preface it selfe Our Father vvhich art in heuen It contains a descriptiō of the true Iehoua to whom we pray and that by two arguments the first is drawen from a relation Our Father the second is taken frō the subiect or place Which art in heuen Father 1. The meaning IN the opening of this word or title of God two questions are to be opened 1. Quest. Whether by this title Father is signified the whol Trinitie or some one person thereof Ans. Otherwhiles this name is attributed to all the persons in Trinitie or any of them Malac. 2. 10. Haue we not all one Father c. Luk. 3. 38. Which was the sonne of Adam which was the sonne of God And in Isai. 9. 6 christ is called the father of eternitie because al that ar truly knit to him and born a new by him they are eternally made the sons of God Again oftentimes it is giuen to the first persō in trinitie as in those places where one person is conferred with another And so in this place principally for some speciall respects this title agrees to the first person For first he is the father of Christ as he is the eternall worde of the father and that by nature because hee is of the same essence with him Secondly he is father to Christ in respect of his manhood not by nature or adoption but by personall vnion because the humane nature doeth subsist in the person of the word Thirdly hee is a father to all the faithfull by adoption in Christ. 2. Question Whether we are to pray to the Sonne and holy Ghost as to the Father Ans. Inuocation belonges to all the three persons in Trinitie and not only to the father Act. 7. 59. Steuen praieth Lord Iesus receiue my spirit 1. Thes. 3. 2. Now God our father and our Lord Iesus Christ guide our iourney vnto you 2. Cor. 13. 13. The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ the loue of God the communion of the holy Ghost be vvith you Some say this praier is a perfect platforme of all praiers and in it wee are taught to direct our praiers to the Father not to the Son or holy spirit I answer the Father Sonne and holy Ghost are three distinct persons yet they are not to be seuered or diuided because they al subsist in one and the same Godhead or diuine nature And further in all outward actions as in the creation and preseruation of the world and the saluation of the elect they are not seuered or deuided for they al work together onely they are distinguished in the maner of working Now if they be not deuided in nature or operation then they are not to be seuered in worship And in this place we direct our praiers to the father because he is the first in order yet so as then we imploy the Son and holy Ghost For we pray to the father in the name of the Sonne by the assistance of the holy Ghost And to what persone soeuer the praier is directed we must alwaies remember in minde and heart to include the rest 2. The Vse THe vses of this point are manifolde 1. First whereas we are taught to com to God as to a father and therefore in the name of his Son our Sauiour Christ wee learne to lay the first ground of all our praiers in the holding maintaining of the vnion and distinction of the three persons in Trinitie This being the lowest and the first foundation of praier it is requisite that al which woulde pray aright should haue this knowledge rightly to beleeue of the Trinitie to know how the three persons agree and how they are distinguished the order of them how the Father is the first the Sonne the second the holy Ghost the third and therefore how the father is to be called vpon in the name of the Sonne by the holy Ghost Hence it is manifest that ignorant and sillie people which do not so much as dreame of the vnion distinction and order of the persons in Trinitie mak but cold and slender kind of praying 2. Secondly we may learn hereby that we are not in any wise to inuocate Saintes and Angels but onely the true Iehoua The reason stands thus This praier is either a perfect platform for all praiers or not to say it were not were an injurie to our Sauiour Christ to say it is so is also to grant that it doth fully set downe to whome al praiers are to be made Papistes that are the great patrons of invocation of Saints in their reformed breuiaries and missales deal very fōdly for first they pray to Mary that she would pray to Christ for them and when they haue so done like Iuglers they come to Christ and pray vnto him that hee would accept Maries praier for them 3. Thirdly we learne that there can be no intercessour betweene God and vs but onely Christ. For here we ar taught to come to God not as to a Iudge but as to a kind and louing Father Now he is a father to vs onely by Christ as for Angels and Saints al creatures they are not able to procure by any meanes that God shoulde become a father no not so much as to one man 4. Againe if the God to whom we pray be a father we must learn to acquaint our selues with the promises which hee hath made in his word to quicken our hearts in praier vnto him For this word Father implies redines and willingnes in God to heare and be mercifull to our praiers And a father cannot but must needs mak some promises of fauour to those that be his children and therefore it cannot be that he should call God truly his father which hath not in his heart this assurance that God will fulfill his promises vnto him Promises made to praier these and such like are to bee marked as follow 2. Chron. 7. 14. If my people among vvhome my name is called vpon do humble themselues and pray seek my presence and turne from their wicked waies then I will heave in heuen be mercifull to their sinnes 2. Chron. 15. 2. The Lord is with you while you be with him and if ye seeke him he will be found of you Isai. 65. 24. Before they call I wil answere and whiles they speak I vvill heare Mat. 7. 7. Aske and it shall be giuen you seeke and ye shal find knock and it shall be opened Luk. 11. 13 If ye vvhich are euil can giue good gifts vnto your children how much more shal your heauenly father giue the holy ghost to them that desire him Rom. 10. 12. Hee that is Lord ouer all is rich vnto all that call on him Iam. 4. 8. Drawe neere vnto God and he will draw neere vnto you 5. If God be a father who is called vpon then praier is the note of Gods Child S. Luke and S. Paul set out the faithfull seruants of God by this note Act. 9 14. He hath
