Exposition of the Lords Prayer, Treatise · Part 19
The Power.
Herein doth the Lord differ from earthly Kings: who hauehave sometimes authoritie, but want power, so that they cannot bring their subjects to doe that which they would hauehave them, as the case stood with David: but God as he hath all authoritie in his hand, so hath he all power likewise. Whence we learne. That;
There is no power but in God, and for Observat. God.
Whatsoever strength is found in any creature in heaven or in earth, it is derived from him, and limited by him, in this respect it is said by thePsal. 62. 11. Prophet David, That power belongeth unto God. Angels are called Powers, but all the power that they hauehave, they received from the Lord, and must use it not for themselues, but for him, and for the performance of those workes which he enjoyneth them: so in another place the same Prophet magnifieth the Name of God, saying1 Chron. 29. Thine O Lord is greatnesse and power, &c. This will evidently appeare if we consider these reasons.
First, the wonderfull workes of the Creation, in Reason 1 Gen. 1.that God by his word alone could make the heavens and the earth, and all the creatures in themPsal. 33. both: which must needes argue an infinite power in him.
Secondly, the worke of preservation will testifie as much: for unlesse there were an unspeakable and unconceiveable power of God to uphold the world, and to feed and relieue the creatures that liue on the earth, and in the waters all things would quickly be dissolved, and fall to an utter decay and ruine, and therefore he is said, to uphold all things by his mightie word.Heb. 1.
Thirdly, this is evident, in that he restraineth the strongest creatures, viz the Devill and his Angels, so that albeit they be full of malice and outrage, yet he curbeth them in such sort, that they can doe nothing but that which maketh for his glory. And the like may be said of all Sathans instruments, howsoever they be mighty and with all very boisterous, yet doth he so order and sway both them and their actions, that all their rage doth turne to his praise, and to the benefit and comfort of his people. Which serveth;
First, for the reproofe of those, that when they Vse 1 hauehave great meanes and helpes, thinke they hauehave great stabilitie and firmenesse: Even as the rich man in the Gospel, who seeing that riches did plentifully flow in upon him, said unto his soule,Luke 12. 13. Soule, thou hast much goods laid up for many years, and what of that? therefore, liue at ease, eate, drinke, and take thy pastime: having aboundance of wealth, he imagined that there was such power therin, that he might well promise unto himselfe safetie, and securitie from all manner of evils: but that was his follie, for in truth, all power belongs unto God, and from him alone it is that we liue, and that we liue comfortably and happily. Yet was this Davids errour also, (albeit otherwise an holy and faithfull servant of God) who in his prosperitie said, I shall never be Psal. 30. 6.cast downe: but the Lord made him know, that all power is his, for when he turned away his face and favour from him, hee was sore troubled.
Secondly, for the just reprehension of such, Vse 2 as if they want the outward meanes of helpe and reliefe, are presently dismayed, and conclude with themselues, that in this case the world must needes goe very hard with them. Herein they marveilously dishonour the Lord, in that they doe not giuegive unto him the praise of his power. For this was Moses justly rebuked, who hearing the Lord promise that hee would feed six hundred thousand men, besides women and children, with flesh, even in the wildernesse, and that for a whole monethmonth together, would not beleeue that it should come to passe: as if the Lord had forgotten himselfe when hee made such a promise. But what saith God unto him? Is the Lords hand shortned? thou shalt see now whether my word Num. 21. 23.will come to passe unto thee or not. The like corruption is reproved and punished in the Prince of Samaria, who when Elisha the Prophet foretold from the mouth of the Lord, that notwithstanding the extreame famine that was now among them, by to morrow that time, there should be great plentie and abundance of corne and all needfull provision: he answered the man of God and said, Though the Lord should make windowes in the heaven (as he did in the dayes of Noah) could this thing come to passe? But what2 King. 7. 1. saith the Prophet? Thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eate thereof: as indeed, the next day it came to passe, for the people trode upon him Vers. 20.in the gate and he dyed.
Here also are those to be condemned, that when the times are hard, and worldly powers are against them, beginne to be out of heart, as if there were no comfort any longer to bee expected. But what unbeliefe is this, to be more afraid of the creature, then of the Creator? What if all the Potentates in the earth should oppose themselues against us? are we any whit the lesse safe? no surely, for all that might which they hauehave is ordered by the Lord, and although wicked men will doe us what mischiefe they can, yet can they not doe what they would: though their malice be great, yet their power is none at all.
