Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 1 · Part 3
Now to the matter of the prayer called the Lords Prayer, consisting of sixe petitions.
Quest. How are the petitions of that Prayer deliuered by Christ, and propounded and distinguished?
Answ. Thus: the three first petitions concerne God simply and meerely, and the other three concerne our selues.
Quest. Why are the petitions that concerne God simply and meerely set in the first place?
Answ. For two reasons especially.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This;Deut. 10.14. 1 Chron. 29.11.12. 2 Chron. 20.6. Exod. 32.32. Rom. 9.3. because God is the Soueraigne and absolute Lord of all Creatures; and he must be simply and absolutely regarded: all respect of our selues, of our owne bodies or soules set apart: and wee ought to bee content to want our necessary food, and remission of our sinnes, if it might be for the glorie of God, and that God might hauehave glory by it: and hence we find that some hauehave beene so zealous of Gods glorie, as they hauehave preferred it before the saluation of their owne soules.
Question. What is the second reason, why the petitions that concerne God simply and meerely are set before thsoe that concerne our selues?
Answ. This; because God hath made all things for his owne glorie, and his glory is the end of all the Creatures, and of all the counsels of God: and his glorie must bee the highest end of all our actions,Prou. 16.4. 1 Cor. 10.31. and the first thing in all our intentions: and hence the Prophet exhorts the Creatures of all kindes to praise God, and to giuegive glory vntounto him, Psalme 148. whole Acts. 12.23. Herod was smitten because he gaue not glorie to God.
Quest. How are the three first petitions distinguished?
Answ. Thus; the first concernes the end, Gods glory it selfe: and the second and third concerne the meanes whereby that end may be attained, the Kingdome and will of God, for God is glorified when his Kingdome is aduanced, and his will obeyed.
Now to the first Petition.
Hallowed be thy name,
Quest. What are we to vnderstand by the name of God?
Answ. The name of God in Scripture, is taken in two acceptations.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; for God himselfe, who though he be in his Essence vnconceiuable, yet he is reuealed in his Word to be the only true God: Thus Psal. 20.1. The name of the God of Jacob (that is) the God of Iacob. Isa. 26.8. so the name of Christ is taken for Christ himselfe. John 1.12.
Quest. What is the second acception, in which the name of God is taken in Scripture?
Exod. 3.14. Exod. 6.3. Exod. 33.18.19 Exod. 34.5.6.7. Psal. 104. Psal. 138.2. Cantic. 1.2. Act. 9.15.Answ. This: For any thing whereby the glory of Gods nature is made knowne to vsus: as first, his great and holy Titles, as Iehouah, Lord, God, Iesus, Christ, and such like.
Secondly, his essentiall attributes or properties, as his Power, Wisedome, Truth, Goodnesse, Iustice, Mercy, and such like.
Thirdly, his Word, worship and holy Ordinances.
Rom. 2.24.Fourthly, his Workes, Creatures and gifts, whether outward in or about the body: as health, strength, beauty, & such like: Or inward in the soule, as knowledge, faith, louelove, and such like.
Quest. What are we to vnderstand by the name of God in this petition, Hallowed be thy name?
Psal. 44.5. Psal. 68.4. Psal. 86.9.Answ. Both God himselfe, and all things whereby hee is made knowne vntounto vsus.
Question. What is meant by hallowing of the name of God?
Leuit. 10.3. Ezech. 38.23.Answer. This; the seuering of the name of God, and the setting of it apart from all profane, vnholy and common abuse, to a reuerent, holy, and an honourable vse of it, whether we thinke of it, speake of it, or vse it any manner of way: Thus the Sabbath is said to bee hallowed, in that God hath consecrated it to his seruice and the exercise of Religion. Exod. 20.11.
Obiection. Gods name is holy and pure in it selfe.
Quest. How then can we who are sinfull and impure, hallow and sanctifie it?
