Exposition of the Lords Prayer, Treatise · Part 9
Thy will bee done.
Hence this observation may briefly be noted.
That,
All men are naturally unwilling to doe the Observat. 8 That obedience to Gods will is against our nature.will of God.
Otherwise, if there had beene in us any abilitie and aptnesse therunto, why should we pray for strength to doe it? Whatsoever we are bid to aske of God, sure it is, we hauehave it not in and of our selues, and therefore our Saviour in willing us to intreat God to bow our hearts, and to incline our affections unto his will, doth teach us, that we are utterly destitute of all naturall power whereby wee might attaine thereunto. Hence it is that Christ saith, None can come to me Iohn 6. 44.(either in faith or obedience) except the Father that sent mee draw him, &c. The Lord must by his good spirit winne our will and affections before there can be any sound conversion: yea after that the worke of regeneration is begunne, and men hauehave attained to some competent measure of grace, yet the flesh, which is in part unsubdued, so long as their breath is in their bodies, will still be rebelling and drawing backe, so that they shall hauehave much adoe to go through with these good duties that are enjoyned them to performe, and to forbeare those ill courses which they are forbidden to walke in. They cannot Rom. 7. 19.doe the good that they would, but the evill that they would not, that doe they. Hence it is that the Psalmist prayeth, Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, Psal. 119. 36.and not unto covetousnesse: implying thereby, that he had not the command of …s owne heart and affections, but that he stood in need of the Lords helpe, both to with-draw him from evill, and to draw him unto that which was good. Reason 1
Now the reason why all the sonnes of Adam, are by nature unwilling and indeed unable toRom. 7. 8. doe as God would hauehave him, is this, that in them there dwelleth no good thing, but all the imaginations of the thoughts of their hearts are evill, yea, Gen. 6. 3. 5.onelyonly evill, and that not by passions and fits, but continually. Whence it is, that the Apostle speaking of naturall reason, which is the most excellent part in man, saith thereof, That the wisedome Rom. 8. 7.of the flesh is enmitie against God, why? because it is not subject to the will of God, but may it not by usage and ordering be brought to some better passe? no (saith he) It is not subject to the will of God, neither indeed can bee: now reason, which is the best facultie of the soule, and hath (as a Captaine generall) the command of all the rest, if that (I say) be so corrupt, surely all the rest must needs be out of order. If that be objecting and mutining against the law of our heavenly King, and all the other powers of the soule, will be readie as ill souldiers, to stand up in rebellion against their Soveraigne.
Which serveth first of all, for the overthrow Vse 1 of that wretched and ungodly opinion of the Papists who hold, that there is in men naturally some freedome of will, to repent for their sinnes, to serue God, and to doe good and holy duties. …t why then doe they make this petition, Thy will be done? If they hauehave abilitie in themselues what need they aske it of the Lord? But herein, (as in all other their erroneous opinions) they shew themselues to be blind, foolish, and altogether destitute of the knowledge of Gods law, and of the corruption of their owne nature. Paul was of their mind, so long as he was a proud Pharisee, but when once the Lord had opened his eyes, and touched his heart with the sight and sense of his originall corruptions, then he was of another mind, he found in himselfe no abilitie to doe that which was good, butRom. 7. 18. though he knew the will of God, and did consent unto it (through his grace) in the inner man, yet hee saw another law in his members, rebelling against the law of his mind, and leading Verse 23. 24.him captiue unto the law of sinne, which was in his members, which makes him cry out, O wretched man that I am, &c. And certainely, if they knew the violence of their nature, as throughly as he did, it would make them leaue off their bragging and boasting, and fall to lamenting, and praying with the Church, Lord draw us, and wee will Cant. 1. 3.runne after thee, Lord turne us and wee will turne unto thee. For otherwise, all the teaching and preaching, and good examples, blessings, crosses, and whatsoever good meanes else, the Lord hath appointed for the converting of men, all of them (I say) can doe them no good in the world, but they will rather be made worse, then better thereby. It must be the Lords owne hand that must strike the stroake, otherwise all his ordinances will proue uneffectuall.
