The Holy Arbor, Chapter 3 · Section 8
§. 8. Give us this day our daily bread.
UNder the name of Bread, by that uſual figure Synecdoche, our Savior Chriſt compriſeth not onelyonly all corporal bleſſings, and ſuch as are neceſſary for this life, but alſo the profitable uſe of them. Give us;] that is, Beſtow, bleſs and ſanctifie all temporal neceſſary good things unto us; Sanctifie all outward comforts unto us, which by reaſon of ſin ſtand accurſed, that they may not be a deſtruction to us in the uſe of them, as we deſerve: Beſtow, uphold, continue and maintain that which thou haſt given us; Bleſs, make proſperous and wholeſom our meats and drinks, for the ſtrengthning of our bodies, and refreſhing our Spirits, ſo as we may be enabled in the ſtrength of thy bleſſing, to ſerve thee in our Callings as thou haſt commanded. This day] that is, we deſire not ſuch abundance for ſo long a time, as whereby our dependance upon thee ſhould be cut off, but to be content with things neceſſary for the preſent, and to wait upon thee for the future from day to day. Daily bread] that is, Bread for our ſubſtance, ſuch as Nature doth require to uphold it; no dainties or coſtly feaſtings, but onelyonly neceſſary food and cloathing, whereby the ſubſtance of our bodies may be continued, and not pine away. Our daily bread] that is, not the bread, the clothes, the ſubſtance of another, but ſuch things honeſtly gotten by our labor, through Gods bleſſing upon us, according to the Apoſtle, 2 Theſſ. 3.2. And the wealthieſt in the world may not think himſelf too rich to beg this daily bread, for he knows not ere the day paſs, to what extremity, with Job, he may be brought.
This Petition followeth immediately Thy will be done, becauſe to have things neceſſary for our maintenance, is a ſtay and help unto us, the more chearfully to do the will of God, and keeps us from unlawful enterprizes; and becauſe the Rule of ſeeking things temporal muſt not be our own, but the will of God. So likewiſe this Petition in order is placed before this (Forgive us our Treſpaſſes) not for that the things of this life are to be ſought before thoſe that concern the life to come, for this is forbidden, Joh. 6.27. but to provide againſt our infirmities, whereby we diſtruſt God for food, raiment, and worldly deliverances, when we profeſs that we believe in him for the remiſſion of ſin, and deliverance from damnation; and to provide for the ſtrengthning of our faith touching things eternal, by aſcending from theſe his gifts below, wherein we taſte of his goodneſs daily. By which order we are taught to conſider the corruption of mans Nature, which ought in the firſt place to ſeek things Spiritual; but becauſe we live rather by Senſe then by Faith, we do principally deſire things corporal. Again, hereby appears Chriſts mercy unto man, in that by this order he deſcendeth to our infirmity, who rather depend on him for the pardon of our ſins, then truſt him for our proviſion in this life; which argues we are but of little faith, Matth. 9.5. Laſtly, by this order we are taught to depend upon him for the forgiveneſs of our ſins: for when we ſee that he is here ſo careful for our bodies, he will doubtleſs be more careful to provide for the good of our ſouls, Rom. 8.32.
The Reaſons why in this Petition Chriſt addeth (This day)
1. To meet with our diſtruſtfulneſs and covetouſneſs, and to reclaim us from both theſe vices.
2. That we ſhould depend on him onelyonly; as yeſterday, ſo this day; as this day, ſo to morrow and for ever.
3. That the exerciſe of faith and prayer may be always continued in us.
The Reaſons why Chriſt calleth it, Daily bread.
1. Becauſe he will have us daily to deſire as much as may for every day ſuffice us.
2. Becauſe he will bridle our raging and endleſs luſts and deſires; for we are not to be inordinately careful for any thing, but to depend upon Gods Providence.
3. Becauſe he will have us to know, That as we expect daily our ſupportance from God, ſo are we daily to praiſe him for it.
