to pollute to profane or blaspheme the name of god sheweth most plainely what it is to hallow or sanctify it We pray therefore that god would giue vs grace to acknowledge to consider reuerently to set forth aduance those vertues and workes of god in thought word and deed As it is vvritten Psal 48.11 According to thy name so is thy praise Which also may and ought to be enlarged in this exposition and meditation vnto all the essentiall and personall vertues of god Againe we do heare desire that we may with holinesse and reuerence thinke and speake of the workes and iudgements of god that we be not euil or envious cēsuters so as we should wrongfully or prophanely iudge of his prouidence and chastisements towards vs and of his long suffering towards our enimies by complaining and murmuring against the same or else abuse his goodnesse his gentlenesse and patience Numb 20. v. 12. whē Moses and Aaron doubted of obtaining water and the people murmured the lord saith ye haue not beleeued me that ye might sanctifie me before the children of Israell 1. Pet. 3.5 Be not afraide in time of persequution but sanctifie the Lord in your hearts IV. Seing the name of god concerning his essence his will his workes and iudgements is made knowne to vs in the word we doe pray that the name of god that is his word may be giuen and preached vnto vs purely sincerely in true and sound vnderstanding holily that is without corruption or deprauation that sincere and faithfull ministers may be giuen vs for the edification of the Church which may discharge their duty faithfully and be furnished with necessarie gifts And that we may be mercifully kept and preserued from all corrupting and deprauing of the word of god from woolues and hirelings V. Answerable to this we must acknowledge the giuing of the word for the holy and singular blessing of god we must reuerently receiue it with diligence and deuotion heare thinke and meditate on the same We must also sanctifie and adorne the same with a godly life lest by vs the name and doctrine of god be polluted and euil spoken of 1. Tim. 6. v. 1. And that other by our godly conuersation may be drawne to loue and embrace this doctrine Math. 5. v. 16. that they may see our good workes and glorifie your father Rom. 2. v. 23. By breaking the lawe thou dishonourest God and for you is the name of god blasphemed Nowe let all these parts be applyed to the foure general heades before set down To wit I. What blessings we desire to be giuen vs to be preserued and increased II. From what euills we desire to be kept deliuered III. What benefits we must acknowledge to be bestowed on vs and what thanks we ought to render againe for the same IV. What manner of confefsion of sinns we must make from thēce And let these be applyed in speciall vnto the whole Church and in particular vnto our selues and vnto those whose want we know So will the meditation of this petition be very large Let thy kingdome come to In greeke it is simple come but because in Luke 11. v. 20. it is written The kingdome of God is come vnto you It is not amisse translated adueniat Let come too Moreouer the kingdome of god is taken diuers waies For there is a generall or vniuersall kingdome of God whereby he doth mightily gouerne all creatures Psal 103. v. 19. his kingdome ruleth ouer all and Psal 145.13 Thy kingdome is an euerlasting kingdome But this we doe not properly vnderstand for that doth mightely runne ouer all nothing can hinder it neither any creature withdraw it selfe from vnder it vnles we vnderstand our prayer thus that all men may acknowledge obserue and reuerence the prouidence of that kingdome of God whereby he ruleth gouerneth and disposeth all things and that they may humbly subiect themselues vnto it in all things Againe there is the kingdome of grace in the Church in this life and the kingdome of glory in the life to come which is heere properly to be vnderstood as the preface it selfe sheweth For we say Our father thy kingdome come And this is called the kingdome of the father the kingdome of Christ and the kingdome of heauen the more to commend the free gift of God we say not that we come to the kingdome of God but doe pray that it may come to vs or as Christ more plainely speaketh Luke 11.20 that the kingdome of God may come before hand vnto vs. And this is called the kingdome of the father the kingdome of Christ the kingdome of heauen Nowe the kingdome of grace is not meat and drinke but righteousnesse peace and ioy in the holy Ghost Rom. 14. v. 17. It consisteth not in speach but in trueth and in power 1. Cor. 2. v. 5. We pray therefore that the holy ghost may be giuen vs that he may be powerfull in vs by the word to illuminate to conuert iustifie sanctify to lead guide confirme preserue vs that we may be found in that kingdome and there abide and perseuere lest we should fall away thence againe and slide backe into the kingdome of Satan That God would oppose his owne kingdome against the kingdome of Satan and of the world that he would keepe backe and bind the deuil that he would suppres beare downe and breake of the treasons and the power of the deuil and the world and mercifully defend keepe his church from the same that is as the Psalmist saith Psal 110.2 that he would rule by the power of his right hand in the middest of his enimies that he would tread down Satan vnder our feete Rom. 16. v. 20. keepe vs from the world Ioh. 17. v. 15. that we may ouercome the world 1. Ioh. 5.4 and Ioh. 16.33 that he would deliuer vs from the present euill world Gal. 1.4 least we should loue and desire the kingdome of the world contemning and neglecting the kingdome of God least sinne should raigne in our mort all bodies Rom. 6.12 and iniquitie beare rule ouer vs Psal 9.13 and 119. but that sinne may be crucified and mortified in vs Galat. 