An Exposition of the Lords Prayer, Commentary (1 of 4)
An exposition of the Lordes praier.
THat naturall affection and inclinatiō that wee hauehave vntounto our owne good, and to the preservation of this our life in some happye estate, not onelyonly maketh vsus to fele our wāts & griefes, distresses and dangers, but also forceth vsus to seeke for redresse and remedie of the same. But as in the drought of sōmer, there is no good or wholesome water but in the brookes or springes to be hoped for: neither in a storme or tempest any safety for the ship, but in the haven: neither the childe being in any feare, will be quiet or thinke himselfe safe, vntil hee be in his fathers armes: even so whē we hauehave soughtNo comfort but in God & searched in our miseries, afflictiōs, or sorowes, all helpes or comforts possible; yet our harts can not be setled, our mindes cannot be quieted, vntill we hauehave drawne the sweet water of true cōfort from God himselfe, that fountaine that never faileth; and find our selues entred within the haven of his help, and shrowded from all evil, vnderunder the shadowe of his winges.
And because the light of knowledge, which we might hauehave had of this good and gracious God, maker of all thinges, even by the creatures the workes of his handes; hath through our corruptionThrough ignorance Idolatry. bin darkened with the clouds of ignorance: it hath come to passe that the most part of men & women in their extremities, seeking by their naturall vnderstanding to finde out God, hauehave worshipped the creature insteede of the Creator, and served the sunne, the moone, and the starres, yea and thinges much meaner and viler then these, which all God hath made to serue our vse: the fruit whereof hath beene, that they hauehave beene punished in their owne inventions, and walking in Ier. 4: 18 Es. 50. 11:the light of their fire, and in the sparkes that they hauehave kindled, they lie downe in sorrowe.
But that long suffering God, and most ready to forgiue, whoe desireth not the death of a sinner, Eze… 18: 23 Act. 17. 30:not regarding the time of this ignorance (to punish it in such sort as it deserved) admonisheth now all everie where to repent, and calleth vsus both by the threatnings of the lawe, and by the promises in the Gospell most comfortably delivered, thatGod calleth vsus to him: we leaving all other helpes in our troubles, and hope of succour, woulde rest and relie onelie vppon him, who can because hee is most mightie, and will because hee is of much merciemercy, and full of compassion, heare vsus when wee call, and helpe vsus when wee stande in neede, if hee see it to bee good for his glorie,, and our comforte. So that nowe the lifting vppe of pure handes, proceeding1: Tim: 2: 8: from a good conscience, with a pure hearte, and faith …nfemed, is through CHRIST Iesus, that acceptable service that wee must doe, and that holie sacrifice that wee must offer. And toOur vnworthines must not discourage vsus. the ende wee shoulde not by our vnworthinesse bee discouraged, or by the burthen of our sinnes bee so pressed downe, that we coulde not with confidence lifte vppe our heartes vntounto the fountaine of grace and merciemercy, to sue for releife: our Saviour CHRIST himselfe, in whose mouth there was founde no guyle, and of whomeMatth: 17: God himselfe proclaimed from heaven Heare him, in that praier which he lefte vntounto vsus, to bee as a pattern for vsus in our praiers to imitate and followe, hath taught vsus to saie Our Father which arte in heaven.God a father to vsus wretches▪
What greater consolation, what sweeter comfort can there bee, then that wee sillie wormes of of the earth, yea dust and ashes, whose breath is in our nostrels, whose life is but as it were a shadowe, and our daies but a spanne longe, or as a tale that is told, should attaine to the prerogatiue to cal God our father? What greater assurāce of Gods great & vnspeakable mercy & louing kindnes, thē that we who are the corrupt issue of our disobedient parentes, conceiued and borne in sin, that drinke in wickednes like water, and are by nature not straungers only, but enemies also to God: should (Gods spirit bearing witnesse with our spirite, that we are Gods childrē) hauehave boldnes to come before his presence, who is holy and a iust punisher of transgressors, and say to him with confidence, Our father? he ereby we see that the hatred which was against vsus is abolished, Gods wrath is appeased, sinne is pardoned, louelove is purchased, death destroied, life restored, heaven and earth agreed, and God & man reconciled. Yea heere wee are now taught that God loueth vsus with an assured louelove, with an vnfained louelove, yea with a constantGods louelove great and? free. purpose to louelove vsus still. He loueth not vsus as sometime one man loueth another; because hee looketh for some good at his hands. For alas what can wee yeeld to him that is not his, & that much more vnperfect than when hee gaue it vsus? Neither is his louelove such as