thee He that thus begs forgivenesse shall undoubtedly obtaine it at the hand of the Lord And leade us not into temptation THis is of sanctification both begun here and ended in heaven sanctification frees from the power of sin glorification frees from the presence of sinne sanctification kills sinne glorification buries sin First for the order sanctification flowes from justification When sin is pardoned we have the Spirit of Christ which conveys all to us first justified then sanctified Secondly for the sense of the words and here are two things First what God should not doe Leade us not into temptation Secondly what he should doe deliver us from evill What is meant by temptation Quest A tryall Answ or an assault whereby a mans strength is tried now they are double First the deliverance from evill Secondly to prove the soundnesse of grace The first is especially intended and by it are understood all the assaults of the soul by sin Satan or the world whereby our faith may be shaken or we withdrawn from God to evill sometimes there are good temptations of proving or expressing our grace These in some sense may have place in this Petition God tries us in this manner and we pray him that he would trie us no more then we are able to beare What is it to be led into temptation Quest It appeares in three things Answ First when temptations pursue us Secondly when they doe foile us in assaulting of us Thirdly when temptation doth totally vanquish us Now we pray in this Petition that temptations may not pursue us pursuing us that they may not foile us and though we be foiled yet that we may recover our selves We desire that God would not let them besiege us if they doe yet not foile us and if they do yet that we may recover our selves after our foile Can God lead into temptation Quest The Apostle explaines it Answ Jam. 13. God cannot tempt to evill He that is goodnesse it selfe cannot provoke a man to sin The Lord doth not put malice into any mans heart God cannot properly be the cause of drawing a man into sinne there are tryals of proofe The Lord may try his as he did Abraham Gen. 22.1 A man doth not hurt his armour if it be good when as he proves it So God intends no evill to a man when he thus deals with him Some adde this word suffer us not to be led but that is silly since God tempts no man to sinne What needs this Prayer Quest God may doe it Answ sin and all other temptations have a double respect First evils are totally and professedly opposite to the Law of God Secondly sinnes go under the name of punishments sometimes God punisheth one sinne with another now as sin hath reference to the Law of God he is not the cause of it but so far as sin is a punishment God may be the author of it We pray then that God by a sinfull distemper would not plague us In what manner doth God leade us into temptation Quest He doth it three waies Answ First when the Lord withdraws not those nets that are laid for us when God removes not those stumbling-blocks that are cast before us Nay God may put a temptation before us Thus a master may lay a baite for his servant by laying money in a corner to trie his truth Now it is lawfull for a man thus to leave his money to discerne whether his servant be faithfull or no he desires not that he should steale but that he may trie his fidelity so God justly suggests occasions there must be heresies for the triall of Gods servants God sends occasions of provocations for their tryall God raines snares Psal 11.6 They that pitch their nets first let it fall and then set it up This is to raine snares the favour of God is but a baite to a wicked man his posperitie is but his ruine It is not with God to deale so because wicked men desire it so Judas would faine have gotten somwhat by the ointment now it is just with God to send the Pharisees to give him thirty pence and ruine too now his minde is pleased he hath thirty pence and damnation too Secondly as God layes occasions so he lets sin and Satan loose a mans heart would be hankering now God gives him up take him sin and Satan let him have field-roome 1 King 22.22 Ahab would faine go to warre it was a thing not allowed but he desired it therefore God sends the Devill God askes who will prevaile over Ahab the Devill saith I will go Then God saith go and do it Judg. 9.23 Abimelech and the men of Sechen did very ill then God sent an evill spirit that is he he let loose the spirit of contention and they destroyed him and he laboured to destroy them So God Rom. 1. is said to give them up when they departed from the government of the truth No saith God will you not be ruled by holinesse then take them uncleannesse Many a man hath a wrathfull disposition take him envie saith God let him bring blood on others and so ruine to himself Thus God tooke away his Spirit from Saul and gave him up to sinfull distempers of all plagues there is none like this Thirdly GOD leaves a man to himselfe and lends him not the assistance of his grace suffers him and Satan to grapple together 2 Corinthians 32.31 Thus GOD dealt with Hezekiah because he had a lease of his life he began to be proud Therefore God left him to himselfe to trie what was in him He though himselfe a brave man therefore GOD leaves him as a father lets a child go when he will not be held so saith GOD see what thou canst doe trie thy own strength Now this leaving is in two passages First GOD lets in the truth of his Word not so much as may serve for direction but for provocation That of the Romans is observable to this purpose There is no transgression where there is no Law not that the Law brings sinne but provokes a mans heart Rom. 7.5 the phrases are strange in the fifth verse The motions of sinne which were by the Law The Law moves a man to sinne by opposing of it saith the stubborne heart I will doe it because you say so many a man that hath lived civilly and as a good neighbour c. and after the Law stirs him up to more exactnesse he is more violent against good men The Law meeting with a proud heart he opposeth it and would pluck the Law in peeces All the while men joine sides they are loved but if GOD pleaseth to humble them then they flie out There is nothing there that comes in anew saving GODS grace but that malice that was there before is now stirred now there is no fault in a good man that he is good but sinne taking occasion by the command slew me saith the
