they love to pray ftanding in the fy nagogues, and in the corners of the ftreets, that they may be seen of men. Verily, I fay unto you, they have their reward: 6 But thou, when thou prayeft, enter into thy clofet, and when thou haft fhut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in fecret, and thy Father which feeth in fecret, fhall reward thee openly. 7 But when ye pray, ufe not vain repetitions, as the heathen do for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. the hypocritical Pharifees, who choose to say their pretended private Prayers in the streets and places of common concourfe, that they may be feen and applauded by Men. I tell you affuredly, this fhall be their only Reward, and they must expect no other from God. 6. But when you put up your private Prayers to God, let each one retire alone into his Clofet, and shut himfelf up, and God, who heareth your most secret Petitions, will openly reward your Piety and De votion. 7. Only when you pray, do not use a multitude of Words and vain Repetitions, as is ufual among the Heathens. For they pray in fuch a manner, as if God regarded the labour of the outward Action, more than the inward Affection of the Mind, or could be perfuaded and prevailed upon by a multiplicity of Expreffions. 8. Do not therefore imitate them in this. For God, who knoweth all things, knoweth particularly all your wants, even before you ask him. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 9 After this manner therefore pray Our Father ye which art in hea ven, hallowed be thy 9. But when you pray, ufe fome fuch fhort Form as this. Almighty God, the Creator and Governor of all things, and the most bountiful Benefactor of those who Fear and Obey thee. Grant that all reasonable Creatures, who are capable of understanding the greatnefs and glory of thy Attributes, may unfeignedly r admire and adore thee; and express their Veneration and Praifes of thee, in ways most name. unfeignedly de 7 fuitable to the Condition of er den dy sig their Nature and the Difco veries of thy Will, i p 10. Grant that all Mankind may come to the know ledge and belief of thy true Religion: That the Kingdom of Chrift, may be extended o ver all the Earth; and the eternal Laws of Godliness, Righteoufnefs, Charity and So briety, be established through the whole World. Grant that 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debters. 13 And lead us all who profess this thy true Religion, may live in perfect Obedience to the Laws there of; and that Men, as the infirmity of their Nature will permit, may obey thee with proportionable Sincerity and Gonftancy, as do the Spirits of the bleffed in Heaven. 11. Bestow upon us every day, through the remaining part of our Lives, as many of the things of this prefent World, as may be fufficient for our neceffary Subfiftence, and for the ufeful and innocent Conveniences of Life. 12. Forgive us our Sins, and withhold the Punishments which we have thereby deferved: In like manner as we freely and heartily forgive all thofe Injuries and Offences, which have by others been done to us. 13. Take from us the Caufes not into temptation, and Occafions of Temptations, but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom, and the power,and the glory, for ever. Amen. or elfe deliver us from the power of them: That we may not be moved, either with the enticements of Riches, Honours, or Pleasure; or with the Fear of Want, Difgrace, or Pain; to do any thing knowingly contrary to thy Will. And deliver us from all the Evils and Ca lamities, which either the Malice of the Devil, or the Wick edness or Misfortunes of the World might bring upon us. Thefe Petitions we beg of thee, O God, knowing that thou canft, and trusting in thy Mercy that thou wilt do for us more than we can defire or deServe; who art infinite in Power, Glory, and Majefty, from everlafting to everlasting. Amen. 14. After this manner ought ye to Pray unto God. And in this Prayer which I have now prescribed to you, ye are more especially to obferve, that I have taught you to expect and pray for Forgiveness of your Sins at the Hands of God, only in like manner as ye forgive one another your Offences and Trefpaffes. For if ye readily forgive one another your Trefpaffes, God indeed will likewife upon this Condition forgive you your Sins. 14 For, if ye forgive men their trefpaffes, your heaven forgive you. ly Father will allo 15 But if ye forgive not men their trefpaffes, neither will your Father forgive your trefpaffes. 15. But if ye will not forgive one another, be affured, that neither will God be moved by any Prayers or Entreaties to forgive you. 16. ¶ Again, when ye Faft, be not like the hypocritical Pharifees, who put on fad and mournful Looks, going about in mean and fordid Garments and with unwashed Faces, that they may appear to Men to be wonderfully Devout, and may be applauded for the ftrictnefs and severity of their Faft. I tell you af furedly this fhall be their only Reward, and they muft expect no other from God. 17. But when you faft, appear to Men as at other times; Put on no mournful Looks, and make no oftentation of Strictnefs and · Severity. t 18. Make no affected fhow of Fafting and Sadness, but humble your felves fecretly in your Devotions before God; and God, whọ E 3 feeth |