Exposition of the Lords Prayer, Treatise · Part 21 – Part 22
For ever and ever.
The meaning hereof is, that whatsoever in the words before is attributed unto God, doth alwayes belong unto him, his Kingdome is an everlasting Kingdome, Dan. 3. 33. Then for his power, he was full of power before the world was, and hath shewed it in making and preserving of the same, and will shew it at the last day in the dissolution thereof, and in raising up the dead out of their graues, in bringing his elect to perfect happinesse, and the reprobate to endlesse and unspeakable torments. So also forIohn. 1… 5. his Glorie, he had it from all eternitie, he made and preserveth all things for his own glory, andRev. 4 9… he shall hauehave all honor for evermore. In that all these are everlasting, hence wee may obserue; That,
All things in God are Observat. eternall.
This is proved, Deut. 33. 27. The eternall God is thy refuge from aboue, and underneath are the everlasting armes, &c. Whence it is plaine, that God is eternall in himselfe, and an eternall Protector of his Church: either hee will cast out their enemies himselfe, or else (as it is in the same place) he will say, destroy them. That is; will giuegive them strength to doe it, for this very bidding of them is enough. More particularly, his merciemercy is everlasting, so saith the Prophet,Isa. 54. 8. For a moment in mine anger I hide my face from thee, for a little season, but with everlasting merciemercy hauehave I had compassion on thee, sayth the Lord thy Redeemer. The like may be said of his election, that he hath chosen us before the foundation of the world, which election is a fruit of hisEphe. 1. 9. Iohn. 13. louelove which is eternall. In a word, the same holds true in all his Attributes, his goodnesse, wisedome, justice, &c. they are all eternall. And this must needes he;
Because, the Attributes of God be not qualities Reas. 1 in him, but his nature; Life, is not in him, but he is Life it selfe, Power it selfe, Wisedome it selfe. These are his very essence. When we louelove, wee1 Ioh. 4. 8. louelove with a quallitie, but God loues with his nature, and therefore it is sayd, that God is LoueLove. Reason. 2
All things in him are unchangeable, With him is no variablenesse, nor shadow by turning.Iam. 1. 17. Reason. 3.
Thirdly, his rewards are everlasting, both to the wicked and godly. For to the wicked it shall be said, Goe from mee yee cursed into everlasting fire, &c. If then God doe alwayes punish reprobates, and shew the fruites of his Power, and Iustice, and Truth eternally; It must needs necessarily follow, that his Power, Iustice, and Truth are eternall. The like may be said of the riches of his merciemercy towards his Elect, who shall at the last day enjoy an inheritance immortall Pet. 1. 4.and undefiled, that fadeth not, reserved for Math. 25.them in the heavens, which is else-where termed eternall life. Which serveth,
First, For the confutation, of that foolish opinion Ʋse 1 of wicked persons, that imagine, though they hauehave sped ill in their sinfull practices heretofore, yet they shall hauehave better successe hereafter. As for instance, some hauehave beene bitter and violent against Christians, and hauehave gone by the worst, yet doe they hope to hauehave a day against them at last, if not at one time, yet at another. But let such know that Gods power, and justice, against them, and his louelove and kindnes towards his servants, are alwayes the same; And hee hath said, That they that hate Sion shall perish. So it is for his glory, to bring downe all wicked enemies, to take the craftie in their craftinesse, and to cause them to fall into the same pit, which they hauehave digged for others. Therefore hauehave they no cause to looke for a better day, but rather for a worse, even for the manifestation of his fierie wrath against them to the utmost.
Others there are, that will filch and steale Ʋse 2 doe deale falsly, and injurously with those that put them in trust, and being taken with the manner; they are not much troubled, nor discouraged from their lewd courses: but goe on still in hope, that they shall speed better then others; but how can they thinke so? Oh, they hauehave learned more wit now, they will carry their matters more closely and secretly, and keepe their plots from being discovered: but is not God eternall: doth not he see their sinne as much as before? And is not hee as able to bring them to shame and punishment, as hee did before? yes certainly, and therfore they that hauehave sped so ill heretofore, may looke to speed worse hereafter. Because they hauehave made no better use of Gods former punishments.
