The Generation of Seekers, Treatise 2 · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
III. PETITION.
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven.
THis is the third and laſt of thoſe Petitions that do more immediately reſpect God: it is very fitly connected to the former, for having prayed for the coming of his Kingdom, that is, that wee may be brought under his Government, and become his ſubjects, 'tis fit that his will, not ours, ſhould be done.
Having acknowledg'd him ſupream Monarch of the world, and that all ſubjection is due to him, wee are very fitly taught to pray that hee will ſo bend and bow our hearts and bring us into compliance with his will, that wee may yield him cheer-full obedience, as ſubjects, not as ſlaves: and that wee may be a willing people in the day of his power, Pſal. 110. 3. In this Petition, you have 1. The matter of it, that Gods will may be done. 2. The manner how wee are to doe it, or to endeavour; and this is, as it is in Heaven. For explication.
Explic. 1. [Will] The will of God (to our capacity) is …ve…ſly diſtinguiſhed: it would be but mis ſpent time to trouble you with them: one diſtinction is ſufficient to our purpoſe, and that is this: The will of God is either his Decretive Will, called his Will of Purpoſe. Or 2. His preceptive Will, or Will of Precept. There is ground enough for ſuch a diſtinction (though not in the Will or effence of God, which is purely ſimple and uncompounded yet) in the wayes by which God declares and executes his Will. Briefly, 'tis eaſy to conceive the difference betwixt what God will doe (that's his Will of Purpoſe) and what hee commands and requires us to do (That's his Will of Precept): by the former, God determines all events, and futurities, and governs thoſe things which to us are moſt contingent; by the latter, hee determines mans Duty, and what wee are to do. Of the former you may read, Pſal. 136. 6, 11.Eph. 1. 5. To this wee are taught ſubmiſſion, Jam. 4. 15. and 1 Pet. 3. 17. By this, hee orders times and ſeaſons Act. 1. 17. and diſpoſes chances and contingencies Prov. 27. 1. By this hee permits, and over rules many actions of men. Of the latter, read Mich. 6. 8. Hee hath ſhewed thee, O man what is good, and what doth the Lord require of thee—? The word declares it both in the precepts what wee are to doe, and in the promiſes what wee are to beleeve. 'Tis not neceſſary to ſay more. Only let us inquire.
Queſt. Which of theſe, or whether both be not here meant? for Anſwer to which Query, It is unqueſtionable that the Will of Precept is here meant; the very words clear it; for, What is meant by his Will being done on Earth &c. but that it be done by men, more eſpecially, who are the Inhabitants of the earth? and, What will is it, but that which God hath given them in precept? The only d…ffi…ulty is about the Will of Purpoſe, whether it be at all included in this Petition, and if at all, how far, Whether in the whole latitude and extent of it, or only in part? The Reaſon of the difficulty lies here, Partly becauſe the Purpoſes of God are hidden to us: wee know not what ſhall be de Event…, and therefore how can wee pray concerning that which depends on the ſecret and unknown Purpoſe of God? partly becauſe the permiſſion of many wickedneſſes and enormities of men comes within this will of purpoſe, ſuch as the betraying and murthering of Chriſt, Act. 4. 28. Gods hand and Counſel had before determined it: Now, none will ſay, that (had wee lived before Chriſt, and underſtood the Prophe…ies concerning Judas his betraying Chriſt &c.) wee ſhould have prayed for theſe …hings, ſo that the queſtion ſeem's to carry ſome difficulty in it. I find ſome quite …xcluding Gods purpoſes on… of our prayers. One quotes Cyprian ſpeaking thus: [N…n … oramus ut faciat Deus quid vult facere, … ut nos poſſimus facere, quid vult à nobis … ] "Wee pray not here that God would doe, what hee willeth to doe, but that wee may be able to doe what hee willeth …s to doe. Notwithſtanding which, and …ome other things that might be urged, I conceive that the Will of Purpoſe is neither wholly included in this Petition, nor wholly …xcluded out of it: for though much of it …e hidden, yet ſomething of it is revealed, …nd that by way of gracious promiſes, which …ertainly may be pleaded in prayer. And …hough it take in the permiſſion, and order…ng of the vileſt acts of men (which wee are …o be ſo far from praying for, as that wee …hould abominate them); yet it takes in …ther things unqueſtionably lawfull to be …rayed for, ſo far, and in ſuch a way as …hey are revealed to us. The caſe is ſo plain, forbear Inſtances: more will be ſaid to this when wee come to Application.
