God is the installing of him in his Kingdome and in his Throne the aduancing and lifting of him vp to bee the head of the Church and that person by whom God will rule all things both in Heauen and in Earth Phil. 2. 9. Q. What learne we of this A. That Christ is now exalted in his kingdome and in his Priesthood So that now he administreth both his kingly his Priestly office with greater might and Maiestie then euer hee did before Q. What fruit haue wee by the lifting vp of Christ in his Priesthood A. Wee know thereby that Christs Intercession shall bee more profitable for vs. For if Christs prayer on Earth was alwayes heard wee may well thinke that being Sutour for vs in so great Maiestie and glory hee shall not bee denied Rom. 8. 34. Q. What fruit haue we by the lifting vp of Christ in his kingdome A. First wee know that now he is more able to blesse the Church and euery member of it And therefore if hee then healed the sicke fed his followers with small prousion made the ministry of the Word effectuall much more is hee able to doe it now 2. Cor. 9 8. Secondly wee know that Christ is more able to defend the Church and subdue all the enemies of it and stampe them vnder foote And therefore if hee then cast out deuill he is now much more able to cast out sinne and if then hee were able with one word to calme the Sea hee is now much more able to scatter all our troubles and to disperse them Rom. 26. 20. Q. What gather wee of this A. That they who doubt of Gods fauour or feare they shall not be able to liue this hard yeare or thinke they shall neuer get Religion or ouercome the lets howsoeuer they say they beleeue yet doe not indeed beleeue that Christ sits at the Right hand of God that is that hee more mightily administreth his Kingdome and Priesthood now then euer hee did before Q. What is the last degree of Christs Exaltation A. From thence hee shall come to iudge quick and dead Q. What is the meaning hereof A. That Christ in the end of the world when the sinnes of men be ripe shall descend in a Cloude and sit downe vpon his throne and all both great and small shall stand before him and the Bookes shall bee opened and they shall bee iudged according to the things that they haue done be they good or bee they euill Qu. What note wee hence A. 1. That there shall be a Iudgement 2. The generalitie of the Iudgement 3. The Person of the Iudge 4. The Time of it Qu. How know wee that there shall be a Iudgement A. First by the Scriptures Secondly by the light of Reason Q. What Scriptures proue it A. Iude 14. 15. 2. Cor. 5. 10. Act. 17. 31. Q. What is the Reason A. We know that God is a iust and righteous God and therefore hee cannot but make the state of the godly better then the state of the wicked But in this world it is not so For godly Lazarus lyes pyning at the doore while the wicked Glutton sits surfetting at the Board And therefore there must bee a Iudgement that the godly may bee blessed and the wicked punished Q. What fruit haue we by this A. Wee know that Christs comming is for the further glorifying of his Church and the punishing of the enemies of it And therefore howsoeuer we are here pressed and afflicted for a while and crowned with contempt as our Master was with thornes yet a day will come when all our infirmities and miseries shall haue an end and the faces of our enemies shall be filled with shame 2. Thess. 1. 6. 7. 8. Q. What are wee taught concerning the generality of the Iudgement A. That all shall be iudged both quicke and dead Q. Who are meant thereby A. By the quicke are meant they whom Christ shall finde aliue at his comming And by the dead they are meant that shall bee dead before So that all shall be iudged Rom. 14. 10. Q. What gather wee of this A. That a day will come when euery one of vs shall giue an account to God for his whole life for euery oath that he hath sworne for euery lie that he hath told for euery penny that he hath deceiued for euery Sabboth that he hath prophaned And therefore that wee must be carefull to flie these sinnes and the like as wee will answer to God for the contrarie at the Iudgement seate Q. Who shall be the Iudge A. Christ in his humane Nature Iohn 5. 22. 27. Q. What learne wee by this A. That Christs comming shall be comfortable to the godly and fearefull to the wicked Comfortable to the godly because he shall be their Iudge who is their Sauiour Luke 21. 28. Fearefull to the wicked because he shall be their Iudge whose blood they haue despised whose Ministers they haue disgraced whose name they haue blasphemed whose Sacraments they haue contemned whose Sabboths they haue prophaned Reu. 6. 15. 16. Q. When shall the Iudgement bee A. In the end of the world what yeare or what day or what houre knoweth no man no not the Angels but God alone Math. 24. 36. Q. Why would the Lord haue it secret A. That men might be alwayes vpon their watch and preparing for it For the count day will come suddenly and therfore we must euer keepe our reckonings streight lest it come like a thiefe in the night to steale away all our peace and prosperitie and pleasures for euer Mark 30. 35. Q. What is the third Person in whom wee must beleeue A. The Person of the Holy Ghost Q. What are wee to beleeue concerning the Holy Ghost A. Two things First that he is the effentiall Power of the Father and of the Sonne the same God in nature but distinct in Person That hee proceedeth from the Father the Scripture is plaine Iohn 15. 26. That hee proceedeth from the Sonne is as plaine Gal. 4. 6. That he is a distinct person from them both is cleare Iohn 14. 16. Secondly that he is the Sanctifier of Gods elect and therefore hee is called the Holy Ghost not onely because he is holy in himselfe but also because he makes vs holy sanctifying both our bodyes and our soules vnto God Q. What learne wee by this A. That by nature wee are more barren then the barrenest ground in the world hauing no sparke of grace or goodnesse in vs And therefore if there be any loue of vertue any hatred of sinne we may well know it is not of our selues but the Spirit of God which wrought it in our hearts Phil. 2. 13. Qu. What doth the Spirit of God worke in vs A. First knowledge of the will of God For whereas by nature a man hath no more true Religion then a very beast The Spirit of God opening and enlightening the eyes of his minde makes him able to conceiue the secret things
like vnto a man that hath been deadly sicke and now is so on the mending hand that he is peraduenture able to creepe abroad with a staffe yet not able to do the tenth part of the businesse that he sees he should and at sometimes was wont to doe Thus it is with the best of vs all whilst we liue here though the Kingdome of Christ be come amongst vs yet had wee need to pray that it may more and more come into our hearts that we may feele the strength and vigour of it to our endlesse comfort and full recouery of our health in Christ. Yea great reason there is why wee should thus pray for the Kingdome of Christ being that no Kingdome is comparable vnto his there being as much difference betwixt the Kingdome of Christ and other Kingdomes of the world as there is betweene Heauen and Earth and that for diuers respects First In regard of continuance for earthly Kingdomes howsoeuer they begin in glory yet by and by both Lord and Crowne and Scepter withall their glory falls into the dust But Christ is a King for euer and although he once ware a Crowne of Thornes vpon earth yet now he hath a Crowne of glory in Heauen and is in possession for euer Of whose Kingdome there shall be no end as it is Luke 1. 33. Secondly In regard of the saciety of his Kingdome For other Kings haue but rule ouer the bodies goods and liues of their subiects at the farthest But Christ he rules and gouerns the very hearts of them and inclines their wills to effect spirituall graces wherein the Kings of the Earth can neither satisfie themselues nor their subiects Christ will giue vs Crownes and make vs Kings also Thirdly In regard of the right and Iustice of it For though other Kings being sinners themselues can bee content to tolerate much sinne and prophanenesse yet Christ is so righteous and so iust a King that he will tolerate no sinne or iniustice whatsoeuer no not in Kings themselues of whom it is said Isa. 32. 