Eph. i. 11. Laws and commands, Matt. vii. 2; Rom. xii, 2. Desires and wishes, 2 Pet. iii. 9. Mercy and loving-kindness, Deut. xxxiii. 16. Appointment, 1 Cor. i. 1. All God's will is holy, just, and good, Rom. vii. 12; 1 John v. 3, 1 When? In time of sickness-distress-poverty-contempt prosperity -illness-and death of friends. T By whom should God's will be done? Where? We cannot know God's will unless he teaches us, Psalm cxix. 32, 34; Isa. ii. 2-4. Cannot do it unless he helps us, Phil. ii. 13; Rom. vii. 18; Heb. xiii. 21; Rev. xvii. 17. What is God's will concerning us? Matt. xviii. 14; John vi. 40; xvii. 24; 1 Thess. iv. 3; v. 18; 1 Peter ii. 15; iii. 17; iv. 2; 1 John ii. 17. How do you pray that God's will may be done? Who do his will in heaven? How do they do it? Angels do God's will perfectly, Psalm ciii. 20, 21; 2 Cor. vii, 1; Col. iv. 12. Constantly-at all times-in all places, Rev. vii. 15. Diligently, 2 Cor. xiii. 9; Matt. v. 48; Acts xiii. 22. Joyfully, Rev. vii. 11; Psalm civ. 4; Dan. ix. 21. Immediately, Job i. 16; Isa. vi. 2; Ezek. i. 4-14. Universally, without exception, Psalm cxix. 6, 112. Readily, Psalm esix. 60: Luke i. 74, 75. Heartily, 2 Cor. i. 22; Col. iii. 23; Believingly, Rom. xiv. 22, 23. Anecdote 1. How God's will is done in heaven. A Sunday school teacher, instructing her class on the third petition in the "Lord's Prayer," said to them, "You have told me, my dear children, what is to be done the will of God; and where it is to be done on earth; and how it is to be done as it is in heaven. How .6 do you think the angels and happy spirits do the will of God in heaven, as they are to be our patterns?" The first child replied, "they do it immediately." The second, they do it diligently." The third, “they do it always." The fourth, "they do it with all their hearts." The fifth, "they do it altogether." Here a pause ensued, and no other child appeared to have any answer, but after some time a little girl rose and said, "Why, please teacher, they do it without asking any questions." -Whitecross 180. 7, Anecdote 2. The little boy who could not say, " Thy will be done." "What occasions that melancholy look?" said a gentleman to a little boy one morning. He turned away his face, to hide a tear that was ready to fall from his eye. His brother answered for him, “Mother is very angry with him," said he, "because he would not say his prayers last night; and he cried all day, because a sparrow died of which he was very fond." The little mourner hastily turned round and said, "I could not say Thy will be done,' because of The genmy poor bird." tleman took him by the hand, and, pointing to his school-fellows, said, "How many persons repeat these words, who never think what they are saying: who never prayed in all their lives. My dear boy, I am very glad to find that you were afraid to say to God what you did not feel in your heart. But you should beg of God to give you submission to his holy will. Read Deuteronomy v. 28, 29."-Whitecross 179. 5. Examples. Abraham, Gen. xxii. 3. Aaron, Levit. x. 1-3. Eli, 1 Sam. iii. 12, 18. David, Psalm xxxix. 9; Acts xiii. 22; 2 Sam. xii.; xv. 25, 26. Job, i. 21. Paul, Gal. i. 16; 1 Tim. vi. 18; Titus iii. 1. See also 1 Chron. xxviii. 9; 2 John 8.-Christ, John iv. 34; v. 30. Psalm xl. 8; Matt. xxvi. 39, 42. Privileges. Matt. xii. 50; John vii. 17; Heb. x. 36; 1 John ii. 17; Rev. ii. 2-14. Motives. God is our Creator and Preserver, Gen. i. 1; Neh. ix. 6. Redeemer, 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20. His mercies, Rom. xii. 1. His judgments, Heb. xii. 10. He always sees us, Psalm cxxxix. 4. Our present happiness, 2 Cor. i. 12. Future happiness, Heb. xii. 14. Every thing obeys God-clouds and thunder, Psalm cxlviii. 8. Sun, moon, and stars, Joshua x. 12, 13; Judges v. 20; Job ix. 7. Anecdote 3. 66 A little boy who would do his father's will. A little boy, about seven years old, was on a visit to a lady, who was very fond of him. Although he was a great way from home, he behaved very well, and endeavoured to do every thing that he thought his parents would wish him to do had they been present. One day at breakfast there was some hot bread upon the table, and it was handed to him; but he refused to take it. "Do you not like hot bread ?" said the lady. Yes," replied the little boy, "I am very fond of it." “Then, my dear, why don't you take some?" "Because my papa does not approve of my eating hot bread." I suppose that his father thought, as most people think, that hot bread is not wholesome food for children. 