The Sum of Christian Religion 2, Part 3 · Petition 4
THE FOVRTH PETITION.
GIVE vsus this daie our daily bread.
In this petition wee deſire corporall bleſſinges, concerning which wee are to obſerue theſe queſtions.
1 Why corporal bleſſings are to bee deſired.
2 How they are to be deſired.
3 Why Chriſt compriſed corporal bleſſings vnderunder the name of Bread.
4 Why he calleth it our bread.
5 Why he calleth it daiely bread.
6 Why he addeth, This day.
7 Whether it be lawful to deſire riches.
8 Whether it be lawful to treaſure vp any thing for the time to come.
1 Why we are to deſire corporal bleſſings.
WE muſt deſire corporall bleſſings, 1. In reſpect of Gods commaundement, which may ſuffice vsus, albeit there were no other cauſe. And we hauehave a commandmēt hereof from God, both general, and ſpecial. For chriſt ſaith in generall, Matth. 7 7. Aske, and yee ſhal receiue. And a ſpecial commandement he ſetteth down before this forme of praier which himſelfe preſcribed vntounto vsus, Mat. 6.9. After this maner therefore praie ye: by which commandment Chriſt alſo willeth vsus to deſire Bread, or corporal bleſſinges. Now whereas Chriſt ſaith: Seeke firſt the kingdome of god. & again, Take no thought, what ye ſhal eat: he doth not therein forbid vsus to deſire corporal bleſſings, but he forbiddeth this diſtruſtfulnes. 2. In reſpect of Gods promiſe: becauſe God hath promiſed that he wil giuegive vsus thinges neceſſary for our life: and he promiſed theſe to no other end, than that we ſhoulde deſire them of him: & he promiſed thē, that we ſhould therby hauehave a ſpiritual, not a fleſhly ſecurity. Mat. 6.32. Your father knoweth what ye hauehave need of. 3. In reſpect of gods glorie; that namelie there maie be a knowledge & profeſſion of gods prouidēce, eſpecially towardes his church. God wil hauehave vsus to aſcribe this praiſe vntounto him, becauſe he is the fountain of al bleſſings & benefits, & that we may not deem theſe things to come by chance to vsus. 4. Becauſe the deſiring and expecting of theſe bleſſings, is the exerciſe of our confidēce in the promiſe of grace, or it is the exerciſe of our Jnuocatiō, faith, & hope. For we cannot promiſe vntounto our ſelues corporal bleſſinges, nor deſire them, except we reſolue that we be in fauor, & except we be aſſured of ſpiritual bleſſings, & of gods wil towards vsus. For theſe corporal bleſſings God promiſeth to the godlie onelyonly; and therefore we muſt be perſuaded that we are of the nūber of them, to whom god hath promiſed to giuegive them. 5. That we maie do the wil of god here on earth: which without dayly bread we cannot here do. Pſ. 115.18. The dead praiſe not the Lord. 6. That the deſire of theſe bleſſings may be a cōfirmatiō in our minds, & a profeſſion before the world, that God is he who giueth euen the least benefites. 7. For our comfort. That we may know that the church ſhal euer be preſerued, when god heareth vsus, according to his promiſe. Wherefore we reape great comfort by the deſire of corporal bleſſings: becauſe we ſo acknowlege, and certainly perſuade our ſelues that theſe corporall bleſſings are tokens to vsus of gods fatherly good wil towards vsus.