1 2. Behold a King shall reigne in righteousnesse and Princes shall rule in Iudgement Fourthly In regard of the fruit and commodities of it for other Kings receiue Tribute from their Subiects but Christ giues a thousand things more then hee receiues he takes away death and damnation with his left hand and giues vs life and saluation with the right hand so both hands are full of blessings and store vs abundantly to the supplying of all our wants Fiftly In regard of administration and imployment of it for other Kings after they haue entred into their Kingdomes commonly sit still goe little liue at ease or at least seeke by all meanes they can to maintaine the pleasures of their liues and giue themselues to quietnesse But our Sauiour Christ doth most mightily rule and gouerne all things for tho good of his seruants watching ouer them to do them good night and day at all times and in all places preuenting them with mercies and working all his workes for their good great reason it is therefore that we should pray for the comming of his Kingdome Yet we must further know that we doe not onely pray for the Kingdom of grace but also for all good means conducting and leading vnto it for euery thing that may incite and helpe to the Kingdome of grace amongst vs. As for good Magistrates Ministers a pure right vse of the Sacraments holy discipline of Christ in the Church for the good gouernment thereof and for euery thing that may further this great worke of God amongst vs. So 1 Tim. 2. 1. Saint Paul wils that Prayers be made for all men and for Kings and Princes and for all that be in authority That vnder them we may liue a godly peaceable and a quiet life And Christ himselfe Matth. 9. 38. commands prayers to bee made vnto the Lord of the Haruest that he will send forth labourers vnto his haruest So you see it is our duty to pray for all the meanes which may aduance this Kingdome Worldly men can say they desire that the Kingdome of Christ may come though they care not a rush for Heauen or newnesse of life for the Word or Saints or Ministers or Holy orders of Christ without which there can be no Kingdome of Christ amongst vs. It was not onely a tyranny in Pharaoh to take away the straw from the people but also when hee had so done to require of them the whole tale of Bricke as formerly So it is the madnesse of the world they take away the Word and the Sacraments the holy gouernment of Christ and when they haue thus done yet they thinke to haue their whole tale of Bricke as much Patience Loue Humility Faith Obedience Sobriety Temperance and the like as if all these gracious and good meanes were entertained amongst them But wee must remember what the Scripture saith Where there is no vision there the people perish Therefore whensoeuer wee settle our selues to remaine any where as little Isaac said to his father when they went vp to the Mount Moriah Behold the wood and the fire but where is the offering So should we say wheresoeuer we goe to dwell Loe here is a Church good ayre a good house meanes enough to increase wealth but where is the Preacher and the meanes of grace for the saluation of our soules Vse Therefore seeing we ought and must pray Thy Kingdome come Let vs pray vnto God often that he would rule and raigne in our hearts so by his holy Spirit that sinne may no longer rule vs nor wee bee ruled by our selues but that God would rule and guide vs in all our wayes so that in all things we may be ready to submit our selues to the holy gouernment of God as Saint Paul writes That the peace of God may dwell in our hearts plenteously and with Dauid that God would guide vs vnto the day of death and then this will bring great ioy vnto vs as Zephaniah speakes when the King of Israel is in the midst of vs then we shall see no euill And withall let vs often remember to pray that there be no want of gouernment but that God by himselfe may rule and reigne in vs that though the world loue loosenesse and cannot endure this kingdome yet we may be plyable and yeelding to be ruled by it For as the blind-man is best and safest whose eyes being shut followes his guide so is euery Christian when they disclaime their owne wit reason and wisedome and are ruled and guided by God in all things Yea the people of God neuer thinke themselues better then when they be vnder the gouernment of God and submit wholly to his will and in so doing let vs not be discouraged for our weakenesse and wants for if we indeuour to doe this sincerely grace which at first in vs is like seed because it must
and too heauy for them to beare so the best is but a yoake and many times a heauy yoake too but in the sweet Kingdome of Christ there shall bee nothing offensiue to vs as it is saide of the Angels at that day And they shall gather out of his Kingdome all things that offend saith our Sauiour So it is said There shall bee no more sorrow Bees wee know bee driuen from their Combes and Honey with a little smoake euen so the vexations puthers and smoakes which wee finde on these earthly kingdomes should make vs all long for that happy Kingdome of Christ wherein there shall bee nothing to annoy vs. Thirdly Because earthly Kingdomes they yeeld vs peace and tranquillity but for a time onely for either they end or we end and so all comes to nothing But our happinesse in Christs Kingdome shall be for euer and euer for when we haue liued a hundred thousand thousand yeeres in the full inioyment of it wee haue more and more and more ages without end to possesse it therefore Heb. 12. 28. it is called a kingdome which cannot be shaken good reason then haue wee whose eyes he hath opened to behold this kingdome to pray especially and groane for it Now there be two wayes whereby the kingdome of God may come vnto vs. 1 Generally at the day of Iudgement 2 Particularly at the day of our owne death We pray for both these First that God would bee pleased to sold vp the times make an end of this world hasten the great comming of his deare Sonne Thus the Saints cry vnder the Altar How long Lord Holy and true dost thou not auenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth We know this kingdome of Christ cannot come but first there must bee a dissolution of this world when all the glory thereof must turne to nothing as Peter speakes The Earth and all the workes thereof shall be burnt vp God forbid therefore that the world or any thing in it should make vs loath to come to Heauen rather let vs be contented to suffer the losse of all so we come thither to enioy this happy and blessed kingdome of the Lord Iesus for which we are commanded to pray Which as we pray for so must we be carefull to fit and prepare our selues for it that when it commeth it may come to our comfort we all pray Thy Kingdome come But know O man if thou hast not fitted and prepared thy selfe for it if thou dost liue in thy sinnes if thou hast had no care nor regard of reconciling thy selfe to Christ for thy saluation if thou hast not beene throughly washed ouer and ouer in the blood of the Lambe Oh whensoeuer this kingdome comes I foretell thee in the Name of the Lord it will come to thy cost to thy ruine and vtter desolation in the day of Christ. Therefore consider of this all yee that liue in known sinnes without repentance yea pray I say that the Kingdome of God may come and oh what haue you to doe with the day of the Lord This comming shall be sorrow woe confusion darknesse nay Blackenesse of darknesse and tempest vnto you for euer and reiection from the presence of CHRIST but if you would haue comfort of CHRISTS comming liue well and be prepared for it with the Wise Uirgins hauing Oyle in your Lampes and your Loynes girded Secondly wee pray that though this generall comming be deferred yet that by death as by a close doore we may be let in into this kingdome So that whereas the men of this world desire nothing more then to liue still here hang as it were vpon the pleasures of this life sauour nothing but of earth and earthly contentments the true mortified Christian professeth another thing he desireth to leaue all and goe home to Christ as soone as may be So Iob If a man dye shall he liue againe All the dayes of my appointed time will I waite till my changing shall come c. and Paul Philip. 