5.24 that we may become subiect to the direction of the Holy ghost and be transformed of him into the obedience of god and become seruants vnto righteousnesse That we answer not thus We wil not haue this man to raigne ouer vs. Luk. 9.14 that we cast not off his yoke from vs. Psal 2.3 but take it vnto vs because his yoke is sweete and easie that we may finde rest vnto our soules that trauailing and beeing heauie laden we may flie to the throne of his kingdome and there haue refreshing Math. 11.29 Hebr. 4.16 that we may first seeke the kingdome of God Math. 6.33 that we may sit downe in the kingdome of heauen and not be cast thence Math. 8.11 that we be not offences in the kingdome of God Math. 18.6 that the kingdome of
Creede that we may be translated out of this world where the deuill is prince where the earth in this vale of miserie brings forth thornes and brambles of affliction into an other world of eternall life where we shall be free and safe from all euills that we may not alwaies thus be subiect and lie open to the darrs and temptations and assaults of the deuill the world the flesh and calamities So Paul saith Rom. 7.24 Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from this bodie of death 2. Tim. 4.16 he sheweth a godly and excellent affection when he saith At my defence all men for sooke me but the Lord assisted me and I was deliuered out of the mouth of the lyon and the Lord will deliuer me from all euill and vvill keepe me or preserue me unto his heauenly kingdom to whome be praise for euer and euer Amen In which wordes he deliuereth the very last petition and conclusion of the Lords praier VII VVe are taught in this petition to lift vp our heads to thinke vpon and to desire an other blessed life to come which is eternall where shall be full deliuerance from all euill And because we are too much occupied and plunged in the matters and affaires of this life and of this world we doe also request that God would inspire excite kindle beget and preserue in vs this meditation and desire that we couet to be dissolued that is to leaue this life and to passe to another blessed life And because euery kinde of death is not the ende of miserie for the death of the wicked is the beginning of their torments Luk. 16.22 but the death of the godly is a deliuerance from all euill and a beginning of euerlasting happines therfore when we say Deliuer vs from euill we doe also desire that our heauenly father would keepe vs from euill death that we may not die the death of the vncircumcised Ezek. 28.10 or the death of sinners which is worst of all Psal 34.22 that we may not die carelesse in our sinnes vnprepared without repentance Ioh. 8.24 But that he would graunt vnto vs a godly and sauing ende of this life that we may die in the Lord Apoc. 14.13 that whether we liue or die we may be the lords Rom. 14.8 whether we abide in the pilgrimage of this life or be called home to our owne countrie by death yet still we may please the Lord 2. Corin. 5.9 Furthermore we pray that God would put into vs a care desire to prouide betime for our selues those things which are necessarie to dying well that we may be prepared for death least we want oyle in our lamps when the bridegroome commeth and calleth for vs Math. 25.3 And that in the last howre of this life we may haue true repentance the word the Sacraments faith hope the spirit of grace and of praier that when we are to die we may be found in Christ Philip. 3.9 hauing that righteousnes which is of God through the faith of Christ that so we may rightly commend our soule into the handes of our Father And if we be not found sufficiently prepared we pray that he would not suffer vs to be preuented by suddeÌ„ death at vnawares but would mercifully graunt vs space for such preparation that our death may be a deliuerance from all euill and a passage out of this vale of miseries to eternall life So that in this petition we beseech the Lord mercifully to be present with vs in that last and dangerous conflict wherein our aduersarie goeth about most busily marking whether he can snatch vs away and deuoure vs that so we may be kept and deliuered from all euill And that he would strengthen vs that we may not feare to die not be afraid of death nor tast thereof but may depart in peace and so when we die may be truly deliuered from all euill These thinges we must pray for in this petition both generally and in particular crauing blessings of the Lord praying against euils giuing thanks for benefits receiued and confessing our owne sinnes For thine is the kingdome The conclusion c. The latin copies want this clause which is not in S. Luke