Persons and things are distinguished each from other and whereby it may be ascertained who or what it is whereof we speak to which purpose though there is no Name pronounceable by Men or Angels which can define God as he is it hath pleased him to make himself in part known by several Names and Attributes some communicable and some incommunicable to any Creature as I could demonstrate by enumerating those Names of GOD which are mentioned in Holy Scripture But I will wave that and insert so much onely as I conceive tends to an intelligent use of this Prayer Our English-tongue as well as the Hebrew hath a Tetragrammaton whereby GOD may be Named to wit GOOD which seems by our Saviours words to be incommunicable to any other for said he There is none GOOD but GOD. He and his Name are one He is Goodness Wisdom Power and Love it self in the abstract with whatsoever is superlatively excellent and by his Name I understand his Eternal Essence and all his incommunicable Attributes to be meant as also that in them he is to be sanctified and honoured And whereas we are commanded Not to take his Name in Vain I conceive that intends as well affirmatively the hallowing of it according to this Prayer as negatively forbidding the prophanation thereof which consists not onely in calling him by Name as it were to witness the Truth of what we affirm or deny but also in praying unto him with due Reverence in Faith with an undoubted belief of his Promises with a true sence of that which we petition for and with heedfulness that we profess his Name in sincerity and not formally alone as many do who are called Christians without regard to conform to the Doctrine and Practice of his Evangelical Law which is the greatest prophanation of GODS Name and more dishonour thereto then all the revilings and Blasphemies of Jews Turks and Heathens 4. The word Hallowed or Sanctified is ambiguous having various significations and is derived from a Primitive Root used in so differing a sence that it is sometimes applyed to persons who are as much disaffected and contrary to each other as most differing things are to wit SAINTS and SEPARATISTS for to separate is to sanctifie and to sanctifie is to separate But herein is the difference between the Saint and the Separatist as the words are now used The first willingly separates himself from the mystery of Iniquity and as much as in him lyeth from all the Errrors Vanities and wickednesses of the world with an upright heart The other wilfully separates from the Truth and from the Societies of all the Faithful professors thereof for meer carnal ends with a perverse heart and as there are many Canonized and reputed Saints who are nothing less so there are many branded for Schismatical Separatists who are far from deserving it To be Hallowed or Sanctified according to our common acceptation of these words is to be separated from that which is called prophane or common to be used in the service of God or to some other end which is esteemed more honourable then that for which it was formerly employ'd though perhaps it is thereby sometimes more prophaned and dishonoured The Israelites now called Jews were separated or Hallowed as we term it from all other Nations to be a peculiar people to God and are still by some called the holy people though as we mean by Holy I know no Nation in the world less meriting that Title no not his Holiness of Rome But that which I understand by Hallowing or Sanctifying the Name of GOD and what we ought to contribute thereunto is to magnifie him to speak of his Excellency upon all occasions to separate it in our esteem and love of his Perfection so far from and above all other imaginable and real Objects whatsoever that they shall be rather despised and hated then admitted to any degree of estimation answerable thereto I have no means at this time of my recluse to take advice from the Dead or the Living from Books or men and therefore cannot inform my self how the School-men understand this Term or any other part of this Prayer and perhaps it would but make me the less diligent to harken what the Spirit of GOD speaketh to my heart By help of that Spirit it seemed unto me discovered that there is a Triple Holiness or separation considerable in relation to God touching which I may perhaps deliver that which many will not approve nevertheless I will freely declare my judgement as I usually do in such matters God seems unto me Sanctified and separated by way of superexcellency from all other who are called Lords or Gods from all created Essences from all intelligible Beings and from all the potentialities which were are or shall be in material and intelligible Essences united together and is one eternal Being Hallowed by three glorious Manifestations Holy Holy Holy Lord GOD the Father GOD the Son and GOD the Holy Ghost co-equal and co-eternal This I believe in order to the sanctification or hallowing of GODS Name and much more then I can express yet this peradventure is more then the capacity of many can apprehend 5. I will therefore endeavour