The Catechizing of Families, Chapter 30 – Chapter 31
CHAP. XXX. And lead us not into Temptation, but deliver us from Evil.
Qu. 1. WHy is this made the Sixth Petition?
A. Because it is the next in order to the attainment of our ultimate End; Our Natures being maintained, and our sin and punishment forgiven, we next need deliverance from all Evils that we are in danger of for the time to come; and then we are saved.
Q. 2. What is meant by Temptation?
A. Any such Tryal as may overcome us or hurt us, whether by Satan, or by the strong allurements of the World and Flesh, or by Persecutions or other heavy Sufferings, which may draw us to sin, or make us miserable.a2 Pet. 2. 9. Rev. 3. 10. Mat. 26. 41. Lu… 8. 13.
Q. 3. Doth God lead any into Temptation?
A. 1. God placeth us in this World in the mids… of Tryals, making it our duty to resist and overcome. 2. God permitteth the Devil by his suggestions, and by the World and Flesh to tempt us. 3. God tryeth us himself by manifold afflictions, and by permitting the Temptations of Persecutors and Oppressors.b1 Pet. 1. 6. Mat. 4. Gen. 22. 1.
Q. 4. Why will God do and permit all this?
A. It is a Question unmeet for Man to put: It is bu… to ask him, Why he would make a rank of reasonabl… Creatures below confirmed Angels? And why he would make Man with free will? And why he will not give us the Prize without the Race, and the Crown without the Warfare and Victory? And you may next ask, Why he did not make every Star a Sun? and every Man an Angel? and every Beast and Vermine a Man, and every Stone a Diamond.cIam. 1. 12. 2. 1 Cor. 10. 13.
Q. 5. Doth God Tempt a Man to sin?
A. No: Sin is none of God's End or Desire: Satan tempts Men to Sin, and God tempteth Men to trie them whether they will sin, or be faithful to him, to exercise their Grace and Victory.dIam. 1. 13, 14, 15.
Q. 6. Is it all that we need, that God lead us not into Temptation?
A. The meaning is that God who over-ruleth all things, will neither himself trie us beyond the strength which he will give us, nor permit Satan, Men or Flesh to over-tempt us unto sin.
Q. 7. But are we not sure that this Life will be a Life of Trial and Temptation, and that we must pass through many Tribulations?
A. Yes: But we pray that they may not be too strong, and prevalent to overcome us, when we should overcome.e1 Cor. 10. 13. Heb. 2. 18.
Q. 8. What be the Temptations of Satan which we pray against?
A. They are of so many sorts that I must not here be so large as to number them. You may see a great number with the Remedies named in my Christian Directory. But in general they are those by which he deceiveth the Understanding, perverteth the Will, and corrupteth our Practice: and this about our state of Soul, or about our particular actions, to draw us to sins of Commission, or of Omission, against God, our selves or others. The particulars are innumerable.f1 Thess. 3. 5. Eph. 6. 11.
Q. 9. What is the Evil that we pray to be delivered from?
A. The evil of sin and Misery; and from Satan, our selves and Men, and all hurtful Creatures as the Causes.
Q. 10. What is the reason of of the Connexion of the two parts of this Petition, Lead us not into Temptation, but deliver us from Evil?
A. Temptation is the means of sin, and sin the cause of misery. And they that would be delivered from sin, must pray and labour to be delivered from Temptation: And they that would be delivered from misery, must be delivered from sin.gPro. 4. 14▪ 15. 1 Thess. 5. 22. Prov. 7. 23. 2 Tim. 3. 7. & 6. 9. 1 Cor. 7. 35. Mat. 5. 29, 30, 31.
Q. 11. May not a tempted Man be delivered from Sin?
A. Yes, when the Temptation is not chosen by him, and cannot be avoided, and when it is not too strong for him, grace assisting him.
Q. 12. What duty doth this Petition oblige us to, and what sin doth it reprehend?
A. 1. It binds us to a continual humble sense of our own corrupt dispositions, apt to yield to Temptations, and of our danger, and of the evil of Sin: And it condemneth the unhumbled that know not, or fear not their pravity or danger.
2. It binds us all to fly from Temptations as far as Lawfully we can; and condemneth them that rush fearlesly on them, yea, that tempt themselves and others. The best Man is not safe that will not avoid such Temptations as are suited to his corrupt Nature, when he may: While the bait is still near unto his Senses, he is in continual danger.hMat. 18. 6, 7, 8, 9. 1 Cor. 8. 9. Rom. 14. 13. Mat. 16. 22, 23, 24. Rev. 2. 14.
3. It binds us to feel the need of Grace, and God's deliverance, and not to trust our corrupted Nature, and insufficient strength.
Q. 13. How doth God deliver us from Evil?
A. 1. By keeping us from over strong Temptation. 2. By his assisting Grace. 3. By restraining Satan and wicked Men, and all things that would hurt us, and by his merciful Providence, directing, preserving and delivering us from sin and misery.
CHAP. XXXI. For thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory, for ever, Amen.
Qu. 1. WHat is the meaning of this Conclusion, and it's Scope?
A. It is a form of Praise to God, and helps to our Belief of the hearing of our Prayers.
Q. 2. Why is it put last?
A. Because the Praise of God is the highest step next Heaven. (a)(i) Psal. 119. 164. & 71. 6, 8. & 78, 13.
Q. 3. What is the meaning of Kingdom, Power and Glory here?
A. By Kingdom is meant, that it belongeth only to God to Rule all the Creatures, dispose of all things; and by Power is meant, that by his Infinite Perfection and Sufficiency he can do it: And therefore can give us all that we want, and deliver us from all that we fear. And by Glory is meant, that all things shall be ordered so as the Glory of all his own Perfections, shall finally and everlastingly shine forth in all: And his Glory be the End of all for ever.bPsal. 103. 19. & 145. 12. Dan. 4. 34. 3. Mat. 16. 28. Psal. 145. 11, 13. Heb. 1. 8. Luke 2. 14. Mat. 16. 27. & 24. 30. Act. 12. 23.
Q. 4. What is the reason of the Order of these three here?
A. I told you that the last part ascendeth from the lowest to the highest Step: God's Actual Government, is the cause of our deliverances and welfare: God's Power and Perfection is it that manageth that Government: God's Glory shining in the perfected form of the Universe, and specially in Heaven, is the ultimate End of all.
Q. 5. But it seems there is no Confession of Sin, or Thanksgiving in this Form of Prayer?
A. It is the Symbol or Directory to the wills Desire: And when we know what we should desire, it is implyed that we know what we want, and what we shall bewail, and what we should be thankful for: And Praise includeth our Thanksgiving.cPsal. 145. 4. 10. & 148. & 66. 2, 8. & 147. 1, 7. & 106. 2. 47. Phil. 4. 20. Iud. 25. Rev. 5. 13. & 7. 12. Rom. 11. 36. & 16. 27.
Q. 6. Why say we, [for ever?]
A. For our Comfort and God's honour, expressing the Everlastingness of his Kingdom, Power and Glory.
Q. 7. Why say we, Amen?
A. To express both our Desire, and our Faith and Hope, that God will hear the Desires which his Spirit giveth us through the Mediation of Iesus Christ.