A Guide to Go to God, Preface · Section 73 – Section 76
§. 73. Of the particulars which we are taught to pray for in the third Petition.
Q. VVHat are the particulars for which by vertue of the third Petition we ought to pray?
A. 1. Such as concerne the Petition it ſelfe.
2. Such as concerne the Direction added thereto.
Q. To how many heads may the things which concerne the Petition it ſelfe be referred?
A. To foure eſpecially. Which are theſe,
1. The Rule it ſelfe, in this word WILL.
2. The Reſtraint of it, in this Particle THY.
3. The Extent of it, in this phraſe BE DONE.
4. The Place where it is to be done, IN EARTH.
Q. What deſire we in regard of the Rule?
A. 1. Knowledge of Gods Word. Pſal. 119. 16.For in and by Gods Word is his will reuealed:Col. 1. 9, 10. and knowledge thereof is the ground of true obedience. GiueGive mee vnderstanding (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) and I ſhall keepe thy Law: Pſal. 119. 34.yea I ſhall keepe it with my whole heart. Deſire of obedience without knowledge is very prepoſterous. An ignorant mans practiſe is like a blind mans wandring in by-wayes. How can it otherwiſe bee, but that ſuch ſhould fall into many dangers.
2. A Conformitie of our wils to Gods: or a readineſſe in our will and heart to yeeld to whatſoeuer wee ſhall know to bee Gods will.Pſal. 27. 8. When God ſaid to Dauid, Seeke my face, his heart anſwered,Pſal. 119. 36. O Lord I will ſeeke thy face. For this was his prayer, Incline mine heart vntounto thy Teſtimonies. It is a proper fruit of ſanctifying knowledge to draw the will to embrace as good that which the vnderſtanding diſcerneth to be true.
3. Strength of Memory to hold faſt Gods Word, and that in the good directions and ſweet conſolations, in the precepts and promiſes thereof.Pſal. 103. 17, 18. Where the Pſalmiſt ſaith, that the mercy of the Lord is vponupon thoſe that remember his commandements, to doe them, Doth he not imply that to remember Gods Word, is an eſpeciall helpe to the doing of it. Things not remembred are as not knowne. The Apoſtle noteth this to be the cauſe of the Hebrewes fainting in their troubles,Heb. 12. 5. that they forgate the direction and conſolation of the Word.
4. Life of Conſcience, both to cheere vsus vp in doing the will of God, and alſo to checke vsus when we ſwerue from the ſame, and not to ſuffer vsus to be quiet till we turne to it againe. For theſe are the proper functions of a conſcience quickened and ſanctified. The Apoſtle noteth that they who giuegive themſelues ouer to tranſgreſſe,1. Tim. 4. 2. hauehave their conſcience ſeared with an hot iron: the life of it is taken away.
5. LoueLove of Gods Word: that our hearts be ſo ſet vponupon it, as we make it our ioy and delight. This made Dauid ſo forward, as hee was, to doe the will of God: for Gods Word was his louelove, Pſal. 119. 97, 174, 162, 103, 72, 27.longing, ioy, delight, more ſweet then honey, more precious then thouſands of gold, or ſiluer. This reaſon of doing Gods will he himſelfe rendereth in theſe words, My ſoule hath kept thy teſtimonies, for I louelove them exceedingly. LoueLove ſetteth all the power of a mans ſoule, and parts of his body on worke to accompliſh that which is loued. But vnleſſe our heart and affections be ſet vponupon Gods Word, very hardly ſhall wee be brought to doe it, becauſe it is contrarie to our naturall and corrupt will.
6, Renouation of our outward parts, that they may bee made inſtruments in their ſeuerall functions, to execute Gods will: that thus as there is a readineſſe to will, 2. Cor. 8. 11.ſo there may be a performance alſo:1. Theſ. 5. 23. and for this end to pray that we may be ſanctified as in our whole ſpirit,Phil. 2. 13. foreign ſo in bodie: and that he would work in vsus both to will and to doe. All the former without this are nothing. This is the maine and principall thing here intended.Voluntatis vocabulum generaliter omnes virtutes inſe comprehendit ac quae ſingulatim per bonum intelliguntur, in voluntate Dei omnia anim aduertuntur. Greg. Nyſ. de Orat. The other are but preparations and helpes thereunto.
