Exposition of the Lords Prayer, Treatise · Part 4
Hallowed be thy Name.
In that this Petition is set in the fore-front of the Lords Prayer, Hence we may learne.
That Gods honor and glorie ought to be most deare Observat. 5. Gods glory must be most precious in our eyes aboue all.and precious in our eyes.
Of all the things that we are to desire and craue at the Lords hands, this must be the first and the principall, that his Name may be sanctified by us and the rest of his servants. And for this end and purpose are all other things to bee asked, namely, that by the enjoyment of them we may be the better enabled to honor and glorifie the Lord our God in all things. And therefore is that argument used in the conclusion of this prayer, for thine is the kingdome, the power and the glory &c. Which is, as if we should say in more words These and these things hauehave we requested of thee (O heavenly Father) and we beseech thee to grant them unto us, that so thou mayest hauehave more praise and Glory from us.
And, As this is the chiefe thing which wee are 2. This in all our obedience must bee the cheefest thing aymed at.to aske in our prayers, so it is the principall matter which we are to ayme at in our obedience, as it doth evidently appeare by this, that the foure first Commandements, which are backed with most forcible reasons, doe especially concerne Gods glorie, and require that homage and service from us, which maketh chiefly for his honor.Exod. 32. 32. And of this point had Moses well considered, when he had such great respect unto the glorious name of the Lord, that he was content to be blotted out of Gods booke, that Gods people might be saved, and God himselfe by that meanes the more glorified.
And in like manner was Paul affected, for seeing his brethren the Israelites to grow still more hard and obstinate, as the Gospell was more cleerely and powerfully preached unto them, and knowing withall, that the Lord might hauehave more glory by their salvation, being many in number, then by his alone; he professeth, that hee could wish himselfe (if it might hauehave stoodRom. 9. 3. with Gods good pleasure) to bee separated from Christ, that they might be joyned unto him, and to be accursed, that they might be blessed: which he did not so much in louelove unto them, as in desire of advancing the glory of God, in saving so many thousand soules.
And there is good reason why his honor should be so regarded of us. For, Reason 1
First, Hee deserved no lesse at our hands, seeing God deserveth glory from us.that he made us, preserueth us, and bestoweth upon us whatsoever good things we doe enjoy for bodie or soule, and will at length make us partakers of the kingdome of his deare Sonne.
Secondly, Hee will fully recompence us if we He will fully reward all.seeke to magnifie him: for he hath said, Them that honor me, I will honor. If then we would be kept1 Sam. 2. 30. from everlasting shame and reproach, and hauehave the crowne of never-fading honor set upon our heads: the readiest way to attaine thereunto is, to desire and endevour aboue all things that theThe dangers of not preferring Gods name before all. Name of God may be glorified. For if we either preferre any thing before it, or equall any thing unto it, either we shall not obtaine it, or not in merciemercy enjoy it, because indeed we make an Idoll of it: and besides that we shall be sure to hauehave infamie and contempt powred upon us, as a just reward of our impietie. Which serveth;
First, for reproofe of a common and yet a Vse 1 great corruption that is in our wicked nature, which is, to be more affected in our prayers with the sence and feeling of our wants, then with the desire of Gods glorie. If we be poore and needie we can be well content that God should be our Treasurer, to serue our turnes, and to supply Simile. our present wants and necessities. If we be sicke and weake, we can be glad that he should be our Physition to cure our bodies, and to restore them unto perfect health, &c. But why doe we Quest. desire these things, that wee may liue as our neighbours doe, and hold up our heads with the Answ. best of them, that we may take our pleasure and delight, and lead a merrie and contented life? Is this to ayme at Gods glory in our petitions? Nay, this is to seeke our selues, and hence itA cause of crosses, though well-beloved of God. commeth to passe, that the more God loveth us, the more he crosseth us in our desires, because wee doe not therein intend the setting forth of his praise, but meerely the satisfying of our fleshly lusts.
Secondly, let us hence learne to try the soundnesse Ʋse 2 of our hearts, by examining how wee are affected towards his Name: for if wee can grieueA tryall of a right heart with God. when it is dishonoured, and rejoyce when it is glorified, we may assure our selues that our hearts are right with the Lord. As for the former of these, we hauehave an example thereof in Moses: for nothing did so wound and kill hisExod. 32. 19. soule, as when he saw Idolatrie committed among the people of God, whereby his glory was stained: hee was never so much grieved when the children of Israel were mutinous against him, and readie to reject his government, as when they were rebellious against the Lord, and cast off the yoake of obedience due unto him. And that was it that peirced the heart of Eliah also, I hauehave beene very jealous for the Lord 1 King. 19. 14God of hoastes, (saith he unto God) because the children of Israel hauehave forsaken thy Covenant, cast downe thine Altars, and slaine thy Prophets with the sword.