often one friend beareth to another, because he is able and willing to pleasure him sometime. But hee loueth vsus as the father loueth his children, because they are his children, and he their father. Even so God loveth vsus, not because wee chose him to bee our father, but because hee by grace adopted vsus to bee his sonnes. But there can bee no proportion of louelove in men to serte foorth Gods louelove to vsus ward. For Psa: 103: 11as high as the heaven …s aboue the earth, so great is his merciemercy towards them that feare him. And that he might louelove vsus stil with a stedfast purpose, and might not find in vsus any cause to bee displeased at vsus: As far as the East is from the West, so farre Vers. 12:hath he remooued our sinnes from vsus. Whereby it commeth to passe that we (woful wyghtes!) that sometime durst not looke vp vntounto heaven the place of Gods Maiestie, neither thought our selues worthy to be accounpted among his meanest servauntes, hauehave now such …oldnes that we dare appeare before his face, and say to him, Our Father.The privilege of Gods children
And this indeede is a privilege and prerogatiue belonging onelyonly to Gods deare children, to approach v…to the throne of grace, with such assurance. For although he is after a sorte, the father not of the godly onelyonly, but of the wicked also, yea of all things visible and invisible, because he made them all, and as a good father careth also for them: yet none but such as God hath renewed by his holy spirit and good grace, and in whose harts he hath sealed vp the hope of eternall life, can in their praiers say vntounto him cōfidently, Our Father. And that is it that heere we are to learn, not what GOD is in himselfe; but what they who are mooved by their wantes and by faith imboldened to praye, shoulde finde and feele him to bee in their owne consciences, that is, not a Iudge whome they might feare, but a Father whom they must louelove, and in whom they must trust.
But heere perchaunce the conscience pressed with the weight of sinne, will cast many doubtes, even as a man that commeth to talke with himAn accusing conscience against whome he hath offended, & whose wrath he feareth. When a sinfull man that hath broken gods lawes, hath neglected his service, and thereby hath deserved his displeasure, shall thus beginne to praie, Our Father, and he remembreth howe disobedient hee hath beene against him to whome he speaketh in such sorte, what comforteGod pleased with vsus throughe Christ. or confidence can he nowe finde? how shall he perswade himselfe that so iust a god as god is, wil accept of so rebellious a child as he knoweth himselfe to be? Heere we must learne to turne awaie our eies from our selues▪ and to behoulde our selues in another, or else howe longe soever wee speake with god, wee shall never hauehave hope to speede. Wee must remember that our selues are not worthy to offer vppe our sacrifices of praier vntounto god. Our High Priest must offer vppe theApocal: 8: 3: same, and make them a sacrifice of sweete savour vntounto god, so that our praier it selfe shall not, neither can it bee accepted, but onelye for Christ his sake. And not our praiers onelyonly, but our selues also are in him elected and chosen before th… foundatiō Eph, 1: 4: 5: …of the world, that vve should be holie, & to the praise of the glo…ie of his grace, wherevvith he hath made vsus accepted in the beloued. And by reason of this adoption and choice that hee hath made of vsus, wee are his childrē, evē the heires of al the promises, and may bouldely call him Fa…her: And that the rather because that Christ Iesus to the end there should be nothing to hinder our hope, hath died for our sins to pay the price for our trāsgression. And that we not onelyonly should be blamelesse and without spot of sinne, but also holie and fulfillers of GODS Lawes: this our elder brother, whoe hath perfectelie kepte all the commaundem…ntes, ha…h imparted vntounto vsus this his holie obedience, so that before GOD it is to bee reckoned as ours, and although by vsus it cannot, yet in vsus (by him) the righteousnesse of the Lavve is fulfilled. Because CHRIST Rom: 8: 4: 1: Cor▪ 1: 30:IESƲS of GOD is made vntounto vsus, Wisedome, and righteousnesse, and sanctification, and redemption. Therefore heereby it appeareth, not onelie that GOD by grace is our Father, and wee his children by adoption (thoughe by nature enemies:) but also that by CHRIST his meanes, this covenant betweene God and vsus is so confirmed and ratified, that though earthly fathers or mothers could bee vnnaturall. so that they would forsake their childrē, the fruit of their body; yet the league betweene God and vsus, shall stand tast forever. For in Christ are all the promises …: Cor: 1: 20of God Yea and Amen. So that although when we consider our owne corruption, we may iustly confesse that God might worthely reiect our praiers: yet in regard of Gods mercy in Christ toward vsus, we may conceaue good hope, and saie to him, Our Father.