1. 23. professes I desire to bee loosed and to bee with Christ which is best of all It is true indeed that no man may desire the day of death out of discontentment with life because of the trouble and crosses of this world It was Jonas fault to doe so yet in two respects one may pray for death yea his owne death First That we may make an end of sinning and offending GOD that whereas hee euery day breakes out in the dishonouring of GOD which vexes and grieues him hee may pray the Lord to shorten these dayes of sinne with abatement of our dayes so finishing our offences as Saint Paul does O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer mee from the body of this death Secondly That wee may enioy the blessed fruition of the presence of God as his holy Angels doe Moses you know desired but to see the backe parts of God on the holy mountaine for hee could not see his face and liue If Moses so desired to see but a glimpse of his glory as it were through a creuice or a chinke how much more excellent will be the shining of his face in full glory therefore because euery day wee liue in this world wee lose a day in Heauen as detained from him who is our true life indeed wee may therefore pray that as soone as may be wee may finish vp our course in this world and cry to be away to goe home to the house of our Father to the possession of a better life the Kingdome of Glory and happinesse prepared for vs for which wee are taught to pray Thy Kingdome come 3. PETITION Thy will be done euen in Earth as it is in Heauen WEe haue heard before that in the first Petition we pray for the glory of God and in the second for the means of his glory that is that the kingdome of God may come into our hearts and rule vs by his Spirit Now in this third Petition we pray that we may be contented to submit vnto it and be alwayes ready to doe the Lords will and not our owne So that whereas in the former Petition we prayed for the inward gouernment of God the worke of grace holy motions striuings in our selues that the Lord would do his part now we pray that we may be willing to doe our part not resist this inward gouernment of God bee ready euer to yeeld obedience vnto it All the Question as one sayes very well betwixt God and vs is whose will shall be done Gods will should but man is vnwilling to haue it so but aspires to haue his own will for the rule of his actions this is that which breeds all the quarrell betwixt God and vs Now our Sauiour Christ he teaches vs in this Petition to giue all the Souerainty to God to take his part against our selues praying to doe his will whatsoeuer may befall vs in this world Thus haue we
come humbly and submissiuely into the Lords presence abiecting and casting downe our selues as before a power greater then all the power of this world It is a distinction that one hath of two sorts of Humility Humilitas Immediata Humilitas Accepta It was a kind of Humility in Iohn Baptist when hee refused Christs offer Matth. 3. 14. saying I haue neede to be baptized of thee and commest thou to me but Humilitas accepta was in Christs acceptation that hee would haue it so and answered him accordingly So it was humility in Peter Iohn 13. 8. When he said thou shalt neuer wash my feete but Humilitas accepta when Christ was content to doe it So in this case it is a kinde of Humility when we can say O I am a sinfull man I dare not be so bold with such a power but Accepta Humilitas tels vs we must doe it we must come at the Lords bidding at his commandement So that this glory of the Lord must not driue vs from him but wee must come of our selues and to him alone and that with feare and reuerence The fourth affection that must be vsed in prayer is That we must come with eleuation of our hearts and mindes as high as Heauen For seeing God is in Heauen our affections must neuer stay till they come as high as Heauen where God is And so oft as we pray so oft in our thoughts and in our minds we must rise higher then the cloudes aboue Sunne and Moone and all the Stars Elias his story shewes that hee was carryed in a fiery Chariot into Heauen euen so must we by prayer bee transported out of this world to be present with God in the highest heauens It was a signe betwixt Dauid and Ionathan when he shot his Arrowes that if any of them fell short there was no danger in it c. So it is not with our affections if they be short and not eleuated and carried vp as high as Heauen there is great hazzard and danger that the Lord will not accept nor regard them Thus haue we seene with what affection we must pray In Faith in Loue with Reuerence with Eleuation Yet ere we come to the Petitions wee must consider certaine duties of them that pray First We must labour for the grace of adoption For how ccn we truly call God Father if we be not his children Alas what doe we otherwise but so oft as we pray vnto God so oft continually we doe lye in the eares of God It is like the aggrauation of Ananias his sinne Act. 5. 4. Thou hast not lyed vnto man but vnto God So if we come vnto God in prayer call him father and yet be not his children the very same may be said of vs c. Then you see now what great cause there is that euery man should labour for this grace of Adoption in himselfe to repent his finnes to lay hold vpon the promises of the Gospell to be renued by the Spirit of Christ that we may truely call God Father because now wee haue his true word if we be his children he is our Father yea we may the bolder goe vnto God and challenge him of his promise according to that comfort in Hosea after so many threatnings chap. 1. 10. Yee are the sonnes of the Liuing God c. The second Duty is That we must labour to be perswaded of the fatherly care and loue of God towards vs that we haue a Father in Heauen one that doth respect and regard vs. And so whatsoeuer our estate is in this world though neuer so poore and meane yet to thanke God that we haue our honour with the Lord we may come as boldly into the presence of God as the greatest King Prince or Monarch of the world as Malac. 2. 10. Haue we not all one Father and 1 Iohn 3. 1. Behold what loue the Father hath shewed on vs that we should be called the sons of God so that as I say it is our honor comfort and happinesse that what estate soeuer we be of in this world yet we know that he who is the Father of Kings is our gracious and good Father by the meanes and merits of Iesus Christ. The third Duty is that seeing God is our Father Wee endeuour to walke worthy of such a father that wee doe not dishonor and disgrace him by our sins 1 Pet. 1. 17. And if you call him Father passe the time of your pilgrimage in feare Thus if we proclaime God our Father then our care must be to walke worthy of him It is the blame that God layes vpon the Iewes Ierem. 3. 