Exposition of the Lords Prayer, Treatise · Part 7 – Part 8
Thy Kingdome come
Thus understood ariseth this observation. That;
Every child of God ought from his heart to pray Observat. 7.for the end of the world, and for consummation of the kingdome of Christ, at his last comming.
This is proved in the Revelation, where Iohn testifieth, that the Spirit and the Bride say come. The spirit of regeneration, that knowes the joyes of heaven, being shed abroad in the hearts of the faithfull, stirres them up to say, come, Revel. 22. 17.and the Bride, that is, the Church (being inspired by the holy Ghost) sayes, come. It is as possible for one that is betrothed to such an excellent husband, as will never fall out with her, but bestow every good thing on her, not to desire the day of mariage, as for the people of God not to long for the comming of Christ. Indeed, as the spirit sayth come, so the flesh sayth goe: If Adam after his fall might hauehave obtained his desire, hee would by no meanes hauehave come into Gods presence: and so it is with fleshly men still, they cannot endure that Christ should come unto them in his gracious presence by his Ordinances, much lesse in his glorious presence; but it is quite contrary with the godly.
Now the reasons why all loyall Subjects should desire the comming of their King, are these.
First, In regard of God, who hath not the full Reason 1 glory of his merciemercy and justice till then; for, in the militant Church the Devill and his members are still up in rebellion, whereby the best of Gods subjects that liue upon the earth, doe passe no day nor night without some offence or other against their soveraigne Lord: and for those whose soules are glorified in the heavens, their bodies for the most part doe lie in the dust: but at the last day all enemies shall be utterly put1 Cor. 15. downe and vanquished, and the elect of God shall be freed from all sinne, whereby God is dishonored, and be clothed both bodies and soules with glory and immortalitie: so that if we louelove the honor of our King, wee should desire his comming. Seeing then, that his foes shall tastefully of his justice, and his servants of his merciemercy, (both which doth make for the setting forth of his glorie) the Lords name shall be magnified, and the execution of judgement upon the wicked, and upon unbeleevers shall bee shewed, as well as he shall be glorified in his Saints, 2 Thes. 1. 10.and be made marvellous in all them that beleeue in him.
Secondly, In regard of our selues wee must desire his comming: for if we doe not, wee cannot be assured of any happinesse that we shall enjoy after his comming. This is evident in Timothy, 2 Tim. 4. 8.where Paul speaketh thus; Henceforth is layd up for me the crowne of righteousnesse, which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall giuegive me at that day, and not to me only, but (to whom else?) to all them also that louelove his appearing. So long as we finde not this affection in some measure in our hearts, we want an excellent argument of the certaintie of our salvation: we may be saved indeed though for the present we doe not feele this, but wee can hauehave no setled comfort in the consideration thereof, till in our very soules we louelove the glorious appearance of our blessed Saviour. It is the note of an harlot to say, my husband is notPro. 7. 19. at home, he is gone a journey farre off, &c. and so to rejoyce at her husbands absence: as for those that would hauehave comfort that they are the chast Spouse of Christ, they must with the bride say come, as was before noted.
Another benefit that we shall reape by this affection unto the comming of Christ, is, that it will marvellously estrange our mindes from the world, and make us account all but drosse and dung in comparison of that blessednesse which wee shall then attaine unto: The meditation hereof caused Abraham, Isaak, and Iacob to liue as pilgrimesHeb. 11. 10. and strangers upon earth, because (as the Apostle sayth) They looked for a Citie having a foundation, whose builder and maker is God. They had a desire of a better Countrey then the land of Canaan, even of a heavenly Countrey, which caused them so little to regard the things of this life. The like may be said of Moses, who when by the eye of faith hee had seene the promotions of the Court of Heaven, did easily contemne and forsake whatsoever honors and preferments were to be obtained in the Court of Pharaoh. He that hath a kingdome to sway in hisHeb. 11. 24. own Country, will never be over-much enamored on some small farme, or cottage in an other.
Againe, This earnest longing for the kingdome of Glorie, will very much quicken and helpe us forward in the performance of our dutie both unto God and men; when we consider, That our worke 1 Cor. 15. 58.will not be in vaine in the Lord, but that, he that shall come will come, and will not tarrie, and his Revel.reward is with him. This will cause us to bee abundant in all good workes, that so our crowne may be more glorious, and our recompence more plentifull in the day of the Lord.
