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
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
GOD is said to be in heauen because his Maiestie that is his Power Wisedome Iustice and Mercy is made manifest from thence vnto vs. By the name of heauen is vnderstood the dwelling place of God of Angels and glorified men where God is more glorious then in this world Psalme 115.3 Our God is in Heauen and doth whatsoeuer he will Psalme 2.4 He that dwelleth in Heauen shall laugh them to scorne Esay 66.2 thus saith the Lord Heauen is my throne and the earth is my footestoole 1 Reg. 8.27 The heauen of heauens cannot containe him for hee is alwayes euery where Which is all one as if it had béene said of infinite greatnesse or height of incomprehensible power of euerlasting immortallitie First therefore wée are héere admonished to vse the action of praier with as great reuerence as possibly may be and not to thinke of GOD in any earthly manner Eccles 5.1 Be not rash with thy mouth to speake a word before God for hee is in Heauen and thou art in earth therefore let thy words be few Therefore séeing God is in heauen away with all drowsie and dead praying let vs come with reuerence in our hearts before the Lord. God is said to be our Father in heauen to distinguish him from our earthly Fathers and that wée might vnderstand how much better hée is then they and more able to helpe vs as appeareth Math. 7.11 The Fathers of the bodies haue oftentimes a will to helpe their Children but are not able either because they are let by pouertie or distance of place or some other meanes but God who is our Father is rich towards all that cal vpon him he is present euery where c. Againe we doe here learne that our hearts in prayer must mount vp into heauen and be lifted vp aboue all earthly and fraile things how beautifull or goodly soeuer and be wholy fixed vpon the Lord. Vnto thee O Lord lift I vp my soule Psalme 25.1 Héere are condemned all colde coursarie prayers when mens mindes are occupied about other matters which is but a plaine dallying and mocking with God Such manner of praying is a very grieuous sinne greater then mocking Father and Mother for it is directly against God the other against men It is a greater sinne to mocke God then to mocke men This sinne because it is against the first Table and therefore more hard to be discerned for the light of the second Table shineth naturally more cléerely then the light of the first is lightly estéemed and doth lesse trouble the consciences of ignorant men God is in Heauen therefore hée is able to graunt all our requests Hée is our Father therefore he is willing and ready This ouerthroweth Popish Idolatrie as worshipping of Crosses Crucifixes Roodes running a pilgrimage to worship Idols for the GOD to whom we must pray is in heauen and wée must lift vp our mindes thither How can wée doe this so long as our eyes and mindes are poaring vpon an Image made by the art of man Halowed be thy name THis petition is set in the forefront because Gods glory must be preferred before all things 1 For that is the end of our Creation Psal 103.22 and 147.5 2 The end of all creatures Prouer. 10.4 3 The end of all the Counsailes of God Ephes 1.6 4 The onely end whereunto all our thoughts words and déeds must be directed 1 Cor. 10.31 Gods glory is a most precious thing and wée must be more chary of it then any thing as wée are more chary of a golden Cuppe then of an earthen Pitcher But alas wée care not for Gods glory We are all for our selues our owne glory credit name commodities c. Herode tooke the glory of God to himselfe and therefore the Angel of the Lord smote him Acts 12. The name of God in this place is put for God himselfe as 1 Kings 5.5 Hee shall build a house to my Name Also for the attributes of God as his Iustice Mercy Word Workes Prouidence Power For GOD is knowne to vs by all these as men are knowne by their names and as all mans praise glory lyeth in his name so all the glory of God is in these To Hallow is to serue or set apart any thing from common vse to some proper or peculiar end As the Temple was hallowed that is set apart to an holy vse The Priests were sanctified that is set apart to the seruice of God All that beléeue in Christ are sanctified that is set apart from sinne to serue God In like manner Gods name is hallowed when it is put apart from obliuion contempt prophanation pollution blasphemie and all abuses