This word also teacheth vsus besides this comfort two necessary lessons: the one for our Conversation, the other for our Faith or Religion. For if we call him Father wee do therby tye our seluesWe must honour our Father. to honoure and obey him: then also wee sette him as a patterne before our eies, whome wee hauehave a desire to imitate and followe. For such is the authority of the Father over his children both by Gods lawe, and by the very lawe of nature, whereby the Gent…les were ruled that knew not God, that their children are bounde to keepe and doe all their lawefull and honest commaundementes. And such is the affection of dutiefull children towardes their parents, that in respect of the reverence which they beare to them, they willingly followe their example, and fashion themselues vntounto their behaviour. And thus this one woorde draweth vsus vntounto holie conversation by a double band: the one is of necessitie, that must force vsus: the other of louelove that must allure vsus.
And first let vsus consider what necessitie of holy obedience we enioine vntounto our selues, when wee acknowledge him to be our Father. If we must honour our earthly father and mother, as GodExod▪ 20: …2 Eph: 6: 1: Prov: 6: 20: commaundeth, and obeie them as Saint Paule willeth: then we must giuegive eare to Salomen the wise speaking thus vntounto vsus. My sonne keepe thy fathers commaundement, and forsake not thy mothers instruction. Binde them alvvaie vppon thine hearte, and tye them aboute thy necke. First therefore wee binde our selues heereby, to heare what God sayeth, to learne what hee teacheth, to delight in that he commaunde…h, to louelove his word aboue the hony and the hony combe, & to hauehave more pleasure therein, then in all manner of riches, as did the kingly Prophet David. But because it is not sufficient that wee like vvell of these holy and perfect waies vnlesse we also vvalke in them: wee must applie our selues to practise this obedience, which in Gods woorde is still required, and concerning which, God promiseth greate blessings vntounto them and their childrens children, vvhichwhich thinke vppon his commaundementes to doe them. Psal: 103▪ 18:And therefore as our Saviour Christ teacheth that they are Blessed that heare the vvoorde of God Luk▪ 11: 28:and keepe it: so the Apostle Saint Iames willIames 1: 22▪ have vsus, to bee Doers of the vvorde and not hea… rers onelyonly. For as saith our heavenly teacher, If Ioh: 13: 17,yee knovve these thinges, blessed are yee, if yee doe them. Whereby it plainely appeareth, that hearing without doing, learning without following, knowledge without practise, is farre from the duetye of a natural ch…lde to his Father. Wherefore the Sonne of S…rach e…hortethEccles. 3▪ 9: vsus, to honoure our parentes in vvoorde and deede; a good pattern of the honour that wee owe vntounto god.