2. [Be done] i. e. not only intended, …urpoſed, endeavoured: ſo that wee are here …ught to pray that wee may not only pro…ſs and pretend obedience, as thoſe Jer. 42. …, 6. or as that Son Matth. 21. 30. who ſaid, I goe Sir, but went not; but that wee may actually and throughly perform his will: that he will work in us, to will and to doe of his own good pleaſure Phil. 2. 13. that wee may not deceive our owne ſouls, that wee may not be forgetfull hearers, but doers of his will Jam. 1. 23.—26. That it may be done by us, though our corruptions be never ſo oppoſite, and upon us though fleſh and blood think it never ſo grievous; and we cheerfully yield obedience to the one and ſubmiſſion to the other.
3. [On earth as in Heaven] that is, by us and others on earth, as by the Angels in heaven, ſo that hereby wee are taught, … what heighth we ſhould endeavour and pray for obediential grace; not any degree: We… ſhould not content our ſelves to bungle … a duty, but to be exact and exquiſite in it▪ that wee may do the will of God with th… ſame readineſs, ſincerity, zeal, conſtancy▪ &c. as the Angels. Of this more particularly, in the application. Only to take away a ſcruple.
Object. To what purpoſe is it to pray ſo… this degree of obediential grace, ſince w… know it unattainable? Are we not clog'… with corruption, and in many things … all? what hope then to have this Petitio… granted? or to what purpoſe to put up Petition which we cannot hope ſhall b… granted?
Anſw. 1. As to the impoſſibility of attainning this, Know, that things are impoſſible either, 1. Abſolutely, and as to any power, whether finite or infinite: ſo, it is impoſſible for God to lie, for a thing to be and not to be, at the ſame time; for a body to be in two places at once &c. Now ſuch a thing to pray for, would be but a tempting or mocking God: but the thing in the Petition is not impoſſible in this ſenſe.—2. Or in ſome reſpect, as for man in his own ſtrength to obey the Law of God in its exactneſs, but not if God communicate grace proportionable. For Adam in innocency had this ability, and ſo Chriſt as to his humanity: Now things of this ſort may be both prayed for, and endeavoured after: Phil. 3. 11. Paul's endeavour was, if by any means to attain to the reſurrection of the dead, that is (as I conceive) to that perfection, which then he hoped for, yet hee could not attain it while on earth. We may make that our aime, which in the perfection of it may be our attainment. But,
Secondly, I conceive the Petition rather reſpects the manner than the meaſure of our obedience, that wee may in our meaſure imitate the holy Angels. [As] in Scripture, notes quality and likeneſs oftentimes, not equality, as Matth. 5. ult. 1 John. 3. 3. where [even as] notes imitation and ſimilitude, not that wee ſhould or can be equall to God in perfection and purity: ſo that the ſenſe of this Petition is clear and obvious. The Doctrinal propoſition is this.
Doctr. 8 That Gods will may be done on Earth as in Heaven, ought to be the deſtre and prayer of all and every Chriſtian. Wee muſt imitate our Lord and Saviour who hath taught us not only by word here, but by his owne example Matth. 26. 39, 42. and to ſay as old Eli, 1 Sam. 3. 18. And this (not, as too many do, feignedly or inconſiderately, but) with the greateſt ſeriouſneſs, and intenſeneſs of affection.
