A GVIDE TO GOE TO GOD OR AN EXPLANATION of the Perfect Patterne of Prayer The LORDS PRAYER By WILLIAM GOVGE B. in D. and Minister of Gods Word in Black-Friers LONDON ISA. 30. 21. This is the way walke in it AT LONDON Printed by G. M. and R. B. for Edward Brewster and are to be sold at his shop neere the great North dore of S t. Pauls Church at the signe of the Bible 1626. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE RIGHT Worshipfull and other my much respected Parishioners Inhabitants in Blacke-Friers London All needfull Prosperitie in this world and eternall Felicitie in the World to come I DESIRE my much honoured and entirely beloued Parishioners so long as the Lord of life shall preserue mee in the Land of the liuing I desire to goe on in promoting your spiritual edification euery way that I can priuately publikely by prayer by preaching yea and by printing too Behold here an euidence thereof What priuately I first digested in mine owne meditation and then publikely deliuered by word of mouth whereof in the open Church you heard your children and seruants examined Deus est nobis summum bonum Neque infra remanendum nobis est neque vltra quarendum Alterum euim periculesum alterum nullum est Aug. de Mor. Eccl. Cath. l. 1. c. 8 and for a blessing whereupon many prayers by vs all ioyntly and seuerally haue beene poured out before God is now thorow Gods gracious prouidence so published as it may be reuiewed so oft as you please Well accept it for it is A GVIDE TO GOE TO GOD. God is the highest and chiefest Good below which we may not remaine beyond which we cannot attaine To place our rest in any thing before we come to God is dangerous Oratione intramus coelestem illam curiam in qua Rex regum stellato sedet solio c. Bern. Serm. de 4. modis Orand Oratione praesentamus nos quasi saci◠ad faciem cum Deo loquentes Ibid. To attaine to any rest beyond God is impossible This therefore is that proper place whether the soule well enlightened and rectified aspireth as all hot light things aspire to the high hot Region The meanes whereby wee men on earth haue accesse to God in Heauen is Prayer By Prayer we enter into the Court where God sitteth in his Maiestie and wee present out selues before him speaking vnto him as it were face to face That therefore which instructeth vs to pray aright directeth vs to God This doth the Lords Prayer And nothing can doe it better For this end To teach vs how to pray it was first prescribed It is not onely a most absolute prayer in it selfe but also a perfect patterne for other prayers And in this respect the only way wherein we can goe to God Full of matter is this forme of Prayer but few the words thereof Such fulnesse of matter in so few words make it to many as the prophesie of Christ was to Candaces Eunuch whereof he said to him that moued this question Vnderstandest thou what thou readest How can I except I had a guide A guide therefore is needfull for many to direct them in this way to goe to God Loe a Guide at hand This Explanation of the Lords Prayer is offered to you for that purpose But as a Guide that directeth a Traueller in his iourney to the Kings Court maketh not the way better but sheweth him how to order his trauell in that way so this Guide this Explanation addeth nothing to the Perfection of the Prayer but onely helpeth you in the vse thereof The many particulars which minister iust matter of ardent supplication hearty gratulation deepe humiliation and conscionable obseruation of our wayes are in this Explanation distinctly set out Thereby you may see how rich a Cabonet the Lords Prayer is how full of most precious iewels vsefull for the soule of man The Excellencie of this forme of Prayer is set forth in the first Section of this Explanation Whatsoeuer is therein performed is the fruit of my affected Retirednesse and suspected Idlenesse in the countrey So many so continuall are my imployments in the Citie so many interruptions from my studies day after day are there caused as I neuer yet could find any leasure to set down distinctly such points as by Gods assistance were vttered out of the Pulpet Whatsoeuer hath hitherto been published by me hath in my retiring time been prepared for the Presse This benefit of a few weekes absence in the yeare from my charge there being in that time a good supply made by my Reuerend Brethren may gaine a sufficient dispensation with those that are not too supercilious which I hope you my Parishioners will not be For I haue euer found such true loue such good respect such kinde vsage such fauourable acceptance of all my paines in euery kinde as I haue iust cause to blesse the diuine prouidence for bringing me to this place The Lord God so blesse all my