The Catechizing of Families, Chapter 25
CHAP. XXV. Hallowed be thy Name.
Qu. 1. WHy is this made the first Petition in ou… Prayers?
A. Because it containeth the highest Notion of ou… ultimate end: And so must be the very top or chief o… our desires.
Q. 2. What is meant by God's Name here?
A. The proper Notices or Appearances of God t… Man; and God himself as so notified and appearing t… us. So that here we must see that we separate not any o… these three: 1. The Objective signs, whether words or works, by which God is known to us. 2. The inward Conceptions of God received by these signs.
3. God himself so notified and conceived of.
Q. 3. And what is the Hallowing of Gods Name?
A. To use it Holily: That is, in that manner as is proper to God as he is God, infinitely above all the Creatures: That is Sanctified, which is appropriated to God by separation from all common use.
Q. 4. What doth this Hallowing particularly include?
A. First that we know God, what he is: 2. That our Souls be accordingly affected towards him. 3. That our lives and actions be accordingly managed. 4. And that the signs which notifie God to us be accordingly reverenced, and used to these Holy Ends.
Q. 5. Tell us now particularly, What these Signs or Names of God are, and how each of them is to be hallowed?
A. God's Name is either, 1. His sensible or intelligible works objectively considered. 2. Or those words which signifie God or any thing proper to God. 3. And the inward light or conception, or notice of God in the mind. And all these must be Sanctified.
Q. 6. What are God's works which must be so Sanctified, as notifying God?
A. All that are within the reach of our knowledge But especially those which he hath designed most notably for this use, and most legibly as it were written his Name, or Perfections upon.aExod. 9. 16. Psal. 8. 1.
Q. 7. Which are those?
A. First, The Glorious wondeful frame of Heaven and Earth.
2. The wonderful work of Mans Redemption by Iesus Christ.
3. The planting of his Nature, Image and Kingdom in Man by his Spirit.
4. The marvellous Providence exercised for the World, the Church, and each of our selves, notifying the disposal and Government of God.
5. The Glory of the Heavenly Society, known by Faith, and hoped for.
Q. 8. How must the first, God's Creation, be Sanctified?
A. When we look on, or think of the incomprehensible Glory of the Sun, it's wonderful Greatness, Motion, Light and quickning Heat; bPsal. 19. 1, &c. Rom. 1. 19, 20.of the multitude and magnitude of the glorious Stars, of the vast heavenly Regions, the incomprehensible invisible Spirits or Powers that actuate and rule them all; when we come downward and think of the Aire and its Inhabitants, and of this Earth, a vast Body to us, but as one Inch or Point in the whole Creation; of the many Nations, Animals, Plants of wonderful Variety, the terrible depths of the Ocean, and its numerous Inhabitants, &c. All these must be to us but as the Glass which sheweth somewhat of the Face of God, or as the Letters of this great Book, of which God is the Sence; or as the actions of a living Body by which the invisible Soul is known. And as we study Arts for our Corporal use, we must study the whole World, even the Works of God, to this purposed use, that we may See, Love, Reverence, and admire God in all: And this is the only true Philosophy, Astronomy, Cosmography, &c.
Q. 9. What is the Sin which is contrary to this?
A. Prophaneness; that is, using God's Name as a common thing: cPsal. 14. 1, 2. Psal. 50 21. & …8. 19. Tit. 1. 16.And in this instance, to study Philosophy, Astronomy, or any Science, or any Creature whatsoever, only to know the thing it self, to delight our mind with the Creature-knowledge, and to be able to talk as knowing Men, or the better to serve our Worldly Ends, and not to know and glorifie God, is to prophane the works of God. And alas then how common is prophaneness in the World!
Q. 10. What is it to Sanctifie God's Name as in our Redemption?
A. Redemption is such a wonderful work of God, to make him known to sinners for their Sanctification and Salvation, as no Tongue of Man can fully utter. To think of God, the Eternal Word first undertaking Man's Redemption, and then taking the Nature of Man, dwelling in so mean a Tabernacle, fulfilling all Righteousness for us, Teaching Man the knowledge of God, and bringing Life and Immortality to light, dying for us as a Malefactor to save us from the Curse, Rising the third day, Commissioning his Apostles, undertaking to build his Church on a Rock, which the Gates of Hell should not prevail against; ascending up to Heaven, sending down the wonderful and sanctifying Spirit, Interceding for us, and Reigning over all, who receiveth faithful Souls to himself, and will raise our Bodies, and judge the World: Can all this be believed and thought of, without admiring the manifold wisdom, the unconceivable Love and Mercy, the Holiness and Justice of God! This must be the daily study of Believers.
