II.-The Mode of Address. We are not taught to address God in terms that would express His great majesty and power; but in terms expressing the near relationship to which it has pleased Him to call us, namely, that of children, in the words "Our Father," that we may approach Him in confidence and without fear. 1. Father. He is our Father, (1) By Creation : "Have we not all one Father? Hath not one God created us?"-Mal. ii., 10. "We are also His offspring."-Acts xvii., 28. "There is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things."— 1 Cor. viii., 6. (2) By His providential care for us, His children. (a) He provides for us: "Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask Him."-St. Matt. vi., 8. "If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father?"-St. Luke xi., 13. (b) He chastens us : "As a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee."-Deut. viii., 5. "Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth."-Heb. xii., 6. (c) He pities us: "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him."-Psalm ciii., 13. (3) By adoption. "Ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."-Rom. viii., 15-16. "Wherefore, thou art no more a servant, but a son.-Gal. iv., 7. 'What manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God."-1. St. John íii., 1. 2. Our Father. We are taught to address God as "Our Father" rather than my Father. Jesus Christ addressed God when He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, as My Father-e.g. : "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. '— St. Matt. xxvi., 39. And, again, when speaking of His ascension, He said to "I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; to my God, and your God."-St. John xx., 17. He, being the only begotten Son of God, could, with all possible propriety, address God as "My" Father. We are taught to say "Our Father:" (1) To point out to us the duty of loving all mankind, and of thinking of, and praying for others as well as ourselves-e.g.: "Praying always with all prayer, for all saints."-Ephes. vi., 18. (2) To remind us of "those common bonds which knit us together as men and as Christians in that mystical body, of which He has made us very members incorporate.' 3. Which art in heaven. This is mentioned to remind us that: (1) "We are to look for God, not in ourselves, but out of and above ourselves." "Unto Thee lift I up mine eyes, O Thou, that dwellest in the heavens."-Psalm cxxiii., 1. (2) We are to lift up our hearts from earth and earthly things to heaven where God sitteth in majesty and power, and is able to do exceeding abundantly for those who call upon Him, above all they can ask or think. (3) We should approach Him with reverence and humility. "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few."-Eccles. v., 2. "Behold, now I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes."-Gen. xviii., 27. "Wherefore let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear."-Heb. xii., 28. CHAPTER IV. THE FIRST PETITION FOR GOD'S GLORY. HALLOWED BE THY NAME." I.-Meaning of Terms. 1. Hallowed. Hallowed means sanctified or reverenced. To hallow anything is to consecrate it to a holy use, or to glorify it— e.g.: "Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh mc, and before all the people will I be glorified."-Lev. x., 3. 2. Thy Name. By the Name of God is implied: (1) God Himself. The following are some of the names by which it has pleased God to reveal Himself or His nature and character to His people, in various epochs in their history-e.g.: (a) God Almighty, or the Strong One in the Patriarchal Age-e.g.: "And God spake unto Moses and said unto him, I am the Lord and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name Jehovah was I not known unto them."-Exodus vi., 2-3. (b) I am, the Eternal, Self-Existent One, in the time of Moses-e.g.: "And God said unto Moses, I am that I am: and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I am hath sent me unto you."-Exodus iii., 14. (c) Jehovah, the Lord of Hosts, in the monarchical history of Israel-e.g. Ex. vi., 2-3. "Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the Armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.-1 Samuel xvii., 45. (d) Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, in the time of Christ—e.g.: "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."-St. Matthew xxviii., 19. (2) God's Titles, as: Lord, God, &c. (3) His Attributes, as : (a) His Power. Dan. iv., 35. (b) His Justice.-Deut. xxxii., 4. (c) His Mercy.-1 John iv., 8-16; Ex. xxxiv., 6-7; Ephes. ii., 4, &c. (4) His Memorials, as : (a) His Temple. (c) His Day, &c. II.-Explanation of Petition. "That the great name of our God, and our holy profession be not blasphemed, but glorified by ourselves and others": 1. In Thought. "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts."-1 Peter iii., 15. 2. In Word. "That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."-Romans xv., 6. 3. In Deed. "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. -St. Matt. v., 16. "This glorification of God's holy name (3rd Commandment) we are taught to desire and endeavour first and chiefly―e.g.: "Them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed."-1 Saml. iii., 30. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."-St. Matt. vi., 33. CHAPTER V. THE SECOND PETITION FOR GOD'S GLORY. THY KINGDOM COME." A kingdom is the place or country over which a king exercises rule or reigns. The expression "kingdom of God," or "kingdom of heaven," is frequently used in the New Testament-e.g.: John the Baptist's cry was on "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.-St. Matt, iv.,23. Christ, after His resurrection, discoursed, with His apostles, "The things pertaining to the kingdom of God."-Acts i., 3. The Kingdom, or Reign of God, which we pray may come, is threefold : I.—His Kingdom of Power or Providence. This kingdom embraces the rule which God exercises over all creatures, and over all the world. "The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.”—Psalm ciii., 19. The prayer for this kingdom is "that God would order all things for the glory of His name, and for the good of His people." II. His Kingdom of Grace. This kingdom embraces the rule God exercises, by His It was this kingdom that John the Baptist foretold was at hand; and that Jesus Christ himself established, describing in the parables of the mustard seed, the leaven, the wheat and tares, &c., its very small beginning, its gradual and mysterious development, and "its final assured triumph." This "Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost."-Rom. xiv., 17. It is not outside of us, but within us or among us—e.g.: "Neither shall they say, Lo here! or Lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."-St. Luke xvii., 21. The prayer respecting this kingdom is : 1. That it may be extended. (1) That all men may be delivered from the power of darkness, and be brought unto the "kingdom of his dear Son."-Col. i., 13. (2) That through the efforts of the Bible and missionary societies the number of labourers in Christ's vineyard may be increased (St. Matt. ix., 38), and the knowledge of the only way of salvation extended. (3) That the whole earth may "be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.' Hab. ii., 14. 2. That it may come to us personally. (1) "That Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith."-Ephes. iii., 16. (2) "That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life" (Rom. v., 21); ruling over our wills and affections, and moulding them unto Christ's will. (3) That we may be Christians-good subjects of Christnot only in name, but in deed and in truth; truly and godly serving Him, "eschewing those things that are contrary to our profession, and following all such things as are agreeable to the same." III.-His Kingdom of Glory. This is the Heavenly Kingdom which is to be established It is the kingdom for which all Christians are living in |