PRAYERS FOR CHILDREN. 333 Saviour and our Sanctifier, let all creatures give eternal praises. Amen. Or upon the mention af-the name of Christ, toward the, end of the prayer, we may add, " To him that has loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, be glory and domi- nion for ever and ever. Amen. Or, To whom be glory, both now and for ever. Amen. Or, To whom, with the Father, and his eternal Spirit, be honour, glory, and praise, without end. Amen. 26. Q. What is the real difference between these three parts of prayer, adoration, thanksgiving, and the doxology or blessing, since praise belongs to all of them ? A. Adoration is chiefly an ascribing or offering praise to God, because of the glorious perfections of his own nature, or the greatness of his works, or sometimes on the account of his divine relations to his creatures. Thanksgiving is the praise which is offered to God, for some peculiar instances of goodness or mercy to men, and particularly to ourselves or our friends. Doxology or blessing in its complete sense implies not only an ascription of praise and glory, but also an acknowledgment of the dueness of it, and a desire of the eternal continuance of his honours among his creatures. 27. Q. What is the meaning of the word Amen at the end of your prayers? A. The word Amen in the Hebrew signifies truth, or surely : And it is the same thing as if we said, so it is, and so let it be. By this word we declare that our hearts con- firm all the foregoing expressions of our lips ; and that we de- sire and hope for the acceptance of our petitions and our praises. 28. Q. Are all these parts of prayer necessary to be insisted on every time we pray to God ? A. No, by nomeans : For we should shorten or lengthen our prayers, and frame our thoughts and expressions according to our particular cases and occasions. But all these parts are mentioned here, that we might learn to know every thing that belongs to the duty of prayer : and indeed most or all these parts of prayer may be very frequently used in our addresses to God. 29. Q. Is it necessary toput the several parts of prayer in this method and order ? A. Neither is this, nor any other cer- tain 'method, necessary : But the several parts of prayer are mentioned here in this order, because it seems most natural and easy to young beginners in religion. A great variety of methods will be easily learned and practised afterwards, when christians arrive at greater acquaintance withdivine things, and attainfar- ther skill in this necessary and daily part of divine worship. Note here, 1. In the prayers for children I have not fol. lowed thismethod, nor put in al the parts of prayer so pardon- Y
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