Exposition Upon the Church Catechism, Exposition · Lords Day 26 – Lords Day 37
Lord's Day 26.
Q. Rehearse the second Commandment.
A. Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image, nor the likeness of any thing, &c.
Q. What means he by the Phrase, of making a graven Image? Is it hereby unlawful, to make use of the Arts, of Casting, Graving, or painting any Image?
A. God means not, by this Commandment, to condemn these, or any the like Arts; nor the making or having such Resemblances for meer Civil Uses: but the making of any thing by means of those Arts, or having it, with a Design of representing therein the divine Majesty, and an Intention of using it, as an Object or means of Religious Worship.mPsal. 113. 4, 5. 115. 3, 4. Isa. 40. 25. 46. 5.
Q. What is meant by Bowing down to them, and Worshipping them?
A. In these Words are forbidden, all Postures of Religious Worship whatsoever, bestowed upon such Objects. Whether such as naturally express our Devotion to the Deity: the most usual of which kind, are bowing the whole Body, or the Knees, and Prostration and falling flat to the Ground: nPsal. 95. 6. Jos. 7. 6.or such as by custom are appropriated to Idols.oNum. 25. 2. 1 Kings 18. 26. Hos 13. 2.
Q. What understand you by that Attribute of Jealous, here given unto God?
A. That God can no more bear the joyning any other Partner with him in Religious Worship, than a Jealous Husband can endure that another Man should be a sharer in his Marriage Bed.pExod. 34. 14, 15.
Q. How understand you the effect of God's Jealousie, here mention'd, that he Visits the Iniquity of the Fathers, on the Children to the third and fourth Generation?
A. God herein threatens, that the Guilt, and the severe punishment which he will inflict upon Idolaters (especially of all Sinners,) shall pursue their Posterity through divers Generations: except any of them, by notable Humiliation, and Reformation, cut off the entail.qEze. 18. 14, 15, 16, 17.
Q. Why doth God, in this Commandment, express Idolaters, by the Phrase of such as hate him?
A. Because, whatever Love they pretend to God, and that for that Reason chiefly they are willing to have an Image of him always to keep him in Remembrance; as Men are willing to duplicate page duplicate page have the Pictures of beloved Objects always by them for that end: yet the proper Import of that Action is but hatred of God. As the Wife, how much soever she pretends to love her Husband, yet really hates him, if she admit any other Man to his Bed.rEz. 16. 45.
Q. What observe you in the last clause, shewing Mercy to thousands of them that love me, and keep my Commandments?
A. That the Mercy of God, in the extension of it, far exceeds his severity: sMic. 7. 18.the latter being here extended only to four, but the former to a multitude of Generations,tSee also, Rom. 11. 28.
Lord's Day 27.
Q. What (now) are the Duties required in the Affirmative part of this Commandment?
A. 1. The principal Duty here required, is, That we give all outward Religious Worship to the true God, as well as inward: uLuk. 4. 8. 1 Tim. 1. 17.and that, so, as to express the due Apprehensions we have of his infinite and incomprehensible Essence.w1 Ch. 16. 29. Ps. 150. 2.
2. And the Duties consequent upon this, are,
1. That we observe all Religious Ordinances, of his Institution and appointment.xLuk. 1. 6. Mat. 28. 20. 1 Cor. 11. 2.
2. That we give him no other outward Worship, (for substance,) than what he himself, (who best knows what is agreeable to his own Nature,) enjoyns us.yDeut. 4. 2.
3. That we perform all such Worship with due reverence.zPsal. 95. 6. Heb. 12. 28.
Q. What contains the Negative part of this Commandment? or what Sins are here forbidden?
A. 1. The giving external divine Worship to false Gods, or Idols, aLevit. 26. 1.or to Angels bCol. 2. 18. 23. Rev. 22. 8, 9.or Daemons, the Souls of Men departed this Life.cPsal. 106. 28.
2. All gross and disparaging apprehensions concerning the true God, when we worship him; especially when (in conformity to those apprehensions) we set up any image to represent him, as the object of our worship; tho' we direct that worship through it, to God himself.dEx. 32. 8.