authoritie to binde al that cal on thy name 1. Cor. 1. 2. To them that are sanctified by Iesus Christ saints by calling with all that call on the name of our Lorde Iesus Christ. And contrariwise Psal. 14. 4. It is made one of the properties of an Atheist Neuer to cal on the name of God And such persons as neither wil nor can or vse not hartely to pray to God they may say that they are perswaded there is a God but in their doings they bear themselues as if there wer no God 6. He which would pray aright must be like the prodigall childe that is he must not onely confesse his sin saying Father I haue sinned against heauen and against thee c. but also haue a ful purpose neuer after to offend his Father For how can a Childe call him father whome hee cares not continually to displease through his lewd conditions He cannot do it neither can any Father delight in suche a child therefore in praier we must call to minde our lewdnes and rebellions against our heauenly Father and with the Publican in heuines of soule say Lord be mercifull to me a sinner He which can truly do this is a kind child If we consider our selues as we are by nature wee are the children of the deuill noe childe so like his Father as wee are like him and in this estate we continually rebel against God for the Deuill hath al the heart our whol joy is to serue and please him A man that is to pray must think on this and be heauy for it And happy yea a thousand times happy ar they who haue grace giuen them to see this their state to bewaile it And further it is not sufficient to confesse our sinnes against our mercifull Father but wee must set downe with our selues neuer in such sort to offend him againe and to leade a newe life This point is very profitable for these times For many there be when any crosse or sicknes comes on them they will pray and promise repentance and all obedience to Gods worde if it shall please God to deliuer them but this vsually is but in hypocrisie they dissemble with God and men For when their sicknes is past like a dogge that hath bene in the water they shake their eares and runne streight with all greedinesse to their former sinnes Is this to call God father No hee that doth this shall not haue God to be his father but the man that is wounded in his soul for his offēces past and carrieth a purpose in his heart neuer wittingly and willingly to offend God againe 7. Lastly here we ar to obserue that he which would pray must be indued with the spirit of adoptiō the workes whereof in the matter of praier are twofold The first to moue him to crie and call on God as a father It is no easie thing to pray For to a man of himselfe it is as easie to mooue the whole earth with his hand how then comes it that we pray It is a blessed worke of the spirit Rom. 8. 15. Wee haue receiued the spirit of adoption whereby vve crie Abba that is Father and Rom. 8. 26. Likewise the spirit helpeth our infirmities for wee knowe not what to pray as we ought but the spirit it self maketh request And. Zach. 12. 10. the holy Ghost is called the spirit of grace and deprecations or praiers Wel then the man that woulde pray must haue Gods spirite to bee his schoolmaster to teach him to pray with grones and sighes of the hart for the wordes make not the praier but the grones desires of the hart and a man praies for no more then he desires with his heart and hee which desires nothing praies not at all but spends liplabor The second work of the spirit is to assure vs in our consciences that we are in the state of grace reconciled to God Rom. 8. 16. The spirit of adoption beareth witnes with our spirits that we are the children of God And this inward certificate of the spirit in all exercises of invocation is very necessarie for hee which wants this assurance if hee be secure and benummed in his sinnes will not and if he be touched in conscience for them for his life hee dare not cal God Father Also this confutes the opiniō of the church of Rome which teacheth that a man must doubt whether hee be adopted or no. For howe can a man trulie cal God Father when he doubts whether he be the child of God or no. It is a miserable kinde of praying to call God Father and to doubt whether he be a father Indeede it is true that doubts will often rise but it is our dutie to striue against them and not to yeeld vnto them Yea but say they to be certain of Gods mercy is presumption I answere if it be presumption it is an holy presumption because God hath bidden vs call him father Our Father The meaning THus much of the argument of relation now let vs proceede It is further said Our Father Quest. Whether may it bee lawfull for vs in praier to say not our father but my father Ans. A Christian may in priuate praier say My Father This is warranted by the example of our Sauiour Mat 26. 39. O my Father if it be possible let this cup passe from me And Mat. 27. 