only forbid Acts but Thoughts and Desires therefore is it lawful to long for Death Answer Yes but yet we are not anxiously to long after it till the time come not to grow weary of Life our of Desperation and Tiresomness of the Cross as Ionah did chap. 4. 3. but in order to God's Glory and Accomplishment of our Happiness See more at large Psal. 119. vers 17. pag. 104. Case 2. Secondly Do all that have an Interest in Christ desire to die Is not Death terrible Certainly Death is terrible both as a natural and a penal Evil. As in it self it is the Curse of the Covenant and as it depriveth us of Life the chiefest Blessing Yet we should train up our selves in an expectation of Death we should look and long for it that when the time is come we might be willing to give up our selves into the hands of God It is required of a Christian that he should not only be passive in his own Death to die in Peace but active How to hasten his Death No but to resign up himself willingly into the hands of God that his Soul might not be taken away but given up and commended to God We should be willing to be in the Arms of Christ to be there where he is to behold his Glory If Christ had such a good-will to Men as that he longed to be with us solacing his Heart with the thought of it before all Worlds Prov. 8. 31. He was thinking of us how he should come down and converse with Men Surely we should not be so backward to go to Christ. And therefore as Iacob's Spirit revived when he saw the Chariots Ioseph sent to carry him into Egypt so our Hearts should be more chearful and comfortable when Death approacheth Especially since Death is ours it is changed therefore we should be framing our selves to such a temper of Heart by degrees that we might be ready Vse 1. For Reproof to those that would be glad in their Hearts if Christ's Kingdom would never come As to the Kingdom of Grace in the external Administration they hate the Light and will not come to the Light lest their Deeds should be reproved Iohn 3. 20. A wicked Man is loth to be troubled God's Witnesses are the Worlds Torment Rev. 11. 10. They tormented them that dwelt on the Earth A Man that is bodily blind would have a sit Guide but these wretchedly blind Sinners nothing so troublesom and hateful to them as one that would lead them to the Kingdom of God And then as to Internal Grace when this Kingdom of Heaven breaks in upon their Hearts when any Light and Power darts in they seek to put it out they resist the Holy-Ghost Acts 7. 51. and refuse his Call And for the Kingdom of Glory they say It is good to be here and would not change their Portion here for their Portion in Paradise Vse 2. To exhort us to desire the Coming of Christ's Kingdom to our selves If you have any Love to the Lord's Glory or your own Good you should do it Rev. 3. 20. Behold I stand at the Door and knock If any Man hear my Voice and open the Door I will come in to him and sup with him and he with me Will you not open to God that hath the best Right Will you not set open the doors to the King of Glory When Christ comes to bring entertainment to you to sup with you Again all Men will they nill they are subject to Christ either they must come and touch his Golden Scepter or feel the Bruises of his Iron Mace they must own him as King Every Knee shall bow Phil. 2. 10. Therefore be more willing to have the Kingdom of Glory come Again if God be not your King you will have a worse Master every Sin every Lust Tit. 3. 3. Serving divers Lusts and Pleasures You will be at the Beck of every Lust and carnal Motion and the Devil will be your Master to purpose for upon the refusal of Christ's Government there 's a Judicial Tradition you are given up to your own Hearts Lusts. Psal. 81. 12. Israel would none of me so I gave them up to their own Hearts Lusts and they walked in their own Counsels And to Satan to be insnared by him 2 Tim. 2. 26. Taken captive by him at his Will and Pleasure Not to buffet them as Paul was but to ensnare and harden their Hearts Again if you be not subject to God you go about to make God subject to you in effect You would have the Kingdom of Glory and yet continue in your Lusts. Isa. 43. 24. Thou hast made me to serve with thy Sins thou hast wearied me with thine Iniquities When you would have God patient hold his hand and be merciful to you and yet would continue in your Lusts then you make God serve with your Sins Again many temporal Inconveniencies will follow if we do not give way to the Kingdom of Christ to seize upon us when we make no difference between God's Service and the Service of other Lords then he gives us up to the Service of Men to a foreign Enemy to an oppressive Magistrate or breaks the Staff of Government among Men that we might know what it is to be under his Service and Government Therefore give willing Entertainment to the Kingdom of Christ. So much for the private Consideration of this Request Thy Kingdom come that is to us and our Persons both the Kingdom of Grace and the Kingdom of Glory Secondly Having spoken of the Kingdom of Christ in a private now I come to speak of it in a publick Consideration And that is twofold 1. The publick visible Administration of the Kingdom of Grace 2. The publick and solemn Administration of the Kingdom of Glory at the Day of Judgment when Enemies shall have their final Doom and Saints have their Crowns set upon their Heads in the sight of all the World I shall speak of both but because the Discourse may be more fresh and lively upon other Texts 1. The publick visible Administration of the Kingdom of Grace on Psal. 51. 18. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Sion build thou the Walls of thy Jerusalem 2. The Kingdom of Glory on Rev. 22. 20. Surely I come quickly Amen Even so Come Lord Iesus For the first Tho the Church be never so afflicted Psal. 102. 14. when all is defaced as to external appearance lying in a ruinous Heap yet it is beloved and pitied by God's Servants Thy Servants take Pleasure in her Stones and favour the Dust thereof There is nothing God's People desire so much as Zion's Welfare Psal. 106. 54. That I may see the Good of thy Chosen that I may rejoyce in the Gladness of thy Nation that I may glory with thine Inheritance And David in this Psalm Psal. 51. 18. having prayed for himself prayeth for Mercy to the Church and State Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion build