3. The not giving God the external worship which he requires; eIsa. 43. 23, 24,and the contempt, fMal. 1. 7, 13.neglect, gHeb. 10. 25.or slight and perfunctory performance of, or attendance on hEccles. 5. 1., any ordinances or Duties of Religion.
4. The worshipping him in any false manner, taken up either from the tradition of others, iMat. 15. 8, 9.or our own superstitious fancies and imaginations.kPsal. 106. 39.
Q. Are all Ceremonies of humane invention forbidden (by this Commandment) to be used in Gods worship?
A. No. For God hath always allowed the Governours of his Church, to order the external circumstances of his worship: And among those, the Rites and Ceremonies wherewith it is to be performed: provided they be lawful for their matter lAct. 4. 15. 1 Jo 3. 4., moderate for their number, mAct. 15. 10.and in their use, tend to perserve order n1 Cor. 14. 40.and decency, o1 Cor. 11. 13.and promote edification.pRom. 14. 19.
And the observation of such Ceremonies as these, when enjoyned, is not only not a sin against this Commandment, but it is a duty implied therein.
Lord's Day 28.
Q. Repeat the third Commandment.
A. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless, that taketh his Name in vain.
Q. What is here comprehended in the Name of God?
A. Whatever it is, by which God is known to us, as we Men are each to other, by our Names. And so it includes
1. The Titles, or proper Names of God.qDeut. 28. 58. Ps. 68. 4.
2. His Properties, or Attributes.rExod. 34. 5, 6, 7.
3. His word.sPsal. 138. 2.
4. All his Ordinances, and Institutions.tDeut. 12. 5.
5. And his notable and remarkable works.uPsal. 9. 16. 75. 1. Job 36. 24.
Q. What is meant by taking these in vain?
A. The using any of them, impiously, wLev. 24. 15, 16.scurrilously, xEzek. 33. 30, 31. Jer. 23. 33superstitiously, y1 Sam. 4. 3.or any other way unbecomingly.zMal. 1. 12, 13, 14.
Q. What then are the Sins forbidden in this Commandment?
A. 1. All such usage of any thing that is thus related to God.aPsal. 139. 20.
2. All such carriage in Men professing Gods true Religion, as exposeth his Name, and its doctrine, to reproach.bJer. 7. 9, 10.
3. And, lastly, in a more special manner, the abuse of his Holy Name, by false, cZech. 8. 17.rash, dMark. 6. 23.or vain eMat. 5. 34. 37.swearing.
Q. What are the contrary Duties herein required?
A. 1. The thinking, speaking of, or otherwise using, with due honour and reverence, all things that bear relation to God.fPsal. 111. 9.
2. Crediting his Religion, and its Doctrine with an Holy Life.g1 Tim. 6. 1.
3. And especially, using great care and caution in the matter of Oaths: hEccles. 9. 2.That we take none but lawful ones, iDeut. 6. 13.and in such manner as we ought; kJer. 4. 2.and when we have taken any such, that we religiously keep them.lPsal. 15. 4.
Q. What is the force of the Reason annexed to this Commandment?
A. It importeth more than it seems to express: to wit, that God will look on him, that offends against this Commandment, as guilty of an hainous crime, m2 Kin. 2. 9.and be sure, without repentance proportionable, to punish him severely; either here, or hereafter.nMal. 2. 2. 3. 5.
Lord's Day 29.
Q. Which is the fourth Commandment?
A. Remember that thou keep Holy the Sabbath day, &c.
Q. What is meant by this Sabbath day, that is thus to be kept?
A. As this Commandment was given to the Israelites, it means the Seventh day, in order, (that is, Saturday, as we call it) in every week: which day was appointed to them for a Sabbath; that is, a day of solemn rest.