Answ. We hallow and sanctifie the name of God not by adding any holinesse to it,Deut. 28.58. Psal. 96.8. that is impossible, it being infinitely holy in it selfe; but by acknowledging it to bee most holy, and by honouring it as most holy: as by thinking of it, speaking of it, and vsing it as a most holy thing, both after an holy manner, purely, and to a right and holy end, as wisdome is said to bee iustified of her children, (that is) acknowledged and declared to be iust, Luke 7.35.
Quest. What is then the summe of this petition, Hallowed be thy Name?
Answ. This; that as God himselfe, his titles, attributes,Isai. 8.13. Ezech. 36.20.21.22.23. word, and works are most holy and pure in themselues, so they may be both of vsus, & of all others acknowledged in thought, word, and deed with all reuerence, and may be set apart from all profanation, and be vsed after an holy manner, and to a right and holy end.
Quest. What are the things we pray for in this petition, Hallowed be thy Name?
Answ. They are either such things as respect God himselfe, or such things as concerne our selues and others.
Quest. What be the things we pray for in this petition that respect God himselfe?
Answ. Two things especially.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This;Exod. 15.1.2. to 20. Psal. 83.9.18. Psal. 106.8.47. Isai. 5.15.16. Ezech. 28.21. Eze. 36.22.23. Ezech. 38.23. that God would worke all such things as may bee matter of his praise, and may bring glory to his great name, and may giuegive men iust occasion to honour him, whether they be good things and mercies towards his children, or iudgements on the wicked.
Quest. What is the second thing we pray for in this petition, that respects God himselfe?
Answ. This; that God would not bring such things vponupon vsus, we being his Church and children, which might make wicked ones take occasion to profane his great and holy name,Deut. 9.25.26. &c. Iosh. 7.7.8.9. as God said he would not suffer his name to be polluted among the heathen, by suffering them to preuaile against his people. Ezec. 39.7. he thereby teacheth, that wicked ones take occasion to insult against his people, and himselfe their God. It is a dishonor to his Maiestie; and in this petition we pray it may be preuented.
Quest. What be the things wee pray for in this petition, Hallowed be thy Name, that concerne our selues and others?
Answ. Fiue things especially.
Quest. What is the first of those?
…sal. 100 3. Ierem. 9.24. Hosea 6.6. Iohn 17.3.Answ. This; that the excellency and glory of Gods Maiestie and holines may be truly known of vsus, and of all others, and that we and others may take notice of it as it is reuealed in his word, and in his works, and so farre forth as it is fit for the knowledge and vse of man: for they that know not God, cannot possibly glorifie his name.
Quest. What is the second thing we pray for in this Petition, that concernes our selues and others?
Answ. This; that the excellencie of Gods glory, and Maiestie, and holinesse may be truely acknowledged of vsus, and of all others, in all the meanes and wayes of his, wherein he manifesteth his glory; that we and all others may acknowledge how mightie, wise, iust, and gracious hee is in all his workes: for men may in some measure know God, and yet not acknowledge him as God, Psal. 67.2. Rom. 1.21. They did not acknowledge God as they ought to hauehave done; they had not a reuerent opinion of God, nor did thinke honourably of Gods eternall power and Godhead appearing in his creatures.
Quest. What is the third thing we pray for in this Petition, that concernes our selues and others?
1 Peter 3.15. Luke 5.…6. Acts 3 10. Psal. 116.12. Psal. 119.120. Psal. 139.17. Isai. 66 2.5. Psal. 19 10. Psal. 119.97. Numb 20.12. Heb. 4.2.Answ. This; that both our hearts and affections, and the hearts and affections of all others may be religiously and reuerently moued according to the known iust occasion giuen, either from the workes of Gods power and prouidence, or from any part of his word, as to a reuerent admiration in regard of some extraordinary worke of God, to thankfulnes in regard of his workes of mercy; to feare and trembling, and humiliation, in respect of his Iudgements; and to a louelove of God in regard of all his works: and so for his word, to feare at the threatnings of it, to reioyce in the comforts of it, and to beleeue and louelove eueryevery part of his word; this is to sanctifie God in our hearts.
Quest. What is the fourth thing we pray for in this Petition, that concernes our selues and others?