The like may be said of good King Hezekiah, who (when Rabshakeh railed on him and on the rest of the Iewes) was not much moved thereat: But when he heard of his horrible blasphemiesIsa. 39. 3. 4. against the Name of the Lord, Hee rents his clothes, and puts on sackcloth, and sent unto the Prophet Isajah, certifying him, how he had railed on the living God, and reproached him with words: earnestly intreating him to lift up his prayer unto heaven, and he himselfe doth the like; Beseeching Verse 17.the Lord to open his eyes to see, and his eares to heare all the words of Senacherib, who had sent his servants to blaspheme the living God. Behold an excellent patterne of zeale for Gods glory, when he commeth into Gods presence, he standeth not to aggravate the matter against his enemies, for that they had spoken vilely and basely of him, (as indeed they had done) butChap. 36. 5. this was it that filled him full of woe and perplexitie, that they had uttered such blasphemous speeches against the Lord. For indeed, when they had so impiously strucke at the Lords Name, it was a farre more hainous matter, then if they had smitten at the name and liues, yea, and the soules and salvation of Hezekiah and all his Subjects: And that is the true reason why the servants of God hauehave beene so exceedingly a…ected in such cases. And that the Psalmist Psal. 69. 9. 10.faith, The zeale of thine house hath eaten me up, and the rebukes of them that rebuked thee are fallen upon mee: I wept, and my soule fasted, &c. And on the contrary part, for the matter of rejoycing when Gods Name is any way honoured.
We hauehave the Prophet Davids example, who saith, I was glad when they said to me, we will goe Psal. 122. 1.into the house of the Lord. It did his very heart good to see that men were forward in matters of Gods worship, and readie to frequent his Ordinances. And in another place it is said, that when the people offered willingly and chearefully 1 Chron. 29. 9unto the Lord, towards the building of the Temple, David the King rejoyced with great joy, and blessed and praised the Lord, who had put abilitie into their hands and willingnesse into their hearts, to offer so bountifully for so good a purpose. Let all such therefore as would bee esteemed faithfull and sound hearted Christians, striue to bring their hearts to be thus affected unto the glory of God, that it may bee their greatest griefe to see or heare the Lord dishonoured, and their greatest comfort to see or heare his Name to be glorified.
But oh! how farre are the greatest sort of men from this holy zeale of Gods glory? Let them be touched in their names, and disgraced and abused in any reprochfull manner, and you shall see them forth-with as hot as fire: what? take away their name, that is more then their life unto them? they cannot put it up, nei…her will they. But you that stand thus for your owne credit, that yee cannot endure to be slaundered and traduced, what account doe you make of Gods honor? may not men blaspheme his glorious Name, and scoffe at his word, and disgrace his Ordinances, and cavill against his sacred decree of Predestination, and against his wise Providence, and righteous government of the world, and yet for all this you shew no griefe nor dislike thereof: what blockishnesse and senslesnesse is this, can any imagine that the louelove of God dwelleth in his heart, who is so little touched with matters that tend so much to his dishonour? Indeed when they are so passionate, and so violent in the defence of themselues and for the upholding of their owne reputation, they shew that they are eaten with zeale, but it is the zeale of pride, the zeale of selfe-louelove,A false zeale. and the zeale of wrath, which will be so farre from comforting them, that in the time of misery, of sicknesse and of death, it will lye full heavie upon their consciences.
Thirdly, Here is matter of singular consolation, Ʋse 3 for them that make the glory of God their chiefe joy, and his dishonour a cause of greater heartbreaking unto them, then any private injury whatsoever. Certaine it is, that they shall never want joy nor glory, that are so joyfull at the advancing of Gods glory, neither need they to feare discredit, who are so grieved that the Lords honor should be impeached. They that are glad to see the good behaviour of the godly, and mourne to behold the lewd conversation of the ungodly, desiring God to turne their out-rage in sinning unto his praise, and waiting when he will effect so much, they hauehave laid up a good foundation for themselues, and provided well for their owne comfort and happinesse. Thus much in generall that we must hauehave a principall respect in our Petitions unto the glory of God, now let us consider more particularly, What What things are chiefly to be asked in this petition.things are chiefly to bee asked in this petition, to the intent the Lord may be glorified by us, and others.