Q. How then cometh this Commandment to concern us that are not Israelites? Or doth it at all concern us?
A. Yes, It doth concern us, (as to the substance of it,) also. And that upon this account. Our Saviour, having, as Lord of the Sabbath oMar. 2. 28., abolished the Jewish Sabbath pCol. 2. 16.; and the general Reason of the Commandment requiring one day in seven to be allotted to Gods special Service, according to the proportion himself assigned from the very Creation qGen. 2. 2, 3.: his Apostles, (who acted by his Commission in ordering all the affairs of Gods worship in the Gospel-Church, rMat. 28. 20.) first began, and after them, the Universal Church continued, the change of that day, to the first of every week, in memory of our Lords Resurrection, sJoh. 20. 19. 26. Act. 20. 7. 1 Cor. 16. 1, 2.and called it the Lords day; which is now the Christian Sabbath.tRev. 1. 10.
Q. What are the Duties required in this Commandment?
A. That we rest from all worldly business and employments, on that day, and spend the whole time, in such Actions as belong to a religious Feast.
Q. What Actions are those?
A. 1. All acts (especially) of solemn and publick Devotion. To wit, Prayers, Preaching, and hearing Gods Word, singing of Psalms, administring and receiving the Holy Sacraments: and all such others in private, as conduce to the better performance of these.uAct. 13. 44. 16. 13. 20. 7.
2. All exercises of Charity.w1 Cor. 16. 1, 2.
3. And all these must be farther heightened, by thankful Meditation on the works of Creation, and Redemption.xPs. 92. Tit. &c.
Q. What are the Sins forbidden therein?
A. 1. The neglect of any of the duties belonging to such an Holy Day yEzek. 22. 8., or performing them with weariness and grudging.zIsa. 58. 13. Amos 8. 5.
2. And the breaking the rest of that day, by any of the works of our callings aLevit. 26. 35. Neh. 13. 17., or any others: But such only, as are of necessity, (under which also are included those of Decency,) and such … relate to Piety, and charity.bMat. 12. 5. Luk. 6. 1, 9. 14. 5.
Lord's day 30.
Q. What are the Reasons annexed to this Commandment?
A. They are two.
1. That allowing God one weekly day for his solemn Service is but equal: seeing he hath allowed us six for our own imployments.
2. That God himself having given man an example of resting on that Day, by his resting, that is, ceasing on it from his works of Creation; took occasion from thence to sanctify it, that is, separate it to himself, and annex a blessing to the religious observers of his Sabbath.
Q. To whom is the special charge, of seeing this day duly observed, assigned by this Commandment?
A. As to every person for his own particular: so also, to all publick Magistrates, Masters of Families, and other Persons in any sort of Government; to oblige all under their Authority thereunto.cNeh. 13. 15. 17. Deut. 5. 14.
Q. We have gone through the first Table. Tell me now what is the summ of the six Commandments of the second Table?
A. That we love our Neighbours as our selves: and do to others that and only that, which we, (lawfully and reasonably) expect they should do to us.dMat. 7. 12. 22. 39. Rom. 13. 10.
Q. Who (in the sense of these Commandments) is our Neighbour?
A. Any one, whosoever is partaker of the same humane nature with our selves: though he be a Foreigner, and Enemy to us, or one of a different, yea contrary Religion to ours.eLuk. 10. 33, 36, 37.
Q. How must we understand this obligation of loving our Neighbour as our selves? Must we love every Man or Woman else, equally with our selves?
A. No: But as truly, and sincerely, as our selves: and we must shew our love to them, in all those kinds of Acts, wherein we are wont to shew our love to our selves.fRom. 12. 9.
Lord's day 31.
Q. Which is the fifth Commandment, (the first of the second Table?)
A. Honour thy Father and thy Mother, &c.
Q. What is the General design of this Commandment?
A. To establish and maintain Government, both in the World, and in the Church; by fixing the mutual duties of Superiours, and Inferiours, of all sorts, and sizes.gRom. 13. 1. Heb. 13. 17.
Q. What Superiours are those whom this Commandment comprehends under the Name of Father, and Mother?
A. Not only natural Parents, and other superiours in Families: But also, all that are in Authority in Church or State: together with all who in respect of Age, Gifts, Quality, or Civility, have any sort of preeminence above others.
Q. Who are the Inferiors therein comprehended?
A. Not only natural Children, and other subordinate Members of every Family: but also all that are under Government in Church or State: And also all those, who converse with such, as have a preeminence in Age, Gifts, Quality, or on any any other civil account, before themselves.
