HEAVENS TREASVRY Opened In a Fruitfull Exposition of the Lords Prayer Together with The principall Grounds OF Christian Religion briefly unfolded By THO. HOOKER Great is the Mystery of godlinesse 1 Tim. 3.6 LONDON Printed for R. Dawlman 1645. HEAVENS TREASVRY OPENED In a fruitfull exposition of the Lords Prayer IN the prayer are three things observable 1. The preface Our Father 2. The prayer it selfe divided into six petitions 3. The conclusion of Faith in the word Amen the soule goes up to heaven and followes the petition Hallowed bee thy Name let it bee Lord as thou maist have glory looke as a man that darts an arrow hee puts the utmost of his strength to it so the word Amen speeds all the rest and brings a good issue to the soule by all First For the preface and there wee must examine in generall 2. things 1. The sence and meaning of the words 2. What ground of encouragement it affords us to seeke God 1. And first observe the partie sought to he is our Father 2. The excellency of him which art in Heaven 3. The interest we have in him he is our Father Q. Why or in what sence is God called a Father A. 1. Hee is the Father of Christ by eternall generation 2. Hee is the father of men two wayes 1. By creation So the Scripture runnes Iob. 1.6 the Angels are called the Sons of God because they were created by God hee is a Father thus to the Just and the unjust Psal 139. 14. I am wonderfully made saith the text 2. By adoption grace in that hee doth freely take us to bee his sons in Christ hee puts us into the right of his children as a man puts a stranger into the right of his son and thus God is a Father to his chosen onely that looke what Christ hath they have Rom. 8.17 If Sons then Heires and Gods chosen children both these wayes God is our Father Q. Doe we onely pray to the Father in that wee say our Father A. No we pray not to the Father onely but wee pray to the whole Trinity wee make mention of the Father onely yet we must direct our prayers to one God in three Persons in that Godhead however wee mention not all yet wee direct to all all our petitions the reason is this Rea. Because otherwise wee should have made an Idoll of God I say conceiving but of one person we make an I doll of God and call not on him as hee is Q. How may wee apprehend of God aright in prayer A. Thus as God hath revealed himselfe in his word so wee apprehend him not putting any Image at all upon him as Instance thus two wayes 1. Hee that creates all governes all knowes all sees all by whom I live moove and have my being to that God I pray The Scripture hath revealed God thus that he fills heaven and earth c. to that God then that is thus infinite to him I call now not to a blinde Image but to an all-seeing God I come 2. Instance thus Looke abroad into the creatures and in all you shall see a power and a goodnesse now from whence came this power The power of beasts came not from the power of trees and the like but ther was a first power which gave al power to the creatures the Creatour is infinitely more powerfull the the creatures There is goodnesse also in the creatures but all that came from the first goodnesse that let out it selfe Now that which let forth it selfe to the creature is in the Creator infinitely above the creature that is the Lord thus you must quit your selves of an Image he that gives all is above all God gives all therefore is above all and to that God I put up my petition Q. Why doe wee not mention the Son and the holy Ghost as well as the Father A. Because the Father is the first person in the Trinity and the fountaine from whence all good flowes The Father works of himselfe the Sonne of him the Holy Ghost from them both therefore we mention him onely though wee may mention the other Q. How doth this word Father help a man to call on God by prayer A. When we conceive of God as a Father it puts us in mind of his mercy that hee will pity us as a Father will easily bee reconciled to his sonne and will spare him though he be a prodigall yet his father will passe by all So I pray to a father did I pray to a Iudge that would condemne me or an enemy that would not be reconciled unto mee little hope had I to speed because I wronged him Luke 15. yet I will arise and goe to him for Psal 103. As a father pittieth his sonne so God pittieth them that feare him Hee is my child saith God though stubborne and I must looke to him When a mans rebellions witnes against him and Sathan vexeth him and saith what thou think to have mercy and art so vilde True saith the soule I am naught but I goe to a Father if a child doe but aime at a thing the father accepts if hee speake but halfe a sentence the father interprets it so this is the great encouragement of the faithful to go to God that notwithstanding so many failings and though he be so