Here I might take occaſion to reckon vp all thoſe vertues which in Gods Word are enioyned to vsus. For Gods will compriſeth vnderunder it all thoſe vertues: yea whatſoeuer may truely be thought to bee good, is comprehended in the will of God. But it is ſufficient thus in generall to hauehave pointed at this head.
Q. What deſire wee in regard of the Reſtraint of the fore-named rule in this word THY?
A. A diſtinct vnderſtanding of the excellencie and perfection of Gods will:Pſal. 119. 18. that ſo wee may addict our ſelues wholly to it:Pro. 30. 5, 6. nor taking from it,Deut. 12. 32. nor adding to it. Had we indeed as good an opinion, and as high an eſteeme of Gods will as Dauid had, we would cleaue as cloſe to it as he did.
2. A right diſcerning of the vanity and corruption of the creatures will, eſpecially when it is not agreeable to Gods, but ſwerueth from it.Pſal 94 11. In this reſpect it is ſaid, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man that they are but vanity: Iob 5. 13.and, He taketh the wiſe in their craftineſſe. If we could truely, and thorowly diſcerne as much, would wee be ſo blockiſh as to preferre the will of any man before Gods?
3. A deniall of our owne will: a point which the wiſe man much preſſeth,Pro. 3. 5, 7. in theſe and ſuch like prohibitions: Leane not to thine owne vnderſtanding: Be not wiſe in thine owne eyes. Seldome or neuer are ſelfe-conceited men brought to yeeld ſimple obedience to Gods will. They will bee ſo inquiſitiue into the ground and reaſon thereof, that if they be not ſatiſfied therein, their owne will,Pro. 26. 12. and not Gods ſhall be done. There is more hope of a foole then of ſuch an one.
4. Mortification of the fleſh. Gal. 5. 17.For the fleſh luſteth againſt the Spirit, ſo that wee cannot doe the things that we would. When we would doe the will of God,Rom. 7. 28, &c. yea, and delight in the Law of God after the inner man, wee ſhall finde the fleſh warring againſt that Law of the minde, and bringing vsus into captiuitie to the law of ſinne. This made Saint Paul with ſo bitter an exclamation to ſay, O wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliuer me from the body of this death!
Q. What deſire wee in regard of the extent of the fore-named Rule? (be done.)
A. 1. An accompliſhment of whatſoeuer God hath determined. That what God willeth to be done may accordingly bee done, whether the creature will it or nill it. For we ought to beleeue that God wiſely willeth all things to the beſt: and thereupon to deſire that his counſell and purpoſe may ſtand: and euen from our hearts to ſay,mAct. 21. 14. The will of the Lord be done. n2. Sam. 15. 26.Let him doe as ſeemeth good to him.
2. A contented ſubmiſsion to eueryevery thing which God bringeth to paſſe. Hereof we hauehave worthy patternes in the examples of oIob 1. 21.Iob, p1. Sam. 3. 18.Eli, q2. Sam. 16. 10.Dauid, r2. King. 20. 19.Hezekiah, and other Saints. Wee can not be ignorant that euents doe declare the determined purpoſe of God. When ſuch and ſuch a thing is falne out, we may then conclude that God had ſo and ſo purpoſed it. For as Gods Word declareth his approuing will, what he would hauehave: ſo euents declare his peremptory will, what hee will hauehave. Our ſubmiſſion therefore to Gods will is tried in both. This is to bee applyed to all manner of croſſes, and loſſes, whether of goods children, or other friends, to death it ſelfe, or to any other thing, that may ſeeme bitter to vsus.