Lastly, This holy desire and expectation will make us patiently to under goe all manner of sufferings of what kind soever. Which is implyed in that exhortation of the Apostle, Bee yee patient Iames 5. 8.Brethren, and settle your hearts for the comming of the Lord draweth neere. Grudge not one against another, Brethren, least yee be condemned, behold the Iudge standeth at the doore. Paul had a very heavie burden of affliction lying upon him, enough (one would thinke) to make him sinke under it; yet he professeth, that he did not faint nor grew to be dismayed thereat: but what was it that did support him? even the expectation of that glorious estate, which he should come unto at the last. Therefore (saith he) wee faint 2 Cor. 4. 14.not, knowing that he which hath raised up the Lord Iesus, shall raise us up also by Iesus. And againe, vers. 17. Our light afflictions which are but for a moment, causeth unto us a farre more excellent and eternall waight of glorie.
Seeing then in all these respects it appeares to Vse 1 be a dutie very needfull and necessarie for us, to pray for the Kingdome of glory; This serveth first of all, for the just reproofe of such as say this petition every day, Thy Kingdome come: But would they bee willing that Christ should come unto them? Oh no, They will none of that, they louelove him well, if you will beleeue them, but they care not for his company, what vile hypocrisie is this? If a woman should say, Simile. I louelove my husband, as well as any wife living:The vaine pretences of many for Christs comming to rejoyce thereat, is shewed, discovering their hypocrisie. but if one tell her of his comming home, shee cannot abide to heare of that: might not a man boldly say, surely her heart is not right towards her husband, all is not well with that woman: Or if a subject should brag that he were as loyall and true hearted to his King, as any man in the Realme, and yet could not indure to heare that his Soveraigne had wholy subdued such and Simile. such Rebels as did mutinie against him, and now was to exercise his full authoritie over all his subjects: would we not suspect such an one to be of a treacherous and disloyall affection, notwithstanding all his great words, and boasting speeches? Such is the case of all those that would faine perswade men, that Christ is their husband and their king, and that they louelove him and his honor with all their hearts: and yet are marvellous unwilling either to hauehave him to come unto them in that glorious manner, as at length he shall, putting all his enemies under his feete, and tryumphing over sinne, the world, and the devill, or that they themselues should goe unto him, before that great day of assises doe appeare, it is greatly to be feared, that they are Adulterers and Adulteresses (as Iames callethIames 4. them) and that they runne a whooring after the world, having combined themselues with Gods mortall enemie, the devill: whatsoever pretences they hauehave to the contrary. And hence it comes to passe, that they are so immoderately affraid of the pestilence, of any of the arrowes of death, whereby they are likely to be deadly wounded, and so to be dispatched out of this world: Why? what is the pestilence to a Saint of God? Is it not a messenger to call him from a base and miserable estate here, to raigne with Christ Iesus in the kingdome of heaven? If then they were the Spouse of Christ, and could say with the Bride, come Lord Iesus, they would not much care what the messenger is that doth call them to sit upon a throne in heaven.
If one should come unto any of us, and tell Simile. us, you must repaire unto the Court in all the hast you can possible, the Prince will bestow this or that great office upon you, you need not doubt it, I will shew you my commission I hauehave thus to warne you: albeit the messenger had ragged apparel on him, and dealt somwhat rudely and roughly with us, we would not much stand on that, so long as he did invite us to such promotion. Now what is the Plague unto the servants of God, but a messenger to fetch them from earth to heaven, where they shall bee advanced to farre greater dignitie then any the world affords?
Oh! But it is a terrible kind of death to die of Object. the pestilence.
Grant for the time it be so (though indeed it Answ. be not so terrible as men doe imagine) what is that in effect, but that it is a messenger not so gaylie apparelled, or not so courteous altogether Simile. as an Ague, or some like disease: so long as it calleth us to so happie a place, we should bid it welcome. And so we would doe, if we were fully perswaded of the happines of our change. Blessed (saith the holy Ghost) are those that die in Revel. 14.the Lord, &c. So that now, if you would be assured you die blessedly, the question is not, whether we die in this place or that, of this sicknesse or that, by Sea or by Land, in bed, or in the field, but all the matter is, whether wee die in the Lord? That is, in Gods favour, yea or no, which if we can be assured of, we are blessed in our end, whatsoever, and wheresoeuer it bee: for, death comes with a sting to none, but to wicked and impenitent persons.
