A Godly and Learned Treatise of Prayer, Analyses · Analysis of a petition 1
The division of the Petitions.
HItherto we have spoken of the preface. Now we are to proceed unto the petitions: Which are in number six; but yet in respect of the objects they may be distinguished into two sorts: For either they concern more properly and immediately the glory of God, without respect of our own profit; or else our own good, and mediately the glory of God. For in the three former we say, Thy name, Thy kingdome, Thy will; in the three latter, us and our, &c. Those that concern Gods glory are indeed most profitable for us; for with his own glory he joyneth the good and salvation of the elect: For if we glorifie the name of God, he will glorifie us: if we be subjects of the kingdome of grace, we shall be inheriters of the kingdome of glory: if we do the will of God upon earth, we shall enter into the kingdome of heaven. But in propounding these petitions we are not to respect our own profit but the glory of God. Those which immediately concern our own good must also mediately respect the glory of God, whereunto if our good be not referred it is not good.
Those which immediately concern the gloryThe order. of God are set down in the first place. By which order our Saviour Christ teacheth us to preferre Gods glory before our own good, yea (if they should come in comparison) before our own salvation, Exod. 32. 32. because Gods glory is the end, and therefore better then those things which are referred thereunto. For which cause not onelyonly in order of petitions but also in the measure of our affections the glory of God must be preferred before our own good: Ideóque in tribus primis petitionibus oratio foreign est, cùm posteriores conjunctionibus colligantur, And therefore in the three first petitions there is no copulative, when as the three latter are tied together with conjunctions.
In the three first petitions we desire either the glory of God it self as the end, or else the means whereby his glory is procured: the end in the first petition; the means in the other two. For then is God glorified when his kingdome is advanced and his will fulfilled.
This order teacheth us that the main end of all our desires and actions should be the glory of God.
I. Petition.
FIrst, of the first petition: Wherein we are to learn the meaning of the words, and then to consider the uses which arise from thence. foreign,What is signified by Gods name. Hallowed be thy name. The name of God signifieth both God himself, and his attributes, which …re himself, and also that whereby he is named. In the former sense the word name is often used to signifie the persons named: as Acts 1. 15. and 4. 12. Revel. 3. 4. and 11. 13. So the name of God is put for God himself, Joel 2. 23. Deut. 28. 58. Hereupon the Hebrews use to say, foreign, that is, His name is himself, and he is his name. And hereunto belong those places in which the name of God signifieth his attributes, which are nothing but himself: For the justice of God is the just God, the wisdome of God is the wise God; the mercy of God is the mercifull God, &c. And these also are the name of God, as appeareth Exod. 33. 19. and 34. 5, 6, 7. For this is the name which he proclaimeth, The Lord, the Lord, strong, mercifull, and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in goodnesse and truth, &c.
Secondly, the name of God signifieth that whereby God is named; whereby he is either renowned or known. The name of renown is his glory, which is (as it were) his good name: For so in great persons their good name is their glory and renown; and therefore they are said in the Scriptures to be men of name, Gen. 6. 4. In this sense the word name is used Gen. 11. 4. That we may get us a name: Gen. 12. 2. I will make thy name great: Jer. 13. 11. name, praise, and glory, Deut. 26. 19. The name of God therefore signifieth that whereby he is renowned and acknowledged to be glorious, that is, his glory: So Exod. 9. 16. Psal. 8. 1.
Again, the name of God signifieth that whereby he is known; to wit, not onelyonly his Titles, which more properly are called his name, and by which he is known, but also the Means whereby he is known. The titles are the names of the Godhead, of the attributes, and of the Persons. Of the Godhead; as Jehovah, Lord, God, &c. Exod. 3. 15. This is my name: Exod. 6. 3. Psal. 83. 18. Attributes, as Wisdome, Mercy, Justice, Majesty, &c. Persons, as Father, Christ, Jesus, Saviour, holy Ghost, &c.