46. My God my God whie hast thou forsaken mee The meaning of Christe is not to binde vs to these wordes but to teache vs that in our praiers wee must not haue regard to our selues onely but also to our brethren therefore when we pray for them in our priuate praiers as for our selues wee put in practise the true meaning of these wordes 2. The Vses 1 VVHen we pray we must not make request onlie for our selues our own good but for others also as the Church and people of GOD perswading our selues that we also are partakers of their praiers and for the better clearing of this point let vs search who they are for whome we are to pray Of men there be two sortes some liuing some dead Of these two kindes the liuing are to be praied for and there is no praying for the dead A man that is dead knowes what shall be his estate eternally if he died a wicked person his state shall be according in eternall torments if hee died godly then he shall rest with God in his kingdom Apoc. 14. 13. Blessed are they vvhich die in the Lord for they rest from their labours and their vvorkes follow them Gal. 6. 10. While vve haue time let vs do good to al men Where we may note that there is a time namelie after death when we cannot Againe of the liuing some are our enemies and some our frends Our frends are they which are of the same religion affection disposition Foes are either priuate or publike publike foes are either enemies to our country as tyrants traitors c. or enemies
to our religion as Iewes Turks Papists Infidels Atheists Nowe towards all these how ought a man to behaue himselfe in prayer Ans. Hee is to pray for them all Mat. 5. 44. Praie for them vvhich hurt you and persecute you 1. Tim. 2. 1. I exhort that praiers intercessions c. Be made for all men for kinges c. Yet when Paul gaue this commandement we read not that there wer any ChristiaÌ„ kings but all Infidels And the Iewes are commanded to pray for Babylon where they were captiue Ieremie 29. 7. And seeke the prosperitie of the Cittie whither I haue caused you to bee carried captiue and praie vnto the lord for it Quest. Howe and in what maner are we to pray for our enemies Ans. We are to pray against their sinnes counsels enterprises but not against their persons Thus praied Dauid against Achitophell 2. Sa. 15. 31. Lord I praie thee bring the counsell of Achitophell to foolishnes And thus did the Apostles pray against their persecuters Act. 4. 29 O Lord behold their threatnings and graunt vnto thy seruants with all boldnes to spâ—ake thy word Question Dauid vseth imprecations against his enemies in which he praieth for their vtter confusion as Psal. 59. 109. c. the like is done by Paul Gal. 5. 12. 2. Tim. 4. 14. And Peter Act. 8. 20. though afterwards hee mitigates his exexcration But how could they do it Ans. 1. They were indued with an extraordinarie measure of Gods spirit and hereby they were enabled to discerne of the estate of their enemies certainly to judge that their wickednes and malice was incurable and that they shuld neuer repent And the like praiers did the primatiue Church coÌ„ceiue against IuliaÌ„ the Apostata because they perceiued him to be a malicious and desperate enemie 2. Secondly they were indued with a pure zeal against their enemies intending nothing else but the glory of God Now for vs it is good that we should suspect our zeal because sinister affections as hatred enuie emulation desire of reuenge wil mingle themselues with our zeal Question How far forth may we vse those Psalmes in which Dauid vseth imprecations against his enemies Ans. They are to be read and song with these caueats 1. Wee are to vse those imprecations indefinitely against the enemies of God and his Church for wee may perswade our selues that alwaies there be some such obstinate enemies but we must not apply them particularly 2. Secondly wee must vse them as Augustine saith as certaine prophetical sentences of the holy Ghost pronouncing the last sentence of destruction of final impenitent sinners which oppose themselues against Gods kingdom Thirdly they may be vsed against our spiritual enemies the flesh the deuil and his Angels the world 2. Furthermore whereas we ar taught to say Our father this serues to put vs in minde that in praying to God we must bring loue to meÌ„ with vs. We must all be as the children of one father louingly disposed one to another For how shuld he call God his father who wil not take the child of God for his brother Mat. 5. 23. When thou art to offer thie gifte vnto God if thou haue ought against thie brother first be reconciled and then come and offer thy gift So also Esay 1. 15. the Lorde saith that when they pray vnto him hee will not heare Why because their hands were ful of blud In these times many men can be conteÌ„t formally to praie but yet they will not leaue bribing oppression deceit vsurie c. The common song of the worlde is euerie man for himselfe and God for vs all this is the common loue and care that men haue eche to other The praiers of such are abhominable euen as the sacrifice of a dog as Esay saith For howe can they call God their Father that haue no loue to their brethren 3. Thirdly hence we may learn that God is no accepter of persoÌ„s For this praier is giuen to all men of what state or degree soeuer All then aswell poore as rich vnlearned as learned subjectes as rulers may say Our father It is not with the Lord as it is with the worlde but all are his Children that doe beleeue The poore man hath as good interest in Gods kingdome and may call God Father as well as the King Which art in heauen 1. The meaning QVestion Howe may God bee said to be in heuen seeing he is infinite and therefore must needes be euery where 1. King 8. 