The Sum of Christian Religion, Catechism · Part 3 · prayer · Question 128 – Question 129
Queſt. 128. How concludeſt thou this Prayer?
Anſw. For thine is the kingdome, the power, and the glory for ever: that is, we aske and crave all things of thee; becauſe, ſeeing both thou art our King, and almighty, thou art both willing and able to give them all unto usaRom. 10.11, 12. 2 P…t. 2.9.. And theſe things we therefore aske, that out of them, not to us, but unto thy holy Name all glory may redoundbJohn 14.15. J…m. 33.8, 9. Pſalme 115.1..
The Explication.
THis laſt part of prayer ſerveth to confirme our faith and beliefe, or confidence of being heard, and obtaining our deſire; to wit, that God will, and is able to give us thoſe things which we deſire.
Thine is the kingdome.Thine is the kingdome.] This firſt reaſon is drawne from the duty of a King, which is, to heare his ſubjects, to defend, and preſerve them. Therefore thou, O God, ſeeing thou art our King, mightier then all our enemies, having all things in thy power, good and evill, (evill, ſo that thou art able to repreſſe them: good, ſo that there is no good ſo great, which thou canſt not give, as is agreeing and ſtanding with thy nature) and ſeeing we are thy ſubjects, be preſent and aſſiſt us with thy power, and ſave us, as who art loving unto thy ſubjects, and thy protection and ſafe-guard is alone ſaving and preſerving. He is called a King, 1. Becauſe he hath power over all creatures. 2. Becauſe he is the peculiar King of the Church.
The power.And the power.] The ſecond reaſon is drawne from the power of God. Heare us, O God, and give us what we deſire: becauſe thou art mightier then all our enemies, thou art able to give us all things, and thou only art able, in thee alone reſteth this power, joyned with exceeding goodneſſe.
The glory.And the glory.] The third reaſon is taken from the end or finall cauſe. We deſire theſe things for thy glory. From thee alone, the true God and ſoveraigne King, we deſire and expect all good things, and profeſſe thee to be the Author and fountaine of all good things. And verily becauſe this glory is due unto thee, therefore alſo do we deſire them of thee. Heare us therefore for thy glory. For this petition and expectation of all good things from thee, is nothing elſe but the attributing and yeelding unto thee thy due glory and honour: and eſpecially, becauſe thou wilt alſo for thy glory ſake give us thoſe things which we deſire. For what things ſerve for thy glory, the ſame wilt thou performe and do: but thoſe things which we deſire, ſerve for thy glory: therefore thou wilt give them us. Give us therefore theſe things that we deſire, and the glory ſhall returne and redound unto thee, if thou deliver us. For ſo ſhall thy kingdome, and power, and glory be manifeſted.
Object. We ſeeme to bring perſwaſive and moving arguments unto God, whereby we may move him to doe what we deſire. But in vaine are reaſons uſed to him who is unchangeable: God is unchangeable. Therefore in vaine uſe we theſe reaſons unto him. Anſ. This is a fallacy, putting that for a cauſe, which is no cauſe. For, we grant this argument in reſpect of God, but not in reſpect of us. For we do not, when we thus ſpeak, uſe reaſons to move God, or perſwade him to do it, but to perſwade our ſelves that God will do this, and to confirm and aſſure us that we ſhall be heard, and to acknowledge our neceſſity, and the goodneſſe and truth of God. Wherefore theſe reaſons are not adjoyned to our prayers, as thereby to move God, but only to confirme and aſſure us, that God will doe what we deſire, becauſe theſe are the cauſes why he doth it.
Thou art a moſt good King: therefore thou wilt give theſe things to thy ſubjects Thou art moſt powerfull and mighty: therefore thou wilt ſhew thy power in giving theſe gifts, which are moſt great, and which can be given of none other, but of thee alone. It ſhall be to thy glory: therefore thou wilt doe it, becauſe thou haſt care of thy glory.
Queſt. 129. What meaneth this particle, Amen?
Anſ. That the thing is ſure and out of doubta2 Cor. 1.20. 2 Tim. 2.13.. For my prayer is much more certainly heard of God, then I feele in my heart, that I unfeignedly deſire the ſame.
The Explication.
THis particle is added, not as a part of the prayer: but it noteth and betokeneth, 1. A true and ſincere deſire, wherewith we wiſh that we may be heard: that the thing we aske may be ſure and certaine unto us, and that God would condeſcend and anſwer unto our requeſt. 2. A certainty and profeſsion of our confidence, or confirmation of our faith, whereby we truſt that we ſhall be heard. Wherefore the word Amen, ſignifieth, 1. So be it: and, ſure and certaine be that which wee deſire. 2. So God (being not unmindfull of his promiſe) truely and certainely heare us.
FINIS.
Soli Deo Laus & Gloria.