labours vnto you all as we may haue al iust cause to blesse him one for another and to continue mutually and heartily to pray one for another Doe ye so So will doe Your carefull Pastor Church-Court in Black-Friers WILLIAM GOVGE London 17. Febr. 1625 OVR Father which art in Heauen Hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs this day our dayly Bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. And leade vs not into temptation But deliuer vs from euill For thine is the Kingdome and the Power and the Glorie for euer Amen A Table of the seuerall and distinct points handled in this Explanation of the perfect Patterne of Prayer as in order they follow one another PREFACE § 1. OF the Excellencie of the Lords Prayer Page 1 2. Of the seuerall branches of the Lords Prayer 5 3. Of the preparation to Prayer 6 4. Of the meanes to prepare vs to prayer 7 5. Of praying to God alone 7 6. Of Gods goodnesse and greatnesse ioyntly considered together 8 7. Of this title Father applyed to God 10 8. Of instructions wich the title Father applyed to God import 11 9. Of the prerogatiue of Gods children to speake to him face to face 13 10. Of their dutie who haue free accesse to God 14 11. Of the parties comprised vnder this particle OVR 15 12. Of applying Gods fatherhood to our selues 16 13. Of Gods impartiall respect to all his children and sufficiencie of blessing for all 18 14. Of their mutuall duties which say Our Father 19 15. Of the Saints participation of one anothers Prayers 21 16. Of Gods being in heauen 22 17. Of the direction which Gods being in heauen giueth vs for manner of praying 24 18. Of the direction which Gods being in heauen giueth for the matter of Prayer 28 1. PETITION § 19. OF the manner of handling euerie Petition 30 20. Of the name of God and
compasse of his power But they are the things which God aimeth at which hee hath ordained to be done in that regard no doubt can be made of Gods willingnes to grant them Seeing then that God is able to do whatsoeuer he is willing to do And seeing that whatsoeuer God is able willing to do shall be done and seeing that the things which tend to Gods glory God is both able and willing to do wil not this conclusion necessarily follow fioÌ„ those premises The things which are asked of God for the glory of God shal assuredly be granted How fitly therfore doth Christ hauing prescribed sundry Petitions which all tend to the glory of God teach vs to put God in minde of his glory for strengthening our faith in obtaining them That this motiue taken from Gods glory may rightly bee vsed in prayer and thy faith be strengthened thereby be sure that all the Petitions which thou preferrest to God do make to Gods glory Let them not bee to satisfie thy lusts Iam. 4. 3. So thou maist aske and not receine §. 232. Of Gods vnchangeable Eternitie How it maketh vs rest on God for obtaining our desires Q. HOw doth Gods vnchangeable eternitie enbolden vs in faith to call vpon God A. It maketh vs confidently to expect what God hath formerly granted and to doe for vs that which hee hath alwayes done for them that haue called on him and beleeued in him On this ground the Psalmist thus pleadeth Our fathers trusted in thee Psal 22. 4 5. they trusted and thou didst deliuer them They cryed vnto thee and were deliuered they trusted in thee and were not confounded This pleading of Gods former dealings implyeth faith in Gods vnchangeable continuing to bee the same God the same God in our time that he was of old in our fathers time the same God to vs that hee was to our fathers b Psal 74. 13 c. On this ground it hath beene vsuall with Saints to call to minde 77. 11 12 c and to make mention of Gods former dealings with others before their time 2. Chro. 20. 7. when they called vpon GOD to strengthen their faith and to c Psal 105. 5. call on others to remember the same The Prophet rendereth this reason of declaring Gods former dealings to posteritie d Psal 78. 7. That they might set their hope in God Were not the Kingdome Power and Glory Gods FOR EVER Were not God euer the same God this argument taken from Gods former fauours and Gods former workes would be of little force to make succeeding ages to trust in him Wherefore that all ages might in faith call vpon God and with confidence depend on him to be heard and helpt yea that they who haue once beene heard and helpt might hold on in calling vpon God and seeking helpe of him euery day euen all the dayes of their life fitly doth the Lord adde this clause FOR EVER to set out the immutable eternitie of God himselfe and of all his properties as of his Soueraignty Omnipotencie and Excellencie Oft meditate hereon that thou maist with as strong confidence call on God as Abraham Dauid the Prophets Apostles and other Saints haue done but with this Prouiso that thou endeuour to be such as they were and so to call on him as they did for God for euer remaineth the same and casteth his gracious eye vpon the same kinde of persons Thus much of the application of the particular properties of God to all the Petitions in generall Each Petition shall further be applyed to each propertie §. 