The means whereby God is known are either peculiar to the Church, or common unto all. Of the first sort are his word and religion therein prescribed. The word of God is called his name, as Acts 9. 15. to carry my name, &c. and 21. 13. 1. Tim. 6. 1. with Tit. 2. 5. Rom. 2. 24. Psal. 22. 22. Heb. 2. 12. So is the doctrine of religion and worship of God, Mich. 4. 5. We will walk in the name of our God. 1. Kings 5. 3, 5. to build a house unto the name of God. The common means are the works of God: The works of Creation, Psal. 19. 1. Rom. 1. 19, 20. In respect whereof he is called the Creatour of heaven and earth. As also of Administration, as his blessings and judgements. In respect whereof he is called the Governour and Judge of the world, Exod. 34. 7. All these doth the name of God signifie.
To sanctifie signifieth either to make holy, or to acknowledgeWhat is meant by sanctified or hallowed. & declare holy. In the first sense things are said to be sanctified and (in themselves being not holy) to be made holy, which are set apart to holy uses; as the Sabbath, the Temple, Priests, Christians consecrated and set apart to the worship and service of God. In which sense the name of God, which is most holy, Psal. 111. 9. cannot be said to be sanctified.
2. To sanctifie is to acknowledge & declare holy: as wisdome in the like phrase of speech is said to be justified, Luke 7. 35. and God to be magnified and glorified: And thus the name of God is sanctified either by us or by God himself, Num. 20. 12, 13. By us (I mean our selves and others, for whom also we pray) when, as the name of God is most holy and reverend, so we in our hearts acknowledge and that effectually, in our tongues professe, in our deeds use it as most holy & reverend. By God himself his name is sanctified, when either he manifesteth the glory of his mercy and justice, or else freeth it from the pollutions of men, especially when men neglect it, and removeth the impediments, Num. 20. 12, 13:
First, we pray that Gods name may be sanctified of us; that is, That God would vouchsafe unto us his grace, that we may give unto the Lord the honour due unto his name, Psal. 29. 2. that as his name is most excellent, holy, glorious, and reverend, so his prayse may be unto the ends of the earth, Psal. 48. 11.
We sanctifie the name of God, which is most holy, and reverend, and glorious, Deut. 28. 58. whenas in our hearts, words, and deeds we do use it holily and reverently.
But to speak more especially, according to the significations of the name of God: The names of God first signifie himself and his attributes, which are himself, which we desire in this prayer that we may sanctifie in our hearts, tongues, and lives. In our hearts we sanctifie God, as Peter exhorteth, 1. Epist. 3. 15. when as 1. we do acknowledge, and that effectually, That there is a God; That this God is such an one as he hath revealed himself in his word, most wise, most just, most mercifull, infinite in power, essence, and continuance, &c. 2. When in our minds we think and conceive nothing of God but that which beseemeth his glorious majestie; that is, when we alwayes think and conceive of God most holily and reverently.
In our mouthes; 1. When we confesse and acknowledge and professe God and his attributes, &c. Rom. 10. 10. 2. When we speak of God and his attributes holily and reverently.
In our lives; when the knowledge of God and his attributes is effectuall to bring forth in us a conversation answerable thereunto. Knowest thou there is a God? worship him. That he is a Spirit? worship him in spirit and truth. That he is just? fear him. That he is mercifull? love him. That he is omnipresent? behave thy self as in his presence. That he is omnisufficient? repose thy trust in him. That he is omniscient and foreign, a searcher of the heart? approve thine heart to him, &c.
Thus then we desire that the name of God in the first sense may be sanctified by us.
The uses. 1. Concerning prayer.
THat we may pray fervently, we must have a feeling of our want; as, our ignorance of God (here we pray for knowledge of God, without which we cannot acknowledge him) the vanity of our minds, thinking amisse of God, Job 1. 5. our irreverent speech of God, our not sanctifying of God in our lives (a fault incident to the best) Num. 20. 12. For who can say that he hath loved and feared God, &c. as he ought, and behaved himself alwayes as in Gods presence?