From this circumſtance of time (This day) we are taught,
1. To acknowledge Gods particular providence upon us from day to day, whereon we muſt depend continually for all things needful, though we ſee no reaſon thereof.
2. To bewail our diſtruſtfulneſs of Gods providence for temporal bleſſings.
3. To moderate our care in ſeeking for the bleſſings of this life; yet we muſt exerciſe our ſelves in the uſe of lawful means to provide things honeſt and neceſſary, otherwiſe we ſhall tempt God: but this care muſt not over-ballance our dependance on him.
4. To ſanctifie the Creatures by prayer and thankſgiving when we uſe them; for as we pray for them, ſo we ſhould glorifie God for his bleſſing upon them daily as we uſe them.
5. To make it our practice every day to pray unto God for his bleſſings.
For what Reaſons Chriſt willeth us to deſire our bread, not mine, thine or another mans bread,
1. That we ſhould deſire thoſe things which God giveth us; for the bread is made ours by Gods aſſignment and appointment.
2. To admoniſh us to abſtain from that which is other mens, and to eat our own bread in the labor of our hands, by an honeſt and lawful Calling, 2 Theſſ. 3.10.
3. That we may uſe them with a good Conſcience.
4. Becauſe the children of God onelyonly have a propriety in theſe outward good things through the gift of God (being all forfeited by Adams fall) ſo that the wicked be but uſurpers of them.
The Reaſons why in this Petition we deſire corporal bleſſings,
1. In reſpect of Gods Commandment, both general, Mat. 7.7. and ſpecial, Mat. 6.9.
2. In reſpect of Gods Promiſe; and he hath promiſed them, That we ſhould thereby have a Spiritual, not a fleſbly ſecurity, Mat. 6.32.
3. In reſpect of Gods glory, that we may aſcribe them to his Providence, and not think they come by chance unto us.
4. Becauſe the deſiring and expecting of theſe bleſſings, is the exerciſe of our confidence in the Promiſe of Grace, or the exerciſe of our Invocation, Faith and Hope.
5. That we may do the will of God here on earth, which without it we cannot, Pſal. 115.18.
6. That the deſire of theſe bleſſings may be a confirmation in our mindes, and a profeſſion before the world, that God is he who giveth even the leaſt benefits as well as the greateſt.
7. For our comfort, that we may know that the Church ſhall ever be preſerved, when God heareth us according to his Promiſe.
The maner how corporal bleſſings are to be deſired:
1. With a confidence and full perſwaſion of Gods favor; becauſe otherwiſe God might anſwer, We are not of them unto whom he hath promiſed theſe things.
2. With a condition of Gods will and pleaſure, with a ſubmiſſion of our will to Gods will.
3. With faith and belief of Gods hearing us, that he will give us ſo much as ſufficeth.
4. To this end, as thereby to ſerve God and our Neighbor.
The bread in this Petition cannot (as ſome would have it) be underſtood of Spiritual food, for theſe Reaſons:
1. Becauſe this prayer is a perfect patern for our direction in all things, the temporal not excluded, whereby we acknowledge Gods Providence to be extended even to the ſmalleſt things of this life; to make profeſſion whereof to his great glory, is not unworthy this moſt divine Prayer.
2. Becauſe our Spiritual food is asked in the ſecond Petition, the coming of Gods Kingdom being the beſtowing of his Grace, and ſpecially of Chriſt the Fountain of all Grace upon us; and we are bound to pray that God will ever give us this bread, Joh. 6.34. but we are taught that this bread is not here meant.
3. Becauſe the bread here asked is but for This day; which doth imply a fading or waſting away, ſo as that we ſtill have need of new bread every day, which cannot be ſo properly ſaid of our Spiritual food: Underſtand it then of all things neceſſary for our ſuſtenance.
How the bread is made good and ſaving unto us:
1. If we receive it with faith, with that minde, after that maner, and to that end which God requireth; that is, if we ſtick not in the Creatures, but pierce with our mindes unto God himſelf, the Creator of all things, and Fountain of all benefits.