Qu. 11. How is this Name of God prophaned?
A. When this wonderful work of Mans Redemption is not believed, but taken by Infidels to be but a deceit: Or when it is heard but as a common History; and affecteth not the Hearer with admiration, thankfulness, desire and submission to Christ: when Men live as if they had no great Obligation to Christ, or no great need of him.
Q. 12. How is Gods Name as our Sanctifier to be hallowed?
A. Therein he cometh near us, even into us, with Illuminating, Quickening, Comforting Grace, renewing us to his Nature, Will and Image: Marking us for his own, and maintaining the cause of Christ against his Enemies. And therefore must in this be specially notified, honoured, obediently observed, and thankfully and joyfully admired.
Q. 13. But how can they honour God's Spirit and Grace, who have it not: Or they that have so little as not well to discern it?
A. The least prevailing sincere Holiness hath a special excellency, turning the Soul from the World to God, and may be perceived in Holy desires after him, and sincere endeavours to obey him: And the beauty of Holiness in others may be perceived by them that have little or none themselves, if they be not grown to Malignant Enmity: You may see by the Common desire of Mankind to be esteemed Wise and Good, and their Impatience of being thought and called Foolish, Ungodly or Bad Men, that even corrupted Nature hath a radicated Testimony in it self for Goodness, and against Evil.
Q. 14. Who be they that prophane this Name of God?
A. Those that see no great need of the Spirit of Holiness, or have no desire after it; but think that Nature and Art may serve the turn without it: Those that think that there is no great difference between Man and Man, but what their Bodily temperature and their Education maketh; and that it is but Phanatick delulusion, or Hypocrisie to pretend to the Spirit: Those that hate or deride the Name of Spirituality and Holiness; and those that resist the Holy Ghost.
Q. 15. How is God known and honoured in his Providence?
A. By his Providence he so Governeth all the World, and particularly all the Affairs of Men, as shews us his Omnipotence, his Omniscience, and his Goodness and Love, ordering them all to his Holy End, even the pleasing of his good Will in their Perfection.dMal. 2, 2.
Q. 16. How can we see this while the World lyeth in Madness, Unbelief and Wickedness, and the worst are greatest, and Contention, Confusion, and Bloody Wars do make the Earth a kind of Hell, and the Wise, Holy, and Iust are despised, hated and destroyed?
A. 1. Wisdom, and Holiness, and Justice are conspicuous and honourable by the odiousness of their contraries; which though they fight against them, and seem to prevail, do but exercise them to their increase and greater glory: And all the Faithful are secured and purified, and prepared for Felicity, by the Love and Providence of God.
2. And as the Heavens are not all Stars, but spangled with Stars, nor the Stars all Suns, nor Beasts and Vermine Men, nor the Earth and Stones are Gold and Diamonds, nor is the Darkness Light, the Winter Summer, or Sickness Health, or Death Life: And yet the wonderful Variety and Vicissitude contributeth to the Perfection of the Universe, as the Variety of parts to the Perfection of the Body, so God maketh use even of Mens Sin and Folly, and of all the mad Confusions and Cruelties of the World, to that perfect Order and Harmony which he that accomplisheth them doth well know, though we perceive it not, because we neither see the Whole, nor the End, but only the little Particles and the Beginnings of God's unsearchable works.
3. And this dark and wicked World is but a little Spot of God's vast Creation; and seemeth to be the lowest next to Hell, while the lucid Glorious heavenly Regions are incomprehensibly great, and no doubt possessed by Inhabitants suitable to so glorious a place: And as it is not either the Gallows or the Prison that is a dishonour to the Kingly Government, so neither is Hell or the Sins on Earth, a dishonour to the Government of God.
4. And as every Man is nearest to himself, it is the duty of us all carefully to record all the Mercies and special Providences of God to our selves, that we may know his Government and him, and use the remembrance of them to his Glory.
Q. 17. How is the heavenly Glory as a Name of God to us that see it not?
A. We see vast lucid Bodies and Regions above us: And by the help of things seen we may conceive of things unseen; and by Divine Revelation we may certainly know them: We have in the Gospel as it were a Map of Heaven, in its description, and a title to it in the Promises, and a notifying earnest and foretast in our Souls, so far as we are Sanctified Believers.
Q. 18. How must we hallow this Name of God?
A. 1. Firmly believing the heavenly Glory, not only as it shall be our own Inheritance, but as it is now the most Glorious and Perfect part of Gods Creation, where Myriads of Angels and Glorious Spirits in perfect Happiness, Love and Joy, are Glorifying their most Glorious Creator; and as the Saints with Christ their most Glorious Head, shall for ever make up that Glorious Society, and the Universe it self be seen by us in that Glorious Perfection, in which the Perfection of the Creator will appear.