27. The heauens of heauens are not able to containe him Answer 1. God is saide to be in heauen because his majestie that is his power wisedome justice mercy is made manifest from thence vnto vs. Psalme 115. 3. Our God is in heauen and doth vvhatsoeuer he will Psal. 2. 4. He that dwelleth in heauen shall laugh them to scorne and the Lord shall haue them in derision Esay saith 66. 2. Thus saith the Lord Heauen is my throne and the earth is my footstoole 2. After this life hee wil manifest the fulnes of his glorie there to his Angels and Saints 2. The Vse 1. HEereby first we learn that Romish pilgrimages wherby men went from place to place to worship God are vain and foolish The God to whome wee must pray is in heauen Nowe let men trauell to what place or countrey they will they shall not come the neerer to heauen or neerer to God by traueling seeing the earth is in euerie part alike distaÌ„t from heuen 2. Secondly this ouerthrowes popish Idolatrie as woorshipping of Crosses Crucifixes Roods c. to put vs in mind of God Christ. Wee are taught to lift vp our eies to heuen seeing God is there and how can we do this as long as our mindes and eies are poring vpon an image made by mans arte 5. Againe wee are here admonished to vse the action of praier with as great reuerence as possible may be Wel reasons Salomon Eccle. 5. 1. Be not rash with thy mouth to speak a vvord before God Why he is in heaven thou art in earth therfore let thy vvords be few This reuerence must appeare in holines of minde and affection and in al comlines of gesture And for this cause al wandering bythoughts and all vaine babling is to be auoided But how goes the case with vs that on the times appointed come to the asseÌ„blies to pray Many by reason of their blindenes pray without vnderstanding Many when they are present at praier yet haue their hearts occupied about other matters about their goods and worldly busines such men haue no joye or gladnes in praying it is a burdeÌ„ to them Many come to the assemblie for custom only or for fear of punishment if they might be left free they could find in their harts not to pray at all But let all suche meÌ„ know that this maner of praiing is a very greenous sinne nay greater then mocking of father or mother killing or stealing for it is
directly against God the other against men This sin because it is against the first Table and therfore more hard to bee discerned it is lightly esteemed and it lesse troubles the consciences of ignorant men yet as it is indeede so it is to be esteemed as a disgrace plaine mockerie of Gods majestie Wherfore seeing God is in heuen away with al drowsie and dead praying let vs come with reuerence in our hearts before the Lord. 4. Againe wee are here to consider that our harts in praier must mount vp into heauen and there be present with the Lord. Psal. 25. 1. Vnto thee O Lord lift I vp my soule The litle childe is neuer well but when it is in the fathers lap or vnder the fathers wing and the children of God are neuer in better case then when in affection spirit they can come into the presēce of their heauenly father and by prayer as it were to creep into his bosome 5. Lastly this preface sheweth that God is all sufficient as in al other things so in granting our requests God is willing to hear our praiers in that hee is our father able to performe them because he is in heuen therefore almightie Hallowed be thy name 1. The coherence THus much of the preface now follow the petitions They be six in number the three first concerne God and his glorie the other three concern our selues The three former petitions are againe deuided into two partes the firste concernes Gods glorie it selfe the other two the meanes whereby Gods glory is manifested and inlarged among men For God his name is glorified among men whē his kingdome doth come and his will is done Question Why is this petition Hallowed be thy name set in the first place Answere Because Gods glory must bee preferred before all thinges because it is the end of all creatures and of all the counsels of God Prou. 16. 4. The Lord hath made all thinges for his owne sake yea euen the vvicked for the day of euill And from the order of the petitions heere ariseth a worthy instruction namely that euery one in all thinges they take in hande are to propound to themselues and to intend the glory of God The reason is this The end which God hath appointed to all our doings we are to propound to our selues but God hath appointed that the highest end of all our doings shuld be his glorie therfore our hearts must be set to seeke it first of all That God will haue his name glorified by vs appeareth in this that he punisheth those which of obstinacie set themselues to dishonour him or by negligence did not sanctifie him when they should haue done so Herod sitting in his royaltie made such an oration that the people cried the voice of a God and not of a man and immediatly the Angel of the lord smote him because he gaue not the glory to God Act. 12. 23. And Moses because he did not sanctifie the Lord in the presence of the children of Israel therefore he came not into the land of promise yet he did but faile in doing of it Thus wee may see by these punishments and also by the order of the petitions that it is our duties to prefer the glory of God before all things else Quest. Whether are we to prefer the glory of God before the saluation of our soules Answer If the case stand thus that Gods name must be dishonoured or our soules condemned we must account the glory of God more pretious than the saluation of our soules This is manifest in the order of the petitions The petition that concernes Gods glory is first and the petitions that concerne directly our saluation are the fift and sixt Where by we are taught that before God should want any part of his glory we are to let soule and all go and let God haue all his glory This affection had Moses Exod. 32. 