Heart and my Flesh crieth out for the Living God And Acts 10. 44. it is said The Holy-Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word And then for Unity Christ hath callëd us into a Body not only into a Family but into a Body It was Christ's own Prayer Iohn 17. Let them be one Disputes will not heal but Prayers may 2. For External Helps we should pray that God would give us Pastors after his own Heart Mat. 9. ult Pray ye the Lord of the Harvest that he would send forth Labourers into his Harvest Men that will discharge their Duty with all Faithfulness Men whose Hearts are set to the Building up of Christ's Kingdom Labourers And then for Schools of Learning A Man that hath many Orchards will also have Seminaries of young Plants to maintain them Schools are Seminaries without which the Church falleth to decay And then for good Magistrates to patronize and protect Gods People and promote his Work with them Isa. 49. 23. there is a Promise Kings shall be thy Nursing-Fathers and their Queens thy Nursing-Mothers c. Rest from Persecution is a great Blessing Acts 9. 31. Then had the Churches Rest and were edified walking in the Fear of God and the Comforts of the Holy-Ghost were multiplied It is a great Mercy that the Church hath any Breathings These are the Things that we should pray for sor Zion Thus much shall suffice to be spoken of the Kingdom of Christ in a publick Consideration with respect first to the publick visible Administration of the Kingdom of Grace I come now to speak of the second viz. The publick and solemn Administration of the Kingdom of Glory and for that I shall insist on that Portion of Scripture Rev. 22. 20. Surely I come quickly Amen Even so Come Lord Iesus Here you have 1. Christ's Proclamation 2. The Churches Acclamation in Answer thereunto I. Christ's Proclamation Surely I come quickly Where take notice of two Things 1. His Asseveration Surely 2. His Assertion I come quickly 1. His Asseveration Surely It is a certain Truth tho we do not so easily receive it All notable Truths about which there is the greatest Suspicion in the Heart of the Creature you will find them thus averred in Scripture as Isa. 53. 4. Surely he hath born our Griefs and carried our Sorrows The dying of the Son of God is so mysterious that the Holy-Ghost propounds it with a Note of Averment Surely that is how unlikely soever it seems yet this is a certain Truth So here the Coming of Christ is a thing so future so little regarded by Epicures and Atheists that it is propounded with a like Note of Averment Surely I come quickly Herein secretly is our Unbelief taxed and also our Confidence engaged 2. You have his Assertion I come quickly Let me explain what is meant by the Coming of Christ. There is a twofold Coming of Christ a personal and a virtual Some think that the virtual Coming is here meant his Coming in the Efficacy of his Spirit or in the Power of his Providence to accomplish those Predictions Here are many things prophesied of and behold I come quickly you shall find these things presently produced upon the Stage of the World So some carry it I think rather it is to be meant of his personal Coming There are two mystical Scriptures which do express all the Intercourse which passeth between God and the Church in the World and they are both closed up with a Desire of Chirst's coming The Canticles is one which declareth the Communion and Intercourse which is between Christ and his Church and you will find it thus closed up Cant. 8. 14. Make haste my Beloved and be thou like to a Roe or to a young Hart upon the Mountains of Spices And so here in this Book of the Revelations where are the like Intercourses recorded it is closed up with this Even so Lord Iesus come quickly The personal Coming I suppose is here meant Now Christ's personal Coming it is but twofold the first and the second the Scripture knows of no other Coming Heb. 9. 28. He shall appear the second time without Sin unto Salvation It is but a fond Dream to think of a personal Reign before Christ's coming to Judgment they reckon without-book that look for any other There was his first Coming which was to suffer his second Coming is to reign the first his gracious and this his glorious Coming The former is past and the latter is yet expected I come quickly How shall we make good that 1. In general Christ's Absence from the Church it is not long tho you reflect upon the whole Flux of Time from his Ascension to his second Coming it is but a Moment to Eternity some Hundreds of Years that may be easily counted 2. It is no longer than Need requires The High-Priest when he was gotten within the Vail was to tarry there until his Ministration was ended until he had appeared before God and represented himself for all the Tribes then he was to come out to bless the People Jesus Christ tarrieth within the Vail but until all the Elect be gathered He is not slack 2 Pet. 3. 9. but we are hasty Our Times are present with us but we must leave him to his own Time to go and come 3. Christ speaks this of the latter End of the World and then it will not be long When once he begins to set forth the old Prophecies are accomplishing apace and how little preparation soever there seems to be for this Work it comes apace It is said of the Antichristian State Her Plagues shall come upon her in one day Rev. 18. 8. And of the Jews it is said A Nation shall be born at once Isa. 66. 8. So much for the first part II. Here is the Churches Acclamation Amen So Lord Iesus come quickly This Acclamation is double 1. Implicite and infolded in the Word Amen 2. Explicite and unfolded Even so Lord Iesus come quickly 1. For the Implicite Acclamation of the Church in the Word Amen The Word sometimes is taken nominally Rev. 3. 14. Thus saith the Amen the faithful and true Witness He that is Amen as it is explained there true and faithful that will certainly give a Being to his Promises Sometimes it is used adverbially and translated Verily It is either an affectionate Desire Let it be or a great Asseveration It shall be It hath in it an affectionate Desire Ier. 28. 6. the Prophet said Amen the Lord do so the Lord perform thy Words c. When he had prophesied Peace to the People Amen the Lord perform thy Words not to confirm the truth of his Prophecy but to express his own Wish and hearty Desire if it might stand with the Will of God Then it expresseth a firm Belief that it shall be done Thus Christ often saith Amen verily verily I say unto you by way of strong Asseveration Well then the Church expresseth her Faith and Desire
implicitely Amen Lord that it were so and surely Lord it shall be so we believe it and we desire it with all our Hearts 2. Explicitely Even so Lord Iesus Come quickly From this latter Clause I might observe many things 1. The sweet and blessed Harmony that â—is between Christ and the Church Christ's Voice and the Churches Voice are Unisons Christ saith I come and the Church like a quick Eccho takes the Word out of Christ's Mouth Even so come There is the same Spirit in Christ and in the Church for it is his Spirit that resides with us Christ he speaks in a way proper to him by way of Promise I come and the Church in a way proper to her by way of Prayer Even so come 2. I might observe That in the Close of the World we should most earnestly desire Christ's Coming We have the Advantage of former Times to us Christ saith I come quickly Now the set time almost is come therefore our Pulses should beat more strongly in putting up this Request to Christ. Tertullian shews that the Primitive Christians did pray prâ— mora finis that the End might not come too soon Christ having â—s yet but a small Interest in the World they expecting Enlargement upon Earth but we have more cause to look for the Accomplishment of his Kingdom in Heaven Thâ—ey expected the Revelation of Antichrist and we expect the Destruction of Antichrist They that God might be known in the World we that he might be no longer dishonoured in the World When great Promises are near their Accomplishment there is a more lively Spirit stirring in the Hearts of the Saints Dan. 9. 2 3. I understood by Books the Number of the Years whereof the Word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the Prophet that he would accomcomplish seventy Years in the Desolations of Jerusalem And I set my Face to the Lord God to seek by Prayer and Supplication But quitting these Notes I shall mainly insist upon this Point Viz. Doct. That the Church and all the faithful Members of it do really and heartily desire Christ's second Coming They look for it they long for it they wait for it They look for it Phil. 3. 20. Our Conversation is in Heaven from whence also we look for the Saviour the Lord Iesus Christ. They reckon upon it as Rebekah espied Isaac afar off He is gone within the Vail he is appearing before God but he will come out again When they see the Clouds upon these one day will our Saviour come Then they long for it It is their Description 2 Tim. 4. 8. They love his Appearing Wicked Men and guilty Sinners hate and abhor it he being to come to them as a terrible Judg. Malefactors do not long for the Assizes But now the Saints who are absolv'd and washed in the Blood of Christ it doth them good to the Heart to think of it that one day Christ will appear in all his Glory And then they wait for it 1 Thess. 1. 10. They wait for his Son from Heaven even Iesus who hath delivered us from Wrath to come It is Wrath to come something behind the Coming of Christ which makes it so terrible Hell makes the Day of Judgment terrible The Devil could not endure to hear of Christ's coming Mat. 8. 29. Art thou come to torment us c. So wicked Men have the Spirit of the Devil it is a Torment and Bondage to them to think of the Judges Coming But those which have their Discharge they wait for it it supports and bears up their Hearts in the midst of their present Afflictions and they go on chearfully in their Work notwithstanding Lets and Troubles To give some Reasons why the faithful Members of Christ so really and heartily desire Christ's second Coming They are of three Sorts 1. Some in respect of the Person who is to come 2. Some in respect of the Persons which desire his Coming 3. Some in respect of the Coming it self I. In respect of him who is to come 1. His Person that we may see him The Children of God have delighted to look upon him through a Vail and have had a king of Heaven upon Earth from beholding his Face in the Glass of an Ordinance Looking upon him in the Vail of Ordinances hath been a mighty Comfort and Refreshing to them now they would desire to see his Person face to face They know by Hear-say this great Redeemer and Saviour of theirs he wooeth them by Proxy As Eleazar Abraham's Servant was to go abroad and seek for a Match for his Master's Son So the great Business of the Ministers of God is to set forth our Master's Son Now the Saints would fain see him Nay they have not only heard of him but believed in him and received him into their Hearts nay not only believed in him but they have loved him greatly 1 Pet. 1. 8. Whom having not seen ye love in whom tho now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoice with Ioy unspeakable and full of Glory It hath been a ravishing thought to them to think of Christ. And they have tasted 1 Pet. 2. 3. If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious And they have felt him in the drawings of the Spirit they live by his Life they have found a Virtue going out from him Now all that they desire is that they may see this great Person who hath been their Redeemer and Saviour 2. Consider him as in his Person so in his Relations to them Here are two Titles Even so Lord Iesus He is Lord and he is Iesus He is Lord as a Master and Husband as Sarah called Abraham Lord. As a Master Good Servants will look for their Master 's coming Mat. 24. 46. And surely such a Master should be longed for and looked for for when he comes he will not come empty-handed Behold I come quickly and my Reward is with me Rev. 22. 12. Here Christ's Servants have their Vales but not their Wages Here they have present Maintenance that is all they have now but then they shall have their Reward and Wages here they have their Earnest but then they shall have the full Sum. Under the Law Masters were charged severely not to defraud their Servants of their Hire why He hath lift up his Soul to him that is in the middle of his hard Labours this was his Comfort when the Work of the Day was over he should have his Wages and his Hire at Night So you have lift up your Souls to him the great Pay-Day will come and this hath born you up in all your Labours and Travel of your Soul Therefore as he is our Lord so we should look for him And then as our Husband this is a sweeter Relation The Bride saith Come Rev. 22. 17. We are here contracted and betrothed to Christ I will betroth thee to me Hos. 2. 19. But the Day of solemn Espousals is hereafter Here we are betrothed to Christ in
fruitful Seasons filling their Hearts with Food and Gladness that is gave them a comfortable use a Blessing upon the use of outward things And Levit. 26. you will find a Distinction between Bread and the Staff of Bread we may have Bread yet not the Staff of Bread Many have worldly Comforts but not with a natural Blessing Eccles. 3. 13. That every Man should eat and drink and enjoy the Good of all his Labour it is the Gift of God not only that he should have Increase by his Labour but enjoy Good to have the comfortable use of that Increase 8. Contentation is one of God's Blessings that we ask in this Prayer Give us this day our daily Bread That is such Provisions as are necessary for us Contentment and quiet of Mind in the Enjoyment Ioel 2. 19. Behold I will send you Corn and Wine and Oil and ye shall be satisfied therewith It is not only a Blessing we should look after but Contentment that our Minds may be suited to our Condition for then the Creature is more sweet and comfortable to us The Happiness of Man doth not lie in his Abundance but in the Suitableness of his Mind to his Estate Luk. 12. 15. A Man's Life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth There 's a twofold War within a Man both which must be taken up before a Man can have Comfort there 's a War between a Man and his Conscience and this breeds trouble of Mind and there 's a War between his Affections and his Condition and this breeds murmuring and envious repining Say Yea Lord and let us be contented with thy Gift This for the first thing how God is concerned in these outward Comforts Secondly That the Lord doth freely and graciously give these good things to us that is meerly out of his Bounty and Goodness It is not from his strict remunerative Iustice but out of his Grace The very Air we breath in the Bread we eat our common Blessings be they never so mean we have them all from Grace and all from the tender Mercy of the Lord. Psal. 136. 25. you have there the Story of the notable Effects of God's Mercy and he concludes it thus Who giveth Food to all Flesh for his Mercy endureth for ever Mark the Psalmist doth not only ascribe those mighty Victories those glorious Instances of his Love and Power to his unchangeable Mercy but our daily Bread In eminent Deliverances of the Church we will acknowledg Mercy Yea but we should do it in every bit of Meat we eat for the same Reason is rendred all along What 's the reason his People smote Sihon King of the Amorites and Og the King of Bashan and rescued his People so often out of danger For his Mercy endureth for ever And what 's the reason he giveth Food to all Flesh For his Mercy endureth for ever It 's not only Mercy which gives us Christ and Salvation by Christ and all those glorious Deliverances and Triumphs over the Enemies of the Church but it 's Mercy which furnisheth our Tables it is Mercy that we taste with our Mouths and wear at our Backs It is notable our Lord Jesus when there were but five Barley Loaves and two Fishes Iohn 6. 11. He lift up his Eyes and gave Thanks Though our Provision be never so homely and slender yet God's Grace and Mercy must be acknowledged But to evidence this by some Considerations that certainly it is of the Mercy of the Lord that he giveth Bread to the Creature God giveth these Mercies 1. To those that cannot return any Service to him 2. To those that will not return any Service to him 3. When we are at our best we cannot deserve them 4. We deserve the quite contrary 1. He giveth these Mercies to those that cannot return any Service to him The Beasts and Fowls of the Air the young Ravens Psal. 145. 16. Thou openest thy Hand and satisfiest the Desire of every living thing What can the Beasts or Fishes or Fowls of the Air deserve at God's Hand what Honour and Service can they bring to him only they have a bountiful Creator from whom they receive their Allowance So as to Infants alas what can they deserve at his Hand when God rocks their Cradles and nourisheth them from the Dug what Service can they do to God Isa. 46. 3 4. By me saith the Lord You are born from the Belly and carried from the Womb and even to your old Age I am he and even to hoare Hairs will I carry you Mark not only in Old Age when we have done God Service doth he maintain us but from the Womb the Belly before we could do any thing for him we were tenderly handled by him He alludeth to Parents and Nurses which carry their Younglings in their Arms. In Infancy we are not in a Capacity to know the God of our Mercies and look after him yet he looked after us then when we could not perform one act of Love and Kindness to him The Psalmist takes notice of this Psal. 22. 9. 10. Thou art he that took me out of the Womb thou didst make me hope when I was upon my Mother's Breast I was cast upon thee from the Womb thou art my God from my Mother's Belly Christians before ever you could do any thing for him or your selves before you could improve his Mercy when you could not know who was your Benefactor who it was that nourished and cherished you yet then God rocked your Cradles kept you from many Dangers nursed you and brought you up and carried you in the tender Arms of his Providence 2. God gives these Mercies to those that will not serve him when they can Isa. 1. 2. I have nourished and brought up Children and they have rebelled against me There are many in the World whom God protects supplies and provides them of all Necessaries yet they return nothing but Disobedience Contempt Rebellion and Unthankfulness The Sun doth not shine by chance but at God's disposal Mat. 5. 45. He makes his Sun to rise on the Evil and on the Good and sendeth Rain on the Iust and on the Vnjust Most of those which are fed at God's Table and maintained at his Expence and Care they are his Enemies and many times the more Men receive from him the worse they are Look as Beasts towards Man when they are in good plight they grow fierce and are ready to destroy those which nourish them so when 〈◊〉 are plentifully supplied we kick with the Heel wax wanton and forgetful of God Or as a froward Child scratcheth the Breast which suckles it so we rebel against God that nourished us and brought us up and dishonour our heavenly Father that provides these Blessings for us Parisiensis hath a saying They which hold the greatest Farms many times pay the least Rent so the great ones of the World they which have most of God's Bounty give him the least Acknowledgment
Thomas Manton DD. A PRACTICAL EXPOSITION OF THE Lord's-Prayer BY The late Reverend and Learned Divine THOMAS MANTON D.D. LONDON Printed by I. D. and are to be sold by Ionathan Robinson at the Golden-Lion in St. Paul's Church-yard 1684. The Preface SUch is the Divine Matter and admirable Order of the Lord's Prayer as became the Eternal Wisdom of God that composed and dictated it to his Disciples In it are opened the Fountains of all our regular Petitions and the Arguments contained to encourage our Hopes for obtaining them In our Addresses to Men our study is to conciliate their favourable Audience but God is most graciously inclin'd and ready to grant our Requests therefore we are directed to call upon him by the Title of Our Father in Heaven to assure us of his Love and Power and thereby to excite our reverent Attention to raise our Affections to confirm our Confidence in Prayer The supream end of our desires is the Glory of God in Conjunction with our own Happiness This is exprest in the two first Petitions That His Name may be Hallowed and His Kingdom come that we may partake of its Felicity In order to this our Desires are directed for the Means that are proper and effectual to accomplish it And those are of two kinds the good things that conduct us and the removal of those Evils that obstruct our Happiness The good things are either the Spiritual and Principal Means to prepare us for Glory an intire cordial and constant Obedience to the divine Commands exprest in the third Petition Thy Will be done on Earth as 't is in Heaven Or natural and subservient the Supports and Comforts of this Life which are contained in the fourth Petition Give us this Day our daily Bread The removal of Evils is disposed according to the order of the good Things we are to seek We pray that our Sins may be forgiven the guilt of which directly excludes from his glorious Kingdom that we may be preserved from Temptations that withdraw us from observing the Divine Commands and to be delivered from all afflicting Evils that hinder our arrival at our blessed End The Conclusion is to strengthen our Faith by ascribing to our Heavenly Father the Kingdom Power and Glory and to express our ardent desires of his Blessing by saying Amen This divine comprehensive Prayer is the Subject of the following Sermons wherein the Characters of Dr. Manton's Spirit are so conspicuous as sufficiently discover them to be his and the Reader is assured they have been diligently compared with his own Copy WILLIAM BATES ADVERTISEMENT DR Manton's second Volumn of Sermons in Folio on the 25th Chapter of St. Matthew the 17th of St. Iohn the sixth and eighth Chapters to the Romans and the fifth of the second Epistle to the Corinthians being perused by Dr. Bates Dr. Collins and Mr. How is now in the Press and will be finished with all Expedition there being three Presses already at work and two more will be shortly imployed for the dispatch thereof Therefore all Persons who expect the benefit of the Proposals are desired to send in their Money forthwith The Proposals are to be had at Ionathan Robinson's at the Golden Lion in St. Pauls Church-yard AN INTRODUCTION TO THE EXPOSITION OF THE Lord's-Prayer MATTH 6. 6 7 8. But thou when thou prayest enter into thy Closet and when thou hast shut the Door pray to thy Father c. I Intend to go over the Lord's Prayer and to make way for it I shall speak a little of these foregoing Verses wherein our Lord treats of the Duty of Prayer and the Necessity of being much therein In the beginning of this Chapter our Lord taxeth the Hypocrisy of the Pharisees which was plainly to be seen in all their Duties their Alms their Prayers and their Fasting I. For their Alms. Christ deals with that in the four first Verses It seems it was their Fashion when they gave Alms to sound a Trumpet and their Pretence was to call all the Poor within hearing Or to give notice that such a Rabby giveth Alms to Day Now our Lord sheweth that tho this were the fair pretence to call the Poor yet their Heart was meerly upon their own Glory their own Esteem with Men and therefore he perswades his Disciples to greater Secresy in this Work and to content themselves with God's Approbation which will be open and manifest and honourable enough in due time when the Arch-Angel shall blow the Trumpet to call all the World together 1 Thes. 4. 16. And Christ shall publish their good Works in the hearing of Men and Angels Matth. 25. 34 35 36. Thus he deals with them upon the point of Alms. II. For their Prayers Christ taxeth their Affectation of Applause because they sought out places of the greatest Resort the Synagogues and Corners of the Streets and there did put themselves into a praying Posture that they might be seen of Men and appear to be Persons of great Devotion and so might the better accomplish their own Ends their Publick Designs upon the Stage for the Pharisees were great Sticklers at that time and also their private Designs upon Widows Houses that they might be trusted with the management of Widows and Orphans Estates as being devout Men and of great Sanctity and Holiness In which Practice there was a double Failing 1. As to the Circumstance of Place performing a personal and solitary Prayer in a publick Place which was a great Indecorum and argued the Action to be Scenical or brought upon the Stage meerly for publick Applause And certainly that private Praying which is used by Men in Churches doth justly come under our Lord's Reproof 2. Their next Failing was as to their End Verily they do it to be seen of Men. Object But what Fault was there in this Doth not Christ himself direct us in his Sermon Mat. 5. 16. Let your Light so shine before Men that they may see your good Works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven And yet the Pharisees are here taxed for praying fasting and giving Alms that they might be seen of Men How can these Places stand together By way of Answer 1. We must distinguish of the different Scope and Intention of Christ in these two places There Christ's Scope is to commend and enjoin good Works to be seen of Men ad edificationem for their Edification Here his Scope is to forbid us to do good Works to be seen of Men ad ostentationem for our own Ostentation There Christian Charity to the Souls of Men is commended and here Vain-Glory is forbidden 2. Again Good Works are to be distinguished Some are so truly and indeed others only in outward shew and appearance Good Works that are truly so and indeed Christ enjoins there Hypocritical and feigned Acts that are only so in outward shew and semblance are forbidden here To pray is a good Work take inward and outward Acts of it together and so 't
to God as a Creator as we may come to him as the workmanship of his Hands It is better to do so than keep off from him And we may come to him as the workmanship of his Hands when we cannot come to him as Children of his Family The Church saith Isa. 64. 8. Now O Lord thou art our Father we are the Clay and thou our Potter and we all are the work of thy Hand They plead for Favour and Mercy by that common Relation as he was their Potter and they his Clay And David Psal. 119. 73. Thy Hands have made me and fashioned me give me understanding that I may learn thy Commandments Surely it is some Comfort to claim by the Covenant of Noah which was made with all Mankind when we cannot claim Mercy by the Covenant of Abraham which was made with the Family of the Faithful The Scriptures warrant us to do so Isa. 54. 9. For this is as the Waters of Noah unto me All this is spoken to shew that one way or other we should bring our Hearts to depend upon him as a Father for Succour and Relief Thirdly His Attributes Three this Text offereth God's Omnisciency He knows His fatherly Care Your Father knows what you stand in need of And his Readiness to help even before we ask 1. He is Omniscient He knows our Persons for Christ calleth his own Sheep by Name Joh. 10. 3. He knoweth every one of us by Head and by Pole by Person and Name Yea and he knows our State and Condition Psal. 56. 8. Thou tellest my Wandrings put thou my Tears into thy Bottle are they not in thy Book All our Wandrings he tells them all our Tears he hath a Bottle for them to shew God's particular Notice they are Metaphorical Expressions And he observes us in the very Posture when we come to pray and where Acts 9. 11. Go to such a Street in such a Place and enquire for one Saul of Tarsus for behold he prayeth The Lord takes notice in such a City in such a Street in such a House in such a Room and what you are doing when you are praying And he seeth not only that you pray but how you pray Rom. 8. 27. And he that searcheth the Heart knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit because he maketh Intercession for the Saints according to the Will of God He can discern between Lustâ— and Groans Words and Affections and such Words as are the Belches of the Flesh and such as are the Breathings of the Spirit 2. There 's his fatherly Care for it is said Your Father knows what Things you have need of He knows what pincheth and presseth you 'T is said 1 Pet. 5. 7. Casting all your Care upon him for he careth for you It is not said that he may take care of you but he doth take care God is afore-hand with us and our carking Care doth but take the Work out of God's hand which he is doing already Our Cares are needless fruitless burthensom but his are assiduous powerful blessed A small Matter may occassion much Vexation to us but to him all things are easy Upon these Considerations We should be careful for nothing but make known our Requests unto God Phil 4. 6. Praying for what we want and giving thanks for what we have For your Father knoweth you have need of these Things Mat. 6. 32. His fatherly Love will not suffer him to neglect his Children or any of their Concernments Therefore if you have a Temptation upon you to Anxiety and Carefulness of Mind and know not how to get out of such a Strait and conquer such a Difficulty remember you have a Father to provide for you This will prevent tormenting Thoughtfulness which is good for nothing but to anticipate your Sorrow 3. The next Thought is his Readiness to help This should be deeply impressed upon your Minds and should habituate these Thoughts how ready God is to help and to run to the Cry Psal. 32. 5. I said I will confess my Transgressions unto the Lord and thou forgavest the Iniquity of my Sin Before his Purpose could be brought to pass Isa. 65. 24. Before they call I will answer and whiles they are yet speaking I will hear So Jer. 31. 20. I heard Ephraim bemoaning himself c. God's Bowels were troubled presently He is more ready to give than you to ask This will help and direct you mightily in the business of Prayer for God hath a care for his Children and very ready to help the weak and relieve them in all their Straits Thirdly For Directions about our Affections in Prayer three things are required viz. Fervency Reverence Confidence 1. Fervency that usually comes from two grounds a broken-hearted Sense of our Wants and a desire of the Blessing we stand in need of For the broken-hearted Sense of our Wants especially Spiritual Weaknesses are incident to the best All Christians have continual need to cry to God We have continual Necessities both within and without Go cry to God your Father without Affectation but not without Affection and seek your Supplies from him Let me tell you the more Grace is increased the more sense of Wants is increased For Sin is more hated Defects are less born And then there must be a desire of the Blessings especially Spiritual our Needs must stir up fresh Longings and holy Desires after God Mat. 7. 7. Ask Seek Knock. Luk. 11. 8. For his Importunity he will rise and give We spend the earnestness of our Spirits in other Matters in Disputes Contests Earthly Pursuits our importunate earnestness runs in a worldly Channel No no it must be from simplicity and sincerity pouring out your Hearts before him No Sacrifice without him Jam. 5. 16. The effectual fervent Prayer of a righteous Man availeth much 2. Reverence a reverent respectful Carriage towards our heavenly Father Psal. 2. 11. Serve the Lord with Fear and rejoice with Trembling Mark there is in God a mixture of Majesty and Mercy so in us there must be of Ioy and Trembling God's Love doth not abase his Majesty nor his Majesty diminish his Love We ought to know our distance from God and to think of his Superiority over us therefore we must be serious Remember God is greatly to be feared in the Assembly of the Saints and to â—e had in reverence of all them that are about him Psal. 89. 7. 3. With Confidence Eph. 3. 12. In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the Faith of him There is boldness in pouring out our Requests to God who will certainly hear us and grant what is good we must rely upon his Goodness and Power in all our Necessities He is so Gracious in Christ that he will do that which is best for his Glory and our Good and upon other Terms we should not seek it If you would not turn Prayer into Babling much-speaking to Affectation of Words take heed of these Abuses and labour
the Lord who made Heaven and Earth As if the Psalmist had said As long as I see these glorious Monuments of his Power these Things framed out of nothing shall I distrust God whatever Exigence or Strait I may be reduced to Secondly More especially there is a particular Sort of Men to whom God is a Father in Christ and that is to Believers Iohn 1. 12. To as many as received him to them gave he Power to be called the Sons of God Those which in their natural State and Condition were Children of Wrath and Slaves to Sin and Satan when they come and are willing to welcom and receive Christ into their Hearts in a sense of their Misery are willing to make out after God and Christ they have an Allowance to call God Father and may have Child-like Communion with him and run to him in all Straits and lay open their Necessities to him 2 Kings 4. 19. When the Child cried unto his Father he said Carry him to his Mother So when we are ill at ease and in any Straits this is the Privilege of our Adoption that we have a God to go to we may go to our Father and plead with him as the Church Isa. 63. 16. Doubtless thou art our Father tho Abraham be ignorant of us and Israel acknowledge us not Thou O Lord art our Father our Redeemer It is good to know God under this special Relation of a Father in Christ and this is that which is the Grace of Adoption Adoption is an Act of Free-Grace by which we that were Aliens and Strangers Servants to Sin and Satan are in and by Christ made Sons and Daughters of God and accordingly are so reckoned and treated with to all Intents and Purposes It is a great and special Privilege given to God's own Children by virtue of their Interest in Christ and therefore it is said 1 Iohn 3. 1. Behold what Love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God! That is Behold it as a certain Truth and admire it as a great Privilege This second Relation is a very great Privilege and it will appear to be so if we consider 1. The Persons that receive it We that were Aliens and Enemies and Bond-slaves that were of another Line and Stock That might say to Corruption Thou art my Father to the Worm Thou art my Mother and my Sister Job 17. 14. We that were Cousin-Germans to Worms a handful of enlivened Dust that we should be taken into such a Relation to God! We that might say indeed to the Devil Thou art our Father and the Lusts of our Father we will do Iohn 8. 44. Satan is the Sinners Father and God disclaims them The Lord disclaims the People which were brought out of the Land of Egypt when they rebelled against him Exod. 32. 7. The Lord said unto Moses Go get thâ— down for thy People which thou broughtest out of 〈◊〉 Land of Egypt have corrupted themselves 〈◊〉 People which thou hast brought in Scorn and Dâ—â—â—dain as if God did disavow them from being hiâ— And so it was with us all When Adam had â—â—belled against God God executed the Law of the rebellious Child against him which was this that he should be turn'd out of Doors So was Adam turn'd out of Paradise and lost his Title and Heritage and we were reckoned to the Devil Now behold what manner of Love was this that we should be called the Sons of God! 2. You will wonder at it you will behold it as an excellent Privilege if you consider the Nature of the Privilege it self To be Sons and Daughters of God to be able to call God Father This was Christ's own Title and Honour When God had a mind to honour Christ he proclaims it from Heaven Mat. 3. 17. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased Surely if our Hearts were as apprehensive of heavenly Privileges as they are of earthly we would admire it more Earthly Alliance how is it prized If a great Man should match into our Blood and Line what an Honour and Glory do we reckon it to us 1 Sam. 18. 23. Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a King's Son in Law Do we account this a small Matter to be related to Kings and Princes and Potentates No no we have high thoughts of it And is not this an excellent thing to be Sons and Daughters of God In all other Cases if Men have Children of their own they do not adopt God had a Son of his own in whom his Soul found full Delight and Complacency yet he would adopt and take us wretched Creatures he would invest us with the Title of Sons And shall it be said of this and that Believer Here 's the Son of God O behold what manner of Love c. 3. Then do but consider the Consequents of it both in this Life and the Life to come In this Life what Immunities and Privileges have we Free Access to God we may come and treat with him when we please as Children to a Father when we stand in need of any thing We have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father Rom. 8. 15. If we ail any thing we may go to our Father and acquaint him with our Case and Grief And we shall have a Child's Allowance here in the World The Heirs of Glory are well provided for in their Non-age they have a Right to a large Portion all the good Things of the World Meat Drink Marriage such Things they have by a Son 's Right They have a Right to the Creature in and by him who is Heir of all Things so they are established in their Right which Adam lost 1 Tim. 4. 3 4. And they are under the Ministry of Angels the Angels are sent forth to be their Guardians and to supply and provide for them And then in the Life to come for we are not only Sons but Heirs we have a Right to the glorious Inheritance Rom. 8. 17. If Children then Heirs Heirs of God Here all the Children are Heirs Male and Female every Son and Daughter an Heir and Joint-heirs with Christ. We do as it were divide Heaven between us we have a great blessed and glorious Inheritance poor despicable Creatures chosen Heirs of a Kingdom James 2. 5. 4. You will see it was a very great Privilege if you consider how we come to be entitled to it Ephes. 1. 5. Having predestinated us unto the Adoption of Children by Iesus Christ to himself We come to it in and by Jesus Christ. Christ was fain to come down and to take a Mother upon Earth that we might have a Father in Heaven He comes down and was made a Man he became our Brother and so layeth the Foundation for the Kindred Heb. 2. 11. Nay not only incarnate but he died to purchase this Title for us When the Business was debated in the Council of the Trinity how