the kingdome of grace it signifieth two things 1. An erecting of it where it is not begun before 2. Where it is once erected a full continuance of it to the end Q. Being vnderstoode of the kingdome of glory what is ment by comming A. Then it signifieth also two things 1 A hastening forward of that time wherein we shall be partakers of it 2 A full possessing of it when that time is come Q. By what meanes is this kingdom erected and maintained in us A. The principall meanes are in number foure Q. Which is the first A. The powerfull ministerie of the word vnto which are ioyned the sacraments for the greater strengthening and confirming of our faith Q. Which is the second meanes A. The effectuall working of the spirite of God in our heartes without which the other meanes are vnprofitable vnto vs. Q. Which is the third A. Godly princes good rulers and Magistrates Q. Why what must they doe A. It belongeth to them to reforme religion to purge the Church of God and to defend the true worship and worshippers of God and to subdue all that bee enemies vnto the same Q. How proue you that A. By the testimonie of the Apostle who willeth that they bee prayed for for this ende that men may leade vnder them an honest and a godly life As also by the Prophet Esay who for this cause calleth Kings and Queenes nursing fathers and nursing mothers for the Church of God Q. What is the fourth last meanes for the building vp of the kingdome of God A. Ecclesiasticall discipline or the gouernment of Christ in his Church Q. Wherein standeth it A. It standeth in three things Admonition Suspension Excommunication Q. By whome and howe must these things be put in execution A. By such officers and in such manner as Christ himselfe hath ordayned in his Gospell Q. What be the effects and benefits of this kingdome A. The Apostle hath set them forth 1 Negatiuely nor meats drinks that is not any transitory or earthly matter 2 Affirmatiuely but Righteousnes peace and ioy in the holy Ghost Q. Now shewe briefely what is the sense meaning of this second petition A. The meaning of it is this wee pray that the Lord would subdue vnto his Maiestie all the power of Sathan in vs and all the wicked lustes of the flesh and enable vs both in body soule by his holy spirite to worke acceptably in his sight And to throw downe all his enemies and ours that hee may gloriously raigne and triumph ouer all And that we by Christ may finally bee made partakers of his euerlasting kingdome of glory in heauen Q. Now as briefly shew the particular graces that we craue in this petitiō A. The particulars are these we craue 1 That it would please the Lord to pull downe by the preaching of the worde and working of his holy spirite the kingdome of sinne and Sathan and to establish his owne kingdome in the hearts of the faithfull Q. What els A. 2 That Christ may raigne by his owne lawes and that hee would giue all furtherance vnto it As that it would please him 1 To encrease the number of faithfull preachers 2 To encrease the giftes of the preachers 3 To maintain al schooles of learning 4 To ioyne with the outward preaching his spirite within 5 To stirre vp the people to heare confer reade beleeue and obey c. Q. What els doe we pray for A. 3 That the Lorde would raise vp carefull Magistrates which may be nurses to his Gospell Q. What els A. 4 That God would erect and maintaine such an ecclesiasticall gouernment for his church as he knoweth fit to aduāce his glorie Q. What els A. 5 That he would remoue all contrary lettes and whatsoeuer is against the furtherance of his kingdome Q. Is there anie more A. 6 And lastly that God would hasten either the day of iudgement or the day of death Q. But many you knowe cannot abide to heare of death nor the comming of Christ. A. It is true indeed for the wicked tremble at the hearing of them as Foelix did when Paul spake vnto him of the iudgement to come But the children of God being holden with the temptations of Sathan and their owne corruption Cry out with themselues Come Lord Iesus and with hartie affection do pray and say Thy Kingdome come Q. What say you to such as hinder the kingdome of Christ A. I would wish them to consider that when they say this petition they pray for their owne confusion and destruction The third Petition Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen Q. WHat is the summe of this petition A. 1 That euery man in his calling may obey God 2 In our callings to direct all thinges to the glory of God 3 To take in good parte whatsoeuer God sendeth whether it bee with vs or against vs. Q. Why is this next A. To shew that then Gods kingdome doth come when his will is done Q. What is your meaning more plainely A. I meane that the Lorde doth not rule