neither haue latin writers expounded it as Cyprian Ambrose Ierome and Austin But all Greeke copies haue it constantly and the Syrian interpreter translated it Chrysostome also expoundeth it Likewise Paul 2. Tim. 4.17 rehearsing the last petition of Deliuerance from all euill addeth this clause to whome be glorie for euer and euer And this clause doth very fiâ—ly conclude the whole praier For it doth specially put God in mind of his promise and as it were of his office shewing the cause wherefore we aske those things of God and hope that he will giue them vnto vs. For thine is the kingdome Here he vnderstandeth not Gods vniuersall kingdome ouer all creatures but that which is called the kingdome of heauen the kingdome of God and of Christ in the church And these things which we aske are the blessings of this kingdome which God hath therefore ordained for our necessitie against the deuill the world and the flesh that forsomuch as we cannot haue from our selues those things we aske in praier neither can attaine vnto theÌ„ by our selues we might yet receiue theÌ„ froÌ„ his haÌ„d in his own kingdoÌ„ And it beloÌ„geth to the office of our king in this kingdoÌ„ that he should keepe defend vs against the deuil the world and the flesh and that he should bestow those blessings on them that beleeue and pray vnto him as he hath commanded vs to aske and wherein he hath promised to graunt our requests This praier then in these words doth put God in minde of his commandement of his promise and of his office in his kingdome and withall sheweth the cause why a man asketh these things and seeketh for them not to any other but to God alone Thine is the power These wordes teach vs that god hath these things which we aske in his hand and in his power although the power of the world and of the deuill be great and that he onely can giue these things vnto vs perfectly and for our good Therefore doe we craue these things of him alone And glorie In this word faith sheweth vnto God that this is a glorious thing vnto him and doth greatly turne to the glorie and praise and renowme of his mercie power and bountifulnes if he shall heare vs and shall graunt vnto vs those things which we aske according to his commandement and promise as citizens of his kingdome So that in this clause we pray that God for Christs sake whose kingdome properly this is of his grace whereby he gouerneth this kingdome would heare vs and graunt our requests for the setting forth of the bountie of the power and glorie of this kingdome Secondly this clause also serueth to stirre vp and to confirme the faith of them that pray in assurance that
Paul saith I thanke my God and so doth euery ones faith by this applicatioÌ„ well conclude say God is my father as Ier. 3.4 Therefore from henceforth at least crie vnto me thou art my father and after v. 19. I did take thee for my children and saide Thou shalt call me my father and Math. 6.6 Pray vnto thy father which is in secret and thy father will reward thee So very many profitable instructions are propounded vnto vs in these fewe words of this preface to the Lords praier which may thus also be considered that by the remembrance of those benefits which God hath heretofore bestowed vpon vs God may as it were be mooued to giue and our confidence stirred vp and confirmed to craue other moe necessaries that seeing of meere fauour he hath bestowed vpon vs the chiefest benefite of adoption because he will be our father and also be so called therefore he will giue vs other things needefull Which art in heauen There be some that by occasion of this verbe substantiue es art doe discourse at large about the immutable essence and those names of God I am that I am which is which was which is to come But the Greek words doe neither require nor admit that disputation in this place for the wordes are plaine Our father á½ á¼Î½ τοῖς οá½Ïανοῖς which art in heauen to shew that we doe not call vpon any earthly father but on him who is or who doth dwell in heauen that is an heauenly father For so Christ himselfe expoundeth these wordes Math. 6.26 when he nameth an (a) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 heauenly father And whereas Heauen in Scripture is called the throne the seate mansion or dwelling place of God and in this place we call vpon our father which is in heauen the meaning is not that the infinite essence of God is circumscribed or concluded either in these visible heauens or in the heauen called Empyreum that is the highest heauens so as he is not present else where for it is written 1. King 8. v. 27. and 2. Chro. 2. v. 6. that heauen and the heauen of heauens can not containe him For he filleth heauen and earth Ierem. 