A LEARNED AND FRVITFVL EXPOSITION vpon the Lords PRAYER By Arthur Dent sometime Minister of the Word of God at South-Suberry in Essex LVKE 11.2 When you pray say Our Father which art in heauen c. LONDON Printed for Nicholas Bourne and are to be sould at the entring into the Royall Exchange 1613. THE PRINTER TO the READER COurteous Reader forasmuch as deuoute Christians when they haue found comfort in the labours of any learned man it causeth in them a further desire not onely to reuiew what they haue read but also to haue a longing as it were after their further paines vpon any other subiect I doubt not but am verily perswaded that this Exposition of that Prayer which our Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus taught his disciples penned by one that hath so well deserued of the Church of God by publishing so many good profitable Treatises shal finde some place among thy heauenly meditations although it be not as I thinke so perfect as the Author intended it if hee had not beene preuented by death For what wilt thou doe either for all the benefits that thou hast receiued or for those things that are required for thy vse or to preuent any dangers that may be feared I say what wilt thou doe if thou wilt not imitate the holy Prophet and call vpon the name of the Lord and how canst thou better call vpon it then as the Lord hath appointed and what profit shalt thou haue by calling vpon him after that manner except thou knowest the meaning of the spirit in those words which thou pourest out before him Wherefore seeing as an auncient Father saith when thou prayest for thy selfe necessity enforceth thee and Charity bindeth thee to pray for others and seeing the holy one of God hath giuen thee in charge after this manner pray ye this seruant of God shall so instruct thee that according to the practise of the holy Apostle thou shalt pray with the spirit with vnderstanding also and this one thing is necessary For all the commandements of the Lord are so full of counsell that euerie word hath his weight yea euery sillable containes a secret so that we may all say with the Eunuch Act. 8. How can I vnderstand except some man should guide me And albeit I am perswaded that thou art full of goodnes filled with knowledge able also to admonish others yet thou maiest be content with skilfull Apollos so eloquent in speach mightie in the scriptures and feruent in spirit Acts 18. to haue the way of God expounded vnto thee by another man more perfectly And this is that which I offer to thy Christian deuotion Vse it then as becommeth thee with holinesse Peruse it often I hope I am truely informed of the Author I am but the Minister to publish it for thy good Giue thankes to GOD that hath brought it to light And the GOD of all power when thou prayest graunt thee thy harts desire and fulfill all thy minde Amen S. T. AN EXPOSITION vpon the Lords Prayer OF PRAYER and what it is PRayer is an earnest lifting vp of the minde and calling vpon God according to his will with faith by the helpe and worke of his spirit Psal 25.1 Rom. 10.13.14 Math. 21.22 Rom. 8.26.27 Prayer is a familiar conference betwixt God and vs. Prayer is as a Letter written vnto God wherein we deliuer our minde vnto him Onely God is to be called vpon in whom onely we beléeue Rom. 10. 1 First because hée hath so commaunded Psal 50.15 2 Secondly because hée hath so taught 6.9 3 Thirdly because he hath so practised by example 26.39 4 Fourthly because he hath promised to heare our prayers 5 Fiftly because the holy Ghost teacheth vs to cry Abba father Rom. 8.15 6 Lastly because none can heare our prayers and grant our requests but God onely Mat. 6.12 Wée must pray at all times 1 Thes 5.17 It must be the Alpha and Omega of all our actions if wée looke for any good successe We must pray in all places 1 Tim. 2.8 There be nine things to be obserued in prayer Before prayer Reading Meditation and féeling of our Misery In prayer Faith Zeale and Loue. After prayer Watchfulnesse Thankesgiuing and Practise Prayer is as a Bunch of Keyes wherewith Gods children doe open all the dores of heauen and enter into euery closet The effects of praier are wonderfull as appeareth by the prayers of Asa Iehosaphat Moises Ezechias Dauid Elias Paul and Silas the Disciples Acts 4.31 and 12.5.7 The Lords prayer is the perfect patterne of all prâ—yers for matter but not alwaies for words The Lords prayer consisteth of three Parts A Preface Sixe Petitions A Conclusion The Preface teacheth vs preparation that wée doe not rashly without consideration rush into the presence of God being so dreadfull and holy as it is Eccles 5.1 Psal 26.6 Thrée of the petitions doe concerne Gods glory and thrée our selues We must pray with greater feruencie of the Spirit for the things which concerne Gods glory then for those which concerne our owne good as appeareth by the Methode and for the things which concerne our owne