Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 1 · Part 13 – Part 15

Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral · Tract 1 · Part 13 – Part 15

p. 7243Now to the matter of Deprecation.

Quest. What are the things we pray against in this petition, GiueGive vsus this day our daily bread?

Answ. Foure things especially.

Quest. VVhat is the first of those?

Answ. This; what…oeuer is an hinderance to the supply of our wants, touching the outward good things of this present life: That God would vouchsafe to avert and turne away whatsoeuer is or may be a meanes to hinder or keepe from vsus outward good things nee…full for the sustentation, comfort and refreshing of the body, and preseruation of this present life. Psal, 34.9.Psal. 34.9.Ps 34:9 It is Gods promise, that nothing shall be wanting to them that feare the Lord:1 Tim. 4.8.1 Tim 4:8 therefore wee may pray against things that hinder the supply of our wants, touching the outward good things of this present life.

Quest. What are the things that are meanes to hinder or keepe from vsus outward good things needfull for the sustentation, comfort and refreshing of the body, and the preseruation of this present life, which we pray against in this Petition?

Answ. Either such things as come from Gods hand, as punishments for sinne, or such as come from our owne corruption.

Quest. VVhat are the things that come from Gods hand, as punishments for sinne?

Answ. These; vnseasonable weather, as a wet and cold p. 73Summer, an hot and drie Winter, no raine, no frost, no snow, and such like; vnfruitfulnesse, and barrennesse of the earth,Leuit. 26.18.19.20. Deut. 28.18.22 23.24.40.42. Psal. 105.29.30. to 30. Psal. 107.34. Ierem. ….29. Pro. 26.1. Deut. 7.14.Lev 26:18Lev 26:19Lev 26:20Deut 28:18Deut 28:22Ps 105:29Ps 105:30Ps 107:34Prov 26:1Deut 7:14 and of plants and trees; blasting, withering, or falling of fruits before they be ripe, or spoile of corne or fruits, by wormes, caterpillers, grashoppers, and such like; barrennes of cattell, beasts, fishes, and foules.

Quest. What are the things that come from our own corruption?

Answ. These; the giuing of our selues to ease, idlenesse, sloath, and sluggishnesse; and either spending the time in eating and drinking, sleeping, and walking,Pro. 6.9.10.11 Pro. 10.4.5. Prou. 18.9. Pro. 20.13. & 21.17. & 24.30. to the end. Pro. 28 19. 2 Thess. 3.11.Prov 6:9Prov 6:10Prov 6:11Prov 10:4Prov 10:5Prov 18:9Prov 20:13Prov 21:17Prov 24:30Prov 28:192 Thess 3:11 and following sensual pleasures, in company keeping, in pastime, in gaming, and such like: or altogether lying idle, wee being able to labour, and neglecting the duties and workes of our honest and lawfull callings.

Quest. What is the second thing we pray against in this petition, GiueGive vsus this day our daily bread?

Answ. This; whatsoeuer it is that doth annoy the body, or doth any way tend to the hurt of our welfare and outward good estate in this life:Leuit. 26.25.26. Deut. 28.48. to 58. Iudg. 2.14. Ierem. 5.15.16.17. Deut. 32.24. Isai. 5.13. Ierem. 29.17. Ezech. 5.17. Mat. 24.7. Deut. 28.21. 1 King. 8.37. 1 Chron. 21.14.Lev 26:25Lev 26:26Deut 28:48–58Judg 2:14Jer 5:15Jer 5:16Jer 5:17Deut 32:24Isa 5:13Jer 29:17Ezek 5:17Matt 24:7Deut 28:211 Kgs 8:371 Chr 21:14 that God would avert and turne away whatsoeuer is or may bee any annoyance to our bodies, or may tend to the hurt of our welfare and outward good estate in this world; as warre, famine, scarcitie of bread, and other food, plague, pestilence, and other mortall and dangerous diseases.

Quest. What is the third thing wee pray against in this petition, GiueGive vsus this day our daily bread?

Answ. This; whatsoeuer is an hinderance to the comfortable vse of the outward good things of this present life, which we hauehave and enioy; that God would vouchsafe to avert and turne away from vsus whatsoeuer is, or may bee a meanes to hinder vsus in the comfortable vse of the outward good things of this present life, which we hauehave and enioy. Eccles. 2.24, 25, 4426. The sound and comfortable vse of the creatures is Gods gift to good and godly men and women: and therefore wee may pray against whatsoeuer doth hinder vsus in the comfortable vse of them: So Eccles 5.17, 18, 19.

Quest. What be the things we pray against in this petition, that are meanes to hinder vsus in the comfortable vse of the outward p. 74good things of this present life wee hauehave and enioy?

Answ. Two things especially.

Quest. VVhat is the first of those?

Psal. 119.36. Pro. 15.27. Hab. 2.9.10. 1 Tim. 6.9.10. 1 King. 21.4.Ps 119:36Prov 15:27Hab 2:9Hab 2:101 Tim 6:91 Tim 6:101 Kgs 21:4Answ. This; couetousnesse, which is an immoderate and an vnsatiable desire of hauing much wealth and outward good things of this life, and a greedy seeking after those things: for when men or women desire and seeke after outward riches greedily and insatiably, and hauing much would still hauehave more, they are full of distrustfull and distracted cares and of needlesse feares and doubts, and of worldly sorrowes, and of many distractions which hinder them in the comfortable vse of the outward good things of this present life, which they hauehave and enioy.

Quest. How may we know a sober and moderate desire of the outward good things of this life, which is lawfull from an immoderate desire of them which is vnlawfull?

