The Sum of Christianity, Part 3
The Christian's Desires and Prayers.
ALL our Desires and hearty Wishes must terminate in this, That God in all things may be glorified through JESUS Christ our Lord. That we through the Sanctification of the Holy SPIRIT of Grace may live such Holy and Heavenly Lives in obedience to the Gospel of Christ, that God may be glorified both by our total Subjection to him on Earth, and our Etern…l Salvation or Happiness with him in Heaven.
This we are not able to do of our selves, all our Power and Will too, either to believe, or to do the Will of God, is wrought in us by the Holy SPIRIT of God. Therefore must we mo…t humbly, earnestly, frequently, and believingly pray to God as our blessed Saviour himself hath taught us, saying,
Our Father which art in Heaven.
I. We must consider, That tho' we are always in the Presence of the most Holy and Glorious GOD, who is the Searcher of Hearts, and knoweth our Thoughts afar off; yet now we are in a more especial manner drawing nigh unto him, to pour out our Hearts before him, and to present our most earnest Desires and Petitions unto him.
Therefore in the greatest Humility, both of Soul and Body, must we cast our selves down before him, adoring his Divine Majesty, and incomprehensible Greatness and Glory▪ as exalted above all Blessing and Praise. We must reverently approach unto him, as unto the Wise, Powerful, and Good Maker, Preserver, and Governor of the whole World; Heaven being his Throne, and Earth his Footstool. We must as vile Dust and abominable Sinners, with Fear and Trembling, Shame and Self-abasement, lift up our Eyes and Hearts from the World and all earthly Concerns, towards Him in Heaven, longing to be made more Holy and Heavenly, that we may be capable of a nearer Communion with him.
We must as his adopted Children in JESUS Christ, grieving that we have offended him, resolving to live in all dutiful Obedience to him, draw near unto him as to our most Gracious Father, so far reconciled unto us through the Mediation of our Blessed JESUS, that he is ready to pardon us, and to bless us for his Sake with all good things needful for us. Trusting therefore to his Power as Lord of Heaven and Earth, and casting our selves on his Love and Mercy as our Father in JESUS Christ, and in the Name of Christ trusting to his Goodness, and resigning our selves to his Government, we must beg of him his Holy Spirit to make us more like him in Holiness, that we may be for ever happy in his Love and Blessing.
We must as Members of Mankind, and especially as Members of Christ's Mystical Body the Church, pray for all others as well as for our selves; and not think that any Prayers we make unto God will profit us, without an universal good-will to all Men, and a special Love to all Christians.
Hallowed be thy Name.
II. We must in the first place heartily desire, and earnestly beg of God, That we and all the World may give him the Glory and Honour due unto his Name, that is, unto God himself, as he hath revealed and made himself known unto us. That we may adore him as an infinitely and incomprehensibly Glorious Being in all the Excellencies of Divine Perfections, Eternity, Purity, Power, Wisdom, and Goodness, far above the Thoughts of Men or Angels. That we may have high and honourable Thoughts of him, love him above all things, fear to offend him, depend wholly on him, trust unto him, be thankful for all his Benefits, submit to his Government, be resigned to his Will, Worship him, and him only, according to his own Directions, and use reverently and in an holy manner every thing that's called by his Name, his Word, his Day, his House, his Sacraments, his Ministers, and all his Children; chusing him as our Portion and Happiness, and resting satisfied with his choice for us, and disposing of us, and his ordering and governing the World, and all things in it.
Thy Kingdom come.
III. We must pray, That the Power and Dominion which the Devil hath got by Idolatry, or any sorts of Sins, over a great part of the World, may by the Power of God's Spirit, and the Preaching of the Gospel, be destroyed. That the Kingdom or Church of Christ may be enlarged, that all Kings and Nations may be converted, and submit to the Government of JESUS Christ. That he may rule by his Word and Holy Spirit in all our Hearts; that we may obey his Ministers as his Ambassadors; and that they may have the Protection and Countenance of all the Higher Powers on Earth, and that these may become Nursing Fathers to the Church. That there may be no Heresies, nor Schisms or Divisions amongst us; but that we may hold the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace. That God in Christ may be worshipped with a pure and spiritual Worship; that all his Laws and Ordinances may be religiously kept, and that we may all grow in Knowledge, Holiness, and Brotherly Love. That we may earnestly desire, be duly prepared, and patiently in Faith and Well-doing wait for, and finally with Joy to enter into God's Kingdom of Glory.
Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
IV. We must pray, That as we have vowed in our Baptism. Not to obey the Will of the Devil, nor to make the vain Customs of the World, nor the Inclinations and Lusts of the Flesh, but the Will of God alone the Rule of our Lives; so God by his Holy Spirit would work in us both to will and to do all that he commands. That we may in Thought, Word and Deed, yield a sincere, universal, and cheerful Obedience to the Gospel of Christ. That we may submit our Understanding to his Wisdom, and our Wills to his Authority, and our Affections and Passions to his Government, and our Persons, Lives and Estates to his Disposal. That we may endeavour after the perfectest degrees of Holiness and Duty, and as the Holy Angels in Heaven, rejoice in an Holy and Entire Obedience to his Commands.
Give us this Day our daily-bread.
V. We must pray, That God, in whom we live, and move, and have our being, would give us all things needful for this life, till we be fitted for a better. That we may have Health and Strength to serve God, and such a Measure of other good things as he seeth most expedient for us. That he would give us Grace to labour industriously in an honest and profitable Calling, so as we may have enough for our selves, and those that depend upon us, and to relieve those that need our help. That we may be able to pay every one his due, and to contribute to the Publick Good both of Church and State. That we may not through the Temptations of Poverty do any unlawful thing, nor by those of Riches, to live Proudly, Luxuriously or Prophanely. That we may live Contentedly and Peaceably, and use every thing we have, Religiously and Soberly, free from all Covetousness, immoderate Cares or Desires; and also from all Idleness, Vanity, Intemperance, Waste, and Prodigality.
And forgive us our Trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.
VI. We must pray, That God would give us soft Hearts, an humbling Sense of our vileness by reason of Sin, a godly Sorrow for all our Sins, such as may work in us Repentance unto Life never to be repented of. We must confess our Sins, and that we deserve Damnation for them; and beseech God of his rich Mercy, and for the sake of JESUS Christ, who by the Sacrific… of himself gave Satisfaction to God for our Sins, …hat he would graciously forgive us, and grant unto us a perfect hatred of them, and a Power and Wil… to forsake them. We must also, that we may be capable of God's Mercy and Forgiveness, resolve and pray for Grace to be merciful to others, and to forg…ve, love and pray for our Enemies▪ rep…ying them Blessing for Cursing, Love for Hatred, and Good for Evil. We must use all means of winning and reconciliation, and not hope for Pardon from God, so long as we are not in Love and Charity with all Men.
And lead us not into Temptation, but deliver us from Evil.
VII. We must not presume, That God will pardon us, or shew us mercy, unless we persevere in Holiness and Obedience; therefore we must pray, That God would by the power of his Grace make us both able and willing carefully to watch against, prudently to shun, and manfully to resist all Temptations to Sin, that we may not be overcome by them; that God would frustrate all the Devices of the Devil to draw us into Sin; that neither the Love nor Fear of any thing in the World, nor our own Lusts and Appetites may prevail with us to do Evil, or to neglect our Duty; but that he would by his Grace prevent us, and assist us so as we may continue Holy for ever, and safe from all Evil, both of Sin, and of Punishment for Sin, both in this World, and in the World to come.
For thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, for ever.
VIII. We must heartily acknowledge God's absolute Right and Sovereignty to Govern and Dispose of us, and of all things, and our Happiness in being governed by Infinite Wisdom and Goodness: God's irresistible Power to do what he pleaseth, and our Happiness in the Protection of the Almighty; th…t all Good is of him and from him, and therefore the Honour, and Praise, and Glory of all is to be ascribed unto him. Becaus… the Right to, Power over, and Glory of disposing of all things is his, therefore is it our Duty to pray unto, and praise him for all things; and this also is our great encourag…m…nt to this Duty, That it is the Glory of God's Goodness to exer…ise his Dominion and Power in rewarding all them that diligently seek. And therefore we say,
Amen.
IX. By this word we do, as if we said all over ag…in, testify the Sincerity and Earnestness of these our hearty and unfeigned Desires and Prayers; and moreover we express thereby our H…pe and Confidence, that God will grant most graciously our requests. Amen, good Lord, so be it. Even so we most f…rvently desire that it may be; and so we doubt not, seeing our Blessed JESUS hath taught us thus to pray, and seeing it is for the Glory of thy Grace to grant what he hath taught us to pray for, but it will be. For thou never failest them that seek thee.