goods wée must pray with more zeale for heauenly then earthly things sith this hath but one petition the other two Wée must pray for the things that concerne Gods glory simply aboue any respect at all of our owne good as the Particle thy in euery one doth shew Our THis word our doth teach that true charitie and brotherly loue toward our neighbours is required in prayer and that in common wée must pray one for another as wée are euery where taught in the Scriptures In matters of Faith we say I but in matters of Prayer our for wée must loue our neighbour as our selfe and therefore pray for our neighbour as our selfe Our Father our bread our trespasses Lead vs not Deliuer vs c. doe teach a fellow féeling one of anothers good and hurt This word our bringeth singular comfort to the poore because Christ sheweth vnto them that God hath no respect of persons as though he were more father of the rich then of the poore of the noble then of the base but doth account of all alike for hée is no respecter of persons Question Héere a question may be moued whether in our priuate Prayers wée should pray in generall or else in speciall tearmes as vs or me our father or my father Answere A Christian may in priuate prayer say my father Mat. 26.29 Mat. 27.46 as Thomas said My Lord and my God Iohn 20.28 and Paul I giue thanks to my God Rom. 1.8 and Gods promise is Ier. 3.19 Thou shalt call mee thy father For wée are not bound vnto the words of the Lords Prayer but if we pray for our brethren or for our selues we fulfill the meaning of Christ By the word Father is meant the first person in Trinitie and so it is alwayes taken in the Scriptures when one person is considered with another as
Math. 28.9 1 Iohn 5.7 Sometimes it is taken for the whole Trinitie as Mal. 2.10 Haue we not all one Father It is not vnlawfull to pray to the Sonne and the holy Ghost for inuocation belongeth to all the persons in Trinitie and not onely to the Father Stephen prayed Lord Iesus receiue my spirit Acts 7.59 Paul prayed Now God our Father and our Lord Iesus Christ guide our iourney vnto you 1 Thes 3.11 The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ the loue of God and the communion of the holy Ghost be with you 2 Cor. 13.13 Men are baptised in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost that is calling on the name of the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost Obiection This Prayer is a perfect platforme of all prayers and héere wée are taught to direct our prayers onely to the Father therefore it is not lawfull to pray to the Sonne or the holy Ghost Answere The Father Son and holy Ghost are in distinct persons yet they are not to be seuered or diuided because they all subsist in one and the same Godhead or diuine nature Further in all outward actions as in the creation and preseruation of the world and the saluation of the elect they are not seuered nor deuided for they all worke together onely they are distinguished in the manner of working Now if they be not diuided in nature or operation then they are not to be seuered in worship In this place expresly wée direct our prayers to the Father because he is the first person in order yet so as then wée imply the Sonne and the holy Ghost For we pray to the father in the name of the Sonne by the assistance of the holy Ghost To what person so euer the prayer is directed wée must alwayes remember in minde and heart to include the rest We may pray vnto Christ not onely as hée is God but also as hée is the Mediatour that is as hée is in person consisting of two natures yet as the Deity be the obiect or the thing wée set before our eyes in prayer All our prayers ought to be in faith respecting Gods promise and Christs mediation and therefore the person that prayeth must first be accepted in Christ before their prayers and sacrifices can be accepted Mar. 11.24 Ioh. 14.13 Heb. 7.25 and 11.4.7 Father GOd is the Father of the wicked and euen of al creatures in respect of creation but in respect of reconciliation he is onely the father of the elect for hée is their reconciled Father in Christ hée is their Father by adoption and grace and therefore they onely in truth can and may call him Father God will be called by the name of Father which is a swéet and louing name rather then by the name of Lord or Iehouah which are dreadfull to allure and entise vs to come boldly vnto him euen as children to their déere and louing father to put vp any sute or complaint vnto him For Gods children being iniuried vniustly molested haue no remedie but to goe tell their father This word father implyes a readinesse and willingnes in God to heare Es 58.9 65.24 1 Pet. 3.12 Luk. 11.9 13. This word father doth assure vs wée shall be heard for can a father not heare his childe can hée deny him any thing Math. 7.9 This assurance in prayer is necessary Iam. 16.7 Hebr. 11.6 Luke 18.7 1 Iohn 5.14 God doth alwayes heare and