Q. What is the Duty here required from these Inferiours to their Superiours?
A. In general, the Law expresseth it by one word, Honour: which yet must be understood, (sutably to their several Relations and degrees of subjection,) to include such Proportions of Love, Fear, Reverence, Obedience, and other Assistance, as those Relations and degrees require.hEph. 6. 1, 2 Heb. 12. 9. Ephes. 5. 22. 6. 5. Rom. 13. 1. 1 Pet. 2. 13, 14. 1 Thes. 5. 12. Lev. 19. 32. Rom. 12. 10.
Q. What is the reciprocal Duty of Superiors to Inferiors?
A. The demeaning themselves so, as to deserve that Honour; by imploying their Authority and Eminency for their good, in all the Acts of just and prudent Government and influence; joyned with a vertuous Example, and courteous and affable Demeanour.iEph. 6. 4, 9. Col. 3. 19. 2 Sam. 23. 3. 1 Pet. 5. 2, 3. 1 Thes. 2. 7 Rom. 12. 10.
Q. What are the Sins forbidden in this Commandment?
A. The neglect of any of these relative Duties, and the vices contrary to them, in each Relation.
Q. What is the import of the latter clause of this Commandment.
A. Those words, that thy days may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee: (by the Apostles Interpretation,) kEph. 6. 2.have the force of a Promise, that God will, (so far as he sees expedient,) bestow long life, and prosperity, on such as keep this Commandment, lDeut. 5. 16.which promise also, includes a threatning of a contrary import, to those that break it.mProv. 30. 17, 17. 11.
Lord's day 32.
Q. Which is the sixth Commandment?
A. Thou shalt not kill, or Thou shalt do no murder.
Q. What are the Duties required in this Commandment?
A. It requires all due care, in all Persons, to preserve their own, nEph. 5. 28, 29.and others oJob 29. 13.lives: and to nourish in themselves, those inward affections and gracious dispositions, that tend thereunto.pRom. 13. 10. Col. 2. 12, 13. 1 Pet. 3. 8. Eph. 4. 26. Rom. 12. 17.
Q. What are the Sins forbidden in this Commandment?
A. All actual Murder, committed either on our selves, qAct. 16. 28.or others; rGen. 9. 6. Mat. 5. 25.and whatever, thoughts, words, or actions, tending thereunto.
2. Together with all outragious Passions, or vicious Dispositions of any kind, which occasion or encline Men to the Commission of this foul sin.s1 Joh. 3. 15. Gal. 5. 15.
Q. Is it in no case lawful to take away anothers Life?
A. It is only Lawful in three cases.
1. In the way of publick Justice, for capital Offences.tNum. 35. 31.
2. In lawful War, and in heat of Battle.u1 Sam. 25. 28. Psal. 144. 1
3. And for our own necessary defence; when the danger of our own lives is otherwise unavoidable.wExod. 22. 2, 3.
Q. Which is the seventh Commandment?
A. Thou shalt not commit Adultery.
Q. What Duties are required in this Commandment?
A. 1. The living chastly our selves; x1 Thes. 4. 4. Gen. 39. 10.and preserving (as much as in us lies) the chastity of all others: yGen. 39. 8, 9.whether in single Estate, or Matrimony.z1 Cor. 7. 2, 9. Heb. 13. 4. 1 Pet. 3. 2.
2. And the ordering of our thoughts, looks, aJob 31. 1.Speeches, bCol. 4. 6.Gestures, Behaviour, c1 Pet. 3. 2.and Apparrel, d1 Tim. 2. 9.so, as may most promote it.
Q. And what are the Sins here forbidden?
A. All sorts of lasciviousness, wantonness, or fleshly uncleanness; by which our own bodies, or the bodies of others (whether married, eJer. 5. 8.or single Persons,) f2 Sam. 13. 12.are any way defiled.gGal. 5. 19. Col. 3. 5.
2. All Thoughts, Looks, h2 Pet. 2. 14. Mat. 5. 27, 28.Speeches, iEph. 5. 4Gestures, kIsa. 3. 16Apparel, lProv. 7. 10.and Behaviour, mGen. 39. 12.that tend to the begetting or exciting of filthy inclinations, either in our selves, or others.