and inke to the paper that the soul might take the impression of every rule that God would set up in our souls thus the soul should be disposed to wish that the Lord would put this frame into us this is a heart worth gold thou hast said seek me oh saith the soul that I could seek thy face and eccho behold Lord thy face I seek to submit wholly without any contending not that the Lord should force us but that we should take up our yoke put our necks to the yoke let the Word of the Lord bear the balance When Mary wanted wine and our Saviour checked her and Martha cumbred with too much businesse was reproved thou art troubled with many things c. they submitted presently not a word more so what the Lord commands let us do without any quarrelling let the least inkling of the Word beare the balance When our Saviour sent his Disciples for the Asses Colt they might have said but haply the man will not let him go how then I tell them saith our Saviour the Master hath need of him and then they will not deny him that is enough do but speak and it is done this the soul should labour to attain unto Secondly the soul carries it self with an inward opposition to whatever is opposite to the government of the Lord Jesus Christ to the utmost of our power it is in vain to say it were wel if it were so I would it were so and yet to stand still and not to set to our hands but we must join sides with the Lord as he spake of Merosh Cursed art thou because thou wilt not help the Lord against the mighty So truly the Lord Jesus is comming to our Towns to our families therefore we should step out and help the Lord against those mighty mountaines of pride and stubbornesse of heart when a proud heart stirs do you joine sides with it or cry out and say good Lord help down with that proud heart and stubborn spirit and the like the Lord saith it and doth your heart yeeld But if you say come pride and you and I will joine sides together and if the Word can remove us let it but we will joine sides Is this calling for the Kingdome of Christ to come No no you are traytors and conspirators and no subjects therefore stop your mouths this is not submitting but conspiring when Jezabel looked out of the window with her painted face saith Jehu Who is on my side fling her out so the Lord saith will you have pride or me if you be on my side fling down that proud heart which hinders the Lord Jesus Christ from taking place in your souls you paint your selves in a sturdy humour but if you be on Gods side fling down those painted strumpets you must not only oppose great sins but every sin we must not fodder and side with any secret sin although it be but with the appearance of evill you must abstaine from it you know what Moses said of losing not a hoof another said he would not start a hairs breadth from Gods Commandements in any particular so let us subdue all not leave an inch not a stamp not so much as two nails of the Dagon of our cursed lusts to rule in us thus it should be with the soul Thirdly though the soul cannot be as it should yet it doth desire the Lord that neither sin nor self-will may rule in us lay all flat down under the government of Christ When the heart finds a great deale of outwardnesse and power of sin then it saith Lord thy Kingdome should prevaile but the Sons of Zeruiah are too strong in me therefore take power to thy self and pluck away whatever doth oppose thee It was a good speech of a good Christian that he desired the Lord to rule whether he would or no. Thus the soul should be disposed to intreat the Lord that he would break open the doore when the Lord comes and we will not open we desire the Lord would come in by violence The white horse in conquering conquered so the soul desires the Lord to conquer to break in and make way into the soul and to take possession wholly in the soul now when the soul is loath this should be it is a wretched spirit that when the Lord will take sin whether we will or no we are loath it should be Do we then pray Christs Kingdome should come when we are not able to bear a commandement No no the soul will labour to oppose sin and pray the Lord for power against corruption Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven THis is the third Petition and in it are three things observable First the order it is in the third place Secondly the sense and meaning of the words Thirdly the frame of the heart in putting up this Petition First for the order the reason of it is because the two former make way for this third he that glorifies God in all things and hath his power set up in him he only doth what he commands for naturally there is no ability in man to do the will of God but when the Spirit works within then we are able to frame our hearts to Gods will David was a man after Gods own heart and then he did his will this is the reason of the order of the Petition From the ground observe two grounds of directions First he that thinks out of his own power to do Gods will it is impossible he should do it no he will never do it Secondly we must first submit to the Kingdome of Christ before we can do his will be under the government of Gods grace and then go on cheerfully We faile before we have submitted we would be doing but first Christ must do terrible things to the heart before it yeeld obedience Now for the words What is the will of God Quest It is the purpose of the Almighty touching the accomplishment of any thing Answ there is nothing done but the LORD doth it Whatsoever is brought to passe that GOD wills in generall Ephes 1. How many kinds of will are there Quest or how manifold is the will of God It is two-fold not in regard of it selfe Answ but in regard of us First the revealed will of God Secondly the secret will of God What is the secret will of God Quest It is that secret purpose he hath in himselfe before all worlds Answ and hath not discovered it to the creature Ephes 1.9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will according to his own good pleasure which he hath purposed to himselfe The Gospel was hid in the bosome of the Almighty not observable by man or any creature under heaven but now it is revealed this is the secret will of God which was hid in himselfe before all words 1. Cor. 2.16 Who hath known the mind of God The deep things of God
