Our Father
The Lord’s Prayer. The Importunate Friend. The Father.
(The Gospel History, Section 91)
And it came to pass, as he was praying in a certain place, that when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, even as John also taught his disciples. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Father, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we ourselves also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And bring us not into temptation.
Our Father
(The Saviour of the World, Vol VI Book III Poem XXVI)
The Lord was praying in a place; and they,
His followers, who envious heard Him say
To God such words as scarce to closest friend
A man might dare confide, His prayer at end,
Gathered about Him; “Teach us this high art;
We, too, would pour ’fore God our inmost heart!”
And Christ, perceiving well that none had taught
These men to bring to God their mind o’er-fraught
With cares of this life, in one word revealed
The secret of all prayer, so long concealed:
“Father,” He bade them pray; and at the word,
Stirr’d heavenward longings in their breast immured!
“Think first on God; say, ‘Hallowed be Thy Name;
Let fire of worship all men’s hearts inflame!’—
And in large place straightway thy feet are set,
As one who sees where earth and heaven be met;
A son’s heart joins the general hymn to raise,
And thy most dear concern i’ the Father’s praise!
“Lordly, wouldst have dominion where thou go’st?
Then pray, ‘Thy kingdom come’: in God’s great host
Each man who serves bears rule; the shout of a King
Amongst them shall to men dominion bring;
And in His army every several soul
Bears share in the glad service of the whole.
“Not wilful shall he be who serves the King;
Go pray, ‘Thy will be done’; thy heart shall sing
O’er Earth’s dear pageantry, perceiving there,
Well imaged, how on high the angels fair
Do serve the King, who riseth as the sun
And through the hours His gracious course doth run.
“Consumed with fond desires, come there and pray,
‘Our Father, give us bread for this one day!’
Not personal needs alone shall move thy heart
Give every man in prayer a brother’s part;
And thine own heart, insatiate, hungry sea,
Shall of thy Father’s fulness plenished be.
“Uneasy art thou still, some cloud of sin
Shuts out the sunshine from thy place within?
Go, tell thy Father; pray Him to ‘Forgive’!
He hastes to pardon, bids thee forth to live;
One sole condition doth His love impose,
That thou in meekness shalt forgive thy foes!
“Does fear invade thee still lest heavenly peace
Be boon of but a vanishing release?
Pray, ‘From temptation keep us’: so thy heart
Rests quiet in a child’s protected part,
Who knows his father’s care about his path
And in his ways love’s sweet assurance hath.”
St. Luke xi. 1–4.
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