dead and so barren yet a father beares al The Lord interprets all though but broken speeches yet God accepts and regards all wee have a father to goe to that is willing to passe by many failings 2. As we have a ground of pitty if it be but a sigh hee receives it so this may perswade us of the willingnesse of God to help us If a man were to goe to him that is hard hearted little hope had hee to speed wee say hee is a cruell man we had as good pull water out of a flint c. a child will not beg of a stranger but goe to his father So we pray to our Father that is more willing to heare and grant then we are to aske I will goe to my Father saith the prodigall as who should say I am unworthy yet I goe to a father nay the Lord heares before wee call he prepares the heart to call and answeres what it craves when they aske The father puts into the childes mouth what it shall say and then hee will give what it craves so God would have us seeke for abundance of mercie open thy mouth God would faine give but none will crave it is God that must give a heart to crave and this is got by prayer As water put into a pump will bring forth much water so pray that you may pray if your father know what to give you how much more can your heavenly Father give you an heart Nothing shall bee wanting to them that goe to God as a Father God bowes his eare to the prayer of his people hee condescends to our weaknesse 3. We are here to take
appoint it so because that if he had done well we should have been saved now consequently it must follow that because he sinned we must also be punished Q. How did Adams sinne become ours A. By imputation Q. What is imputation A. That whereby the fault of one man is put upon another Q. How came we to have originall sinne A. By propagation in regard that Adam sent his nature into us and we become like him The third Principle Concerning redemption by Christ Quest WAs our Redemption necessary A. Yes because God determined an end of his Creation now man because fallen if he should be destroyed the end would be frustrate Secondly God had ordained the glorification of his mercy in man now had there been no Redemption where would the glory of his mercy appeare Thirdly the Elect fallen without this could have had no comfort Q. Who is this Redeemer A. Jesus Christ the second Person in the Trinity hee onely can subdue our enemies and satisfie his Fathers wrath Q. Wherefore was Christ the fittest person in the Trinity Ans 1. Because hee could most prevaile with God being his Son Secondly God being he who was fully offended it was not justice that he should pay himselfe Q. Why did Christ take the nature of man upon him A. 1. Because it was man that sinned Secondly there must be a suffering as well as a satisfaction Q. Did Christ take upon him the person or nature of man A. The nature onely for else there should have been two persons which cannot be Q. How did Christ take mans nature upon him A. The Holy Ghost sanctified it and then Christ took the same Q. What are those things observable in this nature A. His union and the manner of his conception Q. How is his union A. Inseparable for our nature could not be separated from him the eternall Sonne of God so tooke the nature of man that when it met with him it was not changed but remained the same for ever Q. How was Christ conceived A. By the Holy Ghost who at this time and in this thing imitated the nature of man Q. Of whom was Christ conceived A. Of the Virgin Mary Q. Why had not Christ a Father as well as a Mother A. Then had he been lyable to sinne which was principally imputed to man Q. How did Christ suffer A. By his Death which was two-fold corporall and spirituall corporall whereby his body was separated from his soule and spirituall whereby hee was separated from God Q. What things are to be observed in the death of the soule Ans 1. The wrath of God and his anger against a man of which Christ tasted Secondly the consequences which are desperation and continuall punishments from which Christ was most free The fourth Principle A sinner of an humble and contrite spirit apprehends Christ by faith and so is justified and sanctified Here are two things 1. A preparation 2. The Benefit Quest WHat is contrition A. When a sinner is brought to such a sight of sinne that being enforced to feele the burthen thereof hee comes to bee sequestred from it Q. How many things are here considerable A. Three 1. A sinner must be brought to a sight of his sinne 2. Hee must bee enforced to feele it 3. He must come to be sequestred from it Q. Why doe you say Brought to a sight of his sinne A. Because of himselfe he neither will nor can see his sinne Q. What doe you meane by sight A. A cleare and convicting sight of sinne Q. What is it to have cleare sight of sinne A. When a man sees sinne as