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Orthodox Confession
St Peter Mogila, tr. Lodvel, 1762
Part 2, 2. Questions 11–20
Question 11
How many Petitions are contained in the second Part of this Prayer of our Lord?
Answer.
Seven.
Question 12
What is the first Petition in the Lord’s Prayer?
Answer.
Hallowed be thy Name.
Question 13
What is contained in this Petition?
Answer.
First, We pray unto God that we may lead a Life adorned with Virtue and good Works, that Men may be excited to glorify the Name of God by the Purity and Holiness of our Lives: According to that of St. Matthew (chap. v. 6), Let your Light so shine before Men that they may see your good Works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.
Secondly, We ask that not only our whole Lives may be to the Glory of God, but also that all those who do not know the true God, nor believe in him, may repent, and come to the knowledge of him, that the Name of God be glorified, both in them and by them. We also beseech the Lord our God, in this Petition, for those who bear indeed the Name of Christians, but who live ungodly and scandalous Lives, whereby our holy Religion and God himself is blasphemed: Of whom the Apostle saith (2 Tim. iii. 5), Having a Form of Godliness, but denying the Power thereof. And elsewhere (Rom. ii. 24), The Name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you. For the Sake of these it is that, in this Petition, God is besought; that such may turn from their Wickedness, and bring forth good Fruits, leading for the future a sober and godly Life; and so the Name of God, by these Means, also may be hallowed. Moreover, we are to understand, that although the Name of God is in itself most holy without our Glorification, yet it is said to be hallowed by us, and in us, when by Piety and Holiness of Life we sanctify ourselves to the Glory of God’s Name.
Question 14
What is the second Petition?
Answer.
Thy Kingdom come.
Question 15
What is contained in this Petition?
Answer.
Herein we pray to God, that by his Grace and Justice and Mercy he would reign in us altogether, especially in our Hearts, and not suffer Sin to have any Dominion over us: As it is written (Rom. vi. 12), Let not Sin, therefore, reign in your mortal Body, that ye should obey it in the Lusts thereof.
Secondly, This Petition expresses that a Man who is in the State of Grace with God, and feels the heavenly Joy in his Mind, careth not for this World, but is only solicitous and wishful to become an Inhabitant in the heavenly Kingdom: As the Apostle, speaking of himself, saith (Philip. i. 23), I desire to depart, and to be with Christ.
Thirdly, We beg of God that he would please to hasten his second Coming, wherein the Son of Man shall appear in his Glory (Matth. xxv. 31), and the Resurrection of the Dead, and the Day of Judgment, by which the Kingdom of this World and the Enemy of our Souls may be taken away: and the Kingdom of Heaven come, that God may be all in all; as the Apostle speaks in 1 Corinthians xv. 28.
Question 16
What is the third Petition?
Answer.
Thy Will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven.
Question 17
What is contained in this third Petition?
Answer.
First, We beseech God that he would not suffer us to live in this World after our own Wills, but that he would guide and govern us by his Will and Pleasure.
Secondly, We pray that neither we nor others might resist or dislike the Will of God, but that, as the Angels in Heaven submit unto and obey the divine Will in all Things, without any Delay or Denial, so, likewise, on Earth, that all Men may be obedient unto God without Murmuring, and with all Readiness and Thanksgiving.
Thirdly, In this Petition we express our Belief that nothing can affect us, God’s Elect, without the divine Will and Permission, whether it be in relation to the Holiness and Innocence with which we ought to pass our Lives, or to Persecutions and Temptations of the Enemy. Insomuch that the Lord not only taketh Care of our Persons, but of even the very Hairs of our Head: According to the Scripture (Luke xii. 7), Even the Hairs of your Head are all numbered. And again (Luke xxi. 18), There shall not an Hair of your Head perish.
Question 18
What is the fourth Petition?
Answer.
Give us this Day our daily Bread.
Question 19
What is contained in this Petition?
Answer.
First, That divine and most excellent Food of our Souls, the Word of God, is here meant; concerning which the Scripture thus teacheth us (Matth. iv. 4), Man shall not live by Bread alone, but by every Word that proceedeth out of the Mouth of God. We therefore ask of God that he would keep us from Want and Famine of his holy Word; that is, the Doctrine of Christ, without which Doctrine our inward Man would surely die, as if it were perished of Hunger. Therefore we very properly, in this Petition, remember that Death of the Soul which befalleth those who refuse or neglect to hear the Word of God and divine Instruction, and thereby set the bad Example of an ill Life.
Secondly, Herein is included that other Food of our Souls, namely, the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ; for so the Lord hath spoken concerning it (John vi. 55), My Flesh is Meat indeed, and my Blood is Drink indeed: whosoever eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood, he dwelleth in me, and I in him. Wherefore, that we may worthily partake of this Food, we do, in this Petition, beseech God that, out of his Mercy and Favour to Mankind, he would be pleased to bestow himself upon us. And when we have these two Kinds of Food, then we have the Kingdom of God within us (Luke xvii. 21); and then God, of his own Accord, will give unto us all such temporal and worldly Things as the Weakness and Poverty of our mortal Condition make necessary for us: As it is written (Matth. vi. 33), Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his Righteousness, and all these Things shall be added unto you.
Thirdly, Under the Name of Bread, in this Petition, are comprehended all Things which are necessary for us in this present Life, both with regard to our Substance and our Preservation. However, let every one remember that Superfluities and Luxury are not hereby prayed for, but only a just and proper Sufficiency; for those Things which minister unto our Voluptuousness, and are the Instruments of Sensuality, are no other than the Seeds of Misery and Punishment. Whereof the Apostle, St. Paul, thus speaketh (Rom. xiii. 13), Let us walk honestly as in the Day, not in Rioting and Drunkenness, not in Chambering and Wantonness. And elsewhere (1 Tim. vi. 8), Having Food and Raiment, let us be therewith content. Now, by the Words This Day is to be understood this present Life, while we continue in this World; for in that which is to come we shall enjoy the Presence itself and Sight of God, and the Happiness from thence arising.
Question 20
What is the fifth Petition?
Answer.
And forgive us our Trespasses, as we forgive those that Trespass against us.