Nowe this childlike obedience, is not shewedWe must …uffer what our Father doth to vsus willinglie. Prov: 15: 5: in the onelyonly doing of that which he commandeth; vnlesse we patiently suffer such chastisements as it shall please our heavenly Father to lay vppon vsus. For a foole despiseth his fathers instruction, but he that regardeth correction is prudent. That god as a Father correcteth vsus his children whom heHeb: 12: loueth, the Apostle to the Hebrewes most plainly teacheth. It therefore beseemeth vsus to yeelde vntounto him the honour & praise of wisdome, whereby we shall perswade our selues that he knoweth what is best for vsus: Then also to acknowledge his louing kindnes towardes vsus to bee such, as that he wil alwaies hauehave a tender care over vsus, so that all our afflictions shal be either eased and mitigated, or so ordered, that wee out of them shall reape vnspeakable comfort. If we comforte and confirme our selues often times with such godly meditations, patience shall hauehave her perfecte Iames 1: 4vvorke in vsus; so that whether there befall vntounto vsus wealth or want, ioy or griefe, liberty or restraint, health or sicknes, praise or reproach, life or death, yet with a setled hart and a contented minde, we shall bee able to say within our selues, as did IobIob 1: 21: that perfect patterne of godlie patience, The Lord hath given, the Lorde hath taken avvay, blessed bee the name of the Lord: and as did Christ in the extremity of his agony Not that I vvil, but that thou vvilt bee done. And thus wholye resigningMark: 14: 36 our selues to his holie will, willinglie suffering with him, and for his sake heere: wee shall ioyfullie raigne with him throughe his good grace, else where. And this is that first bande that I spake of, which after a sorte forciblie draweth vsus vntounto holie conversation: because of the commaundement and lawe which our heavenly Father hath given vntounto vsus, the breach whereof as in gods iust iudgment it deserveth death, so GODS obedient children, wil hauehave a desire in feare and trembling to walke in the same, not altogether for feare of punishment, but especiallie because it is our parte and dutie, to keepe and obeye our Fathers commaundements.
The other cord whereof I spake, although … We must stri…e to be like our father Levit: 11: 44 1: Pet: 1: 14drawe not so forcibly with such persuasion of necessity: yet it mooueth vsus as effectually, to the holy imitation o… our heavenly father, because hee thus exhorteth vsus: be yee holy, for I am holie. From the which woordes the Apostle Saint Peter draweth a stronge argument to admonish & exhort the Godly of his time, not to fashion them selues according to their former lustes. And the Apostle Saint Paule warneth vsus, that we Fashion Rom: 12: 2: We fashion our selus to▪ the worldenot our selues like vntounto this worlde. To reforme therfore the vanity of this our daies wherein almost nothing deliteth vsus but newe, and those many times most foolish fashions: even in the bowels of Iesus CHRIST I most humblie beseech and earnestly entreat, all them that professe the Gospell, & are by the inestimable goodnesse of GOD, drawen out of the power of darkenesse, into the kingdome of light, to remember whose childr…n they are, and to whome they say Our father, that as obedient children they may followe him, in holie and Christian conversation. It grieveth mee when I see the vanitie of this our nation in this pointe, amongst whome the Gospell hath beene preached now aboue these forty yeares. But when I see such as professe religion in some good measure, and pretend great zeale, & hauehave more knowledge than others, themselues to vse, and in their attendauntsChristians in apparell monstrous: to suffer, insteed of modest, monstrous attire and strange: I cannot but blush for shame, & mourne for greife, & quake for feare of Gods heavy iudgmen…es against this Lande: which so vnthankfully abuseth Gods benefits, & so careleslie doth cast of all care of following him, whose children we daily say that wee are. I woulde aske of such professours of religion, whether they take themselues in their apparrell nowadaies, to bee the godly followers of Saint Paules councell, who willeth Christian women that they aray them 1: Tim: 2: 9:selues in comelie apparrell, with shamefastnes & modestie, not with broydred haire, or gold, or pearles, or costlie apparell, but (as becommeth women that professe the feare of God) with good workes. Whose apparelling (as Saint Peter also cōmādeth) let it not 1. Pet: 3: 3:be outward with broydred heare, and