3. It consists of three parts, the preface, the petitions, and the doxology or conclusion. The preface, _Our Father which art in Heaven_, lays a general foundation for prayer; comprizing what we must first know of God, before we can pray, in confidence of being heard. It likewise points out to us all those tempers, with which we are to approach to God, which are most essentially requisite, if we desire either our prayers or our lives should find acceptance with him.
4. “Our _Father_.” If he is a father, then he is good, then he is loving to his children. And here is the first and great reason for prayer. God is willing to bless, let us ask for a blessing. “Our _Father_,”――Our Creator: the author of our being; he who raised us from the dust of the earth, who breathed into us the breath of life, and we became living souls. But if he made us, let us ask and he will not with-hold, any good thing from the work of his own hands. “Our _Father_”――Our preserver; who day by day sustains the life he has given: of whose continuing love we now and every moment receive life and breath and all things. So much the more boldly let us come to him, and _we_ shall _find mercy and grace to help in time of need_. Above all, the Father of our Lord _Jesus Christ_, and of all that believe in him: who justifies us _freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in_ Jesus: who hath _blotted out all our sins, and healed all our infirmities_; who hath received us for _his own children, by adoption and grace_, and _because we are sons_, hath _sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father: who hath begotten us again of incorruptible seed_, and _created us a-new in_ Christ Jesus. Therefore we know that he heareth us always: therefore we _pray_ to him _without ceasing_. We pray, because we love. And _we love him, because he first loved us_.
5. “_Our_ Father”――Not _mine_ only who now cry unto him; but _our’s_, in the most extensive sense. The God and _Father of the Spirits of all flesh_; the Father of angels and men: (so the very Heathens acknowledged him to be, Πατήρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε·) The Father of the universe, of all the families both in heaven and earth. Therefore with him there is no respect of persons. He loveth all that he hath made. He _is loving unto every man, and his mercy is over all his works_. And _the_ Lord’s _delight is in them that fear him, and put their trust in his mercy_; in them that trust in him thro’ the Son of his love, knowing they are _accepted in the Beloved_. But _if_ God _so loved us, we ought also to love one another_. Yea, all mankind: seeing God _so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son_, even to die the death, that they _might not perish but have everlasting life_.
6. _Which art in heaven_:――high and lifted up; God over all, blessed for ever. Who sitting on the circle of the heavens, beholdeth all things both in heaven and earth. Whose eye pervades the whole sphere of created being; yea and of uncreated night: unto whom _are known all his works_, and all the works of every creature, not only _from the beginning of the world_ (a poor, low, weak translation) but ἀπ᾽ ♦αἰῶνος· from all eternity, from everlasting to everlasting: who constrains the host of heaven, as well as the children of men, to cry out with wonder and amazement, O the depth! _The depth of the riches both of the wisdom and of the knowledge of_ GOD! _Which art in heaven_――the Lord and ruler of all, superintending and disposing all things: who art the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, the blessed and only Potentate: who art strong and girded about with power, doing whatsoever pleaseth thee! The Almighty: for whensoever thou willest, to do is present with thee. _In heaven_,――eminently there. Heaven is thy throne, the place where thine honour particularly dwelleth. But not there alone; for thou fillest heaven and earth, the whole expanse of space. Heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Glory be to thee, O Lord most high!
Therefore should we _serve the_ Lord _with fear, and rejoice unto him with reverence_. Therefore should we think, speak and act, as continually under the eye, in the immediate presence of the Lord, the King.