66 But your father," said the lady, "is a great way off, and will not know whether you eat it or not. You may indulge yourself for once. There will be no great harm in that." This was very wicked indeed, and shows how cautious parents should be where they suffer their children to visit. They cannot be too careful in this respect. The little boy answered, "No, I will not disobey my father and mother. I must do what they have told me to do, though they are a great way off. I would not touch the roll, if I was sure that nobody would see. I myself should know it, and that would be sufficient." Yes, and GOD would know it too. We should never forget this. (Gen. xvi. 13.) Now, we should think of this when any would try to lead us to do what God forbids. Never forget that your heavenly Father is always close at hand, and sees, and knows, and hears everything. (Psalm cxxxix. 7—10.)—Whitecross 164. 3. What would be the consequence if every one on earth did God's will, as it is done in heaven? "How many have I been acquainted with, who, through their vehement self-will, have lost their property, their lives, yea, and often, it is to be feared, their eternal salvation! O how should parents and teachers seek to inculcate in those intrusted to them, humility, and the subjugation of their self-will."-Schwartz's Remains, p. 301. What do we desire of God in these three petitions." I desire my Lord God, &c., as we ought to do." "Giver of all goodness," James i. 17. Hymn and prayer. LECTURE IX. Hymn. "Give us this day our daily bread." F The first three petitions relate to God. The last to ourselves. Of these, the first relates to the body, because we cannot serve God unless he preserves our being. Christ teaches us in prayer, Matt. vi. 33; Psalm xxiv. 10. "For what is a man," &c., Matt. xvi. 26. Though this petition refers to the body, it includes also provision for the soul. It includes "all things that be needful," &c., 1 Pet.ii. 2. Bodies, food, raiment, habitation, health, &c. Lay Dozath it is ནf་« We ask God for "bread," here put for all necessary provisions, because bread is most generally used; bread means provisions in general, Gen. xiv. 13; xlvii. 12. Sometimes bread literally, Gen. xxi,(14. Men will give all for bread, Job xv. 23; Gen. xxv. 34; xlvii. 19; Sam ii. 5. ",༔,!」:་་ Daily" bread-not a stock-that we may continually pray to God, Exod. xvi. 16-35; Luke xi. 3; 1 Tim. vi. 8.pm. “This" day, Exod. xvi. 4; 1 Thess. v. 17. Dependent creatures, Matt. vi. 31, 32. " "Us," "our," pray not for ourselves alone but for others. "Give," we have no right to it claim upon God-here we acknowledge our helplessness-no creature can give, if God withholds God's power over us our entire dependence upon him, even for a crust of bread. God's gift, Eccles. ix. 11; Ruth i. 6; Neh. ix. 15; Psalm civ. 15z cxxxii. 15; James i. 17; Gen. xxxii. 10; Luke xvii. 10; John vi. 32; Psalm cxxxvi. 25; Psalm cxlv. 16; cxlvi. 7; Acts xiv. 17; xvii. 25; Hos. ii. 8; John vi 32, 34; Gen. xlviii. 15, 16; Deut. ii. 7; viii. 3, 4; Eccles. iii. 13. Why should the rich pray, &c.? They know not what a day, &c. a Anecdote. Dr. Orton mentions thirty persons who once rode in their carriages, who were so reduced as to be obliged to ask for assistance. We may have money and yet no bread-so in a famine, Genesis. Bread, without God's blessing, will not nourish us, Eccles. v. 19; Micah vi. 14; Levit. xxvi. 26; Exod. xxiii. 25; Hag. i. 6; Dan. i. 13-15; Prov. x. 22; Psalm lxxviii. 30, 31. God's promise, Isa. xxxiii. 15-17; Psalm xxxiii. 18, 19; xxxiv. 10; Exod. xvi. 29; Psalm xxxvii. 3. If God feed the birds, Job xxxviii. 41; Psalm cxlvii. 9; how much more will he feed those who pray to him. But must ask God, Matt. vii. 9. Agur's prayer, Prov. xxx. 7-9. God gives us strength to labour-success in our undertakings, Prov. x. 22-fruits of earth-kindness and help of others-comfort and refreshment, Psalm civ. 14, 15, 27, 28. But must use lawful means, not eat devil's bread-not try to get a livelihood by dishonest means-prostitution-gambling-selling on Sundays-cheating, &c.