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
