carious grace according to the good pleasure of thy will, that we may both will what thou wiliest, and perform cheerfully what thou commandest. Give us grace to DO WHAT THOU COMMANDEST, AND COMMAND WHAT THOU PLEASEST.
But that a man may more promptly perform the commands of God, it is also necessary that he should not be altogether destitute of the goods and provisions of this present life. For we are subject to various ills and necessities as long as we bear this mortal body. Therefore we make the petition.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Wilt thou, that is, who openest thy hand, and fillest with blessing every living creature; who feedest the young ravens, and neglectest not the birds of the air, but tenderly watchest over and feedest them — wilt thou abandon to want man, whom thou hast created to thine own image, and by thy most precious blood hast made an heir of heaven? We ask not what may serve to luxury and pleasure, but for food and the supply of our necessities, that we may not be drawn away from thy service by the cares and anxieties of the world. And that we may have strength to serve thee both in mind and body, feed our souls also with the food of thy word. And above all, strengthen us in the wilderness of this life with the heavenly bread of Angels, that we faint not in the way we are travelling to thee, until we feast with thee in thy kingdom.
Here, then, we have the order, the end, and the Author, of the temporal blessings we are to seek.
In the following petitions we pray for the removal of the evils, or hindrances, which impede the attainment of the end. They are chiefly three.
First, the commission of sin; for since in many things we all offend, we ought humbly and frequently to implore the forgiveness of our sins. But it is in vain for him to ask mercy of the Lord, who will not, when he might, show mercy to his neighbour. Bearing this in mind, we rightly use this form of prayer.
Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.
In many things, alas, we all daily offend. Lord, we perish, unless, according to thy great mercy, thou preserve us. But we know, too, that if a man treasures up anger against his neighbour, in vain he seeks succour from thee. I pardon, therefore, from my heart all my enemies, and, out of my love for thee, I am ready to do good to those who hate
