Q. 120. Why hath Christ commanded us to address God thus: "Our Father"?
A. That immediately, in the very beginning of our prayer, He might excite in us a childlike reverence for, and confidence in God, which are the foundation of our prayer: namely, that God is become our Father in Christ, and will much less deny us what we ask of Him in true faith, than our parents will refuse us earthly things.

Q. 121. Why is here added, "Which art in heaven"?
A. Lest we should form any earthly conceptions of God's heavenly majesty, and that we may expect from His almighty power all things necessary for soul and body.

Q. 122. Which is the first petition?
A. "Hallowed be Thy Name"; that is, grant us, first, rightly to know Thee, and to sanctify, glorify and praise Thee, in all Thy works, in which Thy power, wisdom, goodness, justice, mercy and truth, are clearly displayed; and further also, that we may so order and direct our whole lives, our thoughts, words, and

actions, that Thy Name may never be blasphemed, but rather honored and praised on our account.

Q. 123. Which is the second petition?
A. "Thy kingdom come"; that is, rule us so by Thy Word and Spirit, that we may submit ourselves more and more to Thee; preserve and increase Thy Church; destroy the works of the devil, and all violence which would exalt itself against Thee; and also, all

wicked counsels devised against Thy Holy Word; till the full perfection of Thy kingdom take place, wherein Thou shalt be all in all.

Q. 124. Which is the third petition?
A. "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven"; that is, grant that we and all men may renounce our own will, and without murmuring obey Thy will, which is only good; that so everyone may attend to, and perform the duties of his station and calling, as

willingly and faithfully as the angels do in heaven.

Q. 125. Which is the fourth petition?
A. "Give us this day our daily bread"; that is, be pleased to provide us with all things necessary for the body, that we may thereby acknowledge Thee to be the only fountain of all good, and that neither our care nor industry, nor even Thy gifts, can profit us

without Thy blessing; and therefore that we may withdraw our trust from all creatures, and place it alone in Thee.

Q. 126. Which is the fifth petition?
A. "And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors"; that is, be pleased for the sake of Christ's blood, not to impute to us poor sinners, our transgressions, nor that depravity, which

always cleaves to us; even as we feel this evidence of Thy grace in us, that it is our firm resolution from the heart to forgive our neighbor.

Q. 127. Which is the sixth petition?
A. ,.And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil"; that is, since we are so weak in ourselves, that we cannot stand a moment; and besides this, since our mortal enemies, the devil, the world, and our own flesh, cease not to assault us, do Thou therefore preserve and strengthen us by the power of Thy Holy Spirit, that we may not be overcome in this spiritual

warfare, but constantly and strenuously may resist our foes, till at last we obtain a complete victory.

Q. 128. How dost thou conclude thy prayer?
A. "For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever"; that. is, all these we ask of Thee, because Thou, being our King and Almighty, art willing and able to give us all good; and all this we pray for, that thereby not we, but Thy holy Name may be glorified forever.

Q. 129. What doth the word "Amen" signify?
A. "Amen" signifies, it shall truly and certainly be: for my prayer is more assuredly heard of God, than I feel in my heart that I desire these things of Him.