Secondly, seeing there is such a contrarietie Ʋse. 2 betwixt our will and Gods will, Wee should labor to denie our carnall reason, and worldly lusts, which 1 Pet. 2. 11.fight against our soules, and are our sorest enemies: For though the devill doe much maligne us, yet could he not doe us any hurt at all, unlesse our owne sinfull will and affections doe take part with him: but when we come to this, I must, and I will doe such and such things, and why? It is my pleasure, it is my delight, then we run headlong to all manner of evill, even as our great grandmother Eue did, when she began to yeeld to her own sense and wisdome, in judging of the eating, or not eating of the forbidden fruit, when she came so farre, the devill had as much as he desired. Would we then from our hearts pray, Thy will be done? Then let us crosse and curbe the motions and affections of flesh and bloud, and not be over-mastered, nor over-swayed by the same, otherwise, wee make this petition but onelyonly in hypocrisie.
Thirdly, This maketh for the consolation of Gods Ʋse 3 owne people, though they find in themselves a great unwillingnesse to keepe the Sabbath, to pray, to sing psalmes, to giuegive admonition, &c. Albeit I (say) their flesh be very backward, and untoward, so that they come unto the servicesComfort for a generall disease. of God, as a Beare unto the stake: yet let them not be dismayed, as if their case were extraordinarie: for this is an hereditarie disease, that all Gods elect are troubled with. Indeed when they come to heaven, to enjoy that blessed estate, before spoken of, they shall obey Gods will absolutely, and perfectly, without any mixture of naturall corruption: but while they remain upon the face of the earth, they shall find that they hauehave great need to make this petition Thy wil be done; That is, Lord incline my heart to obedience, and frame it in all things, to be subject to thy blessed will, let me not follow the wicked lusts of mine owne flesh, but the good directions of thy holy word. Let us make full account, that while we carry about us these fraile Tabernacles, we shall find in us, much unwillingnesse unto every thing that is good, and great aptnes and pronenes unto everything that is evill. And if (with the Apostle Paul,) we canRom. 7. 8. see and acknowledg, and bewaile this corruption in our selves, and withall, striue to crucifie the same, let us esteeme it a great merciemercy of God; for no unregenerate man can goe so farre.
And furthermore let us be assured, that though we hauehave in us many lusts and passions, yet that God, that hath enabled us, to see them and to hate them, will also enable us in the end, to subdue and overcom them. If we mortifie the deeds of the flesh by the spirit, we shall liue. InRom. 8. 13. which regard, the Apostle Paul professeth, that hee did beat downe his body, (to wit) the body of sinne that was in him, where the word1 Cor. 9. 29. that he useth, doth signifie to beat downe with a club: and is borrowed from those, that used then to try masteries, who laid load on one another, as hard as they could, knowing that if they did not strike, they should be stricken, and therefore they fastened their blowes as sure as might be.
In the like sort, did the Apostle deale with his corruptions, he did his good will to worke the death of them, knowing that if he did not kill them, they would slay him; And the refore he did not as cowardly fencers, that onelyonly beat the ayre, and dare not come nere one another: but he strucke home, and did his good will, utterly to destroy sinne, that so it might not destroy him. Whose example if we can follow though we feele much deadnesse, and backwardnesse in well doing, we need not be discouraged thereat: for if that should not hauehave beene in Gods children, our Saviour would never hauehave bidden them make this petition. And as for those that say, they are alwaies very willing unto Gods service, to pray, to heare, to meditate, and the like, indeed they doe not know their owne hearts. For whosoever knowes him selfe, shall be driven to confesse, That when hee Rom. 7.would doe good, evill is present with him, so that the good which he would doe, that he cannot doe.
Now more particularly; The revealed will ofThat Gods revealed will is two-fold. God is twofold.
1. That which he hath revealed in his word.
2. That which hee hath revealed by his providence.
Touching the former of these it may afford us this observation. That,
All Christ his subjects must obey his will, as Observat. 9. That Christs subjects must obey his lawes.it is laid open in his word.
If we would not be esteemed hypocrites, and rebels against the Lord of heaven, we must yeeld up our selues to be advised and guided by him, and by his testimonies. We need not stand to proue the point, the whole Scripture and experience of all yeeld to it. Now the reasons to moue us hereunto are these.