to sute to the meanest Capacitie what I think petitioned for in this Clause and declare what I conceive is required from us toward sanctifying the Name of our heavenly Father both negatively and affirmatively We must not imagine this daily duty is required of us because Gods Name cannot otherwise be perfectly sanctified or that we merit ought from him by so praying For his Name shall be Hallowed whether we neglect or perform that duty and when we have thereunto contributed all that we can we are unprofitable servants This is mentioned in our daily Addresses to keep us mindeful of what we ought to desire and endeavour toward that which will be done whether we desire it or not and that those invaluable blessings which God of his free Grace hath promised for performances which in themselves are worth less then nothing may be conferred upon us by his Mercy without infringement of his Justice His Name is so pure in it self that no pollutions of ours can defile it because they revert always back upon our selves if we wilfully asperse it and all that we can do toward the hallowing of it is as I said before to speak well of his Name and to magnifie it above all other Names which when we so do his acceptance onely makes it valuable There is no other Name by which Men or Angels are saved or by which they can be preserved from relapse and therefore all knees in Heaven and Earth ought to bow thereunto with reverence I mean to the Essential Name not to the literal expression or vocal sound thereof which is an Idolatrous or at least a superstitious Fancy as is the ascribing of a Divine Holiness to any humane Medium intended to be but instrumental to bring us to him who is
considered knowing it required much heed to avoid such mistakes as we might else incur by a negligent use of them But this Form of Prayer which I have now meditated upon is made so plain and so suitable to the whole and to every individual Member of Christs Mystical Body as also to the meanest capacities that it may safely be repeated singly and joyntly in the literal sence Yet I have observed and I think am not therein deceived that God hath permitted many wiser men then I am to be subject to misapprehensions in the duties of Praise and Prayer and particularly in the use of this unquestionable Form and perhaps hath so permitted it thereby to prove and exercise their Humility Patience Prudence and Love which being well considered together with that Christian Liberty which ought to be preserved without Infringement and from over-far inlarging the limits thereof would qualifie the Contest among dissenting Brethren and therefore I have here to that end precautioned so much as I conceive may be pertinently extracted from the subject I have now in hand and it gives me occasion of many particular hints to that purpose For This is a Charm made by the best Physician Which if applyed without superstition Cures and secures T is a Catholicon Compounded for the use of every one In weal and wo in every differing Case For every Change in every Time and Place For each State Person Sex Age and Degree Whether mean high low rich or poor they be Single or Congregated if they pray it Hallowed with Faith and Love as well as say it For said in words it may be yet not pray'd And pray'd it may be though in words not said Who ever therefore shall not be partaker Of profit by it cannot blame the Maker 6 Some overstrictly confine other men within their jurisdiction to their set Forms of Prayers and Worships upon such penalties is are unmercifully destructive to the peace estates relations and persons of those who are by them compelled because their tender unsatisfied Consciences will not permit that complyance which is required lest they should thereby violate that obedience which they believe is owing to a Superior Power and to him who is the sole Judge in all Causes relating to his own Supremacy And if that be unfeignedly their Plea without respect to any carnal self-ends and no unquestionable Evidence produced proving that their Principles or practices tend to the violation of the Moral Law or to the breach of the Common Peace by their default it seems very hard measure to compel them contrary to the Law of Nature or the ancient Priviledges of their Nation actively to submit unto that which is offensive to their Consciences in respect of God and repugnant to that Light which is in them especially when they are questioned upon bare suspitions or by the clandestine Informations of persons having no good report as also before they shall be convinced of erring by better Arguments then compulsion and the arbitrary will and pleasure of those who are neither authorized to judge of matters relating to God alone nor have means to take true cagnizance of such secrets as cannot certainly be known to any but to God himself The consequents of such inforcements are not onely destructive to their persons and Families who are compelled if they submit not or hazzardous to their souls who submit contrary to what they believe in their hearts because they