The Sum of Christian Religion 2, Part 3 · Conclusion
THE CONCLVSION OR LAST CLAVSE OF THE LORDS PRAIER. For thine is the kingdome, the power and the glorie, for euer and euer, AMEN.
THIS laſt clauſe of the praier ſerueth to confirme our faith and beliefe, or confidence of beeing heard, & obtaining our deſire, to wit, that God will and is able to giuegive vsus thoſe things which we deſire. Thine is the kingdome. The firſt reaſon is drawen, From the dutie of a king, which is, to hear his ſubiectes, to defend, and preſerue them. Therefore thou, O God, ſeeing thou art our king, mightier than al our enemies, hauing al things in thy power, good and euil: euil, ſo that thou art able to repreſſe them: good, ſo that there is no good ſo great, which thou canſt not giuegive, as is agreeing and ſtanding with thy nature; and ſeeing wee are thy ſubiects, be preſent and aſſiſt vsus with thy power, and ſaue vsus, as who art louing vntounto thy ſubiectes, and thy protection and ſafegard is alone ſauing and preſeruing. He is called a King, 1. Becauſe he hath power ouer all creatures. 2. Becauſe he is the peculiar King of the Church.
And the power. The ſecond reaſon is drawne from the power of God. Hear vsus O God, and giuegive vsus what we deſire: becauſe thou art mightier than all our enimies, thou art able to giuegive vsus all thinges, and thou only art able, in thee alone reſteth this power ioyned with exceeding goodnes.
And the glorie. The third reaſon is taken from the end or finall cauſe. We deſire theſe things for thy glorie. Of thee alone the true God and ſoueraign King we deſire and expect all good thinges, and ſo we yeeld vntounto thee this thy glory, and this thine honour, and profeſſe thee to be the autour and fountaine of all good thinges. And verily becauſe this glory is due vntounto thee, therfore alſo do we deſire thē of thee. Hear vsus therfore for thy glory; & eſpecially, becauſe thou wilt alſo for thy glorie ſake giuegive vsus thoſe thinges which wee deſire. For what things ſerue for thy glory, the ſame wilt thou performe and doe: but thoſe thinges, which we deſire ſerue for thy glory: therefore thou wilt giuegive them vsus. GiueGive vsus therefore theſe thinges, that we deſire, & the glory ſhall returne & redound vntounto thee, if thou deliuer vsus. For ſo ſhal thy kindome, & power, and glory be manifeſted.
Obiection. Wee ſeeme to bring perſuaſiue and moouing argumentes vntounto God, whereby we maie moue him to doe what wee deſire. But in vaine are reaſons vſed to him, who is vnchaungeable: God is vnchangeable. Therefore in vaine vſe we theſe reaſons vntounto him. Aunſwere. This is a fallacy, putting that for a cauſe, which is no cauſe. For we graunt this argument, in reſpect of God, but not in reſpect of vsus. For we doe not, when wee thus ſpeake, vſe reaſons to moue God, or perſuade him to doe it, but to perſuade our ſelues that God wil doe this, and to confirme and aſſure vsus that we ſhal be heard, and to acknowledge our neceſſity, and the goodnes & truth of god. Wherefore theſe reaſons are not adioined to our praiers, as thereby to moue god, but only to confirme and aſſure vsus, that god wil doe, what we deſire, becauſe theſe are the cauſes why he doth it: Jt ſhal bee for thy glorie: therefore thou wilt doe it, becauſe thou haſt care of thy glorie: Thou art a moſt good King: therefore thou wilt giuegive theſe thinges to thy ſubiectes: Thou art moſt powerful & mighty: therefore thou wilt ſhewe thy power in giuing theſe gifts, which are moſt great, and which can bee giuen of none other but of thee alone.
Amen. This is added, not as a part of the praier, but, 1. Becauſe this particle noteth a true and ſincere deſire and wiſh, wherewith we wiſh that we maie be heard. 2. Becauſe this ſelfeſame particle betokeneth a certaintie or confirmation of our faith, whereby we truſt that we ſhal be heard. Wherefore, Amen, ſignifieth, 1. So be it, and ſure and certaine be that which wee deſire, and let God condiſcend and aunſwere vntounto our requeſt. 2. So God, being not vnmindful of his promiſe, truly and certainly heare vsus.
FINIS.