any thing unlesse thou dost worke in us what thou requirest of us For thine is the Kingdome It is not in our power to doe what wee should or what thou requirest of us but the Kingdome is thine all comes from thee O Lord and let all the glory of all be returned to thee again Doe we hallow thy name and pray for thy Kingdome to come and thy will be done why it is thou Lord that must give the power we beg all from thee and this is included in the word power For as that we should say we have no power to do any thing do thou all Lord and take thou the glory of all so that is the ground why we beg all of him and returne all to him What is here meant by Kingdome Quest First the word Kingdom doth discover the right and authority of God to give all things we want Answ thou Lord hast the disposing of all things we have no authority nor no property that is in us thine is the Kingdome thou hast all power to do what thou wilt The Master doth what he will in his family and the King rules in his Realme so doth the Lord rule in the heart of his Secondly the Lord hath not only authority to do what he will but full and abundant sufficiency to dispose of all according to his will and pleasure Kings may want power to do what they would and the sons of Zeruiah may be too strong for David but as the Lord hath title to all so his arme is long enough his ability sufficient enough to do all there is much infirmity in us but none at all in thee And the glory THe glory of a thing we know appeares in two things First the excellency of it Secondly in the beauty and splendor of its excellency this sets forth the glory of a thing as who should say if any beauty excellency or glory be in the creature it is thine oh Lord for thine is the Kingdome power and the glory Thine What doth this word thine imply Quest It implies three particulars Answ First that all authority sufficiency and excellency is firstly in God all is his by possession and propriety Any thing that we have or enjoy it is but what we have of him it is but a glimpse and reflexion of that glory in God and it is all firstly in God and he leases it out it is my God and my portion God is the roote of all we are or have all power and sufficiency is in him firstly Secondly so all comes from him whatever is in the creature comes from him all are but tenants and leasures of that they have from the Lord who is the great possessour of Heaven and Earth Thirdly it implies that we should acknowledge all belonging to him give every man his due whose is this honour and power the Lords let him have it then and this is to put off all ability and sufficiencie from our selves and to acknowledge all to come from him As thongh the soule should say Is there any thing in me Lord it is because thou givest it Thou givest unto us all our abilities and hearts to pray and it is thou that hearest us when we pray It is all free mercie all abilities are from thee therefore Lord take all for all is thine Thus the soule disclaimes all selfe For ever and ever c. THat is everlasting power is in thee which differs from all other power all mans power is from GOD but the Kingdom of GOD his power and his glory it is for ever and ever We cannot pray alwayes our abilities faile and our hearts faint but thy power endures for ever the good things of this life meat drink cloth c. some times are gone but yet thy power endures for ever to succour us When our abilities faile yet power is for ever and ever in thee to renew them Amen THe word Amen implyes three things First the terme of asseveration and it discovers the truth of a thing Secondly a wish Oh saith the soule that it might be Thirdly the voyce of a confident faith It is so it is done Lord all these three are implyed but this last mainly here intended These things wee have prayed for that according to thy will they are verily done As also there is a secret looking after the Petition when it is put up the soule followes the Petition Now saith the soule they speed the LDRD grants these petitions as a man that shoots an Arrow he looks after it So the soule saith Oh that the Lord would speed it So when the Petitions are sent to heaven the heart followes the blow and looks after them it sends his Amen oh that it might be so and then faith saith it is done undoubtedly As true as the Lord is faithfull so these must needs be done The word Amen strikes the match thorow The soule wisheth Oh that it might bee done saith saith it is done already Prayer is as the key when a man wants provision hee goes to the Treasurie and fetcheth it So prayer fetcheth comfort peace and assurance c. and Amen turns the key it is mine saith the Soule Prayer is as a Golden Key FINIS
A briefe EXPOSITION OF THE Lords Prayer Wherein the meaning of the words is laid open to the understanding of weake Christians and what the carriage of their hearts ought to be in preferring each Petition By Mr. THO. HOOKER Preacher of Gods Word LONDON Printed by Moses Bell for Benjamine Allen and are to be sold at his shop in Popes head Alley at the signe of the Crown 1645. A briefe EXPOSITION OF THE LORDS PRAYER IN the Prayer are three things observable 1. The Preface Our Father 2. The Prayer it selfe divided into six petitions 3. The conclusion of faith in the word Amen The soule goes up to heaven and follows the petition hallowed be thy name let it be Lord as thou mayst have glory Looke as a man that darts an Arrow hee puts the utmost of his strength unto it So the word Amen speeds all the rest speeds all and brings a good issue to the soule by all First for the Preface and there we must examin in generall