The first thing that we are to pray for, is sound Sound knovvledge.knowledge, without which it is impossible to sanctifie Gods Name. Therefore it is said in the Psalme, They that know thy Name will trust in Psal. 9. 10.thee, implying thereby, that none can honor the Lord in resting and relying upon him, but such onelyonly as are acquainted with his power, justice, wisedome, and merciemercy, &c. And indeed, till such time as we hauehave gotten good understanding, we are apt and readie to mislike and mis-conster the wayes and workes of God, as we see in David, who in his ignorance and in the pride of his carnall reason, was bold to controllPsal. 73. the providence of God, and to finde fault with his government, for that he suffered the ungodly to prosper and flourish, and to liue at hearts ease, when as his owne best servants were continually afflicted, troubled, and pinched with manifold wants and miseries: Hee fretted and chaffed at this, and was readie to giuegive over Religion, upon the consideration thereof, yet, for me, (saith the Prophet) my feete were almost gone, for I fretted at the foolish, when I saw the prosperitie of the wicked, &c. And afterwards in that Psalme he sayth, Certainely I hauehave cleansed Vers. 13.my heart in vaine, and washed my hands in innocencie. See how farre wide he was carried for want of spirituall wisedome, as hee himselfe in that very place acknowledgeth, so foolish was I and ignorant, I was a beast before thee. But whenVerse 22. he left reasoning with flesh and bloud, and went into the Sanctuary to consult with Gods word, then he saw and confessed his error and follie, being fully resolved that wicked men were exceeding miserable in the height of their worldlyVers. 18. felicitie, because they were in slippery places, and must suddenly and fearefully be cast downe into desolation. And that Gods children were exceeding happie, even in the depth of their adversitie, because the Lord is their portion, and will guide them by his counsell while they liue, and receiue Vers. 24.them unto glory when they die.
Thus we see, how Gods name was dishonoured by him in his ignorance, and sanctified by him when he had knowledge. And the like may be said concerning Gods eternall Decree of Predestination: A great many not having their mindes informed with sound understanding doe fret, repine, and cavill against the Lords dealing in that behalfe, as if it could not stand with his justice to elect some, and to reject others, to appoint some unto eternall joy and happinesse, and other some unto everlasting woe and miserie. But the holy Apostle Paul being throughly instructed in heavenly misteries, doth greatly magnifie the Lord for the same, having that in high admiration, which hee could not bring within the compasse of his comprehension. Oh! the deepenesse of the riches both of the wisedome Rom. 11. 33.and knowledge of God (saith he) how unsearchable are his judgements, and his wayes past finding out? Neither are ignorant persons any whit more fit to glorifie God, in making use of his word, then they are in taking benefit by his workes. For, to them all holy instructions are as parables, which they cannot understand, and do no more affect them, then excellent pictures or colours doe affect a blindman, or sweete and pleasant Simile. musicke a dead man.
But when once wisedome enters into the soule and knowledge delighteth the heart, then are they fitted to sanctifie the name of the Lord in every respect, in his word, workes, judgements, mercies, both in themselues, and others, in this life, or in the life to come. Here then we are to pray, that wee our selues and all Gods people, may attaine unto sound understanding: and so farre as we labour for this, and stirre up others to doe the like, so farre men doe conscionably use this Petition, Hallowed be thy name; Otherwise, though the words be never so frequent in our mouthes, we doe but dissemble, and doe not indeed from our hearts desire that Gods name may be sanctified. And therefore hee may answer every one of us that pray in that sort, thou hypocrite, doest thou intreate that my Name may bee hallowed, and yet never takest any course whereby it may be effected? What is this, but to take my name in vaine, and to abuse my holy presence? If thou wouldest hauehave thy requests to be accepted of me, labour for that in action, which thou hast in petition, get that holy knowledge, whereby thou mayest be fitted to glorifie my name, and thereby thou shalt make it manifest unto thine owne soule, that thou usest this petition in a conscionable manner.
