A Learned and Fruitful Exposition Upon the Lords Prayer, Section 5
Halowed be thy name.
THis petition is ſet in the forefront becauſe Gods glory muſt be preferred before all things.
1 For that is the end of our Creation. Pſal. 103.22. and 147.5.
2 The end of all creatures. Prouer. 10.4.
3 The end of all the Counſailes of God. Epheſ. 1.6.
4 The onelyonly end whereunto all our thoughts, words and déeds muſt be directed. 1 Cor. 10.31.
Gods glory is a moſt precious thing, and wée muſt be more chary of it then any thing, as wée are more chary of a golden Cuppe, then of an earthen Pitcher. But alas, wée care not for Gods glory:Pſa. 115.1. We are all for our ſelues, our owne glory, credit, name, commodities, &c.
Herode tooke the glory of God to himſelfe, and therefore the Angel of the Lord ſmote him. Acts 12.
The name of God in this place is put for God himſelfe, as 1 Kings 5.5. Hee ſhall build a houſe to my Name.
Alſo, for the attributes of God, as his
Iuſtice,
Mercy,
Word,
Workes.
Prouidence,
Power.
For GOD is knowne to vsus by all theſe, as men are knowne by their names: and as all mans praiſe & glory lyeth in his name, ſo all the glory of God is in theſe.
To Hallow, is to ſerue, or ſet apart any thing from common vſe, to ſome proper or peculiar end.
As the Temple was hallowed, that is, ſet apart to an holy vſe.
The Prieſts were ſanctified, that is, ſet apart to the ſeruice of God.
All that beléeue in Chriſt are ſanctified, that is, ſet apart from ſinne to ſerue God.
In like manner, Gods name is hallowed, when it is put apart from obliuion, contempt, prophanation, pollution, blaſphemie, and all abuſes, to an holy, reuerent, and honourable vſe, whether we thinke or ſpeake of it.
Obiection. How can a ſinnefull man Hallow Gods name, which is pure and holy in it ſelfe?
Anſwere. Not as he doth ſanctifie vsus, by communicating vntounto vsus an inherent qualitie of holineſſe: for wée cannot make him holy, or adde any thing to his holineſſe that is moſt holy in himſelfe, and the perfection of all holineſſe: but wée ſanctifie him, when wée acknowledge, and celebrate, and worſhip him ſo in heart, word, and déed, that wée cauſe his glory to be ſpread among men, and make manifeſt to the World, by the right vſage of it, that it is holy, pure and honourable: the like phraſe is vſed, Luke 7.29. Wiſedome is iuſtified of her Children, that is, declared to be iuſt.
The ſumme of this petition is, that wée may ſo carry our ſelues in all our actions, and the whole courſe of our life, that his holy name be not reproched by our occaſion, but rather be honored and magnified.
Examples.
The children of Iſraell ſung a ſong of victory, vponupon Pharaoes ouerthrow.
I will ſing vntounto the LORD for he hath triumphed gloriouſly: the Horſe and him that rode vponupon him hath hee ouerthrowne in the Sea, Exod. 15.1.
Dauid extolleth the maieſtie of God by his works in the heauens, Pſal. 19.1. And eſpecially in man, both in his creation and redemption by Chriſt, Pſalme 135. and 136.
O Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth, which ſetteſt thy glory aboue the heauens? Pſalme 8.
The very Angels of heauen at the birth of Chriſt, doe ſound out the prayſes of God.
Glory be to God in the higheſt heauens, and in earth peace, good-will towards men, Luke 2.13.14.
The Saints of God hauehave magnified his great and holy name, not onelyonly in reſpect of his great workes of Election, Creation, Redemption, Iuſtification, Sanctification, &c. but euen for his iudgements and chaſtiſements alſo, as Iob, The Lord giueth, and the Lord taketh away, bleſſed be the name of the Lord, Iob 1.21.
And Dauid, Pſalme 119. It is good that thou haſt humbled me.
And the Apoſtles went forth of the Councell, reioycing that they were counted worthy to ſuffer reproach for the name of Ieſus Chriſt. Acts 4.
According therefore to the example of theſe ancient worthies, eueryevery one of vsus muſt zealouſly ſtriue to glorifie God as Heb. 12.1.
And that eſpecially in performing the duties of our ſeuerall callings, as Magiſtrate, Miniſter, Gentleman and Tradeſman: for it is a thing acceptable to God and man, to be a good man in our place. A good Magiſtrate, that ruleth well: a good Miniſter, that teacheth well and diligently: a good Gentleman, that diſtributeth liberally: a good Tradeſman, by whom a man may liue quietly, peaceably, ioyfully and comfortably.
Abuſers of this Petition.
All thoſe which are proud,Ioh. 5.44. Pſa. 115.1. and ſéeke glory to themſelues, being ſo iealous of their owne honour, that to magnifie and lift vp themſelues, they will tread downe the name of God.
All thoſe which profeſſe the Goſpell,Rom. 2.24. 1 Pet. 3.15 16. Act. 19.9. 1 Tim. 1.13. Exo. 20.7. and ſtaine it with their wicked liues.
All ſuch as delight to raiſe vp and ſpread ſlanders againſt the profeſſion of Religion.
All ſwearers and blaſphemers of Gods moſt holy name.
For all theſe ſay and babble with their mouth, Hallowed be thy name, but their hearts neuer careth for any ſuch matter.