-nor any way in which we cannot ask God's blessing. Anecdote 1. Farmer's man and the stolen lamb. A labouring man, who had a wife and children to support, was once reduced to such distress, that, with the concurrence of his wife, he went to his master's flock and brought home a lamb, which was killed, and a part of it dressed, and placed on the table. The next thing to be done, before their hunger could be relieved, was to ask a blessing on the food. The poor man's heart was filled with anguish. How could he ask a blessing from God on the fruit of unrighteousness? Tears gushed into his eyes. He rose-he went directly to his master, told him what he had done, and implored his forgiveness. His master knew him to be not only a sober and industrious man, but also an honest and wellintentioned man, and that nothing but the greatest temptation in the greatest straits could have led him to commit so sad a crime. After a suitable admonition, he assured him of his hearty forgiveness, told him that he was welcome to what he had got, and that he should not be disappointed in any future application which he might find it necessary to make to him, for the supply of his wants. The poor man returned home with joy and gratitude, determined, in the strength of the Lord, and in reliance on his Holy Spirit's aid, to be more watchful and prayerful against the temptations of the devil. Better starve than steal, any day. Whitecross 182, 5. When using lawful means, &c. must trust in God's blessing, Psalm cxxviii. 1, 2. God's goodness in giving us bread, 1 Sam. xxv. 11. Considering how unthankful man is, Isa. i. 2, 3; Psalm xli. 9. That we are by nature his enemies, Prov. xxv. 21. Jacob's vow, Gen. xxviii. 20—22. Repeat the 59th hymn of “hymns for the young," Jer. xxxvii. 21. thanks. Anecdote 2. The sailor and his daughter. "I came home from my last voyage before Christmas," says a sailor, "and hastened home. Being late when I arrived, I had not the opportunity of seeing my eldest girl until the following day. At dinner time, when we had sat down, I began to eat what was before me, without ever thinking of my heavenly Father, that provided my daily bread; but, glancing my eye towards this girl, of whom I was doatingly fond, I observed her looking on me with astonishment. After a moment's pause, she asked me, in a solemn and serious manner, "Father, do you never ask a blessing before eating?" Her mother observed me looking hard at her, and holding my knife and fork motionless; it was not in anger-it was a rush of conviction, which struck me like lightning. Apprehending some reproof from me, and wishing to pass it by in a trifling way, she said, "Do you say grace, Nancy." My eyes were still riveted on the child, for I felt conscious I had never instructed her to pray, nor even set her an example, by praying with my family when at home. The child, seeing me waiting for her to begin, put her hands together, and lifting up her eyes to heaven, breathed the sweetest prayer I ever heard. This was too much for me; the knife and fork dropped from my hands, and I gave vent to my feelings in tears." Through the instrumentality of this child, not more than six years of age, who attended a Sunday school,-together with his subsequent attendance on the public worship of God, this man became a real Christian.-Whitecross, Pleasing Expositor, p. 37. David's remark, Psalm xxxvii. 25. Some tempted to doubt God's care, Matt. iv. ; but, Mark viii. 17, &c. If God will take care of the body, how much more of the soul. Christ is that bread. Water of life, John vii. 37-39. The Holy Spirit is that living water. Let us pray, 2 Cor. ix. 10, 11. Learn from this prayer, contentment, 1 Tim. iv. 4; vi. 6 ; 1 Pet. v. 7. To cast our care on God, Phil. iv. 6; cannot make an ear of corn. Obtain good from his hands, Matt. vii. 11. Good creatures sanctified to us, 1 Tim. iv. 4, 5. Not lose sight of God in our daily mercies. Not to depend too much on our own strength-health-habits of industry-skill and contrivances-any prospects, however promising -for God can send sickness-destroy our property-deprive you of employment-whenever he sees fit. |