Exposition of the Lords Prayer, Treatise · Part 5
Thy Kingdome come.
WEE heard out of the former petition2. Petition. what the first and principall thing is which every Christian ought to bee carefull of, namely, that all due honor and glory may be yeelded unto the holy name of God. Now in the two next petitions, to wit, the second and the third, are declared two speciall meanes whereby that may be effected. Which are;
1. The comming of his Kingdome.
2. The doing of his will.
For where Gods Kingdome is most advanced, and his will best performed, there is his Name most glorified.
But for the better understanding of this petition, wee must know that the kingdome of God is taken two wayes, viz.
First generall, for his government over all the How the kingdome of God is vnderstood.whole world: In which sense it is said in the Psalme, The Lord raigneth, and is clothed with majestie, the Lord is clothed and girded with power. 1. Psal. 93. 1.And in another Psalme; The Lord raigneth, let the people tremble. And againe, The Lord is a Psal. 99. 1.great God, and a great King aboue all Gods. From which places, it is evident that he ruleth, governeth,Psal. 95. 3. and exerciseth his power over all the earth and over all the creatures in the same. As for this Kingdome, we pray not for it in this place, for it hath beene, is, and ever shall be alike: so that to pray for the comming of this Kingdome, were not a prayer of faith.
Secondly, It is taken for that more speciall government of God, which he exerciseth in the hearts and consciences of his people, by the scepter of his word, and the powerfull operation of his holy spirit, through the which hee pulls us out of the kingdome of Sathan, (who is the Prince ofEphe. 2. 2. darkenesse, and ruleth in all the children of disobedience) and receiveth us unto himselfe, to be guided and governed according to his divine statutes and heavenly lawes. For this Kingdome we pray in this petition: which is indeed properly the Kingdome of Christ, because heeRevel. 15. 3. is the King of Saints, (as the Scripture termeth him) but it is here attributed to the Father, because1 Cor. 15. 24. he governeth by his Sonne.
In this Petition therefore, wee pray that all Gods What we pray for here.Elect may bee converted, that they may attaine to knowledge and conscience: And that such as hauehave this good worke of grace begun in them alreadie, may hauehave it daily increased, and continually perfected more and more: and that at length, after they hauehave spent their dayes in the kingdome of Grace, they may come to the fruition of the kingdome of Glorie. Which is also intimated in this Petition.
Thus much briefly concerning the generall drift and meaning of the words.
Now more particularly, concerning such instructions as are therein contained for our learning, in these words.