Secondly, here is a Use of Instruction for Ʋse 2 us, That we striue with our owne hearts, to make them willing and desirous, not onelyonly that the kingdome of grace may be stablished, but that the kingdome of glory may be hastened. Now because a number doe faile of this willingnes (though some there be indeed, that herein if in any thing may be said to be sicke of louelove,) longing, to be Phil. 1. 23.dissolved, and to be with Christ, and desiring and 2 Cor. 5. 2.sighing to be clothed with their house which is from heauen: because (I say,) many and those of Gods deare children doe come short of this holy affection, It will not be amis, to shew by what meanes, we may attain to this, that if we might hauehave our hearts desire graunted, we should aboue all things wish, that there might be an end of these dayes of sinne unto all the elect, or at least unto us in particular, that we might lay downe this our earthly tabernacle, and goe unto our graues in peace:How we may get a desire of the kingdome of glories hastening
The way to attaine to this is, First to labour to denie the world with all the lusts thereof, and not to set our mindes upon profit, pleasure,1. To labor to denie the world. 1 Cor 7. 1 Iohn 2. 15. or credit: to be users of the world as if we used it not; but at no hand lovers of the same. for then, the louelove of God is not in us, and if that be not in us, how can we desire his comming unto us: Let us then striue to keepe our selves as a1 Iames 1. chaste Spouse unspoted of the world. and then we shall not be ashamed to looke our Bridegroome in the face. but shall lift up our heades with joy when the day of his appearance commeth, one that hath played the good child or servant, in his fathers, or masters absence, will Simile. be full glad, to be called to a reckoning, concerning his carriage and behaviour, where as guiltinesse causeth fearfulnesse, and cowardlinesse.
Secondly, we must striue to get some certainty, 2. To strive for some certainty of our own good estate, to hauehave a share therein.that when Christ doth come to judgement, we shall speed the better for it, that heaven is our inheritance, and that then, we shall enter into the full possession and fruition thereof: till such time as men hauehave gotten this assurance, there cannot be a greater torture unto them, to heare either of their particular, or of the generall day of judgment. Simile. It is no joyfull newes, for a prisoner, that knowes not whether he shall be spared or executed, to heare that the Assises are neere at hand, and that the Iudge is shortly to passe sentence upon him. If then we would attaine to a longing desire after the comming of Christ, let us labour to be resolved of this point, that when we leaue this world we shall change for the better, which assurance we shall hauehave if our conversation be truely religious, and our profession2 Pet. 1. beautified with the workes of pietie, merciemercy, and of upright and Christian dealing in the whole course of our liues.
Thirdly, Wee must labour to know the excellencie 3. To labor to know the excellencie of that estate.of that estate, which we shall come unto in the heavens. Otherwise, though a man hauehave the certaintie thereof, if he be not perswaded, that it is very well worth the having, he will never be much affected with the desire of it. Tell an unregenerate man (that imagineth he shall bee saved as well as the best) of the happinesse of the life to come, and it will seeme an idle and frivolous tale unto him, because he cannot conceiue of such matters: but tell him of some bootie that he may get, or of some legacie that is alreadie bequeathed unto him, and hee will bestirre himselfe at the hearing of it, yea, though you wake him out of his first steepe: he will be fresh and nimble, and not bee able to sleepe againe for joy. Why then should hee be so moved with earthly matters, and nothing at all with heavenly, because he hath a conceit of the excellencie of the one, and not of the other: for heavenly things cannot be comprehended but by the helpe of the holy Spirit, which searcheth the deepe things of God, and revealeth1 Cor. 2. them onelyonly unto his children.
Now to the intent that we may attaine to a more cleere understanding of the excellencie of the kingdome of heaven, let us a little considerThe excellencie of heaven is diversly shewed. wherein it consists. Not onelyonly;
1. In a perfect freedome from all evill. But also
2. In the enjoyment of all manner of good.
And that;
1. In regard of the place.
2. Of the companie.
3. Of the estate of the elect then.
First, For the place whereunto they shall goe. It1. In regard of the place. is full of all manner of contentment, as farre beyond that Paradise wherein Adam lived in the time of his innocencie (though at were very excellent) as that was beyond the most lothsome dungeon that is; and this must needs be a very rare place, because it is a Citie of Gods owne Hebr.building, and that for the entertaining of his best creatures, when they are in their most glorious estate. Therefore is it shadowed out for our capacitie, by the things that with men are had in greatest estimation: that thereby, as it were by staires, we might come to the veiw of this glorious place, I meane the new Ierusalem. The particulars whereof we may see in Revel. 21. 22. Chapters, some of which we will briefly touch.
It is there compared to a great Citie, which is Compared to a great Citie. Revel. 21. 11.sayd to bee scituated upon an high Hill, noting thereby, the excellent scituation thereof, both in respect of the pleasantnesse, as also of the12. &c. strength of it. Then further it is described.
