Exposition of the Lords Prayer, Treatise · Part 1
Our Father, &c.
THIS word [Our] implyeth what affection wee must beare towards men; namely, that when we bring our sacrifices of prayer and prayse before the Lord, wee should be so farre in louelove and charitie with men, that we should wish them as well as our selues, and pray and prayse God for them, as well as for our selues: So that hence we learne;
That when we are to call upon the name of the Lord, we must so deale for our selues and our owne Observat. 2 matters, as that we be also mindfull of others.
All Christians should hauehave such a fellow-feeling each of others necessities, as that they should make others case to be their owne, and become sutors for them, and with thankefulnesse acknowledge their graces before their heavenly Father, who requireth this dutie at their hands. As we see, where the Apostle exhorteth Timothie, 1 Tim. 2. 1.That first of all supplications, prayers, and giving of thankes bee made for all men. And so in Iames, acknowledge your faults one to another, and Iam. 5. 16.pray one for another. Yea, not onelyonly so; but we are enjoyned that which doth more crosse our wicked flesh, viz. to pray for our enemies. NowMat. 5. 44. if it be a dutie to pray for them, that doe hate, maligne, hurt and persecute us, and that when there is little or no appearance of grace and religion in them; Then how much more are we tyed to become Petitioners for those that are friends to us, to Gods Church, and faithfull servants unto the Lord himselfe? And as this is commanded, so was it practised, as by other of the holy men of God, so especially, by the Apostle Paul, who did without ceasing night and day remember in his prayers the ChurchesRom. 1. 9 10. 1 Cor. 1. 4. which he himselfe and others had planted: as also divers particular persons, which were of speciall2 Tim. 1. 3. note and imployment in the Churches, and in establishing and propagating the GospelPhilemon 4. of Christ: yea, he did not onelyonly make continuall mention of them in his prayers, but he was also mindfull of them in his thankesgivings. As he sayth, I thanke my God (sayth he) having you Phil. 1. 3. 5.in perfect memorie, because of the fellowship which you hauehave in the Gospel from the first day untill now. And the like is done by the converted Iewes (as we may read in the Actes) to whom when Peter had rendred a reason why he preached unto and conversed with the Gentiles, and shewed them that hee had speciall warrant by a vision from heaven so to doe: It is said, When they had heard these things, they held their peace and Acts 11. 18.glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. And so the Churches of Iudea, when they heard of Paules conversion, that he that had persecuted them in times past, now preached the faith, which beforeGal. 1. 22. he destroyed, They glorified God for him, for whom no doubt, they had oftentimes before instantly prayed unto the Lord.
And it is meete that all the Saints of God, Reason. while they are in their pilgrimage should performe this dutie, mutually one for another, because, they are members of the same head, branches of the same vine, Temples of the same Spirit, children of the same Father, and heires of the same Kingdome. In which regard, as they are neerely linked together, so should they hauehave their hearts as firmely knit together in one; And then it cannot be but there must needs proceede thence, many holy and heavenly requestes, and praises for one another, which will ascend as incense into the nostrels of the Lord of hoastes, and be more pleasing unto him, then the most costly and precious perfumes can be unto us.
With earthly Princes, the fewer petitions weNote. preferre, and the fewer persons we make suite for, the better (commonly) we speed; but it is otherwise, with the King of Kings, the moreA rule of prayer. in number our supplications are, and the more the persons are for whom we supplicate, the better shall our successe be: And the more wee urge for others, with the greater blessing and peace shall we goe away our selues, accordingPsal. 122 6. to that in the psalme, Pray for the peace of Ierusalem, let them prosper that louelove thee.
Seeing then that the truth of this Doctrine is so cleere, it serveth;
First, to convince divers, and those of Gods own Ʋse 1 Children to bee very faultie, who notwithstanding they make many prayers, and multiply their petitions before the Lord, yet they are so possessed with selfe-louelove, and selfe-respect, that they are wholy taken up with their owne matters, and are utterly forgetfull of others, either to pray for them, or to praise God in their behalfe. If any one hauehave offended them, he shall hauehave many ill words, but few good prayers from them. If any one be converted, or bettered, they seldome or never fall on their knees, to blesse the name of God for his merciemercy and goodnesse towards him: this is an evident token that they hauehave little louelove unto their brethren, or ze…le of Gods glory: He that is a true brother, must shew his brotherly affection by brotherly Note.actions. And they that can not afford others a part and portion in their prayers, can hauehave little expectation of comfort and benefit from the prayers of others, when they stand in greatest need of them. And further, when the Lord bestowes a blessing upon any of his people, they shall be so farre from being stirred up to joy and thankesgiving therefore, that they will be readie rather to envie and maligne them for the same.
Againe, this is for singular comfort for all such Ʋse 2 as doe in their hearts feare the Lord: For there is never a Christian throughout the world, that prayeth for himselfe, but he doth more or lesse pray for them, and glorifie God for them, which is an especiall part of the communion of Saints. What then though we be dull and heavie-hearted, so that we cannot powre out our soules before the Lord as we ought to doe? Was thereA comfort against discouragement in Prayer. not a time, when we could (through Gods grace) hauehave prayed, and did pray, and that earnestly, not onelyonly for our selues, but likewise for others? If our consciences witnesse thus much for us; let us not be dismayed, as if we should be utterly destitute of good things, because we cannot aske them in that manner as wee would: for doubtlesse, at that very time when wee feele greatest inabilitie unto this holy exercise, there are many thousand Christians in the world, on their knees offering up strong cryes unto God, which we hauehave as good interest in, as themselues.
The consideration whereof, should sustaine us, and hold our hearts in hope and expectation of favour from God, when we find our selues most unapt and unfit for this spirituall worke of prayer. When Peter was fast bound in prison,Acts 12. 5, 6, 7 and sleeping betwixt two Souldiers, bound with two chaines, the prayers of the Saints were still ascending for him, which did so peirce the heavens, that they caused the chaines to fall off from his hands, and made the prison doores and the iron Gate, to open unto him of their owne accord, to the great comfort of the Church, and astonishment of their adversaries. And of no lesse force may and shall the suites and requests of Gods servants be for us, when we are fast bound and fettered by sinne and Sathan, and hauehave lesse power to free our selues from their bondage, then Peter had to escape out of the hands of Herod, and of the Souldiers and keepers that watched him with all care and diligence. For it is a true saying and worthy of all men to be remembred, That the prayers of Iam. 5. 16.the righteous availe much, if they be fervent. Thus much concerning that point, how wee must stand affected toward men, now it followes to be considered, how we must be perswaded of God in these words.