On The Lord'S Prayer

I have taught your young lips the good words to say over, Which form the petition we call the Lord's Pray'r, And now let me help my dear child to discover The meaning of all the good words that are there. "Our Father," the same appellation is given To a parent on earth, and the parent of all-- O gracious permission, the God that's in heaven Allows his poor creatures him Father to call.

To "hallow his name," is to think with devotion Of it, and with reverence mention the same; Though you are so young, you should strive for some notion Of the awe we should feel at the Holy One's name.

His "will done on earth, as it is done in heaven," Is a wish and a hope we are suffer'd to breathe, That such grace and favour to us may be given, Like good angels on high we may live here beneath.

"Our daily bread give us," your young apprehension May well understand is to pray for our food; Although we ask bread, and no other thing mention, God's bounty gives all things sufficient and good.

You pray that your "trespasses may be forgiven, As you forgive those that are done unto you;" Before this you say to the God that's in heaven, Consider the words which you speak. Are they true?

If any one has in the past time offended Us angry creatures who soon take offence, These words in the prayer are surely intended To soften our minds, and expel wrath from thence.

We pray that "temptations may never assail us," And "deliverance beg from all evil" we find; But we never can hope that our pray'r will avail us, If we strive not to banish ill thoughts from our mind.

"For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, For ever and ever," these titles are meant To express God's dominion and majesty o'er ye: And "Amen" to the sense of the whole gives assent.

"SUFFER LITTLE CHILDREN, AND FORBID THEM NOT, TO COME UNTO ME"

To Jesus our Saviour some parents presented Their children--what fears and what hopes they must feel! When this the disciples would fain have prevented, Our Saviour reprov'd their unseas'nable zeal.

Not only free leave to come to him was given, But "Of such" were the blessed words Christ our Lord spake, "Of such is composed the kingdom of heaven:" The disciples, abashed, perceiv'd their mistake.

With joy then the parents their children brought nigher, And earnestly begg'd that his hands he would lay On their heads; and they made a petition still higher, That he for a blessing upon them would pray.

O happy young children, thus brought to adore him, To kneel at his feet, and look up in his face; No doubt now in heaven they still are before him, Children still of his love, and enjoying his grace.

For being so blest as to come to our Saviour, How deep in their innocent hearts it must sink! 'Twas a visit divine; a most holy behaviour Must flow from that spring of which then they did drink.