Reaſ. 1 In reference to both the former Petitions: Then is God glorified, and his Kingdom exalted, when ready, chearfull, and univerſal obedience and ſubm…ſſion to his Will, is yielded by all his creatures. Obedience is the homage wee owe to his Kingdom, and the honour due to his name: it is not a verball celebration of Gods excellencies that is the All, or principall part of his glory: if in word wee proſeſs to honour him, and in works deny him, wee do but mock God and deceive our own ſouls: No, thenTit. 1. 15. wee gloriſy our heavenly Father, when our works ſhine before others, Matth. 5. 16. when wee bring forth much fruit: John 15. 8. Phil. 2. 16. Nor is it a titular acknowledgment of Gods Kingdom, but a real ſubmiſſion to it, in doing what hee commands, and ſubmitting to what hee lays upon us, wherein our Duty to him principally conſiſts: this Petition then is the compleating of both the former.
2. Gods Will is the ſuprem rule of equity, juſtice, mercy, and all goodneſs: This conſidered, there is Reaſon ſufficient, why wee ſhould pray for ability to doe it, for this is the [totum hominis] the whole Duty of man, to God, to himſelf, and to others Eccleſ. 12. 13. Wee could not in fewer words expreſs more as to our duty than in theſe; God's Will being the [Regula regulans] the rule of the Law it ſelf. It is a good expreſſion of Auguſtine, Injuria fit Deo, cum cauſam voluntate Dei ſuperiorem poſtulamus: Wee injure God; when wee inquire after a cauſe ſuperiour or antecedent to his Will: for conſider, Gods Will (to ſpeak of it according to our capacity) very much differs from Mins will; Ours is a blind but heady faculty, depending upon the guidance and dictate of a finite and fallible underſtanding: But in God it is his very Eſſence, conſidered as inclined and carried out to himſelf as the principall good, and to all other good in ſubordination to himſelf; not corrupted by a blind and dark underſtanding, but guided by infinite wiſdom (the Will and Wiſdom of God being not two diſtinct qualities in God, but only divers inadequate conſiderations of the divine Eſſence) nor in it ſelf ſubject to headineſs or mutability: So that Gods will being ſuch, and we being his by the moſt abſolute title, 'tis fit wee ſhould both make it our Rule, and deſire grace to obey it.
1. (Which hath bin hinted) In regard of Gods abſolute Soveraignty over us: ſince, as wee acknowledg in the former Petition his abſolute Dominion, Is it not fit we ſhould next pray for grace to yield cordiall ſubmiſſion? Each of the fore-going Petitions, nay the very Preface, beſpeaks this from us▪ for, If hee bee Our Father, wee ſhould bo ſubject to his Will and pleaſure. But,
4. Becauſe upon our doing, or not doing his Will, depends our eternal happineſs or miſery. Obedience is the only dore into heaven; and Diſobedience is the black character of the Sons of perdition, Eph. 2. 2. and 5. 6, 7. 2 Theſſ. 1. 7. Matth. 7. 21. To do the Will of God ſpeaks our Relation to Chriſt: Mark. 3. ult. By doing the Will of God, I mean here, ob…dience to the Goſpel as well as to the Law: for, as it is 1 John 3. 23. This is the command of God that wee beleeve on his Son Jeſus Chriſt—. And herein the decretive and preceptive Will of God concurr, I mean, that hee that doth the one ſhall be rewarded by the other. See John 6. 29. This is the work of God, that ye beleeve on him whom hee hath ſent, (this is his will of Precept): then Verſe 40. This is the will of him that ſent mee, that every one which ſeeth the Son, and beleeveth on him, may have everlaſting life, (This is his Will of Purpoſe). So that, by doing the one, wee come to the good things determined by the other. Again ſuob as do Gods Will hee hears John 9. 31. Such abide for ever 1 John 2. 17. So that you ſee, it is the main Intereſt of man to do, and his concernment to pray that hee may do, the will of God.
Uſe. Pray this prayer: Make this your hearty Petition, and imitate the pattern here preſcribed you. You ſee, how much your Intereſt and duty lies in it: do I need to adde more? Conſider two things that may excite and quicken you to be frequent and ſervent in this Petition.