233. Of the speciall relation which the seuerall Petitions haue to the Kingdome of God Q. VVHat particular respects hath euery of the Petitions to Gods Kingdome A. 1. It appertaines to a King to haue his â—onour aduanced a Math. 5. 35. The Lord forbiddeth to sweare by Ierusalem because it is the Citie of the great King so as the things of the great King must not be profaned the King is dishonoured thereby which he will not brooke The Lord will giue strength to his King and exalt the horne of his anointed It is fit for a King to be exalted and haue his name hallowed Good ground therefore there is to make this Petition Hallowed be thy name to him whose the kingdome is 2. It cannot bee doubted but that a King will maintaine his Kingdome It belongeth to him so to doe Who should doe it if not he Zac. 9. 9 10. Hereupon the Prophet exhorteth Zion to reioyce in the comming of her King for comming to his owne kingdome hee commeth with saluation Well therefore may wee say to him whose the Kingdome is Thy Kingdome come 3. Obedience is most due to a King Of Christ the King of the Church it is foretold that All Kings shall fall downe before him Psal 72. 11. All Nations shall serue him Yea wee are commanded to serue him Psal 2. 6 11. because hee is a King Ought wee not then to make to him whose the kingdome is this Petition Thy will bee done 4. A King prouides all needfull things for his Subiects So much is noted in the description of a good King Psal 71. 6 7. He shall come downe like raine vpon the mowen grasse and as showers that water the earth In his dayes shall be aboundance of peace May wee not now pray thus Giue vs this day our dayly bread to him whose the kingdome is 5. It is in the power of the highest to forgiue If the King grant a Pardon to a Traitor who can condemne him Christ sitting in iudgement to shew what authoritie hee had to absolue and condemne Mat. 25. 34 41. stileth himselfe King The KING shall say Come ye blessed c. and He shall say depart you cursed c. Great reason therfore there is thus to pray Forgiue vs our debts to him whose the kingdome is 6. It is a Kings Office to deliuer his Subiects from their enemies and from the euils which may befall them Fitly to this purpose saith the Prophet Zeph. 3. 15. The Lord hath taken away thy iudgements hee hath cast out thine enemies The King of Israel euen the Lord is in the middest of thee thou shalt not see euill any more We haue therefore iust cause to say Leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill to him whose the Kingdome is §. 234. Of the speciall relation which the seuerall Petitions haue to Gods power Q. VVHat particular respect hath euery of the Petitions to Gods power A. 1. To haue Gods name rightly and duely hallowed requireth a diuine power Psal 24. 8. The Lord strong and mighty is the King of Glory Wherefore to hallow Gods name must bee desired and expected of him whose the power is 2. Gods Kingdome can not bee perfected but by almightie power For many and mighty are the enemies thereof Few and weake are the true members and friends thereof They
therefore that speake of the glory of Gods kingdome Psal 145. 11. talke of his power So as this Petition Thy kingdome come is to bee made to him whose the power is 3. By a strong hand it is that mortal sinful men are brought to do Gods will Mar. 10. 27. With men it is impossible To him therefore whose the power is it is requisite thus to pray Thy will be done on earth 4. All our necessities cannot bee fupplied but by a diuine power 2. King 6. 27. A King was forced to say If the Lord helpe thee not whence shall I helpe thee out of the barn-floore or out of the wine-presse 2 Cor. 9. 8. But God is able to make all grace abound towards you that ye alwaies hauing all sufficiency in all things may abound to euery good worke As therefore wee would haue our desire granted so let vs say Giue vs this day our daily bread to him whose the power is 5. Whether is it easier to say to the sicke of the palsie Mar 2. 9. Thy sinnes are forgiuen thee or to say Arise and take vp thy bed and walke Both are done by the same power which is diuine omnipotent Make therefore to him whose the power is this Petition Forgiue vs our debts 6. To bee able to stand against the assaults of Satan Ephes 6. 