two things the sense and meaning of the words Secondly what ground of incouragement it affords us to seek God And First observe the party sought Father Secondly the excellencie of him which art in heaven Thirdly the interest we have in him he is Our Father Why Quest or in what sense is God called a Father First Resp He is the Father of Christ by eternall generation Secondly he is the Father of men two wayes 1. By creation so the Scripture runnes Job 1.9 the Angels are called the sonnes of God Job 1.9 because they were created by God so God is our Father by creation and thus hee is a Father to the just and unjust Psal 139. Psal 139. I am wonderfully made saith the Text. 2. By adoption and grace in that he doth freely take us to be his sonnes in Christ he puts us into the right of his children as a man puts a stranger into the right of his sonne And thus God is a Father to his chosen onely that looke what Christ hath Rom. 8.17 they have Rom. 8.17 If sonnes then heires we are heires Gods chosen children both these wayes God is our Father Doe we onely pray to the Father Quest in that wee say Our Father No Resp we pray not to the Father only but we pray to the holy Trinity we make mention of the Father only yet we must direct our prayers to one God in three persons in that Godhead however we mention not all yet we direct to all all our petitions the reason is this because otherwise we should have made an Idoll of God I say concerning but of one person we make an idoll of God and call not upon him as he is How may we apprehend of God aright in prayer Quest Thus Resp as God hath revealed himselfe in his Word so we apprehend him not putting any image at all upon him as Instance thus two wayes First he that creates all governs all knowes all sees all by whom I live move and have my being to that God I pray The Scripture hath revealed God thus and he fills heaven and earth c. To that God then that is thus infinite to him I call I goe now no further to the seeing of an image but to an all-seeing God I come Secondly instance thus looke abroad into the creatures and in all you shall see a power and a goodnesse Now from whence came this power The power of Beasts came not from the power of trees and the like but there was a first power which gave all power to the creatures The Creator is infinitely more powerfull then the creature There is goodnesse also in the creatures all that came from the first goodnesse that let out it selfe now that which lets forth it selfe to the creature is in the Creator infinitely above the creature that is the Lord. Thus you must quit your selves of an image he that gives all is above all God gives all therefore he is above all and to that God I put up my petition Why doe we not mention the Sonne and the Holy Ghost as well as the Father Quest Because the Father is the first person in the Trinity Resp and the Fountaine from whence all flowes the Father workes of himselfe the Sonne of him the Holy Ghost from them both therefore we mention him onely though we may mention the other yet we pray onely to the Father How doth this word Father help a man to call on God by Prayer Quest When we conceive of God as a Father Resp it puts us in minde of his mercy that he will pitty us as a Father A man will be reconciled unto his sonne easily and will spare his sonne though he be a prodigall yet a father will passe by and cover all So I pray to a Father did I pray to a Judge that will condemn me or an enemy that would not be reconciled to me little hope I had to speed because I have wronged him yet I will arise and goe to my Father and say Father I have sinned Psal 103.13 As a father pitties his sonne Psal 103. 13. so God pittieth them that fear him He is my child saith God though stubborne and I must look to him When a mans rebellions witnesse against him and Satan vexeth him and saith What dost thou think to have mercy and art so vile True saith the soule I am naught but I goe to a father If a child doe but ayme at a thing the father accepts him if he speak but halfe a sentence the Father interprets it So this is the great incouragement of the faithfull to goe to God that notwithstanding so many failings and though so dead and so barren yet a father beares all The Lord interprets all though but broken speeches he accepts all and regards all We have a Father to to goe to that is willing to passe by many failings Secondly we have a ground of pitty if it be but a sigh he receives it So this may perswade us of the willingnesse of God to help us If a man were to goe to him that is hard-hearted little hope hee had to speed we say he is a cruell man we had as good pull water out of a flint c. A child will not beg of a stranger but will goe to his father so we pray to our Father that is more willing to heare and grant then we are to aske Luke 15. I will goe to my Father saith the Prodigall as who should say I am unworthy yet I goe to a Father Nay the Lord heares before we call he prepares the heart to call and answers what it craves when they aske The father puts into the childs mouth what it shall say and then hee will give it what it craves so God would have us seek for abundance of mercy open thy mouth c. God would faine give but none will crave it is God that must give