Therefore it is that the Lord saith unto his people, I, even I am he that comfort you, who art thou that thou shouldest feare a mortall man, and the Isay.sonne of man, which shall be made as grasse: and forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath spread out the heavens and layd the foundations of the earth. In which place the Lord findeth fault with them and sharpely checketh them, for that notwithstanding all his comfortable promises made unto them, they were still heavie hearted, dull, and discouraged, because they saw the arme of flesh against them: the cause of which feare and distrust is noted to be twofold, viz. because they neither knew what men were, nor what God was: for if they had rightly understood, and wisely considered, that men are mortall and fading, even as the grasse, and that the Lord is infinite in power and majestie (which appeareth as in other things, so especially in the wonderfull worke of Creation) they would never hauehave beene afraid of the frowning lookes, and bigge words of oppressors and persecutors, as knowing that the Lord was sufficiently able to protect and defend them, from all their outrages, and to fulfil his gracious promises unto them though their enemies should seeke never so much to hinder the performance of the same. Here then is this immoderate feare of men to be condemned, especially, when it causeth men to faile of their duty, either wholy or in part, that dare not be so forward in Religion as they would be, for feare of the displeasure of such and such great ones: that is a grievous sinne, and it causeth them in whom it raigneth, to be rancked in the very fore-front of that hellish rabble mentioned Revelation 21. 8. where the holy Ghost speaketh thus; The fearefull and unbeleevers, and abominable, and murtherers, and whoremongers. shall hauehave their part in the Lake that burnes with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
And as they are to be blamed, that are to much afraid of men, so are they also that are too fearefull of Sathan, for though he be a power, and principalitie, yet is he limited, and restrained by the Lords hand, and is as it were a strong lyonIude 6. in a mightie chaine, so that he can goe no further then God will permit him. Hee could not touch Iob, nor any thing of his, untill he had receivedIob 1. his commission from heaven: nay, hee could not enter into the heard of swine, untillMath. Christ had granted him libertie so to doe: And therefore there is no cause why Gods children should bee immoderately afraid of him. And thus much of the uses of reproofe.
In the second place, this maketh for our instruction. Vse 2 Is it so that all power is the Lords? Then if wee receiue helpe and comfort from any creature, let us acknowledge the Lords hand therin: for without his speciall providence, our meate and drinke could not nourish us. Our apparell could not affoorde us warmth, our freinds could hauehave no abilitie to doe us good; And therfore in all these, and the like things, let us with thankfulnes, take knowledge of his louelove, that doth so many and sundry wayes convay his power and uertue unto us.
Againe, since all power is from the Lord, therfore if we would get ability to serue God in our callings, and especially, to performe the workes of Religion, let us beg the same at his hands. For as touching ordinary labour in the workes of our Vocation, the holy Ghost speaketh thus, unto the Israelites. It is the Lord which giueth thee Levit. 8. 18.power to get substance. And concerning duties of Religion, wee hauehave no power to repent, to beleeue, to pray, or to doe any other service, but God must draw us before wee can runne after Cant. 1.him. And hee it is that must worke in us, bothPhil. 2. 13. to will and to performe, of his owne good pleasure; For in us, that is, in our flesh, there dwelleth Rom. 7.no good thing, the consideration, and experience whereof, should bee a forcible motiue, to draw us neerer unto the Lord, and to make us frame our hearts to acknowledge that power is his, and therefore earnestly to sue unto him for the obtaining of greater Grace, and strength, both to doe those duties which he injoyneth us, and to beare those crosses which hee inflicteth upon us.
Againe, this should teach us, not to despaire of any one though his case bee very hard, for God is almightie, and the things that are impossible unto men are very easie unto him. Therefore was it, that the Apostle Paul did not despaire of the conversion of the Iewes, notwithstanding their exceeding great obstinacie, and unbeleefe: For God (saith he) Is able to graft them in againe. Rom. 11. 23.And from this ground he disswadeth men from despising those that are weaker then themselues, as if they should alwayes be so: nay (saith he) thinke not so, such shall bee established: For God is able to make them stand: he can establish theRom. 14. 4. weakest, as well as the strongest: and the most unconstant, as well as the most resolute: And therefore there is no just cause why the most feeble and impotent Christian that is, should be contemned and set at naught,
Lastly, Here is a use of singular consolation unto Ʋse 3 Gods servants: sith that all power is the Lords, therfore it cannot be that any one of them should perish, no, nor meere with any thing that shall prooue hurtfull unto them, for God is perfectly able to deliver them, and to saue them from all their sinnes, and enemies; and from all hurtfull crosses and miseries whatsoever. He is a father unto them, not in name alone, (as many stepfathers are) but in nature also, being full of all tender comparsion towards them, and hee knowes every one of their wants, and is bound by Promise and Covenant, and Oath, to doe that which hee seeth to bee for their greatest good and comfort. I know my sheepe, (saith our Saviour) and I giuegive unto them eternall life, and they Iohn. 10. 27.shall never perish, neither shall any plucke them them out of my hand.
Oh but there are many, and mighty enemies Object. (will some say) that oppose themselues against the sheepe of Christ, and seeke by all meanes to make a pray of them.
What of that? My Father which gaue them Answ. me (saith Christ, is greater then all, and none is able to take them out of my Fathers hand. So that, albeit, Sathan the Prince of darknes, with all his malicious instruments, doe band themselues against the Saints, and seeke their utter overthrow, yet the Lord will tread them all under foote: Rom. 16. 20.And by his almightie power, preserue those that are his Elect, unto everlasting glory and happinesse in the heavens. So much for this point.1 Pet. 1. 5. It followeth.