gold put about, or in putting on of apparell: but let the hid man of the hart be vncorrupt, vvith a meeke and quiet spirit, which is afore God a thing much set by. And after he telleth vsus, that godly wemen did so attire themselues in times past. Or rather must not their owne conscience testifie against them, that they fashion themselues according to those wanton & stately dames, that are by the Prophet Esay bitterlie reproved, & against whō Gods heavy iudgmēts are fearfully threatned? Of you, evē of such as you are, the holy Martir Saint Cyprian asketh this question. Feare you not I pray you, least at Cyprian de habitu virgi n…m.the day of our resurrection, hee that made you shall mistake you, and shutte you out, when you runne to enioy the rewards and promises? I suppose there was never more change of fashions then in these our daies, whereby we bewray our vanitye vntounto others, make our selues a by word vntounto the world, cast away from vsus that modest apparrel that only beseemeth Christians, proclaime vntounto all that we wil not professe the feare of the Lord, and many waies provoke Gods wrath: And yet when we come to entreat our God we dare cal him Father, whose holines and incorruption wee are so farre from following, that we, we I say, that professe more zeale then others, most willingly frāe our selues to the fonde fashion of lewde persons. And to the greater heaping vp of Gods wrath to our condemnation without al excuse, we cōtinue in this excesse of pride, in these daies, when God pincheth vsus with hunger, and visiteth our sinnes with a sharp rodde of sicknes in many places, and threatneth also destruction by warres. Which signes of Gods wrath because they are not of force to abate our foolish pride, but that wee remaine secure & senceles in that & other transgressions, it maketh the godly not without cause to feare, least a heavier iudgmente hange over our heades, which vnlesse we speedely repent, we are not like to escape. Therefore as wee call him Father, so let vsus seeke to resēble him in al holines, modesty, meekenes, lowlines, sobriety, patience & other Christian vertues: that our own consciences may testifie with vsus, that as we call him Father, so we earnestly striue to frame our selues to bee like vntounto him. And thus much for that wee learne out of this, concerning our Conversation.
The other thinge that our Saviour teacheth vsus heereby when he willeth vsus to pray thus Our Father, concerneth our Religion: For it instructethPraier to God onelyonly vsus to whom we ought to make our praiers, that is to God onelyonly. For although we hauehave those whom vponupon earth we may cal Fathers, yet in heaven, whither our praiers ought to be directed, we hauehave but one, as in an other place we are taught. So that this name or title that we heere giuegive vntountoMa…th. 23: 9 God, giueth vsus to vnderstand, that if with confidence we wil pray, we must aske that which we want, of such a one, as both will heare vsus because he loueth vsus, and hach taken vppon him to doe vsus good: and also can heare vsus because hee made vsus, and therefore knoweth our secret thoughts, and likwise help vsus because he hath authority over al
But it is not the meaning of our Sauiour Christ in teaching vsus to praye our Father, to condemne as vnlawfull our prayers that are made vntounto the second or third persons in the Trinitie, the▪ Sonne, and the holy Ghost, whoe togither do woorke both in our creation, and our redemption. This is but one God, one I say in nature and substance; and therfore what person soever we hauehave especial regard vntounto in our praier, yet our petitions are directed but vntounto one God. As for the name of the Father, Sonne, and holie Ghost▪ they are vsed only for the distinctiō of persons. But we are taught to cal vponupon God the Father, not to exclud the other persons, but that we may come vntounto God with the greater assurance, being certainely perswaded that he loueth vsus as a Father.