2. Concerning our lives.
The use concerning our lives: That as in our prayers we desire, so in our lives we endeavour thus to sanctifie God: For if we our selves will not endeavour thus to do, it sheweth that we have no true desire hereof, but pray in hypocrisie with feigned lips. Their hypocrisie therefore here is detected, who desiring with their mouth that they may sanctifie God, will think that there is no God, Psal. 14. 1. will think basely of him, Psal. 50. 21. or deny his providence, mercy, and justice, Psal. 10. 11. who use to speak unreverently of God and his attributes, to murmure against his justice, &c. Psal. 78. 19. who live as if there were no God, Tit. 1. 16. that say he is a Spirit, but desire not to worship him in spirit; that he is just, and yet desire not to fear him, &c.
II. How Gods name signifying his glory is hallowed by us. …
SEcondly, the name of God signifieth his glory: Which we do sanctifie whenas we glorifie God in our hearts, mouthes, and lives: And this is the most principall signification of this petition.
We glorifie him in our hearts, 1. When in the affections of our hearts we desire the procuring and advancement of Gods glory above all things, as being more dear unto us then our own good. 2. When as in the purpose of our hearts we intend the glory of God in all things, putting into our hearts to give glory to his name, Mal. 2. 2.
In our mouthes we glorifie him, when we make the glory of God the matter and end of our speech. The matter, when in our speech we set forth the praises of God, whose name is to be exalted above all prayse, Neh. 9. 5. For to prayse him is to glorifie him, Luke 2. 20. Psal. 50. 23. and to make his prayse glorious, Psal. 66. 2. We make it the end of our speech, when therein we intend the glory of God, either by the profession of a necessary truth, Josh. 7. 19. or by a speech seasoned with grace, tending to the glory of God, or the good and edification of our brethren, which is subordinate thereunto, Col. 4. 6.
In our lives we glorifie God, 1. When in all our actions whatsoever we aim at the glory of God, according to that 1. Cor. 10. 31. 2. When by our godly lives we do not onelyonly glorifie God ourselves, John 15. 8. but give just occasion to others of glorifying him, Matth. 5. 12. 1. Pet. 2. 12.
Vses. 1. In prayer.
Wants to be bewayled.
1. Our pride and vain-glory, seeking our selves and our own prayse. 2. The neglect of Gods glory, the main end of all things, which ought to be more dear to us then our salvation. Such we are that except the Lord endue us with this grace, we neglect his glory, and so live in vain. 3. Our suppressing of Gods prayse, our unthankfulnes. 4. Our idle and unsavoury speeches. 5. Our manifold slips in our lives whereby God is dishonoured. All which are faults incident to the best of us, and therefore we had need earnestly to pray that God may be glorified of us, 2. Sam. 12. 14.
Graces which we desire.
1. Zeal of Gods glory; 2. Thankfulnesse; 3. A desire to glorifie God by a godly life.
2. Vses in our lives.
As we are in prayer earnestly to desire thatPsal. 86. 12. we may give glory to God, so in our lives we must endeavour both in our hearts, tongues, and works to glorifie him, &c. Otherwise, if in our mouthes we desire that we may glorifie him, and in our hearts neither desire it nor intend it, if we altogether seek ourselves and our own praise, if we use to suppresse the praises of God and to smother his truth, if our ordinary speech be idle and unsavoury, our lives dissolute, from whence no honour can arise unto God, and in truth desire not to be freed from these sinnes; nay, on the contrary, if in stead of intending Gods glory we seek his dishonour, in stead of sounding forth his prayse we blaspheme his holy name, in stead of professing and defending his truth we oppugne the same, in stead of savoury speeches they be rotten and infective, in stead of causing the name of God to be glorified we cause it to be blasphemed, our prayer is little better then mockery of God: And yet such is the prayer of very many, which with their mouthes desire that they may glorifie God, and yet desire not his glory in their hearts, nor seek it in their lives, but rather practice such things whereby the name of God is dishonoured and blasphemed.