2. If we deſire that he will give to the bread obtained and received from him, a force and vertue of nouriſhing and ſuſtaining our bodies.
That God may Give us this day our daily bread, let us remember every morning
1. To give him hearty thanks for all his mercies, bodily and Spiritual, and his late preſervation of us.
2. To make an humble confeſſion of our ſins, with an earneſt deſire of pardon, joyn'd with contrition of ſoul and amendment of life.
3. To ask ſuch neceſſaries as are requiſite for our ſoul and body, with fervency craving his bleſſing upon the labor of our Callings the day to come.
The Reaſons why we ask all corporal bleſſings under this name of Bread:
1. Becauſe bread is abſolutely neceſſary for mans life, Pſal. 104.15.
2. To teach us frugality in uſing Gods Creatures, Joh. 6.12.
3. To make us content with whatſoever God ſendeth, Phil. 4.11.
4. To make us thankful if God give more then bread, Pſal. 23.5.
5. Becauſe in ancient times bread was mans moſt ordinary food, as appeareth, Gen. 18.5. Pſal. 104.15. Mark 8.4.
How God doth give bread:
1. By bleſſing the earth with encreaſe by ſeaſonable weather, Hoſ. 2.21.
2. By placing us in ſome honeſt Calling, Pſal. 28.2.
3. By giving us the ſtaff of bread, Lev. 26. that is, power to his Creatures to nouriſh us.
4. By making this bread not onelyonly wholeſom, but alſo holy unto us, that by it we may the better ſerve him.
The Reaſons wherefore we call that bread ours, which is Gods gift:
1. To magnifie Gods gracious bounty, who maketh that ours which is not due unto us, 1 Tim. 6.7. Job 1.21.
2. Becauſe God hath ordained it for our uſe.
3. As Chriſt is ours for the good of our ſouls, 1 Cor. 1.30. ſo Gods Creatures are ours for the good of our bodies.
4. It is ours, becauſe we get it by our honeſt labor, Gen. 3.19. Eccl. 11.6.
5. It is ſanctified unto us by the word and prayer, 1 Tim. 4.
In this Petition we are taught,
1. To beware of Covetouſneſs, whereby we are diſcontent with our eſtate, and with the Iſraelites, murmure that we have no more but Manna.
2. To practice Sobriety, and moderation in dyet, apparel, and all other things appertaining to this life.
3. To ask of God every bit of bread we eat. Away then with all Chance and Fortune, and let us learn to acknowledge Gods providence in all things.
4. Like obedient children to ask of God our daily food, and to receive it as a gift of mercy from the hand of our Father. Away then with Merit by mans works, for if bread be of Mercy, Life everlaſting cannot be of Merit on mans part.
5. To beware of diſtruſtful care; for that which Chriſt bids us ask, God undoubtedly will give, becauſe it is according to his will, if we ask in faith, and make a ſober uſe of the means that be lawful; and look, if temporal bleſſings fail, for a good ſupply in Spiritual Graces.
6. To learn to receive our bread from God, or any other temporal bleſſing we enjoy, as a fruit of Chriſts Paſſion, which is the Foundation of every good gift and bleſſing of God.
7. That every one ſhould have a lawful Calling, and therein ſo imploy himſelf, that he may eat his own bread, 2 Theſſ. 3.12.
8. That all fraud, injuſtice and cruelty in the getting of temporal things, is condemned; for we pray for our own bread, gotten by honeſt labor, that we eat not the bread of violence, Prov. 14.17. & 20.17.
9. That we muſt labor to be in Chriſt, 2 Cor. 13.5. endeavor to maintain our eſtate, Gen. 30.30. and impart our goods to the poor, Prov. 19.17.
10. That community of goods is an Anabaptiſtical fancy, Joſh. 13.7. and not commanded in the word; for what need of a Law againſt Theft, if all things were common?