5. Thou hast said thou art my Father and yet thou doest euill more and more c. So when men will call vpon God as a Father and yet haue no care to please and obey him to doe his will and honour him with a true heart O how shall this one day light heauy vpon their hearts howsoeuer we doe not feele or regard it in this world Thus then if wo call God Father truely carry in our hearts a setled purpose neuer to offend him howsoeuer our owne weaknesses and frailties put vs by yet the end of our life must be that we walke worthy of such a father that is striue with flesh and blood as farre as possibly we can to liue in holinesse and righteousnesse to come to repentance and compunction of spirit euery day to renue our Couenant for the amendment of our sinfull liues Vse 1 Hitherto of the Preface or entrance into this Prayer the vse of all which may be first to reioyce in it as a goodly blessing that God would vouchsafe to be a Eather to such as we be especially men so silly and meane in the eyes of the world secondly to comfort our selues in this that what estate or condition soeuer wee be of yet to thanke God that wee haue a heauenly Father one that reserues a Kingdome for vs greater and better then this whole world So much for the Preface now come we to the Petitions as they lye in order 1. PETITION Hallowed be thy Name THey be sixe in number whereof the three first concerne The glory of God The last three Our owne good In the three former the first prayes for the glory of God in it selfe the second and third pray for the meanes of his Glory First then we pray for the glory of God in it selfe that the Lord may haue a holy Name amongst vs. The Name of God is most holy in it selfe But we pray that it may be holy vnto vs that we may giue the Lord glory and honour which is his due as God is a most excellent and most high power of himselfe so we pray that he be so taken and acknowledged all the world ouer that the whole world may be ready to stoope and yeeld to the excellent and eminent power that is in God
grow not like straw which cannot increase will grow from a little to greatnesse of stature and proportion in time Now there be three Motiues to moue vs to this subiection to the will of God The first is If we will not haue God to be our King wee shall be subiects and slaues in a worse Kingdome as the Lord speakes by Moses to perswade them to admit of Gods Kingdome Because thou hast not serued the Lord thy God with ioyfulnesse and with gladnesse of heart for the abundance of all things therefore shalt thou serue thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee in hunger thirst and in nakednesse and in want of all things So the Lord threatens his people with captiuity 2 Chron. 12. 8 for their sinnes saying Neuerthelesse yee shall be his seruants that yee may know my seruice and the seruice of the Kingdomes of the Countrey So that if we will not be Gods seruants we shal sure be subiects and slaues vnto a tyrannous kingdome a kingdome of many Lords of which a Father speakes Oh how many Lords haue they c. For if God be not our King then euery foule lust sinne and temptation will be our King to rule and gouerne vs at their pleasure Therefore it is best to say with holy Dauid Lord I am thy seruant c. So I would haue euery good Christian say I haue no lord to rule ouer me but Iesus Christ Come Lord and possesse me for thine owne Secondly Because of the comfortable fruits thereof Paul sayes of this Kingdome that the fruits thereof are Righteousnesse Peace Ioy in the Holy Ghost so that there is much comfort for a man to liue in this Kingdome We see that all the people of God who most or at all yeelded to Gods gouernment to set him high in their hearts they alwayes passed so much the more comfortably their time in this world And againe the more any of them withdrew themselues from this gouernment of God they became alwayes the more distressed and miserably perplexed with troubles and dangers So Dauid saith As for me it is good for mee to draw neere to God So Hosh. 2. 7. the Church is brought in thus resoluing I will goe and returne to my first husband for at that time was I better than now So must wee say when we haue gone astray It was much better with vs when we dwelt vnder the gouernment of God therefore we will returne to that good gouernment againe A Tenant you know as long as he payes his rent and doth suite and seruice to his lord all is peaceable and quiet with him nobody can molest him but if he deny to pay his Rent and doe no suite or seruice to his lord then the Bailiffes will be busie to arrest and straine his goods yea many times to ceaze on his body Euen so as long as we pay the Lords Rent acknowledge his gouernment be ready to doe suit and seruice vnto him so long we shall find all peaceable and quiet but if we faile in our duty then must trouble and mischiefe come vpon vs. Thirdly Because the Kingdome of grace is the only road-way to the Kingdome of glory No man when he is dead can come to raigne with God vnlesse God first raigne in him being aliue in this world We see no man can enter into a Citie vnlesse first he passe through the Suburbes thereof So Heauen is the great City of the Saints they all seeke and aspire to the Kingdome of grace is the Suburbes thereof by which we must passe therefore there is a necessity to be in the state of grace here ere we can hope to raigne with God in glory hereafter The next thing we pray for in this Petition is For the Kingdome of glory that God would make an end of the Conflicting dayes of sinne and hasten the Kingdome of his deare Sonne the Kingdome of glory So the Church prayes Returne my Beloued and be like a Roâ— or a young Hart vpon the Mountaines of Baether So in the Reuelation Come Lord Iesus Come quickely and Saint Paul shewes That all the Creatures doe groane for this happy day of Christs appearance So that here in the second place we pray that the Lord would abolish and darken all the Kingdomes of this world amongst whom the holy Ordinances of God appointed vnto them for peace are abused to their condemnation So in Daniel This Kingdome of Christ is compared to a tree vnder the shadow whereof the beasts of the field might rest and the birds of the ayre find shelter Therefore the Apostle sayes It is ordained of God so that though we haue no cause to murmure or grudge at the kingdomes of this world but to thanke GOD for them yet we must know euery state hath his abuses and so haue these But as a lame man in a garden though he cannot doe that worke which one that is perfectly able to walke can doe yet hee serues and is vsefull to speake direct and fray away birds keeping much annoyance from the fruit therof which otherwise might be lost So it is with worldly gouernments and states though they be not so well ordered as they might bee yet no body can deny but they fray away enemies many dangers and many rauenous birds that would else deuour vp the fruits of our labours Therefore we pray not for the Kingdome of Christ in any detestation to these earthly kingdomes but onely because we preferre the Kingdome of Christ before them We thanke God for the Kingdomes of this world but we would much more be thankefull for the Kingdome of Christ. As men that vse a Coach to bring them to a house as soone as they come there send away the Coach as hauing no more vse of it So the Kingdomes of this world be but as Coaches helpes and furtherances to transport and carry vs to a better Kingdome the Kingdome of Christ where being arriued farewell all the Kingdomes of the world The reasons why we preferre and especially pray for the Kingdome of glory are diuers First Because in these earthly Kingdomes most of vs are subiects and inferiours but in the Kingdome of glory we shall be all Kings no King in this world can be so glorious but the poorest and meanest Christian there shall be as glorious as hee as Christ speakes Matth. 19. 28. Uerely I say vnto you that yee who haue followed me in the Regeneration when the Sonne of man shall sit in the Throne of his glory yea also shall sit vpon twelue thrones Judging the twelue Tribes of Israel Secondly Because many grieuances and annoyances are in these earthly kingdomes euen in the best of them some Gall mingled with Honey some Aloes with the Manna some bitternesse with the sweetnesse of them Therefore as the people could say of Salomons Kingdome which was one of the best that it was but a yoake
