The Generation of Seekers, Treatise 2 · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
IV. PETITION.
Give us this day our dayly Bread.
THus much of the Petitions immediately reſpecting God and his glory: I now proceed to thoſe which reſpect our ſelves either 1. As to our bodies, and the things of this life, In the 4th. 2. Our ſouls, and our ſpirituall and eternall good, in the 5th. and 6th▪ Which I ſhall ſpeak to in the ſame Method I have done to the former.
Queſt. It is worth our enquiry, Why this Petition for temporals, is put before thoſe for ſpirituals, ſince wee are commanded to ſeek firſt the Kingdom of God and his righteouſneſs, Matth. 6. 33?
Anſw. 1. It might be replyed that in the three firſt Petitions wee have ſought the Kingdom of God—. For though thoſe Petitions have a more ſpeciall reſpect to God, yet ſo as that our chief-good is intwiſted therein together with Gods glory. But.
2. That command of ſeeking fieſt the Kingdom of God (as hath been hinted) doth not ſo much enjoyne the order of the Petition (or other wayes of ſeeking) as the ardour of affection. Firſt, that is, chiefly, principally, with the greateſt intenſeneſs of deſire, and induſtry. Beſides,
3. It is ſometimes the manner of Scripture to diſpatch that firſt which is of the leſs concernment: And,
4. Outward things of neceſſity to the preſervation of our beings are requiſite in order to ſpirituals: the ſoul while in conjunction with the body needs the body's help as its inſtrument, and the body in order to this helpfulneſs muſt have neceſſary ſupports of food and rayment: it is exceeding clamorous, and will be attended; the neceſſities of nature muſt be ſupplied, elſe it will hinder the ſoul's operations. Therefore it hath pleaſedUt…mentes noſtrae quaſi per ſcalas à terrâ in coelum conſcendant. Calvin. God out of his indulgence to us, to allow us the ſeeking of theſe things next thoſe that concern himſelf; that theſe being layd in, wee may with more cheerfulneſs attend the ſervice of himſelf and of our ſouls. As our Saviour cured corporal infirmities to draw men to look to him for the cure of ſpirituall. By this means outward things are made a ſtep to ſpirituall: as it is an argument of Gods condeſcenſion, ſo it is a help for us to aſcend by to heavenly things. This, for the Order of this Petition.
In the words wee have. 1. The Petition Give us &c. 2. The limitations which are ſuch as reſpect.
1. The time foreign this day, not for years, or life. 2. Quality, bread not quails, dainties. 3. Quantity foreign, dayly (wee render it), the word ſignifies ſo much as is needfull for our ſubſiſtence.
[Bread]. We hinted before that bread isExplicat. put by a Synechdoche for all neceſſaries relating to this life: that which is called food convenient or the bread of our allowance Prov. 30. 8. and under this, all other things of the like nature and neceſſity are included: as Rayment, habitation &c. And withall, the bleſſing of God without which all theſe are as nothing. So that whatever is neceſſary for ourSee Hagg. 1. 6. ſuſtentation, and that with the bleſſing of Heaven upon it, is that which is here underſtood by bread.
[Dayly] i. e. that which is needfull for the day, or (as before) that which is neceſſary and convenient for the upholding and nouriſhment of nature. Not ſuperſubſtantiallPanem indigentiae. Syr: diei neceſſarium, Perſ. Calvin. (as the Vulgar Latine) for wee are not to think that in this Petition, the Euchariſt or Sacramental bread is meant, as ſome have imagined becauſe they thought that in ſo ſhort a form there ſhould be no mention of earthly things, how then ſhould this form be perfect when the Scripture elſe where warrants us to ask them? beſides that the word will not bear, it: foreign Graecis prop…é ſignificat, Quod nobis ſuſtentandis optum & accommodatum eſt, That which is accommodated to the ſuſtentation of nature, &c.