Motiv. 1. Gods will muſt be done, whether you pray for it or no; but to pray heartily that it may be done is no ſmall evidence of a gracious frame of Spirit: Gods will may be done by us as it was by the Jews and Herod and Pilate, Act. 4. 28. and by Cyrus Iſa. 44. 28. yet wee be no better than vile Sinners, or brute inſtruments: and it may be done upon us as upon Pharoah and others, yet for our puniſhment and condemnation; But condially to deſire and pray in the ſenſe of the Petition, that it may be done by us and upon us, ſpeaks the truth of grace in our hearts. None but they who are born of the Will of God, John 1. 13. can cordially and univerſally deſire and pray this Petition. Naturally man may ſay, Thy will be done, but only the gracious ſoul can unfeignedly pray it.
2. 'Tis moſt irrationall to deſire that our owne or others wills ſhould be done; and moſt equitable, that wee ſhould pray that Gods will may be done: Should it be as thou wilt, according to thy mind, ſaith Elihu to Job Chapt. 34. 33? Who are wee poor blind creatures, that wee ſhould ſet our Wills againſt the wiſe and juſt and holy Will of God? Should his will who can will nothing but what is juſt and good, give place to ours, who can will nothing that is good, without his enabling grace? Phil. 2. 13. 2 Cor. 3. 5. How juſt is it, that his will ſhould be our Rule whether wee conſider him as our Creatour, our Soveraign, our Father &c? and beſides, ſhould ours be done, would it not be to our undoing (What greater plague, than for a people to be given up to follow their owne counſels, Pſal. 81. 12? And▪ Is not the doing Gods Will the high road to glory, the ſtraight path to everlaſting felicity?
Direct. 1. For Direction then (as in the former): Labour to underſtand the particular import of this Petition, and 1. Underſtand what is implyed by way of acknowledgment: Chiefly two things.
1. Here is implicitely acknowledged the abſoluteneſs and Soveraignty of Gods Will, which you may (in conformity to this Petition) expreſs and enlarge upon: So that wee may expreſs our ſelves in ſuch Words: "Lord, I know thou art the Suprem Monarch, and abſolute Soveraign of the world, all whoſt actions have no other rule but thine owne will, and thy Will no rule but thine owne infinite wiſdom, juſtice, and goodneſs, and therefore it is impoſſible thou ſhouldſt will any thing, but what is good and righteous. Therefore it is all the Reaſon in the world, that thou whoſe Dominion is moſt abſolute, and whoſe will is moſt righteous, ſhouldſt be obeyed and ſubmitted to in whatſoever thou willeſt to be done, either by us, or upon us. To this purpoſe you may borrow Epheſ. 1. 5, 9, 11. which declares that God ordereth all things according to the counſel of his owne will. Pſal. 136. 6. who doth what hee pleaſeth in heaven and earth, in the ſea, and in all deep places: Job 33. 13. who is not accountable for any of his doings. Or in the words of Nebuchadnezzar, Dan. 4. 35. &c. Here you may amplify upon the purity, wiſdom, Soveraignty, goodneſs and graciouſneſs of his Will; as alſo upon the reaſonableneſs of its being the Rule of the Creatures actions and obedience, that the Clay and Veſſel ſhould be at the Potter's diſpoſall, Iſa. 64. 9.
2. Here alſo wee doe implicitly acknowledg the indiſpoſition and untowardneſs of our wils to yield obedience to Gods Will: and our proneneſs to do our owne will, rather than Gods; yea, that wee are led Captive by Sathan at his Will, 2 Tim. 2. 26. This may afford large matter of confeſſion, and confuſion too. "Lord, I find in my ſelf abundance of blindneſs and ignorance, ſo that I doe not know thy will, and (which is worſe) when it is made known to mee, I find in my heart an utter indiſpoſition and contrariety to it: Oh the pride, ſtubbornneſs, and ſtiffeneckedneſs of my heart! How apt am I to quarrel at thy commanding Will when I ſhould obey it; and at thy providencial will, when I ſhould ſubmit to it? Loath I am that thy will ſhould be done when it thwarts mine: This you may expreſs in the language of Epheſ. 2. 2, 3. Children of diſobedience, fulfilling the deſires of the fleſh, and of the mind: you may borrow the complaint of God againſt Iſrael, Iſa. 48. 4. an obſtinate people, whoſe neck hath an Iron ſinew, whoſe brow is braſs: here you may lament the Fall, that robb'd you of the holy freedom and conformity of your will to Gods, and your hearts became like Nabal's, dead as a ſtone, to any thing ſpiritually good. Here you may be very large and affectionate, this being the ſpring of all the ſins and enormities of your lives.