Lastly I note in this word, that we are directed in our petitions vntounto God, because we, wee IWe though sinners are to pray to God. say sinfull wretches, are willed in our owne persons not to be afraide to come before him. Wee are not willed to seeke out new mediatours, intercessors, or advocates. Wee learne not heere that pollicy of the Popish Synagogue, to desire the Saints and Angels to praie for vsus, and to be our spokesmen. But he that told vsus yea and confirmedIoh: 16. 23: Rom. 8: 34: it with a double oth, that VVhatsoever yee shall aske the Fasher in my name, hee will give it you: He is at the right hand of God, & maketh request for vsus: He I say sendeth vsus directly to God, and commandeth vsus to say …ar Father. His directiō is sufficient for our discharge, his worde is our warrant. For there is one God, and one Mediatour betweene 1: Tim: 2. 5.God and man, the man Christ Iesus, as that chosen vessell of the Lord hath taught vsus: By which Christ Iesus, Wee hauehave boldnesse and entraunce Eph: 3: 12:with confidence, by faith in him. So thatGod not to be come to like other princes. although earthly princes hauehave their Maisters of Requestes, and other meanes to preferre vntounto them the suites of their subiects, and to solicit their causes, because they are men or women, whose nature wil neither suffer them to be in m… places then one at the same instaunt, or to heare what they wish, or knowe what they want, thatTom: 5: Hom. 12… stand in need of their helpe: yet doth Chrysostom iustly and vponupon good ground, commend the godly pollicy of that cōstant & cōfident suiter the woman of Chanaan, who not seeking for the mediatiō of Iames, Iohn, or Peter, or of the whole companie of the Apostles, in steed of al thē, brought a contrite and humbled hart, & came to the very fountaine, thus reasoning within her selfe: he descēded, took our flesh vpō him, & was made man, that I might be bold to speake to him. And as if he would plainly resolue this doubt, & answere this question, he setteth it down as a principle in religiō in manyHom. in gen. 43. Hom▪ de profectu: vang. places, that God will rather heare vsus for our selues, thē other for vsus, cōfirming this doctrine by the example of this woman of Canaan, who was not heard when Christes disciples intreated for her, but her owne petition was graunted. And therefore Saint Ambrose doth well and truelie callIn epist ad them but miserable excuses that men make to cloake their Idolatrie, that would make men beleeue,Rom. cap 1. that it standeth with God as with earthlie princes, who commonlie heare not their subiects complaints but by the meanes of others. Let vsus therefore bee bould to come before God, the very fountaine of al grace and goodnes, the only hope of helpe, and say vntounto him seeing Christ hath so commaunded vsus Our Father. For if our owne harte 1: Ioh: 3: 21: Heb: 7: 25:condemne vsus not, (of want of sincerity) then hauehave we boldnes to come vntounto God by Christ, seing he ever liveth to make intercession for vsus. And thus much concerning the reverent and confident afiection which this word Father teacheth vsus to hauehave towardes them to whome we must pray, whereby we may easily gather howe absurde and base a thinge it is, for a Christian to prostrate himselfe in praier before any creature.
Nowe as this title of Father may much incourage vsus in our praiers, because he is much moreLuk 11: 13: Matth: 7: 11: louing and kinde to vsus his Children, then any naturall Father can be: so yet our bouldnes must needes war the greater, when wee see that our Saviour Christ telleth vsus, that we must cal him Our Father, And to whome speaketh hee in thisOVR place? Even to whome he teacheth to aske forgivenes of their trespasses: to them whom he flatMath: 6: 15: lie threatneth that vnlesse they forgiue others, they shall not bee forgiven at Gods hand. Therefore we heere learne, that our sins cannot make such seperation betweene god and vsus, if we be desirous, and striue to be seperated, and sequestred from them; but that wee may assuredly hope to finde merciemercy, and forgiuenesse at gods hand. ForNot sin, but vnrepentance hurteth although the sweete baites of vngodlines, doe sometimes deceiue even the deere sonnes, and holy Saints of god: yet not the sinning; but the not sorowing, the not repēting for the same, doth procure the hatred of god against vsus. To omit infinit examples of the holy Fathers in the olde testament that might proue this sufficiently, the newe testament affoordeth vsus stronge testimonies, to assure vsus that this is true. The sinfull woman, zache, Peter, the theefe vponupon the crosse, & Paule himselfe, were very grievous offendours: Yet her inward faith which she did shew forth by her earnest repentance was by these most sweete words confirmed, Thy sinnes are forgiuen thee: Saluation Luk: 7. 