in vs if wee remaine vnwilling to obey his worde and striuing against his will Q. How may wée come to the true vnderstanding of this petition A. For the better vnderstanding of this petition wee are to consider of three poyntes 1 Of howe manie sortes the will of God is 2 Whether God willeth sinne or no. 3 Whether the will of God should bee done if wee pray not for the doing of it or no. Q. Uery well the poyntes are verie necessary what say you then of the first poynt A. In respect of God himselfe his will is alwayes but one and that most simple but in respect of vs The will of God is twofolde Hidden Reuealed Q. What doth the Scripture speake of the secret will of God A. The Scripture compareth it to great deepe or a bottomelesse sea which cannot be sounded and vnto hie mountaines which cannot be climed Q. What call you the secret will of God A. That counsel which he neuer reuealed in his worde neither hath promised to reueale in this world Q. Whether may this secret will of God be searched after or no A. No it ought not Q. How proue you that A. In Iohn 21. 23. Act. 1. 7. Q. What call you the reuealed will of God A. That which hee hath made knowne in his worde Q Whether may wee search after that or no A. Yea we may and ought Q. How proue you that N. In Deut. 29. 29. Q. Whether doe wée pray here for the doing of Gods secret will or no A. No for that is euer done and shal while the world endureth Q. Of how many sorts is the reuealeo will of God A. Of two sorts 1. That which God dooth require to be done by vs and that is reuealed in the lawe 2. That which hee hath decreed of vs in his eternall counsell
you vpon this A. Euen so God is called the Father euen of the reprobate because hee first created them and yet they cannot be called the children of God except by creation as Adam was no more then the tents and pipes can be called the children of Iaball and Iuball Q. It had béene some benefite and priuiledge if God had béen our naturall Father but to be our Father by adoption séemeth to bée no great matter iâ— it A. Although God bee not our naturall father for so hee is onely of Christ but by grace yet performeth hee â—ll the partes of a naturall Father â—â—tter then any naturall father dooth whatsoâ—â—er Q. The natural Father heareth loue and affection vnto his children A. So dooth GOD vnto his for the Psalmist â—aith As a father hath compassion on his children so hath the Lorde compassion on them that feare him See more of this poynte in Esay 49. 1â—0 Matth. 7. 9. Q. The naturall Father proudeth thinges necessarie for this life A. So dooth GOD for his Matth. 6. 30. 31. 32. And though wee receiue theâ— of our naturall parents yet they come from GOD. See more of this poynt in 2. King 6. 27. Q. The naturall Father brings by his childe in some arte and knowledge to get his liuing by A. So dooth GOD by his children Ierem. 31. 33. I will write my 〈◊〉 their hearts c. besides that they haue the best schoolemaster the spirit of God Q. The naturall Father defendeth his children from iniuries and wrongs A. So dooth God and willeth vs to come vnto him Shall not God auenge his elect which crie vnto him night and daye Hee is therefore called the helper of the helpes and the widdowe and a father of the fatherles Q. The naturall father chastiseth his children whom he loueth and if he hath cast any out of his fauour he lets him alone to doe what he list A. So dooth God correct his children whom he loueth and therefore dooth he correct them because he loueth them But as for the wicked world worldlings hee lets them growe in prosperitie giuing them vp to their owne hearts lust because hee hath cast them out of his presence and fauour Q. The naturall Father prepareth an inheritance for his children A. So doth God for his Luke 12. 32. It is your Fathers pleasure to giue you the kingdome yea he hath prouided for vs an inheritance as Peter saith immortall and vndefiled that withereth not which is reâ—erâ—â—d in heauen for vs. Q. What vse may we make of this worde Father in this place A. This word Father may serue to expell all distrust 1. Of Gods fauour and all feare in prayer 2. It maketh ioye in our hearts and emboldeneth vs to goe vnto the throne of grace 3. It teacheth vs that we owe him the duetie of children and that wee must liue like the children of such a father if wee looke for benefites at his hands 4. It is auailable to worke patience in vs in trouble and affliction and at such times as our prayers are not graunted at the first Heb. 12. 