23. v. 23. yea he is present in heauen in earth in the sea and in hell Psal 139. v. 7. he is higher then heauen deeper then hell longer then the earth broader then the sea That is he is wholly present euery where within all things and without all things as Gregory saith Neither doe we thinke when we call vpon our father which is in heauen in the preface of this prayer that he is seperated and disioyned from vs which pray from our wants and from our prayers being further absent theÌ„ heauen is distant from the earth Like as the thoughts and the sayings of the wicked are described Iob. 22. v. 13. what should God see he walketh in the circle of the heven and considereth not our affaires For in the 145. Psalme v. 18. it is written The Lord is readie at hand to them that pray euen to them that call vpon him in trueth Deut. 4. v. 29. The Lord our God is neere to all our requests and Mathew 18.20 Where two or three are gathered togither in my name and shall aske any thing there am I in the middle among them Nowe whereas our father of whome we make no doubt but that he is present to our requests is said to be in heauen this the schoole men expound after this sort either that the workes of God doe more gloriously and highly appeare in the beutie magnificence harmony and workemanship of the visible or materiall heauens then in earth or els because in those spirituall heauens as they call them he doth by a full communication of himselfe declare exhibite and shew forth all his glorie power goodnesse magnificence not as here on earth by certain meanes and couerings invisible and by sundry lettes but in full shewe and fruition of sight face to face to be seene and enioyed of the blessed Angels and of elect soules so as the very thing is the happines the ioy saluation the eternall life of the saints But I see not what comfort this meaning can affoard vnto vs which pray here on earth vnder the crosse and in much weakenesse A more plaine exposition is this Because the scriptures doe define of heauen wherein God hath his abode not by any locall scituation but by heauenly diuine glory maiestie power and fidelitie Againe that therefore God is said to be in heauen and to dwell in the heauens in the place of his abode to heare in the dwelling place of his abode 3. King v. 30. because all things are vnder his gouernment he hath all things in his hand and in his power he ruleth all things in all places he is able to doe and he doth whatsoeuer he will by his wisdome he foreseeth knoweth beholdeth and heareth all things and knoweth the way how to helpe them all by his prouidence he careth for all and by his power doth order dispose administer and gouerne all things c. Psal 115. v. 3. Our God is in heauen he doth whatsoeuer be will Psal 103. v. 20. God hath prepared his seate in heauen and his kingdome ruleth ouer all in all places of his dominion 3. King 8. v. 39. thou shalt heare in heaueÌ„ thou shalt be fauour able and shalt forgiue sinnes For thou onely seest and knowest the hearts of all the children of men Psal 113. v. 5. which hath his dwelling on high that he may behold things below in heauen and in earth Psal 102. v. 20. The Lord hath looked down from his high sanctuarie out of heauen did he behold the earth that he might heare the mournings of the prisoner and loose the children of death Psal 11.4 The lords seat is in heauen his eyes looke vnto the poore and his eye lids trie the children of meÌ„ Psal 20. v. 6. he will he are froÌ„ heauen by the mightie helpe of his right hand Isa 63.15 Give heede from heauen and behold where is nowe thy zeale thy strength and the multitude of thy mercies And when the Lord sheweth his diuine glory power and mercy by any famous hearing helpe and deliuerance the scripture saith then God hath exalted or aduanced himselfe aboue the heauens and magnified his mercy vp to the heauens Psal 57. v. 6. and 18. v. 5. and 113. v. 4. his glorie is aboue the heauens Psal 68. v. 19. He hath ascended aboue the heauen of heauens These testimonies of scripture doe plainely expound that phrase where God is said to be or to dwell in heauen The consideration hereof will also further vs to expound the doctrine of Christs ascention or exaltation into heauen of his sitting at the right hand of God in heaueÌ„ly places And thus the meaning of this preface of the Lords prayer is euident for when we say Our father we doe by saith conceiue the readie willing minde and the
God be not taken from vs Mat. 21.43 that the kingdome of God may be within vs Luke 17.21 That Christ may remember vs in his kingdome Luke 23.42 And that this kingdome may continually be spread further abroad may also come to other nations and countryes and more men euer nowe and then may be gathered to that kingdome And to be short that we may earnestly say Blessed be the kingdome promised to Dauid which commeth in the name of the Lord Marke 11.10 that we may receiue that kingdome Luke 19.15 be made and remaine citizens with the Saints and of the houshould of God Ephe. 2.19 And concerning the kingdome of glory we pray that God would make vs meete to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Colos 1.12 that we may inherit and possesse that kingdome by the grace of adoption Math. 25.34 1. Cor. 15.50 that we may be mercifully kept and preserued from all things which may hinder vs from the entrance and possession thereof And that 2. Tim. 4.18 we may loue waite for and desire the comming of the kingdome of glory and make haste therevnto 2. Pet. 3.12 That we may be counted worthy the kingdome of God 2. Thes 1.5 who hath called vs into his kingdome and glory 1. Thes 2.13 that an entrance may be made vnto vs into the euerlasting kingdome of God 2. Pet. 1.11 and that we may be ready at the comming of that