2. Then labour to underſtand what is included by way of Petition: and theſe are (as before), Either,
1. Privative, for the removal of hindrances, which keep us from the knowing, obeying and ſubmitting to the will of God, which Alas! how infinite are they? rather to be by you and every perſon bewayled, than by mee expreſſed: Oh what need have wee to pray that God Will h…al all within us, and help againſt all without us, that ſets us in oppoſition to his holy Will? you may reduce them to,
1. Inwards; ſuch as are from within, and ariſe from a mans ſelf: and theſe are as large as the whole body of ſin, and as numerous as the members of that body. There is blindneſs in the underſtanding, that wee cannot know, what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God, Rom. 12. 2. therefore wee have need to pray as Paul Act. 9▪ 6. Lord, what wilt thou have mee doe? or as wee are taught Job 34. 32. what I know not, teach thou mee—Again, there is Obſtinacy in the will, wee have need pray that promiſe Ezek. 36. 26. That God will take away our heart of ſtone &c—There is in us weakneſs and inability to good, though a ſinfull ſtrength to doe evill: ThereEph. 2 3. are foreign wils of the fleſh, which oppoſe the will of God. Wee have need pray that God will make the weapons of his Word and Miniſtry ſtrong and mighty to beat down thoſe ſtrongholds, thoſe imaginations, and high things in us—2 Cor. 10. 4. That all within us may yield to Gods will, that wee may lay downe our weapons, and take upon us the yoak of Chriſt:
2. Outward, viz. that Slavery which wee are in to Sathan, who hath blinded our eyes, 2▪ Cor. 4. 4. Captivated ours wils 2 Tim. 2. 26. and fill'd our hearts, Act. 5. 3. working effectually in us the children of diſobedience, Eph. 2. 2. Therefore wee have need to pray that Jeſus Chriſt may come into our hearts there to deſtroy the works of the Divell. 1 John 3. 8. That the ſtronger man may come and diſpoſſeſs this ſtrong man armed Luk. 11. 21, 22. May ſnatch us from the power of darkneſs Col. 1. 13. That wee being delivered from the hands of this and all our enemies, may ſerve the Lord in holineſs and righteouſneſs before him all the dayes of our life Euk. 1. 74. Oh be earneſt, even as a poor Turkiſh Gally-ſlave would be for redemption from his Gally. This ſhall ſuffice to be ſpoken as to the privative Petitions; or impediments to be removed.
2. Poſitive: and thoſe may refer to that twofold Will (or rather two-fold conception of the will) of God I have …
1. In reference to the Will of Purpoſe, (which I told you was neither wholly excluded out of this Petition, nor in its whole latitude included in it) two things are principally to be begged.
1. That God will bring about his great and generall decrees concerning his owne glory and mans ſalvation, in his owne time and way: ſince hee hath reveald that hee will have a Church, that hee hath cloſen a number out of the world which in time hee will gather to himſelf, that wee may and ought to pray, that hee will bleſs the means in order to the gathering his Church, and compleating the number of his ſanctified ones: In a word (for I might here be infinite in particulars) all thoſe gracious Purpoſes concerning the gathering, governing, defending, delivering, and ſaving his Church, which God hath in his word revealed by way of declaration or promiſe, may and ought to be the matter of our Petitions, For (I think I may ſafely ſay) … prayer's walk is as large as the whole compaſs of the promiſes. Only wee muſt here be cautious that wee doe not tie up God to the fulfilling his purpoſes, and promiſes, in a time, place or way wherein hee hath not bound himſelf to fulfill them. Wee muſt leave God as looſe as hee hath left himſelf, and not add to his words leſt wee be found lyars, or leſt wee be tempted to charge God as a lyar. For Scripture-expreſſion, the 2d. 72d. and 87d. Pſalmes, and many other places, will abundantly furniſh you.