then hee doth many dayes beside Secondly it meetes with a number that will Saint it and liue very deuoutly that day But the very next day or few dayes after they returne to their olde bent and runne themselues as deepe in the mire as they were before Qu. What is the third thing Answ. Wee must bring our selues often into minde of the Couenants and vowes which wee haue made to God thinking with our selues that such and such a day wee were before the Lord and there wee sware in his hearing and in the hearing of his People that wee would neuer liue as wee haue liued Wee would lye no more curse no more beare no more malice And therefore what a Iudgement shall wee pull vpon our heads if wee shall not bee carefull in some good measure to performe it Qu. What is the fourth thing Answ. Fourthly wee are to marke how the Sacrament workes vpon vs Whether wee finde our selues the better for it the stronger to resist sinne the cheerefuller in Gods seruice the tenderer to our Brethren And if it doe not worke What is the reason of it Whether want of preparation or want of reuerence or want of care afterwards that the next time wee come wee may come to better fruite Q. What is the last thing Answ. Wee must not bee long away but so soone as we feele any deadnesse or coldnesse or weaknesse to grow vpon vs wee are to make recourse hither againe for the recouering of our strength For as a man in a long iourney had need of many Baites So the Christian that hath a long Iourney to goe from Earth to Heauen from man to God from Mortalitie to Immortalitie had need to come oft to the Lords Table to bee refreshed Quest. What is the reason then that some come so seldome Answer Many of the Passengers doe not feele their need no though they bee ready to droppe downe into euery ditch But such as feele the want they are carefull to vse the Lords helpe against it DEO GLORIA FINIS THE SVBSTANCE AND PITH OF PRAYER OR A BRIEFE HOLY AND HEAVENLY EXPOSITION ON THE LORDS PRAYER Being the Summe and Marrow of diuers Sermons written and preached by that Holy Learned Reuerend and Iudicious Diuine Mr. IOHN SMITH late Preacher of the Word at Clauering in Essex And sometime Fellow of St. Iohns Colledge in Oxonford Vprightnesse hath boldnesse EPHES. 6. 18. Praying alwayes with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseuerance and supplication for all Saints And for me c. LONDON Printed by G. P. for George Edwards and are to be sold at his house in the Old Baily in Greene Arbor at the signe of the Angell 1629. AN EXPOSITION ON THE LORDS PRAYER MATTH 6. 9. After this manner therefore pray yee Our Father which art in heauen Hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs this day our dayly bread And forgiue vs our debts as we forgiue our debtors And leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the Kingdome the power and the glory for euer Amen HAuing already spoken of the first part of Christian profession the second followeth and that is Prayer wherein we can haue no better guide to direct vs then the Lord himselfe nor sweeter words then those so effectuall of our Sauiour Christ. There are then two things commended vnto vs in the words of our Sauiour Christ. 1 A Duty which is that we must pray 2 A direction in this Duty how and in what manner we must pray both which are implyed in these first words of Christ. After this manner pray ye 1 Concerning the Duty two things are required 1 What it is to pray 2 Why we must pray For the first Prayer is a lifting vp of the heart vnto God whereby we desire things needfull of him as the welspring and fountaine of all goodnesse Whence it appeares that there are three things remarkeable in Prayer Prayer is an action or motion of the heart It is not a mouing of the mouth or an action of the lips onely but properly an action or moouing of the heart as 1 Sam. 1. 13. Anna prayed in her heart but her mouth spake not So Psal. 20. 4. the Prophet prayes And grant thee according to thy hart c. So Eph. 5. 19. the Apostles words are Speaking to your selues in Psalmes Hymnes and spiritual songs singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. So that Prayer must needs haue the working of the heart for if it come not from thence if that be not moued to pray it is but lip-labour and an idle sound It is no prayer because in prayer there must be a mouing of the heart The Lord by the Prophet complaines of this neglect And they haue not cryed vnto me with their hearts when they howled vpon their beds c. and 1 Kings 8. 39. Salomon prayeth to God that when any man prayeth the Lord would giue vnto him as hee knoweth his heart For the Lord onely knoweth the hearts of the children of men By which it is euident that the Lord accounteth not of that prayer which comes not from the heart Oh that men of this world did well consider this they thinke that if they tumble out words of prayer though their mindes wander and are vnstedfast though their thoughts be vpon other things though their hearts be transported with diuers wanderings yet they pray vnto God But the truth is that as Prayer is an Action and Motion of the Heart so if the Heart doe not ioyne in prayer though a man vse words neuer so oft hee cannot truely say that he doth pray Nay I would this were the fault of the world onely that euen the good seruants of God did not faile in this For surely the best men haue their stragglings and wanderings in prayer Let a man come to prayer and hee shall haue much adoe to hold his heart fast vnto God As the fowles troubled Abraham in his sacrifice So a number of by-thoughts are ready to trouble vs in prayer Wherefore euery good seruant of God must accuse himselfe for this and pray to God for grace strength to amend it As Abraham Gen. 22. 5. vsed his seruants and his Asse to helpe him in his iourney but when hee came to Mount Moriah the place of worship then he discharged them and left them a farre off So worldly thoughts are tollerable and lawfull if we vse them as seruants to carry vs through this our iourney from Earth to Heauen But when we come home to prayer to present our selues before the Maiesty of God then we must dismisse and discharge them So that this is the first thing to be obserued in prayer that Prayer is an action or motion of the heart The second thing in prayer is that Prayer is a motion of the heart as it
hand of God fel vpon Moses and Aaron because they failed in this duty Because said hee you did not sanctifie me in the eyes of the children of Israel you shall not bring this Congregation into the land that I haue giuen them Thus if God will so seuerely punish the neglect of his glory in his own deare children and seruants how shal they escape that are not so deare vnto him and yet are much more faulty in the same kinde The second part of this Petition is that as wee pray that we our selues may glorifie the Name of God So we pray that others may doe so also That the whole world may know and acknowledge the Goodnesse Mercy Wisedome Power and Greatnesse that is in God So wee are exhorted to doe by the Prophet Giue vnto the Lord the families of the people giue vnto the Lord glory and power c. Giue vnto the Lord the glory of his Name c. Ierem. 23. 