10. c. is aboue the ability of flesh and blood To him therefore whose the power is wee must pray Leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill §. 235. Of the speciall relation which the seuerall Petitions haue to Gods glorie Q. VVHat particular respect hath euery of the Petitions to Gods glory A. 1. The hallowing of Gods Name is the chiefest part of his glory Leu. 10. 3. I will be sanctified saith the Lord in them that come nigh to me and before all the people I will bee glorified By being sanctified or hallowed God is glorified In faith therefore we may thus pray Hallowed be thy name to him whose the gloryis 2. Gods Kingdome is the prime place of his glory Psal 26. 8. It is the place where his honour dwelleth To the Church the peculiar Kingdome of God it is said Isa 60. 1 2. The glory of the Lord is risen vpon thee his glory shall bee seene vpon thee Confidently therefore to him whose the glory is wee may make this sute Thy Kingdome come 3. The creature cannot better glorifie God then by obeying his will Ioh. 15. 8. Herein saith Christ is my Father glorified that yee beare much fruit 1. Sam. 15. 22. To obey is better then Sacrifice Hee therefore that prayeth Thy will be done to him whose the glory â—s may be sâ—re to haue his prayer granted 4. The diuine prouidence in temporall blessings much amplifieth Gods glory Exod. 16. 7. By giuing bread to his people in the wildernesse God shewed his glory Psal 145. 11 15 c. Where the Prophet saith They shall speake of thy glory by way of explication hee reckoneth vp many euidences of Gods prouidence in temporall blessings thus The eyes of all waite vpon thee thou giuest them their meate in due season c. His glory therefore whose the glory is will moue him to grant this Petition Giue vs this day our daily bread 5. The glory of God is exceedingly commended by pardoning sinne Ephes 1. 6 7. To the praise of the glory of his grace we haue forgiuenesse of sinne In much confidence therefore thou maist say Forgiue vs our debts to him whose the glory is 6. Preseruation and deliuerance of Saints from euill much magnifieth and setteth forth the glory of God Where the Prophet reckoneth vp many deliuerances which God gaue to his people Isa 59. 19. he inferreth thereupon They shall feare the Name of the Lord from the West Ezek. 39. 21. and his glory from the rising of the Sun And on the same ground saith God himselfe I will set my glory among the heathen This Petition Leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill may in faith be made to him whose the glory is §. 236. Of the speciall relation which the seuerall Petitions haue to Gods vnchangeable eternitie Q. VVHat particular respect bane euery of the Petitions to Gods immutable eternity A. 1. Gods Name is for euer Psal 135. 13. and his memoriall endureth thorowout all generations 2. His Kingdome is an euerlasting Kingdome Psal 145. 13. 3. Gods will is to be done thorow-out all Ages by vs by our sonnes Deut. 6. 2. by our sonnes sonnes Wee may therefore well make these Petitions Hallowed be thy name Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done though they be of euerlasting and immutable matters to the eternall God whose the Kingdome is and the power and the glory FOR EVER 4. We euery day want bread so shall we doe as long as we liue 1 Chro. 29. 15. As our Fathers from the beginning of the world haue stood in need thereof Ioh. 4. 13. so doe we and so shall our posterity also For whosoeuer drinketh of this water shall thirst againe 5. Our Fathers of old to our time haue sinned Act. 7. 51. so doe wee all our daies Ezek. 9. 7. so will our posterity for euer 6. The Diuel hath beene a murtherer from the beginning Deut 31. â—1 and euer will be Iob. 8. 44. There is perpetuall enimity betwixt the womans seede and his seede Gen. 3. 15. We and ours shall be for euer in this world subiect to many euills We therefore who make these Petitions Giue vs this day our daily bread And forgiuâ— vs our debts And leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill haue neede to be well instructed in Gods eternity and immutability For in faith we may make the forenamed Petitions concerning our perpetuall needs to him whose Kingdome and power and glory is FOR EVER Hitherto of the acknowledgement of Gods properties as they haue relation to the Petitions and are reasons to enforce them The said acknowledgement is further to bee considered singly and simply by it selfe §. 237. Of the necessary vse of this clause Thine is the Kingdome and the power and the glory for euer Q. WHat doth the acknowledgement of Gods properties singly considered import A. A forme of praise 1 Chro. 29. 10. 11 For where mention is made of Dauids blessing God it is set downe in this forme Thine O Lord is the greatnesse and the power and the glory c. Thus is this clause Thine is the Kingdome and the power and the glory for euer the second part of the Lords Prayer whereby the perfection of that Prayer is set out Phil. 4. 6. For prayer cosisteth of these two parts Petition Praise 1. Thes 5. 17 18. They therefore who wholy omit this clause and cast it out of this patterne of Prayer make it an imperfect patterne as Papists who thoroughout