Psalm. 51.15. & 40.9, 10. Psal. 50.23. Hosea 14.3.Answ. This; that both wee and all others may hauehave our mouths opened, and tongues vsed to speake either of God, of his Titles, Attributes, word, & workes; or to God with reuerence, and especially to praise him for all his mercies.
Quest. What is the fifth thing wee pray for in this Petition, that concernes our selues and others?
Answ. This;Math. 5.16. 1 Pet. 2.12. 1 Tim. 6.1. Titus 2.10. 1 Tim. 4.5. that both we and all others may lead a godly and an vpright life, and may glorifie God in all our actions, and in our lawfull callings, and in the vse of all his creatures, sanctifying them by the Word and Prayer.
Quest. What are the things we pray against in this Petition, Hallowed be thy Name?
Answ. All such things as either in our selues or in others, or from our selues or others, are meanes to obscure, or deface, or to hinder Gods glory, and to dishonour his holy name.
Quest. What are the things either in our selues or in others, that are meanes to obscure or deface, or to hinder Gods glory, and to dishonour his holy name?
Answ. Three things especially.
Quest. VVhat is the first of those?
Answ. This; ignorance of God,1 Cor. 15.34. Ephes. 4.18. Math. 22.29. Iohn 4 22. as he is made knowne in his word, and in his works, whereby we or others are carried to a contempt, or at least to a neglect of the excellencie and glory of Gods Maiestie and holinesse manifested in his word and works, and wherby we and others runne into errors, and into false and foolish opinions, either touching God, or the worship of God, Exod. 5.2. and of this speaks Bildad, Iob 18.21. And thus doe the Papists and ignorant persons.
Quest. What is the second thing either in our selues or others, that is a meanes to obscure, or deface, or to hinder Gods glory, and to dishonour his holy name?
Answ. This; pride of heart, wherby we or others do seeke our owne praise and glory, and to arrogate and take that glory and praise to our selues, as to our owne wit, strength,Habac. 1.16. Hab. 2.4. Dan. 4.27. Act. 12.23. abilitie, or meanes, that is due to God, and are proud of our own gifts; and in doing good things, doe secretly seeke applause amongst men. 2 Thes. 2.4. Antichrist is said to exalt himselfe against God, and to sit in the Temple of God, shewing himselfe to be God, (that is) taking to himselfe power to forgiue sins, to open and shut heauen, to dispence with Gods lawes, and such like, as the Pope doth.
Quest. What is the third thing either in our selues, or in others, that is a meanes to obscure or deface, or to hinder Gods glory, and to dishonour his holy name?
Isai. 1 2.3. Ierem. 5.7.8. Psalm. 78.32. Mark. 6.12.Answ. This: dulnesse and deadnesse of heart, whereby our affections, or the affections of others are not stirred and mooued according to the qualitie of Gods works or word, and the parts of his worship; and whereby wee or others doe not consider, as we ought, the wisedome, power, iustice, and merciemercy of God appearing in his creatures & workes of his prouidence.
Quest. VVhat be the things from our selues or others, that are meanes to obscure or deface, or to hinder Gods glory, & to dishonor his holy Name?
Answ. Two things especially.
Quest. VVhat is the first of those?
Gen. 21.9. Numb. 11.6. Psal. 78.19. 2 Pet. 3.4. Iud. ep. v. 16.Answ. This; profanesse of speech, when we or others doe either vnreuerently, or wickedly and blasphemously speake of God, of his Titles, Attributes, Word, or Workes; as by ordinary and rash swearing and blasphemie, by mocking and scoffing at or with the workes or word of God, complaining of his prouidence, murmuring at his Iudgements, carping and cauilling at his word, and such like.
Quest. What is the second thing from our selues and others, that is a meanes to obscure or deface, or to hinder Gods glory, and to dishonour his holy Name?
2 Sam. 12.14. Rom. 2.24. 1 Tim. 6.1.Answ. This; profanesse and impiety of life, when we or others doe liue an euill and a scandalous life.