The glory of God is most dear unto him, and so must be to us, Acts 12. 22. His glory he will not lose.
III. The name of God signifying his titles, how it is hallowed.
THirdly, the name of God doth signifie his titles; the titles, I say, of the Deity, Attributes, and Persons. This name of God is sanctified, when, as it is holy and reverend, so it is used of us. It is used of us either by taking it into our mouthes, or by taking it upon us. We sanctifie it in our mouthes, and so in our writings, when as we make an holy and reverent mention of the titles of God. Which we do when we mention them in a serious matter, after a reverent manner, to a holy end. For the most holy and dreadfull name of the Lord our God Deut. 28. 58. must not be used to trifles and ridiculous matters: neither may we lightly take up the most reverend name of God, which we are not worthy to take into our mouthes: neither must the glorious name of God be mentioned but to his glory either mediately or immediately. And hereunto we are to referre two sorts of usurpation of Gods name and titles, by Blessing and Swearing aright.
Blessing is either of God or man. The blessing of God is the praysing of God; of which we have spoken: Example Rom. 9. 5. and 1. 25. 2. Cor. 11. 31. Blessing of men in the name of God, which the Scripture calleth the putting of Gods name upon them, Num. 6. 27. is a duty to be performed by all, to all, even unto enemies, Rom. 12. 14. Matth. 5. 44. (whereunto referre salutation) but especially to be performed by superiours, Hos. 7. 7. to their inferiours: in the commonwealth by Princes and Magistrates; David, 2. Sam. 6. 18. Solomon, 1. Kings 8. 55. In the Church, Num. 6. 23, 24, 25. Melchisedec, Gen. 14. 19. In the family by parents: unto which the Lord giveth great force, &c. By swearing we make a holy and reverent mention of the name of God, whenas we swear in truth, judgement, and righteousnesse, Jer. 4. 2, &c.
We take upon us the name of God when his name is called upon in us, as Gen. 48. 16.. i. when we call our selves by his name, and professe our selves to be the children of God, Isai. 43. 6, 7. which began to be done in the time of Seth after the birth of Enosh, Gen. 4. 26. & 6. 2. In these last times those of the Church of God do invocate the name of Christ, Acts 9. 14, 21. 1. Cor. 1. 2. and are called by his name, Christians, Acts 11. 26. and are baptized into his name.
Thus we sanctifie the name of Christ when as we walk worthy our calling whereby we are called, Ephes. 4. 1. and a…orn the doctrine of Christ our Saviour in all things, departing from iniquity, as it is 2. Tim. 2. 19.
Vses in prayer.
1. Graces to be desired.
1. That we may use the titles of God reverently. 2. That we may swear by his name alone in judgement, truth, and righteousnesse. 3. That we may walk worthy our calling.
2. Wants to be bewayled.
1. Irreverence in using the titles of God. 2. Rash swearing. 3. Not walking worthy our calling.
Vses in our lives.
As we pray that we may sanctifie the name of God, so must we be carefull in our lives 1. To be mindfull of God, and to mention him in matters serious, to a good end, after a reverent manner. We mention not our prince without some shew of reverence: how much more ought we to bow the knees of our hearts when we mention the gloriousPsal. 2. 10. name of our God? Example, Rom. 9. 5. 2. To use blessing and not cursing, Rom. 12. 14. 3. To swear by the Lord alone in truth, judgement, and righteousnesse. 4. To labour by all means to walk worthy our calling, even as it becometh the saints, Ephes. 5. 3. Otherwise if our practice be (and we continue therein) either not to mention God at all, (which the Scriptures call the forgetting of God, and it is a signe that God is not in their thoughts in whose mouthes he is not, seeing out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh: or else by mentioning his name to pollute it; either in respect of the matter, mentioning it in jests and ridiculous matters; And in the name of God, O God, O Lord, Good God, Jesu Lord, Mercy God, &c. or of the manner; either by carelesse, light, and unreverent using of Gods name without fear or conscience, sense or regard of God: or by superstitious using of the titles, doing more reverence to the words then unto God himself, and sticking not to blaspheme his name by wicked swearing; like to the souldiers, Matth. 27. 39. Or in respect of the end; when the name of God is mentioned to wicked, yea to devilish ends, as inchantments, &c. or by cursing, which is a most horrible profaning of Gods name: or by wicked swearing: or by living unworthy their calling; for so they take the name of Christ upon them in vain, and profane it. Considering, Luke 1. 73. Tit. 2. 14. 2. Tim. 2. 19. In vain therefore they professe themselves the sonnes of God whilest they behave themselves as the sonnes of men, Gen. 6. 2. or rather as the sonnes of the devil. And besides, they cause the holy name of Christ to be blasphemed. If this, I say, be our practice, and we continue therein, and yet pray that we may sanctifie the name of God, we play the hypocrites.