[This day] It hath been ſuppoſed by ſome that two diſtinct things are asked in this Petition viz. 1. Life it ſelf in thoſe words [This day] 2. The things of this life, [our dayly bread] though I will not deny the Truth of the thing viz. that life as well as the things of this life, is asked; yet I ſee no reaſon ſo to parcell the words; and hee that looks into the Greek Text will eaſily ſee that it cannot bee: for they run in this order. Give us our dayly (or neceſſary) bread this day: i. e. for this day: ſo that it is (as I have hinted) a limitation of this Petition as to the time for which wee ask it.
[Our]. Bread is called ours, not that God owes it us, but becauſe by his bounty it is appointed and deſtinated for us, beſides [Our] that is, that which wee come by in a way of induſtry, or at leaſt in a lawfull way: according to that 2 Theſſ. 3. 12. eat their [Owne] bread: i. e. gotten by their lawfull labour and diligence: So that this gives us a hint of that law, Gen. 3. 19. In the ſweat of thy face &c.
[Give us] This imports (what is hinted before) that all our labour can neither procure us bread, nor make it or any other creature wholſome and …o…riſhing to us without Gods bleſſing. That neither the earth can yield, nor money buy, nor friends beſtow it without Gods giving it us: that which is ſufficiently hinted Hos. 2. 21, 22. I will hear—q. d. If God be deaf to the creature, it will be deaf to us. More will be ſaid to theſe things, in the Application.
Doctr. 9. Neceſſaries, for this life may and ought to be ask't of God▪ but with due limitation. Bread may be beg'd at heavens door, but ſo that wee keep within the reſtrictions hinted in this Petition: and here, I ſhall briefly enquire. 1. Why they are to be asked? 2. With what limitations?
Queſt. 1. Why are temporall things or neceſſaries for this life to be ſought, by prayer? A Reaſon or two ſhall ſufficice.
Reaſ. 1. That hereby wee may acknowledg that both the having, and comfort in the having, of outward things, depends upon Gods bounty and bleſſing: that we neither have any right and title to them without Gods leave, nor can taſt any ſweetneſs or comfort in them, without his love: all our benefits are of Gods bounty: of him, as well as through him, and for him are all things. Rom. 11. 36. Hee is the giver of every good and perfect gift Jam. 1. 17. hee challengeth a propriety in all things Pſal. 50. 10.—. 13. This propriety wee aſcribe to him, by asking them of him.
2. That wee may be both enabled and engaged to glorify him with, and for them: And ſo this, as all the other Petitions, hath the reſpect of a means to the firſt as its end … P…il. 4. 17. Paul received their bounty, not becauſe bee deſired a gift, but hee deſired fruit that might abound to their account. So wee muſt deſire theſe things not only or chiefly for our want of them, but that wee may have occaſion thereby to give God the glory of them: indeed, God allows us to ask for the ſupply of nature's neceſſities, but religion and ingenuity ſhould teach us to propoſe a higher end than that, in our asking: and if wee muſt eat and drink, then wee muſt ask what wee eat and drink, for the glory of God: 1 Cor. 10 31.
Queſt. 2. What are the limitations with when wee muſt ask outward things? Theſe are partly hinted in the very Petition, yet give mee leave more particularly to ſingle them out. It is therefore required,
1. That wee ask them only ſo far as they may be ſubordinate to the things beg'd in the former Petitions (this I gather from the order of this Petition). So that the advancement of Gods glory, the coming of his Kingdom, the doing of his will, muſt be out ſquare and meaſure in deſiring and asking theſe things. This condition ſhould be alwayes implyed, and, occaſionally, expreſſed in our prayers for Outwards. This is the ſenſe of Agur's prayer Prov. 30. 8, 9. as if hee ſhould ſay, Lord, proportion my outward eſtate in ſuch a meaſure as may render mee more prompt and ready to glorify thee, and obey thy Commands.
2. That wee ask them in few words: Chriſt hath taught brevity, both in that hee comprized them all in one Petition, and reduced them all to one word viz. Bread; intimating to us that wee ſhould not be ſo particular in them as in ſpiritualls: As to heavenly things the more particular, the better; but in theſe temporal we ſhould not extend our prayers beyond thoſe few neceſſaries here implied under one word bread, and by the Apoſtle in two words food and rayment: 1 Tim. 6. 8. However, if our neceſſities or afflictions be ſuch as may draw out larger prayers or complaints, yet wee muſt keep our affections within their due limits; ſo much this Petition teaches:
3. That they be not more than neceſſaries we aske: 'Tis bread, not dainties, not varieties, not ſuperfluities, wee are taught to ask. Bread being of all externals moſt neceſſary, and the moſt common and ordinary food. But here wee may conſider a twofold neceſſity, or meaſure of neceſſaries.