to an holy reuerent and honourable vse whether we thinke or speake of it Obiection How can a sinnefull man Hallow Gods name which is pure and holy in it selfe Answere Not as he doth sanctifie vs by communicating vnto vs an inherent qualitie of holinesse for wée cannot make him holy or adde any thing to his holinesse that is most holy in himselfe and the perfection of all holinesse but wée sanctifie him when wée acknowledge and celebrate and worship him so in heart word and déed that wée cause his glory to be spread among men and make manifest to the World by the right vsage of it that it is holy pure and honourable the like phrase is vsed Luke 7.29 Wisedome is iustified of her Children that is declared to be iust The summe of this petition is that wée may so carry our selues in all our actions and the whole course of our life that his holy name be not reproched by our occasion but rather be honored and magnified Examples The children of Israell sung a song of victory vpon Pharaoes ouerthrow I will sing vnto the LORD for he hath triumphed gloriously the Horse and him that rode vpon him hath hee ouerthrowne in the Sea Exod. 15.1 Dauid extolleth the maiestie of God by his works in the heauens Psal 19.1 And especially in man both in his creation and redemption by Christ Psalme 135. and 136. O Lord how excellent is thy name in all the earth which settest thy glory aboue the heauens Psalme 8. The very Angels of heauen at the birth of Christ doe sound out the prayses of God Glory be to God in the highest heauens and in earth peace good-will towards men Luke 2.13.14 The Saints of God haue magnified his great and holy name not onely in respect of his great workes of Election Creation Redemption Iustification Sanctification c. but euen for his iudgements and chastisements also as Iob The Lord giueth and the Lord taketh away blessed be the name of the Lord Iob 1.21 And Dauid Psalme 119. It is good that thou hast humbled me And the Apostles went forth of the Councell reioycing that they were counted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Iesus Christ Acts 4. According therefore to the example of these ancient worthies euery one of vs must zealously striue to
glorifie God as Heb. 12.1 And that especially in performing the duties of our seuerall callings as Magistrate Minister Gentleman and Tradesman for it is a thing acceptable to God and man to be a good man in our place A good Magistrate that ruleth well a good Minister that teacheth well and diligently a good Gentleman that distributeth liberally a good Tradesman by whom a man may liue quietly peaceably ioyfully and comfortably Abusers of this Petition All those which are proud and séeke glory to themselues being so iealous of their owne honour that to magnifie and lift vp themselues they will tread downe the name of God All those which professe the Gospell and staine it with their wicked liues All such as delight to raise vp and spread slanders against the profession of Religion All swearers and blasphemers of Gods most holy name For all these say and babble with their mouth Hallowed be thy name but their hearts neuer careth for any such matter Thy kingdome come THese Petitions haue a very good coherence in them for then is Gods name indéede honored when his Kingdome is erected in the hearts of men Here therefore wée pray for the meanes of the aduancement of Gods name This word thy doth note a difference betwixt the kingdome of Christ which is spirituall as hée himselfe saith My kingdome is not of this World and all earthly kingdomes Secondly it putteth vs in minde that there are two Kingdomes one Gods and hat is the Kingdome of Heauen another the Diuels which is called the kingdome of darknesse The pillers of the Diuels kingdome are Ignorance Errour Idolatry superstition Sinne and disobedience to God The Subiects of this kingdome are all prophane Atheists carnall worldings and all vnregenerate men whatsoeuer for hée raigneth and ruleth ouer them at his pleasure hée is their God and King and they doe very hadtely and willingly submit themselues vnto his scepter and gouernment fight vnder his Standard against God and their owne saluation Ephes 2.2 2 Cor. 4.3.4 2 Tim. 2.26 Yet these vngodly men spit at the naming of the Diuell and say they defie him This word kingdome is taken thrée manner of wayes in the scripture First for that absolute soueraigne power of God whereby hée ruleth all things yea