grant the lawfull requests of his children in such time manner and sort as hée séeth good and neuer faileth if not according to their will yet according to his will and their best good This word father doth assure vs of our saluation for in truth if we cal vpon him as our father as indéed hée is our father then must wée néeds be his children and being his children how can we perish for there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Rom. 8.1 And it is as possible for the Diuell to take away from Christ one of the members of his materiall body being now glorified in heauen as to plucke away or cut off any member of his misticall and spirituall body héere in earth Wée may in a holy manner boast and reioyce in it that wée haue such a Father so wise so mighty so louing so bountifull to whom wée alwayes may repaire for helpe in time of néede If one of vs had a father that were the richest the wisest in a realme would we not excéedingly reioyce in him and vse him This word father doth note vnto vs the excéeding déepe loue and fatherly affection which he beareth toward vs his children passing all loue of mothers vnto their children as Esay 49.15 Can a woman forget her childe and not haue compassion on the sonne of her womb Though they should forget yet will not I forget thee The booke of the Canticles doth most expresly and aboundantly lay open the vnspeakable loue of Christ toward his Church for indéed no louer doth so entirely loue his espoused wife as Christ loueth vs for hée loueth vs so dearly and is so chary ouer vs that hée cannot endure the winde should blow vpon vs. If we would eate golde wée should haue it This loue of his he doth at all times and in all things expresse and shewes it as we say and hath alwayes shewed it by election redemption Iustification sanctification adoption preseruation féeding clothing delighting c. breaking through all our vnkindnesse to doe vs good and continuing dayly vnto vs new mercies and fauours notwithstanding all our vnworthinesse and manifold prouokings of him This word father doth teach vs obedience a sonne honoreth his father and a seruant his Maister If I be a father where is mine honor c. Mal. 1.6 Why call yee mee Maister Maister and doe not the things I speake Luk. 6.46 And if you call him father c. 1 Pet. 1.17 By this our obedience wée testifie our loue to him againe who loued vs so déeply and dearly as Iohn 14.21 Hee that hath my commaundements and keepeth them is hee that loueth me This is the loue of God that we keepe his commaundements 1 Iohn 5.3 How can a Childe call him Father whom hée cares not continually to displease through his leud conditions He cannot doe it neither can any Father delight in such a childe If God be a father who is called vpon then true prayer is a note of Gods childe as Acts 9.14 He hath authoritie to binde all that call on thy name so 1 Cor. 1.2 the Saints are noted to be such as call on the name of the Lord and on the contrary it is made one of the properties of an Athiest not to all on the name of God Psal 14.4 Which art in heauen GOD as touching his essence is no more in heauen then in this inferiour world but hée is said to be in heauen because his glory and Maiesty doth there most clearely shine out
the Saints pray Come LORD Iesus come quickly Romanes 22.20 Therefore the godly are said to loue the comming of Christ 2 Tim. 4.8 True Petitioners First they that mourne and lament to sée the dominion and power of the Diuell to be to great as it is Secondly they that deale earnestly with God euery day that it may be diminished Thirdly they that pray earnestly day and night that God would multiply the number of his Children Fourthly they that long for the day of Christ wherein hée shall put downe all rule and all authoritie and power c. Counterfait Petitioners Such as scorne at the Ministerie of the Church Such as hinder the frée course of the Gospell Such as oppose themselues against godly Preachers and good men Such as take part with the wicked and defend bad causes Such as labour to quench and smoother all good matters in their harts Such as put farre from them the day of euill and waite not nor prepare themselues for his comming Thy will be done c. Sense GRaunt that wée and all men renouncing our owne will may readily and without murmuring obay thy will and so may chearfully execute whatsoeuer the Angels doe in heauen Coherence In the former petition wée prayed that hée onely might be our King and raigne ouer vs now wée desire that being his Subiects wée may obay him and doe his will Mal. 1.6 If I be a Father where is my honor If I be a Master where is my feare Will. HEere it signifieth Gods word for in his word his will is reuealed Of the whole will of God there be thrée speciall points which are in this place meant 1 Faith in the promises 2 Sanctification 3 Patient bearing of the Crosse Proofe of the first This is then his commaundement that