In the Supplication of this Petition we pray for all things needful for us in this preſent life, not being meaſured by our own will, but by the will of the Lord: Theſe things are
1. General, concerning us all; as
1. Peace and tranquility, through which ſmall things become great; whereas by diſcord great things decay and come to nothing, 1 Tim. 2.2.
2. Seaſonable weather, that the heavens may anſwer the earth, the earth may anſwer the Corn, the Corn may anſwer us, as is promiſed of God to ſuch as he favoreth.
3. Worthy and vertuous Governors of the Commonwealth, by whoſe care Peace may be maintained.
4. Healthfulneſs, ſtrength and ability of the people, and the encreaſe of them to our mutual comfort, and the diſmaying of our enemies, Pſal. 144.12.
5. Victory over our enemies that riſe up againſt us.
2. Special; viz.
1. An honeſt diſpoſition to labor in our particular Callings, to get and preſerve ſuch things as are for our maintenance; he muſt not eat that will not work, 2 Theſſ. 3.10. no man is priviledged to be idle.
2. Good ſucceſs through Gods bleſſing on our labor.
3. A charitble diſpoſition in us to relieve the impotent poor, for we pray for our, not my daily bread.
4. The Sanctification of the Creatures, which is, when we are ſanctified that receive them, for without this there cannot be a comfortable uſe of them.
5. The bleſſing of God to make the Creatures nouriſhable unto us; for neither they in themſelves, nor we in our ſelves, have wherewithal to convert them to nouriſhment.
6. Contentation and reſting upon Gods Providence in our greateſt wants and dangers.
7. Humility and lowlineſs of minde, becauſe we are all beggars; it is of Alms that we have any thing, we have nothing of our own, and without the Lords liberality we cannot be ſuſtained.
In the Deprecation of this Petition, we pray with ſubmiſſion to the will of God,
1. Againſt unſeaſonable weather, peſtilent influences and vapours, plague and all contagious diſeaſes, unhealthful conſtitutions, and extreme poverty.
2. Againſt idleneſs, improvident Magiſtrates, Invaſion of Enemies, and Civil War.
3. Againſt diſcontent, murmuring, truſt in the Arm of Fleſh, covetouſneſs, and worldly cares, hard-heartedneſs, prodigality, unjuſt and unrighteous dealing, and againſt all things that defile man, and make the creatures unclean and accurſed unto him; as pride in abundance, diſcontent in want, negligence in mens callings, unfaithfulneſs in dealing, improvidence in getting, Parſimony in hoording, ingratitude in prodigally ſpending, unmercifulneſs in not giving to the poor, unthankfulneſs for Gods Creatures, all abuſe of the gifts of God, and the like.
The Thankſgiving of this Petition, is, For all and every the benefits of this life, both general and ſpecial, even for all ſuch things as before we prayed for, and for freeing us from any evils wherewith we have been bodily oppreſſed; yea, we thank God that he hath hitherto ſo bountifully provided for us and others; that we have a ſufficiency for our preſent eſtate, and do ſee his bleſſing in the getting, having and uſing of all his Creatures: for had we the Royalty of the whole world, yet without the bleſſing of Almighty God, miſerable were our condition; ſo that had we the fowls of the Air at command, all the fiſh in the Sea in a net, all the beaſts of the Field at our ſhambles, all Creatures in the world at our command and ſervice, yet had we need in all humility to addreſs our ſelves to the Throne of Grace, and ſay, Give us this day our daily bread.
What have we that we have not, Lord, from thee?
Save our own Natural impurity;
Which poyſons all the ſuſtenance we take,
Ʋnleſs thou bleſs it for our Saviors ſake.
Vouchſafe us, Lord, this day our daily bread;
Without which Staff of life Mankinde is dead:
One Crum for Jeſus ſake; the Crums are all
We crave; the Crums that from thy Table fall.
Such Alms are precious, when thou doſt diſpence
Thy Bleſſing with thoſe gifts of Providence.