th?" Give
ear. For this petition may be understood in many ways, and many
things are to be in our thoughts in this petition, when we pray God,
"Thy will be done as in heaven, so in earth." As thy angels offend
thee not, so may we also not offend thee. Again, how is "Thy will
be done as in heaven, so in earth," understood? All the holy
Patriarchs, all the Prophets, all the Apostles, all the spiritual
are, as it were, God's heaven; and we in comparison of them are
earth. "Thy will be done in heaven, so in earth"; as in them, so in
us also. Again, "Thy will be done as in heaven, so in earth"; the
Church of God is heaven, his enemies are earth. So we wish well for
our enemies, that they too may believe and become Christians, and so
the will of God be done as in heaven, so also in earth. Again, "Thy
will be done as in heaven, so in earth." Our spirit is heaven, and
the flesh earth. As our spirit is renewed by believing, so may our
flesh be renewed by rising again; and "the will of God be done as in
heaven, so in earth." Again, our mind whereby we see truth, and
delight in this truth, is heaven; as, "I delight in the law of God,
after the inward man." What is the earth? "I see another law in my
members, warring against the law of my mind?" When this strife
shall have passed away, and a full concord be brought about of the
flesh and spirit, the will of God will be done as in heaven, so also
in earth. When we repeat this petition, let us think of all these
things, and ask them all of the Father. Now all these things which
we have mentioned, these three petitions, beloved, have respect to
the life eternal. For if the name of our God is sanctified in us,
it will be for eternity. If his kingdom come, where we shall live
forever, it will be for eternity. If his will be done as in heaven,
so in earth, in all the ways which I have explained, it will be for
eternity.

There remain now the petitions for this life of our pilgrimage;
therefore follows, "Give us this day our daily bread." Give us
eternal things, give us things temporal. Thou hast promised a
kingdom, deny us not the means of subsistence. Thou wilt give
everlasting glory with thyself hereafter, give us in this earth
temporal support. Therefore is it day by day, and to-day, that is,
in this present time. For when this life shall have passed away,
shall we ask for daily bread then? For then it will not be called
day by day, but to-day. Now it is c