a heart to crave and this is got by prayer As water put into a Pumpe will bring forth much waters so pray that you may pray If your earthly father knowes what to give to you how much more can your heavenly Father give you a heart nothing shall be wanting to them that go to God as a father God bowes his care to the prayer of his people he condescends to our weaknesse buckles himselfe to heare us Thirdly we are here to take notice of Gods fatherly providence to provide what may be sutable to our occasions God hath all in store All the beasts of the field are mine he is the God of all comfort herefore he is provident He that provides for the Ravens and causeth the Lillies of the field to grow if God care for these how much more for you Matth. 6. hath the Lord a care for Oxen He that feedeth the Ravens Matth. 6. and clotheth the Lillies he will much more provide for him that calls on him Who then would not have God to his Father As the Father provides for the sonne so God is a provident Father let us walk in his wayes and commit our selves to his providence and care Fourthly this must teach us an awfulnesse to come before him What awe should be in our hearts to come before an heavenly Father Our Father FIrst observe that it is the tearme of relation and it is in two things 1. Consider the sense of the words 2. The Motives For the sense of the words three things are implyed First a proprietie an interest we have to challenge in speciall not as one friend to another or one neighbour to another or the like but he is our Father as we say it is our Land so when we say Our Eather we imply a speciall claime to God all that compassion and mercy in God is mine as Nabal said It is my meat Deut. 32. The word my implyes a possession Deut. 32. Our God is not like the gods of the Heathens and as Job saith My Redeemer liveth Secondly this laying claime to God implyes a communitie to all the houshold of God as the Sun is every mans so God is every mans that is faithfull Thirdly it notes a bond of society between the faithfull children of the same Father This is the meaning of the word Our as the members agtee with the head so they are helpfull so God is helpfull to all his faithfull ones Now the Motives whereby the soule may be furnished to call on God are three First a cheerfull readines to repair unto the Lord 1. Motive why we have an interest in him he is our Father The interest a childe hath in his father stirs him to come readily to his Father he craves not of a stranger as when the childe cryed they did carry him to his mother If any thing befalls the childe he saith I will tell my father and complaine to my mother and the like So aske the childe who will provide for him he saith My father So it is here with our God There is a fresh and living way that is marvellous easie and open Whosoever seeks shall finde whosoever knocks it shall be opened unto him therefore whatever our injuries be we should not complain to the world No poure forth your prayers to your Father and he will be sure to hear you Secondly as there should be a chearie readinesse to come to the Lord 2. Motive so there should be a spirituall boldnes to challenge what may be needfull Among strangers we are strange but amongst friends we are bold we have a right and title to these things and we may be bold with our own Thus David challengeth God As thou art faithful deliver me I am thy servant c. If a servant wants food or raiment he goes to his master So saith David I am thy servant therefore give me understanding that I may live When they bragged of Paul and Apollo saith he All is yours This should comfort our hearts let us claime our portions God is our Father and he will give it therefore be humbled in regard of your weaknesse and unworthinesse and confident in regard of his mercy and walk comfortably in regard of the Lord. If I should see the childe doubt in regard of my readinesse I should wonder Care not saith he it is your owne and he is our Father Marth 6. 32. 3 Motive and all that is in him is ours Matth. 6.32 Thirdly this stirs up our hearts to have a fellow-feeling of our brethrens misery in our prayers therefore God cuts off all in-seekings of our own Our as if he should say Is there never a Joseph in prison never a Daniel in the Lions den remember and pray for them If one suffer all suffers we are all members of one body we should mourne with those that mourne and weep with them that weep Isa Isai 58. 58. Pus up a Prayer for the remnant Oh that our hearts would have a fellow-feeling of their trouble Ephes 6. Paul begs for prayers as for a peny Eph. 6. for me also nay he intreats the Romans to wrastle for him in prayer Which art in Heaven c. FIrst we are to open the sence of the word Heaven secondly the motives to move the heart thereto Whether is God more in Heaven then in any other place Quest No Resp God in regard of his essence is in all places alike he is wholly every where The Godhead is altogether indivisible things of quantity fill a roome but God is indivisible as he is unchangeable so he is a simple being therefore all of God is in the whole compasse of Heaven and Earth Psal 139. If I goe to hell thou art there c. God is in the same manner every where Psal 139. you must conceive no parts in God if God be immense then all of him is every where and altogether in every place All creatures have their being from God he is in them and beyond them he is excluded out of no place included in no place If all of God be in every place Quest why then is he said to be in Heaven onely First Resp because God would manifest the glory of his power more in Heaven then in Earth because we see him not here Acts 17. we grope after him Acts 17. but we know the royalty of a King appears more in Court or Parliament so the excellency of God appears most in Heaven Secondly there are three Heavens the Heaven where the birds are the Heaven where the starres are and the highest Heaven now the third Heaven is meant here for God hath reserved this place as his chair of state the Heavens saith David are the Lords no uncleane thing can come there The Angels sinned and all the visible Heavens are defiled by man the sunne is abased the aire polluted all these creatures that serve man are by man defiled but the
