forwardnesse of God toward vs. And when we adde which art in heauē I We adde to the good will of God diuine power that he is able to doe and to giue those things we aske hauing al things in his power II. Diuine prouidence that seeth and knoweth our wants that he is present to our requests and heareth the same that he hath a care of vs that he ordereth disposeth administreth and gouerneth all things and more especially in his Church III. Diuine wisdome that he knowes the way to send helpe and deliuerance IV. Diuine rule and dominion to wit that it belongeth to his kingdome office who dwelleth in heauen to heare our prayers to regard our affaires to help to deliuer c. In a word the Lords praier saith that our father whome we call vpon is or doth dwell in heauen I. Lest we should conceiue in our minde any base or earthly thing of God after the manner fashion of this world but all things heauenly and diuine II. To shewe a comparison and a difference betweene our earthly and our heauenly father as Christ expresly opposeth them one to the other Math. 23. v. 9. Call no man your father vpon earth for there is one your father which is in heauē III. That by this title we may be admonished to aske of God heauenly things especially and to referre those earthly things which we aske vnto the heauenly For we are called and borne a new to an inheritance which is laid vp in heauen as it is written 1. Pet. 1. v. 3. IV. That by this title we may be taught to acknowledge our life in this world to be a pilgrimage from God and that our desire to this true heauenly countrey may be stirred vp in vs withall that we may declare that whatsoeuer we aske is for this ende to bring vs to the countrey where our father is in heauen As for that Allegorie of Austine and others that God is in heauen that is by grace he dwelleth in the Saints and those which pray ought to wish for themselues that God may dwell in them as it is not indeede impious so in this place it is forraine and vnfit for it belongeth to the second petition that Gods kingdome may come vnto vs. Hallowed be thy name II. part Nowe followe certaine petitions in this prayer For it is not a true praier when we doe only heap vp the glorious titles of God but praier ought to aske some thing of God or else giue him thankes for benefites receiued Philip. 4.6 and 1. Timoth. 2.1 And vsually here are numbred seauen petitions which are as it were generall seales and markes whereto we may and ought to referre and wherein we must include all those things that we aske For it is writtē 1. Ioh. 5.14 This is that assurance we haue with God that if we aske any thing according to his vvill he heareth vs. and Iam. 4. v. 3. Ye aske and receiue not because ye aske amisse that ye may spende it on your pleasures And therefore out of the petitions of this Lords praier which is the rule of praying we may gather what things we are to aske in praier in what order and for what end we must aske them For they are thus deuided that the former regard the glory of God especially so farre forth as our saluation is ioyned therewith The rest containe our wants our profit saluation whereof some belong to the body others to the soule some to this worldly life some to our spirituall life in this world and others to our heauenly life to come Againe some petitions require the giuing and bestowing of blessings either temporall or bodily or spirituall or heauenly which are to come others doe craue the remoueall of euils eitemporall or spirituall that those which are past may be forgiuen not imputed those which are present may be taken away or lessoned and those which are to come may be kept backe Againe in the Lords prayer we both craue the ende to witte the glorie of God and our owne saluation and those things which tend thereunto The Lords praier also sheweth the order of those things we are to aske For first those things are to be asked which concerne the glorie of God our owne saluation then such things as belong to the necessitie benefite and commoditie of our bodie and of this life may well be asked and ought so to be So likewise in the turning backe of euills such as hinder the glorie of God or our saluation must haue the first place And then we may pray that the aduersities tribulations difficulties and troubles of bodie and of this life may either be taken away or lessened But temporall or bodely benefits must be asked with that condition or moderation If it be the will of God If they will further the glorie of God and our saluation but if God shall know and iudge those things to be hurtfull vnto vs which we thinke to be good and profitable vnto vs when we aske them that he would keepe them backe and hinder them as euill Also temporall blessings must be asked for that end that they may be ordered directed and vsed to Gods glorie and to spirituall heauenly and eternall blessings And thus from the petitions of the Lords praier may wel be gathered what things we may and ought to aske and in what manner according to the will of God Likewise S. Paul in certaine distinct words doth shew and declare the kindes of things that are to be asked in praier Philip. 