48. Luk. 19▪ 9.came to Zacheus his house: Peter afterwards attained to that holy function, to bee a feeder ofIoh: 21: 15: Christ his flocke: to the theefe was made that comfortable promise: To day shalt thou be with me Luk: 23: 43.in Paradise: And Paule was by the commaundement of the holy Ghost, Seperated to the Act. 13: 2: Act: 9: 15:Lords worke, a chosen vessel to beare my name (saith God) before the Gentiles, and kinges, and the children of Israel. Nowe as the vnspeakable and vndeserved mercy, which hath beene shewed vntounto all these, must teach vsus with an assured faith to come vntounto this Our father, inwhome by the meanes of Christ, wee hauehave as good interest as they had: so must their speedie, earnest, and vnfeined repentance, teach vsus to humble our seluesRepentāce hartely, and with a full purpose of amendement, without delay, before our louing father, and toIoel: 2: 12: harken to that godly councel of the prophet Ioel who saith: Turne you vntounto mee vvith all your hearte, and vvith fasting, and vvith vveeping, and vvith mourning, and rent your hartes, and not your cloathes, and turne to the Lord your God. For although the Lorde is good to all, and, his Psa: 145▪ 9: Psa: 103: 11mercies are over all his vvoorkes: and, as high as the heaven is abone the earth, so great is his merciemercy tovvard them that feare him: yet they vntounto whom this louing kindnesse is extended, may fitly bee compared vntounto vessels dipped into the water, which if they be whole, bring vp the vessell full of water: but if they be broken or full of holes, were it never so full, it runneth all out. Even so they that are renued by the feare of the LORD, which is the beginning of wisedome, are fitte vessels not to receiue only, but to keepe also andEccle: 21: 14 containe GODS good graces: but they that through their olde corruption, are rotten and …ull of riftes, though a sea of mercy should be powred into them, yet shall they bee founde but emptie caskes. Let noc therefore our sinnes discourage vsus, but that we may notwithstanding our transgression and imperfections, with vnspeakable comfort call him Our Father; let vsus with an assured purpose of amendement in time to come, and harty sorrow, for that which is past, humbly acknowledge 1: Ioh: 1: 9▪our sinnes vntounto him that is faithfull and iust to forgiue vsus our sinnes, and to clense vsus from all vnrighteousnesse, For if still wee continue in our sinnes without remorse of conscience, wee are so farre from hauing comforte in calling him Our Father, although we sound it out as with a trumpet, and that often everie day, that wee shall rather finde it to be most true that the prophet telleth vsus, There is no peace (saith the Lord) vntounto the Esai: 48: 22:wicked.Act: 15: 9: Rom: 5: 1:
But nowe if we finde that our hartes being purified by faith, and also that being iustified by faith, vvee hauehave peace tovvard God, through our Lord Iesus Christ. If I say we find that Gods sperit, beareth Rom: 8. 16:witnesse vvith oor spirit, that vvee are GODS children, and so imboldeneth vsus to call him Our Father: then let vsus consider of our great preheminence and prerogatiue, that wee hauehave … The prerogatiue of Gods children:all worldly honour and excellency. If he be Our Father, we are his children. If children, we are also heires, even heires of God, and heires annexed vvith Christ. Now by being such inheritours, we hauehave not onelyonly assured hope in the life to come laide vp for vsus: but also most glorious prerogatiues to our comfort and consolation, whilest wee are pilgrims and travellours from our heavenly home. So that whatsoever the worlde esteeme of vsus, or howsoever men hate or persecute vsus: yet seeing that Our Father will giuegive vsus a kingdome, and hath already given to vsus, and for vsus, hisLuk. 12: 32: Rom: 8: 32: Sonne Christ, hovve shall hee not vvith him give vsus all thinges also? Our Father is not the creatour onelyonly and preserver of all his creatures; but also the commaunder and disposer of them. Can we then that are his children and obedient serxants, want anie of them that may serue vsus to GODS glorie, or our comforte? Hee careth for the ravens that call vppon him, feedeth the fowles of the aire, and cloatheth most gorgeouslie the lillies of the fielde, and shall he suffer his owne to perish? Noe, noe, let vsus verelie perswade our selues, that because Our Father is both owner and controuller of all thinges: therefore wee his children may with great boldnes vse the creatures, and receiue his blessinges, as pledges and assurances, of his farder louelove towardes vsus. Yea they are sanctified vntounto vsus by the 1, Tim: 4: 5:vvoorde of GOD (wee vsing them according to GODS will) and by praier. But vntounto Tit: 1: 15:them that are defiled and vnbeleeving is nothing pure, but even their mindes and consciences are defiled.