2 How corporall bleſſings are to be deſired.
COrporal bleſſings are to be deſired, 1. with a confidence and ful perſuaſiō of gods fauor: becauſe otherwiſe god might anſwer, that vve are not of them, vntounto vvhom he hath promiſed theſe things. 2. With a conditiō of gods wil & pleaſure, that is, vvith a ſubmitting of our vvill to gods vvill: becauſe god hath promiſed theſe bleſſings not vvith any determined or definit circumſtāces. 3. With faith & belief of gods hearing vsus, ſo that we certainly beleeue that God will giuegive vsus ſo much as ſufficeth. 4 To this end, as therby to ſerue god, & our neighbor. They who deſire thē not after this ſort, are not heard, that is, ſuch things are not giuen them as may tend to their ſafety, and albeit they receiue that which they deſire, yet are they not indeed heard of god, becauſe thoſe things which they receiue are not good and profitable vntounto their ſaluation. We are here to obſerue, that the Lorde commaunded vsus in generall to pray for corporall bleſſings, neither hath defined in his worde, what corporall bleſſings he will giuegive vsus, and hath with this condition promiſed to giuegive them vsus, namely, as the ſaftie and ſaluation of euerie one, and the manifeſtation of his glorie requireth. The reaſons hereof are theſe. 1 Becauſe we oftentimes know not what we aske, & what is expediēt for vsus: And often we aske things neither profitable to vsus, nor ſeruing for Gods glorie, or the ſaluation of others. But God knoweth beſt, what is conuenient and meete for vsus for the manifeſting of his glory, and for the furdering of our owne ſaluation. Seeing then we often erre in deſiring corporall bleſſings, God giueth none other vntounto vsus, than ſuch as he knoweth to be meet and profitable for vsus. But ſpirituall bleſſings god hath promiſed not in general onelie, but both ſpeciallie, & ſimply, without anie condition annexed. For they are ſimply profitable vntounto vsus, and god himſelfe hath preſcribed the manner and way which we are to folow in them; ſo that in deſiring them we cannot erre. For what things god hath ſimply promiſed vsus, the ſame vve ought ſimply to deſire: & vvhat things he hath ſpecially and abſolutely promiſed vsus, the ſame muſt vve in like manner abſolutely aske and deſire. So muſt vve ſimplie deſire the holy ghoſt, becauſe god hath ſimply and expreſſely promiſed that hee vvill giuegive the holy ghoſt to euerie one that deſireth him. 2 That wee maie learn to be content with thoſe things which we hauehave receiued of the Lord, and ſubmit alwaies our will to his pleaſure and purpoſe. So god alſo for this cauſe hath commanded vsus in generall to deſire corporall beſſings, that ſuch a deſiring of thoſe bleſſings, may be an exerciſe of our faith and of the ſubiection and ſubmitting of our vvill, to the vvill of god.
3 Why Chriſt compriſed corporal bleſsings vnderunder the name of Bread.
VNderUnder the name of bread, by a Synecdoche, which is an vſual figure of ſpeech vntounto the Hebrues, Chriſt compriſed al corporal bleſsings, and ſuch as are neceſſarie for this life, as are al foode, victuals, raiment, health, ciuil peace. This is apparaunt by the end and ſcope of the petition. For wee deſire Bread for our neceſſity. But many other things are neceſſarie for vsus. Therefore we deſire them alſo vnderunder the name of Bread. And this Hebrewe Synecdoche is found often in the ſacred Bible, as, Gen. 3.19. Jn the ſweat of thy face ſhalt thou eate bread. Pſal. 41.9. Hee which did eate of my bread hath lifted vp the heele againſt me. Furdermore chriſt did not only compriſe things neceſſarie themſelues vnderunder the name of Bread, but alſo the profitable vſe of them. And therefore comprehēded he all theſe things vnderunder the name of Bread, 1 To bridle and raine our deſires, that ſo we ſhould aske onelyonly thinges neceſſarie for vsus to ſuſteine our life, and to ſerue God and our neighbour both in our common, and proper vocation and calling. 2 That bread might bee profitable vntounto our ſaluation, that is, that thoſe corporall bleſſinges might tend to our ſaluation, or that the vſe of thoſe corporall bleſſinges might bee good and ſauing vntounto vsus. For bread without this good and ſauing vſe, is a ſtone. Nowe Bread is made good and ſauing vntounto vsus, 1 Jf wee receiue it with faith, and with that minde, and after that manner, and to that end, which GOD requireth, to wit, if we ſticke not in the creatures, but pierce with our minde vntounto God him-ſelfe the Creator of all things, and the fountaine of al benefits or gifts. 2. Jf we deſire that he wil giuegive to the Bread obtained & receiued from him a force & vertu of nouriſhing and ſuſteining our bodies. Hereby now is it plainly clear, what we deſire when wee deſire breade: namely, 1. Not great riches, but onelie thinges neceſſarie. 2. That they maie bee bread vntounto vsus, that is, that they maie bee good and ſauing vntounto vsus thorough Gods benediction and bleſſing, wherewith if they bee not accompanied, the Breade ſhall not bee Bread.
