The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-03-06
SERMON ON THE LORDS PRAYER.
Rev. DR.. Dlll's Discourse on This Subject One
Of Force and Power.

At the Baptist church in this city Sun
day. Rev DR.. J. s. Dill, the pastor,
preached an able sermon on "The Lord s
Prayer" Of which the following IL a
short synopsis The sermon was atten-
lively listened to by a large audience and
has been generally and iavOrably COM
mented upon ~ an unusually strong
sermon.
There il nothing so good that it can
not be misused or perverted. Even so
good n thing as prayer has been often
perverted Christ found il so in his day
and had to rebuke the Pharisees for os-
tentation and loud reputation. Christ
sought to correct this and gave US his
model prayer. But even this model has
been perverted by frail human nature in
to vain repitition.
We desire to study this model in order
To cultivate right kind Of praying. We
do not wish to use it as form, but as
an example setting before us the right
spirit and scope Of prayer. In the simple
utterances Of this prayer we have the en-
sire scope OF all right praying. There is
no right petition to God that may not
ind a home in some expression given us.
Not delaying to dwell upon the ad-
dress. "Our Father" as rich in meaning
as il is, we deal with the petitions OF the
prayer. There are two classes of petit
tions 70 claim attention.
/. PETITIONS RELATING TO GOD.
/. Reverence ;or His name. "Hallowed
be thy name" There can be no prayer
without reverence Here in this clause
are gathered all those Inscriptions OF
praise that are due to God He is holy
aud angels bow with veled faces before
him. and can poor mortal come into
His presence without holy reverence and
godly fear? What then must we think
OF irreyerence in prayer or in the sanctu-
ary during prayer? | fear sometimes
the worst blasphemy is not the pro-
faulty of the street, but irreverence in
the sanctuary
,. Extension Of His Kingdom. Thy
Kingdom Come" Here il embraced all
PRAYER for overthrow Of evil and estab-
lishment OF the good Whether it be
PRAYER for our own city or the heather
world. it is ever the same-the advance
ment Of the Kingdom. There is no
prayer for the extension OF Christ's cause
on earth that does not find its home in
this clause.
3. The supremacy of His will. Thy
viii Be Done" This is the very heart OF
all prayer Gods will, not ours. The hal
lowing of His name, the extension OF the
Kingdom is all encircled in the doing OF
his will J"
The qualifying phrase, AS in Heaven,
so on earth" seems to reach back to oil
OF these petitions. In Heaven there is
perfect hallowing OF Gods name, every
intelligence that surrounds the throne
ascribes the praise due to His name, and
sing Holy, Holy" So let it be on earth.
In Heaven Gods kingship is supreme in
every heart Not one OF all that encir-
Gle with their blaze the throne on high
breathes aught but loyalty-the supreme
loyalty of perfect love. So let it be on
earth. In Heaven Gods will is ever first.
No creature from humblest votary to
highest arch-angle but is ready, cleaving
with angelic wing the ETHICAL blue, to
speed on the mission of His will. As in
Heaven, so let it be on earth.
II. PETITIONS RELATING TO SELF.
The prayer for self is but the personal
application OF that which relates to God.
We want what we pray for in reference
to Gods name and Kingdom to be ac-
complished in ourselves.
1. Wepray for the temporal. "Give us
day by'day our daily bread. mot grasping
for the future, but as we need. Not for
self-gratifcation, but for proper care OF
body that must in all things glorify
God
2. We pray for the spiritual. For the
past that we may have forgiveness OF
sin, "forgive us our sins" 4. We need ever
to come praying for forgiveness. The
debt grows quick and fast and we ought
to keep short account with God, praying
daily, forgive" For the future that we
may be kept in safety. LEAD us not
into temptation but deliver usirom evil" !"
Thus the prayer sweetIy closes with sol
emn commitment to the protecting care
OF cur ever watchful Father.
CURRENT TOPICS.