Prayer without Reuenge 196 Prayer for others spirituall freedome 241 Prayer to be pressed with reasons 281 These reasons are all to be taken from God 282 No plea in prayer to God can bee taken from man 283 Prayer cannot obtaine whatsoeuer God is able to doe 314 Prayer may not abruptly bee broken off 340 PRAISE See thankes Praise to be added to Petition 324 Ten Reasons to stir vp to praise God 324 c. How God is praised 326 For what God is to be praised 327 Excellencie soueraignty and kindnesse make God praise-worthy 327 328 Preparation to Prayer 6 Professors Quarrels 173 Properties See Attributes 285 Promises of God ground of faith 337 How the Petitions of the Lords Prayer are Promised 337 Puritans who be 255 R. REcapitulation at the end of all the Prayer 339 Recouerie after a fall 250 REMISSION See Pardon REVENGE Man prone to Reuenge 164 Pretences for Reuenge 195 Pray without Reuenge 196 Reuengefull persons pull reuenge vpon themselues 201 RIGHT Right of man to things of this world 101 Right to be departed from 177 S. SAINTS SAints subiect to temptation 242 Sanctification accompanieth Iustification fication SATAN Meanes whereby Satan tempteth 244 Satan why stiled euill one 249 SATISFACTION Satisfaction by Christ and free remission stand together 146 Popish Satisfaction 148 159 Satisfaction for wrongs done to man 175 SINNE See Debts Mans sinnes Debts 226 Mans subiection to Sinne. 129 No man free from Sinne. 129 Papists contrarie Positions 130 Sinne dayly committed 131 Duties thence arising 131 Horriblenesse of sinne 135 Sinne mortall See mortall 136 Sinne our owne 143 144 Gods free and full discharge of sinne 145. 156 159. Sinne remissible 155 God no Author of sinne 235 Sinne a voluntarie action 243 Blame of sinne on man 245 Man prone to sin after forgiuenesse 255 SOVLES Care for Soule double 208 SOVERAIGNTY See Kingdome See Supremacie SPIRITVALL Spirituall good 〈◊〉 be sought 206 Spiritual things preferred before temporall by many 209 Spirituall freedome to bee prayed for 241 SVPREMACIE Supremacie of Gods soueraigntie absolute 286 Supremacie of God a cause of greater praise 328 T TEMPORALL See Bread TEmporall things to be prayed for 101 Mans right to temporall things 101 Temporall things giuen of God 107 How they are made blessings 107 Vses to be made thereof 108 Temporall blessings to bee craued for others 110. 117 Temporall blessings a meanes to stirre vp a desire of spirituall 115 Temporall blessings for which thankes is due 118 Duties for obtaining temporall blessings 120 Who neglect their temporall welfare 122 Who neglect others temporall welfare 123 Carking too much for temporal things 124 TEMâ—T To tempt What it is 228 Who tempt 228 c. Temptation Kindes thereof 229 Man subiect to temptation 231 Leading into temptation 233 How God leades into temptation 234 Mans disabilitâ—e to resist temptation 237 Gods ouer-ruling power in temptation 238 Tempters power restrained 239 Meanes whereby Satan tempteth 244 Temptation to be auoided 257 Graces requisite for auoiding temptation 259 Duties for auoiding temptations 270 How others kept from the power of temptations 274 How men brought into temptation 276 THANKES See Praise Thankes for the things whereby God is glorified 44 Thankes for the things which tend to the Churches good 66 Thanks for accomplishing Gods will 91 Thankes for temporall blessings 118 Thankes for the meanes of Gods forgiuing vs. 218 Thankes for the graces which make vs forgiue others 220 Thankes for freedome from temptatation 167 Thankes for recouerie out of euils 269 V Veniall See Mortall Vnchangeable See immutable VNiuersall Kingdome of God 48. 286. W. WELFARE See Temporall WILL. VVIll of God What it is 71 Kindes of Gods will 71 How Gods will is done 72 Will of God the ground and rule of goodnesse 73 Will of God to be practised 74 Man vnable to doe Gods will 75 Will of God to be preferred before all others 76 Doing Gods will is honourable to God 84 Graces to enable vs to doe Gods will 85 Sixe heads of the manner of doing Gods will 89 Matters of praise about the accomplishment of Gods will 91 Duties for doing Gods will 92 Sinnes against Gods will 95 Will of man free 243 Will of man an vnpregnable for t 246 Will and power in God ground of faith 315 Word of God See will of God World See Temporall