First, because every word of God is holy, just, Reas. 1 Rom. 7. 12. Prov. 30. 5.and pure, even as gold that is tryed in the fire. There is never a Commandement of God but it is holy: never a promise but it is faithfull: never a threatning but it is true. And therefore we hauehave reason to yeeld to them, rather then to the unholy, unjust lawes of sinne and Sathan.
Secondly, In regard of our owne good: If wee heare his word and keepe it we shall be blessed: blessed in our bodies, blessed in our goods, blessed in our names, blessed in our seede, and in a word every way blessed, both at home, and abroad, Deut. 28. And when the word of God is a light unto our feete, and our steppes directed thereby, Gods Angels shall minister unto us, and Heb. 1. Psal. 91.keepe us in all our wayes, so that no evill shall befall us And as for temporall commodities, so also for spirituall comforts: we shall enjoy them abundantly, for if we keepe the word of God inIohn 14. 2. …. our understandings, and in our memories, in our hearts, and in our practices, we shall bee loved of the Father: Not, but that hee loved us, even when we were his enemies, yea from eternitie: But then, he will manifest his louelove unto us, and we shall finde by evident experience and by sound effects in our soules, that he doth carrie a fatherly affection towards us.
And further, it is added in that place by our Saviour, And I will louelove him: but how will he manifest this louelove? I will shew my selfe unto him (saith he) to wit, in his holy word, and in his blessed Sacraments, &c. We shall be better able to see what Christ hath done and suffered for us, and shall every day more and more find the comfort and benefit thereof. And againe vers. 23. he sayth, that his Father and hee will come unto him, and dwell with him that keepeth his word. So that there shall be a blessed communion betwixt the Lord and all such persons: Hee will take up his abode in their hearts, and fill them full of all holinesse and peace, and joy such as none can conceiue but those that feele it, and at length when they hauehave finished the dayes ofIames 1. 21. Isaiah 55. 3. Psal. 84. 13. their pilgrimage, he will saue their soules, and receiue them unto himselfe in glorie.
Many other are the benefits of obeying Gods sacred will, which we may read of Psalme 119. and in sundry other places of Scripture, which for brevitie sake I doe purposely passe over, that we may come unto the use of the point: Which maketh;
First, for the reproofe of all ignorant persons, Vse 1 which are so farre from doing the will of God, that they doe not so much as know it; that are so farre from obeying their master, that they are utterly unacquainted with his pleasure; especially, they are to be sharpely rebuked, that doe please themselues in their ignorance, and doe despise the knowledge of holy things: and therfore when the will of God is delivered unto them, they are sleeping all the while, or minding other matters then those that are in hand: they can bee nimble and liuely enough about earthly things, but altogether sluggish and drowsie when they should attend and marke heavenly things. These mens cases are very lamentable and fearefull, neither can they pray Thy will bee done, in any truth of heart, because they neither doe know it, not will know it. An earthly King would esteeme such little better then rebels, that should deale so with his lawes: And certainely, the Lord will not judge them to be good subjects unto his Majestie, that deale so contemptuously with his holy statutes and divine precepts.
Againe, here come another sort to be reproved, Ʋse. 2 Who know their masters will, but doe it not: that understand what is their dutie, and can talkeLuke 12. 47. as well as the best but practice little or nothing: there is no alteration in their hearts, nor reformation in their liues: with which kind of men the Lord expostulateth the matter in this wise:Psal 50. 16. 17. What hast thou to doe to declare mine ordinances, that thou shouldest take my Covenant within thy mouth, seeing thou hatest to bee reformed, and hast cast my words behind thee? For when thou seest a Theefe, thou runnest with him, and thou art partaker with the adulterers. The Lord cannot indure such as will pretend religion in words, but denie the same in their liues: and therefore will he not onelyonly rebuke them, but also set their sinnes in order before them, for their terror and amazement: If they doe not repent, he will teare them in peeces, and there shall be none to deliver them: as it is in the Psalme aboue quoted: he will say to them at the last day, Depart from mee you workers Mat. 7. 23.of iniquitie, and then they shall bee beaten with many stripes, because they knew their masters Luke 12. 47.will and did it not.
Lastly, let this serue for an instruction unto Ʋse 3 us, that we every day get more understanding, and ioyne practice with our knowledge, adding 2 Pet. 1. 5.unto our faith, vertue, temperance, patience, Godlinesse, brotherly kindnesse, and louelove, as the Apostle Peter exhorteth, which if we doe, these benefits will come unto us thereby.