kingdome Luk 12.40 These things we must aske in generall for the whole body of the Church and priuately euery one for himselfe for those whome we knowe both friends and enimies Likewise we must apply the same to those foure chiefe heades before set down To wit what good things we are to pray for in this petition what euills we are to pray against for what benefits we are to giue thankes and what sinnes of ours we must humbly acknowledge and confesse in this petition Thy will be done The will of God is taken diuers waies and therefore from the distinction of gods will we shall most easily come to the meaning of this petition Auncient writers call one will of god the will of his good pleasure disposition or decree when as god himselfe willeth and appointeth to do any thing Now our wil is weake euen in it owne strength and is often hindred by some other thing whervpō we had need to pray that god would minister strength to that good thing that we purpose in our owne heart and remooue all impediments so that we may performe the same in action But we neede not to pray for that concerning this disposing will of god because he is almightie neither can it be well and in a godly manner prayed for For god doth whatsoeuer he will in heauen and in earth Psal 115.3 Who hath withstood his will Rom. 9.19 The will of god abideth for euer Isaie 14.27 The Lord hath decreed it who can disanull it his hand is stretched out who can turne it away Isay 4.6.11 My counsell shall stand and my whole will shall be done There is another reuealed or signified will called volunt as signi Wherby god commaunding or forbidding any thing in the law or in the Gospell sheweth and declareth what he will haue vs to doe and to leaue vndone Rom. 12.2 This is called the good will of god his well pleasing and perfect will So that in this petition we acknowledge and confesse that by our own strength we cannot doe and fulfill the will of god propounded vnto vs either in the lawe or in the gospell We pray therefore that god would giue vs the spirit of regeneration and sanctification which may create in vs a newe heart take away our stony heart subdue and abolish our carnall stubbernesse and impatience that we may thinke vpon desire wil and doe such things as please god that we may auoide and omitte the contrary lest we should doe any thing that is contrary to the will of god And if we find our selues not to regard not to approoue not to will not to doe those things which god willeth but such as god forbiddeth hateth and abhorreth we pray that those things may be amended in vs by his holy spirit in true repentance that our will may be turned from euill and made conformable to that which is good On the contrarie there is another will of the deuill of the world and of the flesh altogither vnlike and resisting the will of God Those therefore we renounce and reiect in this petition praying that the will of the world and of the deuill may be hindred and subdued and the suggestions of Satan may be broken of that we may not obey them nor conforme our selues like vnto the world and that the lusts and concupiscence of the flesh in vs may be crucyfied and mortified by the spirit that hauing the disobedience the impatience and the wicked lust of the flesh suppressed in vs our will may become so conformable to the will of God that we shall desire couer or do nothing but which that is well pleasing and approued of god That we may iudge reverently of the will of God and submitte our selues thereto and that the will of God may be done in vs. Which good will of god the scripture containeth in these three points I will that a sinner may be converted Ezek. 33.11 It is the will of God that we should beleeue in the sonne of God Ioh. 6.39 This is the will of God euen your sanctification that we should abstaine from sinne 1. Thes 4.3 And therefore doe we aske of god grace strength and aide that we may beginne and accomplish the same An other will of God they call his operatiue and permitting will For whatsoeuer is done in all the worlde and in the Church whatsoeuer befalleth vs sure it is it commeth not to passe without the will of god Math. 10.29 either working or permitting the same And because we doe either not approove this will of god in resoning or els complaine thereof through impatience murmuring and striuing against the same therefore we pray for patience that we may with reuerence and obedience submit or at least indeauour to submit our will to the will of god may striue against impatience not iudging malitiously of those things which happen vnto vs by the will and permission of god but saying as it pleaseth the lord so commeth it to passe And because we cannot doe this of our owne strength therefore we pray especially that god would giue vs patience subiection and obedience and strength and courage against impatience Those things also which we aske though they seeme very conuenient meete and profitable for vs yet we must alwaies submitte them to the will of god Not my will but thine is fulfilled Others also make an optatiue will of god wherein he sheweth by the very fact that he wisheth and desireth those things which are profitable and holesome for vs which notwithstanding we our selues do often