become thereby guilty of that which is abhorred of God to whom also that is unpleasing which is unwillingly performed though it be what he himself commandeth but it is also mischievous or at least unprofitable to the Imposers as will be made probable in what followes To the clean all things are clean and that which defiles one will not defile another if conscienciously acted without any meer carnal and self-end St. Paul said Rom. 14 14. he was perswaded by Christ Jesus That there is nothing unclean in it self yet to him who believeth any thing to be unclean to him it is unclean And in that respect we are exhorted in the same Chapter to follow those things which tend to peace and whereby we may edifie one another without giving just cause of offence to our weak Brethren or of blaspheaming to them who are without or of infringing the Christian Liberty which permitteth the profession practise or omission of things indifferent so far forth as they are honest just of good report among good men and tending to edification in the love and fear of God And it is very considerable that the inforcing such things one way or another produceth one of the most mischievous consequences in the world both to those who compel them and to them among whom they live for when they have constrained men by hope or fear of temporary advantages or disadvantages to destroy their Consciences which makes them men of no Consciences and thereby such as have also no God they do by that imprudence add none to their own Party but such wicked Hypocrites and secret Traytors as otherwhile become a Plague both to those who offered violence to their pretended consciences and to all other good men with whom they have to do for whatsoever Oaths they take whatsoever Covenants they make whatsoever Ingagements they enter into they usually become false and perfidious to those who trusted them as soon as they finde it may be to their particular advantage And I have long observed that those Formalities in Divine Worship which are submitted unto through fear and even those principles of Truth which are professed for carnal ends onely did never make any such to be the better men and I therefore wonder what they hope to get by it who by compulsion make proselytes or Conformists to their Judgement and Practice those who are neither truly serviceable to God to their Country or to whom they are compelled except it be for this end that when such Imposers have services to be done which none but the most damnable Villanes will do they may know where to finde them 7. I am no accepter of Persons or Parties further then I finde them qualified according to the Principles of Love and Truth therefore execuse me though I am bold to say there are some other so unreasonably adverse to all Forms Ceremonies and Customs how expedient soever to prevent disorder and cure Ignorance although not evil in themselves that they can hardly be prevailed upon by any Arguments to conform unto them in their own persons or to allow them to others whose consciences incline them thereunto though they cannot make forth how without some of them they and other men could have so easily been made acquainted with the soul and spiritual existence of Religion had they wanted a bodily form whereby it might be rendred apprehensive These Oppugners of all Formalities in Divine Worship which are not in positive terms commanded though not countermanded in the written Word of God do not well heed
us do suppose him to be Elias though Christ himself hath told us he is come already And some other think him to be that beloved Disciple mentioned in the 21 Chapter of St. Johns Gospel where our Saviour presaging in what mode Peter should suffer and he then asking What that Disciple should do was thus answered If I will that he tarry till I come what is that to thee follow thou me Whereupon some inferred that Disciple he should not die though as was then averred in the words following Christ said not so nor as I believe intended it should be so understood yet that interpretation is retained by some to this day and now as I hear made use of to countenance the forementioned Rumour whereof I confess my self incredulous for the reasons afore expressed Doubtless when such an occasion was given to have it explained Christ would not have left that ambiguous which was misunderstood and so l believe of every mysterious expression which is necessary to be known by all men as pertinent to their Salvation unless it be to make us wary by what Spirit we interpret holy Scripture lest that which leads into all Truth may by our negligence or vain curiosity lead us into errors if misapprehended If there be any point mentioned in holy Scripture relating to the Kingdom to come which is topical or national let them look to it whom it concerns for I conceive not that it any otherwise concerns us then as it shall have an Universal Locality upon earth without respect to any Nation or Place in particular as appears to me by the words of our Saviour to the woman of Samaria John 4. 