2. And in the constant delightful Contemplation of this Supernal Glorious World, by Heavenly Affections and Conversation, keeping our Minds above while our Bodyes are here below, and looking beyond this Prison of Flesh, with desire and hope. As Heaven is the State and Place where God shineth to the understanding Creature in the greatest Glory, and where he is best known, so it is this heavenly Glory seen to us by Faith, which is the most Glorious of all the Names or Notices of God to be hallowed by us.
Q. 19. What is the profaning of this Name of God?
A. The minding only of Earthly and Fleshly things; and not believing, considering or admiring the heavenly Glory: Not loving and praising God for it, nor desiring and seeking to enjoy it.
Q. 20. So much of God's Works which make him known: Next tell us what you mean by the Words which you call his Name?
A. 1. All the Sacred Scripture as it maketh known God to us, by History, Precepts, Promises or Penal Threats: With all God's Instituted means of Worship. 2. More specially the Descriptions of God by his Attributes. 3. And most specially his Proper Name, GOD, Iehovah, &c.eEx. 3. 15. & 6. 3. Psal. 83. 18. Act. 9. 15.
Q. 21. I'le not ask you what his Attributes are, because you have told us that before; But how is this Name of God to be hallowed?
A. When the Soul is affected with that Admiration, Reverence, Love, Trust and Submission to God which the meaning of these Names bespaeks: And when the manner of our using them, expresseth such affections: Especially in publick Praises with the Churches.fExod. 34. 5, 6, 7. & 33. 19. Act. 21. 13▪ 1 Tim. 6. 1. Tit. 2. 5. Rom. 2. 24. Psal. 22. 22. Heb. 2. 12. Neh. 9. 5. Psal. 50. 23. & 66. 2. Mic. 4. 5. Rev. 11. 15.
Q. 22. How is this Name of God prophaned?
A. When it is used lightly, falsly, unreverently, without the aforesaid Holy regard and affections.
Q. 23. III. What is that which you call God's Name imprinted on Mans Mind?
A. God made Man very good at first, and that was in his own Image: And so much of this is either left by the interposition of Grace in lapsed Nature, or by common Grace restored to it, as that all Men, till utterly debauched, would fain be accounted Good, Pious, Vertuous, and Just, and hate the imputation of Wickedness, dishonesty and Badness: And on the Regenerate the Divine Nature is so renewed, as that their Inclination is towards God, and HOLINESS TO THE LORD is written on all their Faculties: And the Spirit of God moveth on the Soul, to actuate all his Graces; and to plead for God and our Redeemer, and bring Him to our Remembrance, to our Affections, and to subject us wholly to his Will and Love. And thus as the Law was written in Stone as to the Letter, which is written only on tender fleshy Hearts as to the Spirit and Holy effect and disposition; so the Name of God which is in the Bible in the Letter, is by the same Spirit imprinted on Believers Hearts, that is, They have the Knowledge, Faith, Fear and Love of God.gPsal. 29. 2. & 48. 10.
Q. 24. How must we hallow this inward Name of God?
A. 1. By Reverencing and Loving God, that is, God's Image and Operations in us: Not only God as glorified in Heaven, but God as dwelling by Grace in Holy Souls, must be remembred, and reverenced by us. 2. By living as in habitual Communion and Conversation with that God who dwelleth in us, and who hath made us his Habitation by the Spirit. 3. And by ready obeying the moving Operations of the Spirit for God.
And to contemn or resist these inward Ideas, Inclinations and Motions, is to prophane the Name of God.
Q. 25. But what is all this to the Sanctfying of God himself?
A. The Signs are but for him that is signified: It is God himself that is to be admired, Loved and Honoured, as notified to us by these Signs or Name; otherwise we make Idols of them. In a Word, God must be Esteemed, Reverenced, Loved, Trusted and Delighted in Transcendently as God, with affections proper to himself; and this is to Sanctifie him, by advancing him in our Heart, in his Prerogative above all Creatures: And all Creatures must be used respectively to this Holy End: And specially those Ordinances and Names which are specially Separated to this use: And nothing must be used as common and unclean, especially in his Worship, and Religious Acts.hAct. 1. 15. & 4. 12. Rev. 3. 4. & 11. 13. Ioel 2. 23. Deut. 28. 58. Exod. 33. 19. & 34. 5, 6, 7. 1 Kin. 5. 3, 5. Lev. 10. 3. Num. 20. 12, 13.