Milk for Babes, Questions · Question 40
40. Q. What is the ſecond Petition?
A. Thy Kingdome come.
Here thou askeſt the firſt principall meanes for the hallowing of Gods name. Thou canſt never do it ſavingly, What is asked in the ſecond Petition.except thou be a ſubject of Chriſts Kingdome; becauſe without faith it is impoſsible to pleaſe God to life: therefore next after, hallowed be thy name, thou prayeſt, Thy Kingdome come. By Kingdome thou muſt principally mean the Kingdome of Grace, and the Kingdome of Glory. The Kingdome of grace, is that ſoveraignty which Chriſt exerciſeth over us by grace. Of this it is ſaid, Rom. 5.21.that grace reigneth through righteouſneſſe unto eternall life: Luk. 17.21. Rō. 14.18.and that the Kingdome of God is within us; and ſtands in righteouſneſſe, peace, and joy of the Holy Ghoſt. The Kingdome of Glory, is that Soveraigntie which Chriſt exerciſeth over us by Glory; that is, when Chriſt and his members are in full glory: Mat. 25.34.of which Chriſt ſpeaketh, Come ye bleſſed of my father, receive the Kingdome prepared for you. By the comming of Chriſts Kingdome, thou muſt underſtand, the Erecting of it where it is not: Pſal. 24.9.10. Act. 2.41.47. Gal. 6.1.the Enlarging of it where it is, by adding new ſouls to the Church: the repairing of it where it is decayed, when broken Members are joynted again: and the perfecting of it fully, 1 Cor. 15.when God is all in all. Next, mark that thou ſaiſt not the Kingdome, but thy Kingdome; Becauſe Chriſt would oppoſe this againſt all other Kingdomes. Thou knoweſt what Eſay ſaith, Eſa. 26.13. Revel. 12.4O Lord our God, other Gods beſides thee have had dominion over us. The Kingdome of Grace is oppoſed by Satan, Act. 28.23.by the world, and ſelf-carnall hearts. The Kingdome Glory is oppoſed by loving the world and the things that are in this world; 1 Joh. 2.by rotting in ſinne, and by perſecution of Gods ſervants, which would make Gods ſervants come ſhort of glory. But thou deſireſt here, that the Kingdome of the world, fleſh, and devill may be caſt out, and that the Kingdome of grace may be eſtabliſhed, which may fit us for the Kingdome of glory. And that all this may come to paſſe, mark what thou prayeſt for. That thou maiſt have all means for Chriſts Kingdome of grace and glory. For the Kingdome of grace, that thou maiſt have inward, and outward means. Inward, thy ſubjection to the word of God, the ſpirit to create new hearts, & the fruits of righteouſneſs, peace, and joy in the holy Ghoſt. Outward means, are either in the Church, Cōmonwealth, or both of them. In the Church thou prayeſt for Schooles of good learning, faithfull Miniſters, and their peace. Act, 19.9. Matth. 9.28 2 Theſ. 3.1.In the Common-wealth, thou prayeſt for godly Magiſtrates, good Lawes, and and execution of them. In both, thou prayeſt that thou maiſt have the Scriptures, the Lawes of the Kingdome, and the bleſſing of God upon all for good government. As for the Kingdom of Glory, thou prayeſt that thou maiſt have the Kingdome promiſed by a glorious reſurrection, and a ſpeedy comming to judgement: and that God, and Chriſt may have full glory manifeſted againſt all our enemies.
Vſe. Therefore (my dear childe) prize this petition. Thou canſt not hallow Gods name before thou be in his Kingdome. They that are without it are againſt it, and do quite contrary to it. This Kingdome is not yet fully come. Though he be fully King, yet in reſpect of us, he is not in quiet and peaceable poſſeſſion; becauſe we ſuffer yet from the Kingdome of the fleſh, the devill, and the world. Therefore pray heartily that Chriſts Kingdome may come. Pray that the Kingdome of grace may come. Phil. 3.9.10 Ephe. 3.14.16, 17.Thus did Paul for himſelf, that he might be found in Christ: and for others, I bowe my knees to the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that Chriſt may dwell in your hearts, that you may be ſtrengthened by the Spirit in the inner man, in the holy uſe of all theſe inner, and outward means which God hath ordained. Pray heartily that the Kingdome of glory may come. The whole Creation groanes under the burthen of vanity, and we our ſelves do groan: Rom. 8.19.23. Rev. 22.17.and the ſpirit, and the bride ſay, come. Till then God hath not the full glory of his mercy and juſtice. If thou do but ſee the largeneſſe of the Kingdome of ſinne, and Satan; 1 Joh. 5.19.that the whole world lyes in wickedneſſe: If thou conſider the many enemies of Chriſts Kingdom, who ſay, depart from us, Job. 21.we deſire not the knowledge of Gods lawes: who is the Almighty that we ſhould ſerve him: we will not that he rule over us; therefore let us break his bands, and caſt away his cords from us: If thou weigheſt how ready thou art to rebell againſt the Kingdome of Chriſt, and to admit of the Kingdome of darkneſſe, thou muſt zealouſly pray, Thy Kingdome come.