Q. What deſire we in regard of the place here ſpecified for doing the will of God, In earth?
A. 1. Grace well to vſe the time of this mortall life. For the time while wee abide on earth isf;Ioh. 9. 4. the day wherein wee may worke, andtGal 6. 10. the time of doing good. nIoh. 9. 4.Chriſt tooke the aduantage of the day; andx1 Phil. 2. 5. we ought to bee of the minde of Chriſt. Thus ſhall wee ſhew that wee hauehave as great reſpect to Gods honour, as to our owne happineſſe: and as great a deſire to doe the worke appointed, as to receiue the reward promiſed.
2. Vniuerſall ſubiection to Gods will throughout this world. For this indefinite phraſe, in earth, ſheweth that our deſire ought to bee extended to all that are on the face of the earth. We pray not that Gods will be done only in our own houſe, or in our owne countrey, or in the countries neere adioyning to vsus, but in earth. x1 Pſal. 67. 2, &c.All the graces therefore before mentioned to be craued for our ſelues, muſt alſo bee craued for eueryevery member of the militant Church.
§. 74. Of the things to be prayed for in the direction of the third Petition.
WHat are we taught to pray for in regard of this direction,Quid eſt aliud dicere, Fiat vol…tas tu… in coelo ſicut in terra, quam vt ſint homines ſimiles Angelis, &c. Abb. Iſa, de Vrat, c. 20. as it is in heauen.
A. In generall a conformitie of the Church militant to the Church triumphant. That, though theſe two parts of Gods Church be in one place diſtant one from another, yet they may bee of like minde and diſpoſition towards God and his will. In this reſpect we are ſaid to be partakers of the heauenly calling: and our conuerſation to be in heauen.Heb. 3. 1.
2. In particular ſuch a manner of obedience as is performed by the Saints and Angels in heauen.Phil. 3. 20.
§. 75. Of the diſtinct heads of the manner of doing Gods will in heauen.
Q. TO how many heads may their manner of obedience be reduced?
A. To ſixe eſpecially: which are theſe that follow.
1. Sinceritie. 1. Sinceritie.Whatſoeuer thoſe heauenly ſpirits make ſhew of,Reu. 14. 5. they doe it from the heart. In their mouth is found no guile; for they are without fault before the Throne of God. —21. 27.None that maketh alye can enter into that pure place.—22. 15. They are without, whoſoeuer louelove lies. All in heauen ſhine as the Sunne. They are tranſparent:Mat. 13. 43. there is no couer for hypocriſie. This ſincerity did Dauid deſire where he prayed that God would take from him the way of lying: Pſal. 119, 29, 36, 80.and encline his heart to his Teſtimonies, and let it be vpright in his Statutes.
2. Integritie: 2. Integritie Reu. 14. 4.which is an vniuerſall ſubiection to eueryevery part of Gods will. The heauenly ſpirits follow the Lambe whether ſoeuer he goeth. In all places they attend vponupon their Lord, and alwayes behold his face, Mat. 18. 10.to know what his will is that they may doe it. They are therefore by a kinde of excellency ſaid to doe his commandements, Pſal. 103. 20hearkening to the voice of his Word. Neuer was there any ſtop or ſtay in any that euer entred into heauen at any thing that God willed to be done. This integritie alſo did Dauid deſire, where he ſaid, Oh that my wayes were directed to keepe thy Statutes! Pſal. 119▪ 5, 6.then ſhall I not be aſhamed when I hauehave reſpect to ALL thy commandements: Deut. 5. 29.yea this did God himſelfe earneſtly deſire for his people.
3. Alacritie. 3. Alacritie.There is nothing wherein the heauenly ſpirits ſhew more cheerefulneſſe then in doing Gods will. It is muſicke and melodie to them. In which reſpect they are ſaid to hauehave harps, Reu. 15. 2.as a ſigne of their cheerefull minde and diſpoſition.Ioh 4. 34. While Chriſt liued on earth, it was his meat to doe the will of him that ſent him. Did hee not then doe it with cheerefulneſſe? For this alacritie doth Dauid pray, where hee deſireth God to quicken him.Pſal. 119. 37, 88.
