Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/72

 name, who  ought  rather  to desire  to  be  unknown  and  despised?

4. He  says,  hallowed  be, simply, with  no  restriction  to particular  persons,  because we should  wish  this  done  by every  creature  of  those  that are in  heaven,  on  earth,  and under the  earth; nor  to  a particular time,  because  it  is  right that the  name  of  the  Lord should be  praised  throughout all time.

5. Again,  the  name  of  God is hallowed  when  men  believe what  he  reveals,  hope for what  he  promises,  do  what he commands,  worship  him  as he  has  taught,  love  him  with their whole  heart,  and  attest their love  by  their  works; that they  who  see  our  good deeds may  glorify  their  Father who  is  in  heaven. It is a prayer  worthy  of  a true  and virtuous son,  to  desire  nothing before  or  beyond  the glory of  his  father,  and  to prefer  his  honour  to  all  things. Not to  us,  O Lord,  not  to  us, but to  thy  name  give  glory. Blessed be  the  name  of  the Lord, from  henceforth,  now, and for  ever.

Yet he  reigns  in  heaven  and in earth,  in  the  sea,  and  every where; all  things,  whether they will  or  not,  serve  him, and under  his  dominion  are  all things. We pray,  therefore,

1. For  that  kingdom,  by which  he  now  reigns  in  the just by  grace,  who  are  in  all things subject  to  him.

2. For  that  by  which  he reigns  in  the  blessed  by  glory. This last  will  come  to  us  if we  continue  to  the  end  in  the former.

3. And  therefore  he  says, thy kingdom  come, as  if  of  its own accord. And indeed  all long for  this  last  kingdom; but not  for  the  first,  because that is  connected  with  hardship. For justice  is  acquired and preserved  by  mortification of  the  flesh,  and  by restraint  of  the  concupiscence which  reigns  in  our members.

4. That  kingdom, which shall be  consummated  and made perfect,  when  God  shall be all  in  all,  in  the  resurrection of  the  dead,  which  the souls of  the  blessed  expect.

5. Thy  kingdom,  not  the kingdom of  the  world,  which the children  of  this  world  seek after, and  which  consists  in nothing  but  perishable  goods, endless cares,  and  numberless dangers; much less  the  kingdom of  sin,  the  utter  overthrow of  which  1 long  for. It is  for  sons  to  sigh  continually for  their  country, and, in  preference  to  all  other things, to  seek  their  paternal inheritance. Woe is  me  that my sojourning  is  prolonged. I desired to  be  dissolved, and to be  with  Christ. As the  hart panteth after  the  fountains  of water, so  my  soul  panteth  after thee, O God.