Before we come to our business, there must be a solemn address to him with whom our business lies Our Father. The preface, Our Father who art in heaven. Plainly thus: there are three parts of the prayer. Here is the inscription of the letter, the person to whom it is directed, our Father the where, in heaven the contents of it in several errands of request the close, for thine is the kingdom the seal, Amen and if you will, the date too, this day. The Lord’s prayer (as indeed every prayer) is a letter sent from earth to heaven. It has much in a little, and it is requisite that we acquaint ourselves with the sense and meaning of it, for it is used acceptably no further than it is used with understanding and without vain repetition. The matter is choice and necessary, the method instructive, and the expression very concise.
It is our Lord’s prayer, it is of his composing, of his appointing it is very compendious, yet very comprehensive, in compassion to our infirmities in praying. That in Luke differs from this we do not find it used by the apostles we are not here taught to pray in the name of Christ, as we are afterward we are here taught to pray that the kingdom might come which did come when the Spirit was poured out: yet, without doubt, it is very good to use it as a form, and it is a pledge of the communion of saints, it having been used by the church in all ages, at least (says Dr. Not that we are tied up to the use of this form only, or of this always, as if this were necessary to the consecrating of our other prayers we are here bid to pray after this manner, with these words, or to this effect. So many were the corruptions that had crept into this duty of prayer among the Jews, that Christ saw it needful to give a new directory for prayer, to show his disciples what must ordinarily be the matter and method of their prayer, which he gives in words that may very well be used as a form as the summary or contents of the several particulars of our prayers. Because we know not what to pray for as we ought, he here helps our infirmities, by putting words into our mouths after this manner therefore pray ye, Matt. When Christ had condemned what was amiss, he directs to do better for his are reproofs of instruction.
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