4.6 and 1. Timoth. 2.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est vel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for he deuideth praier into petition and thanksgiuing Petitions he deuideth into requests whereby we craue blessings to be bestowed into supplications wherby we craue euills to be turned backe into intercessions whereby we either make request and pray to God for others or else direct the weapons of our praiers against our enemies And he addeth that things to be praied for are such as concerne the knowledge of God and our saluation Also such as pertaine vnto godlines or to the peace and honestie of this life Now that we may the sooner dispatch the exposition of the seuerall petitions I will here declare vnto what general heads of meditations the meaning of euery petition is to be referred as we pray according as I was wont to vse them publikely in expounding the Catechisme and in priuate exercises of religion To wit that first of all we doe consider by godly and deuout meditation what blessings we pray for in euery petition either to be giuen vs or if they be giuen to be preserued and increased Secondly what euills in euery petition we desire to be stopped that they may not happen if they be to come or beeing present to be turned backe that we may be freed and deliuered from them and if the remooueall be begunne that the same may still goe forwarde more and
to pollute to profane or blaspheme the name of god sheweth most plainely what it is to hallow or sanctify it We pray therefore that god would giue vs grace to acknowledge to consider reuerently to set forth aduance those vertues and workes of god in thought word and deed As it is vvritten Psal 48.11 According to thy name so is thy praise Which also may and ought to be enlarged in this exposition and meditation vnto all the essentiall and personall vertues of god Againe we do heare desire that we may with holinesse and reuerence thinke and speake of the workes and iudgements of god that we be not euil or envious cēsuters so as we should wrongfully or prophanely iudge of his prouidence and chastisements towards vs and of his long suffering towards our enimies by complaining and murmuring against the same or else abuse his goodnesse his gentlenesse and patience Numb 20. v. 12. whē Moses and Aaron doubted of obtaining water and the people murmured the lord saith ye haue not beleeued me that ye might sanctifie me before the children of Israell 1. Pet. 3.5 Be not afraide in time of persequution but sanctifie the Lord in your hearts IV. Seing the name of god concerning his essence his will his workes and iudgements is made knowne to vs in the word we doe pray that the name of god that is his word may be giuen and preached vnto vs purely sincerely in true and sound vnderstanding holily that is without corruption or deprauation that sincere and faithfull ministers may be giuen vs for the edification of the Church which may discharge their duty faithfully and be furnished with necessarie gifts And that we may be mercifully kept and preserued from all corrupting and deprauing of the word of god from woolues and hirelings V. Answerable to this we must acknowledge the giuing of the word for the holy and singular blessing of god we must reuerently receiue it with diligence and deuotion heare thinke and meditate on the same We must also sanctifie and adorne the same with a godly life lest by vs the name and doctrine of god be polluted and euil spoken of 1. Tim. 6. v. 1. And that other by our godly conuersation may be drawne to loue and embrace this doctrine Math. 5. v. 16. that they may see our good workes and glorifie your father Rom. 2. v. 23. By breaking the lawe thou dishonourest God and for you is the name of god blasphemed Nowe let all these parts be applyed to the foure general heades before set down To wit I. What blessings we desire to be giuen vs to be preserued and increased II. From what euills we desire to be kept deliuered III. What benefits we must acknowledge to be bestowed on vs and what thanks we ought to render againe for the same IV. What manner of confefsion of sinns we must make from thēce And let these be applyed in speciall vnto the whole Church and in particular vnto our selues and vnto those whose want we know So will the meditation of this petition be very large Let thy kingdome come to In greeke it is simple come but because in Luke 11. v. 20. it is written The kingdome of God is come vnto you It is not amisse translated adueniat Let come too Moreouer the kingdome of god is taken diuers waies For there is a generall or vniuersall kingdome of God whereby he doth mightily gouerne