not to leave them unrepented of, for that was the sin of Laodicea, which did not consist in mortal wickedness, but in being neither hot nor cold. * And small sins lead to great ones. "He that despiseth small things shall fall by little and little." Therefore we must pray in the words of this petition for pardon for sins of infirmity.

2. Much rather must we pray for pardon for mortal sin, with a broken and contrite heart such as God will not despise.

3. This petition teaches us the duty of forgiving others their trespasses against us. "Forgive thy neighbour the hurt that he hath done unto thee, so shall thy sins also be forgiven when thou prayest. One man beareth hatred against another, and doth he seek pardon from the Lord? He sheweth no mercy to a man that is like himself; and doth he ask forgiveness of his own sins? If he that is but flesh nourisheth hatred, who will entreat for pardon for his sins?"c

In this petition we do not ask pardon for the trespasses of our own selves alone, but of all men, living and dead, and especially for those of the Church whereby its unity has been broken.

a Rev. iii. 16. b Ecclus. xix. 1; S. James iii. 5. c Ecclus. xxviii. 25 Prov. xix. 11; S. Matt. xviii. 21-35; S. Mark xi. 25; S. Luke avi. 36; xvii. 4; Eph, iv. 32; Col. iii, 13; S. James ii. 13.

6. And lead us not into temptation.

OD suffers us to be tempted for wise purposes, (1) To draw out our hidden virtues; thus He brought out the virtue of faith in Abraham by tempting him to slay his son, and the virtue of patience in Job by suffering him to be afflicted with loss of substance, health, and friends.. (2) To keep us vigilant, (3) To enable us to merit a reward, b

a

The word "to tempt" has three significations in Holy Scripture. It means (a) to bring out hidden graces, (b) to lead into sin, d (c) to provoke to anger.

e

с

In this petition we do not pray to be delivered from all temptation. (1) Because this life is given for our trial, and we are tried by temptation. (2) Because temptation is not sin when the will does not consent to it. (3) Because temptation is often profitable to us.

The temptations with which we are beset arise (a) from our own infirmity, and proclivity to evil, (b) from the allurements of the world, (c) from evil and blasphemous inspirations of the devil. Therefore, as David says, "My soul is always in my

1 S. Pet. v. 8.

b S. James i. 12. Gen. xxii. 1. d1 Cor. vii. 5. e Ps. xcv. 9; Acts v. 9; Heb. iii. 8.

hand," a for we are ever in danger.

b

We must expect temptations; but, if we have erected our confidence on God they will do us no harm.

In this petition we do pray not to be overcome: by temptation,d for we know "that there hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to. man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape; that ye may be able to bear it." e

g

Excellent remedies against temptation are to be found (1) in watching and prayer. (2) In meditation on the last great things. (3) In frequentation of the Sacraments which supply all the strength necessary for overcoming temptation. (4) In resisting the first suggestions of evil; "Of a spark of fire a heap of coals is kindled," says the wise man,h and a small yielding at first may lead to utter ruin. (5) In meeting them with God's word, as did. Christ in His temptation.

7. But deliver us from evil.

a

LL evil comes from Satan. By him came death into the world, and all our woe, sickness and pain to the body, sin to the soul. In this petition therefore we pray to be delivered from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul, from death of body and soul in hell. a In this petition we pray to be delivered from Satan and every evil spirit. The devil walketh about seeking whom he may devour. He is filled with envy against man who was created to fill those seats in heaven from which he and his apostate angels fell through their pride.

b

The evil one's army is threefold. "The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life." "By these three" are "the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone," that is by the burning heat of carnal passion, by the smoke of this world's shew obscuring the eyes, and by the brimstone of life, looking harmless and bright, and showy, yet ready to flame with inextinguishable fire.

a S. Matt. x. 28. 1 S. Pet. v. 8. 1 S. John ii. 16. d Rev. ix. 18.

Jeremiah likens these three bonds to "the lion out of the forest," that is the passion of the flesh, "the wolf of the evening," that is the subtle lurking evil of the lust of the eyes, and "the leopard that shall watch over their cities," that is the sleek pride of life that in the concourse of a city takes no account of death. Our Lord was assailed by the three temptations. The lust of the flesh, when tempted to turn the stones into bread; the lust of the eyes, when shewn the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and the pride of life, when tempted to cast Himself off the pinnacle of the temple.

b

a

In this petition we pray to be delivered from Satan's agents, wicked men, the proud, the slanderers, the detractors, heretics, murmurers, mockers, sensual, h flatterers, and the like.

с

d

e

We pray to be delivered in the day and in the night, in sickness and in health, in weal and in woe, in life and at the moment of death, for at all times Satan is watching to overthrow and bring us into bondage, and his most deadly assaults are at the last moment of life.

a S. Luke iv. 3, 5, 9. b Ps. cix. 85. c Ps. cxl. 1-3. d Prov. iv. 24; S. James iv. 11. e 2 S. Pet. ii. 2. ↑ Jude 16. * Jude 18. 2 S. Pet. ii. 10. Ps. v. 9.