Lord's day 33.
Q. Which is the eighth Commandment?
A. Thou shalt not Steal.
Q. What duties are required in this Commandment?
A. Industry, and Diligence in a lawful Calling nEph. 4. 28. 2 Thes. 3. 12.Justice, and Honesty in our bargains and contracts, oLev. 19. 26.paying all men their dues, pRom. 13. 7.helping others, (wherein we may,) to live by honest industry, qPhil. 2. 4.and relieving them, when they cannot do so.rLev. 25. 35.
Q. What are the Sins forbidden therein?
A. All idle, and disorderly living, without any lawful imployment, s2 Thes. 3. 11.and negligence in such an imployment when we have it, tPro. 18. 9.all unlawful or unjust ways of gain, either in bargains, or otherwise, u1 Thes. 4. 6.especially by Theft, or Robbery; ‖1 Cor. 6. 10.with-holding from any one his dues, wProv. 3. 27.oppressing others, especially the industrious Poor, that they cannot live by us, xPsal. 12. 5. Isa. 5. 8.and being too close handed in Acts of Charity.y1 Joh. 3. 17.
Q. Rehearse the ninth Commandment?
A. Thou shalt not bear false Witness against thy Neighbour.
Q. What Duties doth this Commandment require?
A. It requireth sincerity and truth in our Hearts, zPsal. 51. 6.Words, aZech. 8. 16.and Dealings; bPro. 12. 22.especially, when our Neighbours Life, Estate, or good Name, is any way concerned in our TestimonycProv. 14. 5, 25. 1 Sam. 19. 4.
Q. And what Sins are here forbidden?
A. All Hypocrisie, d1 Pet. 2. 1.Dissimulation, eRom. 12. 9.and Lying, fCol. 3. 9.especially, when the Lives, Estates, or good Names of others, are any ways dammaged, or endangered to be dammaged, by Slander, gJer. 9. 4or false Testimony.hPro. 19. 5. Deut. 19. 18, 19, 21.
Q. Which is the tenth Commandment?
A. Thou shalt not Covet, &c.
Q. What Duties are required in this Commandment?
A. This Commandment establisheth every Man's Propriety in whatsoever belongs to him; iActs 5. 4.and enjoyns all others quietly to suffer him to enjoy it; being disposed thereto, by a contented frame of Spirit, in that condition which God by his Providence allots them, k1 Tim. 6. 6. 8.and a due moderation of all desires after more.lHeb. 13. 5.
Q. And what doth it forbid?
A. The greedy Lusts of Mens Hearts, (the spawn of Original Corruption) mJam. 1. 14.which makes them apt to be discontented with their own Condition, n1 King. 21. 4. Hester 5. 13.and desirous to break in upon the propriety of others to amend it.oHab. 2. 5. 9.
Lord's day 34.
Q. You have now gone through the Commandments, and see what a large Compass they have, you are therefore (in the next place,) to consider, how far you are able to perform the Promise of your Godfathers and Godmothers for you, and which you also have ratifyed by our own consent. What, therefore, do you understand your self to be obliged to, by that part of your Promise, which engageth you to keep Gods Commandments, and walk in the same all the days of your Life?
A. I do not take my self to be obliged thereby to a perfect unsinning Obedience, or legal Perfection; that is, such as the Law (considered in its own nature) requires: For no man ever performed, or can perform that, pRom. 3. 23. Jam. 3. 2.but the Lord Jesus only.qHeb. 4. 15.
Q. To what, then, doth that Promise bind you?
A. To a sincere, hearty, and constant desire, rPs. 119. 6.joyned with answerable endeavours, sPs. 119. 48.to practise to the utmost of my power, all known Duties, and avoid all known Sins; tPs. 119. 11.and continually to repent of, beg Gods pardon for, and labour the more earnestly to amend, all those evils, which (notwithstanding all my former resolutions and endeavours) through humane Frailty, I fall into.uPs. 19. 11, 12. Rom. 7. 24, 25.
Q. But the Scripture requires Perfection in us; doth it not? How then can you expect God will accept your Obedience accompanied with so many Imperfections?
