follows, “As we also forgive our debtors.” Accordingly, my Brethren, I advise you, who are
in the grace of God my sons, yet my Brethren under that heavenly Father; I advise you,
whenever any one offends and sins against you, and comes, and confesses, and asks your
pardon, that ye do pardon him, and forthwith from the heart forgive him; lest ye keep off
from your own selves that pardon, which comes from God. For if ye forgive not, neither
will He forgive you. Therefore it is in this life that we make this petition, for that it is in this
life that sins can be forgiven, where they can be done. But in the life to come they are not
forgiven, because they are not done.
8. Next after this we pray, saying, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil.”2095 This also, that we be not led into temptation, it is necessary for us to ask in this
life, because in this life there are temptations; and that “we may be delivered from evil,” be-
cause there is evil here. And thus of all these seven petitions, three have respect to the life
eternal, and four to the present life. “Hallowed be Thy name.” This will be for ever. “Thy
kingdom come.” This kingdom will be for ever. “Thy will be done as in heaven, so in earth.”
This will be for ever. “Give us this day our daily bread.” This will not be for ever. “Forgive
us our debts.” This will not be for ever. “Lead us not into temptation.” This will not be for
ever. “But deliver us from evil.” This will not be for ever: but where there is temptation, and
where there is evil, there is it necessary that we make this petition.
2095 Matt. vi. 13.
614
Again, on the Lord’s Prayer, Matt. vi. To the Competentes.