Now further, as we are to pray for knowledge, so are we also to desire that it may be effectuall, and We pray that our knowledg may fructifie.hauehave its due operation: For otherwise, the Lord cannot be glorified thereby, but his name shall by that meanes rather be dishonored. For the Devill himselfe, and his instruments hauehave knowledge (as wicked Iudas had, with many moe of whom the Scripture maketh mention) but they used it to very ill purposes, and to the utter dishonour of Gods name, as farre as in them lay. Therefore we must pray, not for a bare and naked knowledge onelyonly, but for a powerfull and working knowledge; whereby,
1. The heart may bee rightly affected.
2. The tongue well seasoned.
3. The conversation religiously ordered.
First, concerning the heart, it must be inwardly touched, and wrought upon by the knowledge1. The heart must be rightly affected. we hauehave: As for instance. Doe we know that God is true in the performance of all his promises; then are we bound to sanctifie his name in our hearts by beleeving them, and by depending and waiting upon him for the fulfilling of them, whatsoever difficulties there bee, which may any way hinder the same.
Thus did Abraham glorifie God, as the Apostle witnesseth of him, Romans 4. there were two impossibilities, the one in nature concerning Abraham and his wife, that he being almost an hundred yeares old, should beget a sonne,Gen. 17. 17. and she being ninetie yeares of age should beare a sonne. The other was concerning the Lord, who if he did not effect this, must needes shew himselfe to be untrue of his word, and unfaithfull in keeping his promise, as for this latter, it was simply an impossibilitie, and therefore Abraham concluded with himselfe, that God could not be a lyer, therefore whatsoever impossibilitie there was in nature, yet he resolved that he would glorifie God, in beleeving that he would be as good as his word. Hee considered not his owne body (saith the Apostle) which was now Hebr. 11.dead, neither the deadnesse of Sarahs wombe, neither did he doubt of the promise of God through unbeleefe, but was strengthned in faith, and gaue glory to God, being fully assured that hee that had promised was also able to doe it. And that this is an honouring of Gods name, will hence evidently appeare, that men doe account it a great credit unto them to be beleeved, and to bee esteemed men of their word: and doe thinke the contrary a great disgrace. Are men so jealous of their names in that behalfe, and shall wee imagine that the Lord is not much more jealous of his? Yes surely, he makes reckoning of those that giuegive him the glory of his truth, doe much magnifie him: and that they who do in thought, word, or deed detract therefrom, doe greatly dishonour him. Yet such is the sinfulnesse of our wretched natures, that notwithstanding all the blessed promises that are made unto us concerning spirituall things, and our eternall salvation, as also concerning the things of this life, and our outward preservation, yet we are readie to doubt still, and to make question whether they shall be performed or not: What is this, but to imagine that the Lord is like us, much in words, and little in deedes?
But, will some say, I am not troubled with doubts Object. touching the salvation of my soule, but am well resolved of that point: but all my feare is, how I shall bee provided of food and rayment, and such like necessaries for me and mine.
What vile hypocrisie is this? will you perswade Answ. men, that you beleeue that God will doe the greatest things for you; when you will not trust him in lesse matters? Nay certainely, whosoever is throughly perswaded that the Lord wil bestow his kingdome upon him, he will in the like measure assure himselfe that he will not faile him for outward blessings: And in truth, all our doubtings for earthly things, proceede from want of resolution for heavenly things.
Againe, The name of God is sanctified by us, 2. We giuegive God here the praise of his power.when we ascribe unto his Majestie the praise of his power: as may be seene partly in the example of Abraham before alledged, who is said to giuegiveRom. 4. 20. 21 glory to God in this respect, that hee was fully assured, that hee that had promised, was able to doe it. And likewise in the former Epistle of Peter, 1 Pet. 3. 14.where he thus exhorteth, and incourageth those that were in persecution, Blessed are yee if yee suffer for righteousnesse sake: yea, feare not their feare neither be troubled, but sanctifie the Lord in your hearts. And (as it is in Isajah, out of which these words are taken) Let him be your feare and Isa. 8. 13.your dread, in which place, the holy Ghost meeteth with a common corruption that Gods owne children doe finde in themselues: for if at any time, they see the arme of flesh not to bee with them, but that indeed the great ones of the world doe oppose against them for keeping a good conscience, they presently beginne to be troubled and perplexed with many doubts and feares; Oh (thinke they) if such mightie men as these band themselues against us, there is no way but one: they will certainely crush, and utterly overthrow us, but what is Gods advice in this case: feare not their feare, (saith he) that is, be not afraid of crosses and losses, of dangers and disgraces, and such like, whereof carnall men are afraid themselues, and therefore imagine and goe about to fright you with the same. Feare them not (I say) nor any thing that they can doe against you.
But, Is there not cause (might some say) when Object. 1 they are strong, and we are weake, they wealthy and wee poore, they many, and wee few, &c. What would you hauehave us doe in this case?