Secondly, Here is an horrible terror for wicked Vse 2 men? Is God eternall in his justice, and in the effects therof, oh! then, where shall they appeare that are sinfull, and ungodly: and that1 Pet. liue and die in their wicked courses, neuer bewailing them nor truly repenting for them? They shall come before such a Iudge as liues for ever, to power out the vialls of his wrath upon them and to torment, them in fire and brimstone for evermore. As his louelove, is everlasting towards those that feare him: so is his displeasure against those, that provoke him, and his indignation being kindled, will be like a river of Brimstone, which shall burne for ever, through the breath of his nostrels.
Thirdly, is it so, that God is eternall in his Ʋse. 3 louelove; then here is matter of singular consolation for the Elect of God: for nothing shall hinder their salvation, seeing that the Lord loveth them with an unchangeable louelove, it is said of our louelove towards him, that much water cannot quench it, neither Cant. 8. 7.can the floods drowne it. What shall wee thinke then of his louelove towards us, can anything quench that? No, saith the Apostle. I am perswaded that neither death, nor life, Angels, nor Rom. 8. 38.Principalities, nor Powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the louelove of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Neither is this a comfort onelyonly in regard of eternall life, but also in regard of the troubles of this life, that, God is the same; Yesterday, and to day, and Heb. 13.for ever. The same when wee are without the meanes, as when we hauehave them: the same in Warre, as in Peace. In Sicknesse as in Health, in Want as in wealth. And then shall wee taste most plentifully of the rivers of his kindnesse, when afflictions ly upon us in the greatest measure. Let us be sure that wee bee his servants now, and we shall ever be comforted, perfected, and deliuered. For if God should cease to louelove his Elect, hee should cease to be himselfe. Now breefly to speake of the last word;
Amen.
Which is as much, as So it is. Where wee obserue. That;
When wee hauehave prayed, and cast our burden upon the Lord, we must make reckoning that we shall Observa. be heard.
And therfore must say unto our soules, it is so, or it shall be so I shall obtaine what I hauehave asked, so farre as God sees good for me. So saith the Apostle Iohn; This is the assurance that wee 1 Ioh. 5. 14.hauehave in him, that if wee aske any thing according to his wil, he heareth us, & if we know that he heareth us, whatsoever wee aske, wee know that we hauehave the petitions that we hauehave desired of him. This perswasion must be setled in us, if we be Gods children, and that whatsoever wee aske in faith, God will grant it; And if we doe not beleeue, so much we doe dishonour the Lord. Our Saviour also presseth this point, whatsoever yee desire when yeeMark. 11. 24. pray beleeue that you shall hauehave it, and it shall beIames 1. 5. done unto you; So also Iames biddeth us, Aske in faith, and not waver, for such a one shall receiue nothing of the Lord.
There is good reason for this: for if wee hauehave Reas. 1 not a warrant to aske how dare wee be so bold, as to come into the chamber of presence to put up our suites? If wee hauehave a warrant, it is vile wickednesse for us, to doubt of obtaining, for that is to call the truth of God in question. Ʋse 1
Heere then, are such to be reproued, as goe away from prayer as uncertaine as they came to it.
And secondly, Here are we to be instructed, not Ʋse 2 onelyonly to beginne our prayers earnestly, but also to end them confidently, giving God the glorie of his Power, Truth, MercieMercy, and assuring our selues that we shall obtaine whatsoever in faith we hauehave asked, in that manner, and measure, and time, which God seeth most fit for us. Thus when Hannah had put up her suite, she rested1 Sam. 1. confidently upon the Lord for the granting of it, and so obtained according to her hearts desire. And so shall wee, if wee depend upon his gracious promises, for the pardoning of our sinnes, the healing of our natures, the supply of our wants, both inward and outward; the Lord Ephe. 3.will giuegive us aboue that which we can aske or thinke. And whatsoever is wanting in corporall things, shall be supplyed in spirituall, and the longer we waite knocking at the gate of his MercieMercy, the more plentifully shall wee bee recompenced in the end, when hee comes to fulfill all our desires.
FINIS,
Imprimatur;
ROB. AVSTINE. Feb. 4. 1632
End of the text · John Dod, Exposition of the Lords Prayer (1634)