Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 1 · Part 8 – Part 10
Now to the matter of Deprecation, things to bee prayed against in this Petition.
Quest. What are the things we pray against in this petition. Thy will be done in Earth, as it is in Heauen?
Answ. Either such things as are contrary to obedience to Gods will, commanding duties to be done, or such things as are contrary to the submission to Gods will, in things to be suffered of vsus, or by vsus.
Quest. What are the the things we pray against in this petition, that are contrary to obedience to Gods will, commanding duties to be done?
Answ. Either such things as doe vtterly and wholly, and euer resist and withstand obedience to Gods will, commanding duties to be done. Or such things as are impediments or hinderances to that obedience that ought to bee yeelded to Gods will commanding duties to be done.
Q. What are those things that do vtterly & wholly, & euer resist and withstand obedience to Gods will, commanding duties to be done, that we pray against in this petition?
Answ. They are these; Satan, sinne as it is sinne,Zach. 3.1. 1 Ioh. 3.4. 2 Pet. 1.4. Rom. 8.7. whether it bee originall or actuall: and that corruption that is in the World through Lust, through inbred euill concupiscence, that is in our nature called flesh, or the Old man: wee pray against the will and power of Satan, and the power of sinne, and the corruptions which are vtterly and wholly, and euer contrary to all spirituall goodnesse. Rom. 8.7. it is (foreign) enmitie against God, it is not subiect to the Law of God, neither indeed can be.
Quest. What are the things that are impediments and hinderances to that obedience that ought to be yeelded to Gods will, commanding duties to bee done, that wee pray against in this Petition?
Answ. Either things inward, or things outward.
Question. What are the inward things that are impediments and hinderances to that obedience that ought to bee yeelded to Gods will, commanding duties to be done, that we pray against in this Petition?
Answ. Three things especially.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Ans. This; Ignorance of Gods will reuealed in his word,Hozea. 4.6. Ephes. 4.18. Heb. 5.12. 1 Tim. 1.13. teaching the good duties that God requires of vsus in our generall or particular callings, states and conditions of life, especially wilfull and affected ignorance, when the meanes of knowledge are vouchsafed to vsus.
Question. What is the second inward thing that is an impediment and hinderance to that obedience that ought to be yeelded to Gods will, commanding duties to be done, that we pray against in this Petition?
Answ. This;Deut. 10.16. Psal. 95.8. Pro. 23.35. Isai 56.12. Iere. 44.16.17. Rom. 2.4.5. 2 Tim. 3.13. a setled purpose and full resolution to continue in sin, and an hardening of the heart against all good instruction, counsell, admonition, threatning, or any other meanes that either are, or can be vsed to the contrary, to drawe to repentance.
Quest. What is the third inward thing that is an impediment and hinderance to that obedience that ought to be yeelded to Gods will, commanding duties to be done, that we pray against in this Petition?
Answer. Hypocrisie: a false, hollow and deceitefull heart, when men purpose to liue in sinne,Isai. 29.13. Isai. 48.1. Iere. 5.2. Mat. 15.7.8. 2 Tim. 3.5. and yet outwardly for by respects, make shew of godlinesse and honestie.
Quest. What are the outward things that are impediments and hinderances to that obedience that ought to be yeelded to Gods will, commanding duties to be done, that we pray against in this Petition?
Answ. Fiue things especially.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This: irreligion or profanesse, when men regrard not Gods Word, nor his worship; but liue as if there were no God nor Deuill, Heauen or Hell, nor conscience to be made of any thing: examples we hauehave of the like. 2 Chro. 33.10. 2 Chron. 36.16.
Quest. What is the second outward thing that is an impediment and hinderance to that obedience that ought to be yeelded to Gods will, commanding duties to be done, that we pray against in this Petition?
Answ. Wilfull and open rebellion against Gods will reuealed in his word,Deut. 9.24. Deut. 31.27. 1 Sam. 15.23. Act. 7.51. when men openly and peremptorily resist Gods will made knowne to them out of his word, and euidently and directly vrged on their consciences, and wittingly and willingly doe the cleane contrary to it.
Quest. What is the third outward thing that is an impediment and hinderance to that obedience that ought to be yeelded to Gods will commanding duties to be done, that we pray against in this Petition?
Mat. 6.24. Mat. 13.22. Rom. 12.2. 1 Tim. 6.9.10. 2 Tim. 4.10.Ans. This: worldlinesse, when men or women giuegive themselues wholly to seeke the things of this world, the profits, commodities, honours and preferments of it, and by not and earnest pursuite doe seeke after earthly things, though it bee by good and lawfull meanes: much more by vnlawful means, as vsurie, extortion, and such like. That g…eedy hunting after them will make men settle on their dregs, and will make them looke for no other happinesse but in those things.
Quest. What is the fourth outward thing that is an impediment and hinderance to that obedience that ought to bee yeelded to Gods will, commanding duties to be done, that we pray against in this petition?
Answ. This;Malac. 1.13. Galat. 6.9. 2 Thess. 3.13. backwardnesse and wearinesse in well doing, manifested by word or deede, or by any gesture, as tushing, puffing, and such like.
Quest. What is the fift outward thing that is an impediment or hinderance to that obedience that ought to be yeelded to Gods will, commanding duties to be done, that wee pray against in this Petition?
Answ. Inconstancie in doing good duties, when men or women are no sooner in a good duty, but they are presently out of it againe; and out of the lightnesse and vanitie of their minds, on duerie trifling occasion are soone and suddenly carried away from doing of a good duty. Hosea. 6.4. John. 5.35. They which cryed Hozanna to Christ, Mar. 11.9. shortly after, cried crucifie him, crucifie him. Mark. 15.13.14.
