The Substance of Christian Religion, Lecture 46
The forty sixth Lords day.
Mat. 6. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.
Verse 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which a…t in Heaven, Hallowed be thy Name.
10 Thy Kingdome come: Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven.
11 Give us this day our dayly bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evill, for thine is the kingdome, and the power, and the glory, for ever, Amen.
THis prayer was dictated by Christ, and for this reason ought chiefly by all Christians to be had in esteem, as coming from him that was the wisdome of God it self, which therefore both knew well all our necessities, & knew also most perfectly, what the will of God is towards us: And it was dictated, that it might be an example or pattern of all Prayers, that we ought to use; not that we should be bound up to this very frame and form of words; however it may also be freely used by us: For we read not that this very form of words was used by the Apostles, though otherwayes divers Prayers of theirs are mentioned as well in the Acts as in their Epistles. This Prayer is made up of certain Petitions, whereunto are adjoyned a foregoing Preface, and a following Conclusion. The Preface is in these words; Our Father wh…ch art in H…aven. And herein is proposed and commended unto us a certain description of God, to whom our prayers are alwayes to be directed. This description sutably to its occasion; that is, unto praying, layes out unto us those perfections of God, which are most needfull to be knowne and considered of us for a devout calling upon his name. And because nothing makes more for this, than that we be assured of Gods goodnesse, and good will towards us, whereby he intends good to us; and of his power, whereby he is able to do all that he pleaseth in Heaven or on earth; Therefore, … The goodnesse of God is declared by that title of, Our Father. And 2. His greatest power and majesty is designed in these other words; Which art in Heaven. He is called Father not onelyonly from the benefit of creation and providence, whereby as with a Fatherly care he provides for us in all things; but chiefly also for the benefit of adoption, whereby of his special favour he chuses us to be of the rank and number of his sons. And he is said to be in Heaven▪ because in Heaven, especially the third Heaven, he manifests his ma…esty, as it were in his royal throne, amongst the blessed and glorious spirits; and from thence he sends out his Word, as a royal declaration of his will, through all parts of the world, for the powerfull effectuating of all and every thing, that he wills, or pleaseth.
Doct. 1. Some preparation of minde is necessary for …ight making of our prayers.
This is hence gathered, in that a preface is here used, and that such a one, as directly makes for preparing of our mindes, that we may make our prayers the more directly before God.
Reas. 1. Because so great is the majesty of God, that to appear before him, and rashly as it were to rush into conference with him, and so negligently without any care of our fitnesse, and predisposition to it, would be such an indignity, as it were great incivility, and want of wisedome, to use towards any worldly Prince, or great man.
Reas 2. Because so great is our weaknesse, that unlesse our mindes be strengthened by some religious meditation, they will never lift up themselves to God, so as becomes them.
Reas. 3. Because so great is our unworthinesse, that hardly can our mindes be raised up to consider and believe, how our prayers are heard of God, unless we seriously meditate on the favour or grace of God, and his promises.
U…e, Of Direction how we ought to dispose and settle our selves to prayer; namely by such a preparation, which chiefly doth consist in two things: 1. In calling away of our minde, and thoughts, and cares, from all other things, not onelyonly unlawfull, but otherwise lawfull, though worldly, during that time, and exercise. 2 In setting of our mindes, and thoughts, and affections on heavenly things, and that according to that occasion, which our prayers in general, and in their special and particular natures, give us.
Doct. 2. God alone by religious prayer is to be called upon.
This is hence gathered; because in this most perfect pattern of Christian prayer, we are not taught to call upon any in that kinde, but whom we may call, Our Father which art in heaven.
Reas. 1. Because prayer is so divine a worship, and gives so much glory to the party that it is made to, that without idolatry it cannot be offered to any creature; whence also in Scripture every where it is called a sacrifice, which the very Papists themselves confess cannot be offered but to God alone.
