AFTER this Manner therefore pray ye Matt. vi. 9.

The Prayer, which JESUS CHRIST here gives us, is the Pattern of all Chriftian-Prayer, and an Abridgement of the Gospel. What Satisfaction is it to learn from God himself, with what Words and in what Manner he would have us to pray to Him, fo as not to pray in vain! A King, who himfelf draws up the Petition, which he allows to be prefented to himfelf, has furely a very great Defire to grant the Request. We do not fufficiently

conceive the Value of this Prayer; the Respect and Attention, which it requires the Preference to be given to it, its Fulnefs and Perfection, the frequent Ufe we should make of it, and the Spirit we should bring along with The Order of the Petitions is the Order of our Defires, and of our Duties; it is here we ought to be particularly mindful of them.

us to it.

Send, O fend me now away,
By granting my Request,
Still I follow Thee, and pray,
And will not let Thee reft:

Ever crying after Thee,

"Till Thou my Helplessness remove,

Mercy, Mercy upon me,

Thou Son of David have.

We must, in the first Place, say this Prayer with the Heart of an heavenly Child, difengaged from the Earth by his new Birth, animated with the Spirit of the divine Adoption, and full of Defire to be united to his Father and Author. The Heart of a Child of God is a brotherly Heart, in respect of all other Chriftians; it afks nothing but in the Spirit of Unity, Fellowfhip, and Chriftian Charity, defiring that for its Brethren which it defires for itself. Let us adore God, in the Unity and Simplicity of his Effence, in the Trinity and Fellowship of his Perfons, as the Father of Chriftians, the Source and Model of all Paternity both in Heaven and Earth, and the Author of all created Good.

Father of Earth and Sky,
Thy Name we magnify;
O that Earth and Heaven might join
Father of all, whofe pow'rful Voice
Call'd forth this univerfal Frame,
Whose Mercies over all rejoice

Thro' endless Ages ftill the fame :

Thy Perfections to proclaim,
Praise the Attributes divine,

Fear and love thy awful Name.
Thou by thy Word upholdest all,

Thy bounteous Love to all is fhew'd, Thou hear'ft thy every Creature's Call, And filleft every Mouth with Good.

HAllowed be thy Name,

We must say it with the Heart of a Prieft, all inflamed with Zeal for God's Glory, and for the Sanctification of Souls, and with the Defire of that Holinefs, which fhould render him like to God as to his Father. In the Sanctification of his Children, God is pleafed to place his Glory; and therefore this Glory and this Sanctification we ought to defire and to pray for, before all Things. Let us adore the Holinefs of God; let us defire that his holy Name may be every where known; let us labour to this Purpose with all our Power, beginning firft with ourselves.

Dear Lord, we pant for Holiness,

And inbred Sin we mourn,
To the bright Path of thy Commands
Our wand'ring Footsteps turn.

Not more fincerely would we wish
To climb the heav'nly Hill,
Than here, with all our utmost Power,
Thy Pleafure to fulfill.

THY Kingdom come.

We must fay it with the Heart of a faithful Subject, zealous for the Glory of his Sovereign. When will it be, O my God, that Death and Sin, the Devil and his Minifters, the World and its Offences, fhall ceafe to reign upon Earth; and that Thou, after having judged the Quick and the Dead, feparated thy Sheep from the Goats, and deftroyed all the Powers of Earth and Hell, wilt thyfelf reign alone every where, in all, and for ever, and thy Saints with Thee and thy Son. In order to defire the Coming of this Kingdom, it is neceffary to be in a Condition to expect it with Confidence. Let us adore the Sovereignty of GOD, and labour to establish his Kingdom in our own Hearts.

When shall thy Spirit reign In every Heart of Man? Father, bring thy Kingdom near, Son of thy Sire's eternal Love,

Take to thyfelf thy mighty Power, Let all Earth's Sons thy Mercy prove,

Let all thy bleeding Grace adore:

Honour thy triumphant Son; God of Heaven, on Earth appear,

Fix us with thy glorious Throne. The Triumphs of thy Love difplay,

In every Heart reign Thou alone, Till all thy Foes confefs thy Sway, And Glory ends what Grace begun.

THY
HY Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven, Ver. 19.

We must say it with the Heart of a Wife who ftudies the Defires and Inclinations of her Husband, and feeks only to please him. God every where effects his Will, even in thofe who oppose it the moft; but it is done with and by Love in none but the Saints in Heaven and on Earth. We acknowledge the Neceffity of a Grace, which, by a free and predominant Love, may fubject our Wills to that of God, when we pray that his Will may be done in us as it is in Heaven. It is by this that God reigns, and that his Name is hallowed. Let us adore the Almighty Will of God, and defire that it may work in us, fo as to fubject us to itself.

Thy good and holy Will
Let all on Earth fulfill,
Men with Minds angelic vie,

Spirit of Grace, of Health and Power,
Fountain of Light and Love below,

Saints below with Saints above,
Thee to praife and glorify,

Thee to ferve with perfect Love.

Inflame our Hearts with perfect Love,
In us the Work of Faith fulfil,

Abroad thine healing Influence fhower, So not Heav'ns Hoft fhall swifter move,

O'er all the Nations let it flow

Than we on Earth to do thy Will.