2. That when Gods decrees and purpoſes are fulfilled upon us or others, they and wee may be taught ſubmiſſion and thankfulneſs; may learn old Eli's frame 1 Sam. 3. 18. or Aaron's. … 16. 3. Hezekiah's 2 King. 20. 19. or thoſe Act. 21. 14. for which wee may pray in their language, viz. that wee may be enabled to ſay from our ſouls in the darkeſt and ſaddeſt providence, as they did, It is the Lord, let Him doe what ſeemeth good in his ſight, or, The will of the Lord be done, or, as Aaron there, may hold our peace. This is the proper Petition in reference to the Will of Purpoſe, and this indeed reſpects it in its whole latitude (at leaſt ſo far as it any way relates to us): for though many things may come within the purpoſe of God, the fulfilling of which it may not concern us to pray for; yet it concerns us to pray for a ſuitable deportment under them when fulfill'd: That wee may be ſilent with David Pſal. 39. 9. That wee may bleſs the Lord with Job Chapt. 1. 21. under Gods more ſevere diſpenſation; That wee may neither deſpiſe the chaſtning of the Lord nor be weary of his correction Hebr. 12. 5. but may ſubmit our ſelves cordially, cheerfully, univerſally under the mighty hand of God▪ 1 Pet. 5. 6. And then, on the other hand, when Gods gracious purpoſes are fulfilled upon us, or concerning our ſelves and others, wee ſhould pray that they and wee may be enabled to make a thankfull acknowledgment, and anſwerable improvement. So that wee may to this purpoſe expreſs our ſelves; "Lord, I know not what is in the womb of thy decrees concerning my ſelf or others, only that whatever thou haſt purpoſed it ſhall in the execution of it, be juſt and righteous, and I hope good and gracious: whatever it is, Lord, teach us a right deportment, let not mee or others lay Croſs to thy will in any providence; make us willing that thou ſhouldſt have thy will upon us though it may Croſs ours: Let us ſee ſo much of Soveraignty, equity, juſtice, yea mercy and goodneſs in thy will, as may teach us to lay our hand upon our mouths, and where wee cannot apprehend to admire▪ to lay down our Wils at thy feet, &c.
In theſe two things, I conceive, conſiſts the ſumme of what wee are to pray for in that reſpect.
2. But that which is more eſpecially our concernment as to this Petition, is to pray for grace and abilitie to doe the commanding Will of God: in reference to which, beſides the hindrances to be deprecated (which are partly the ſame as in the former Petitions, our requeſts may reſpect.
1. The helps, and enablements neceſſary to the doing of Gods Commands; amongſt many theſe two principally.
1. Underſtanding and knowledg, without which it is impoſſible to doe them aright, borrow Davids words. Pſal. 119. 18, 34, 73, 125, 144. Pray as Paul for his Epheſians Chapt. 1. 17, 18. and 5. 17. that you may not be unwiſe but underſtanding what the will of the Lord is. Blindfold obedience cannot be acceptable to God.
2. That God will work your hearts, and your whole man into an obediential frame, by taking away the ſtony heart out of your fleſh, and giving you a heart of fleſh: Ezek. 36. 26. that hee will ſtrengthen you with might in the inner man. Eph. 3. 16. that our hearts may be ſo enlarg'd, that wee may run the way of his commandements, and ſo inclined that wee may keep his Teſtimonies, Pſal. 119. 32, 36. that wee may ſee ſo much equity, taſt ſo much ſweetneſs in his commands as may draw out our hearts to a cheerfull obedience: that the Word may not only be delivered to us, but wee may be delivered up to it ſo as to obey it from the heart Rom. 6▪ 17. That though there may be many commands above our ſtrength, yet there may be none againſt our will, to do: To this end we may plead the promiſes of the Covenant of grace ſuch as Jer. 32. 40. and 31. 33. Hebr. 8. 10. and that gracious one Deut. 30. 6.
