Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/388

 us to  our  God  a  kingdom. " (Apoc.  v.  10.) '  Examine whether  God  or  the  world  reign  in  your  soul.

I. "  Thy  will  be  done,  on  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven." The will of  God  displays  itself  in  two  different  ways,  viz.:  by counsel  and  by  precept. By this  petition,  then,  we  pray that all,  whom  He  calls  to  a  religious  state  of  life,  may obey His  counsels,  and  holy  inspirations,  and  that  every one may  observe  His  commandments. "Give us  this  day, our  daily  bread." By this  we  pray  for  both  corporal and spiritual  food,  but  particularly  for  the  latter,  because by it  the  soul  is  preserved  from  spiritual  death. "Man liveth not  by  bread  alone,  but  by  every  word  that  proceeded! out  of  the  mouth  of  God." (Matt. iv.  4.)  As you  take  corporal  food  every  day,  so  ought  you  to  pray for daily  spiritual  food.

II. "And forgive  us  our  trespasses  as  we  forgive  them that  trespass  against  us." You must  first  forgive  those, who have  in  any  way  offended  you,  before  you  can  expect God's forgiveness  of  your  offences. You are  infinitely indebted to  God,  and  in  comparison  to  your  offences committed against  Him,  your  brothers'  injuries  against you are  less  than  trifles. Forgive, therefore,  the  less debt, that  the  greater  may  be  remitted. " Forgive,  and you  shall  be  forgiven." (Luke, vi.  37.)

III. "And lead  us  not  into  temptation,  but  deliver  us from  evil,  Amen." By this  we  pray  that  we  may  have efficacious grace  to  surmount  every  temptation. It is  not in the  dispensation  of  providence,  that  we  should  never be assailed  with  temptations,  for  our  virtue  must  be  tried