A. Yes, I am assured, that through the merit and mediation of Jesus Christ for me, God will accept this as my Evangelical Perfection, it being that which the Gospel-Covenant admits for such; and of his infinite Grace will reward accordingly.wRom. 7. 25 Compared with Chap. 8. 1 Phil. 3. 12, 13, 14, 15.
Q. My good Child, know this that thou art not able to do (even) these things of thy self; nor (even thus) to walk in the Commandments of God, and to serve him without his special Grace: which (therefore) thou must learn at all times to call for by diligent Prayer. What (therefore) is Prayer?
A. Prayer is an Act of religious Worship, wherein we present our hearty desires to God, xPsal. 62. 8. Ps. 102. title.for such things as we want, yHeb. 4. 16.and such as are agreeable to his Will to give; z1 Joh. 5. 14.with expectation of his gracious Answer, aJam. 1. 5. 6.in the name, and for the sake, of Jesus Christ alone.bJo. 14. 13. 14.
Q. How many Parts are there of Prayer?
A. Prayer (in its general Compass) comprehends Three Parts: Confession, cDan. 9. 4.Petition, and Thanksgiving. dPhil. 4. 6.Of which, Confession and Thanksgiving, are not so properly such, as Petition; but are annexed thereunto, as those which render the Requests we make therein more acceptable to God, and successful to us. And each of those Parts, in particular Prayers, may be straitened or enlarged, according to the occasion.
Lord's Day 35.
Q. How is Prayer distinguished in reference to the expression thereof?
A. Into Prayer Mental, or that of the heart alone; e1 Sam. 1. 13.and vocal, which is, the uttering the desires of the heart by words.fHos. 14. 2. Act. 4. 24.
Q. How many sorts of Vocal Prayer are there?
A. Two: 1. That which consists of free and unlimited expressions, according to every ones own choice: which most fitly sutes private Prayer in our Closets, as most agreeing to our emergent Occasions.g2 Sam. 7. 18.
2. And that which is limited by a Form of Words; which is most proper for publick Worship, ordinarily; as that which is to respect the known general Necessities of all Christians, hLuke 11. 1. 1 Cor. 14. 10.and so composed, as all may say, Amen to it.
Q. What Scripture-warrant is there, for confining our Prayers to a Form of Words, at any time?
A. That we have divers such Forms of publick Devotion, Recorded in Scripture: iNum. 6. 23. 10. 35. & Ps. 68. 1. compared.and especially that excellent One, which our Saviour composed for his Disciples, not only as a perfect Pattern of Prayer; but also as a Form, to be used continually in his Church.kMat. 6. 9. & Luk. 11. 2. compared.
Q. Let me hear, therefore, if thou canst say the Lord's Prayer?
A. Our Father which art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in Earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this Day our Daily Bread. And forgive us out Trespasses, as we forgive them that Trespass against Us. And lead Us not into Tentation. But deliver Us from Evil. Amen.
Q. This Prayer is here recited according to the briefer Account of St. Luke; What is there more belonging to it, according to the larger Copy of St. Matthew?
A. A Doxology in the end thereof, in these Words. For thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, for Ever, Amen.
Q. What Parts is the entire Prayer composed of?
A. Of these three.
1. A solemn Preface to the Divine Majesty.
2. Six Comprehensive Petitions, containing all things to be Prayed for by Us.
3. A Conclusion, which is called a Doxology, as containing Praises and Thankful acknowledgments to God.
Q. In what Words is the Preface contained?
A. In these, Our Father which art in Heaven.
Q. Why do we here Address our selves to God, by the Name of Father?
A. 1. To express the Holy Confidence wherewith we are to apply our selves to God, as Children to a Father; whom that Relation inclines to a ready willingness to relieve Us.lRom. 8. 15. Mat. 7. 11.
2. And withal, to intimate to Us two things.
1. That we are to have an Eye to Christ in all our Prayers, through whom only God becomes a Father to us.mEph. 3. 14.
2. As also that we ought to have the dutiful Affections of Children to God, whom in our Prayers we so constantly Address our selves to, under that Relation.nEph. 5. 1.