IV. How the name of God, as it signifieth his Word, is sanctified.
FOurthly, the name of God doth signifie his word, whereby he is especially known. Which is sanctified by the Ministers, when it is purely, powerfully, and profitably taught: by the people, when it is heard with reverence, attention, good conscience, and purpose to practice it: by all, when in our hearts we do holily meditate thereon, and are inflamed with a desire of practicing it, Psal. 119. In our tongues, when we apply it to those uses whereunto it is profitable, 2. Tim. 3. 16. In our lives, when we knowing it do perform it.
Vses in prayer. Wants to be bewailed.
1. The want of preaching, where it is wanting. 2. The neglect and contempt of the word, a capitall sinne of these times. 3. The little practicing of it where it is known, especially in these dayes, ubi scientiae multum, conscientiae parùm, where there is much science, little conscience.
Vses in our lives.
In our lives we are to endeavour to sanctifie the word of God: if Ministers, by dividing it aright; if people, by saving hearing thereof, by meditating on it, by desire to do it, by applying it to its right uses, by yielding simple obedience unto it. Otherwise, if we desire it may be sanctified, and yet we profane it, and please our selves in so doing, either preaching it unprofitably, or hearing it without reverence, attention, or purpose to practice it: if neither in our hearts we care to know nor have desire to practice it: if we abuse it to confirm errours, and confute the truth, to impenitencie, jests, superstition, and charms, &c. if we profane it either by neglect or contempt, Mal. 1. 12. Amos 2. 7. Prov. 30. 9. Levit. 22, 31, 32. in word we desire to sanctifie it, but in deed profane and pollute it.
V. How the name of God is sanctified as it signifieth the Doctrine of religion.
FIfthly, it signifieth the doctrine of religion and the worship of God. In which respect his name is sanctified when as we walk in his name, Mich. 4. 5. For religion is the way by which we go to heaven, Isai. 30. 21. and therefore in the Scriptures is often called the way. When as therefore we walk in this life so as that our life doth answer to our profession, it is in this sense said to signifie the name of God.
As we professe the Christian religion, so our life is answerable to our profession if denying all ungodlinesse and worldly lusts, we live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ, Tit. 2. 12, 13. Our religion is the truth in Christ; which if we be truly taught, we must put off the old man, Ephes. 4. 20, &c. Our religion is the light, and we professe our selves children of the light, and so must we walk, Ephes. 5. 8, 10, 11. In this way we must walk in respect of God uprightly, in respect of men inoffensively.
Duties in prayer. Wants to be bewailed.
1. Our backwardnesse in religion; 2. Our hypocrisie; 3. Our scandalous conversation.
Duties in our lives.
In our lives we are to desire and to endeavour that we may adorn the profession of religion by renouncing all ungodlinesse, &c. to set God before our eyes, that we may walk uprightly as in his sight; to walk inoffensively, Heb. 12. 13. Otherwise, if we professe religion, and renounce not our sinnes, nor put off the old man; if we call our selves the children of the light, and yet walk in darknesse; we profane the name of God and his religion. And this is done, 1. In respect of God by hypocrisie, 2. Tim. 3. 5. when as the profession of religion is pretended to worldly or wicked respects. 2. In respect of men by the profane and dissolute life of common Christians, and by the falls and scandals of them that would seem the best professours. If we continue in this course and please our selves therein, we cannot make this prayer in truth, &c.