To sanctifie God in your hearts, (sayth the Apostle) Answ. that is, giuegive him the honor of his power, of his providence, whereby hee over-ruleth and over-swaieth all the men in the world, and through which he is as well able to protect and defend you from the mightiest adversaries, as from the weakest: from the wealthiest, as from the meanest: and from tenne thousand, as well as from one person. For, hee is of infinite strength, and therefore all things are alike easie unto him. And this the Lord would hauehave to be setled and grounded in our hearts, which will be as a strong bulwarke to fence and fortifie us against all unnecessary and mistrustfull feares. This perswasion was it, that caused Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, to be so bold and couragious, when Nabucadnezar threatned to cast them into the hot fierie furnace, if they would not fall downe to worship his golden Image that he had set up: O Nabucadnezar, (sayd they) Wee are not carefull to answer thee in this Dan. 3. 16. 17matter, as if they should hauehave said, It is not the fierie furnace that can daunt us, and driue us to yeeld unto this Idolatrous worship: no we are resolute in the point, and will never put it to further consultation. Behold our God whom we serue (even in refusing to yeeld unto this thy commandement) is able to deliver us out of the hot fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O King. Nabucadnezar had blasphemouslyVerse 15. insulted overthem, saying, Who is that God that can deliver you out of my hand. Now these holy servants of the Lord, being full of heavenly zeale, gaue unto their God the honor of his power, and told him to his face, that he was able to deliver them out of his hands, and to set them free, if it stood with his good pleasure so to doe: but that they referred it wholy to his wisedome, resolving with themselues, that they would rather frie in the scorching flames, then so farre dishonor the Lord, as by the smallest gesture to make shew of offering divine worship unto that abominable Idol. This tended wonderfully to the glorifying of Gods name, before that heathen King and all his Princes and people that were present, and therefore, here those are greatly to be condemned, who in such times of danger will shrinke, and pull in their hornes, and rather lie, dissemble, and yeeld to any corruptions, then they will expose themselues to imminent perils, albeit they hauehave never so many comfortable promises of assistance, and deliverance from them, if they would sanctifie the Lord in their hearts, & persevere in a Christian course keeping faith and a good conscience unto the end.
Lastly, we may glorifie God in our hearts, by yeelding unto him the honor of his wisedome, and The praise of his wisedome.of his justice, as in beleeving other things that depend therevpon, so also in giving credence unto this, that he seeth the most secret offences, as well as those that are most obvious unto the veiw of men. Wherein they doe exceedingly faile, that dare doe such things in secret corners, and in the darke, as they would not for their liues adventure to commit before any honest man: nay, not before a child, for feare it should bee discovered and brought to light. What is this, but to imagine that either the Lord doth not see such hidden things, or else is not able or willing to punish men for the same? either of which is an horrible blasphemie for any to conceiue.
Thus we hauehave in part heard, how our knowledge of Gods name must bee effectuall in our hearts. This point might be amplified by sundry other particulars, as namely, how by the word and workes of the Lord our soules shouldA further amplification of the point. be affected with joy or griefe, feare or admiration, or the like, according to the nature and qualitie of the word which wee heare, or the workes which wee behold; But my purpose was, but briefly to touch these things.
In the next place, we pray here that our knowledge of Gods name may bee effectuall in ourWe pray that our tongues may bee well guided and seasoned. Psal. 119. 13. Ephe. 4. 29. speeches, so that by our tongues we may bring glory and honor unto his blessed Majestie: and that by speaking of his holy word with all due reverence, for our owne and others edification: by yeelding unto him the praise of all his works whatsoever. And more particularly, we mustPsal. 103. 104. 105. desire strength from heaven to glorifie our God, not onelyonly in prosperitie, but even in our deepest distresse and miserie; acknowledging that, It is Lam. 3. 22.Gods merciemercy that wee are not consumed: That righteousnesse belongs unto him, and to us open shame: Dan. 9. 7.That the Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh, and Iob 1. 21.therefore that his name is evermore to bee blessed and magnified. And if it be our bounden dutie to offer praises unto God, when his afflicting hand lyes heauie upon us, much more is it required of us, when any speciall blessings and benefits are bestowed upon us. The neglect hereof is sharply taxed by our Saviour Christ in the nine Lepers that being clensed of their leprofie, did not returne to giuegive God praise therefore.Luk. 17. 11. There were tenne of them in all, that were healed, one of which came vntounto Christ and fell downe at his feete to giuegive him thankes: but allVers. 16. the rest meerelie seeking themselues and their owne ease, were all-together unthankefull for that merciemercy which they had received, and so robbed him of that glorie which was due unto him. This is a fault too too ordinary in the world, there is scarce one among tenne, that doe with thankfulnesse acknowledge the loving kindnesse of the Lord towards them, but the commonnesse of the fault, doth nothing diminish the greatnesse thereof; And better it were an hundred times, that men should want helpe in their miserie, then that God should want the praise of his merciemercy. This bee spoken concerning our sanctifying of Gods Name in our communication.