Lord's Day 36.
Q. Why are we taught to say, Our Father, not, My Father?
A. 1. To mind us, that we are to be in perfect Charity with all our Brethren, when we Pray: so as to Pray for them, and to be ready also to Pray with them, as to our common Father.
2. As also, (because this Prayer was penned by our Saviour for a publick Form) it is composed so, that all Christians may joyn in it.
Q. Why do we direct our Prayers to God, as in 1 King. 8. 27.Heaven, seeing he is every where; and the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain him?
A. Because, though he be every where, (and so not comprehended in any place; no, not in the vast Compass of Heaven it self,) as to his Essence; yet Heaven is the Principal Seat of His Majesty, oIsa. 66. 1.whence he expects from us, poor Earth-worms on his Footstool, all due Reverence, when we Address our selves to him.pEccles. 5. 2.
As also, to mind us, that he is equally near to every one of his Petitioners, qAct. 17. 27.as Heaven is at equal distance from all parts of the Earth.
Q. How are the Petitions ordered in this Prayer?
A. In the most natural, and proper Order rMat. 6. 33.. That is, so, as that the three which relate to God's Glory, are preferred to the first place, before those which relate to our Needs.
Q. Of the Three, which relate to God's Glory, which is the First?
A. Hallowed be thy Name?
Q. What Pray we for, in this Petition?
A. We ask herein, (supposing that God in all things is to be glorified,) s1 Pet. 4. 11.that he, and whatever belongs to him, may by us, and all men, tPs. 57. 5. 11.be acknowledged, and honoured as infinitely holy: uIsa. 6. 3.and that all things may be removed, which obstruct or hinder, the honor and glory, that is due to his Name.wPsal. 79. 6.
Q. Which is the Second?
A. Thy Kingdom come.
Q. What beg we in this Petition?
A. We beg, that God's Sovereign Authority may be acknowledged in all the World, and his Laws obeyed; xPsal. 67, 2. 3, 4. 2 Thes. 3. 1that his Kingdom of Grace may be propagated, by the Conversion of Jews, Turks, and other Infidels; yRom. 10. 1. Psal. 2. 8.and in the Church, promoted and preserved; z2 Thes. 1. 11. 12. Psal. 28. 9.that we, in particular, may be, and continue to be, his true Subjects; aPs. 119. 36, 80.that his Kingdom of Glory may be hastned; bRev. 22. 20.and lastly, that the Power of Sin, Satan, and whatsoever is contrary to his Kingdom in any sort, may be abolished.cRom. 16. 20. 1 Joh. 3. 8.
Lord's Day 37.
Q. Which is the third Petition?
A. Thy Will be done in Earth, as it is in Heaven.
Q. What doth this Petition contain?
A. It contains two Requests concerning the fulfilling of God's Will.
1. Concerning the thing it self; That it may be done in Earth.
2. Concerning the manner of doing it; That it may be done here, as it is in Heaven.
Q. Of how many kinds is the Will of God?
A. It is twofold, containing
1. His Secret Will, which he Wills in himself.
2. His Revealed Will, which he makes known to Us.
Q. What Pray we for here in reference to his Secret Will?
A. That all things may be ordered according to his, not our Pleasure: dLuk. 22. 42.and that he will give us Grace (without enquiring into it too curiously before hand, eDeut. 20. 29.) to submit to it, (whatever it be,) when 'tis declared by the event, quietly and contentedly.fMat. 26. 42. Act. 21. 14.
Q. What Pray we for, in reference to his Revealed Will?
A. That God will teach us, to understand our Duty therein contained clearly; gPs. 119. 18.and give us his Grace, actually to perform, hPs. 143. 10.without disputing and murmuring iPhil. 2. 14.whatever we understand thereof.
Q. As to the manner of performing this Will, or doing our duty in reference to it: What mean we when we pray, that it May be done in Earth, as in Heaven?
A. That our Submission and Obedience may be such, for the manner, as that of the Heavenly inhabitants is: who approve the will of God in all things, (and for their own parts) obey it readily, faithfully and constantly.kPsal. 103. 20. Dan. 9. 21. Gen. 28. 12.