VI. How the name of God signifying his works is hallowed.
SIxthly, the name of God signifieth his Works whereby he is known, and that both of creation and administration. The creatures are sanctified,Works of Creation. First, by an holy and religious meditation and mentioning of them, 1. To the glory of God, acknowledging in them the wisdome, justice, power, and goodnesse of God, glorifying him, being known in his works, as God, Rom. 1. 21, 22. 2. To our good, when we imitate and flie such things in them as the holy Ghost hath appointed. Secondly, by a holy and sanctified use. The creature is sanctified by the word and prayer, 1. Tim. 4. 5. Col. 3. 17.
Duties in prayer. Wants to be bewailed.
1. foreign, that is, the hardnesse and senselesnesse of our hearts, in not seeing and acknowledging the goodnesse, wisdome, and power of God in his creatures, Mark 6. 52. 2. Our jesting at some of his works; as at the form or countenance of some man, &c. 3. Our suffering of the brute creatures to go beyond us: as the crane and swallow, in knowing their times and seasons; the ant, in diligence; the trees and plants, in bringing forth fruit. 4. Our irreligious use of the creatures, or abusing them to be the instruments of sinne.
Duties in our lives.
1. Holy meditation and mentioning of the works of God to his glory and our spirituall good. To his glory: for so must we meditate and speak of the creatures as that the wisdome, goodnesse, and power of God shining in them be acknowledged; that we knowing him by his works may glorifie him as God. To our good; by meditating in such things as are to be followed or eschewed in them. 2. The pure and holy use of the creature sanctified by the word and prayer, &c. Otherwise, if we knowing God by his works, shall not glorifie him, Rom. 1. 21. if we shall play the Momes in detracting from the works of God or mocking the same; if we shall abuse his creatures to superstitious, wicked, and profane uses, and please our selves in so doing, we are to take heed lest in making this prayer we be found mockers of God.
Now follow the works of administration: whichWorks of Administration. are his blessings or judgements towards our selves or others. His blessings on our selves are sanctified, 1. in our hearts, when we are truly thankfull for them: 2. in our tongues, when we give thanks, Psal. 124. 6. and shew forth his benefits, Psal. 66. 16. and 71. 8, 18. 3. in our deeds, when we referre the good things received to his glory and the good of others, and when by them we are brought to repentance, Rom. 2. 4.
The blessings of God on others are sanctified, when we rejoyce with them, 1. Cor. 12. 26. and glorifie God in them, Psal. 35. 27. Gal. 1. 24.
The judgements of God on our selves are sanctified, when they have the like effect in us that they had in Job; that is, First, when we are humbled under the hand of God, and brought to repentance, Job 1. 20. and 42. 6. Secondly, when we bear them patiently, Job 1. 21. Thirdly, when we blesse God in them and for them, v. 21.
The judgements of God on others are sanctified, when by consideration thereof we fear to sinne, when we shew forth the justice of God in the punishment of the wicked, Psal. 58. 11, 12. when we condole with the just.
Wants to be lamented.
First, unthankfulnesse: in that neither in our hearts we have the chearfull sense of Gods goodnesse in his benefits, nor in our tong…es return praise to him, nor in our deeds bring forth the fruits, nor yet by them are brought to repentance. Secondly, our not acknowledging Gods graces in others, or depraving or lessening them, or envying their good. Thirdly, our senselesnesse in affliction, Jer. 5. 3. Fourthly, impatience, Isai. 22. 12, 13. Fifthly, murmuring. Sixthly, not to be terrified by the exampleDan. 5. 22. of others, but rather pleasing our selves, Luke 13. 1. Seventhly, not condoling but rather rejoycing in other mens evils; as, laughing at fools.
Duties in our lives.
