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Stump, Joseph

"An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism"

I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him,
Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more
worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
Matt. 6:14, 15. 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.
READING.-The Unmerciful Servant, Matt. 18:23-35.


CHAPTER XXX.
THE SIXTH PETITION.

And lead us not into temptation.
_What is meant by this Petition?_
God, indeed, tempts no one to sin; but we pray in this petition that God
would so guard and preserve us, that the devil, the world, and our own
flesh may not deceive us, nor lead us into error and unbelief, despair,
and other great and shameful sins; and that, though we may be thus
tempted, we may nevertheless finally prevail and gain the victory.
As children of God we must not only seek forgiveness for past sins, but
be anxious to avoid sin in the future. We therefore pray that, as far as
is possible according to His gracious will, God would keep us from being
tempted, and would give us strength to overcome when we are tempted.


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