euen the diuels themselues as Psal 103. The Lord hath prepared his Throne in heauen his kingdome is ouer all Againe The Lord raigneth let the earth reioyce Psal 97. Secondly for the kingdome of Grace as Rom. 14.17 The kingdome of GOD is not meate and drinke but Righteousnesse Peace and Ioy in the holy Ghost Where by Righteousnesse he meaneth the assurance of our Iustification before God in the righteousnes of Christ Peace of Conscience which procéedes from this assurance and Ioy in the holy Ghost which commeth from them both So Marke 2.15 The kingdome of God is at hand repent and belieue the Gospel In a kingdome there are fiue things to be considered 1 A King 2 Subiects 3 Lawes 4 Authoritie 5 Officers 1 In this kingdome Christ is king It is hee to whom the Father hath giuen all authoritie both in heauen and earth Math. 28.20 2 Subiects are all the elect which doe willingly submit themselues vnto his gouernment as Psalme 110.3 and serue the Lord in feare and trembling or at least make an outward profession of it though their harts be not sound 3 Lawes are the old and new Testament wherin is set downe his whole will This is his Statute booke 4 Authoritie is the compelling power of his Word Spirit whereby hée forceth the Rebels of the world to come in as it is written Compell them to come in Such a conquest wée read of Acts 2.17.18 And in very déede the Word and the Spirit are the very meanes whereby Christ ruleth and raigneth ouer his and therefore the Word is called the Scepter of his power Rom. 1.16 Mark 1.14 The arme of God Psal 110.2 Esay 53.1 The rodde of his mouth Esay 11.4 Reasons Because by it hée doth set vp his Throne in the harts of men By it he doth draw men into heauen as with a most mighty arme By it he doth ouerthrow and destroy the power of darknesse 5 Officers of this Kingdome are the Pastors and Ministers of the Church vpon whom this charge is layde that they preach the Word gouerne the Church and sée the execution of the Kings lawes Thirdly the kingdome of Glory is that happinesse which Gods chosen shall for euer inioy as it is written Come yee blessed of my Father receiue the Kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world And againe It is well done thou good seruant and faithfull enter into thy Masters ioy Math. 25. Come GOds Kingdome commeth when it takes place and is established and confirmed in mens hearts made manifest to all people the impediments being remoued The Summe of this Petition That Christ would raigne ouer vs by his Word and Spirit That wée may be subiect to his kingdome in word and déede in holines and righteousnesse That hée would preserue and increase his Church That hée would destroy the power of the Diuell and the workes of darknesse That hée would frustrate and bring to nought all the Counsels of the wicked against his Truth Kingdome and people Things prayed for in this Petition That Christ may guide vs and gouerne vs by his holy Spirit in all our particular actions that hée may haue a kingdome within vs. Psalme 51. Create in mee a cleane hart O God and renue a right Spirit within mee c. Stablish me with thy free Spirit Héere also wée doe pray for the prosperous estate of the Church Psalme 122.6 Pray for the peace of Ierusalem they shall prosper that loue thee Esay 62.7 Yee that are the Lords remembrancers giue him no rest vntill hee set vp Ierusalem the praise of the world Wée doe pray for Christian Kings and Princes that God would prosper their gouernment for they are nursing Fathers and nursing Mothers to the Church Esay 49. 1 Timothie 2.2 Let Prayers and Supplications with giuing of thankes be made for all men for Kings and for all that are in authorritie We are also to pray the Lord of the haruest to send forth labourers into his haruest that is faithfull and zealous Ministers and Preachers of the Gospell which are the principall Studs and pillers to vphold the Kingdome of Christ and most notable instruments both for the beating downe of the kingdome of Sathan and Sinne and for the sauing of the soules of his people 2 Thes 3.1 Brethren pray for vs that the Word of the Lord may haue a free passage and be glorified c. Prou. 29.18 Where vision fayleth the people are left naked Furthermore wée are to pray for all Christian Scholes of learning because they are as it were Seminaries and nurseries of Gods Church Last of all wée are to desire that the Lord would hasten the second comming of Christ as