32. When he said Either forgiue them or if thou vvilt not blot my name out of thy booke In this petition as also in the rest we must obserue three things the first is the mening of the words the second the wants which men must learn to bewail the third the graces of god that ar to be desired 2. The meaning VErie fewe among the people can giue the right meaning of the wordes of this praier They pretend that seeing God knowes their good meaning it is sufficient for them to say the wordes and to meane well But faith being one of the groundes of praier there being no faith without knowledg neither can there bee praier without knowledge and therefore ignorant men are to learne the right meaning of the words Name Name in this place signifieth 1. God himselfe 1. Kings 5. 5. He shal build an house to my name 2. His attributes as his iustice mercy c. 3. His works creatures and iudgments 4. His word For God is knowne to vs by al these as men are knowne by their names and as all a mans praise glorie lies in his name so all the glorie of God is in these Hallowed To hallowe is to feuer a thing from the common vse to som proper and peculiar end as the temple was hallowed that is set apart to an holy vse and the priests were sanctified that is set apart to the seruice of God And all that beleeue in Christ are sanctified that is set apart from sin to serue God In like manner Gods name is hallowed when it is put apart from al abuses to an holy reuerent and honorable vse whether we think speake or vse it any maner of way Question How can a sinful man hallow Gods name which is pure and holy in it selfe Answer We do not here pray that we might make Gods name holy but that wee might bee meanes to declare and make manifest to the world by the right vsage of it that it is holy and pure and honourable The like phrase is vsed Luk. 7. 39. Wisedome is iustified of her children that is acknowledged declared to be just The scope therefore of the first petition is an earnest desire that we might set foorth Gods glorie whatsoeuer become of vs and it may be expressed thus O Lord open our eies that wee may aright knowe thee and acknowledge the gretnes of thy power wisdom justice and mercie which appeares in thy titles worde creatures and judgements and grant that when we vse any of these we may therein glorifie thee and vse them reuerently to thy glory 3 The vvantes which are to be bevvailed 1 THe wants which we in this place are taught to bewail are especiallie foure The first is an inward and spirituall pride of our hearts a sin that none or very few can see in themselues vnlesse the Lord open their eies When our first parentes were tempted in Paradise the deuil told them they should be as Gods which lesson not onely they but we haue learned and we conceiue of our selues
as litle gods though to the world we shew it not This hidden pride when other sinnes die it begins to get strength and to shewe it selfe and it appeares in vaine thoughts continuallie on euery occasion ascending in the minde As maye appeare in the Pharisie whose thoughts were these wheÌ„ he praied thus within himselfe O God I thank thee that I am not as other men extortioners vniust adulterers or euen as this Publican c. And as this was in him so it is in vs till God giue grace for so that men may haue praise glory in the world they care not for God his glorie though it be defaced Wee must therfore learn to discerne this hidden corruption and to mourn for it for it doeth poison hinder al good desires of glorifying God so long as it may preuaile in the hart 2 Secondly we are taught here to bewaile the hardnesse of our hearts whereby we are hindred from knowing God aright and from discerning the glorie of God in his creatures Mark 6. 52. The Disciples through the hardnesse of their hartes could not see Gods power in the miracle of feeding many thousands with a few loues though themselues were instrumentes of it and the food did increase in their hands Our redeÌ„ption what a wonderfull work is it but how few consider of it or regarde it If wee see a man haue more wit wealth or honour than we haue wee straight woonder at him but beholding Gods creatures we see nothing in them because we do not goe higher to acknowledge the loue power wisedome and iustice of the Creator And this is the cause why Gods name is so slenderly honoured among men 3 The third corruption is our great ingratitude for the Lorde hath made heauen and earth and all other creatures to serue mâ—n yet he is the most vnthankful of al creatures Bestow manie iewels or a kinges ransome on a dead man he wil neuer returne anie kindnes so men being dead in sinne deale with God Commonlie men are like the swine that run with their groines and eat vp the mast but neuer looke vp to the tree from whence it falleth But the godlie are with Dauid to feele this want in themselues and to beseech God to open and as it were to vnlocke their lippes that they may indeuour to be thankfull to God Psal. 51. 15. 4 The fourth is the vngodlines and the innumerable wantes that be in our liues and the sinnes committed in the world Psal. 119. 136 Mine eies saith Dauid gush out with riuers of waters because men keepe not thy lawes The reason is because he which liues in sin reproches Gods name euen as an euill child dishonors his father Now some wil say that this cannot be because our sinnes cannot hurt God Aâ— Yet they are a cause of slandring Gods name among men for as we honour him by our good workes so we dishonour him by our offences Mat. 5. 16. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good workes and glorifie your father which is in heauen 4 Graces to be desired 1 The graces to be desired and to be prayed for at Gods hand are three The first is the knowledge of God that is that we might know him as he hath reueiled himself in his word works and creatures For how shal anie glorifie God before he know him Our knowledge in this life is imperfect Exo. 23. Moses may not see Gods face but his hinder partes 1. Cor. 13. 12. Wee may see God as men doe through spectacles in his word sacraments and creatures And therefore as Paule prayed for the Colossians Col. 1. 10. that they might increase in the knowledge of God so are wee taught to pray for our selues in this petion 2. A zeale for Gods glorie Psal. 69. 9. The zeale of thine house hath eaten me vp Psal. 45. 1. My heart shall vtter or cast vp a good matter I vvill speake in my workes of the king Here the Spirit of God borrowes a comparison froÌ„ men thus As he which hath somewhat lying heauie in his stomâ—cke is neuer at quiet till hee haue cast it vp euen so the care desire to glorifie Gods name must lie vpon a mans heart as an heauie burthen and he is not to bee at ease and quiet with himself till he be disburdened in sounding forth Gods praise Luther saith wel that this is sancta crapula that is an holy surfet and it is no hurt continuallie to haue our harts ouercharged thus 3 A desire to lead a godlie and syncere life as before Gods Majestie We see men that are in some great calling vnder honourable personages wil so order and behaue theÌ„selues as they may please and honour their maisters euen so must our liues bee well ordered and we are to labour to walk worthie of the Lord as Paul speaketh that we may honour our heauenly father Thy kingdome come 1 The Coherence THis petition dependes on the former most excellentlie For in it is laid downe the meanes to procure the first Gods name must be hallowed among men but how is it done by the erecting of Gods kingdome in the heartes of men We cannot glorifie God vntill he rule in our hearts by his word and Spirite 2 The meaning Thy This word doth put vs in mind that there is two kingdoms one Gods that is the kingdome of heauen the other the deuils called the kingdom of darknesse Col. 1. 13. For when all had sinned in Adam God laid this punishmeÌ„t on all that seeing they could not be content to obey their Creator they should be in bondage vnder Sathan So that by nature we are all the children of wrath and the deuill holds vp the scepter of his kingdome in the heartes of men This kingdome is spirituall and the pillers of it are ignorance errour impietie and all disobedience to God in which the deuill whollie delights which also are as it were the lawes of his kingdome Blind ignorant people can not abide this doctrine that the deuill should rule in their hearts they spit at the naming of him say that they defie him with all their heartes but whereas they liue in sinne and practise it as occasion is offered though they can not discerne of themselues yet they make plain proofe that they line in the kingdome of sinne and darknes and are stat vessels of Sathan shal so continew till Christ the strong man come and binde him and cast him out And this is the estate of all the children of Adam in themselues Wherfore our sauiour in this petition teacheth vs to consider our naturall estate and to pray that he would giue vs his Spirit to set vs at libertie in the kingdome of his owne Sonne Kingdome Gods kingdome in scriptures is taken two waies First generallie and so it signifieth that administration by which the Lord gouerneth all thinges yea euen the deuilles themselues of which kingdome mention is made in the end of
this prayer and in Psal. 97. vers 1. The Lorde raigneth let the earth reioice Againe it is taken more speciallie and then it signifieth the administration of Christ the head of the Church in which hee frameth men by his worde and Spirit to the subjection of the same worde And so it is taken in this petition In a kingdome there are foure things to be noted 1. There must bee a king 2 There must be subiectes 3 There are lawes 4 Authoritie In this kingdome Christ is the king it is he to whome the father hath giuen all authoritie in heauen and earth In this kingdom al are not subjects but such as ar willing to giue free and frank obedience to Gods word or at the least though their hearts be not sound make an outward profession of it The lawes of this kingdome is the word of God in the books of the old and new Testament Therfore it is called the kingdome of heauen Mat. 13. The Gospell of the kingdom Mar. 1. 13. The rod of his mouth Isai. 11. 4 The arme of God Isai. 53. 1. As a King by his lawes bringes his people in order keeps them in subiectiō so Christ by his word and the preaching of it as it were by a mightie arme drawes the elect into his kingdome and fashions them to all holie obedience The power and authoritie is that whereby Christ conuerts effectually those which are to be conuerted and glorifies himselfe in the confusion of the rest The kingdom being taken thus specially is also twofold The first is the kingdome of grace of which mention is made Rom. 14. 