of sin, and its consequences-the wrath of God, and exclusion from his presence for ever. It is from these last and greatest of evils that we are chiefly to pray to be delivered.

This sublime prayer concludes with a doxology— "For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." Every word here is significant. We do not merely say—“Thine is the kingdom," etc.—which is a fact; but we state this fact as the reason why we address to God all the foregoing petitions. His greatness, his power, and his glory, instead of deterring us, and driving us from his presence, are the very reasons assigned why we are to draw near to him in prayer. It is, because he is mighty, that we are encouraged to rely upon him, as our helper-" our rock and our defence, our confidence and our hope, and the horn of our salvation, and our high tower.”

We do not merely say-" For thine is kingdom, power, and glory;" but, "thine is the kingdom,

that of the progress of the Gospel. Taken in this view the imagery of the following lines would leave nothing to be desired.

"Night and all her sickly dews

Her spectres wan, and birds of boding cry,

He gives to range the dreary sky;

Till down the eastern cliffs afar,

Hyperion's march they spy-and glittering shafts of war."

GRAY.

the power, and the glory,"-the only kingdom, the only power, the only glory, that is deserving of the name. All worldly power and glory shall fade, and worldly kingdoms shall come to an end; but of his glory there shall be no end, and his kingdom shall endure for ever and ever.

I cannot refrain from noticing, once more, the wonderful comprehensiveness of the words of this prayer, which not only contains a complete classification of all the legitimate objects of our requests to God, but suggests, at the same time, motives to every human duty, or, at least, the spirit and sentiment that leads to the performance of every duty. The dispositions here suggested are :—

PETITIONS.-1, 2, 3.-Love to God, and zeal for his glory.
Love to man, and zeal for his welfare.

4.

Trust in Providence.

5.-Forgiveness of injuries.

6. Avoidance of temptations, and,

7.-Fear of incurring the Divine displeasure.

These are the general heads of this prayer, and short and few as they are, if we consider them attentively, I believe we shall find that they include all that the Christian requires or is warranted to pray for. It does not follow that we are always to employ the same words, or that we are never to use any other form in our addresses to our Creator.

On the contrary, we are encouraged, nay commanded to pour out to him the desires of our hearts, to commune with him in the retirement of our closets, and to put up our petitions in the bosom of our families, and in the midst of the congregation. It is not the words of this prayer that we are so rigidly to adhere to, but its spirit and substance.

If we attend to the nature of the several petitions, we cannot err much as to the subject of our prayers; but that which we are especially to observe is, that we put up our petitions in that spirit which alone can render them acceptable.

Let us beware that we do not pray, or attempt to pray, in a spirit of selfishness. The whole scope and tenor of the prayer we have been considering, is diametrically opposite to such a spirit.

Let us beware that we do not pray in a spirit of presumption, as relying on ourselves and our own righteousness. We all need to be reminded that our prayers can only be accepted for the sake, and through the intercession of the Redeemer; and that the prayer of the lowest heart-broken sinner, if put up with faith, and in a sincere reliance on him, may be accepted; while that of the spiritually proud, who thank God, "they are not as other men are," will be scattered to the winds.

Let us beware that we pray not in a spirit of formality, as a stated ceremony fit to be observed, or,

as having any merit in itself, without a correspondent feeling of the heart.

Let us beware that we do not pray in a spirit of wilfulness, as dictating to God what he should do, what blessing he should grant, or from what evils he should deliver us, and as expecting that his will is to bend to a compliance with our's.

Let us, on the contrary, pray in a spirit of humility—not the mock humility which is akin to pride— not the abject humility, which is akin to meanness— but an unfeigned and heartfelt sense of our low and lost estate, as sinners, and relying solely for acceptance on the merits of our all-sufficient Mediator.

Let us pray in the spirit of love-love to God, and reverence for him as our Father; and love to men as our brethren.

Let us pray in a spirit of submission-in all things submitting our will to that of our heavenly Father. In asking any particular blessing, or deliverance from any particular evil, let it always be with this reservation, (in which we follow the highest example,) "nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done."

Lastly, Let us pray with a due reliance on the Spirit of all grace, knowing that though of ourselves we know not what to pray for as we ought-" the Spirit itself helpeth our infirmities, making intercession for us, with groanings that cannot be uttered."

THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH.

The Sabbath was made for man. It is an institution accommodated in mercy to his nature and his wants. Its observance is no doubt sanctioned by a divine command, but the command is not an arbitrary one; it is founded on the most substantial and salutary reasons, and is conducive in the highest degree to the welfare and happiness of our species.

Man was not made for a life of indolence, but for one of active employment. This was the case in Paradise itself; as we are told that immediately on his creation, "the Lord God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it." This was a delightful task certainly, but still it was a task. It was a work that was given him to do, and in performing it he could not fail to reap a constant succession of varied enjoyments. Indeed so fascinating might we suppose the delights of a labour so gentle and so attractive, that he might