The Guide Unto True Blessedness, Section 43
SECT. XLIII. Of the fourth Petition.
Q. THus farre of the three firſt petitions for things concerning God: To come to the three latter concerning our ſelues; What are we generally to note in them?
A. The order & dependance they hauehave
1. From the former three concerning God: for we are then allowed, andaLuc. 17.7. &c. not til then, to ſeeke good things for our ſelues, when wee hauehave firſt minded & ſought thoſe things that concerne the glory of God; becauſe vntountob1. Tim. 4.8. godlineſſe only the promiſes of this life, and that which is to come, are entailed.
2. Betweene themſelues; wherein is to be obſerued,
Firſt, that we hauehave but one petition for outward things, as leſſe to be eſteemed: but for ſpirituall things two, as aboutcMat 6.33. which, our care is to bee doubled.
Secondly, that yet the firſt place is giuen to outward things; not as chiefeſt, but asdGen. 28.20.21. helps to enable vsus to ſpirituall duties, and as ſteppes eAct. 17.27, 28.whereby our weak faith may the better aſcend to lay claime & hold on ſpirituall graces.
Thirdly, that, according to the order obſerued in the Creed, (called the Apoſtles) we are taught to depend:
On the prouidence of God the Father, our Creator, for outward bleſſings:
On the mercy of Chriſt, our Sauiour, for the remiſſion of our ſinnes:
On the powerfull aſsiſtance of the holy Spirit, our ſanctifier, for the reſiſting and ſubduing of al temptations vntounto euill.
Laſtly, that in all theſe petitions, vnderunder one thing expreſſed, other things are figuratiuely included, as ſhall appeare.
Q. To proceed in order: What are the words of the fourth petition?
A. aMat 6.11. Luke 11.3.GiueGive vsus this day our dailie bread.
Q. What is the meaning of theſe words?
A. Firſt, by [bread] we muſt vnderſtandbPro. 27.27 & 31.14. all outward things, ſeruing for our neceſsitie, and ſober delight, as foode, phyſicke, ſleepe, raiment, houſe, &c. together with the meanes thereof, as peace, ſeaſonable weather, and ſuch like.
Secondly, by [daily] bread, or bread [inſtātly neceſſary] or [ſuch as is to be added to our ſubſtance] we vnderſtand ſuch prouiſion, and ſuch a proportion thereof, as may beſtaPro. 30.8 agree with our nature, charge, and calling.
Thirdly, by [our] bread, we vnderſtandb2. Theſ. 3.12. ſuch, as commeth to vsus by the bleſsing of God on our lawfull labours, ſo that neither God, nor man, can iuſtly implead vsus for it.
Fourthly, when wee ſay, [giuegive] we profeſſe our ſeluescLuk. 17.10 Gen. 32.10. vnable, by any ſeruice or labour, to merit our bread (much leſſe our ſaluation) at the hands of God; but that, our right vntounto the creatures beeing forfeited in Adam, wee hauehave nothing to plead, but onelyonly Gods deed of gift, made vntounto vsus in Chriſt, the ſecond Adam, anddHeb. 1.2. heire of all things;eRom. 8.32 in whom and with whom all things are conueyed to vsus.
Fiftly, when we ſay giuegive [vsus] wee profeſſe our ſelues petitioners for all men, eſpecially the houſhold of faith; that for the moſt part eueryevery one may hauehave ſufficient, and, where want is,a2. Cor. 8.14. others may bee enabled to ſupply it out of their abundance.
Laſtly, when we ſay [this day] or [for the day] we profeſſe thebMath. 6.34 moderation of our care, and deſire of earthly things, with our purpoſe eueryevery day by labour and prayer, to ſeeke theſe bleſſings at the hands of God.
Q. What doe we then begge of God in this Petition?
A. Two things: Viz.
Firſt, bread: cIam. 4.3. Num. 11.4, 5, 6.not quailes, or delicates, not riches, and ſuperfluitie; but a proportion of maintenance, credit, libertie &c.dPro. 30 8 1. Tim 6.8 conuenient for vsus: and that with condition, eJam. 4.15 2 Sam 7.27if God ſhall ſee good, which is a caution proper to this Petition for outward things,
Secondly, faith and grace, as well infPhil. 4.12 want, as in abundance, to depend on the prouidence of God for outward things: to beegHeb. 13.5 contented with, and thankefull for, the portion which it ſhall pleaſe the Lord toaPſal. 16.6 meaſure out vntounto vsus, as his gift; not enuying ſuch, to whom hee giueth more: tobEpheſ. 4.28 labour with our hands the thing that is goo…, that wee may eate our owne bread: to adde vntounto our laborc1. Tim. 4.4, 5 prayer, and thankſgiuing, as whereby, on our part, all Gods bleſſings are aſſured, and ſanctified vntounto vsus: Finally todPhil. 4.6 Pſal. 37.5 containe our ſelues within the care for the meanes, leauing euents vntounto Gods only diſpoſition.