mysteries contained in it, so are the angels represented by St. Peter as "desiring to look into" the Gospel salvation''; and St. Paul says, that the revelation vs^hich God has with progressive clearness made of himself unto the Church, is no less instructive to them than to us\ But we are well assured that they never for a moment doubt either the wisdom or good- ness of God in any of his dispensations ''. In this they are a fit pattern for our imitation. We know not the secret pur- poses of God in any thing that he does: his ways are in the great deep, and his footsteps are not known. But we should be satisfied in our minds, that " he does, and will do, all things well ;" and that, though " clouds and darkness are round about him, righteousness and judgment are the basis of his throne." However mysterious his ways may appear, we should at all times solace ourselves with this, that " what we know not now, we shall know hereafter." Were this spirit uni- versally prevalent, discontent would be utterly banished from the world. Under the most afilictive dispensations we should maintain a humble composure and a thankful frame'. What a desirable state ! how honourable to God ! and what a source of happiness to man !]
2. In a way of active obedience —
[Here also are the angels a pattern for us: they are " ministers of God, to do his pleasure; and they do his com- mandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word™." The very first intimation of the Divine will is quite sufficient for them. Whatever the office be, whether to deliver Lot from Sodom, or to destroy a hundred and eighty-five thousand Assyrians, they execute it with equal readiness and equal pleasure. Thus should we engage in the service of our God : it should be " our meat and our drink to do his will :" we should hearken diligently to his word, in order to learn what we have to do; and then we should do it without hesitation, without weariness, without reserve. Nor should we be satisfied with having our own souls brought into this state ; we should long to see every sinner upon earth, and " every thought of his heart, captivated in like manner to the obedience of Christ." The Apostle's prayer should be the language both of our hearts and lips".
But who can effect this change? Who can subdue the unruly wills and affections of sinful men ? None but God : he must " make them willing in the day of his power, or they will
'' 1 Pet. i. 12. i Eph. iii. 10.
■^ Rev. xvi. 5 — 7. and xix. 1 — 4. ' Isai. xxxix. 8. 1 Sam. iii. 18. 2 Sam. xv. 25, 26. m Ps. ciii. 20, 21. « Heb. xiii. 20, 21.
1314.] THE lord's prayer. 189
continue in their rebellion even to the end. To him therefore We should look ; and to him should we make our supplication, that he would " reveal his arm," and subdue the nations to the obedience of faith.]
From this directory for prayer, we cannot but observe,
1. What elevation of mind religion inspires —
[Statesmen and philosophers, however enlarged their minds, are occupied solely about the things of time and sense: whereas the Christian, even though he be poor and illiterate, " separates himself" for the pursuit of higher objects, and " seeketh and intermeddleth with heavenly wisdom"." The U7iiversal establishment of the Messiah's kingdom, and the un- limited execution of the Divine will, the bringing down of heaven to earth, and the assimilating of earth to heaven, these are the subjects of his daily meditation: these are the objects of his most ardent desire. The men of science justly value themselves on having enjoyed the blessings of education: they know and feel the benefit of having their thoughts raised to the contemplation of objects that are out of the reach of vulgar and illiterate minds. But the Christian surpasses them incom- parably more than they surpass the lowest of mankind : his meditations are more noble ; his mind is more enlarged. Let us learn then to form a proper estimate of religion ; and to regard it with the veneration it deserves.]