4 Wherefore Chriſt calleth it our Bread.
CHRIST willeth vsus to deſire our Bread, not mine, thine, or another mans Bread; 1 That we ſhould deſire thoſe things, which god giueth vsus. For the Bread is made ours, which is giuen vsus of God neceſſarie for the ſuſtainance of our life. Therefore giuegive vsus our bread, ſignifieth, GiueGive vsus Bread, O God, aſſigned vntounto vsus by thee, which thou wilt hauehave to be ours. God as an Houſeholder doth diſtribute to euerie one his portiō, which we deſire for our ſelues of him. 2 That we ſhould deſire things neceſſarie, gotten of vsus by lawful labor, in a kind and trade of life pleaſing to God, and honeſt, and profitable to the common ſocietie, that is, which we may receiue through ordinarie meanes, and by lawfull waies, the hand of god from heauen reaching thē out vntounto vsus. 2. Theſ. 3.10. He that will not woorke, let him not eate. 3 That we may vſe them with a good conſcience.
5 Wherefore Chriſt calleth it Daylie Bread.
CHRIST calleth the Bread, which wee muſt deſire of god, Dailie, 1 Becauſe hee will hauehave vsus dailie to deſire as much as maie for euerie daie ſuffice vsus. 2 Becauſe hee will bridle our raging and endleſſe luſts and deſires. Mat. 6.32. Your Father knoweth what ye hauehave neede of. Pſal. 37.16. A ſmall thing vntounto the iuſt man is better, than great riches to the wicked, and mighty. Pſal. 34.9. Nothing wanteth to them that fear the Lord, that is, no profitable and neceſſarie thing: Therefore, GiueGive vsus daily Bread, that is, giuegive vsus Bread ſufficient, giuegive vsus ſo much of things neceſſarie for our life, as ſhall be needefull for euerie of vsus in his vocation and calling to ſerue god and our neighbour.
6 Why Chriſt addeth, This day,
CHRIST addeth, This daie, 1 To meet with our diſtruſtfulneſſe and couetouſneſſe, and to reclaime vsus from both theſe vices. 2 That we ſhould depend on him onlie, as yeſterday, ſo this daie, and to morrow: that namely we looke for the neceſſaries of this life at the hands of god, that we know them to bee giuen vsus of god, not to be gotten by our owne hands, or labours, or diligence; that alſo we know that they beeing receiued profit not our bodie except gods bleſſing dooth accompany them. 3 That the exerciſe of faith and praier maie alwaies be continued in vsus. For as long as it is ſaid, This day, ſo long wil he hauehave praier to bee continued, that ſo wee may yeelde due obedience to that Commaundement, Praie alwaies.
7 Whether it be lawfull to deſire riches.
THIS queſtion together with the next enſuing, ariſeth out of the former queſtions. For when wee are willed to deſire onelyonly dailie Bread, and that this daie, it ſeemeth at the firſt ſight, that it is not lawful either to deſire riches, or to put vp any thing for the morrow. But it is verilie lawfull to deſire riches, if, taking away all ambiguity and doubtfulneſſe of the worde, wee vnderſtand by the name of riches things neceſſary for the ſuſteināce of life: As the Epicure defined riches, To bee a pouertie agreeable to the Law of nature. This definition is good. And if we ſo take the name of riches, riches are doubtles to be deſired of god, in aſmuch as we ought to deſire ſuch things as are neceſſary for nature, and our place, and function whereunto god hath called vsus. The reaſon hereof is, becauſe theſe neceſſarie things, or riches, are dailie Bread, which we ought to deſire. They are alſo otherwiſe defined, To bee an aboundance and plentie ouer and aboue thinges neceſſarie. So Craſſus (ſurnamed the Rich) ſaid that no man was rich, but he who was able to maintaine an armie with his reuenues. If wee take riches in this ſenſe, riches are not at all to be deſired of God; becauſe Salomon in the perſon of al the godly ſaith, Prouerb. 30.8. GiueGive me not pouerty, nor riches: by which wordes the ſpirite of god alſo by Salomon teacheth vsus to pray againſt riches, that is, aboundance aboue things neceſſarie. Hither belongeth alſo that of Paul, 1. Tim 6.9. They that will be rich, fall into tentations and ſnares, and into manie fooliſh, and noyſome luſtes, which drowne men in perdition and deſtruction, for which cauſe riches are called Thornes, by Chriſt. But contrariwiſe; Godlineſſe is great gaine, if a man be content with that he hath. But notwithſtanding, if god hath giuen vsus any thing, beſide thoſe things which are neceſſarie for vsus, let vsus doe our diligence to vſe them well. And to this end, firſt, we muſt take heede that we repoſe not our confidence in them. Secondly, Wee muſt conſider that wee are Gods ſtewards, who hath committed theſe riches vntounto vsus to employ and beſtowe well, and that by this means he hath laide a burden vponupon vsus, and therefore ſhall wee one day render an account to god of our ſtewardſhip, and adminiſtration.