7. If yee endure chastening God offereth himselfe vnto you 〈…〉 sonnes Q. It shoulde séeme by this preface that we ought not to pray to the second nor third person in the Trinitie that is to say to the Sonne and the holy Ghost but only to the first person that is the Father for so are wee taught to pray Our Father what say you to that A. For the better vnderstanding of this poynt wee must consider that this word Father being spoken of God is put two wayes in the Scripture sometime personally sometime essentially Q. What doe you meane when you say it is put personally A. It is taken personally when it is put but for some one of the three persons or beings in the Trinitie and cannot bee attributed to any of the other persons Q. What doe you meane when you say it is put essentially A. It is taken essentially when it doth extend to the whole essence of being of the Deitie Q. If you can make your meaning more plaine A. Then more plainly this is my meaning that wheresoeuer this word Father is attributed vnto God being ioyned in the same sentence with the Sonne or the holie Ghost or both then it is taken personally that is it is restrayned to the person of the Father only But when it is not coupled nor compared with any of the persons but is taken simply without relation to the other persons then it is taken essentially for the whole Godhead and for all the persons in the Godhead Q. Where is it taken personally A. In these places following The comforter which is the holy Ghost whom the father will send in my name he shall teach you c. The father loueth the sonne and hath giuen all things into his hands If ye then which are euill giue good things vnto the children how much more shall your heauenly father giue the holy Ghost to them that desire him Q. Where is it taken essentially A. In these places following The fowles of the aâ—re sowe not c. and yet your heauenly father feedeth them Wee haue had the fathers of our bodies which corrected vs and we gaue them reuerence should we not much rather be in subiection to the father of spirits that we might liue Q. How is it taken in this prayer A. In these words Our Father which are c. it is taken essentially for the whole deitie and doth not exclude but inlcude the Sonne and the holy Ghost the they are all one in nature and substance with the Father Q. If they bee all one in nature and substance then the second person Iesus Christ is called father too is he not A. Yes he is so called by the Prophet Esai To vs a childe is borne to vs a sonne is giuen c. and they shal call his name Counsellor the mightie God the euerlasting father c. Q. Then it appeareth that wee may also pray to Iesus Christ and the holie Ghost and we doe so in this prayer but can you shew any that haue prayed vnto them by name A. Yea Stephen called on God and sayd Lord Iesus receiue my spirit And S. Paul praâ—ed to the holy Ghost saying The fellowship of the holy Ghost be with you all Now of this word Our Q. Why doth the Lord Iesus teach vs to say Our Father rather then my father A. For diuers causes 1. To teach vs that true prayer is tied to Church of God onely and therefore requireth of necessitie vnitie with the same Q. What reason can you giue for this A. My reason is this We cannot pray aright except God be our father in Christ if God be our father in Christ then we be his children if wee bee his children then are we also brethren to his children if we bee brethren to them
and praise vnto God not suffering any to be giuen vnto themselues Q. What do we learne from all this A. We learne here that our obedience to God should not be halt lame or maimed but whole perfect such as is in heauen Q. Now shew briefly what particular graces we craue in this petition A. In this petition we desire 1. That the Lord of his mercie would chaunge and frame our wils by his holie spirit that we may will and wish nothing that he misliketh 2. That we may beleeue in Christ and looke for saluation by none other but by him for this is a part of Gods will 3. That we may haue holines of life in a true and liuely faiâ—h 4 That God would make vs able and content to beare the labours and sorowes of this life Q. Some say this prayer and yet look for saluation by their owne meanes how doe they say this petition A. With their lippes but they doe not meane as they say for not Gods will but their owne must be done Q. What say you to those that say to God Thy will be done c. yet liue in all securitie and vncleannes hating that which is holy delighting in all that is vnholy bathing in wantonnes and pleasure and wishing therein to liue and dye A. They doe most impudently mocke the Lord and most desperatly deceiue their owne soules Q. You spake of suffering troubles and sorrowes in this life is that a part of Gods will A. Yea this life is subiect to many troubles Q. But a Christian man néede not feare any troubles as a wicked man doth may he A. He neede not feare them because they worke together