SINS, [Ps. 25:7, Ps. 51:9] but would look upon the righteousness which
Jesus has acquired for us "with His holy and precious blood and His
innocent sufferings and death." [1 John 1:7]

NOR DENY US OUR REQUESTS ON ACCOUNT OF THEM. If God should regard our
sins, He would send only punishment upon us, [Ps. 130:3+, Ps.143:2] and
not give us any of those benefits for which we ask in our prayer.

FOR WE ARE NOT WORTHY OF ANYTHING FOR WHICH WE PRAY, HAVE NOT MERITED
IT. Nothing which we have done or are able to do can make amends for our
sins, or earn any blessing from God. [Dan. 9:18, Luke 15:18-19+] We
therefore pray THAT HE WOULD GRANT US ALL THINGS THROUGH GRACE alone for
Jesus' sake,

AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US.

3. _A Promise to Forgive our Fellow-men._ God's mercy to us must move as
to be merciful to others. [Eph. 3:32] If it does not, God will withdraw
His mercy from us, [Matt. 6:14, 15+] as the master withdrew his from the
unmerciful servant in the parable. [Matt. 18:32-35] Forgiving others is
not a merit which entitles us to receive God's forgiveness. It follows
as a result of God's mercy to us. Because God so mercifully forgives us
for Jesus' sake, we promise that

WE WILL, THEREFORE, ON OUR PART, BOTH HEARTILY FORGIVE AND ALSO READILY
DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO MAY INJURE OR OFFEND US. No matter how greatly
others may have sinned against us, we have sinned much more against God.
If He is willing to forgive us our great debt, we should be willing to
forgive our fellow-men their lesser debt. If we refuse to forgive
others, God will lay our own sins to our charge, and punish us.