whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.—2 Pet. i. 1–9.

The Greek word (from кpáros, strength or power) means 'mastery, or dominion over: hence, self-control, continence, self-discipline.'

Temperance permits us to take meat and drink not only as physic for hunger and thirst, but also as an innocent cordial and fortifier against the evils of life, or even sometimes, reason not refusing that liberty, merely as matter of pleasure. It only confines us to such kinds, quantities, and seasons, as may best consist with our health, the use of our faculties, our fortune, &c., and show that we do not think ourselves made only to eat and drink here.-WOLLASTON, Religion of Nature, Sect. 9, Truths belonging to a private man, iv. (p. 179).

CHAPTER VI.

PRAYER AND PRAISE.

CONTINUE in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.-Col.

iv. 2-4.

Let it be well observed, that whensoever the Scripture speaks of prayer, whensoever it uses that term, or other terms equivalent to it, it means prayer, sincere and earnest, in the full and proper sense of these words, prayer proceeding from the heart and soul It does not mean any service of the lips, any utterance or pro nunciation of prayer, merely as such; but supplication actually and truly proceeding from the heart. Prayer may be solemn without being sincere. Every decency, every propriety, every visible mark and token of prayer may be present, yet the heart not engaged. This is the requisite which must make prayer availing; this is the requisite indeed which must make it that which Scripture means whenever it speaks of prayer. Every outward act of worship, without this participation of the heart fails, not because men do not pray sincerely, but because in Scripture sense they do not pray at all.-ARCHD. PALEY, Serm. xxviii. pt. iii. on Rom. vii. 24 (p. 418).

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites. are for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say

unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be ye not therefore like unto them for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.— Matt. vi. 5-15.

And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way-side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?-Matt. xx. 30-32.

And when they had sung an hymn (the Great Hallel, Ps. cxiii. cxiv.), they went out into the mount of Olives. Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter saith unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I

not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.-Matt. xxvi.

30-35.

And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; and saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.-Mark, xiv. 32-39.

And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice (xaipw) and praise (aivéw) God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. Luke, xix. 37, 38.

And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. And when he was at the place he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me nevertheless not my will, but thine be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, and said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.Luke, xxii. 39-46.

I pray (¿pwráw) for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. I pray (épwráw) not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray (¿pwráw) I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.-John, xvii. 9-15, 19-21.

And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down and cried (pάw) with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.-Acts, vii. 59, 60.

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed (poσεúxoμai), and sang praises (vμvéw) unto God: and the prisoners heard them.— Acts, xvi. 25.

For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers (πpoσɛʊɣń); making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.-Rom. i. 9, 10.

That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles and laud him, all ye people.-Rom. xv. 6–11.

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and