it is in its colours Q. What is it to see sinne convictingly A. When a sinner is perswaded in his conscience that that sinne which the Minister and the Word of God speakes of is his own sinne Q. What is meant by sinne A. In sinne there are two branches the evill of it and the punishment of it Q. Which is worse of these two A. The evill of sinne for 1. that which deprives a man of the chiefest good must needs be the greatest evill but sinne deprives the soule of God the chiefest good 2. We see Christ could suffer punishment but not be sinfull 3. And God is oft the Author of punishment but not of sinne Q. What is the second thing in the definition Answ Hee is inforced to feele it men would bee flying off from the meditation of this sinne Q. How may a man feele his sinne as he should doe Ans By meditation and application Q. How by meditation Answ 1. By considering what a GOD hee hath offended how great mercy abused and justice provoked not onely in time of ignorance but since wee knew him Secondly A serious meditation of the vile and filthy nature of sinne Q. How doth the vilenesse of sin appeare A. It separates us from Gods presence and procureth eternall misery Q. How by application Answ 1. By convincing the heart of its loathsome conditon 2. By dogging the heart when there is any occasion of sinne and still telling it of Gods judgement Q. Can any man of himselfe doe this A. No it must be Gods humbling hand Q. What doe you meane by sequestred Ans When a mans hearts desire and hungring is to get out of sinne though hee cannot saying with himselfe there is no reason why I should be thus ruled by base lusts Q. What is humiliation Answ When the heart of a poore sinner comes to despaire of all hope and helpe either in himselfe or any creature and is contented to bee at Gods disposing Q. How many things are to be considered in this definition Answ Hee despaireth of all hope in himselfe or in the creatures and is content to be at Gods disposing Q. When doth a man come to this despaire A. When he seeketh to the world for succour and findes none Q. When is a man content to bee at Gods dispose A. When he acknowledgeth he hath no good in himselfe and confesses if at any time God afflict him that it is just with God so to doe resolving what ever trouble lyes upon him still to trust and call upon God Contrition and humiliation are two graces which must be wrought in the soul before faith can enter in 1. Because every naturall man hath sinne to be his God now there cannot be two Gods in any mans heart 2. Because by faith we goe unto Christ to receive good at his hands now one cannot goe to Christ before he goe out of himselfe before we can get the pearle we must sell all that we have now Christ is the pearle wee must sell all our corruptions to enjoy him Q. What is faith A. A resting upon God grounded upon knowledge and assurance that God is my God in Christ Q. How many things are included in this knowledge A. A sight of sinne and a sense of it which will produce three things 1. A prizing and seeking for mercy 2. No content in any thing till
we have obtained mercy 3. The testimony of Gods Spirit which assureth Gods children their sins are pardoned Q. What is meant by resting upon God A. It is discovered by two particulars 1. Casting our selves upon the Promise 2. A perswasion that they shall be fulfilled to us Q. What is lustification A. When a beleeving sinner is accounted just in Gods sight through Christ according to the Law Q. Why say you accounted A. Because Justification puts nothing into us nor findes nothing in us Q. Doth God justifie wicked men as they are in themselves A. God provided another to be their surety for whose sake he accepts them Q. Can one mans wisedome understanding and holinesse be accounted to another A. Yes if one mans offence be imputed to another then may one mans righteousnesse but Adams sinne was imputed to us Rom. 5. therefore Christs Righteousnesse may be accounted ours If the Law be that the surety may be punished for the debt as well as the debtor then may the sureties satisfaction be accounted to the debtor both because the surety and the debtor tooke upon them the same thing and subjected themselves to the same condition Q. What doe we learn out of these words according to the Law A. No man can be just except he be in some measure answerable to the rule of justice Q. What did the Law require A. Two things 1. Dying for sinne 2. Doing that wee may live Q. Was our sinne made Christâ— by commission A. No onely by imputation for when Christ dyed to save us did we dye also no onely his death was imputed to us Q. What doth Christ receive from us A. Guilt and punishment Q. What doe we receive from Christ A. His merits and obedience Q. Doth faith it selfe justifie a man A. We are not justified by faith