in the shop to call over others to look on himselfe his person properties and the like but to sell his Masters wares And so we desire that God may lift us up but that is not the rule that men may see our good workes but God in them A child or a servant should so walke that others may admire Gods grace in him we are Gods workmanship Secondly wee should have hearts enlarged to blesse God that hee hath been pleased to reveale himselfe to us Thus much for the first Petition Thy Kingdome come VVHy is this added immediately to the former Quest Because it is a speciall meanes whereby the heart is fitted and the glory of God advanced Answ the first was to hallow Gods Name and to that end the Kingdome of Christ must be set up for no naturall man can glorifie God because so long as sinne and corruption prevailes it will never be therefore the power of Christs Spirit must doe it and by it we must be swayed unto it What is the scope of this petition Quest The main scope of it is thus much Answ that the government of God by Christ might be set up and prevaile every where as before Gods name was highest so here the power and government of Christ is to be universall that is the generall now we come to the particulars and here consider the sense of the words First What is this Kingdome Secondly the carriage of the heart in putting up this petition Thirdly what is the comming of this Kingdom By Kingdome is meant that rule that Christ hath set up in the hearts of his For the generall providence of God I take it is not so much aimed at in this place or that ordinary providence of God over the creatures this is set forth in the fourth petition Give us this day our daily bread but it is the rule of Christ that is set up in his Church How many fold is it Quest It is two fold Answ which are these Of Grace Glory both aymed at here What is the Kingdome of grace Quest It is that whereby Christ by his Spirit and grace Answ by the ministery of the Word takes place in the hearts of his and this he doth two waies First by over-powering casting down all other things which are opposite thereunto all the power of sin and Sathan which are opposite to him Secondly he sets up that frame of Spirit whereby it is subject to grace and it takes place two wayes First by cutting down and killing of every sin Secondly the soul takes the stamp of every condition and is ruled by it What is the Kingdome of glory Quest Gods immediate ruling in the hearts of the glorified Saints Answ How doth the Kingdome of grace and glory differ Quest Here in the Kingdome of grace God rules Answ First by his Spirit Secondly by the Word and Ordinances Thirdly by the ministery of the Word But in Heaven he rules immediatly no more words and means but Christ fills the soul fully and then he rules gloriously when the understanding will and affections are full of Christ and are fully and wholly subject to him here in the vale of tears we meet with many rubs and oppositions but then Christ shall shine fully and immediately In all his Ordinances we seek a Christ but then we shall have all of him so that we that have the Spirit have a glimpse of heaven therefore ashamed should we be to be wearie of God let us be wearie of sin I tell you it is a heaven to live here with God upon earth and if it be a glorious thing to have a glimpse of God here how much more to be filled with God hereafter in his Kingdome How is this Kingdome said to come Quest The comming of these Kingdomes implies three things Answ First that the Word may be revealed in these places where it hath not been Luk. 1. That the day-spring from on high may visit them that sit in darknesse that the Sun of righteousnesse might visit them that want it that the banquet of the Gospell might be set up Mat. 24. If any man say he is in the wildernesse go not out for where the Carkasse is thither will the Eagles resort This is the first thing A Kingdome is said to come when a King rules in a place where he did not before so it is here Let all the people praise thee saith David he desires not that some tongues only but that all tongues and languages should do this Secondly where ever the Gospell doth shine we desire that it should discover it self more fully and spread it self where ever it comes we desire the Kings government should enlarge the territories more and more so we desire not only that Christ should be revealed but that more and more should be gathered that God may be taken in every where and that every knee may bow to Christ and lick the dust that so there may be an addition made to the Church that every man in every kinde may come to Christ and that God would cast his skirt over him that more may be caught in his net that the Jew and Gentile may be gathered into one sheep-fold and have one Shepheard Thirdly that the power of it may be more and more setled as the house of David grew stronger and stronger 2 Sam. 3.1 but the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker so when Christ sets up his candlestick that the seed that is sowen there may take deep root When a King hath erected Castles then he hath his Kingdome so we desire God may intrench himselfe and reare Castles of defence against his enemies which would remove him that he would set himselfe up strongly that every Traytor may be crusht and every base lust that God would slay them and none but his Lawes take place in a word the issue returnes to thus much we beseech Christ that his Gospel may spread and be strong and these dayes of sinne may be wasted and that he may come in the clouds Revel 22. and then come Lord Jesus come quickly that he would accomplish the number of his Elect and gather those that belong to his glory and that they may bee everlastingly with him What is the carriage of the soul in putting up this petition Quest It appears in three things First the soul desires and so labours to be subject to the good pleasure of the Lord the heart saith oh that I might be so disposed that I might be subject to the pleasure of the Lord we desire that all those things that are set up in our hearts that are contrary to the good pleasure and will of the Lord might be subdued Psal 119.4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy commandements but oh Lord that my soul were so thou hast enjoyned me to do so oh that I could do so the Spirit should be as wax to the seale
