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II. THE DOXOLOGY AN ARGUMENT IN PRAYER.

Although prayer is designed partly for the spiritual benefits derived from its exercise, and although such benefits are often primary in importance, yet, as shown in the introductory chapter, they are secondary in order. We are warranted to ask blessings which might otherwise be withheld, and to obtain which we are encouraged to be importunate. We may plead with God, employing arguments the strongest of which are drawn from His own character. When appealing to our fellow-men, we urge their capacity to do what we ask, their generosity, their past favours, and their own encouragement for us to apply to them when in need. And our Father permits us thus to pray.

The Bible is full of illustrations of such pleading. "Have mercy upon me, O Lord, according to Thy loving-kindness. Thou hast delivered me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer." So here we plead what God is known to be, as an argument why He should act in accordance with His own attributes; not what we are, but what He is; not the smallness of our sins, but the greatness of His mercy; not the minuteness of our wants, but the magnitude of His power; not the sincerity of our prayer, but the majesty of His throne, the depth of His love, the glory of His grace.

We plead first the prerogative of royalty. We have prayed that His Name may be hallowed, His kingdom

come, His will be done. It is for the King to establish His own rule. We have asked for a kingdom which is His own and not another's. Therefore, O Lord, establish it, reveal it, extend it, perfect it, help us in promoting it, plead Thine own cause, assert Thine own authority, "Thy kingdom come, for Thine is the kingdom."

We also plead for ourselves. The King is the fountain of grace. He alone can forgive offences against Himself. Our long-suffering Father is on the throne, whose "property is always to show mercy and to forgive." "He delighteth in mercy." Therefore we plead, "Forgive us our sins, for Thine is the kingdom." The King is the fountain of honour. None carry titles in a land but by sanction of its ruler. In appealing to God as Father, we seek adoption as His children-an honour infinitely surpassing whatever earthly kings can give. He to whom we pray is able to confer this, for He is sovereign Lord. Grant us this nobility to call Thee "Father"—for "Thine is the kingdom!" No fear of asking more than He has to give need trouble those who can say, "Thine is the kingdom." It is reported of Alexander, that he once gave permission to a friend to demand of the royal treasurer any gift he pleased. The request was for a sum so great that the treasurer appealed to the monarch, thinking it too much for any subject to receive. The king replied, "But not too much for Alexander to give." When we consider the boon we ask,-pardon of all sin, victory over all evil, the

supply of all need, the honour of calling God" Father,”

-we might be discouraged by thinking how infinitely more is all this than we have any right to ask, were it not for the assurance that it is not too much

for Him to bestow to whom we

kingdom."

say, "Thine is the

Men may say, "I

So also we plead His power. would, if I could;" but "is anything too hard for the Lord ?" He who said, "Let there be light," can say, "Thy sins be forgiven thee." "Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean." His promise to Abraham was joined with the assertion, "I am the Almighty God;" which title all the children of Abraham by faith may plead. When we feel the force of unholy influences, the power of evil habit, our own weakness, and the strength of the foe; when in the cause of truth and philanthropy we feel discouraged by the opposition of some and the apathy of others, and are ready to say, "I have laboured in vain, and spent my strength for nought," we are encouraged to continue to pray, "Thy kingdom come," by the plea, "For thine is the power!"

So also we plead God's glory. All we ask tends to promote the glory of Him to whom the glory belongs. "It is Thine already; wilt Thou not act consistently with it. Has it not been Thy glory to listen to the cry of Thy children, to supply their need, to forgive their sins, to defend them from evil, to uphold Thine own authority, to secure the performance of Thy Will? Do this still, for Thine, O Lord,

is the glory." Thus Moses pleaded: "Pardon the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of Thy mercy?" and Joshua: "O Lord, what shall I say when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies? and what wilt Thou do unto Thy great Name?" and David: "For Thy Name's sake, pardon mine iniquity;" and Jeremiah: "O the Hope of Israel, do Thou it for Thy Name's sake;" and Daniel: "O Lord, hearken and do for Thine own sake, for Thy people are called by Thy name." Thus our Divine Exemplar pleaded: "Father, glorify Thy Name." Thus we also plead His own honour. 'We have heard with our ears, and our fathers have told us, what things Thou didst in their days, and in the old time before them. O Lord, arise, help us and deliver us, for Thy Name's sake! O Lord, arise, help us and

deliver us, for Thine honour.”

III. THE DOXOLOGY AN ASCRIPTION OF PRAISE.

We praise God for His gifts. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits." "In everything give thanks." Our Lord, who revealed the Father, welcomed the expression of praise in the one leper who returned to give thanks for his cure. He Himself gave thanks at the miracle of the loaves, when He instituted the Supper, and at Emmaus after His resurrection. For every blessing of this life we should praise the Giver; but above all for His " inestimable love in the redemption of the world by

our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace and for the hope of glory." "In Him we live and move and have our being." Therefore "it is meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty Everlasting God."

Delight in the giver is a still higher form of praise than gratitude for the gift. A loving child says not so much "I want a gift," as "I love my father." A mother is pleased with the recognition of her tender heart more than of her helping hand. The children of God thus delight in Himself. The glorious company of heaven unite in the anthem, "Glory and power be unto our God for ever and ever." The Church on earth responds in adoration of God, not only for His gifts, but for Himself, saying, "We praise Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee, for Thy great glory." Such praise should ever blend with our prayers. "In everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." Without thankfulness it would not be for our good that fresh favours should be bestowed. On the wings of supplication we soar to the throne, and while gazing on its glory our petitions are brightened by the lustre, and transfigured into praise. Thy kingdom come: we adore Thee; Thine is the kingdom! Thy will be done: we magnify Thee; Thine is the power! we desire Thy glory: Hallelujah ; Thine is the glory! We know our requests are already heard. "Before ye call I will answer, and

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