Windsor Castle, 1867. Chester Cathedral, 1870.

Matthew vi. 9, 10. "After this manner, therefore, pray ye, Our Father
which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be
done, on earth as it is in heaven."

Let us think for a while on these great words. Let us remember that some
day or other they will certainly be fulfilled. Let us remember that
Christ would not have bidden us use them, unless He intended that they
should be fulfilled. And let us remember, likewise, that we must help to
fulfil them. We need to be reminded of this from time to time, for we
are all inclined to forget it. We are inclined to forget that mankind
has a Father in heaven, who is ruling, and guiding, and educating us, His
human children, to


"One far off divine event,
Toward which the whole creation moves."


We are apt to fancy that the world will always go on very much as it goes
on now; that it will be guided, not by the will of God, but by the will
of man; by man's craft; by man's ambition; by man's self-interest; by
man's cravings after the luxuries, and even after the mere necessities of
this life. In a word, we are apt to fancy that man, not God, is the
master of this earth on which we live, and that men have no king over
them in heaven.