1. As to our Being, and to the very ſupport of our life, ſo the meaſure is alike to all, that is, ſo much as may ſatisfy nature, or ſo much as may conveniently nouriſh us, ſignified by the word foreign.
2. As to our condition, and the Station wherein God hath ſet us, and ſo that which may be ſuper…uous to one, may be but neceſſary for another: as to a publick perſon, a Magiſtrate, or one upon whom many have dependance, more may be neceſſary both as to the maintaining of his dependants, and himſelf, according to that ſtate or condition, wherein God hath ſet him. Only his wee muſt beware, whatever our condition be, that wee neither through waſtfulneſs make, nor through inſatiableneſs or wantonneſs eſteem that, to be neceſſary which indeed is not.
4. That wee ask them not peremptorily, but with ſubmiſſion to the Will of God, that's the limitation in begging the prevention of evils, or the beſtowing of good things relating to this life, Matth. 26. 39. 42. Nevertheleſs, not as I will but as thou wilt: and it is intimated in the connex on of this with the former Petition: If the Lord will muſt be the guide of all our deſigns, and the limitation of all our deſires: Jam. 4. 15.
5. That wee ask them not with a ſollicitousThe Arab Verſion is corrupt, Panem craſtiaum da nobis bodie. anxiety, for the future, but only the preſent. We are limited to this day, and Matth. 6. ult: Take no thought for the morrow——Not but that we may both deſire, and moderately endeavour after a competency for our life, and conveniences for poſterity, 1 Tim. 5. 8. Gen. 41. 34. 2 Cor. 12. 14. but wee muſt neither immoderately thirſt, after nor exceſſively hoard up theſe earthly things: nor ſhould wee murmur or repine, if wee have not in our hand a viſible ſufficiency for life: Much goods, and thoſe layd up, and that for many Years was the rich mans fin and folly, and eſpecially that hee did thereupon charme his ſoul into a ſleep of carnall confidence, and ſecurity: Luk. 12. 19.
6. And then what wee ask, muſt be in a way of begging not claiming, 'tis Give not Pay us: and we muſt withall remember our uſuall ſaying, Beggars muſt not be chooſers. He that deſerves nothing, and worſe than nothing, ſhould be thankfull for every thing. Remember, wee have forfeited all, 'tis indulgence if any thing be given us, 'tis but juſtice if wee be-denyed in what wee ask: God is debtour to none, and therefore all hee gives is of his bounty; but wee lie open to his juſtice, and therefore all hee gives us is both of bounty and merey: Be not therefore peremptory with God, claime not any thing, diſclaim thine owne worthineſs of any thing; learn ſo to ask, that, if the thing be granted, thou mayeſt aſcribe all to mercy; if denyed, thou mayſt ſubſcribe to Juſtice.