all creatures Psal 103. v. 19. his kingdome ruleth ouer all and Psal 145.13 Thy kingdome is an euerlasting kingdome But this we doe not properly vnderstand for that doth mightely runne ouer all nothing can hinder it neither any creature withdraw it selfe from vnder it vnles we vnderstand our prayer thus that all men may acknowledge obserue and reuerence the prouidence of that kingdome of God whereby he ruleth gouerneth and disposeth all things and that they may humbly subiect themselues vnto it in all things Againe there is the kingdome of grace in the Church in this life and the kingdome of glory in the life to come which is heere properly to be vnderstood as the preface it selfe sheweth For we say Our father thy kingdome come And this is called the kingdome of the father the kingdome of Christ and the kingdome of heauen the more to commend the free gift of God we say not that we come to the kingdome of God but doe pray that it may come to vs or as Christ more plainely speaketh Luke 11.20 that the kingdome of God may come before hand vnto vs. And this is called the kingdome of the father the kingdome of Christ the kingdome of heauen Nowe the kingdome of grace is not meat and drinke but righteousnesse peace and ioy in the holy Ghost Rom. 14. v. 17. It consisteth not in speach but in trueth and in power 1. Cor. 2. v. 5. We pray therefore that the holy ghost may be giuen vs that he may be powerfull in vs by the word to illuminate to conuert iustifie sanctify to lead guide confirme preserue vs that we may be found in that kingdome and there abide and perseuere lest we should fall away thence againe and slide backe into the kingdome of Satan That God would oppose his owne kingdome against the kingdome of Satan and of the world that he would keepe backe and bind the deuil that he would suppres beare downe and breake of the treasons and the power of the deuil and the world and mercifully defend keepe his church from the same that is as the Psalmist saith Psal 110.2 that he would rule by the power of his right hand in the middest of his enimies that he would tread down Satan vnder our feete Rom. 16. v. 20. keepe vs from the world Ioh. 17. v. 15. that we may ouercome the world 1. Ioh. 5.4 and Ioh. 16.33 that he would deliuer vs from the present euill world Gal. 1.4 least we should loue and desire the kingdome of the world contemning and neglecting the kingdome of God least sinne should raigne in our mort all bodies Rom. 6.12 and iniquitie beare rule ouer vs Psal 9.13 and 119. but that sinne may be crucified and mortified in vs Galat. 5.24 that we may become subiect to the direction of the Holy ghost and be transformed of him into the obedience of god and become seruants vnto righteousnesse That we answer not thus We wil not haue this man to raigne ouer vs. Luk. 9.14 that we cast not off his yoke from vs. Psal 2.3 but take it vnto vs because his yoke is sweete and easie that we may finde rest vnto our soules that trauailing and beeing heauie laden we may flie to the throne of his kingdome and there haue refreshing Math. 11.29 Hebr. 4.16 that we may first seeke the kingdome of God Math. 6.33 that we may sit downe in the kingdome of heauen and not be cast thence Math. 8.11 that we be not offences in the kingdome of God Math. 18.6 that the kingdome of
Paul saith I thanke my God and so doth euery ones faith by this applicatioÌ„ well conclude say God is my father as Ier. 3.4 Therefore from henceforth at least crie vnto me thou art my father and after v. 19. I did take thee for my children and saide Thou shalt call me my father and Math. 6.6 Pray vnto thy father which is in secret and thy father will reward thee So very many profitable instructions are propounded vnto vs in these fewe words of this preface to the Lords praier which may thus also be considered that by the remembrance of those benefits which God hath heretofore bestowed vpon vs God may as it were be mooued to giue and our confidence stirred vp and confirmed to craue other moe necessaries that seeing of meere fauour he hath bestowed vpon vs the chiefest benefite of adoption because he will be our father and also be so called therefore he will giue vs other things needefull Which art in heauen There be some that by occasion of this verbe substantiue es art doe discourse at large about the immutable essence and those names of God I am that I am which is which was which is to come But the Greek words doe neither require nor admit that disputation in this place for the wordes are plaine Our father á½ á¼Î½ τοῖς οá½Ïανοῖς which art in heauen to shew that we doe not call vpon any earthly father but on him who is or who doth dwell in heauen that is an heauenly father For so Christ himselfe expoundeth these wordes Math. 6.26 when he nameth an (a) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 heauenly father And whereas Heauen in Scripture is called the throne the seate mansion or dwelling place of God and in this place we call vpon our father which is in heauen the meaning is not that the infinite essence of God is circumscribed or concluded either in these visible heauens or in the heauen called Empyreum that is the highest heauens so as he is not present else where for it is written 1. King 8. v. 27. and 2. Chro. 2. v. 6. that heauen and the heauen of heauens can not containe him For he filleth heauen and earth Ierem. 