A plaine and familiar exposition on the Lords prayer first preached in divers sermons, the substance whereof, is now published for the benefit of the church / by I.D. ...

But deliver us from evill.

As if he should say, but plucke us from evill: for its a word of violence, so that we desire to be pluckt out of our sinnes and corruptions, as a beast out of the mire; for we are sunke so deepe and are so heavie, that except the Lord pull with both hands as it were, we shall sticke in them still. Whence we learne;

That there is a wonderfull aptnesse and pronesse [Observat.] in our nature to sinne.

Our reason is enmitie against God, our affecti∣ons are unruly, the flesh lusteth against the spirit,

and the spirit against the flesh, so that there is continuall warres betwixt them, then the de∣vill and the world are ready also to allure us un∣to evill, our experience tells us thus much.

Seeing then it is so, let us not venture on sin, [Vse 1] upon confidence in our owne strength or wit, or good affection, as many, they can be present at idolatrous and false worship, and hold out in any thing. O no, If they knew how weake they are, they would never be so ventrous, David when he gaue liberty to his eyes, what became of it? did he not sinne woefully? so Achan and Eue when they gaue liberty to their eyes, and carnall reason, they were gone, and therefore we should take heed by their examples least we also be overtaken.

It is for comfort, though wee find a great pro∣nesse [Vse 2] unto sinne, yet not to be discouraged: for the godly commonly thinke themselues worse then every body, as hypocrites thinke themselues better then every body.

Was ever any body so tempted, and so full of un∣ruly [Object.] passions (say they?)

Yea surely, every one naturally, for else they [Answ.] need not pray, Pull us out of evill, neither must they say this for good manners sake, but in truth: every one that is acquainted with his owne heart, shall find it, that doe what he can, he can∣not gather sufficient strength to eschew evill, ex∣cept the Lord draw him out of evill.

[Evill] Not from temptation, nor from Sathan simply, but from the hurt and evill that

might come thereby: so that hence also we may obserue; That,

Christians may not pray not to bee tempted, but [Observat.] that they may not be overcome in temptation.

For Iesus Christ, Paul, and others were temp∣ted, whereof God giues two reasons why Paul was tempted; First, to worke humilitie in him, and to keepe him from pride. And secondly, that Gods strength may appeare in Pauls weake∣nesse, for when we are most out of liking with our selues, then are wee in best acceptance with God, who brings light from darkenesse, perfection from weakenesse, and life from death. Which serues first;

To reproue those, that in afflictions and trou∣bles [Vse 1] are more weary of the affliction, then of the sinne, and will commit sinne to get out of their af∣fliction: they pray to bee delivered from evill, and yet willingly and wittingly runne into e∣vill. It is Sathans drift, when we are in danger to driue us to fall to shifting and lying, that is it which he would haue. If one had come to Peter, and told him, if he be one of Christs Disciples, he must suffer with him, and Peter had said, the will of the Lord be done, then he had beene deli∣vered from evill, but when he denyed his Ma∣ster, then he rushed into the evill of temptati∣on.

Secondly, It is for comfort, that we be not [Vse 2] dismayed though we haue many bitter assaults:

for thus Christ and Paul were mightily and sore∣ly tempted and therefore (as Iames saith) We should count it exceeding joy when wee fall into divers temptations, because they try our faith, and worke patience; they make us to haue a strong, and pure, and sound faith, and abundance of patience, therefore, though we may not pray not to be tempted, yet we may pray, not to be hurt by temptation: And then, the more bitter our temptation is, the sweeter and stronger our con∣solation shall bee, for when the flesh is most abased by temptations, then men are raised up to most comfort in Christ Iesus, and to such peace as passeth all un∣derstanding. Sinne is the greatest evill, under which all other evils may bee comprehended, this once removed, the loving countenance of God shineth full of mercie and consolation: and plentie of all rich mercies expedient for us doe follow; Therefore we are taught to pray here, Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evill.

Now followeth the Conclusion of this heaven∣ly Prayer: In these words.

Notes

• Rom. 8. Gal. 5.
• 1. 2 Cor. 12. 2.
• Iames 1.