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A. Yes; and I think they ought to be fo efteemed: For if the First are the Great Commandments, the Tranfgreffions of them must be the Greatest Sins.

2. But is there nothing that we may love more than God?

A. No: For Our Saviour faith, He that loveth Father and Mother more than Me, is not worthy of Me: And be that loveth Son or Daughter more than Me, is not worthy of Me, Mat. x. 37.

2. If Men then fo loved God as thefe Texts require, what do you think would be the Natural Effe& of it?

A. It would produce the most fincere Obedience : For he that loves God unfeignedly and with all his Soul, muft certainly be always endeavouring to please Him, and as fearful of offending Him, Whom his Soul loveth.

2. The Second general Commandment is, Thou fhalt love thy Neighbour as thy felf. Who is your Neighbour?

A. My Neighbour is every Perfon that stands in need of my Help; tho' he is a Stranger or of another Nation (as appears from the Parable of the good Samaritan, Luke x. 30.) nay, tho' he is a profeffed Enemy to me. For it is commanded, Lev. xxiii. 4. If thou meetest thine Enemies Ox or Afs going aftray, thou shalt Jurely bring him back..

2. But what is the Meaning of loving our Neighbours as our felves? And when may we be fatisfied that we do fo love them?

A. The Love I ought to bear to my Neighbour ought to be of the fame Kind, True and Sincere, like the Love of my felf. And when in any Cafe I love him as I would my felf be loved do by him as I would be done by, then may I be affured, that I have that Love for my Neighbour, as God and this Law require of me.

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Q. Do you think fuch a Love of our Neighbour would engage us to keep all the Commandments of the Second Table?

A. Yes; fo fincere a Love would tie up our Hands and Tongues from injuring one another in any Respect whatsoever; and ftir us up to every good Word and Work that would be of mutual Advantage to us.

2. What then, in Conclufion, becomes our Duty, in refpect to all God's Commandments?

A. To labour, by all poffible means, to increase and improve our Love to God and Man; being fo well affured, That Love is the Fulfilling of the Law.

Q. My good Child, know this, That thou art not able to do these things of thy felf, &c.

2.

You have now, gone very far in the Know

ledge of Chrift's Religion: You have learnt under what Covenants you were baptized into Chrift's Church: You have been instructed in all the Articles of the Christian Faith; and in the Commandments of Both Tables: And now do you think you are, of your felf, able to do these things?

4. No: For altho' Men, in a State of Nature, may abstain from many Evil Actions, and do fome things that appear Good in the Sight of Man; yet the Service of God requires fuch pure and holy Affections, as render the Affiftance of His Special Grace abfolutely neceffary in every Part of our Duty to Him.

What do you mean by Grace?

A. I mean all thofe Supernatural Aids and Affiftances which the Holy Spirit of God gives to the Sons of Men, and by which He fanctifieth all the Elect People of God.

How is that Grace to be obtained?

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A. By a Religious Ufe of thofe Means which God hath appointed for that End (viz.) By Prayer and the Sacraments.

What is Prayer?

A. It is the Making known our Thoughts and Requefts unto God, by lifting up our Souls unto Him. To Whom then do you fpeak in Prayer?

A. To no lefs a Perfon than to the King Eternal, Immortal, Invifible, the Only Wife God.

2. And with what Affections ought this Duty to be performed?

A. With a great Senfe of the Goodness and Majefty of God, and of our own Wants and Neceffities; and therefore with a lively Faith in God, and all the Humility our Souls are capable of.

2. But do thofe Men fo humble themselves before God in Prayer, that pray lolling, or fitting in fome Lazy Posture?

A. It may be rather doubted, whether fuch Perfons pray at all: But if they do, it is certain, they fpeak to God with lefs Reverence, than they would to any of the Great Men of this World; and therefore do highly dishonour God, whilft they are thus praying to Him.

Q. But what will this Humility proper to Prayer oblige you to?

A. To the Imitation of Chrift and His Apoftles, who fell down proftrate on the Earth, who kneeled down and prayed; and to imitate the Heavenly Host, who fall down before Him, Who fits upon the Throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever.

2. Where is this Duty of Prayer commanded? A. In many Places of Scripture. Our Saviour commanded His Difciples to watch and pray, Mat. xxvi. 40. And St. Paul's Directions are, Continue in Prayer, Coloff. iv. 2. And, Pray without ceafing, I Theff. v. 17.

2. What do thofe Texts teach and require of us? A. They

A. They teach us that Prayer is a Duty, as well as Priviledge; that we both difobey God and injure our felves, by neglecting it. And the least they can require, is to pray daily by our felves, and with our Fa milies, and in the Houfe of God (which is called the Houfe of Prayer) as often as we can and may do it ; especially on the Lord's Day, and on the great Feftivals of the Church.

2. But what Reason have you to believe that Prayer is a Means of Grace, or can be of any Benefit to us? A. Because Our Bleffed Saviour hath affured us, That every one that asketh, receiveth; and be that feeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened, Mat. vii. 8. And it is written, Heb iv. 16. Let us come boldly to the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain Mercy, and find Grace to help in Time of Need. But how is it then that many do ask and do not receive?

4. This may be, because they often ask amifs; or because they have not made a right use of that Grace which hath been already given to them. But if we confider the Goodness, or believe the Promifes of God, we can have no Reason to doubt, but all the religious Prayers of Holy and Devout Chriftians, fhall (at one time or other) be answered with the Bleffings they have asked, or those that shall be more expedient for them.

And what then do you in Conclufion learn from hence, and from the Question before the Lord's Prayer?

A. That as I ought to be ever intent upon my Duty to God, I must be ever praying to Him for His Alfiftance in it, with Faith, Diligence, Attention, and Perfeverance; and in His Name as well as in his Words, Who hath promifed, If ye shall ask any thing in My Name, I will do it, John xiv. 14.

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Our Father Which art in Heaven.

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O whom do you pray in the Lord's Prayer? A. Not to any Saint or Angel, but to the Great, the Infinite, and Eternal God; Whom I, that. am but finful Duft and Afhes, am encouraged by Chrift himself to call Father.

2. Upon what Accounts is that Great God to be esteemed as a Father to us Chriftians?

A. Not only as he is the Father of us, and all things elfe, by Creation; but being the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift by Nature, he vouchfafes to be Our Father by Adoption. And therefore he faid to his Difciples, John xx. 17. I afcend to My Father and your Father: Your Father, because Mine.

2. Why do you fuppofe, that we are directed to pray to God as a Father? And what do you learn from thence ?

A. First, That we may pray with more Reverence. If I be a Father where is Mine Honour, fays God? Malachi i. 6. And fecondly, with more Confidence; being from hence affured, that like as a Father pitietb his own Children, Jo the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. And lastly, That we may be always thankful to him, Who hath given us Power to become the Sons of God, and by Whom we cry, Abba, Father.

2. Does our Saviour any where infift upon this as an Encouragement for Christians to pray, and to put their Trust in God?

A. Yes, in that most comfortable Text, Mat. vii. 11. If ye then, being evil, know how to give Good Gifts unto your Children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father give Good Things to them that ask Him? Wherein the Care and Tenderness of Our Heavenly Father towards us, is preferred to that of any Earthly Parent whatsoever.

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