Now in the third and last place, we are to intreat3. We must hallow him in our liues. treat the Lord, that he will inable us according to our knowledge, to glorifie him in our liues and conversations. Which wee may the more confidently aske, because our Saviour commandeth it saying, Let your light so shine before Math. 5. 16.men, that they seeing your good workes, may glorifie your Father which is in heaven. Which is propounded by the Apostle Paul as the end of all our actions, whether naturall, civill, or spirituall. Whether yee eate or drinke (saith hee) or 1 Cor. 10. 31.whatsoever yee doe, doe all to the glory of God.
Now the speciall thing whereby every ChristianWherein every one must glorifie God in their liues. must glorifie him, is in performing the duties of his owne calling, according to that saying of our Saviour, Father I hauehave glorified thee upon Iohn 17. 4.earth, how proues he that? I hauehave finished the worke which thou gavest me to doe. The Minister must doe his dutie, which is, to teach his peopleActs. 24. faithfully, to walke before them conscionably, to watch over their soules continually, and1 Peter. 5. 2. never to cease praying for them, that the Lord Phil. 1. 9.may please to convert, and still further to confirme all such as are his chosen ones, appointed to eternall life, in his unchangeable decree and purpose,
The people on the other side must be as carefull of their dutie, which is, to get knowledge Philip 3.and conscience, and evermore to presse forward unto greater perfection of obedience, that those that are without the meanes of saluation, may see what a benefit it is to liue under an holy Ministrie, (and so may become desirous of it, and painefull in seeking for it) when they beholdThe benefit of a beautifull christian conversation. and consider what innocencie and sinceritie there is in the tongues of Christians, what simplicitie and faithfulnesse in their dealings, what uprightnesse and holinesse in their behaviour; how loath they are to defraud and over-reach any one: how circumspect, that they doe not giuegive any offence to those that are without, and in a word, how warie they are in the whole course of their carriage, that they may doe nothing tending to the disgracing and blemishing of their holy profession.
This might be further pressed upon parents and children, masters and servants, Husbands and wiues that everie one should be carefull to glorifie God in doing the workes of his owne place: which if wee could heedfully looke unto, wee should be able to stop the mouthes of all the Papists and Brownists in the world though they sharpen their wits, and whet their tongues, and pens to speake and write against vsus, in the most despitefull, & disgracefull manner that may be. Whereas on the contrarie part, if wee proove slacke and negligent in this behalfe, the name of God and the Religion of God, wilbe ill spoken ofRom. 2. for our sakes, when wicked Infidels doe defile themselues with any foule and scandalous offences, they beare all the blame on their owne shoulders, and God is by a consequent glorified thereby; In that they being the servants of the diuell, doe continually performe the worke of the diuell, and beare the shame of their sinfull waies, because they hauehave refused to walke in Gods waies. But the case standes otherwise with Christians: for whatsoever grosse evills are committed by them, doe not onelyonly tend to their owne reproach, but also redound unto the dishonor of their master. And therefore we should beseech the Lord to giuegive us grace in our hearts, that we may behaue our selues as men of an other world: as men that are redeemed from the earth, to serue the Lord in holinesse and righteousnesse Luke 1. 75.all the daies of our life, and to be an holie nation and a peculiar people zealous and forward 1 Pet. 2. 9.in everie good word and worke: so that all whoTit. 2. 14. heare our conference, and are acquainted with our conuersation, may be driven to confesse in their hearts at least if not with their lips, that we are the onelyonly blessed people in the world. And that all such among them as pertaine vntounto the Lord, may glorifie God in the day of their visitation.1 Pet. 3. 1.
And thus much concerning the particular things, which we are to aske under this petition.
Now as touching the things to bee prayed against,Things to be prayed against they shall be but onelyonly named, and conferred to these two heads, viz.
1. Ignorance of the former things.
2. The ill effects that follow thereupon, in the hearts, speeches, and conversation, of those that take upon them the profession of the Gospell.
Thus much concerning the first Petition; The second followeth;