The Eucharistic application of several of the clauses of the Prayer (which was natural in sermons preached before the Celebration) has been retained, as showing how the different laws of Prayer find their highest realization in the celebration of those Holy Mysteries, wherein in a special sense we draw nigh to the Father in the Name of His Well-beloved Son.

A. C. A. H.

Mission House of St. John the Evangelist,

Temple Street, Boston

September, 1883.

"THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH, AS IT IS IN

HEAVEN"

PAGE

I

13

27

44

MEDITATION V.

"GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD"... 64

MEDITATION VI.

"AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE FOR-

MEDITATION I.

AFTER THIS MANNER PRAY YE,

OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN

HEAVEN."

ST. MATTHEW, VI. 9.

'SPIRITUAL things are spiritually understood; "and for the understanding of that spiritual prayer which our Lord Himself has taught, and with which He has bidden us approach the Father in His Name, we most certainly need the aid of the Spirit of grace and of supplication. "Lord, teach us to pray," t Thy disciples said when Thou didst give them this Divine form of prayer. This, Lord, would we say, that we may rightly understand and worthily employ this prayer, that it may be the expression of our hearts as well as the utterance of our lips. "Lord, St. Luke, xi. 1.

* 1 Cor. ii. 14.

teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples," they said: but not so do we ask. For that which John gave was a mere external teaching of the words of prayer, but we would be taught by Thee the spirit of prayer. Yes, pour upon us, O Lord, the Spirit of grace and of supplication,* that He may help our infirmities, who know not what to pray for, nor how to pray as we ought,t that so we may perfectly love Thee and worthily magnify Thy Holy Name.

Spiritual writers and theologians have spoken of the excellency of the Lord's Prayer under these heads chiefly :

1. Its authority and dignity by reason of Him who gave it.

2. Its brevity, so short a prayer that all may easily learn and be able often to repeat it.

3. Its fulness, in so short a compass embracing all possible needs.

4. The perfect order of its petitions.

All these excellences we may well consider as summed up and expressed by the familiar Rom. viii. 26.

* Zech. xii. 10.