Uſe. Let us ſuit our Petitions for temporals to this pattern: Pray for them, but ſo pray as you are here taught to begge them: For,
Mott: That outward bleſſing; is doubly ſweet which is the return of prayer: hee that can ſo look on his outward things, cannot but both taſt more than others in them, and doe more with, and for them. Prayer both fetches the bleſſings and a bleſſing upon them. 1 Tim. 4. 5. Every thing is ſanctified by the word and prayer: 'tis true; Eccl. 9. 2. No mans knows either love or hatred by all that is before him: outwards are no evidences of the divine ſpeciall love. But when wee can call them Samuels, Askt of God, they1 Sam. 1. 20. carry a more then ordinary impreſs of Gods favour upon them, eſpecially if (as28. ſhe her Samuel, ſo) we do give them back to God by way dedication and thankfull improvement: There is ſome difference betwixt having and enjoying: Eccl. 6▪ 2. To ſome God hath given riches, wealth and honour—but giveth him not power to eat thereof. A plague indeed! to Tantalize in the fulneſs of outwards, to be poor with abundance, but now where outwards are▪ given in, to prayer, ordinarily they are▪ improved by prayſe, and enjoyed with comfort: The good-will of him that dwelt in the Deut. 33. 16.buſh is more then all the reſt of Joſeph's bleſſing, and multiplies each particular a thouſandſold: this is more legibly written upon thoſe good things, that prayer obtains. Ask them then, but keep to your▪ pattern: for,
Mot. 1. To ask otherwiſe is to tempt God▪ Pſal. 78. 18. that is, to try what God can or will do, and that is very provoking: God loves to be urged with, but not beyond▪ his promiſes: Seldom doth too much eagerneſs and importunity in asking temporals, paſs without ſome remarkable token of Gods diſpleaſure. And
2. It is to ask that which is hurtfull to ourſelves: Rachel is ſet upon having children▪ Gen. 30. 1. God gives her a Ben-oni, a Son of Sorrows, and it coſts her her life. Chapt. …5. 16, 18. Iſrael will have quails, and they …ave them with a vengennce: they have …heir hearts deſire, but leanneſs is ſent into their …uls: Pſal. 106 15. Therefore be ſure to …eep within the preſcribed limits▪
Direct. 1. Labour well to underſtand what … implyed and included in this Petition. And …ere,
1. Some acknowledgments are made; as,
1. That God is the ſupreme proprietor and abſolute Lord of all the creatures: this acknowledgment wee may make in Davia's words Pſal. 24. 1. or 1 Chron. 29. 11, 12, 14, 16. Yea, herein wee acknowledge that …ven what wee have is his, ſince even thoſe that have dayly bread (and more), are taught to ſay Give us—which is an implicit acknowledgment that they may not warrantably uſe what they have, till they have … Gods leave; nor can comfortably uſe it, till they have beg'd his bleſſing: ſo that you are, in complyance with this Petition, to acknowledg God the owner of all things▪ elſe, What ground have you to ask them at Gods hands?
2. That wee have by the Fall forfeited all our right to the creature, and deſerve either to be wholly deprived of them, or to have them curſed to us in their uſe: So that when we come to ask any outward bleſſing, we ſhould come in ſuch ſelf-condemning language as this: Lord, we confeſs wee are as ſo many condemned Traytours or Malefactors, ſuch as deſerve not life, muchleſs the good things of this life; But ſince it hath pleaſed thy Majeſtie to indulge us ſo far as to give us our lives, Oh deny us not that which may make our lives comfortable to us: True, Lord, wee have forfeited that title and Intereſt which thou didſt graciouſly vouchſafe us at firſt, and therefore wee muſt come upon a new ſcore; we cannot uſe them lawfully without thy leave, nor taſt ſweetneſs in them without Thy bleſſing &c.
3. That all our pain and toyle for the getting of outward things is vain, except God give them in, upon our labour, and induſtry. Pſal. 127. 2, 3. That it is in vain to riſe up early, lie down late, and eat the bread of▪ ſorrow: that though we ſow much we ſhall reap▪ little, that God can blaſt our Corn in the field, blow upon it in the Barn or Garners, and when wee earn wages, wee ſhall but put it into a bagge with holes, except God attend our endeavours with his bleſſing. Hag. 1. 6, 9. And when wee have got any thing, it is not in our power to uſe it, to his glory, or our owne advantage, except hee give us power to doe it: Eccl. 6. 2. wee ſhall eat our bread all our dayes in darkneſs and diſcomfort Eccl. 5. 17. and our immoderate care will only pierce us thorow with many ſorrows, 1 Tim. 6. 10. Wee ſhall labour in the very fire and weary our ſelves for very vanity Habb. 2. 13. except the Lord bleſs our labours.
2 Some Particulars by way of Petition are included: The principall whereof (together with their limitations) take in the following particulars.