Apostle Looke as an ague that is pretty well over-past it lies in the bones and if he that hath it drinke cold water it growes extream and hot by force of opposition So that man that lay lurking before the Word comes and it layes a man flat and it slayes him utterly vers 13. Sinne by the command became out of measure sinfull Looke as it is with a damme the damme stops and the streame swels by force of opposition so the Law stops the streame of sinne and corruption and now it growes exceeding violent Therefore they that have been under good meanes and breake are out of measure shamelesse in their sinfull proceedings this damme that stops makes this sin greater thus the Law of GOD is a Law to a proud heart The Law is not to blame but the heart Secondly the LORD will not suffer the soul to have the power and assistance of the Spirit which formerly he hath had but le ts sin and it grapple till he breake sinne all to peeces Many a time the LORD leaves the soule and will not let it have that power that formerlie it had What can a soul fall Quest No. GOD takes not away his hand Answ but yet he shall not feele it as a man if he stirre not the wheele it will not goe his hand is on it all the while but doth not stirre it therefore it goes not So GOD leaves a man to himselfe though for the while he doth not give him that force whereby he may gaine-say a temptation This befell David LORD Psal 57. take not thy holy Spirit from me that is when God would not helpe David but let him make his part good with the temptations I doubted not but David had grace enough if GOD would have quickened it in him Hezekiah had wisdome enough but GOD left him Thus the LORD is said justly to leade a man into temptation Now wee pray that he would take away all snares that he would not suffer the Word to provoke us but to direct us that we may not be left to our owne strength and that wee may overcome all our spirituall enemies But deliver us from evill HEre observe that though GOD would doe nothing against us yet we are not able to deliver our selves from our owne corrupt hearts What is meant by evill Quest Not so much trouble Answ or punishment but sinne Now in sin are three things First the breach of the Law Secondly the guilt a man gets by this breach and so is liable to this punishment Thirdly the vigour of sinne whereby it rules over the soule Now the former we pray against in the fifth Petition because we stand guilty of the breach of the Law therefore wee pray that God would not enter into Judgement with us And thirdly wee pray here against the power of sinne and that is in three particulars not only in regard of the guilt of it but that the Lord would keep us from the power of it First sinne would be a commander over the soule It is the King Satan is the Gaoler it hath a Kingly Soveraigne Authority and would rule over us sinne is often compared to a King his servants are they to whom they obey Sinne is a Master at least it would be and is so in every naturall soule and it would bee so in the godly The law of life saith the Apostle hath freed mee from the law of death Rom. 8.2 Sinne gives Parliament-Lawes to the Soule and Edicts and as the Centurion bade one servant goe and hee went and another come and he comes so doth sinne say Pride saith it is my pleasure you should be proud therefore I will have you proud and snappish c. Sayes anger I will have you spleniticke and rage Sayes the soule then I will and it shall be done Thus sinne sets up it selfe as a supreame Soveraigne in the soule Hence a proud heart saith I will that I will let GOD say what hee will tell not mee of Lawes it is my minde It is your proud heart sets you Lawes and you yeeld to them Now we pray that GOD however sinne bee in the Soule yet that he would snub and curb it that it may bee an underling in the Soule and daily subdued Secondly as sinne doth and desires to set up a master-like rule and a supreame Soveraign Lord like dominion So sinne carries the soule and sometimes separates the soule from GOD whereas the command of GOD should be a guide to us and take place in our hearts this Rebell it takes up Armes resists stands in defiance against the rule of the Spirit Hence come all these phrases they forsook God resisted GOD and turned their backes to his commands What saith pride shall I bee a slave that the Word should awe mee and snub mee I will never yeeld it while I live I will dye first This is a Devill that drawes you from GOD and will carry you to Hell Rom. 7.23 that is the meaning of this place Sinne carries a man captive that when the soule sees it selfe so ruled by him a gracious heart would teare it selfe off if it could but a naturall man is a slave to sinne sinne gets head and so the soule dares not affect any good in another nor labour for it in it selfe Thirdly sinne leaves a kinde of blemish and staine upon the soule after the commission of it There is a kinde of jeering to the heart and a cunning wrong of the soule hence the Scripture calls it the excrement of naughtinesse c. though the act of sinne be gone yet there is a blemish on the Soule Peter after his denyall of CHRIST was averted from CHRIST So a man after sinne shall finde himselfe dull to any good and prone to any evill This is the staine of sinne when a mans arme is put out of joynt besides the fall there is a bruise So after a man hath broken the Commandements of the LORD the LORD unjoynts him hee is more awake to any good then ever Galath 6. If any man bee unjoynted by sinne So that of the Romanes they wound their owne soules This sinne doth now these wee pray against partly against the power of sinne partly against the authority of sinne partly against the staine of sinne But deliver us from evill To deliver from evil implyes three things First wee pray that the LORD would prevent all those occasions and struglings and distempers of sinne that trouble us these wee pray against to wit that hee would take off these distempers whereby sinne would lay siege against the Soule that hee would remove those things that would remove us from him This is that wisdome promiseth Prov. 6.21 Shee will keepe and walke with them that walke with her and shee will keepe him from the way of the wicked woman Sinne is like a Harlot therefore the LORD is pleased to expresse it after that manner Now it is the mercie of the LORD that he will