23. v. 23. yea he is present in heauen in earth in the sea and in hell Psal 139. v. 7. he is higher then heauen deeper then hell longer then the earth broader then the sea That is he is wholly present euery where within all things and without all things as Gregory saith Neither doe we thinke when we call vpon our father which is in heauen in the preface of this prayer that he is seperated and disioyned from vs which pray from our wants and from our prayers being further absent theÌ„ heauen is distant from the earth Like as the thoughts and the sayings of the wicked are described Iob. 22. v. 13. what should God see he walketh in the circle of the heven and considereth not our affaires For in the 145. Psalme v. 18. it is written The Lord is readie at hand to them that pray euen to them that call vpon him in trueth Deut. 4. v. 29. The Lord our God is neere to all our requests and Mathew 18.20 Where two or three are gathered togither in my name and shall aske any thing there am I in the middle among them Nowe whereas our father of whome we make no doubt but that he is present to our requests is said to be in heauen this the schoole men expound after this sort either that the workes of God doe more gloriously and highly appeare in the beutie magnificence harmony and workemanship of the visible or materiall heauens then in earth or els because in those spirituall heauens as they call them he doth by a full communication of himselfe declare exhibite and shew forth all his glorie power goodnesse magnificence not as here on earth by certain meanes and couerings invisible and by sundry lettes but in full shewe and fruition of sight face to face to be seene and enioyed of the blessed Angels and of elect soules so as the very thing is the happines the ioy saluation the eternall life of the saints But I see not what comfort this meaning can affoard vnto vs which pray here on earth vnder the crosse and in much weakenesse A more plaine exposition is this Because the scriptures doe define of heauen wherein God hath his abode not by any locall scituation but by heauenly diuine glory maiestie power and fidelitie Againe that therefore God is said to be in heauen and to dwell in the heauens in the place of his abode to heare in the dwelling place of his abode 3. King v. 30. because all things are vnder his gouernment he hath all things in his hand and in his power he ruleth all things in all places he is able to doe and he doth whatsoeuer he will by his wisdome he foreseeth knoweth beholdeth and heareth all things and knoweth the way how to helpe them all by his prouidence he careth for all and by his power doth order dispose administer and gouerne all things c. Psal 115. v. 3. Our God is in heauen he doth whatsoeuer be will Psal 103. v. 20. God hath prepared his seate in heauen and his kingdome ruleth ouer all in all places of his dominion 3. King 8. v. 39. thou shalt heare in heaueÌ„ thou shalt be fauour able and shalt forgiue sinnes For thou onely seest and knowest the hearts of all the children of men Psal 113. v. 5. which hath his dwelling on high that he may behold things below in heauen and in earth Psal 102. v. 20. The Lord hath looked down from his high sanctuarie out of heauen did he behold the earth that he might heare the mournings of the prisoner and loose the children of death Psal 11.4 The lords seat is in heauen his eyes looke vnto the poore and his eye lids trie the children of meÌ„ Psal 20. v. 6. he will he are froÌ„ heauen by the mightie helpe of his right hand Isa 63.15 Give heede from heauen and behold where is nowe thy zeale thy strength and the multitude of thy mercies And when the Lord sheweth his diuine glory power and mercy by any famous hearing helpe and deliuerance the scripture saith then God hath exalted or aduanced himselfe aboue the heauens and magnified his mercy vp to the heauens Psal 57. v. 6. and 18. v. 5. and 113. v. 4. his glorie is aboue the heauens Psal 68. v. 19. He hath ascended aboue the heauen of heauens These testimonies of scripture doe plainely expound that phrase where God is said to be or to dwell in heauen The consideration hereof will also further vs to expound the doctrine of Christs ascention or exaltation into heauen of his sitting at the right hand of God in heaueÌ„ly places And thus the meaning of this preface of the Lords prayer is euident for when we say Our father we doe by saith conceiue the readie willing minde and the