1. That it wi…l pleaſe the Lord to preſerve our lives ſo long as hee ſees good in his infinite wiſdom and as may make for his glory and our good: this is neceſſarily included, for, To what end doe we ask bread, but in order to the ſuſtentation, and preſervation of our lives? So that in begging bread, we do much more begge life: Borrow Davids words to this purpoſe, Pſal. 119. 175. Let my ſoul live and it ſhall praiſe thee: or the prayer of Hezekiah, Iſa. 38. David asked life Pſal. 21. 4. So that our requeſt muſt be of this import, Lord, let mee live till I have done thy work, and the work of my owne ſoul &c.
2. That hee will give us ſo much of the good things of this life, as hee ſees convenient, viz. food, rayment, protection, health, habitation, &c. Theſe things, ſo far as they are neceſſary wee may begge, as Jacob, Gen. 28. 20, 21. If the Lord will keep mee, and give me bread to eat and rayment to put on &c. Thus Agur, Prov. 30. 8, 9. hee prayes againſt the extremity of poverty; ſo may we, with ſubmiſſion: ſince, O Lord, there lie ſo many Temptations in a neceſſitous condition, as Theft, lying, envying, murmuring, and taking indirect wayes for the ſupply of nature's urgent neceſſities; deliver me (if it may ſtand with thy good pleaſure) from a condition ſo urged and encompaſſed with temptations; beſtow ſuch a meaſure of outwards (if thou feeſt it good for mee) that I may be rather helpfull them needfull, ſince thou haſt ſaid, It is a more bleſſed thing to give than to receive.
3. That in order to the attainment of theſe things, God will make us carefull and conſcientious in our places and callings, and attend our labours with his bleſſing: and that hee will keep us from unlawfull and unwarrantable wayes of getting. This Petition is not a Petition of idleneſs, but of engagement to labour and induſtry: as hath been hinted, every Petition (and ſo this) is an obligation to endeavour. Pray therefore that he that ſtole may ſteal no more, but labour with his hands the thing that is good, Eph. 4. 28. 2 Theſſ. 3. 12. and that hee will not blaſt or blow upon, but bleſs and ſmile upon our lawfull endeavour: That hee will ſo hear the heaven, that it may hear the earth, and the earth may hear the corn and wine, and they may hear us, ſo as to ſuſtaine nature, and ſupply our neceſſities. Hoſ. 2. 20, 21.
4. That hee will add his bleſſing to, and teach us to depend upon for his bleſſing upon all our outward enjoyments: upon this account the richeſt as well as pooreſt have need to pray this Petition. Bread is but as a ſtone, drink will not quench our thirſt, rayment will not keep us warm; nothing will be to us▪ what it is appointed to be without Gods bleſſing: So that all muſt be ſanctified to us by the word and prayer. 1 Tim. 4. 4, 5▪ that wee may uſe the good things of this life hot only by Gods leave, but with his love: Give us our bread imports more then, let us have our bread: it intimates a deſire to ſee Gods hand in our obtaining this q. d. Let us ſee it come from thee: Let us ſee it as a Benjamin's m…ſs come from thy Table: let us read much of thy love in our dayly proviſion, and ſo bleſs it to us, that each creature may ſerve us in its capacity.
5. That hee will enable us in every condition to depend upon his providence: q. d, Help us to look up to, and depend upon thee: If we have little or nothing, let us wait on thee for ſupplies; if much, yet let us not truſt in uncertain riches, but in the living God who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. 1 Tim. 6. 16. That, if riches increaſe, we may not ſet our hearts upon them, Pſal. 62. 10. Oh this is a deſireable frame, and upon this account the rich have more need to pray this Petition, that, amidſt their worldly▪ enjoyments, they may rely on God, as if they had nothing at all: N…ceſſity will prompt the poor to depend on God, but it muſt be grace, and a good meaſure of it, that muſt put the rich into a right fram in this particular. This ſeems to be fairly implyed in this Petition, as Luke reads it, … foreign: day by day, q. d. Though we have bread for our lives, yet let us ſo ſeek it, and wait for it, and for a bl…ſſing upon it, at thy hands; as if wee were like day-labourers, that have not a peny to buy them food till they have earned it, ſo wee not a bit to put in our heads till wee have beg'd it.