1. By the essentiall parts thereof.
2. By the properties and qualities.
3. By the priviledges and good things belonging unto it.
The essentiall parts of it are the walles, the1. The essentiall parts of the new Ierusalem. Gates, the streetes, the foundations of the Citie, and of the walles, which are set forth by the matter and forme. The matter is said to be gold, precious stones, &c. to wit, the most precious things that can be. The forme, that they are the most glittering, beautifull, shining, Christall-like, and lastly, in most excellent order.
Having spoken of the Citie, and of the particularVers. 2 2. parts of it, he comes to speake of the priviledges thereof, that they that dwell there shall need no Temple, that is no meanes of instruction, nor any Sunne, nor Moone, because the glorie of God doth lighten that Citie. Furthermore, it is said, that there is no night there, and that the Gates are not shut: to signifie, that there should be no feare of danger, no, nor terror of enemies, but all peace. And lastly, that no uncleane thing should enter into it.
Againe Chap. 22. it is said to hauehave a pure River of water of life, cleere as Chrystall running through it (which is an excellent commoditie in a Citie,) and in the midst of the streete thereof the tree of life, &c. By all these intimating unto us, that it is a most singular and excellent place, and this is to be noted, that nothing is said of the houses, nor the things within them, because nothingWhy no mention is made of houses in the new Ierusalem. could serue fitly to illustrate the excellencie thereof. Now, who would not desire to liue in such a place? where there is nothing for annoyance, but all things that may be for comfort and contentment.
If it were proposed unto us, whether wee would spend our dayes on the earth where now we are, or in Paradise where Adam was? If we were in our right wits, we should make choice of heaven before Paradise, (which was a place of all manner of delights) in the earth: which is a vaile of misery, and an house of mourning, wherein all creatures doe sigh and groane in regard of the miseries which sinne hath brought upon them: much more then should we preferre the pallace of heaven, before our prison here upon earth; seeing that (as was before said) it doth infinitely surmount the earthly Paradise. Thus much of the excellencie of the place.
Secondly, as touching the company: It is every2 The company way sutable unto the place, for there wee shall enjoyfull communion and fellowship with the holy Trinitie, with our blessed Saviour, and with all the holy Angels and Saints, even with the whole companie of heaven, all which shall louelove us most dearely, and to the full expresse that louelove towards us. Here though wee hauehave some good friends, yet we hauehave withall many foes, many bad neighbours, the flesh, and the devill the worst of all: as some doe louelove us, so others doe hate us, and those that louelove us best, hauehave their imperfections, and doe louelove us but in part: and in deed we doe desire their louelove but onelyonly in part. Hence it commeth to passe, that there ariseth unkindnesses and breaches now and then betwixt the nearest friends, and most loving couples: But in heaven there shall be no such thing, but we shall louelove others, and they shall louelove us with a perfect and constant louelove, for their shalbe in us nothing but cause of louelove, grace, goodnesse, vertue and holinesse in all perfection,
All men will graunt, that it is a very desireable thing, to live among company that one can thorowly affect, and it is one speciall comfort that Gods children doe find in their pilgrimage: that some times they enjoy the sweet fellowship of such as are led by the same spirit that they are. O then how desireable a place is Heaven, where we shall hauehave the fruition of such blessed company, where we shall both louelove, and be beloved beyond that which we can now imagine. If one should there meete with a delightfull place onelyonly, and no company, or such as he could not like of; Heaven were nothing so desireable, but seeing both doe accord and meet together, it should set an edge upon our affections, and breed in us a longing desire to be there, especially sith that.3 Our estate there.
In the third place, our estate there shall be every way answerable to our place, and company.1 Our inheritance.
For first, touching our Inheritance, it shall be very large, it is our fathers pleasure to giuegive us a Luke 12.kingdome: And to make us Heires, yea, fellowheires with his owne Sonne. VponUpon the earth,Rom. 8. 17. Gods dearest servants are many times scanted of possessions, and those that they hauehave, are but earthly, soone fading and vanishing: but in heaven they shall hauehave an everlasting Kingdome.1 Pet. 1. 4. An inheritance Immortall, and undefiled, that fadeth not. &c.