2. The manner of our obedience, which is expreſſed in this Petition [as it is in Heaven] that, as the Angels and Saints glorified, ſo wee may obey: which do the will of God (that I may but lightly touch.) in this manner:
1. Freely and cheerfully without murmuring, in which reſpect the Angels are ſaid alwayes to behold the face of God, Matth. 18. 10. that is, to ſtand wayting for their errand. Pray we for the like frame. Pſal. 119. 32.
2. Speedily without delay: therefore wings are aſcribed to them: What a ſpeedy diſpatch did one Angel make in Sennacherib's. Army in one night 185000. Pray that wee may doe ſo Pſal. 119. 60.
3. Humbly without diſputing: If Michael durſt not bring a railing accuſation againſt the Divell when hee diſputed with him about the body of Moſes, much leſs dare they diſpute the Commands of God. There's no anſwering-again in heaven, nor calling in queſtion any command of their Soveraign, pray that wee may doe the like; that wee may more conſider who commands than what is commanded: and be more follicitous about our duty, then what may follow upon the doing of it.
4. Fully without reſervation: they (doubtleſs) ſtick not at any command, be it never ſo difficult or painfull in the execution: pray, that we alſo may have reſpect to all Gods Commandments, Pſal. 119. 6, 128.
5. Faith-fully and ſincerely without d…ſſimulation: ſurely though they behold the …ace of God they are no eye-ſervants, they look not meerly after applauſe and commendation: they neither falter nor flatter with God: pray that it may be ſo with us, that wee may doe as Hezekiah profeſſeth. Iſa. 38. 3.
6. Zealouſly, not coldly and heartleſly: C…n wee think thoſe glorious Angels and glorified Saints, are ſo cold and frozen as wee … in the ſervice and praiſes of their God? no ſurely: they are Spirits and therefore active, yea they are Seraphims, burning with…eale, excelling in ſtrength, doing his commands. Pſal. 103. 20, 21. pray that wee alſo may not be flothfull, but fervent in Spirit ſerving the Lord, Rom. 12. 11.
7. Conſtantly, without intermiſſion or wearineſs. In Jacob's ladder the Angels were all either aſcending or deſcending, none …anding ſtill: this hath been the work of Angels from the beginning of the world, and ſhall be theirs and the Saints glorified to …ternity, yet no wearineſs or interruption. Pray we, that wee may be thus ſtedfaſt, unmooveable, alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord; ſince wee know our labour ſhall not … in vain in the Lord, 1 Cor. 15. laſt.
Direct. 2. Get a frame of heart ſuited to the matter of this Petition: that wee may not only ſay, Thy will be done, but that wee may pray ſo, i. e. it may be the breathing of our hearts. Which are then in a right tune to put up this Petition, when
1. Wee are in a poſture ready to meet God in a ſubmiſſive ſubjection to every act of his Will of purpoſe, even that to which we are naturally moſt averſe: he that prayes that Gods will may be done, muſt be ready to ſubmit to it, when it is done. Prepare therefore in this reſpect to meet God, Amos 4. 12. elſe it is groſs diſſimulation. And in this reſpect how much are wee defective, how impatient are wee to have our wils croſt and thwarted by the execution of God's? Like that froward King, 2 Kings 6. 15. who would wait on the Lord no longer: how ready are wee to curſe God to his face when hee croſſeth us in our impetuous deſires and too vehement expectations? Oh, but it would become us to bring our hearts in all things to that frame that wee may ſay, If the Lord will, as Jam. 4. 15. and to rejoice when Gods will is done, though our deſires be not fulfilled.
2. When wee have a frame of heart as wide as Gods precepts: when we reſolve to have reſpect to all Gods Commandments, Pſal. 119. 6. 'Tis damnable Hypocriſy when wee pray that Gods will may be done, and yet we doe our owne: conſider therefore, what is the will of God. Mich. 6. 1. 1 Theſſ. 4. 3. and 5. 18. &c. In a word, to fear God and keep his Commandments▪ Pray that you may do, this with a full reſolution and purpoſe of heart to do it: Then wee pray this prayer aright, when wee deſire to know the will of God that wee may doe it, and when wee endeavour to doe what wee know of it, and are prepared to doe, what wee yet know not, when it ſhall be revealed to us.