But let vsus heere take heede that we abuse not that liberty, which wee hauehave by our Fathers goodnesse. If wee say Our Father; and in confidence of his goodnesse towardes vsus, are bolde to vse his creatures: yea if by the woorde, that is by the lawfull vse of them, such as Gods word hath commaunded, they must bee sanctified (for otherwiseThe vse of the creatures: they are vocleane vntounto vsus) then must wee learne out of GODS booke to what end, and for what purpose, GOD hath permitted vntounto vsus the free vse of his creatures. Is it, I praie you, that wee shoulde satisfie therewith our monstrous and foolish pride, our filthy lusts, our beastlie drunkennes, or vngodlie pleasures? Not so for in these thinges and such like there is a double offence; the committing of such thinges, and the abuse of GODS good creatures. I cannot therefore but marvaile at and lamente the brutish follie, or willfull stubbornes, of many in our daies, who farre beyond al compasse of measure, or limites of modestie, or regarde of their estate, or respect perchaunce of their ability, strive in pride to exceede one another; proclayming to the world their folly; mispending their goods, wherof they are but stewards, & must giuegive a straite account; giuing perhapes provocation to themselues of lewdnes, and bad example vntounto others. Where is that modesty in apparel that Gods worde requireth in the professeurs of religion, that moderation in meates and drinkes, the sobriety of maides, the humility of matrones? Is this a good vse of our Fathers blessings, to striue who can be proudest in all meetinges, and most wastfull in all feastinges? When I consider howe greately wee provoke God to cast downe vppon vsus his heavy iudgments for such our rebellions: howe little we feare (shall I say the threatnings? nay) the execution of his wrath: howe we daily growe in all pride and disorder: howe little sinne is punished, and howe securely these things are winked at, to their greater sinne and shame that should reforme it: I cannot but trēble for fear of some heavy desolatiō that should come vponupon this land, so secure, yea so stubborne in so great offences. O Lord they will not behould thy Esa: 26: 11:high hande, but they shall see it, and bee confounded. Thus as it is comfortable to vsus, that we may be bold to say Our Father, because we know therby that hee loueth vsus, and giueth vsus leave to vse his creatures: so should the goodnes of God moove vsus to repentance, sobriety and holy obedience, & a feare to offend him, especially in those thinges that are vntounto vsus the pledges of his louelove.OVR.
And now because Christ teacheth every of vsus to call him Our Father, he letteth vsus vnderstand, that wee are all brethren in a spirituall kindred,Our brotherhood. being by grace the children of our heavenly Father, partakers of one spirit, as the earnest penny of our most happy hope, heires of one kingdome, and heavenly inheritaunce, and inheritours of the selfesame promises. If then it be an absurde and vnnaturall thinge, brethren, to fall out amongst themselues, and to striue, as it seemed to Abraham, who to pacifie Lot, when their heardmen were like to disagree, vsed these words, Let there be no strife I pray thee betvveene me and thee; for vvee ar… brethren: then let vsus endevour toGen: 13: 8 Eph 4: 3: Colos: 3: 14 2 Pet, 1. 7: keepe the vnitie of the spirite, in the bonde of peace: and aboue all thinges put on louelove vvhichwhich is the bonde of perfectnesse, that wee may ioine with godlines brotherly kindnesse, and vvith brotherlie kindnesse louelove. For this cause it is that our Saviour Christ, in this praier, which hee teacheth vsus, that it may bee as a patterne, after which wee shoulde frame our petitions, instructeth vsus not to saie O Father, as if wee might not hauehave bouldnesse to claime him for ours. Neither doth he will vsus to say My Father, as if wee woulde share him out amongest vsus, and make a seperation in Gods familie. But he commaundeth vsus to say Our Father, both in respect of the comfort, whereof I hauehave alreadie spoken: and also to giuegive vsus to vnderstand, that in our praiers we ought to hauehave an earnest affection, not to benefit our selues onelyonly, but with a Christian care, to bee mindefull of all the members of Christ his Church.
Neither speake I this as condemning such, as in their petitions doe speake vntounto GOD, as if he were their GOD onelyonly, saying My God, or, My Father. For I knowe that the godlie in the earnest craving of helpe, that riseth out of a great feeling of their distressed estate, doe often in their deepe sighes and groanes, send vp such praiers vntounto the God of all mercy. I cried vntounto Psal: 18: 6: Psal: 59: 1:my God. O my God deliver mee. But the Psalmes are full of such requestes. Yea and CHRIST himselfe by his example teacheth vsus, that it is lawefull for vsus so to pray, when vppon the crosse hee cried My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken Math: 27: 46mee? