is dispersed up and down the Scriptures upon those accounts in that brief modell which we call the LORDS PRAYER Quest 41. Whether was it his intent that this Prayer should be either constantly or frequently used in the nature of a Prayer without any variation of the words or that it should be as a brief modell pattern or platform by which they who pray might be steered and guided in their way unto such particulars which are necessary for them to know Answ That it was intended by him as a directory or platform by which men might be taught how to pray is not I suppose questioned by any And in this notion of it Christ I conceive in prescribing it directly answered the intent of his Disciples in their request made unto him by one of their company the tenour whereof was that he would teach them to pray Luk. 11.1 Their meaning doubtlesse was not to desire him to bind them strictly to a certain form of words in their praying but to teach them to pray that is how to pray viz. with acceptation in the sight of God And himself being now ready to dictate this prayer unto them Mat. 6.9 delivers his mind concerning it to the same purpose After THIS MANNER therefore saith he pray yee Our Father c. meaning that their prayers which they should from time to time present unto God should both for matter and manner be ordered and framed as that brief modell or compendium of prayer which he would now propose to them should direct them And that the Apostles themselves understood and received it from him in this notion and not as a set prayer to be either constantly or frequently used appears by their practice upon Scripture record For whereas we here often read of their praying and several of their Prayers are recorded yet do we no where find that ever they made use of the said prayer in the nature or instead of a Prayer but constantly in the nature of a directory or rule how to pray all their prayers being conceived and fram'd by the light and guidance of it in such sort and so farre as it was intended to give light and regulation in this kind For there was something added at least by way of explication by Christ afterwards concerning the manner of praying Joh. 16.24.26 Notwithstanding I know no sufficient ground to judge the use of it as a prayer universally unlawful and he that shall thus judge will put to rebuke the whole generation in a manner both of righteous and learned men as well in latter as in more ancient times For these generally conceived that it was very lawful to be used as a Prayer and did for the most part sometimes thus use it Quest 42. What may be the reason why Christ delivers his prescript or platform of Prayer in the plural number Our Father c. Give us c. Forgive us c. rather then in the singular Answ The reason very possibly may be to intimate his desire that his Disciples and followers should love to pray in consort and conjunction and take all opportunities to assemble and meet together about this heavenly exercise The Apostles seem thus to have understood the mind of Christ in the point we speak of For of these it is said These all continued with one accord in Prayer and supplication with the women and Mary the Mother of Jesus and with his Brethren Act. 1.14 And if it had been delivered in the singular number it might with as much reason have been demanded why it was not delivered in the plural For as it is now ungrammatical and improper for him that prayeth privately unlesse he change the number so would it have been in the other case for those that should pray in company Quest 43. But how can it be looked upon as a perfect or compleat pattern or platform of Prayer when as there is nothing in it to direct or teach men in what name to pray which is a matter of as material and weightie a consideration about Prayer as any other thing that is most needful to be observed in it and is supplyed by Christ himself afterwards Joh. 16 24.26 Answ It may be called a perfect rule or platform of Prayer because it did very sufficiently and compleatly instruct men how to pray with acceptation at the time when it was delivered and untill God judged it meet that a further and clearer discovery should be made in what name and upon whose account and interest he would be prayed unto by men For as was formerly hinted In the answer to the 11th question in this chapter he that in prayer calleth God his Father prayeth implicitely and consequentially in the name of Christ as the believing Jews of old and untill this discovery was made and published in the world did The Apostles themselves did not pray in the name of Christ explicitely or distinctly untill after his Resurrection or at the soonest a very little while before his death Hitherto yee have asked nothing in my Name And At that day ye shall aske in my name Joh. 16.24.26 Quest 44. How may this Prayer be conveniently divided and the parts of it distinguished Answ The whole is called a Prayer because the greater part of it is such containing several petitions But besides that which is strictly and properly a prayer there is first a preface in the beginning Secondly a doxologie some term it a thanksgiv ng immediately before the conclusion And thirdly the conclusion it self Quest 45. What occasion or need was there of a Preface before the Prayer Answ So to qualifie and affect the heart that it may be meet or more meet to pray Besides a preface is a commodious introduction unto prayer Quest 46. Supposing this to be the preface Our Father which art in Heaven how doth it affect the heart to make it meet to pray Answ The heart is then in a meet frame to pray when it is filled on the one hand with the remembrance or apprehesion of the good will of God towards a man and on the other hand with a like apprehension of his transcendent Majesty and Glory The former strengtheneth Faith and gives boldness the latter allayeth this boldnesse with Reverence and fear and teacheth a man under that freedome whereunto he is admitted by God to know and observe his due distance notwithstanding Now being directed and incouraged by Christ in this preface to call God Our Father we are or may be and ought to be hereby fill'd with the remembrance of his natural affection and good will towards us but being withall reminded that he is in Heaven this is proper to strike out hearts with awful apprehensions of his great Glory and Majesty Quest 47. How many and what are the Petition 〈◊〉 â—tained in this Prayer unto which all that variety of blessings and good things which we can reasonably and according to the will of God ask in Prayer of him may and ought to be
c. Quest 30. In what respect or how did the Ascension of Christ give an opportunity unto the Father and to himself to poure out the Spirit as they did upon it on all flesh and give those great and rare guifts mentioned Answ As Kings and Princes are wont to shew their bounty and magnificence unto their poor Subjects in some signal manner as by scattering Gold and Silver plentifully amongst them at their Coronation and first Solemn entrance into their Kingdomes a time of joy and gladnesse of heart being most natural and proper wherein to exercise acts of Grace and Bounty So God the Father to expresse his great joy and high contentment in the advancement of his Son to that Royal Dignity wherein he was now invested and the Son also to express the fulness of his joy in that glory which his Father had now conferred upon him agreed in one to declare the riches of their munificent bounty unto the world by a liberal donation of that Heavenly Treasure the Holy Ghost the joynt possession of them both and by a collation of such gifts unto men which were sufficient to enrich the world for ever and to raise up the Tabernacle of Adam which was fallen and sunk as low as Hell Quest 31. What is the Glorification of Christ Answ That act of God the Father whereby he hath given unto him all power in Heaven and on Earth Matth. 28.18 and hath set him at his own Right Hand in heavenly places far above all Principality and Power and Might and Dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but also in that which is to come And hath put all things under his feet and given him to be the Head over all things unto the Church Ephes 1.20 21 22 That at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in Heaven and things on Earth and things under the Earth c. Phil. 2.10 11. Quest 32. What doth this glorifying of Christ by God the Father import or signifie unto the world Answ First It is an higher ground or larger foundation whereon to build our Faith and Hope in God then his Resurrection because it more fully argueth and confirmeth that he was very highly satisfied and pleased with his Death for the Sin and Salvation of Men inasmuch as it was upon and for this service performed that he so highly dignified and exalted him Phil. 2.8 9 10. compared Who by him do believe in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory that your Faith and Hope might be in God 1 Pet. 1.21 See also Rom. 8.34 Ephes 1.20 Secondly It much enliveneth and strengthneth our comfort about the effectualness and success of his Intercession for us The more he is honoured and advanced by God the higher he must needs be conceived to be in grace and favour with him and according unto these his prevalency with him in all his motions and applications unto him must in reason be estimated and believed Thirdly The excellency of the glory unto which Christ is advanced by God renders the Gospel so much the more authoritative and awful in and over the hearts and consciences of men and makes the neglect of it and every sin committed against it the more detestable and threatning For what can reasonably be judged a greater abomination and more provoking in the sight of God then for that silly creature called Man to despise or neglect him whom he in the presence of Heaven and Earth hath judged worthy of that unconceiveable weight of Glory which he hath laid upon him Fourthly and lastly It highly commends his service to the Judgements and Souls of Men making it the most rational and connatural ingagement unto the Intellectual Creature of all others Many saith Solomon seek the face or favour of the Ruler Prov. 29.26 which sheweth it to be very agreeable to the nature of flesh and bloud so to do And the greater in place and power any Ruler is the hearts of men are so much the more inclinable and easily drawn to seek his favour especially when they have any promising Dore of Hope open before them that by seeking they may obtain it Therefore the supertranscendent greatness of the Glory and Power wherin Christ reigneth is of excellent consequence and import to draw all men unto him Joh. 12.32 to perswade the world to seek his favour and to work their hearts to so much the more readiness and willingness to accept of his most gracious offer to entertain them in his service if they desire it Quest 33. You lately made mention of the Intercession of Christ What is this Intercession of his or How may we conceive of it Answ The Intercession of Christ doth not signifie or import any Deprecation or Supplication made by him unto God for mercy grace or favour to be shewed unto men for such a thing might seem to argue the insufficiency of the Sacrifice of Himself offered by him but it implyeth that his perpetual presence in all blessedness and glory with God doth continually and without ceasing as it were argue and plead the efficacy and vigour of that his Sacrifice with him as being fully sufficient or meritorious for the obtaining of him all those great favours and blessings for men for the procurement of which it was offered by him The only shewing or presenting of Himself before God in that great Glory which himself hath conferred upon him and upon the account of that his Sacrifice is an argument or proof attested by God himself and subscribed as it were with his own hand that the Sacrifice which he offered is worthy to be honoured by him with shewing all that grace and favour unto men for the obtaining of which it was offered According to this notion the Intercession of Christ we speak of is described to be His appearance in the presence of God for us Heb. 9.24 And his being at the right hand of God that is his great Dignity and Glory given unto him by God is mentioned as precedaneous to his Intercession and making way for or giving efficacy unto it Rom. 8.34 See also Heb. 7.25 Heb. 9.24 Quest 34. For whom doth Christ Intercede for the Saints or Believers only or for some other with these or for all men Answ The Intercession of Christ answereth his Death and is commensurable unto it in the ends and purposes of it as appears in part from what was even now said concerning it Therefore as Christ according to what was formerly in this Chapter shewed from the Scriptures died for all men so there is little question but that he intercedes for all men likewise But as he dyed not to obtain or procure the same things or favours for all men considered as now differenced or distinguished some from others by Faith and Unbelief by Repentance and Impenitency c. So neither doth he intercede for all men thus considered upon the same terms my meaning is That he doth not
Ezek. 18.27.30.32 Mar. 1.4 Luk. 24.47 Act. 3.19 Acts 5.31 Is Faith and Repentance one and the same thing Answ Although true faith and true Repentance be not formally and in definition the same thing yet they are as Twins receiving life together at one and the same time in the soul Yea they are so neer of kin that they still embrace and infold one the other and are never parted Yea they may seem to take place and to be effected and wrought by one and the same motion or conversion of the heart or soul Even as a man by one and the same motion or turning about of his body turneth himself from the west towards the east although turning from the West and turning to or towards the East be two things of a different consideration In like manner when a man worketh off or turneth his heart from sin that is in effect when he repenteth by the same act of altering or changing his posture he turneth himself towards God or towards Christ that is he believeth The Holy Ghost himself seemeth to state the case much after this manner between Repentance and Faith 1 Thes 1.9 in this short clause And how yee turned unto God from Idols which clearly implyeth that their turning unto God which importeth their believing and their turning from Idols which noteth their Repentance took place in them and were effected by one and the same act of turning So that if forgivenesse of sins be ascribed unto Repentance it is ascribed but unto that which is materially the same with beleeving Otherwise it may be said to the question propounded that by forgivenesse of sins in Scripture is oft meant not that generall or universal forgivenesse by which a person is translated from the state of