we belieue in the name of his Sonne Iesus Christ 1 Iohn 3.23 This is the will of him that sent mee that euery one which seeth the Sonne and belieueth on him should haue euerlasting life Iohn 6.40 Proofe of the second This is the will of GOD euen your Sanctification 1 Thes 4.3 Proofe of the third Whosoeuer will be my Disciple must forsake himselfe and take vp his crosse and follow me Mat. 16.24 The Apostle prayeth Phillip 3.10 that hée might know him and the vertue of his resurrection and the fellowship of his afflictions and be made conformable to his death Thy will not mine for since the fall of Adam mans will is wicked and corrupt yea it is flat enmitie to GOD Rom. 8.7 But Gods will is most holy right and pure and therefore all our loue ought to be vpon it Done that is obeyed and accomplished of men Then the effect of the praier is this O Lord séeing thou art our King giue vs grace to shew our selues good Subiects in obaying thy will For obedience is better then sacrifice and to hearken is better then the fat of Rams 1 Sam. 15.22 Not euery one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdome of heauen but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heauen Mat. 7.22 Whosoeuer doth the will of GOD is my Brother my Sister and my Mother Mark 3.35 Hee that fulfilleth the will of God abideth for euer 1 Ioh. 2.17 In Earth as it is in Heauen THis clause sheweth the manner of dooing Gods will By heauen here is meant the soules of faithfull men departed and the elect Angels Praise the Lord yee his Angels that excell in strength that doe his commaundements in obaying the voyce of his word Psal 103.20 By earth is vnderstoode nothing but men on earth because all other creatures in their kindes obay God onely man is rebellious and disobedient The word as doth imply a similitude not an equalitie Sense Let thy will be done by vs men on earth as the Angels and Saints departed doe thy will in heauen that is 1 Willingly 2 Spéedely 3 Faithfully and continually Therefore they are said in the Scriptures to be winged Things prayed for Deniall of our selues our owne wils and affections Knowledge of Gods will for otherwise how should we doe it A feruent desire of obedience to doe his will in all our particular actions Patience and a willing submitting of our selues to the will of God in all things So did Elie the Priest It is the Lord let him doe what seemeth him good 1 Sam. 3.18 So did Dauid 2 Sam. 15.26 But if hee thus say behold I haue no delight in thee behold here I am let him doe to me as seemeth good in his eyes So Christ himselfe Father take this cup from me yet not as I will but as thou wilt Mark 14.36 So the Disciples and holy Christians Acts 12.14 The will of the Lord be done Therefore Saint Iames calleth Patience by the name of Wisedome because mans chiefe wisedome standeth therein that in his aduersities and troubles he patiently submits himselfe to the will of God But on the contrary it is extreame foolishnesse and madnesse if any dare resist set himselfe against it For what good doth hée by it Can hée change the will of God No verely Nay rather he maketh his owne case worse as well with inward griefe that tormenteth him as also because hée pulleth the wrath of God vpon himselfe for by our stubbernesse hée is compelled to lay more grieuous punishments vpon vs. On the other side by our patience hée is moued vnto pittie euen as good Parents are wont when they perceiue that their Children are brought into good order by their correction Who prayeth this Petition aright They which bewayle the sinnes of the world as Ignorance Error Schismes Pride Couetuousnes Contempt of the word Oppression Swearing Lying c. They which are gréeued for their Impatience and disquietnesse of minde For their coldnesse in Gods seruice For their vnperfect obedience and wants euen in their best actions Giue vs this day our daily bread THe thrée former Petitions doe immediatly concerne God these thrée last our selues which teacheth that we must prefer God and his glory before all things Coherence In the first we were taught to pray that GODS name may be hallowed which is done when God reigneth in our hearts and his will is done Now further his will is obeyed in thrée things First by depending on his prouidence for the things of this life Secondly for depending on his mercy for the pardon of sinnes Thirdly by depending on his power and might in resisting temptations and thus is the will of God obeyed Bread BRead signifieth all things whereby this life is preserued as Meate Drinke Clothing Health Peace Libertie yea Goates milke Pro. 27.27 and the fruit of Trées Ierem. 11.19 Genes 1.29 And all things that passe too and fro in trafficke Pro. 31.14 In the sweate of thy face shalt thou eate thy bread Gen. 3.19 Man liueth not by bread onely c. Math. 4. Iesus entred into the house of a certaine Pharisie to eate bread Luk. 14. Christ vseth this word Bread