Then for our persons, they shall be most happy,2. Our persons. and that both within, and without, they shall hauehave perfect holinesse, (whereof they hauehave but as it were a sparkle in this life) No uncleane thing shall enter into that Citie. But all sinne shalbe quite and cleane purged away, and we shalbe as free from corruption, as Adam before his fall. And as the elect Angels, that are ever in Gods presence. All the meanes that here we use, can but weaken our originall corruption; but death will make a finall dispatch of it, and when we are rid of it, we shalbe clothed with holinesse in stead of it, our minds shall1. Shall be deckt with all heavenly knowledge. be furnished with all manner of heavenly knowledge so that there we shall hauehave no need of a Temple, (as was noted before) that is, of any meanes of our salvation, as reading, preaching, or the like: for the meanest christian shall hauehave more cleare knowledge, as soone as ever he comes to heaven, then ever any prophet or Apostle had here upon the earth: for here, the best that are, see through a glasse darkly, but then we shall see face to face: here we knowe in part, (as it is saide)1 Cor. 13. 12. but there we shall know even as wee are knowne, that is, as God knowes us perfectly, so wee shall know him, and all things that any way pertaine to the filling up of our happinesse.
And as our mindes shall bee fully informed, so 2. We shall hauehave abundance of joy.shall our hearts be accordingly sanctified, and all our affections duely ordered. Hence will arise unspeakable and endlesse joy, for there shall be nothing to diminish it, much lesse to breake it off. All teares shall bee wiped away from our eyes. Revel.And all occasions of sorrow quite removed: forPsal. 16. 11. In Gods presence is the fulnesse of joy, and at his right hand are pleasures for evermore. Now from this inward comfort, we shall be stirred up to praise and magnifie the Lord, and that without wearinesse even as the Angels doe. And if Gods servants doe in this world find unutterable consolations, now and then in singing of Psalmes, and offering up their thankesgivings unto the Lord, much more, (yea infinitely more) shall be their joy in the kingdome of heaven, when they performe this service unto the Lord.
Adde hereunto the glorie which we shall bee3. Glorie. crowned with, which is the same wherewith Christ Iesus himselfe is invested: as appeareth, Iohn the 17. 22. Now if the very sight of the glory of Christ, of Moses, and of Elias upon the Mount, did so affect Peter as that he could say, Master it is good for us to bee here: much moreLuk. 9. 33. will the seeing and enjoying of farre greater glory in the heavens, cause us in the gladnesse of our hearts to say, It is good being here.
Now besides this glorie which shall be inherent in us, Wee shall also hauehave the glorie of all our good thoughts, words, and workes, as appeares Math. 25. 35. Wee see how worldlings doe hunt after praise here, though it be among mortall and sinfull men, which know not (indeed)1 Cor. 4. 5. what true praise means, how much more should we be affected with that praise which God the righteous Iudge shall giuegive unto us, and that in the presence of men and Angels, who shall bee everlasting witnesses of the same.
Thus we hauehave in part seene what is the excellencie of the kingdome of heaven, this let us often and seriously meditate upon, and bethinke our selues of the place, of the company, and of the estate that there we shall enjoy; which if we can doe, assuredly it will cause us from our very soules to say, Thy Kingdome come, Even so come Lord Iesus, come quickly. Thus much concerning the second Petition. The third followeth.
Thy will bee done in earth, as it is in heaven.
IN the former Petition, we hauehave beene taught3. Petition. to pray both for the gracious, and glorious kingdome of Iesus Christ. Now in this Petition is shewed, how wee may manifest our selues to bee Subjects of this heavenly kingdome here, and how wee may be fitted for his glorious presence hereafter viz. By doing his will, &c. And therefore are wee commanded to pray, Thy will bee done.
But for the better understanding of this Petition, we must know that the will of God is twofold: One absolute, and the other secret, which we pray not for; for that ever hath beene, is, and shall be done: in which sence it is said, Who hath Rom. 9. 19.resisted his will? The Lord is in heaven, and doth Psal. 135. 6.whatsoever hee will: so that it were an idle request to pray that that will of his might bee done.
Another is his revealed will, which is alsoWhat is ment by Gods will. double, (as after shall be shewed,) unto which we desire that obedience and submission may be yeelded; Thy will be done: but where, and by whom? in earth, that is, of the Elect which liue on earth. But what must be the manner of this obedience? as it is in heaven, that is, as the Angels and the spirits of good and perfect men doe obey in heaven: so must we desire to doe, not that we can attaine to that perfection that is in them, which is impossible, (they being now without staine or blot) but we must ayme at it, and obey in that sort as they doe, as neere as we can, as in handling of these words shall be more fully expressed.
Thus much briefly for the sense of the words. Now let us see what further instructions are there contained for our learning.