The Catechizing of Families, Chapter 27
CHAP. XXVII. Thy will be done on Earth▪ as it is in Heaven.
Qu. 1. VVHy is this made the Third Petition?
A. Because it must be the Third in our Desires: I told you this Prayer in perfect Method beginneth at that which must be the first in our Intention; and that is, God's Interest as above our own, which is consistent and exprest in these three gradations: 1. The highest Notion of it is, The Hallowing and Glorifying of his Name, and resplendent perfections. 2. The Second is that in which this is chiefliest notified to Man, which is his Kingdom. 3. The Third is the Effect of this Kingdom in the fulfilling of his will.
Q. 2. What will of God is it that is here meant?
A. His Governing and Beneficent will: expressed in his Laws and Promises, concerning Man's Duty, and God's Rewards and Gifts.aIoh. 4. 34. & 6. 39, 40.
Q. 3. Is not the will of his Absolute Dominion exprest in the Course of Natural Motion, here inclided?
A. It may be included as the supposed matter of our approbation and praise: And as Gods will is taken for the Effects and Signs of his will, we may and must desire that he will continue the Course of Nature, Sun, and Moon, and Stars, Earth, Winds and Water, &c. till the time of their dissolution, and Mankind on Earth: For these are supposed as the subject or accidents of Government. But the thing specially meant is God's governing Will, that is, that his Laws may be obeyed, and his Promises all performed.bAct. 21. 14. Mat. 7. 21. & 12. 50. & 18▪ 14. & 21. 31.
Q. 4. But will not God's will be alwayes done, whether we pray or not?
A. 1. All shall be done which God hath undertaken or decreed to do himself, and not laid the Event on the will of Man: His absolute will of Events, is still fulfilled. But Man doth not alwayes do God's will; that is, he doth not keep God's Laws, or do the Duty which God commandeth him; and therefore doth not obtain the Rewards or Gifts which were but conditionally promised. 2. And even some things decreed absolutely by God, must be prayed for by Man: For he decreeth the Means as well as the End; and Prayer is a means, which his Commands and Promises oblige us to.
Q. 5. Why is it added [as it is done in Heaven?]
A. To mind us, 1. Of the perfect Holy Obedience of the Glorified. 2. And that we must make that our Pattern, and the End of our Desires. 3. And to keep up our Hopes and Desires of that Glorio… Perfection: And strive to do God's will understandingly, sincerely, fully, readily, delightfully, without unwillingness, unweariedly, concordantly, without division, in perfect Love to God, his work, an… one another: For so his will is done in Heaven. An… these Holy heavenly Desires, are the Earnest of our Heavenly possession.
Q. 6. What is it that we pray against in this Petition?
A. Against all sin, as a Transgression of his Law, and against all distrust of his Promises, and Discontentedness with his Disposals: and so against every will, that is contrary to the will of God.
Q. 7. What Will is it that is contrary to the Will of God?
A. 1. The Will of Satan, who hateth God and Holiness, and Man, and willeth Sin, Confusion and Calamity, and who is obeyed by all the ungodly World.
2. The Will of all blind Unbelieving wicked Men, especially Tyrants, who fill the World with Sin, and Blood, and Misery, that they may have their wills without controll or bounds.
3. Especially our own sinful self-willedness, and rebellious and disobedient dispositions.cIo. 1. 13. Ioh. 5. 30. & 6. 38. Luke 22. 42. …. 13. 22. Heb. 13. 21.
Q. 8. What mean you by our self-willedness?
A. Man was made by the Creating Will of God, to obey the Governing will of God, and rest and rejoice in the disposing, rewarding and beneficent will of God, and his Essential Love and Goodness: by sin he is fallen from God's will to himself, and his own Will, and would fain have all Events in the power and disposal of his own Will, and fain be Ruled by his own Will, and have no restraints, and would rest in himself; and the fulfilling of his Will: Yea, he would have all Persons and things in the World, to depend on his Will, fulfill and please it, and ascribe unto it. And so would be the Idol of himself, and of the World. And all the wickedness, and stir, and cruelty of the World, is but that every selfish Man may have his will.
Q. 9. What then is the full meaning of this Petition?
A. That Earth which is grown so like to Hell by doing the will of Satan, of Tyrants, and of self-willed fleshly wicked Men, may be made liker unto Heaven by a full compliance of the will of Man with the will of God, depending submissively on his disposing will, obeying his commanding will, fearing his punishing will, trusting, rejoicing and resting in his rewarding and beneficent will, and renouncing all that is against it.dLuke 12. 47. Ioh. 7. 17. Act. 22. 14. Rom. 2. 18. Col. 1. 9.
Q. 10. But if it be God's will to punish, pain and kill us, how can we Will this when it is evil to us; and we cannot Will evil?
A. As God himself doth Antecedently or Primarily will that which is good without any evil to his Subjects, and but consequently will their punishment on supposition of their wilful sin, and this but as the work of his Holiness and Justice for good; so he would have us to will first and absolutely, next his own Glory and Kingdom, our own Holiness and Happiness, and not our Misery; but to submit to his just punishments with a will that Loveth (not the hurt, but) the final good Effect, and the Wisdom, Holiness and Justice of our Chastiser. Which well consisteth with begging Mercy, Pardon, and Deliverance.qMat. 26. 42.
Q. 11. But is not Heaven too high a Pattern for our desires?
A. No: Though we have much duty on Earth which belongs not to them in Heaven; and they have much which belongeth not to us, yet we must desire to obey God fully in our duty, as they do in theirs; and desiring and seeking heavenly Perfection is our sincerity on Earth.rPsal. 4. 80.
Q. 12. What Sin doth this Clause specially condemn?
A. 1. Unbelief of the Heavenly Perfection. 2. Fleshly Lusts and Wills, and a Worldly mind. 3. The ungodliness of them that would not have God have all our Heart, and Love, and Service, but think it is too much preciseness, or more ado than needs, and give him but the leavings of the Flesh.