people that are sitting in darkness, and give the knowledge of redemption, through the blood of Jesus, to them that are in the bonds of sin, and under the shadow of spiritual death. Grant that, like us, the unbeliever and the idolater may be made the subjects of the kingdom of thy Son, become holy members of his mystical body, which is the Church, and be counted among thy children by adoption and grace. This is the spirit and the substance of our request, when we pray "that thy kingdom may come;" because we know, that they cannot hallow thy name, who are unacquainted with thy nature and thy will, and that none can become acquainted with thy nature and thy will, unless they be taught it by the operations of thy Spirit, and the revelation of the pure and undefiled religion of the Bible. Therefore, that our former petition, for the hallowing of thy name, may be faithfully accomplished amongst men, we further ask, that thy Gospel kingdom may come in the fulness of its power and extent, and all the kingdoms of the earth become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ.

It is a very great blessing to be of the number of the faithful, and we have that blessing. It is one of the mightiest mercies of God when he communicates the truth unto a nation. And he has

communicated it unto us. But the truth may be held in unrighteousness, and the name of God as little hallowed amongst a people that call upon the Lord Jesus, and do not his will, as amongst those who know him not, and worship him not. I stay not to inquire how far we may be guilty as concerning this thing, but, doubtless, we cannot but be conscious of our many sins and imperfections, and cannot but have felt how much the happiness of the world has been blasted by those who have forgotten the great Gospel-commandment of brotherly love. Neither can we be ignorant how much and how often the name of God has been blasphemed amongst the unbelieving Gentiles and Jews through the disobedience of them that believe. For faith without works is dead-dead both for the conversion of others and the redemption of ourselves. It is very needful, therefore, for us to pray for every Christian, that he may add virtue to his faith, that so both his own soul may be saved, and all who bow not at the name of Jesus may be convinced by the loveliness of his example, and turn unto the Father and Bishop of their souls, whom they have rejected because of the iniquities of his nominal children. We may pray for the kingdom of God, and the kingdom of God máy come; but except it come as the kingdom of righteousness, as well as of truth, and except it

come with the power as well as the profession of godliness, vain and useless will be its coming. The name of God may be hallowed by the lips, but except it be hallowed by the heart, what is it? We may pray to God as our Father, but except we act as becomes the sons of God, it is nothing. Now they only act as sons, who as sons are obedient, and they only hallow the name of God in their hearts, who in their hearts do sincerely study to adorn the doctrine of God and their Saviour in all things. It is very needful, therefore, to pass on to the third petition of this blessed form of prayer, and pray, in the words which it hath taught us, not only that the name of God may be hallowed, and his kingdom come, but also that his will may be done upon earth," as it is by the angels in heaven; in all the fulness and perfection and universality of a willing mind. For then this earth itself would be like heavena heaven of holiness, and therefore of happiness, without sorrow, because without iniquity.

We have as yet passed through but half the prayer of our Lord, and time would fail me at present, to consider it in every part. But, even thus imperfectly considered, how beautiful and comprehensive, and universal is the prayer. It leads us on to piety by the softest sympathies of our nature. It, first of all, paints the God whom

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we adore, in the most endearing relation in which he can be regarded by fallen man, and so banishes fear and enlivens hope. It speaks of him as our heavenly Father; a Father, perfect and eternal in tenderness and in watchfulness, in wisdom and in care. Having thus endeared him to our thoughts in his parental character, it very naturally teaches us to pray that his name may be held in universal reverence, and, as the only means of accomplishing this desirable end, we are further commanded to pray that his kingdom may come and his will be done; that the knowledge of the truth and the practice of the righteousness of the Gospel may be spread to the extremest corners of the world, and be professed and performed by every individual amongst the earthly sons of Adam, with the same readiness and regularity as by the heavenly sons of God. These are requests in which every one may join, and which correspond to the wants and wishes of mankind in every state. They are requests which will suit with every condition; for the views which are thus displayed, are those which give gladness even to prosperity, and consolation even in adversity. They set before us the intimate connexion, in which, through Christ, we stand towards God; and by impressing upon us the primary duties of reverence to his name, belief in his word, and obedience to his will, are calculated, above all

things, to direct our feet into the ways of righteousness and peace, to instruct our minds in the wisdom of revelation, and lift our affections from the transitory gratifications of earthly joy to fix them the pure and imperishable pleasures of heavenly things.

upon

More than this at present we cannot say, but surely we have said enough to induce us to bow down in adoration before the throne of Heaven, and to thank our Father and our God for that he hath taught us thus to pray, and to beseech him to give us a heart and a mind to understand and to feel it.