21 22 33. Woman said he believe me the hour cometh when ye shall neither in this Mountain or in Jerusalem worship the Father Ye worship ye know not what c. But the hour cometh and now is when the true worshippers shall worship in Spirit and Truth c. VVhence I collect that if Place were not essential to the true VVorship of God when Christ first came into the world it will be less essential thereunto at his second coming or to have it limited to a narrower extent then to the whole Earth and all Nations 15. I am not doubtful but that in the last times there will be some extraordinary and eminent transactions and some in the next year after this 1665. and during four or five and thirty years after 1666. in relation to the approaching Kingdom of Christ and to those who have been so many Ages reputed the Off-spring of the Patriarks scattered throughout the world and I believe God will in his own time fulfil all his Judgements threatned for their Apostacies and obstinacies as also his gratious promises made unto their Fore-fathers but when that will be accomplised that or in what manner will be done which is expected concerning the Jews I leave it to Gods good pleasure and unto them to search in what mode it will be who think it concerns them more then I do who am contented with those manifestations which I finde in the Word of God not repugnant to each other or above my understanding There will be such Signs VVonders and Miracles as have been fore-told as also extraordinary preparations by Divine Providence before Christs second Advent which the Elect shall have sufficient means to know and make such use of as most tends to Gods Glory and to preserve them faithful to the end Yet unsafe it may be and an occasion of multiplying needless fears and troubles upon our selves to make such Ideas of Christs Kingdom and Raign upon Earth or such signs of its approach as are not plainly warranted by the VVord of God whose hidden wayes are past our finding out and so much as is revealed will be obscure to them whose unsanctified hearts seek after it in curiosity onely or with more desire to finde them sutable to their own imaginations that they may have somewhat wherein to glory then to make their ways conformable to Gods VVe are much taken with Novelties especially when we our selves first bring them to light and very apt superstitiously to repute things holy or unholy which Have neither holiness or unholiness in them except by our abuse VVe esteem some unholy which are sanctified some other to be holy which have no holiness in them but rather that which is most contrary For Example That is said to be the Holy-land which hath been during many Ages the most accursed of all Lands That to be a holy War which was but a wicked-politick divertisement of Antichrist to prevent the Interruption of his growing Grandeur by the Kings and Princes whom by that Engine he fool'd into an employment far from home That is said to be a holy Nation which hath had a long time no more holiness in it them Judas who betrayed Christ They are invocated and hallow'd as Saints and holy Martyrs who were Traytors both to God and men and whilst they lived not reputed so holy as some of their Neighbours And that Cross whereon our blessed Saviour was crucified is not onely called holy but reputed worthy of Divine honor also and hath many costly buildings dedicated thereunto and the chips of it sold for precious Relicks at dear rates though in truth it is not so holy as the Gallowes at Tibourn because that was intended for the execution of Justice upon Malefactors only though perhaps innocents do suffer thereupon otherwhile while We have many Inventions of our own The Devil hath so many deceitful Wiles also whereby to make false shows that he is promoting Gods VVork with him in every Dispensation that I suspend my belief of new Apparitions until I am fully convinced by a better Light then mine own bearing witness thereunto and therefore have here thrust in such Caveats as came into my heart to be a memorandum both to my self and others believing that whensoever Gods Kingdom comes openly into the world or invisibly into my heart where I feel it to be in some degree it will always evidence it self without delusion For it is the Kingdom of our heavenly Father which we are taught to petition for in this Prayer and nothing like the Kingdoms of this world 16. This is that Kingdom whose coming the Saints have long expected and though I mis-judge not of their so doing who call it the Fifth-Monarchy I think that Title too mean an Appellative in regard it is an Eternal Kingdom having no relation to Earthly Monarchies in respect of their precedency or otherwise but an Absolute Kingdom depending on it self and on him onely who is the Supream King thereof And when it comes into the World it will be little available to those who shall not find it to be in some measure come or so coming into their hearts that they may be made one with it and with the King thereof by Faith and Love This is not a Kingdom like that of the Nations which the Israelites foolishly