4. Sedulitie. 4. Sedulitie.The heauenly Spirits are both diligent, and alſo quicke and ſpeedy in executing the will of the Lord.Iſa▪ 6. 2. They are thereupon ſaid to hauehave wings and to fly. Was not hee of that minde who ſaid,Pſal. 119. 60. I made haſte and delayed not to keepe thy Commandements? For this end doth the Church deſire Chriſt to draw her,Cant. 1. 3. that ſhe might runne after him.
5. Ardencie and zeale. 5. Ardency.The heauenly Spirits in regard of their zeale are ſaid to bee a flaming fire. Pſal. 104. 4. foreign combuſsit. Inde foreignIn which reſpect the title Seraphim is giuen vntounto them: for it is an Hebrew name taken from heat and burning.Iſai. 6. 2. There is nothing that doth more heat and enflame their louelove, and delight, then Gods will. When they know that God willeth this or that, they are all on fire till it be done.Pſal. 119. 20.—32. This zeale was in him that ſaid, My ſoule breaketh for the longing that it hath to thy iudgements alwayes. And his expectation to hauehave his heart enlarged, ſheweth that hee prayed for his holy zeale.Reu. 3. 19. Be zealous therefore.
6. Constancie. 6. Conſtancie.The heauenly ſpirits ſerue God day and night. Reu. 7. 15.They waxe not weary of doing Gods will. As the good Angels ſtill keepe their firſt eſtate: ſo the gloriſied Saints euer abide in their eſtate.Pſal. 51. 12. & 119. 116. None of them hauehave yet, nor euer will fall away. This did hee pray for, who oft called vponupon God to ſtabliſh him. This conſtancie is the grace of all graces. It ſetteth the crowne on all their heads: and bringeth men to the fruition of the fruit of all:Reu. 2. 10. Be thou faithfull vntounto the death, and I will giuegive thee the crowne of life, ſaith he who can make good what hee ſaith.
§. 76. Of the things for which thankes is to be giuen in the third Petition, and in the direction annexed to it.
Q. WHat are the particulars for which we are to giuegive thanks by vertue of the third Petition?
A. I. All thoſe graces whereby wee are enabled to doe the will of God.Epheſ. 1. 3. As.
1. Illumination of our minds, whereby we may vnderſtand what is the will of God.1. Cor. 14. 5.
2. Subiection of our will vntounto Gods.2. Cor. 9. 13.
3. Happineſſe of memory to keepe in mind the will of God:Pſal. 119. 52. 61. that we forget it not, after we hauehave once knowne it.
4. Faithfulneſſe of conſcience to cheere vsus when wee doe Gods will,1. Tim. 1. 12. and to checke vsus when we tranſgreſſe it.
5. Setledneſſe of heart and affections vponupon Gods will.Pſal. 40. 8.
6. Externall obedience in the ſeuerall parts of our bodie theretoRom. 6. 17.
7. Power ouer the fleſh that drawes vsus from the will of God.Rom. 7. 24, 25.
II. All euents of what kind ſo euer, be they loſſes or other croſſes, miniſter matter of Thankſgiuing: for they are compriſed in the number of thoſe ALL THINGS for which we muſt giuegive thankes. Epheſ. 5. 20.For this (ſaith the Apoſtle) is the will of God: 1. Theſ. 5. 18.a reaſon very proper and pertinent to our purpoſe. Thus did Iob bleſſe God for taking away,Iob 1 21. as well as for giuing.
Q. What matter of thankes doth the direction added to the third Petition afford?
A. We ought to bee ſo much the more thankefull, by how much the more heauenly our obedience is: as when it is ſweetned with Sinceritie, ſeaſoned with Integritie, quickened with Alacritie, enlarged with Sedulitie, inflamed with Ardencie, followed and crowned with conſtancie. The more excellent the graces be wherewith wee are enabled to doe Gods will, the more matter of praiſe doe they afford. This was it that moued Dauid to bleſſe and praiſe God againe and againe,1. Chron. 29, 10, 13, 19. that he and his people offered according to the will of God willingly in vprightneſſe of heart, and with ioy.