great desire which men have of success, which is always seeking to satisfy itself, to avoid blame, and to acquire praise by satisfying others. That activity which the Spirit of God inspires is quiet and peaceable, because it submits itself to God, and desires nothing but his will. Trouble proceeds from hence, that we would willingly do more, or in another manner, than we are able, and that we would fain distinguish ourselves. 42. But one thing is needful; and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

The one thing needful is to live for God. That which regards only the life of the body and the present world is not absolutely necessary, since it is, on the contrary, necessary for us to wean ourselves from them both, and sometimes even to sacrifice the former. Nothing is necessary but what is either eternal, or leads to eternity. Martha's employment is good; but that of Mary is better, because she begins here below. that which she is to do in heaven. Deliver us, O Lord, from those necessities which proceed only from concupiscence, and likewise from every thing which stifles the spirit of prayer, withdraws us from the presence of God, and hinders us from following that which alone is truly necessary.

CHAPTER XI.

SECT. I. THE LORD'S PRAYER.

1. AND it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

By this example we may understand how profitable and edifying public prayer is in the church, or in common in families. God often affixes great blessings to a good example; this is a debt which is owing from masters of families, and from all superiors, to those who are under their care or have any dependence upon them. Pastors are obliged, in relation to prayer, to give not only example, but also instruction, in imitation of Jesus Christ and John. One single person, being moved and edified by this good example of our Lord,

conceives a love for prayer, desires to know how to pray, is sensible that of himself he is not capable of doing it, addresses himself to Christ, obtains from him this divine pattern, procures this treasure for the rest of the disciples and for the whole church, and becomes the occasion of the infinite good which this prayer has produced, and will produce therein, to the end of the world. A person must needs have prayed very much himself, to be able to teach others to pray. It belongs properly to none but the God-man to teach how God. would be prayed to by man.

2. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

The Lord's Prayer is an abridgment of religion, and contains the object and duties thereof. The order of our petitions shows the order of our desires, and the order of our desires that of our love, in which the true worship of God does consist. God, who is Father of the eternal truth, and, together with his Son, the principle from whence the Holy Ghost proceeds, will be served by children, not by slaves, will be worshipped in spirit and in truth, and sought after for the sake of himself, and for the sanctification of his name. The first motive, then, of our actions, and the first desire of our heart, is the glory of God in this world by the reign of grace and the sanctification of souls.

Thy kingdom come.

The second motive of our actions and desire of our heart is, the coming of the kingdom of God by his glory, which will be the perfection of the divine adoption, the fulness of the knowledge of God and Christ, the consummation of holiness and charity, the perfect establishment of the kingdom. of God by the union of all the elect to their Head, and by completing the whole mystical body in God to all eternity.

- Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 3. Give us day by day our daily bread.

The third motive of our actions and desire of our heart ought to be, that of our own sanctification and of the assistance of God. Grace is the bread of a Christian, as glory is his patrimony; and he ought to esteem, desire, and pray for

grace, in the same proportion that he desires the glory to which it leads. The bread of the body and of the soul is whatever is necessary to the nourishment of both. A poor traveller begs his bread every day, and eats only to strengthen himself for his journey. Let us also, like travellers, beg ours, and let us hasten toward the country where we shall be filled with the bread of God without having any occasion to ask for it.

4. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us.

The fourth motive of our actions and desire of our heart is, that of the forgiveness of our sins and of the mercy of God. It is not sufficient for a traveller to have his provisions ready, and to be plentifully fed; he must remove all impediments which may either stop or retard his journey; he must pay his debts, finish all his suits at law, and agree with all his adversaries. It is easy for a good Christian to do all this. Charity alone does it for him, if he has but that in his heart; and if he has it not, let him not cease to seek and beg it of Him who never fails to give it to every one who asks it as he ought.

And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

losing grace, which is his This alone renders him unSo far as we esteem and

The fifth and last motive of our actions and desire of our heart is, that of perseverance in the love of God above all things. Let us always remember that we travel in a country where every place is full of enemies and of great dangers. A traveller is generally afraid of those who may rob him of his money. How comes it to pass, then, that a Christian is under so little apprehension of whole treasure and subsistence? worthy to preserve and keep it. know the value of it, so far are we careful to watch and pray, lest it should be taken away from us by temptation. To pray not to be led into temptation, is to pray for the gift of perseverance. And how careful ought we to be in endeavouring to obtain a gift upon which our eternal happiness depends, and which we deserve so much the less to receive. the more we are persuaded that we do deserve it, and the less

solicitous we are to obtain it! Lord, I expect it from thy pure mercy alone. I do not ask not to be tempted at all, but that I may meet with the temptations only of thy elect, which serve to increase their love toward thee, and cause them to cleave unto thee with the greater steadfastness.

SECT. II.-THREE LOAVES BORROWED.-ask, SEEK, KNOCK.

5. And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;

How great is the advantage and privilege of a Christian, who prays, not to a friend, but to a Father, and a Father who does not wait for our soliciting him, but presses us himself to ask him; who has no difficult moments or unseasonable hours, but, whom we find ready at all times, not barely to lend, but even to give, and that not only more than we deserve, but more than we ask or could presume to ask. The bread of the mind is truth; the bread of the heart is to do the will of God; the bread of the whole man is Jesus Christ and his grace: give us, Lord, these three, and never cease to give them.

6. For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him:

The friend whom we ought to love most is our soul: it is in a journey from the very time that it is united to the body, and comes into the world; and it finds here nothing but poverty, indigence, and infirmity. It is to thee, O my God, that I have recourse in behalf of my soul; for I have nothing to set before it. Thou hast been pleased to give it the life of faith: vouchsafe likewise to nourish it with hope, and to strengthen and support it by charity.

7. And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed: I cannot rise and give thee.

The importunity and violence which we use toward God in prayer, are very grateful to him; or rather, we never properly offer any violence at all to him, but when we force him to refuse us by rendering ourselves unworthy to receive his gifts. The door of his mercy is always open during this life. He, from within his house, which is heaven, hears those who pray

on earth. The supreme rest and happiness which he enjoys in himself with his saints, does not make him insensible to our pains and miseries; and he need not quit the least part of that happiness in order to assist and relieve us. Rise, Lord, and behold the weariness, hunger, and wants of this poor traveller.

8. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

Perseverance in prayer obtains every thing. The odd conduct and irregular behaviour of worldly people serve for the instruction of the righteous, to whom charity makes every thing useful and advantageous. Man is hard-hearted even to his friends, when it must cost him something to assist them; because most commonly it is only either his own satisfaction, or his interest, which he loves in them. God does good to all, because he is goodness itself, because he communicates his good things without diminishing them, because he works in all things without being wearied, and because he loves without the least interest.

9. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

A man, in order to offer up a good prayer, must ask with the humility of a beggar, he must seek with the carefulness of a good servant, and he must knock with the confidence of a friend. It is either through pride, hard-heartedness, or want of power, that men suffer themselves to be importuned by others, and make them wait for their gifts so long: God does it out of kindness, wisdom, and love, and in order to the more plentiful effusion of his gifts and mercies, since he himself engages to form in us the piety, perseverance, and other dispositions of prayer, and to proportion thereto the magnificence of his gifts and the abundance of his graces.

10. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

It is by charity that we must ask, seek, and knock; it is by this that we obtain every thing; it is by this that we make a good and persevering use of any gift already received. When we do not receive that which we ask, let us always be