self, through the death of His Son. (Col. i. 20-22.) We profess tliat which the Old Testament saints only saw dimly, if at all, — we profess to be His children by faith in Christ, and to have '' the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Kom. viii. 15.) This, we must never forget, is the sonship that we must desire, if we would be saved. Without faith in Christ's blood, and union with Him, it is vain to talk of trusting in the Fatherhood of God.
The second sentence is a petition respectmg God's name: ^' Hallowed be thy name." By the " name" of God Ave mean all those attributes under which He is revealed to us, — His power, wisdom, holiness, justice, mercy, and truth. By asking that they may be '^ hallowed," we mean that they may be made known and glorified. The glory of God is the first thing that God's children should desire. It is the object of one of our Lord's own prayers : " Father, glorify thy name." (John xii. 28.) It is the purpose for which the world was created. It is the end for which the saints are called and con- verted. It is the chief thing we should seek, that ^^ God in all things may be glorified." (1 Peter iv. 11.)
The third sentence is a petition concerning God's king- dom : " thy kingdom come." By His kingdom we mean first, the kingdom of grace which God sets up and main- tains in the hearts of all living members of Christ, by His Spirit and word. But we mean chiefly, the kingdom of glory which shall one day be set up, when Jesus shall come the second time, and '• all men shall know Him from the least to the greatest." This is the time when sin, and sorrow, and Satan sh^.Il be cast out of the