Reas. 2 Because no creature can sufficiently know our prayers; to wit, as they come from the heart, and not from the mouth onelyonly.
R. 3. Because no creature can always & every where be present to hear prayers, where they are made.
Reas. 4. We cannot religiously call on such, as we do not religiously believe in, Rom. 10. But we may not religiously believe in a creature, I…r. 17. 5.
Use. Of Resutation, against the perverse superstion of Papists.
Doct. 3. In all our prayers we ought to come unto God with confidence, as unto our Father.
It is gathered from the word, Father.
Reas. 1. Because prayer in its most inward and essential nature, is an action of affiance and trust. For we seek nothing from God, but out of trust and hope grounded on his promises.
Reas. 2. Because we ought to strive unto this, that we our selves may be accepted of God, as his sons, that so we may know that our prayers will be accepted of him: And this we onelyonly attain by faith and affiance placed on God, through Jesus Christ.
Reas. 3. Because we ought to give God this glory, that as a bountifull Father he will liberally give unto us, when we doe ask of him, all that is good for us.
Quest. What shall they do then, that have not yet received the spirit of adoption, so that with any certainty they may …all upon God, as their Father?
Ans. Though such cannot for that time receive that comfort of their prayers, that others do, yet they ought not therefore to cease from the exercise of prayer, because this it self is a most fit meanes to attain to this confidence; when by lifting up the heart to God, we wish at least, if we cannot with downright confidence and affirmation say of the Word, that yet we could, and might truly call upon God, as our Father.
Use, Of Direction, that we alwayes call upon God in Christ, in whom alone God is our Father by adopting us, and reconciled unto us, and accepts of our selves and of our prayers.
Doct. 4. In our prayers together with confidence towards God, charity towards our brethren ought always to be joyned.
It is gathered from the word, Our For though it be both lawfull, and sometimes expedient and profitable, that a believer say in his prayers; O my Father, for manifesting his particular confidence in God; and not for designing any specialler sonship that he hath in God, than others; as Christ the Lord alone might and did use that forme of speaking; yet even for designing our particular confidence, it ought never to be joyned with excluding thoughts of others, but what ever our own particular feelings be, in respect of charity, & the judgment & desire thereof towards others, we ought alwayes either expresly or impliedly, to call upon God, as the common Father, as of our selves, so of others also.
Reas. 1. Because it belongs to our comfort, that we so call on God, as being members with others of that mystical body, whereunto God hath prepared and promised all good things.
Reas. 2. Because it belongs to the communion of Saints, that they have a perpetual communication or mutual partaking and benefit of prayers amongst themselves.
Reas. 3 Because charity towards others, is a disposition, which is in a special manner required of us, that our prayers may be acceptable to God, according to that of our Lord; If ye forgive …hers, y…u shall be forgiven.
Us Of Reproof, against such, who burning with hatred, and desire of revenge, rush into praying, not that we ought to abstain from praying, because of such perturbations of ours; as neither from the Lords Supper: But that we ought to lay aside and purge out such perturbations, not onelyonly when we come to partake publickly of the Lords Supper; but also daily, and privately, when ever we set our selves to make our daily prayers to God.
Doct. 5. The majesty and power of God are to be set before us, when we call upon God.
It is gathered from the words; Which art in Heaven.
Reas. 1. Because this majesty of God rightly set before us, and thought upon, strikes us into an awfull reverence and fear of God, which is required unto all humble and rightly conceived prayers.
Reas. 2. Because the consideration of the same majesty lifts up our mindes above all earthly and worldly things, to think upon and seek for things heavenly.
Reas. 3. Because the heavenly power of God directly strengthens our confidence, according to that of the Apostle, Rom 4 21. He believed, and d…ubted not, that …e who had promised, could also performe.
Use, Of Direction how in our prayers we may resist sundry thoughts and temptations; to wit, by lifting up our mindes to behold and think upon the majesty and power of God, in whose presence we are.