First, that being faithfull stewards in a little, Benefits arising from the practise of Gods will.the Lord will trust us with a great deale more: for, To him that hath, it shall be given, and he shall 1. Math. 25. 29.hauehave abundance, he that makes a good and profitable use of small knowledge, he shall hauehave the secrets of God more fully revealed unto him, he that will doe his will shall know it, that it is hisIohn 7. 17. will by the worke done.
Secondly, Hee that heares the word and doth it shall be sure to hold out constantly, whatsoeverLuke 6. 48. stormes and temptations doe arise, he shall be like an house built upon a rocke.
Thirdly and lastly, to conclude many things in one, such shall be sure of all manner of happinesse, according to that of our Saviour, If yee know these things blessed are yee if yee doe them. Iohn 13. 17.Many Papists and ignorant persons doe good things, but they are never a whit the more happie, because they know not that they are good, and therefore doe them not in obedience, others hauehave great store of knowledge, but it puffes them up, and makes them more sinfull, and so more miserable, onelyonly they that know and doe, shall be happie while they liue, and blessed when they die, as was in part shewed before. Thus much concerning Gods will revealed in his word.
Now there is another will of God, which is2. The will of God revealed by his providence. revealed by his providence, and that is concerning crosses and afflictions which either are upon us, or likely to befall us: Now,
As we must pray for obedience unto that which Observa. 10 Patience requisite.he saith, so must wee also for patience in that which he doth.
That we may quietly and gently submit our selues under his strokes, corrections, and chastisements. This point may be confirmed by sundry reasons, and that both;
1. In regard of God himselfe.
2. Of the afflictions we suffer.
3. Of our selues that undergoe them.
First, In regard of the Lord, that layeth his correcting Reason 1 hand upon us, we ought with all humilitie to subject our selues, for he is a just God and doth us no wrong at all: a wise God, and seeth what crosses are fittest for us: a mercifull God, that will not suffer us to be pressed downe too low, but in judgement will remember merciemercy: and lastly,Hosea. a mighty God, that can lay upon us as heavie burdens as he pleaseth: and therefore the longer we stand out with him, the worse is it likely to goe with us: for when he sets in with us, he will never leaue us till he hath either broken our hearts or broken our backes. And therefore when men come to this, that they cannot put up Sathans injurie or indignitie, that they will not undergoe such a crosse and such a miserie, then they take the right way to cause the Lord to heape more afflictions upon them, till they be either converted or confounded.
Let us therefore in all kindes of distresses labourA necessarie resolution for Christians. Amos 3. 6. to come to this resolution: that there is no euill in the Citie but the Lord doth it. That not one haire of our heades can perish without him:Math. 10. 30. that there is no losse can befall us in our estate, in sicknesse in our bodies; no affliction in our children, no blemish in our names, but our God hath a speciall hand therein; yea a just, a wise, a mercifull, and a powerfull hand, and that therfore there is good cause why we should with patience bow before him, and yeeld unto him, and conclude with the man of God, It is my affliction Ierem.and I will beare it, yea, albeit our crosse bee very grievous and extraordinary, yet must we submit our wills unto Gods hand, even as our Saviour did, when hee was to indure a most shamefull and painefull death, Not my will, but Math. 26. 42thine be done, (saith he) and when Peter layd about him with his sword, to hauehave rescued himLuke 22. 42. from them that came to apprehend him, hee rebuked him saying, Put up thy sword into thy Iohn 18. 11.sheath, shall I not drinke of the cup which my Father hath given mee? This was a sufficient argument to arme him against all inward terrors, and outward sufferings, that whatsoever befell him, was nothing else but a cup of his Fathers owne mixing. So when Eli heard of fearefull judgements that should fall upon him and his house, he pacifieth his heart with this, It is the 1 Sam. 3.Lord, let him doe what seemeth him good. And lastly, good King Hezekiah, hearing that his seed should be carried away captiue, and all that he had be translated unto Babell, he frames his heart unto patience with this meditation, The 2 King. That it is a great sinne not to joyne our will to Gods will.word of the Lord is good. When God thought it best, Hezekiah thought it best likewise.
