“Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.”—MATT. vi. 10 The third petition, which is omitted from Luke’s version of the Prayer, springs directly and naturally out of the second petition, and is really explanatory of it. We have been taught to pray, “Thy kingdom come.” God’s kingdom _will_ come, when His will is done on earth, as it is done in heaven. The central idea of kingship is that of _rule_, _authority_, _power_. Kingship is only real and effective when the King commands and the people obey. In heaven God’s kingship is a reality. The eyes of all the inhabitants of the better land wait upon God. Cherubim and Seraphim, saints and angels, delight to do His will. In heaven, God speaks and it is done. This third petition is a prayer that men may learn to obey God as the angels do, so that His kingship may be as real and as effective here on earth as it is now in heaven. Jurists draw a distinction between kings _de jure_—kings by legal right, and kings _de facto_—in actual possession and exercise of the royal power. Now God, if I may be allowed to say so, is the world’s King _de jure_. He is the world’s lawful Sovereign and rightful Lord. “The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein.” But God is not King _de facto_. His kingship is not effective. His people do not obey. There are large sections of the world, whole departments of human activity, where His rule is not recognised. Ireland is part of the Queen’s dominions; but there have been times when the Queen could scarcely be said to _reign_ in Ireland. At the time when the Irish troubles were at their height, it was a common saying that in certain districts of Ireland it was not the Queen who ruled, but the Land League. Cuba was until last year part of the dominions of the King of Spain. The Spanish flag floated over its arsenals and forts. It was with the ministers of the King of Spain that all negotiations with reference to Cuba had to be carried on. Cuban coins and Cuban postage stamps bore the image and superscription of the Spanish sovereign. But for all that, for the past ten years or so the kingship of Alphonso over Cuba was merely nominal. Outside Havanna and Santiago Alphonso could not be said to _reign_. Not all the armies of Spain could make his kingship real and effective over the rebellious interior. In much the same way God is the King of the world. He is its lawful Sovereign. No one else has a shred of title or claim to an inch of its territory or to the allegiance of one of its inhabitants. “The kingdom is the Lord’s, and He is Governor among the nations.” But while God is King of the world _de jure_, He is not King _de facto_. His kingship is nominal—not real and effective; for there are parts of the world over which God cannot be said to _rule_. There are multitudes of men who are in rebellion against Him, and who refuse to acknowledge His authority. God’s writs do not run. His law is not obeyed. His will is not done.