16. saith he Giue glory vnto the Lord your God before he bring darkenesse ouer the land c. So that it is cleere we must not onely glorifie God our selues but also be carefull that others especially seruants and children vnder vs doe the like as we reade of Iob that because he was iealous of his childrens actions he offered sacrifice for them and the Lord himselfe saith of Abraham I know that Abraham will command his houshold to serue me Wherefore let vs cast vp this account with our selues that if of duty and conscience we serue God it is likewise our duty to prouide that our children and seruants doe the like Yee shall find many men that put away their seruants because they be idle stubborne carelesse and false vnto them but where is there one that puts a way a seruant because he is a swearer a blaspemer of the Holy Name of God a prophaner of the Sabboth c. This shewes that we haue more care of our owne workes and profit in particulars then of the Lords glory But true Christians should take another course and pray that aboue all things the Name of GOD may be Hallowed all the world ouer being diligent withall that all vnder their charge and gouernment do the like also Againe we pray in this Petition That though both doe faile yet that the Lord would maintaine the cause of his owne glory This shewes a sincere true affect on to the glory of God when we are contented that the Lord should doe that which is for his owne glory howsoeuer the matter light heauy vpon our selues as Christ said Father glorifie thy Name so say we Lord though it be by death though by my extinction abolishing though I suffer all paines though I indure the greatest misery that may be yet glorifie thy Name whether in life or death Thus when one can be contended to be exposed to all the mischiese in the world all the shame and disgrace that may be to set forth the honour of God if hee may be glorified by the same this shewes that such haue a desire of the glory of God and that this sincere affection commeth from the Lords mercy being powred into our hearts by his blessed Spirit whereby we can effectually cry out Hallowed be thy Name 2. PETITION Thy Kingdome come Petition 2 IN the former Petition we are taught to pray for the glory of God which is preferred before the Kingdome of God to shew that all our care must be for Gods glory Now in the next Petition we are taught to pray for the meanes of his glory that the Kingdome of God may come c. for then indeed God shall haue his glory when looking for the Kingdome of God it comes into our hearts to inable vs to performe his commandements and that we be alwayes ready to doe his will for vntill it be so God shall haue little glory or honour amongst vs so that first we pray for the glory of God and then for the meanes of his glory It is the error of the world to desire the End without the meanes The glory of God which is the End they would haue But the meanes of his glory which is the Kingdome of God to come and his will to be done this they care not for The wicked Iewes Isa. 66. 5. could say Let the Lord bee glorified which is spoken of all those who be worshippers of the true God So the Pharises Iohn 9. 24. were contented to say vnto the blindman Giue glory to God but they would not allow of Christ the meanes of their saluation for said they vnto him we know that this man is a sinner whereby it appeares that the common course of the world is to desire the glory of God without the meanes of his glory In this Petition also we may obserue three things First when we pray that the Kingdome of God may come It is in opposition to another Kingdome that is already in the world for the sinnes of men The kingdome of darknesse and of the Diuell which is a great and mighty kingdome and hath a number of proppes and pillars to vphold it as for the Kingdome of Christ there be a very small company to vphold it but the kingdome of darknesse hath a number of great ones to sustaine it whole swarmes of people in euery corner one would wonder at the multitude and at their conditions For howsoeuer men will say I defie the diuell and according to the custome spit at him yet as long as they doe the will of the Diuell practising workes of darkenesse there is no hope that by their indeuours they can aduance the Kingdome of God or labour that it should come vpon them Doth not either ignorance or blindnesse eate vp their soules so that they bee either lyars swearers adulterers fornicators couetous drunkards contentious c. wherein so long as they continue they be the very proppes and pillars to vphold and shouldor vp the kingdome of darkenesse and the Diuell Thus it appeares the Diuell is a great Monarch because the greatest part of the subiects in all Kingdomes serue him be obedient to him and disobedient vnto God they runne as the Apostle speakes Ephes. 2. 2. After the Prince that ruleth in the ayrel euen the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience So 2 Cor. 4 4. It is said That the God of this world hath blinded their mindes c. For as God spake the word and it was done saying Let there be light and there was light So the Diuell cannot so soone speake the word but by and by it is done by worldly men He can no sooner say let there bee an oath lye bribe quarrell fashion or wickednesse but by and by some one or other puts it in practise Thus he rules like a God in this world a great pitty it is that men should so be deceiued for God will pull downe the Kingdome of darkenesse and set
vp the Kingdome of his deare sonne Yea this kingdome must first be pulled downe ere the other be erected For as in laying a foundation when one would build a new house he first puls downe the ruines of the old so must he first pull downe this kingdome of the Diuell ere that other of Christ be set vp Wherefore heere wee pray against this kingdome of darkenesse that God would destroy it for which at this day there is great need we should so pray because the Kingdome of the Diuell is like a Sea which as Philosophers say gets in one place if it lose in another So is it with it looke how much it hath lost by a defection and reuolt from Popery so much hath it in a manner got by the filthy sinne of Drunkennesse Irreligion Pride Contentions and other foule sinnes of this land what need haue wee then to pray that God would pull downe this kingdome of the diuell and euery where set vp that of Christ Jesus Secondly In that we pray for the Kingdome of God to come It sheweth that there are a number of impediments and lets to hinder this Kingdome from comming Which are of two sorts 1 Many impediments in others 2 Too many in our selues Concerning others we see daily how men are drawne by example by ill counsell by diuers discouragements whereby they are affrighted from seeking the peace of the Gospell as Matth 20. 31. when the blind men cryed out on Christ the multitude rebuked them because they should hold their peace so it is with vs in this world how are we scoft and derided yea chidden againe and againe If we serue God in sincerity and be zealous for the comming of this Kingdome See it in the beginning when the children of Israel came out of Egypt how were they hindred and stopped in their iourney So whensoeuer we shall begin to make after Christ we shall bee sure of a many lets and impediments like vnto the Pharisees in the Gospell who were ready to answer the Officers and discourage the people from following after Christ saying Doe any of the Rulers beleeue in him but this people who know not the Law Thus it is with the whole swarme of wicked men who discharge men from the wayes of God Againe wee haue too many impediments in our selues Selfe-loue loue of the world loue of riches honour preferment and such like as it is Iohn 12. 