And it is a shamefull thing, and a fearefull sin, for any one to thinke otherwise, and for a creature to imagine his will to bee better then his Creators; as every man doth that shewes himselfe discontented at that which it pleaseth the Lord to inflict upon him. And thus much touching the first reason taken from God himselfe.
A second motiue to induce us to patience, Reas. 2 may be taken from the afflictions which doe lie upon us, and that in divers respects, viz.
First, because If we be the elect of God we shall 1 They are in measure. Isa. 27. 8.be corrected in measure and in moderation, not according to the desert of our sinnes, but according to the proportion of our strength. The Lord will deale with us in that case, as wise earthly Parents use to doe with their children, who will not lay so waightie a burthen upon those that are young and weake, as on those that are of riper yeares and of greater strength.1 Cor. 10. 13. God is faithfull and will not suffer us to bee tempted aboue that we are able, but will giuegive hisPsal. 86. strength unto his servants, that we may be able to beare all whatsoever he imposeth upon us. And therefore we need not to be dismayed under afflictions, seeing that we hauehave so sure a promise to be supported therein, and that the Lord will not inflict so much on us as our iniquities deserue, but as our need requires and as our strength can beare.
Secondly, our sufferings here, are but momentary, 2 They are momentarie. 2 Cor. 7. 14.and therefore we should quietly submit our selves under them, as the Apostle Paul did under his. Indeed, we do many times thinke them to bee very long; but what is the reason thereof: because we consider of them in a carnall manner, not loking (as Paul did) on the things that are not seene, but on the things which Vers. 18.are seene for if we did compare our temporary affliction with the eternall joyes of the kingdome of heaven, they would seeme to be of no continuance in comparison thereof.
Thirdly, we should patiently beare those3. They are for our good. corrections, that the Lord inflicteth upon us In regard of the benefit of them, viz. that they tend greatly to our profit, that our iniquitie may Heb. 12. 10.be thorowly purged, and that our holines may be increased. Thus we see in regard of the nature Isaiah 27. 9.quality, and profitablenesse of the crosses, that God exerciseth his children withall, that there is great reason that they should say, Thy will be 4. In regard our sufferings are under our deservings.done. Lastly, In regard of our selves there is just cause, that we should meekly and quietly, submit under his hand: because when we thinke our case to be most distressed, we suffer nothing so much as we hauehave deserved, or as many others of Gods deere servants hauehave endured, who hauehave yet done nothing so much hurt and mischeefe by their sinnes as we hauehave. And in truth the reasonA true reason of much impatience under crosses. why many are so impatient under crosses, is this, that they hauehave not their full load as yet laid on them: that they hauehave had so much affliction, as hath wakened their pride, but not so much as hath mastered the same: for if they were paid home, in any proportion, as they do deserue, they would be tame enough (through Gods grace) and lay their hands upon their mouthes, as Iob did, judging those afflictionsIob. that now they undergoe, to be matters of nothing, and acknowledging with the people of God, that, It is his merciemercy that they are not consumed.Lam. 3.
Againe, as in regard of our deserts, so in regard of our need, we should be patient in all manner of afflictions, for having so corrupt a nature as we hauehave, what should we doe unlesse we had some meanes to curbe us? we are naturally like wild asses coltes, (as it is said in Iob,) altogetherIob 11. untractable, unteachable and unseruiceable, till the Lord hauehave broken our hearts, and taken downe the pride and stubbornesse of our flesh, and framed us unto some dutifulnesse, and obedience. And even after this is done, if we duly looke into our hearts, shall we not find that we stand in great need of continuall taming? If one disdain us, or scoffe and jest at us, shall we not quickly find a great deale of pride boyling within us? shall wee not requite like for like, taunt for taunt, scoffe for scoffe? if it be thus with us, assuredly wee need all the corrections that lie upon us: and when we feele this swelling about our hearts, it is high time that a veine should be opened, that our corrupt bloud shoud be let out.