8 Whether it be lawfull to put vp anie thing for heereafter.
IT is doubtles lawfull for to put vp ſome thing for time to come, according to this cōmandement of Chriſt, Gather vp the broken meat which remaineth, that nothing be loſt. Hither belōg all ſuch precepts and commandements as ſpeake of parſimony and frugalitie. And here further wee are to obſerue theſe three things. 1 That thoſe things which are ſtored vp bee lawfullie gotten, purchaſed by lawful & honeſt labor & induſtry. 2 That we repoſe no confidence in them. 3 That they may be emploied on lawfull and neceſſarie vſes, both of our owne and others: as to the maintenance either of our life, or of our family, or of our friendes. Likewiſe, to the preſeruation of the Church, to aide the common wealth when neede ſhall require, and to beſtow ſomewhat on the poore and our needy brethren. Hereof ſaith Paul, Epheſ. 4.28. Let him that ſtole, ſteale no more▪ but let him rather labour, and worke with his hands, the thing which is good, that he may hauehave to giuegive vntounto him which needeth.
Now ſhal aunſwere eaſily be made to ſuch obiections as may be oppoſed againſt this petition. 1 Obiection. That which we deſire, is not ours. Bread is ours. Wherefore we neede not to deſire bread. Aunſwere. There is a diuerſe ſignification in the woorde (ours.) For in the Maior propoſition it ſignifieth a thing which we hauehave in our own power: but after a farre other manner is Bread ours, as hath bin before declared. 2 Obiection. Chriſt willeth vsus to deſire Daily Bread; Therfore it is not lawful to put vp any thing againſt the Morrow, but we are to care only for the preſent day. Againe, he willeth vsus, not to deſire Bread againſt the morrow, but to deſire Bread for This daie: therefore they doe ill, who gather any thing for future vſes. Aunſwere. This is a fallacie putting that for a cauſe, which is no cauſe. Chriſt willeth vsus to deſire daily bread, & This day; and therefore wee muſt alſo deſire thinges neceſſarie of him for our life for euerie day, this day, to morrow, and ſo long as wee liue: but hee meaneth not hereby as if hee would not hauehave vsus labour for the morrow, or not to put vp any thing for the morrow, or to caſt away thoſe bleſſings which he hath already giuen vsus ſufficing for the morrowe. Chriſt indeed otherwhere commandeth, That wee care not for the morrow, but ſo he forbiddeth vsus to thinke of the morrowe with diſtruſtfulneſſe, but not with praiers & labours. Wherefore the Lord will not that wee put vp nothing for hereafter, but firſt, that we be content with things preſent, all diſtruſt, couetouſneſſe, vnlawfull getting & diſobedience being ſet apart and baniſhed. 2 That we place not our truſt in things neceſſarie giuen vsus of God: but knowe and certainlie perſwade our ſelues that thoſe benefits which hauehave beene and are giuen, come vntounto vsus from the hande of God, and that they are not otherwiſe good and profitable vntounto vsus, except his bleſsing come to them. 3 That wee conſider our ſelues alwaies to ſtand in neede of Gods bleſſing. And wee muſt withall beware, that wee preſcribe not to god, what he is to giuegive vsus.