42 43. said of many that they beleeued in Christ but because of the Pharises they did not confesse him for they loued the praise of men more then the praise of God But we must not doe so for though we sit farre in darkenesse from letting in the light of God vnto vs or howeuer we seeme to close vp our eyes from beholding the light yet let vs not be so contented but pray to the Lord that he would breake through all these hinderances and impediments and let downe his graces of mercy and loue so amongst vs by his grace that this Kingdome may come vpon vs yea that we may doe as the Palsie man did who brake through the roofe of the house to come to Christ Remēbring that the Lord Iesus brake through all impediments and hinderances to come vnto vs and fill vs with his blessings wherein we may further obserue two things that in Christs comming to vs our comming to him a number of lettes and hinderances do concuire yet he hath so wrought by his Spirit as we can say Thy Kingdome come and he so ouercomes all as he will at length say vnto vs Come yee blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you c. The third thing prayed for in this Petition is That we pray 1 For the Kingdome of grace 2 For the Kingdome of glory Which two Kingdomes differ not in nature but onely in measure and in degrees for the Kingdome of grace is nothing else but a beginning and inchoation of the Kingdome of glory there being no way to attaine vnto the one vnlesse they passe through the other It is a common custome of the world that most men aspire to the Kingdome of glory and yet cannot endure the Kingdome of grace how should they euer attaine it thinke you we that by Gods blessing are better taught therefore first pray heere for the Kingdome of grace to be gouerned and ruled by the Lord here in this world But more particularly let vs see what the Kingdome of grace is namely The speciall power of Christ whereby he rules and gouernes in the consciences and soules of all his seruants This is the Kingdome which we do pray for that the Lord Jesus would set vp a Throne in our hearts to rule and gouerne in vs by the rule of his Spirit subduing and bringing vnder all our thoughts and consciences to himselfe Now all men doe outwardly speake well of Christ thinke sure enough to be saued by him but yet cannot endure to be guided and directed by the Spirit of Christ but in effect doe what those wicked Jewes say Luke 19. 14. Wee will not haue this man to reigne ouer vs. So it is with most of the world they can be content to heare of Christ as a Sauiour to haue the Word preached and to see the Gospell flourish but they will not haue him reigne strictly direct them in all their actions restraine them in their passions and guide them in their liues doing whatsoeuer seemes good in their owne eyes Yet ere we proceed Obiect Here ariseth an Obiection as Luke 19. 21. our Sauiour speakes That the Kingdome of God is come already how then are wee directed to pray for that which is come I answer in two respects first Ans. 1 It is true that the Kingdome of grace is begun already therefore we pray that as it is come to others so also that it may come to vs that we may feele the power and effects of it in our hearts and liues Therefore as Esau Gen. 27. 38. when he saw that his father had blessed his brother Jacob cryed and roared out Blesse me my father euen me also thus must we doe when we see the Kingdome of God to come vpon others how God rules in them by his Spirit orders them in their liues directs them in their consciences we I say must pray that the same grace of God may continually attend vpon vs. Againe though the Kingdome of God be come already yet we pray for an increase thereof that euery day we and others might feele the power of it more and more in our hearts and liues For there is no man but feeles himselfe in some sort and measure bound and inthralled to the Temptations of sinne Holy Paul himselfe complaines of this I delight in the Law of God concerning the inner man but I see another law in my members rebelling against the law of my mind And surely the state of the godly are
this is also a discouragement if wee doubt of the parties ability to helpe Thirdly when though the party wee come to hath both authority and ability yet is vnwilling to grant as we see in churlish Naball towards Dauid Shall I then take my bread and my water and my flesh that I haue killed for my shearers and giue it vnto men whom I know not whence they be these be the three impediments which if they possesse one throughly with a preiudice may hinder prayer either not to be or if done yet not to speed Now our Sauiour Christ remoueth all these shewing 1 That the Lord hath authority to doe it because the Kingdome is his 2 The Lord hath ability because his is the power 3 Hath willingnesse to doe it because all the glory and honour of it shall be his owne And thus by these three reasons our Sauiour hath cleered and remoued all these rubbes in the way which might make vs doubt not to obtaine at the hands of God what we pray for Reason 1 Concerning the first reason taken from Gods authority For thine is the Kingdome we obserue that The Soueraignty and free disposition of all things is in the hands of God So as we may well pray Lord thou mayst giue vs Heauen pardon of sinnes daily bread all that we need and pray for Because Thine is the Kingdome thou hast the free and intire Dominion of all things and thou as Soueraigne Lord maist dispose of them dispence them at thine owne will So Dauid saith Thine O Lord is greatnesse and power and victory and praise for all that is in heauen or in earth is thine both riches and honour come of thee and thou raignest ouer all c. All other things are tyed to lawes and rules a man in his family may not take the childrens bread and giue it vnto the dogs Yea a King that will rule in his owne Kingdome hath his power limited and confined of God for it is mentioned as a note of an euill King 1 Sam. 8. 14. That hee shall take their fields and vineyards and best O liue trees and giue them to his seruants But God hath an illimited power and vnrestrained so as he may dispose of all things at his pleasure being therefore sure that we can aske for nothing which he hath not authority to giue vs. Nay this reason if it be well weighed hath a further force in it Namely because the Kingdome is thine So O Lord it belongs vnto thee and is much for thy honour to giue vs all these blessings and graces that wee pray daily for For we all know that it belongs vnto a king to prouide for the comfortable and good estate of his owne subiects and seruants And therefore Salomons kingdome and gouernment amongst other things was so renowned for this because he so royally and richly prouided for his subiects that siluer was nothing worth in his dayes So seeing God is our King it belongs to his care to furnish and store vs with all graces needfull Thus holy Dauids practise was to fetch all his wants out of Gods store-house as Psal. 5. 2. Hearken vnto the voyce af my cry my King and my God for vnto thee will I pray The reason of this his dependance vpon God hee shewes Psal. 74. 12. For God is my King of old working saluation in the midst of the earth Thus also it is Gods honour to furnish his owne subiects and seruants with all manner of blessings and graces necessary The vses briefly are two Vse 1 First seeing the Kingdome is Gods whatsoeuer thy selfe or thy estate be though neuer so vnworthy or vnfit be not distrustfull discouraged doe not dispaire because the kingdome is the Lords that is Hee hath the free and absolute disposing of all to distribute and giue away at his pleasure vnto whom he will and when he will Therefore yet a while pray still be patient and waite his leisure for he will come to thy comfort in the best time Vse 2 Secondly seeing the kingdome is the Lords neuer grudge at the good estate of another because the Lord is onely wise yea infinite in wisedome to dispose of all things as hee list It is not lawfull for me to doe with my owne as I list So let vs be contented with his good will and pleasure hee who hath least hath more then he deserueth see what Jacob sayes Gen. 32 10 I am not worthy of the least of thy mercies So when old Eli was threatned with the destruction of his house for the transgressions of his sonnes his reply is It is the Lord let him doe what seemeth him good And Dauid Psal. 39 9. saith I was dumbe I opened not my mouth because thou didst it Reason 2 The second reason is taken from The power of GOD that is the strength and abilitie to doe all whatsoeuer we pray for or need is Gods Earthly Kings many times want power though they be willing to helpe their subiects and seruants as when the poore woman cryed out to the King of Israel in a great distresse of hunger Helpe my Lord O King He answered Seeing the Lord doth not succour thee how should I helpe thee Thus we many times want power but there is no want of Power and ability with God seeing out of the rich store-house of his abundant plenty hee is able to supply what wee stand in need of As the Apostle speaks Eph. 5. 