To be thankfull to God for his benefits; To expresse our thankfulnesse, by thanksgiving, by referring them to the glory of God, by repentance; To rejoyce with others; To glorifie God in them; To make right use of his chastisements on our selves and others. Otherwise, if we shall be proud of those good things which we have, as though we had not received them, not giving God the glory, nor referring them to his glory and the good of others, but contrariwise abusing them to the dishonour of God and the hurt of others, as many do their learning, wit, riches, strength, &c. If we shall deprave Gods mercies in others, or envie them; If in the judgements of God upon our selves we shall harden our hearts with Pharaoh; If we shall impatiently bear them, and murmure against the severity of God; If with Belteshazzar we shall not be moved with the example of others, Dan. 5. 22. If we shall make a sport of other mens calamities; we are farre from that desire of sanctifying Gods name which in this prayer we pretend.
Secondly, in these words we pray that the Lord would sanctifie his name. The which petition we are the rather to make, because his glory is so little regarded amongst men. And in this sense our prayer is the same with that of our Saviour, John 12. 28. Father, glorifie thy name; or with that of David, Psal. 57. 6, 11. Be tho… exalted, Lord, above the heavens, and thy glory above all the earth; or that, Psal. 115. 1. Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, &c.
The Lord doth sanctifie his name, I. When heHow God sanctifieth his name. doth shew forth and manifest the excellencie and glory of his name, that is, of his attributes and perfections, as wisdome, power, &c. but especially by making manifest the glory of his mercy and justice. Of mercy; by preserving his Church, and multiplying his blessings upon the faithfull, Ezech. 36. 21. For the glory of his own name he preserved his Church amongst the heathen, and promised to reduce them into their own countrey: not for their sakes, but his holy names sake, v. 22. and then v. 23. I will sanctifie my great name, which was polluted amongst the heathen (namely, because of the affliction of his people) v. 20. and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes, &c. So 2. Thess. 1. 12. Of his justice and power; in executing his judgements on transgressours and on the wicked, and overthrowing the enemies of his Church. When Nadab and Abihu had offered strange fire contrary to the commandment of God, and were destroyed by fire from heaven, he said, I will be sanctified in them that come near me; (that is, By executing judgement even against those that are near to me, I will make manifest the glory of my justice) and before all the people will I be glorified, Levit. 10. 3. Isai. 5. 15, 16. By the judgements of God executed upon the wicked it is said that man shall be humbled and brought low, but the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgement, and the holy God shall be sanctified in justice. Ezech. 28. 22. Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I come against thee, Sidon; and I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have executed judgements in her, and shall be sanctified in her: For I will send into her pestilence, &c. And chap. 38. 22, 23. he threatneth to rain fire and brimstone upon Gog and Magog, that is, both the open and secret enemies of the Church, &c. Thus, saith he, will I be magnified and sanctified and known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord.
II. God doth sanctifie and glorifie his name, when he doth remove the impediments of his glory, as idolatry & worshipping of false gods, superstition,2. Thess. 3. 1. ignorance, and giveth a free passage to his Gospel, when he taketh away the wicked, Psal. 104. 35.
III. By freeing it from the abuses & pollutions of men, and mainteining his own glory. When Moses and Aaron at the waters of Strife did not sanctifie the Lord by believing and acknowledging his omnipotent power, then the Lord did sanctifie his name himself, Num. 20. 12, 13. Lev. 22. 32. Neither shall ye pollute my holy name; but I will be hallowed amongst the people of Israel. So when Herod would not give the glory to God, the Lord glorified himself in his destruction. In the second place therefore we pray in zeal of Gods' glory, That howsoever men pollute and profane his holy name, yet he would glorifie it, and manifest the praise both of his mercy in blessing and preserving his Church, and also of his justice in executing his judgements upon the wicked and enemies of his Church, by removing the impediments, by freeing it from the pollution of men, and mainteining his glory.
Duties.
1. Zeal of his glory, that he may sanctifie it whatsoever become of me. 2. Fear to profane his name, seeing he will be sanctified, &c.