Our Father
Our Father. If he is a Father, then he is good, then he is loving to his children. And here is the first and great reason for prayer. God is willing to bless. Let us ask for a blessing. Our Father, our Creator, the author of our being, he who raised us from the dust of the earth, who breathed into us the breath of life, and we became living souls (Genesis 2:7). But if he made us, let us ask, and he will not withhold any good thing from the work of his own hands. Our Father, our preserver, who day by day sustains the life he has given, of whose continuing love we now and every moment receive life, and breath, and all things. So much the more boldly let us come to him, and we shall find mercy and grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16). Above all, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of all who believe in him, who justifies us freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus, who has blotted out all our sins and healed all our infirmities, who has received us for his own children by adoption and grace, and, because we are sons, has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father, who has begotten us again of incorruptible seed (1 Peter 1:23) and created us anew in Christ Jesus. Therefore we know that he hears us always. Therefore we pray to him without ceasing. We pray because we love. And we love him because he first loved us (1 John 4:19).
1771 text
4. “Our Father.” If he is a father, then he is good, then he is loving to his children. And here is the first and great reason for prayer. God is willing to bless, let us ask for a blessing. “Our Father,”――Our Creator: the author of our being; he who raised us from the dust of the earth, who breathed into us the breath of life, and we became living souls. But if he made us, let us ask and he will not with-hold, any good thing from the work of his own hands. “Our Father”――Our preserver; who day by day sustains the life he has given: of whose continuing love we now and every moment receive life and breath and all things. So much the more boldly let us come to him, and we shall find mercy and grace to help in time of need. Above all, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of all that believe in him: who justifies us freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus: who hath blotted out all our sins, and healed all our infirmities; who hath received us for his own children, by adoption and grace, and because we are sons, hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father: who hath begotten us again of incorruptible seed, and created us a-new in Christ Jesus. Therefore we know that he heareth us always: therefore we pray to him without ceasing. We pray, because we love. And we love him, because he first loved us.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 26 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 6:1-15.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.