Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/387

 which He  taught  them,  we  repeat  daily;  and  in  conquence  of  this,  and  because  it  is  the  best  of  all  prayers since God  is  its  author,  we  shall  do  well  to  ponder  each word of  it. To pray  well  is  an  object  of  vital  conceal in a  spiritual  life.

"Our Father,  who  art  in  Heaven." (Matt. vi.  9.)  In the  Old  Testament,  God  was  generally  called  the  Lord, but in  the  new  law,  He  is  pleased  to  be  called  our  Father, and even  by  His  own  vassals. He is  our  Father  by  the titles of  creation,  of  preservation,  and  adoption. Take care, then,  that  you  prove  yourself  to  be  worthy  of  such a Father. You are  taught  to  say  our  Father  and  not  my Father,  because  you  must  acknowledge  that  God  is  the universal Father  of  all,  that  every  one  is  your  brother, and that  you  ought  to  love  every  one. This Father  of  ours "is in  heaven,"  as  in  the  seat  of  His  majesty,  (though. He  be  actually  everywhere  present)  in  order  that  you may always  raise  your  thoughts  to  heaven,  as  to  your native country  and  ultimate  destination.

II. "Hallowed be  Thy  name." We ought  to  seek,  in  the first place,  and  in  all  our  actions,  the  honor  and  glory of God,  and  do  all  that  we  can,  to  induce  mankind  to honor  and  worship  Him. We must  begin  with  ourselves, we must  love  and  glorify  Him  by  the  sanctity  of  our lives. Often excite,  therefore,  these  affections  in  yourselves, and  say  with  the  seraphim,  "Holy,  holy,  holy Lord  God  of  hosts"  (Is.  vi.  30);  and  with  David:  "Not to  us,  O  Lord,  not  to  us,  but  to  Thy  name,  give  glory." (Ps. cxiii.  9.)

III. "Thy kingdom  come." By this  petition  we  pray, that His  kingdom  may  be  increased  in  this  world  by  His grace, and  in, the  next  by  His  glory. God reigns  in  the souls of  His  just,  by  His  grace,  according  to  the  expression of  the  Saints  in  the  Apocalypse,  "Thou  hast  made