Principles of Faith and Good Conscience, Chapter 44
CAP. XLIV.
1. Petition: Hallowed be thy Name.
Q. WHat is meant by the Name of God?
A. God Himſelfe, in his Grace, Glory, and Greatneſſe, as he hath made himſelfe known in his Attributes, Word, or Works, which we pray may be magnified above all things. [The works, Word, and Attributes of God, are part of his name.] Exod. 3.14. Exod. 34.5, 6, 7. Eſ. 26.8.
Q. When is Gods name polluted and prophaned?
A, Three manner of wayes: 1 When we think or ſpeak of God, of his Word, or Works, meanly, and ſlightly, 2. Or uſe any part thereof as a common and ordinary thing, or 3. When we live a wicked and prophane life. Ez. 36.5, 13, 20, 23. Rom. 2.24. Ezek. 13.19. Ezek. 22.26. [They ſpake and thought of God & his works more meanly then of their Idols; they uſed his word and daies as common things.]
Q. When is Gods name hallowed or ſanctified?
A. When it is known and acknowledged to the moſt holy, and accordingly ſet forth by us. [God do…h ſanctifie us by making us holy of unholy and uncleane; we ſanctifie God, not by making him holy, but by acknowledging him to be ſo, in our hearts, words, and deeds, doing all things ſo, as God may be honoured and magnified by us and in us.] Rev: 5.13. Levit: 10.3. Mat: 5.16. 1. Cor: 10 31. Gods name and Glory muſt be lifted up, and ours ſinke Let God be glorified whatever become of us.
Q. What doe we pray for here?
A. That God who is holy and glorious in himſelfe, and in all his waies, may be magnified, known, acknowledged, and glorified throughout the world. [If he puniſh ſinners, if he pardon ſinners, if he work deliverances, performe promiſes, or doe any glorious work, we deſire that his Juſtice, Goodneſſe, Mercy, Truth, Wiſedome and Holineſſe may be ſeen and magnified by all men.] Iohn 12.28. Rom: 9.3. Pſal: 67.2. Hoſ: 2.8. We muſt not Aſcribe our Riches our Victories, our Deliverances, our Peace, our Puniſhments, nor our Sufferings, either to our own Wit, or Strength, or to chance & fortune: We muſt not Aſcribe the Glory of any thing we are, or doe to our ſelves, nor to any Creature; But in all things God muſt be acknowledged to be Juſt, and Holy, and Wiſe, and Good, & Righteous,
Q. Thy name, (comparatively) and in oppoſition to every other name, What doth that import? What doe we pray for in that?
A. We pray that we may ſet up Gods name & glory above our ſelves, above men, above Idolls, and falſe gods, that above all adverſe power it may be lifted up and glorified: [His Truth above every truth, his Mercy above every mercy, &c. Whatſoever becomes of us or of the World, that God may be magnified and glorified] Exod 32.32. Num. 14.12, 13, 16, 27. Pſal. 115.1. Acts 12.22, 23. Acts 20.24. John 12.28. Mat. 10.37.
2. Petition. Thy Kingdome come.
Q. What's meant here by Gods Kingdome?
A. It ſignifieth that ſpirituall rule and dominion which God hath given to Chriſt over the Church to Rule and ſave it, and over the enemies of the Church to ſubdue them. The Kingdome of Chriſt is begun here in Grace by his ruling in our hearts & finiſhed hereafter, in our Re…iging with him in glory for evermore. Heb. 3.5, 6. Eſ. 52.7. Zach 9.9. Iohn 18.36, 37. Pſ. 2.6, 8. Pſ. 45.5, 6. Dan. 2.44. Eph. 6.10, 12, 17. 1 Cor. 15.25.
Q. What be the parts of that ſpirituall Kingdome and Dominion?
A. Two: the firſt is that power, by which he a gathereth to himſelfe a Church and people by his Goſpel, by which alſo he b ruleth in their hearts and conſciences, and b preſerveth them to his Kingdome of Glory. [Chriſt is King of ſoules, he ſets up his Kingdome of grace in mens hearts.] a John 11.52. Eph. 4.11, 12. Rev. 19.15. Mat. 13.19, 47. Luke 17.21. b Pſ. 110.2.3. Eph. 3.17. c John 17.11, 12, 24. John 16.33. John 10.29. Jude v. 1.
Q. What is the ſecond part of Chriſts ſpiritual Dominion?
A. It is that power which he exerciſeth in the deſtruction of the enemies of his Church and Kingdome, of his Children and Goſpel. Eſay 49.24, 25. Rev. 12.7, 9, 10, 11, 14. Col. 2.15 Rev. 17.14. Acts 26.14, 15. M…th 18.6. Zach. 25. Rev. 19 20.
Q. When doth this Kingdome come?
A. When ſinne and Sathan are caſt out, and the Goſpel of Chriſt is ſet up in our hearts, and families, and Countries. [When we are turned from the power of Sathan to God, when Chriſts word ruleth in our hearts, then is his Kingdome come to us.] Col. 1.13. Acts 5.31. Luke 11.20, 22. 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. 1 Pet. 2 9.
Q. When doth this Kingdome goe away?
A. When the Goſpel is beaten downe, and falſehood and wickedneſſe are ſet up, and prevaile, and are countenanced in any heart, family, Pariſh or Country, Matth. 21.43. Rev. 2.5, 13, 14. Eph. 2.2. Gen. 20.11.
Q. What do we pray for here?
A. That the Goſpel of Chriſt may be ſet up in its power and purity in all hearts, and in all places, that God would protect and increaſe the number of the faithful till the time come that the Kingdom of grace here begun, be finiſhed in the Kingdome of glory. 2 Theſ. 3 1. Col. 4.3. Pſal. 122.6. Rom. 10.1.
Q. What doe we pray againſt?
A. We pray that God would deſtroy the kingdome of Sathan, and all devices againſt his Church and Goſpel, and that all wickedneſſe may be beaten down more and more, [Till this Kingdome be finiſhed in the glory of the Saints, and finall deſtruction of the enemies.] pſ: 68 1, 18. Rev. 12.10, 11. We pray againſt the dominion & power of the Divel, the World and the fleſh. Rom, 6.12, 13, 14.
Q. What followes hereof?
A. Therefore they be Chriſts enemies, & they croſſe their owne Prayers, that ſubmit not to the Goſpell of Chriſt, that diſcountenance, or any wayes hinder the Preaching and ſpreading thereof, or be friends and favourers of bad men and bad cauſes. [Such as the ſilencing and vexing of Godly, quiet Miniſters, or depriving them of due maintenance, preferring the unſound, &c. any inlet to prophaneneſſe, ſetting up a Chaire for Sathan againſt the Pulpit of Chriſt; theſe and the like perſons doe pray for Chriſts Kingdome, and fight for Sathans; among ſwearing, railing looſe, riotous perſons, families, and Pariſhes, whoſe Kingdome is there ſet up? Chriſts or Sathans?] Luke 19.14, 27. Acts 4.18.