6. That wee may be contented with, and thankfull for, that pittance and portion of outward good things which God hath allotted us that we may be able to ſay as David, Pſal. 16. 6. My lines are fallen to mee in a large place, I have a goodly heritage: not envying thoſe who have a larger ſhare of theſe things than our ſelves: This is implyed in that wee call it OUR bread, i. e. fit and convenient for us: and whereas w…e ſay Give us, we ſeem to intimate our not deſerving it, but expecting it only as a freegift, which muſt needs (in reaſon) teach us contendneſs and thankfulneſs with what hee gives, ſince if hee give us nothing he is not unjuſt, if any thing, bountiful.
Direct. 2. Labour for a frame of heart ſuitable to this Petition; that, in praying it, there may be a harmonious concurrence betwixt your affections and expreſſions. Therefore,
1. Get a practical belief of that great Truth Jam. 1. 17. that every good and perfect gift is from above, and commeth down from the Father of lights—elſe wee but diſſemble with God while wee ſeek them at his hands: and here how many fail groſsly? they pray to God in this form, Give us this day—yet rely upon their owne endeavour, or upon other carnall confidences: and when they have attain'd any thing, they aſcribe it not to God, but ſacrifice to their owne net, and burn incenſe to their dragge Habb. 1. ult. ſuch doe but mock God when they pray this Petition: You muſt have a practical perſwaſion, that you can neither have nor enjoy any outward bleſſing aright, without asking it of God: and when you have it, that God can either take it from you, or curſe it to you: ſo that in the fulneſs of your ſufficiency you ſhall be in ſtraits, Job 20. 22. That it is the bleſſing of the Lord, more then the endeavours of man that maketh rich, Prov. 10. 22. and that man lives not by bread only, but by every word (of bleſſing) that proceedeth out of the Mouth of the Lord, Deut. 8. 3.
2. Get a frame of heart abhorring all unlawfull wayes of getting, hating the wayes of unrighteouſneſs, and reſolved to wait and depend on providence in the uſe of warrantable means. What notorious impiety is it, to pray to God to give you bread, and then to take the Divels counſell and the courſe he preſcribes for the getting of it? Our Saviour would not (though hee could) change ſtones into bread, becauſe hee would not gratify the Divell tempting him to goe out of the way of providence, Matth. 4. 3, 4. when you get by fraud, oppreſſion, over-reaching your Brethren &c. you contradict your prayers: what damnable Hypocriſy was that Zech. 11. 5. to get by murther and oppreſſion, and then to father it upon God, and ſay Bleſſed be the Lord, for I am rich? And no loſs it is to ask of God, and ſeek it by the Divels help: In thus doing, you ask Gods leave, and then take it whether hee will or no.
3. Get your hearts prepared with patience and contentment to ſit down with what God affords you, you muſt be moderately both prayerfull, painfull, and carefull Prov. 27. 23.—But if God deny his bleſſing or doe not Crown your labours with that fulneſs as hee doth others, you muſt be patient, contented, and thankfull. Get a frame like that of David, 2 Sam. 15. 25. If the Lord delight in mee, ſo, if not, ſo. Like Paul's Phil. 4. 11, 12. Learn to abound and to want, and in all eſtates to be thankfully contented: be not like ſome ſturdy unthankfull beggars, who if you give them nothing, will goe away rai…ing and curſing: or, if not what or how much they expect, will throw it in the face of him that gives it: and to work you into this frame, I know no conſiderations or helps more effectuall then theſe two.
1. To conſider ſeriouſly, the vanity, vexation, dangers and temptations, that attend theſe things; eſpecially when our portion is greater than others: Oh, how hath proſperity kild it ten thouſands! So that Agur fears and prayes againſt it, Prov. 30. 8, 9.
2. To get aſſurance of thoſe better and more durable riches: hee that hath taſted that old wine will not much-care for this new: hee that hath his eye and heart full of heaven, will be ſatified with a little on earth: David deſires to be none of thoſe who have their portion in this life, and whoſe bellies God fils with his hid treaſures, Pſal. 17. 14. And why? becauſe hee was aſſured that when hee awaked (out of the ſleep of death) he ſhould be ſatisfied with Gods image. So much for this Petition.