Answ. Thus; a moderate desire of the outward good things of this life, is satisfied and contented with such a measure of them, as the Lord in his wisdome sees to be meet and necessary, both for the sustentation of nature, and the preseruation of this present life, and for the maintenance of that lawfull state, condition and dignitie, in which a man or woman is, as a naturall thirst, so satisfied with one draught, as another is not cared for. But an immoderate desire of the outward good things of this life is neuer satisfied; but the more a man or woman hath of those things, the more they desire: and the enioying of one thing desired, is but the beginning of desire of another: as an vnnaturall thirst, which a Dropsie or an Ague causeth, the more a man drinks, the more hee desires. Prou. 30.8. Feed me with food conuenient, a moderate desire.

Quest. What is the second thing we pray against in this petition, that is a means to hinder vsus in the comfortable vse of the outward good things of this life, which we hauehave and enioy?

Answ. This; Prodigalitie, which is a lashing and lauishing out in expences beyond the compasse of abilitie and calling, & a mispending of the outward good things of this life, either in superfluous or lewd expences on our selues p. 75or others, for the backe or belly, or other sensuall delights. For when men or women doe so lash out in their expences,Pro. 15.10.11. Pro. 23.20.21 Luk. 15.13.14.15.16.Prov 15:10Prov 15:11Prov 23:20Prov 23:21Luke 15:13Luke 15:14Luke 15:15Luke 15:16 and so mispend their goods, they peruert the right vse of the creatures of God, and bring on themselues sicknesses, diseases and many euills and inconueniences; and so hinder themselues in the comfortable vse of the outward good things of this life, which they hauehave and inioy.

Quest. What is the fourth thing we pray against in this petition, GiueGive vsus this day our daily Bread?

Answ. This;Pro. 4.17. Pro. 28.8. Pro. 30.9. Hab. 2.6. Ephes. 4.28.Prov 4:17Prov 28:8Prov 30:9Hab 2:6Eph 4:28 whatsoeuer is an vnlawfull meanes of getting the outward good things of this life. That God would neuer suffer vsus to vse any indirect or vnlawfull meanes, or courses to get wealth and outward good things of this life: as lying, stealing, defrauding, cousening, cheating, oppressiō, vsurie, vnlawfull acts and trades, and such like.

45Now to the Petitions that concerne Spirituall good things, appertaining to an heauenly life, which are two. Mat. 6.13.13. And forgiue vsus our debts, as we also forgiue our debters. And lead vsus not into tentation, but deliuer vsus from euill. And the first qustion may be made:

Quest. Why is there but one short petition for daily Bread, and the outward good things of this life; and two petitions and those larger, concerning spirituall good things, appertaining to an heauenly life?

Answ. Because,Pro. 4.7. Mat. 6 33. Ioh. 6.27.Prov 4:7Matt 6:33John 6:27 though God giuegive vsus leaue to aske for outward good things for this life, which are meanes to make vsus walke more comfortably in an holy course of life: yet hee would hauehave vsus principally to seek for things spirituall as the chiefe good things: and hee doth thereby teach vsus, that the care of our soules must bee double to the care of our bodies.

Question. How are the two petitions that concerne spirituall good things appertaining to an Heauenly life distinguished?

Answ. Thus; In the first we pray for grace, for remission of sinne: and in the second, for perseuerance in grace, and strength against temptation.

p. 76Quest. What is the ground of these two petitions?

Ierem. 31.33.34. Iere. 32.40. Ezech. 36.25.26.27.Jer 31:33Jer 31:34Jer 32:40Ezek 36:25Ezek 36:26Ezek 36:27Answ. The promise of God; for the Lord in the couenant hee hath made with his Church and people, hath promised both forgiuenesse of sinne, and also strength against temptation.

Now to the first of those petitions that concerne an heauenly life. Forgiue vsus our debts, as wee forgiue our debters.

First for the Order.

Question. VVhy doth this Petition Forgiue vsus our debts &c. follow next after that, GiueGive vsus this day our daily Bread?

Answ. For two reasons.

Quest. What is the first of those?

Answ. This; because, though we hauehave daily Bread, and plentie and abundance of outward good things of this life; yet we are miserable if we want the pardon of our sinne, and then the outward good things of this life are but giuen vsus as our portion,Psal. 32.1.2. Iob 21.7. to 22 Psal. 17.14. Iam. 5.5.Ps 32:1Ps 32:2Job 21:7–22Ps 17:14Jas 5:5 and to fat vsus against the day of slaughter, and to leaue vsus without excuse, and to encrease our iudgement and condemnation: and therefore presently after we pray, GiueGive vsus this day our daily Bread. we are taught to pray Forgiue vsus our debts.

Quest. What is the second reason?

Answ. This; because sinne is the cause of want of daily Bread,Psal. 59.2.3. Iere. 5.23.Ps 59:2Ps 59:3Jer 5:23 and if it bee not taken away by Gods merciemercy, it doth hinder and keepe from vsus the outward good things of this life; it causeth dearth and scarcitie, and brings many other euills; and therefore presently after request to God for daily Bread, we adioyne petition for pardon of sinne.

Quest. What are the generall things contained in this petition, Forgiue vsus our debts, as wee forgiue our debters?

Answ. They are these: First, the request it selfe which wee make to God, namely for the pardon of our sinnes, Forgiue vsus our debts. Secondly, the insinuation of it, by an argument from a comparison of the lesse to the greater; that if we who are in as much corruption, and but a sparke of merciemercy doe forgiue others: Then doe thou Lord who art the p. 77fountaine of mercy forgiue vsus, But we forgiue others, therefore doe thou forgiue vsus: for thus it is Luke. 11.4. Forgiue vsus our sinnes; for euen wee forgiue eueryevery man that is indebted to vsus.