come that hee would intrench about us and give us Armour and weapons to resist it and give us dominion over our enemies and that if wee be overcome hee would rescue and recover us out of them This is the sum of this Petition Now wee come to the frame of the heart that we should bring before God Quest that so wee may be fit to receive the good we sue for at the hand of God Now wherein doth it appeare The frame of heart and disposition of Soule Answ that best be-seemes us in the putting up of this Petition appeares principally in four things First when wee desire that the Lord would not let us bee drawne aside nor led into temptation wee must labour to avoid all occasions as may bee too strong for us or like to prevaile over us In vaine wee desire to bee delivered from evill when wee rush into evill and into temptations Hee that should take pitch into his hand and pray not to defiled put fire into his bosome and pray not to be burnt it is a sleighting of Gods mercy and a provoking of God to wrath rather then a begging of mercy We would count it a madnesse for a man to cast himselfe into the Sea and desire to be saved to make our selves sick that God may make us whole againe It is nothing else but as we may say to make God worke so to runne into evill and to pray to the Lord to deliver us from evill it is provoking and mocking of the Lord the wise mans rule is here memorable Prov. 23.23 If a man be given to his appetite let him put his knife to his throat If thou lovest the wine looke not upon it a man that is given to his apetite it is in vaine to pray against it and yet nourish it but thou must put thy knife to thy throat abstaine from that which may provoke it for if we please our appetite it will be a temptation to us Psal 30. The promises and the providence of the Lord go together He will succour us and relieve us but it must be in the way of providence we must be in the way He that goes out of the way and craves Gods assistance shall never have it but hales on evill on himselfe Matthew 10.18 our Saviour speaking of offences saith If thy hand cause thee to offend cut it off and if thine eye cause thee to offend pluck it out That is were thy sinnes as neere to thee as thy right hand in regard of profit or thy right eye in regard of pleasure cut them off pluck them out fling them away rather then be foiled by them In vaine wee crave the assistance of the Lord and in the meane time lay blocks before us it is presumption therefore no marvell if many times the Lord leaves a man in the lurch because he doth not that he praies for It is enough to cause the Lord to curse us when we do not avoid occasions of evill he that will not fall into the pit let him not come neer the brinke of it he that will not be snared by evill let him not come neer the occasions of evill Secondly if we be weake of our selves and cannot prevent the occasions of evill yet bee carefull to seeke all such meanes as may be succourable and helpfull to us if we cannot helpe it but that these will surprize us let us seeke the meanes that may succour us in our need The sicke man that craves succour of the Lord must use the meanes the Lord hath appointed happily thou findest temptations pressing on in thy calling thou canst not avoid it the more the occasions are the more seek for the meanes that may fortifie thee Hee that will be healed let him seeke the Physician he that is out of the way and would be set in the right way let him inquire it out and not sit still and say Lord have mercy upon me c. but seeke unto God in the use of the meanes It was that which Joshuah did chapter the seventh he called upon God but yet the Lord did not help him but said Why doest thou so Israel hath sinned looke to that in vaine it is to pray that the enemie may not prevaile and labour not to get sinne out of the camp but doe that and then the overthrow of the Enemies will bee farre enough from thee Thirdly when wee have found the meanes labour to bee content to bee ordered by all the meanes and helps that God hath been pleased to ordaine for our good It is a madnesse to crave as Balaam Oh that I might die the death of the righteous and not live their life to see the way and not to walke in it Jer. 42. they said to the Prophet Inquire at the mouth of the Lord and whatsoever he commandeth that wee will doe but when they heard and knew it they would not In vaine it is to crave the pardon of sinne when we looke not to the promise to desire sinne to be subdued and yet not to abide the meanes that should doe it but if a man faith he will not be counselled but will have his proud heart and will walke in all his owne waies how can he say deliver me from this proud heart when he will not have counsell take place When a man is in horrour of heart when conscience flies in his face it is in vaine to whine then and yet not to be ruled by the Word of God but be as vaine as ever as loose as ever and as iddle as ever Thou beggest one thing and desirest another and so long never put up this Petition Fourthly wee must relye upon the Lord for a blessing and successe in all wee pray for or do We must so use the meanes as if there were no promise to helpe us and yet so depend on God for all as though the meanes could doe nothing Observe all thy occasions and say counsell and advise is good but the Lord must set them on man lives not by bread only but by the blessing of God in the meanes goe to the Spirit of the Lord and see there a greater power then in all meanes 2 King 2. If thou canst see me taken up then shalt thou have my Spirit double upon thee The meaning is if thou seest the God that takes me up then he will give thee his Spirit looke to God above all meanes and he that is thus disposed praies aright to be delivered For thine is the Kingdome VVE have done with the sixe Petitions three concerning God his Name Kingdome Will three concerning our selves concerning things of this life and of a better to wit justification sanctification we come now to the conclusion and considerin it two things First the thanksgiving Secondly the conclusion of faith in the word Amen In the thanksgiving is included both a reason of the Petition as also a forme of thanksgiving as who should say wee doe not presume wee can do