for it s but an instrument whereby we lay hold upon Christ and so are justified Q. Must justification be joyned to sanctification A. Yes for justification goeth before and sanctification followes after Q. Wherein lyeth the difference A. lustification putteth nothing into a man nor findeth any thing in a man Sanctification puts a new frame of he art into us Q. But doth not God put grace into a justified sinner A. Yes but he doth it by sanctification not by justification We receive justification all at once and that neither admits of increase or decrease but holinesse is usually increased and decreaseth many times Q. What is sanctification A. It s the restoring of a justified man into the image of God wherein he was created Not a making new faculties in the soule but putting them into right order as when a clock falls in pieces the wheels being not broken the clock hath not new wheeles set into it but they are new made againe Q. How many things be there in sanctification A. Two Mortification and Vivification Q. What is mortification A. The first part of sanctification whereby sinne is killed in us by the power of Christs death applied unto us Q. Can sinne be wholly subdued in a man A. No but it may be lessened and filed away Q. Wherein lyes the difference between sin in a wicked and a godly man A. There is the neerest union that may be between sinne and the soule of a wicked man Sinne beareth greatest rule here and the soule yeelds greatest subjection unto it He hath a secret resolution to sinne in spight of God and his Ordinances But in a godly man the power of sinne is loosened and the union broken sinne is not in him as a King though it may be as a Tyrant Q. Can mortification and vivification bee severed A. No where God bestowes Mortification there hee likewise bestowes vivification Q. Which goeth first A. Mortification for before we can receive Christ we must make roome for him by casting out all wickednesse Q. What is meant by this word vivification A. It is that part of sanctification whereby wee are quickned to newnesse of life by Christ his Resurrection applyed unto us Q. How is this wrought by Christs Resurrection A. In sinne wee must conceive there is 1. The guilt 2. The punishment 3. The power of it the guilt and punishment Christ by his Death removed Q. But how did he take away the power of them A. We having sinned Christ dyed and rose again for us whereas sin and Satan would have kept him in still if they could but hee came out by force The fift Principle Faith commeth by hearing and is strengthned by the Word and Prayer Meanes to get and increase Faith Quest How may we get faith Answ By the hearing of the Word preached Q. Why is Faith wrought by the Word A. Because God hath promised a speciall blessing thereunto and the holy Spirit accompanies the same for this purpose Q. Why by the Word preached A. Because the Word preached doth evidently reveale truths to the soule and works more effectually upon a mans heart Q. How is Faith encreased A. By the Word Sacraments and Prayer The Word addeth fuell unto Faith provoking a man to come to Christ by shewing 1. the need we have of him by reason of our daily wants and infirmities 2. The all-sufficiency of Christ to supply us 3. And his willingnesse to receive all commers Q. When is Faith strong Ans 1. When it grasps as it were a whole handfull of Christ a little child can grasp but a little of any thing 2. When it holdeth firmly that it catcheth hold upon Q. How doe the Sacraments strengthen saith A. 1. They present Christ neerly and visibly to the soule 2. They shew Christs merits obedience inflaming our hearts with love to him Q. What is Prayer A. It is a going out of our selves to God craving things answerable to his will Q. How a going to God A. Not a bodily going but the mind affection and understanding stirting up themselves to present their suit to him Q. Can a wicked man pray A. No 1. Because true Prayer is from the Spirit and a sanctified heart 2. These men oppose what they beg for Q. How many parts be there in Prayer A. Two Petition which is a craving of that we want and Thanksgiving which is a giving God thanks for that we have Q. What is the pattern of Prayer A. The Lords Prayer which Christ gave to his Disciples Q. Into how many parts is it divided A. Into three 1. A Preface 2. Six Petitions 3. A Thanksgiving Q. What doe you meane by Father A. The first Person in the Trinity who is the fountain from whence all we have floweth Q. How is God said to be a Father Ans 1. In regard of Christ 2. In regard of us Q. How is God the Father of Christ Ans 1. By naturall generation 2. By personall union Q. How is God a Father in regard of us Ans 1. In regard of Creation so the Angels are sons of God 2. In regard of Adoption which is the taking one in stead of a child