17. The Kingdome of God stands not in meat drink but in righteousnes that is the assurance of our justification before God in the righteousnes of Christ Peace of conscience which proceeds from this assurance and ioy in the holie Ghost which comes from them both In this kingdom all men liue not but onelie those that ar subject to Christ obedient to the lawes of his kingdome and ruled by his authoritie are continually taught in his word by his spirit But those that refuse to liue according vnto the lawes of this king and choose to liue at their owne libertie are in the kingdom of darknesse sinne and Sathan The second is the kingdome of glory in heauen which is the blessed estate of al Gods people there when God shal be al in al in them And the former kingdom of grace is an entrance and preparation to the kingdome of glorie Come Gods kingdome comes when it is established and confirmed in mens hearts and made manifest to all people the impediments being remoued Question This comming implies a stopping but howe should Gods kingdome be hindered Answer Kingdom in this place is not takē for the power of God whereby hee rules all things for that cānot be hindred but for the kingdome of grace which in the vsing of the outward meanes as ministers word and sacraments may be hindered by the deuill the world and mans corruption 3 The vvantes which are to be bewailed THe wantes which wee in this petition are taught to mourn for are of two sorts some concern our own selues some others That which concernes our owne persons is a bondage and slauerie vnder sinne and Satan This bondage indeede is weakened in Gods seruants but none is whollie freed from it in this life Paule complaineth that he is sould vnder sinne and cries pitifullie O miserable man that I am who shal deliuer me from this bodie of death Question What difference then betweene the godlie and the wicked Answer The euil and vngodlie man in the verie middest of his bondage hath a mery hart sinne is no trouble to him nay it is meat and drinke to him But the godly man is otherwise minded For considering the power of the deuill and his craft in manifold fearfull temptations and seeing the prooffes of his rebellious nature euer and anon to start away from God he is grieued and confounded in himself his heart bleedes within him that hee doth offend so mercifull a Father Manie men liue in this world that manie yeares and yet neuer feele this bondage vnder Satan sinne Such vndoubtedlie cannot tel what the Lords prayer meanes But he that would haue the right vse of this petition must bee acquainted with it and bee touched in his conscience for that the flesh and the deuill beare such sway in him As the poore captiue is alwaies creeping to the prison dore alwaies labouring to get off his bolts fetters to escape out of prison so must we alwaies crie to the Lord for his Spirite to free vs out of this bondage and prison of sinne and corruption and everie day come neerer the prison doore looking when our blessed Sauiour will vnbind vs of all the fetters of sinne and Sathan and fullie erect his kingdome in vs. 2. The wantes which concerne others are twofold The former is the wāt of the good means which serue for the furthering of the kingdome of Christ as preaching sacraments and discipline When we shal see a people without knowledge and without good guides and teachers and when we see one stand vp in the congregation not able to teach here is matter for mourning This petition puts vs in mind to bewaile these wantes Our Sauiour when hee sawe the Iewes as sheepe without a shepherd he had compassion on them and hee wept ouer Ierusalem because they knewe not the thinges which belonged to their peace Luk. 9. 11. Therefore when preachers want to hold vp the scepter of God before the people and to hold out the word which is as it were the arme of God to pul men from the bondage of the deuill to the kingdome of Christ Then it is time to say Lorde let thy kingdome come 3. The third want which we are to bewail is that there be so many impediments and hinderances of the kingdome of grace as the deuill and al his Angels their instruments the Pope the Turke and all the rest of the professed wicked of the world which by subtile intisements and tyrannie keep back repell the means whereby Christ ruled as a king in his Churche When the deuill sees one that was sometime of his kingdome but to cast a looke toward the heauenly Ierusalem he straightway regeth against him and labours quite to ouerthrow him Wherfore in regard of al these impediments wee must pray thy kingdom come 4. Graces to be desired 1. IN this petition we are taught first that we are to haue a feruent desire and to hunger that God of his mercie would giue vs his Spirite to raigne and rule in our hearts and to bow them to all obedience and subjection of his will further whereas our hearts haue bene as it were filthie sties and stables of the deuill that hee would renew them and make of them sit temples to entertaine his owne spirite Psal. 51. 10. Create in me a cleane hearte
last petitions Againe a Christian man may mak an excellent confession of his sins by this praier if he shal keping the order of the petitions confesse and bewaile the sins which euerie petition requires vs to pray against it serues to mak a thanksgiuing to God Thus let a man remember all the graces which he hath receiued from God let him then refer them to the petitions and giue thankes to God after the order of them turning euery petition into a thanksgiuing Of the circumstances of prayer Quest. 1. Whether a man is to vse a voice in prayer Ans. In publik praier it is requisite that there bee a voice for the Minister is the month of the people and to the prayer which hee conceiues they giue assent For priuate prayer vsing of a voice is conuenient yet so as it may be done in silence 1. the Lord gaue vs the voyce as well as the heart to blesse him withall Iam. 3. 9. 