But as desires and petitions regard things which we want, and as God, that is to say, his divine nature, can receive no accession, nor can the Divinity, adorned as he is, after an ineffable manner, with all perfections, admit not of increase, the faithful are to understand that what we pray for to God regarding himself, belongs not to his intrinsic perfections, but to his external glory. We desire and pray that his name may be better known to the nations; that his kingdom may be extended; and that the number of his faithful servants may be every day increased; three things, his name, his kingdom, and the number of his faithful servants, which regard not his essence, but his extrinsic glory.
When we pray that the name of God may be hallowed, we mean that the sanctity and glory of his name may be increased; and here the pastor will inform his pious hearers, that our Lord does not teach us to pray that it be hallowed on earth as it is in heaven, that is, in the same manner, and with the same perfection, for this is impossible; but that it be hallowed through love, and from the inmost affection of the soul. True, in itself, his name requires not to be hallowed; " it is holy and terrible," [1] even as he himself is holy; nothing can be added to the holiness which is his from eternity; yet, as on earth he is much less honoured than he should be, and is even some times dishonoured by impious oaths and blasphemous execrations; we, therefore, desire and pray that his name may be celebrated with praise, honour, and glory, as it is praised, honoured, and glorified in heaven. We pray that his honour and glory may be so constantly in our hearts, in our souls, and on our lips, that we may glorify him with all veneration, both internal and external, and, like the citizens of heaven, celebrate, with all the energies of our being, the praises of the holy and glorious God. We pray that, as the blessed spirits in heaven praise and glorify God with one mind and one accord, mankind may do the same; that all men may embrace the religion of Christ, and, dedicating themselves unreservedly to God, may believe that he is the fountain of all holiness, and that there is nothing pure or holy that does not emanate from the holiness of his divine name. According to the Apostle, the Church is cleansed " by the laver of water in the word of life;" [2] meaning by " the word of life," the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, in which we are baptized and sanctified. As, then, for those on whom his name is not invoked, there can exist no expiation, no purity, no integrity, we desire and pray that mankind, emerging from the darkness of infidelity, and illumined by the rays of the divine light, may confess the power of his name; that seeking in him true sanctity, and receiving by his grace the sacrament of baptism, in the name of the holy and undivided Trinity, they may arrive at perfect holi-
