Vers. 5-8.-.As to the duty of prayer. As, in those duties of religion which take the shape of charitable action towards man, the :first law of all is that they be rendered with purity of motive and with directness of aim, free from self-consciousness and free from consciousness, either morbid or calculated upon, of the gaze of others, so certainly in that duty (identical at the same time with highest privilege) which marks the intelli- gent personal approach of men to God, viz. their approach in prayer, is it necessary- I. THAT IT BE PEBF0BMED WITHOUT .ANY OSTENTATION OF SANCTITY BEFORE MEN. II. THAT IT BE ADDRESSED TO Goo WITH UNDIVIDED HOMAGE, UNDISTBACTED· THOUGHT, Ill. THAT IT CONSIST OJI' PETITIONS OF KNOWN A.ND DISTINCT MEANING, NOT VAGUE, NOT REPETITIOUS, NOT MULTIPLIED FOR MUCH BPE.AXING'B BAKE ONLY. IV. 'l'BAT WE REMEMBER TH.AT IT IS NOT EITHER TO TELL GoD WHAT HE DOES NOT .ALBE.ADY KNOW, OB TO DICTATE OB SUGGEST TO HIM WHAT TO DO OR WHAT TO GIVE i BUT TO CONJl'ESS TO fillll THAT WE DO KNOW AND FEEL OUB OWN NEEDS, TO ACKNOWLEDGE TH.AT WE KNOW HE ONLY CAN SUPPLY THEM, AND TO BUBIIIIT THE TIME A.ND THE CHOICE. OF THE WAY TO DO SO, TO HIM AND BIS ALL-SOVEREIGN WISDOM.-B. Ver. 9.-.As to the manner of prayer. The occasion was one in which onr Lord knew that the teaching of bis lips would be best brought home to the mind by an example to illustrate bis meaning. What a sequel that example of prayer has itself had I and what fruitfulness it has had in teaching the "manner of prayer" I Thill "manner" taught by our Lord gives us :first a name, or title, by which to address God in prayer. In this notice- I. THE GB.ACI0UB AUTHORITY IT GIVES TO THE CREATURE, AS SOON AS HE TURNS HlS HEART IN PR.AYER TO Goo, TO CLAIM THE RELATIONSHIP OJI' GoD TO mM AB TH.AT OP' FATHER. In whatever way this relationship of God to man might be argued from the nature of things (Ps. cili. 13), or inlerable from indirect permission in the teaching of God's lavoured and chosen people since Abraham (Isa. !xiii. 16), it is certain that, previously to this teaching of Christ himself, we read no direct authorization what- soever of it. It is the gift of this prayer, therefore, that with this title we come "boldly to the throne of grace." II. THE LOVING AND HOPEJl'UL TONE OP BUPPLIAN0Y IT AUSPICIOUSLY AVAILS TO .A.WAKEN. The spirit of demand, the temper of dictation, the mutterings of discontent, the murmurings of impatience, are all held in willing, sure, sweet abeyar.ce, when on bended knees we say, "Our Father." "How," we say rightly, "will he not give to hie sons, to whom :first he has given this greatest gift, that they should be, and be called, sons I" And, again, bow shall not we desire, in practice as in prayer, to comfort ourselves in harmony with our new-given relationship-the Divine "adoption of sons"! III. THE HEALTHFUL, INSPIBITING, UNLillllTED, CATHOLICITY WHICH THE TWO WORDS "oun FATHER" BETOKEN AND AUGUB. It speaks in all innocent trustfulness, instinc- tive ea:pectation, grateful expanded prospect, of the vast family, of an ever-swelling brotherhood, of the one Father's many-mansioned house. It strikes tho key-note of the music of universal charity. IV. 'l.'HE ELEVATED LEVEL TO WHICH OUR 0ONOEPTI0NS OJI' THE DIVINE RELATIONSHIP ARE 80 SILENTLY AND, AS IT WERE, BO UNSUSPECTINGLY DRAWN UP-TllE FATHER IN, HEAVEN. How helpful to our hope and confidence, how salutary to our modesty and patience, how dignifying to all our spiritual tone and aspiration, to remember that this Father is in heaven, while as yet we are at heaven's footstool-the earth 1-B.
Ver. 9 (end of veree).-Thefirst petition. The sentence in which this is contair.ei} cannot mean that God's own holiness can be added to or its sanctity improvccl; "'"t !?54 TIIE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [err. vI, 1-34
that we " give thanks at the remembrance" of it; pause to observe the very highest oonccivable rendering of the fifth commandment; and help to tench others to pay all most solemn homage to his Name. l. THE PETITION IS AN Th'"STANCE AND EXPRESSION OF A MOST SIGNIFICANT ACT OP -OUR REGENERATE NATURE, AKIN TO ITS VERY HIGHEST REA0HES OF ACRIEVEMENT, WHEN, IRRESPECTIVE OF EVERYTHING ELSE, WE DESIRE THAT FIRST OF ALL GoD'I! HOLY NAME BE HELD SAORED AND BE GLORIFIED, II. THE PETITION PURPORTS THE EXALTATION, IN MEN'S REVERENT REGARD, OF THAT Nura, so GREAT, ADDRESSED AND APl'EALED TO IN MAYER. The petition beautifully embraces the deep wish that that Name may be ever growing in adored sacredness in the silent heart of the individual petitioner first, as well as further in and through .all creation. III. THE PETITION lilANIFESTLY POSTULATES SUCH SYllPATIIY, H0WEVEB ELEMENTARY,' WlTH THE HOLT NATURE-OF THE FATHER, THAT ITS FULFILLING CANNOT FAll. TO BI!? ALSO A SURE FULFILLING OF GOOD.TO HIM WHO PBAYS IT, . It evidently proceeds on tho ready and willing acknowledgment of the ,fact that the perfect ,holiness of the Father in heaven is the condition and the essential that lies at the very root of the welfaro of the man who is praying, and of the vas, universe.-B. , . ••·