2 God created the tong as wel as the heart and so will bee praised by both 3 The voice often stir vp the heart and againe the vehemēcie of affection doth often draw out a voice the voice then in priuate prayer is requisite yet in some cases may bee omitted for it is not absolutely necessarie Moses and Anna prayed in silence Quest. 2. What gesture is to bee vsed in prayer An. The word doth not affoord any certain direction Our Sauiour his Disciples praied in diuers gestures kneling standing groueling looking to heauen looking downe to the earth sitting lying c. Luk. 11. 41. Act. 7 God respectes not the gesture but the affection of the heart yet two thinges must be alwaies in the gesture 1. that it be comelie 2. that it do fitlie expresse the affection of the hart as when we ask mercie to look to heauen when wee bewaile our sins to look downward c. Question 3. What place must we pray in An. The place is set down 1. Tim. 2. 8. we may pray in all places of which ther is no difference Some will say that in the time of the Law the Tabernacle and Temple were places for diuine prayer Ans. The Temple and Tabernacle wer types of Christ his Church and the vnitie of it but now wee hauing the thing it selfe signified thereby may pray in al places Our Sauior prayed in the wildernes on the Mount Peter on the house top Paule by the sea shore yet so that publik praier must be vsed in publike places as Churches chappels c. not because in them is more holinesse but for orders sake Quest. 4. What is the time appointed for praier Ans. Praie continuallie 1. The 5. 7. that is vpon al occasions or whē a man begins any busines whether it be in word or deed Col. 3. 17. or as Daniel who praied thrise euerie daie Dan. 6. 11. or as Dauid who praied at euening morning and noontide Ps. 55. 18 and seuen times a daie vz. many Psa. 119. 140. Thus we shal pray continuallie Euery day affoords three especial occasions 1. The entrance to our callings in the morning 2. The receiuing of Gods creatures at noonetide 3. the going to rest at night Of Gods hearing our praiers HItherto we haue spoken of the making of prayer to God a word or two of God his hearing our prayers Question How many waies doth God hear mens praiers Ans. Two waies The first in his mercie when he graunts the requests of such as call vpon him in the feare of his name Secondly hee heares mens praiers in his wrath Thus he gaue the Israelites quailes according to their desire Psalme 78. 29. 30. 31. Thus often men curse themselues and wish that they were dead and accordinglie they haue their wish Quest. 2. Why doth God defer to hear the praiers of his seruants Ans. 1. to prooue them by delay 2. To exercise their saith 3. To make them acknowledge that the things which they receiue ar gods gifts and not from themselues 4. That graces quickly giuen might not be lightlie estemed 5. That an hungring after grace might bee sharpened and increased Quest. After what maner doth God hear his seruants prayers An. Two waies First by granting the thing which was asked according to his will Secondly by denying the thing desired and by giuing somthing proportional to it Thus God denies temporary blessings and in the roome thereof giues eternall in heauen Thus he refuseth to remoue the crosse from his servantes and giues in stead thereof strength and patience Christ praied that the cup might bee remooved It was not remooued but hee in his manhood was enabled to beare the wrath of God When ded in loue maie be able to comprehend vvith all Saintes vvhat is the breadth and length and depth and height 19 And know the loue of Christ which passeth knowledge that ye maie bee filled vvith all fulnesse of God 20 Vnto him therefore that is able to doe exceeding aboundant lie aboue all that vve aske or thinke according to the power that vvorketh in vs 21 Be praise in the Churche by Christ Iesus throughout all generations for euer Amen The Exposition THese wordes containe two partes a praier and a thanksgiuing In the praier these pointes are to be marked First the gesture I bowe my knees whereby Paul signifieth his humble submission vnto God in praier Secondly To whom he praies To the father who is described by two titles the first the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ and that by nature as he is God and as hee is man by personall vnion The other title Of vvhome the whole familie which is in heauen and earth is named In which words is set down a description of the Church first it is a Familie because it is the company of Gods elect children vnder the gouernment of one Father 1. Timoth. 3. 15. It is called the house of God Ephes. 2. 19. They that beleeue are saide to be of the household of God Secondly the partes of the Catholicke Church are noted namely the Saintes in heauen departed and saintes liuing on earth Thirdly it is said to be named of the Father of Christ because as the Father of Christ is the Father of this familie so also this familie is called by him Genes 6. 2. Dan. 9. 18. Thirdly the matter of the praier standes of foure moste worthie points The first is strength to bear the crosse and to resist spiritual temptations vers 16. where this strenth is sette out by diuers arguments First that it is the meere gifte of God that he wold grant you Secondly the cause of strength by his spirit Thirdly the subiect or place wher this strength must bee in the inner man that is in the whole man so farre foorth as hee is renewed by grace Ephes. 9. 24. The second is the dwelling of Christ by faith in their hearts Faith is when a man beeing seriously humbled for his sinnes is further in consciēce perswaded and resolued of the pardon of