Milk for Babes, Questions · Question 41
41. Q. What is the third Petition?
A. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Here thou craveſt the ſecond principall means for the hallowing of Gods name, that is, the acts of grace. W ha is prayed for in the third Petition.It is not enough that Gods Kingdom be within thee by grace: but thou muſt alſo act it, by the doing of Gods will. Put caſe that thou be in his Kingdom, it is not every one that ſaith Lord, Lord, that ſhall be of his Kingdom, Matth. 7.but he that doth the will of our Father. When this Kingdom is come, we are enabled to hallow his name: but how? By doing of his will: therefore next thy Kingdome come, is ſet, thy will be done.
God hath but one will, yet he doth not reveal all to us. Some part he keeps to himſelf, till the event make it known. This is called his Counſell, Pſal. 33.11. Rom. 9. Rom. 11.or thought of his heart. Of this Paul ſaith, who hath reſiſted his will? and who hath known his will? Some part he makes known to us, and would have us to do for the exerciſing of grace. Epheſ. 5.17.Of this Paul ſaith, underſtand what the will of the Lord is. This is the Scriptures; which are called Gods will from the common courſe of ſpeech, as our words are called our will, which are but a ſigne of our wils. Of both theſe thou prayeſt here, both that God do as he pleaſe, Act. 21.14.as Paul ſaid, The will of the Lord be done: and that we do as God requires in the volume of his book. Pſal. 40.By doing his will, Revel. 2.6.thou muſt underſtand, that God works his whole will to be our will both for ſubmiſſion and obedience. And that thou maiſt do it moſt acceptably, Chriſt doth teach thee to pray for an elevating qualification, that Gods will may be done on earth as in heaven. By Heaven, thou muſt underſtand the heaven of heavens, where the will of God is gloriouſly done. In this heaven, there are Chriſt, Angels, and Saints that do it. Chriſt profeſſed that he came not to do his own will, Joh. 6.38. Pſal. 104.but the will of him that ſent him. The Angels fulfill his commandement: and the Saints have leiſure to do nothing elſe. Thou muſt not look to equality of meaſure, but likeneſſe of manner in their doing of Gods will: that as they do the will of God firſt, willingly, ſpeedily, faithfully, and zealouſly: ſo muſt thou pray to do. Yea, thou muſt lift up thy obedience above the earth that thou maiſt bare the image of heavenly things. If now, thou would'ſt frame thy heart in prayer according to this petition, have an eye to Gods ſecret will, and pray that thou maiſt ſubmit to it when it is revealed. Thou knoweſt not; for preſent, how God will deal with thee in body, ſoul, ſtate, or friends: but, when he hath revealed his pleaſure, pray that thou maiſt ſubmit. Again, have an eye to Gods will in his word, and pray that thou maiſt have it, know it, beleeve it, and love it. Have an eye alſo to thy conformity to Gods will, and pray heartily, that thou maiſt baſely eſteem of thine own will, and deny it: that thou maiſt have power to ſubmit, and bring it into act in all things as they do that are in heaven.
Uſe. Therefore (my dear childe) learn, that it is not enough to be a ſubject in Gods Kingdom, except thou live anſwerably. Thou maiſt hear many ſay, God knows my heart, that is good to God-ward. This is but a vain plea where there is not ſubmiſſion to, and doing of Gods will in life. When therefore thou ſeeſt how willing thou would'ſt live at liberty what ever the will of God is. When thou ſeeſt what enemies we are to Gods will, and how few do it. When thou thinkeſt what diſhonour it is to God to have ſo many ſervants, and ſo few to do his will. When thou conſidereſt how many do it, and do it amiſſe by failing in faithfulneſſe: then ſtir up the grace of God in thee to pray the more earneſtly, Thy will be done. To this end know the word of God. Remember thoſe parts of it moſt which concern thine, and others ſalvation. Talk and conferre with Gods skilfulleſt workmen about thee. Practice the doing of ſo much of the will of God as thou knoweſt, and avoid the courſe of ſinne: and then what thou prayeſt, thou ſhalt do about Gods will, to Gods glory, and the good of thy ſoul.