for the best to those that loue God Q. Yet hee that is a true Christian maye liue in this worlde without anie trouble or persecution may hée not A. No for the Apostles haue set it downe for a certaine trueth that through many afflictions we must enter into Gods kingdome And all that will liue godlie in Christ Iesus shall suffer persecution more or lesse they say we must and shal that is we must looke for it Q. Why we that liue vnder the Gospel in England are not persecuted God make vs thankfull for it as they are in other countries A. No that is true but persecution is of diuers sortes There is persecution by the hand and persecution by the tongue and though many be free from the one yet no man that feareth God is free from the other Q. Why will God haue his children thus to bee exercised with crosses and tribulations A. That they may not be damned with the wicked world Q. What are men y â— better for troubles A. Yes much when afflictions troubles are sanctified of God they are meanes to make Gods children the better as pouerâ—â—â— seemeth to bridle lust basenes to huÌ„ble them and many incumbrances serue to driue them to God Q. What if the world lowre vpoÌ„ vs what if our friends forsake vs our foes defie vs what if persecution arise we be slandered vnkindly handled must we then say Thy will be done A. Yea euen then especially for in prosperitie it is an easie matter Q. It is a hard thing to flesh blâ—od but what if God giue such a grace A. Oh if wee can then say with a contented minde and a ioyfull heart thy will bee done it is a grace aboue all treasure and a true note of a child of God Q. But many wil say who can beare such things what examples therefore haue you to encourage vs A. There be many notable examples of diuers which in time of great trouble haue been content with the will of God euen because it was his will as Heli Iob Dauid the Lord Iesus himself as appeareth more largely in the places quoted Q. What swéete promises of God or comfortable spéeches haue wee in the scripture to vphold our faith from fainting when troubles doe come A. The scripture is full of them as these and such like Our times are in the hands of the Lord. Our haires are numbred Our teares are put into a bottell We must sow in teares if we will reape in ioy He is our present help and in a moment can deliuer vs. But if he will make a triall of vs yet The Lord is faithfull and will not suffer vs to be tempted aboue that we are able but will euen giue the issue with the temptation that ye may be able to beare it sayth S. Paul Q. These are most comfortable indéede to the children of God Gods wil therfore be done and God giue vs grace to submit our willes to his will as wée ought Now rehearse the 4. petition The fourth Petition Giue vs this day our daily bread Q. WHat is the summe of this petition A. That it would please the Lord as a father and a king to prouide all necessaries for vs his children and subiects in this life Q. Why is this next A. To teach vs that then his name is hallowed of vs his kingdome doth come vnto vs and his will is done by vs when we depend on his prouidence for all our prouision flye to him in all our wants Q. What doth this petition teach vs A. It teacheth vs many lessons 1. To acknowledge the prouidence of God in the whole ordering of our life 2. To depend on his prouidence for our whole prouision in this life 3. To flie to God in all our wants 4. That wee haue no right to the creatures before wee haue asked leaue of the Lord for the vse of them Q. What be the graces that we pray for here A. They be in number three 1. Carefulnes in measure how to liue 2. Contentednes with that estate wherin we liue 3. Confidence in the prouidence of God while we liue Q. What sins doe we pray against A. The coÌ„trary to the former graces and they be in number also 3. Carelesnes Couetousnes Distrustfulnes Q. Some thinke that religion will make men careles of the world their families is it so A. They are deceiued that thinke so for all that truely feare God are carefull for the world if they bee not too carefull which is more to be feared Q. Why are wee taught to pray for the things of this life before the forgiuenes of our sinnes c. A. To relieue our infirmitie for we do not so easily pray for heauenly things as for earthly things Q. How doth this relieue our infirmitie A. It is a meanes to make vs pray for heauenly things better then wee haue done Q. How may that be A. Very well for when we haue triall of Gods goodnes in the thinges of this life wee neede nothing to doubt of his mercie in the things concerning another life And hauing found him friendly in lesser matters we may fully accoumpt of his fauour in greater matters Q. This shall suffice for