What Do We Pray for in the Fifth Petition?

Answ. In the fifth petition (which is, And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors J, we pray that God, for Christ’s sake, would freely pardon all our sins; which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by his grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others.

Q. What is here meant by debts? A. Our sins*

Q. Why are our sins called debts A. Because they arise from our with-holding from God what is his dues and they must be satisfied for by bearing punishment.

Q. How is sin the wont debt? A, An angry

God is our creditor, who will exact the utmo-t faithing of it we can never be able to pay the Jeat part of it; it makes us daily contract more and more j and ^xposeth us to everlasting imprisonment in hell, Matth. v. 25, 26.

Q. Wherein do we naturally resemble bad debtors?

A. We hate God our creditor; forget and abhor the day of account at death or judgment; endeavour to deny, shift, or excuse our debt; are averse from acknowledging it, &c.

Q. For whose sake are we to ask from God forgiveness of our sinful debts?

A. O ly for Christ’s sake j for bis righteousness alone satisfied God’s justice for sin. See Quest. 25, 33.

Q. Why should believers, whose sins are all pardoned in justification, pray daily for forgiveness of sin

A. Because they daily need clearer intimations of their past legal pardon, and present fatherly pardon of their sin against the law as a rule, James iii. 2.

Q. What is the argument annexed to this petition J

A. Our forgiving our debtors. Luke xi. 4.

Q. How do we forgive our debtors? A. By gently demanding money-debts, and forgiving other injuries, J H h

Q. In what manner are we to forgive injuries done to us? A. Heartily, chearfully, and for Cnrist’s sake.

Q. How far are we to forgive injuries done to us?

A. Not as they offend God, but only as they hurt us.

Q. Ought we not to endeavour to bring such as injure US t”» a sense of their sin against God? A. Yes.

Q. Ought we to forgive great injuries? A. Yes.

(^. Will not that make men despise and injure us more and more? A. No; it rather tends to make them

ashamed of injuring us, 1 Peter iii. 16.

Q. Are we to forgive men before they confess their {auks to us? A. Yes, in our heart •, though it may

jjot he fit, at least always, to intimate forgiveness to them.

O. Is our forgiving others the condition of God’s forgiving us? A. No, by no means, Eph. i. 7.

Qj How then is it an argument of God’s forgiving us?

A. As it imports God’s ability and engagement to forgive, a Numb. xiv. 17, JS. Jer. 1. 20.

(J. How doth it impou God’s full ability to forgive us?

A. In regard that it is as if we should say, Lord, if we hard-hearted sinners can forgive those that injure us, how tnuch more canst thou, who are fill of compassion, for give us who have of ended thee! Matth. vii. 11.

Q How doth it import God’s engagement to forgive us?

A. As hearty and Christian forgiveness of injuries is an evidence that we are God’* children, whose iniquities fie :s by covenant engaged to forgive, Heb. viii. 11.

Q. ~Hv hat sre we enabled to forgive ethers?

A. Bv God’s grace working in our heart.

Q. Can none be forgiven of God, or in faith a»lc and .expect pardon from him, who is not inclined to forgive men their trespasses against them? A. No, Mat. xviii.