Seeing then that there is such great cause why Ʋse 1 we should submit ourselues to Gods will, in all manner of tribulations; This serveth for the just reproofe of such as are very unquiet under their crosses, and make far greater adoe about their afflictions, then about the sinne that bring their afflictions, whereas the readiest way to be freed from miseries, either alreadie lying uponThe way to be rid of afflictions. them or likely to come upon them, were this. First of all, to purge their hearts, and their hands from all manner of iniquities by sound and hearty repentance, and then to prepare and arme themselues with patience to take up their crosse, and with contentednesse to beare the same so long as it pleaseth God to continue it upon them. Not but men may use lawfull and good meanes for the preventing and avoyding of needlesse and unnecessarie dangers, or for the removing of such evils as hauehave already befallen them: but the meaning is, that they should not vexe and fret when they perceiue by good effect that it is the will of the Lord, that they should be thus or thus exercised and tryed.
A worthy example hereof wee hauehave in Abraham, the Lord commanded him to sacrifice his owne Sonne for a burnt offering, to kill him, to cut him in peeces, to pull out his entralls (forLevit. 1. 6. this was the manner of the burnt offering) to burne all upon the Altar: and this he was to doe with his owne hands, unto him that was not his sonne alone, but his onelyonly sonne, his obedient and beloved sonne; the sonne of the promise, for whom hee had so long waited and prayed: yea, that sonne of whom Christ Iesus should come: so that in killing him he might seeme not onelyonly unnaturall, but monstrously wicked, in that thereby he should depriue not himselfe alone, but all the elect of eternall salvation. Yet notwithstanding, as soone as ever he knew that it was Gods will that he should doe it, hee consulted not with flesh and bloud, but presently set upon the performance of it: Rose up Gen. 22. 2.earely in the morning, made every thing readie that might serue for such a businesse, went unto the place which the Lord appointed, not acquainting wife, or servants, or any body else with his purpose, least they should hauehave gone about to hinder him: and when he was come unto the place, He built an Altar, couched the wood, bound Isaak his sonne, layd him on the Altar upon the wood, and stretched out his hand, and tooke the knife to hauehave killed him. Doubtlesse it went very neere his heart, not to see onelyonly, but to be also the death of his owne Sonne: Yet, he quietly submitted himselfe unto his good pleasure, as knowing that he should get nothing by wrangling with God, which willing and readie submission of his the Lord did so accept, that he sweares by himselfe that hee would greatly blesse him, and exceedingly multiplie his seed &c. And that therein all the Nations of the earth should be blessed.
The like we may obserue in David when that Absolon rebelled against him, and with-drew most of his subjects from him, and caused him to flee for his life. He never chaffed at the matter as many a one would hauehave done, nor useth any termes arguing discontentment, such as these; Who was ever so wronged, who ever so abused as I? What, to be deposed from my throne, and driven from my kingdome by mine owne Sonne, by Absolon, whom I from a child so dearely respected whom having deserved to die, I freely pardoned, and greatly favoured? This is a most intolerable injurie, and such an indignitie as I will never indure, &c. We heare no such words from David, but rather contrarie, If the Lord say 2 Sam.thus, I hauehave no delight in thee, behold here I am, let him doe as seemeth good in his eyes: and if he will not restore me the Kingdome againe, His will bee done, I am well contentto part with it. So should we conclude for all manner of crosses, and in particular for the pestilence, where with our Townes are now visited; If it bee the Lords will that I shall fall by that stroake, Blessed be his name. Though it be not an ordinarie doore, yet a doore it is through which many of the Saints hauehave gone to their rest, and through which I hope to come unto the like: If it be the Lords good pleasure to call me that way: which chearefull resolution if we can attaine, Then;
Secondly, here is matter of singular consolation Ʋse 2 for vsus, in that God hath given vsus an answer to this petition, which wee hauehave often made: Thy will be done, for it is not a matter of nature, or of wit, to be able to submit vntounto Gods will, but indeede a worke of supernaturall, and speciall grace of the Holy Ghost, vouchsafed only vntounto the elect.
And indeed this argueth that there is much heavenly wisedome in vsus, according to that of the Apostle Iames, where exhorting men to patience, (hee saith) If any want wisedome, let Iames 1.him aske it, &c. implying thereby, that when we grow impatient in any distresse, it is not by reason of the greatnesse or multitude of our crosses, but by reason of our want of spirituall wisedome: for if we could consider (as was shewed before) whence, and why our afflictions come, and what effects they shall hauehave in us, we should be able to undergoe any miseries, and be well content as dutifull children, to be wholy at the disposing of our most loving and mercifull father.