cacious grace according to the good pleasure of thy will, that we may both will what thou willest, 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, shew 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

me, or who have ever injured me. I am sorry, from the bottom of my heart, that I have offended thee. O Lord, be merciful to my sins.

This is a most easy and excellent method of making frequently an act of contrition.

Another hindrance is temptation, which urges us to sin, and hinders us from following the Divine will. Hence one who is freed from past sins, both dreads and seeks to avoid those which are future. But who can fly from them without the help of God? Therefore, from the knowledge we have of our own weakness, and of the power of so many enemies, to whom our life is always exposed, we pray,

And lead us not into

temptation.

We acknowledge, O Lord, that without thee we can do nothing, and that all our sufficiency is of thee; let not, then, thy grace desert us, nor permit us to be driven back, and beaten down by any temptation of the world, the flesh, or the devil. Thou seest our frailty, and the great power and craft of those who tempt thy creatures, so dearly redeemed. We doubt not, that all things are brought about by the loving counsel of thy providence; and that not to suffer, but to be conquered by temptation, is evil. Suffer us not, then, O Lord, to

be tempted beyond what we are able, lest perchance we fail under the temptation, but help us to overcome it. Let but thy grace prosper us, and the victory will be easy.

Another hindrance is the punishment we often meet with when freed from guilt. The many adversities of this life, as famine, wars, diseases, loss of property, reputation, life, sometimes affects severely even pious minds. So that we have cause finally to pray,

But deliver us from evil.

That which our feelings incline us to think evil, is not so in reality, and in itself, unless it is made so through our fault. For from thee, O Lord, proceed all things, whether life or death, honour or poverty; how, then, can they be evil, when they proceed from the HIGHEST GOOD? These, however, become evil, not unfrequently, through our fault, that is to say, through our impatience, cowardice, and mistrust. Strengthen us, then, with thy grace and comfort, and make all things work together for good to those that love thee. Here cut and burn me, as a physician the patient who draws his last hope of life from these remedies, however severe. Here correct and chastise me, as a father the son for whom the inheritance is reserved. Nay more, prove, and try, and purify me, as a refiner the gold which is

proved in the fire. Refine and harden me, as a potter the vessel destined, not to destruction, but to honour, that so I may be a vessel of glory unto eternal life.

With these, and similar me

ditations, the Lord's Prayer must be seasoned from time to time; otherwise, what wonder if by many it is often uttered with the lips, but seldom relished in the heart?

Our Father, who art in

heaven.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;' who hast predestinated us to the adoption of children, through Jesus Christ; who alone hast immortality, and inhabitest light inaccessible; with joy we give thanks to thee, who hast made us worthy to be partakers of the lot of the saints in light; for we have not received the spirit of bondage again in fear but we have received the spirit of the adoption of sons, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. For the Spirit himself gives testimony to our spirit, that we are the sons of God. And if sons, heirs also; heirs indeed of God, and joint-heirs with Christ."

1. Hallowed be thy name. Grant that we may be followers of thee as most dear children; that we may walk as children of the light in all

goodness, and justice, and truth, proving what is wellpleasing to thee, and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness;1 that thy name may not, through us, be blasphemed among the Gentiles. Let our conversation be worthy of the Gospel of Christ,3 that we may be blameless, and thy sincere children, without reproof; and in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, like lights in the world, holding forth the word of life to thy glory in the day of Christ; that we may walk worthy of God, in all things pleasing him; being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. Grant that, whether we eat, or drink, or whatever else we do, we may do all to thy glory.6

2. Thy kingdom come. Since flesh and blood cannot possess the kingdom of God, for this cause we bow 2 Rom. ii. 24.

1 Eph. v. 8-11. 3 Philip. i. 27. 5 Coloss. i. 10. 71 Cor. xv. 50.

Philip. ii. 15, 16. 61 Cor. x. 31.

C

we have. For thou hast said, I will not leave thee, neither will I forsake thee; so that we may confidently say, The Lord is my helper. Thou art near, O Lord. Let us be nothing solicitous, but, every where and in all things instructed, let us know how to be full and to be hungry, to abound and to suffer need. But, above all, let us exercise ourselves unto godliness, which is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.4

Grant to us not to trust in the uncertainty of riches, but in thee the living God, who givest us abundantly all things to enjoy; to do good, to be rich in good works, to give easily, to communicate to others, to lay up in store for ourselves a good foundation against the time to come, that we may lay hold on eternal life.5

Thou art able, O God, to make all grace abound in us, that, having all sufficiency in all things, we may abound to every good work. Thou who ministerest seed to the sower, shalt also give bread to eat.6

5. And forgive us our tres

we do not, but the evil which we will not that we do,' therefore, by sin reigning in our mortal body, we have obeyed the lusts thereof.2 Alas, how often have we yielded our members as instruments of iniquity unto sin,3 and have despised the riches of thy goodness, and patience, and long suffering, not regarding that thy benignity leads us to penance; but, according to our hardness and impenitent heart, we have treasured up to ourselves wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of thy just judgment, who wilt render to every man accord→ ing to his works.*

But let thy mercy, O most gracious Father,come upon us; and, shewing us the riches of thy glory, make us vessels of thy mercy, prepared unto thy glory; and where sin abounded, let grace more abound."

Behold, we forbear threatenings to others, that we may have thee our Lord propitious to us in heaven. Put thou also on us, as thine elect, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience, that we may be kind to one another, compassionate, and forgiving one another, even as thou in Christ hast forgiven us; to no man rendering evil for evil; but, if it be possible, as much as is 1 Rom. vii. 18, 19. 2 Rom. vi. 12. 3 Rom. vi. 13. 4 Rom. ii. 4-6. 5 Rom. ix. 23. 6 Rom. v. 20. 7 Ephes. vi. 9. 8 Col. iii. 12-13.