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To those who have not read Bishop Porteus's Lectures on the Gospel of St. Matthew, the following Exposition and Paraphrase of the Lord's Prayer may perhaps be acceptable.

"This prayer stands unrivalled in every circumstance that constitutes the perfection of prayer, and the excellence of that species of composition. It is concise, it is perspicuous, it is solemn, it is comprehensive, it is adapted to all ranks, conditions, and classes of men. It fixes our thoughts on a few great important points, and impresses on our minds a deep sense of the Goodness and the Greatness of that Almighty Being to whom it is addressed.

"It begins with acknowledging him

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to be our most gracious and merciful Father: it begs that his Name may every where be reverenced; that his religion may spread over the earth; and that his will may be obeyed by men, with the same ardour and alacrity and constancy as it is by: the angels in heaven. It next entreats the supply of all our essential wants, both temporal and spiritual; a sufficiency of those things that are absolutely necessary for our subsistence; the forgiveness of our transgressions, on condition that we forgive our brethren; and finally, support under the temptations that assault our virtue, and deliverance from the various evils and calamities that every where surround us: expressing, at the same time, the utmost trust and confidence in the Power of God, to grant whatever He sees it expe

dient and proper for his creatures to receive.

"The full meaning then of this admirable prayer, and of the several petitions contained in it, may perhaps be not improperly expressed in the following manner :—

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"O Thou great Parent of the universe, our Creator, Preserver, and continual Benefactor, grant that we and all reasonable creatures may entertain just and worthy notions of thy Nature and Attributes; may fear thy Power, admire thy Wisdom, adore thy Goodness, and rely upon thy Truth; may reverence thy holy Name; may bless and praise thee; may worship and obey thee.

"Grant that all the nations of the earth may come to the knowledge and belief of thy holy religion; that

it may every where produce the blessed fruits of piety, righteousness, charity, and sobriety: that by a constant endeavour to obey thy holy laws, we may approach, as near as the infirmity of our nature will allow, to the more perfect obedience of the angels that are in heaven; and thus qualify ourselves for entering into thy kingdom of glory hereafter.

"Feed us, we beseech thee, with food convenient for us. We ask not for riches and honours: give us only what is necessary for our comfortable subsistence in the several stations which thy Providence has allotted to us; and above all, give us contented minds.

"We are all, O Lord, the very best of us, miserable sinners. Be not extreme, we beseech thee, to mark what we have done amiss; but pity

our infirmities, and pardon our offences. Yet let us not dare to implore forgiveness from Thee, unless we also from our hearts forgive our offending brethren.

"We are surrounded, on every side, with temptations to sin; and such is the corruption and frailty of our nature, that without thy powerful succour we cannot always stand upright. Take us then, O gracious God, under thy Almighty protection; and amidst all the dangers and difficulties of our Christian warfare, be Thou our refuge and support. Suffer us not to be tempted above what we are able to bear; but send thy Holy Spirit to strengthen our own weak endeavours, and enable us to escape or subdue all the enemies of our salvation.

"Preserve us, also, if it be thy

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