condemnation into the state of life and salvation but only an exemption or discharge from the guilt and punishment due unto such or such particular sins according to the course of divine justice As when Christ praied for those who crucified him Father forgive them for they know not what they do Luk. 23 34. So likewise Stephen for those who stoned him Lord lay not this sin to their charge Act. 7.60 So the Apostle Paul for those who forsook him I pray God it may not be laid to their charge 2 Tim. 4.16 I is plain that the intent of their prayers respectively onely was that God would not judge or punish them for the particular sins committed against them When men have sinned greatly against God whether believers or unbelievers and are liable to punishment for it he judgeth it a righteous thing and well becomming him either to pardon and passe by their sin and to remit the punishment deserved by them upon their Repentance or to inflict this Punishment upon them in case of their impenitence I suppose it is onely in some such sense as this that forgivenesse of sins is ascribed unto Repentance Or if that forgiveness of sins which acompanieth salvation be any where in ' Scripture ascribed unto repentance it is ascribed unto it only as such a means or cause of it as that which Logicians call Causa sine qua non that is not as a cause operating towards the procuring of it but as a condition without which it cannot be obtained Quest 15. What is Repentance Answ Answer at least in part was given to this in the Answer to the former question where it was said that Repentance is the turning away the heart from sin A larger description of it may be drawn up in these or the like words Repentance is a deliberate act of the Soul performed upon the motions and by the assistance of the good Spirit of God wherby a man being touched with unfeigned sorrow and remorse for all that he hath sinned whether inwardly or in secret or else openly and in the sight of men armeth himself with a firm resolution and purpose of heart never by the grace of God willingly to sin more Quest 16. Whether is it in the power of any man to repent or to believe unto Salvation Answ To do either of these is in the power of no man considered simply as a man or as fallen in Adam or by any ability or endowment found in him or belonging to him in either of these considerations But all men without exception of whom Repentance and faith are required by God as necessary unto salvation considered as having part and fellowship in that great and blessed Restauration or Redemption of mankind by Jesus Christ are inabled by him and by his grace both to repent and to believe Otherwise God must be thought to have dealt more graciously and favourably with the Devills then with far the greatest part of mankind inasmuch as they were enabled by him to have continued in that glory wherein they were created and to have prevented that misery into which they are now irrecoverably plunged Quest 17. If the generality of men be inabled by God to repent and believe unto Salvation how cometh it to passe that the greatest part of them perish notwithstanding through impenitencie and unbelief Answ Men voluntarily suffer the zeal of this present world and of gratifying the desires of the flesh to eat them up So that they reserve a very inconsiderable proportion either of their hearts or of their time for seeking after God or for pursuing the great concernments of Repentance and Faith Whereas the nature of these being spiritual and heavenly the effectual pursuit and obtaining of them requires much abstraction of mind and affection from the things of this present world and much contention and ingagement of the faculties and powers of the Soul about them Luk 13.24 Joh. 6.27 1 Cor. 9.24 2 Tim. 2.5 Heb. 4 11. and 6.12 with many other places Now flesh and bloud being generally loath to be at any great cost and charge about the things of Heaven and the world to come being much more willing to give the price which God hath put into their hand to get true wisdome for the light and empty contentments of this present world then for the purchase of true wisdome from hence it must needs come to pass that flesh and bloud should go miserablyâ— to wreck and that though the number of them be as the sand of the sea yet a remnant of them only in comparison should he saved Quest 18. What ground hath any particular person to betieve in God or in Christ for his justification and Salvation Answ More then to walk upon the firm ground as men generally doe I mean without the least scruple or fear that it should open under them and swallow them up quick Yea and with the greatest confidence and security that it will bear them without the least danger or inconvenience For the Earth hath sometimes opened her mouth and swallowed up quick those that walked and were secure upon it Numb 16.31 32 33. Psal 106.17 Neither hath God made any promise to any the Sons or Daughters of Men that