ignorant, the rich and the poor, the whole and the sick, it is as suitable for all, and every one of us. Its shortness proves to us, dear friends, that our Father does not desire vain repetitions, or that we should expect to be 'heard for our much speaking.' God likes simple, natural prayer from our hearts. And yet there is a great depth, a mine of richness, in the Lord's Prayer which can never be found in any other. In private devotions, by our bedside, in the Sanctuary, at the Baptism of our little ones, at the Feast of our Saviour's dying love, does not each sentence seem to have a hallowed, holy richness and meaning, made for each solemn occasion alone. Surely, my dear sisters, we shall value more and more this beautiful, simple prayer, given to us each and all, by Jesus Christ Himself, as we go on to ponder over its wondrous sentences, as I hope we may all be permitted to do, together at these our happy Mothers' Meetings. And may our Father be very near to each one of us now, as we kneel together in all humility and reverence, and offer up, from each thankful heart, prayers and praises to Him, concluding with the blessed words which He Himself hath graciously taught us. Let us do it not with our lips only,' as a form, but from the depths of our hearts and minds, not only saying this prayer, but praying it in all earnestness, and looking up to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, for an answer of love, mercy, and peace, from the Throne of grace. HALLOWED BE THY NAME. UR blessed Lord, having first taught us, 'Our Father,' gives us three petitions to make to Him; and this is the first of them, my dear friends. 'Hallowed be Thy Name.' We are sinful creatures, as it were, gazing up, in all humility, to our great God, and Father in Heaven, seeing by faith His glory, His majesty, and feeling our own worthlessness. Even the best, the noblest, the greatest, the holiest among us, are but sinful creatures, dust and ashes in His sight. Though our Father is so kind, so gracious, so merciful, yet He is still so great, so holy, so wise, that we cannot but be lowly in His sacred presence, and cry with angels and archangels, 'Hallowed be Thy Name.' He is God, He lives in heaven, He is King of kings and Lord of lords. We must reverence His holy Name. We ourselves, and all near and dear to us, should set forth His great glory, and hallow that Name, 'not only with our lips, but in our lives.' The word 'hallowed' is rather an oldfashioned word now, and we seldom hear it used. You know it means to make, or be reckoned holy, so we are Divinely taught to pray that our heavenly Father's Name may be made, that is, be ever reckoned, and kept, holy. This must bring to our remembrance the third commandment: 'Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain.' We must not even say the word, without a solemn thought of that holy Name which is above every Name. We know Him by many different titles, made from all that His goodness has done for us, and from what He has been from everlasting, and ever shall be. Among these names are, the Almighty, the Creator, the Preserver, God, the Lord, the Lord God, Jehovah, I Am, the Lord God of our Fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob; 'this is my Name for ever,' He Himself hath said. This is the first petition, remember, dear sisters, which is put into our mouths in the Lord's Prayer; so this shows us its great and solemn importance. Before we are to confess our sins, or ask Him to supply our daily wants, we are to exclaim,' Hallowed be Thy Name.' Oh! it is awful to think, that the same lips which daily use this beautiful form of prayer, may be heard using, in an oath, this very Name of the most high God. Yes, even in cursing and swearing, this sacred Name is employed. How should it grieve the child of God to hear His holy Name, even lightly used! The Christian can hardly keep silence when it is thus profaned in his hearing. Dear friends, keep not silence, but speak to the offender kindly, gently, but seriously. Never let it be thought that as |