GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD
CONSIDER first, that after seeking in the three first petitions, the greater glory of the name of God, the propagation of his kingdom, and the execution of his will both in heaven and in earth; we are taught in the fourth petition to pray for all necessaries for ourselves, both for soul and body, under the name of our daily bread, which we here beg for this short day of our mortal life, in order to support us in our pilgrimage through the wilderness of this world, till we come to our true country and to the happy day of everlasting light and life, in the heavenly kingdom of our Father. As to the things of this world we pray for them with more indifference, as for things of lesser consequence; and which, if we seek first the kingdom of God and his just ice, our Father has promised to furnish us with, viz. as far as he shall see expedient for us; and we pray for them for to-day, being forbidden to be solicitous for them for to-morrow. But what we are here more earnestly to pray for, is, the
