For if the subjects of “The Kingdom of Heaven” only realised their position, how great would be the answer to this universal prayer, “Thy Kingdom come!” How would Christ’s Kingdom be then advancing in the world! For His Church would be moving, as one mighty army, against His foes, and Christ in His members would be indeed going forth, “conquering and to conquer” (Rev. vi. 2).
May He pardon all that is defective in these pages, and bless them to the promotion of His glory. May He grant that those who read them may be strengthened in their own faith, and be themselves prepared for the great day, when “The Kingdom of Heaven,” as we know it, will have become the Kingdom of Glory; “when there shall be one flock and one Shepherd” (S. John x. 16); and the daily repeated prayer will have been fulfilled,
Thy Kingdom come.
FOOTNOTES:
[31] When it is said that Christ died for the Church, it is necessary to remember that in His intention the Church included the whole world (see S. Matt. xxviii. 19). The wilfulness of man in refusing to believe cannot alter that intention though it spoils the completion of it. “God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son”—thus the wideness of His loving intention was set forth—“that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish” (S. John iii. 16)—thus the necessity of man’s belief, in order that the intention might be carried out, was announced beforehand.
[32] See marginal note in a reference Bible.
THE END.
A Prayer for Unity.
O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Saviour, the Prince of Peace; Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions. Take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatsoever else may hinder us from godly union and concord: that, as there is but one Body, and one Spirit, and one Hope of our Calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may henceforth be all of one heart, and of one soul, united in one holy bond of Truth and Peace, of Faith and Charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify Thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.