thy power, that thou wouldst permit no evil, from which thou wert not able to extract a greater good.
THE LORD’S PRAYER ADAPTED TO THE THREE THEOLOGICAL AND THE FOUR CARDINAL VIRTUES;
OR
How those seven virtues may he prayed for and practised in the seven petitions of the Lord’s Prayer.
Our Father who art in heaven.
O eternal Father, who with blessings unseen hast prepared for thy children an inheritance in heaven, but requirest them to be undegenerate children, in conduct worthy of such a Father, grant us to try to be perfect, as thou our Father art perfect. For this we are not sufficient of ourselves, but all our sufficiency is from thee. Therefore, in the name, and in the very words of thy most dear Son, we ask for the virtues and gifts without which we are unable to please thee, and to obtain thy kingdom.
I. FAITH.
Hallowed he thy name.
The name of God is hallowed best when he is worshipped with a true and living faith. I believe, O Lord, that thou art almighty, infinitely wise, and supremely good; that thou art true and faithful to thy promises, nay, that thou art the truth itself. Lord, increase my faith; help my unbelief, that I may sanctify thee in truth, by sincerity of faith. Thy works and thy judgments, O Lord, are wonderful; yet are they true, and justified in themselves. Thy name is admirable in the whole earth, yet there is no word impossible with thee. To me thy testimonies are very trustworthy, therefore holiness becomes thy house, the Church. For what can be more unworthy than to have such a belief, and yet, while with our lips, we confess that we know thee, to seem by our life and conduct to deny it? Be it far from me to act thus, but rather let a living faith grow in me, that I may sanctify thy ever glorious Name by a life that is conformable to my faith. For what will the name of Christian avail me without a Christian life?
II. HOPE.
Thy kingdom come.
Which has been prepared for us from the beginning of the world. For of thy infinite love thou hast made us heirs of thy kingdom, and co-heirs
