II. Implies That Our Chiefest Wish Is Holiness, Our Greatest Dread Sin.

This is the only negative petition.

What would be our deprecatory prayers? Lead us not into sorrow, loss, poverty, disease, death?

How we fill our prayers with womanish shriekings and fears!

This petition can come only from a man whose will is resigned and fixed on God. One thing he fears, and that is to sin.

The one thing to be desired is not outward wen-being, but inward character.

Think of our lives: what do we dread most?