Quest. What are the things we pray against in this petition, that are contrary to submission to Gods will, in things to be suffered of vsus, or by vsus?
Answ. Either things inward in heart, or outward things.
Quest. What are the things inward in heart, that are contrary to submission to Gods will, in things to be suffered of vsus, or by vsus, that we pray against in this petition?
Answ. Motions and stirrings that arise in the heart, against the worke of Gods prouidence,Hest. 3.5.6. 1 King. 21.4. Psal. 43.5. Ionah. 4.8.9. Luk. 15.28. in the time of any pressure, crosse, affliction or triall; as when men or women are greeued, discontented, and d…spleased in their mindes for the worke of God on them or towards them, in laying his hand on them, and afflicting them in any kinde whatsoeuer, and doe inwardly fret and repine against that hand, and worke of God.
Quest. What are the outward things that are contrary to submission to Gods will in things to be suffered of …s, or by vsus, that we pray against in this petition?
Answ. Such things as in the time of affliction or triall, are expressed either by word or deede.
Quest. What are the things that in time of affliction or triall, that are expressed by word, or deed, that we pray against in this Petition?
Answ. Two things especially.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; a complayning against Gods prouidence, touching present hard condition, that men or women hold themselues in,Gen. 30.1. Eccles. 7.12. Iud. ep. v. 16. in comparison of others: as when men or women complaine that they are not as others bee, in health, in strength, at libertie, or the like; or they hauehave not that plenty of wealth that others hauehave; they see others lustie and strong, and in health, or rich, and themselues are weake feeble, and sicke, or poore; and they breake out into a complaint and say, why am not I as others are, or God might hauehave made me as they are.
Quest. What is the second thing, in the time of affliction or triall, that is expressed by word, that we pray against in this Petition?
Gen. 4.13. Exod. 16.23. & 7. compared together. Numb. 21.5. Deut. 1.27. Iob. 1.22. 1 Cor. 10.10. Iud. ep. v. 16. 1 Sam. 28.7. 1 Sam. 31.4. 2 Sam. 17.23. Act. 16.27.Answ. This: a mumuring and breaking out into bitter tearmes against God; when men or women being vnderunder the hand of God in any affliction or triall, doe foolishlie charge God, that he deales hardly and cruelly with them.
Quest. What are the things that in time of affliction or triall that are expressed by deed, that we pray against in this petition?
Answ. They are these: any impatient gesture or behauiour, or seeking of ease or deliuerance by vnlawfull meanes: as when men or women being vnderunder the hand of God, in any affliction or triall, doe shew forth any impatient behauiour, or doe seeke to ease or to deliuer themselues by any meanes vnlawfull, as by seeking to witches.
Now to the Petitions that concerne our selues, which are also three. First in generall, this question may be made.
Quest. What doth this order of petition, in that we are first to vse petitions that concerne God simply and meerely, and then such as concerne our selues, teach vsus?
Answ. Thus much: that we are then allowed, and not till then, to seeke good things for our selues; when we hauehave first minded and sought those things that concerne Gods glorie, in the aduancement of his Kingdome, and in the dooing of his will: because vntounto godlinesse onelyonly belongs the promises of this life, and of the life to come, 1 Tim. 4.8.
Quest. How are the three Petitions that concerne our selues, distinguished?
Answ. Thus; the first concernes outward and temporall good things of this present life; and the two other concerne spirituall good things appertaining to an heauenly life.
Quest. VVhy is that Petition that concernes temporall good things, which are lesse worth, set before those that concerne spirituall good things, which are better worth, and more to bee esteemed and desired?
Answ. For two reasons especially.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This, because though they be not the chiefest good things, yet they are as helpes to enable vsus to spiritual duties;Gen. 28.20.21. Pro. 30.8.9. & they are meanes to make vsus walke on more comfortably in an holy course of life.
Quest. What is the second reason why the Petition that concernes temporall good things, which are lesse worth, is set before those that concerne spirituall good things, which are better worth, and more to bee esteemed and desired?
Answ. This; because they are as steps whereby our weake faith may better ascend to lay hold on spirituall good things, and may be also more confirmed touching spirituall good things: for we are weake in faith, and sometimes men trust in God for the pardon of their sinnes, and yet distrust God for the prouision of their bodies:Numb. 11.21.22.23. and by the exercise of our faith, in depending on God for lesser matters, as our daily bread, we may come more firmely to rest on him for the pardon of our sinnes, and other spirituall good things, Mat. 10.9. to 32. Christ sending foorth his Disciples to preach, speaks not a word to strengthen them in the assurance of the pardon of their sinnes; but he doth many wayes encourage them against persecution, and want of outward good things, implying their infirmitie therein.
Now to the first of those three Petitions that concerne our selues in particular. GiueGive vsus this day our daily Bread, Math. 6.11.
Quest. What are the generall things contained in this petition, GiueGive vsus this day our daily bread?
Answ. They are these:
First, the thing we desire and pray for, namely, Bread.
Secondly, the circumstances thereto appertaining:
As first the manner, how wee would hauehave the bread which we aske; that is by free gift, GiueGive. Secondly, the persons for whom we aske it in the word Ʋs. Thirdly, the time for how long we desire it, This day. Fourthly, the proprietie, whose bread wee craue, (namely) Ours. And fiftly, the quantitie and qualitie of the bread we aske, in the word, Daily. GiueGive vsus this day our daily bread.