order all things', bestow and bless all means of graces, and quicken us to watchfulness in the use of them, that we and all his people may by his providence be kept from being tempted to sin'; or, if tempted, that by his Spirit we may be powerfully supported and enabled to stand in the hour of temptation"; or when fallen, raised again and recovered out of it, and have a sanctified use and improvement thereof: that our sanctification and salvation may be perfected, Satan trodden under our feet, and we fully freed from sin, temptation, and all evil, for ever a. the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. Ver. 8. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 1 Cor. x. 12. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. Ver. 13. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer 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. $ Heb. xiii. 20. Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Ver. 21. Make you perfect in every good work, to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ. t Mat. xxvi. 41. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. Psal. xix. 13. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins, let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Eph. iii. 14. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Ver. 15. Of Satan whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, Ver. 16. That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; Ver. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith :1 Thess. iii. 13. To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. Jude, Ver. 24. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. W Psal. li. 12. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free Spirit. * 1 Pet. v. 8. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour. Ver. 9. Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. Ver. 10. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. Y 2 Cor. xiii. 7. Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, teach us? Q. 196. What doth the conclusion of the Lord's prayer A. The conclusion of the Lord's prayer (which is, For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever, Amen.) teacheth us to enforce our petitions with arguments, which are to be taken, not from any worthiness in ourselves, or in any other creature, but from Godd; and with our prayers to join join praises, ascribing to God alone eternal sovereignty, omnipotency, and glorious excellency; in regard whereof, as he is able and willing to help us, so we by faith are emboldened to plead with him that he would, and quietly to rely upon him, that he will fulfil our requests1. And, to testify this our desire and assurance, we say, Amen *. honest, though we be as reprobates. Ver. 9. For we are glad when we are weak, and ye are strong and this also we wish, even your perfection. 2 Rom. xvi. 20. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. Zech. iii. 2. And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan, even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Luke xxii. 31. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: Ver. 32. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. a John xvii. 15. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 1 Thess. v. 23. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly: and I pray God your whole spirit, and soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 196. b Mat. vi. 13. Rom. xv. 30. Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me. d Dan. ix. 4. And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments.-Ver. 7. O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day: -Ver. 8. O Lord, to us be longeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. Ver. 9. To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him. Ver. 16. O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem.-Ver. 17. Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. Ver. 18. Omy God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. Ver. 19. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken R6 hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name. e Phil. iv. 6. Be careful for nothing: but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God, &c. f 1 Chron. xxix. 10. Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our Father, for ever and ever. Ver. 11. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, Q Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. Ver. 12. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reign, est over all, and in thine hand is power and might, and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Ver. 13. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. 8 Eph. iii. 20. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Ver. 21. Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus, through out all ages, world without end. Amen. Luke xi. 13. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? h 2 Chron. xx. 6. And (Jehoshaphat) said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the king. doms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? Ver. 11. Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit. i 2 Chron. xiv. 11. And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude: O Lord, thou art our God, let not man prevail against thee. k 1 Cor. xiv. 16. Else, when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? Rev. xxii. 20. Не which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly: Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Ver. 21. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. FINIS. 1 UNIVERSITY THE SHORTER CATECHISM, AGREED UPON BY THE ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES AT WESTMINSTER, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF COMMISSIONERS FROM THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, AS A Part of the Covenanted Uniformity in Religion betwixt the Churches of CHRIST in the Kingdoms of Scotland, England, and Ireland. AND Approved Anno 1648, by the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the CHURCH of SCOTLAND, to be a Directory for catechising such as are of weaker Capacity. WITH THE PROOFS FROM THE SCRIPTURE. |