end!

SERMON

SERMON V.

ON THE CATECHISM.

ST. JOHN xiii. 35.

By this shall all men know that ye are my

disciples.

I AM now arrived at my concluding dis- SERM.

course on the catéchism; it will be taken up with explaining the two sacraments; those peculiar rites of the Christian religion, ordained by Christ himself, as the distinguishing marks by which his disciples were to be known. In doing this, I shall observe the method of the catechism itself, and, first, explain the nature and 'meaning of a sacrament in general; 2dly, I shall consider the sacrament of baptism; and 3dly, that of the Lord's supper.

"How

V.

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