As we forgive them that trespass against us.-Matthew vi. 15. 1. By defaming our characters. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from 1. Of overwhelming afflictions. 2. Of worldly enticements. 3. Of Satan's devices. 4. Of error's seduction. 5. Of sinful affections. Matthew v. 11. Philemon 18. Acts vii. 60. evil.-Matthew xxvi. 41. Psalm cxxx. 1. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.-Jude 25. 1. Thy kingdom governs all. 2. Thy power subdues all. Amen.-Ephesians i. 11. 1. As it is in thy purposes. 1. So shall it be to thy praise. Psalm ciii. 19. Philippians iii. 20, 21. Isaiah xiv. 27. 2 Corinthians i. 20. Revelation xxii. 20. Revelation xix. 4. ACROSTICAL PARAPHRASE. OUR Lord and King, Who reign'st enthroned on high, FATHER of Light! mysterious Deity! WHO art the great I AM, the last, the first, ART righteous, holy, merciful, and just. In realms of glory, scenes where angels sing, HEAVEN is the dwelling-place of God our King. HALLOWED Thy name, which doth all names transcend, Be Thou adored, our great Almighty Friend; THY glory shines beyond creation's bound; NAME us 'mong those Thy choicest gifts surround. THY kingdom towers beyond Thy starry skies; KINGDOM Satanic falls, but Thine shall rise. COME let Thine empire, O Thou Holy One, THY great and everlasting will be done. WILL God make known his will, his power display? Be it the work of mortals to obey. DONE is the great, the wondrous work of love; On Calvary's cross he died, but reigns above; EARTH bears the record in Thy holy word. IN songs immortal, angels laud his name; HEAVEN Shouts with joy, and saints his love proclaim GIVE us, O Lord, our food, nor cease to give OUR needy souls supply from day to day; BREAD though we ask, yet, Lord, Thy blessings lend. Us, the vile rebels of a rebel race; OUR follies, faults, and trespasses forgive, As we, O Lord, our neighbor's faults o'erlook, WE beg Thou 'd'st blot ours from Thy memory's book. Us in this world, and may our souls destroy. FROM all calamities that man betide, EVIL and death, O turn our feet aside, FOR we are mortal worms, and cleave to clay,- AND be thy name adored by earth and heaven. FOREVER be Thy holy name adored. AMEN! Hosannah! blessed be the Lord TRIFLING OF BIBLE COMMENTATORS. Dr. Gill, in his Expository, seriously tells us that the word ABBA read backwards or forwards being the same, may teach us that God is the father of his people in adversity as well as in prosperity. Thou constant art; Thy will be done on earth. Thou madest the earth, as well as planets seven, Thy name be blessed here As 'tis in heaven. Nothing we have to use, or debts to pay, Except Thou give it us. Give us this day Wherewith to clothe us, wherewith to be fed, Our daily bread. We want, but want no faults, for no day passes But we do sin. Forgive us our trespasses. No man from sinning ever free did live Forgive us, Lord, our sins, As we forgive. If we repent our faults, Thou ne'er disdain'st us; We pardon them That trespass against us; Forgive us that is past, a new path tread us; And lead us— Us, Thine own people and Thy chosen nation, Not into temptation. Thou that of all good graces art the Giver, Suffer us not to wander, But deliver Us from the fierce assaults of world and devil And flesh; so shalt Thou free us From all evil. To these petitions let both church and laymen With one consent of heart and voice, say, Amen. THE PRAYER IN AN ACROSTIC. In the following curious composition the initial capitals spell, "My boast is in the glorious Cross of Christ." The words in italics, when read from top to bottom and bottom to top, form the Lord's Prayer complete: Make known the Gospel truths, Our Father King; Yield up thy grace, dear Father from above; Bless us with hearts which feelingly can sing, Infinite be-ing--first man, and then the crucified. Enemies to thy self and all that's thine, Lending to sin our be-ing, evil in our design. In earth from sin deliver-ed and forgiven, O give us grace and lead us on thy way; Shine on us with thy love and give us peace; Oh! grant each day our trespass-es may cease. Convince us daily of them to our shame; Ecclesiasticæ. EXCESSIVE CIVILITY. TOM BROWN, in his Laconics, says that in the reign of Charles II. a certain worthy divine at Whitehall thus addressed himself to the auditory at the conclusion of his sermon: "In short, if you don't live up to the precepts of the gospel, but abandon yourselves to your irregular appetites, you must expect to receive your reward in a certain place, which 'tis not good manners to mention here." This suggested to Pope the couplet, "To rest, the cushion and soft dean invite, SHORT SERMONS. DEAN SWIFT, having been solicited to preach a charity sermon, mounted the pulpit, and after announcing his text, "He that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord," simply said, "Now, my brethren, if you are satisfied with the security, down with the dust." He then took his seat, and there was an unusually large collection. The following abridgment contains the pith and marrow, sum and substance, of a sermon which occupied an hour in delivery: "Man is born to trouble." This subject, my hearers, is naturally divisible into four heads :— 1. Man's entrance into the world; 2. His progress through the world; 4. Practical reflections from what may be said. First, then : 1. Man's ingress in life is naked and bare, 2. His progress through life is trouble and care, 3. His egress from it, none can tell where. 4. But doing well here, he will be well there. Now, on this subject, my brethren dear, |