20. Unto him therfore that is able to do exceeding abundantly aboue all that we either are able to aske or thinke be all glory for euer Thus it is a good thing for euery man to be perswaded of this that we can aske nothing at the hands of God but he can giue it Whereupon the Leper and so the Centurion both come to Christ with this speech Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me cleane And 2 Cor. 9 8. He shewes this much That God is able to make all grace abound in them c. Peter we reade so long as he carried his eye to Christ he was able to walke vpon the waues of the Sea But when he lookt away from Christ and cast his eies vpon the Windes and Billowes by and by he began to sinke So is it with vs in this world as long as we can cast our care vpon the power of God so long we may be vpheld in all temptations and troubles as a man standing on the top of a high Tower is safe so long as he lookes vp but looking downwards is ready to fall So it is with vs when we doe not looke vnto Heauen but looke on feares and other things downe-wards we by and by are in danger of drowning It is a good thing therefore euer to looke vnto the power of God considering that what is impossible to man is possible with God with whom all things are possible Reason 3 The third reason
dangerous yet he thinkes hee may renoue it without Physicke or if he must haue physicke yet he needs not such physicke or in such qualitie as is there prescribed Yet there may be for all this a storme in his Affections though the Iudgement doe come on to yeeld for either a man may be so busie in the world that hee cannot attend it or spare time for it or hee is so tender that he cannot abide the least thing which may offend him or thinke physicke to bee bitter as many doe Yea a number will choose to die rather then meddle with it Now these be the reasons partly in iudgement and partly in the Affections why such sicke patients will not admit of that physicke which might doe them good As the case is in bodily sicknesse so is it with those who are spiritually sicke with sinne Repentance is that physicke which God hath appointed for the healing of them and curing of their soules which potion sinfull men refuse to take the causes being as I haue shewed partly in the Iudgement and partly in the affections Impediment 1 In the Iudgement there be foure impediments of Repentance First because men doe not know or finde themselues to bee sicke of sinne nor would haue others to thinke them sicke they presume therefore that all is well with them for they know neither disease nor infirmitie and so because they liue as others liue and doe as others doe they thinke Repentance needlesse and feeling no sick esse they neuer thinke of Physicke This kinde of deceite is reprooued Iob 15. 31. Let not him that is deceiued trust in vanitie for vanitie shall be his recompence So wee see Mal. 3. 7. when God bade the people returne from their sinnes vnto him they answered stubbornly Wherein shall wee returne So doe the wicked men of this world answer God wherein haue wee offended wherefore should I repent This is the first Impediment in iudgement when men doe not finde themselues sicke in sinne Impediment 2 The second is When men know themselues to bee sicke of sinne but doe not thinke their sinnes to bee deadly They thinke indeed they haue some frailties some imperfections some pettie sins some small sins but in accusing themselues they can say as the Pharisee Luke 18. I thanke God I am no Adulterer Extortioner c. And so they thinke themselues in no danger As a man that in the eagernesse of fighting receueth a small wound with a sword and neuer lookes after it or thinkes it worth the curing so men in the affaires of the world adding sin to sin neuer looke after them as needing Repentance because they suppose them slight and small c. Impediment 3 The third Impediment is That though they take themselues to bee sinners and their sinnes to be deadly yet they thinke that God is mercifull a grateous God and they may bee saued without Repentance But Deut. 29. The Lord thunders against such and plainely assures such presumptuous persons that his wrath shall smoake against such and he would not be mercifull vnto them but all the curses written in that Book should come vpon them yea this is that which Iohn Baptist exprobrateth the Iews for Math. 3. 9. And thinke not to say with your selues wee haue Abraham for our Father for verily I say vnto you that God is able euen of these stones to raise vp children vnto Abraham Impediment 4 The Fourth is That though wee thinke Repentance is needfull yet wee need not say some so strict a kinde of Repentance as the Scripture speakes of If a man can say Lord forgiue mee wee are all sinners and such like it is sufficient it will serue the turne well enough Pharoah thought Repentance was needfull but it was a slight one hee did not thinke so strict a one needfull as was prescribed So Saul thought Repentance needfull when Samuel came and told him what hee had done Yet saith hee Honour mee before the People hee cared not whether he had any honour before God or not so the people might honour him These be the foure Impediments in the Iudgement which hinder and keepe backe Repentance either that wee doe not finde our selues to bee sinners or though wee be sinners yet not so great sinners to require Repentance or though wee be sinners yet God is mercifull and can saue vs without our Repentance Or though wee must repent yet that there is no need of so strict a Repentance Now as there be these impediments in the Iudgement so there be also in the Affections diuers letts for although a man findes himselfe to be a sinner against God and his owne conscience and that there is no way of Reconciliation to come out of his sinne but by Repentance Yet he still findes impediments in his Affections to detaine and hold him from this so necessarie dutie The Impediments in the Affections Impediment in the Affections 1 Are first The loue of the world when men are so carried away with the loue thereof that they cannot attend vnto Repentance so taken vp with the cares of life and the hopes of pleasures prosite preferment and such like that they can neither come to this account reckoning of the soule with Repentance nor dare aduenture vpon it for feare of losing the benefites of a present life Such was the case of those who were inuited to Christs Banquet Math. 22. 5. Such also is our case wee are all so intentiue to these worldly affaires our Farmes our wiues our oxeâ— c. that we cannot come vnto Repentance which is the Banquet of our soules to attaine saluation Impediment 2 The next is The loue of our Pleasure that is men cannot abide the sober and sad things that belong to Repentance they must be merry they must haue their delights pastimes and deuices as Esay 22. 13. The Lord complaines that when he called to sorrow and mourning behold ioy and gladnesse killing of oxen eating of flesh and drinking of wine Thus pleasure is great a let Impediment 3 The third is The loue of our own Ease for men cannot endure to take any paines in prayer holy duties thing appertaining to the sauing of their soules they had rather lye warme in their soft beds then rise to religious exercises then goe to heauen in Elias fiery chariot It is said Math. 2. That when Christ was borne all Israell was troubled and why they thought Christ could not come into his kingdome without a great deale of trouble and it might be cost many of their liues so doe many now adayes shunne religion for their owne ease It is said Psal They despised the pleasant land and why did they despise it for it was a pleasant land indeed and a good land yea such a place as they could haue beene contented to haue inioyed it but because it asked of them so much paine trouble and in their sight hazard to goe to it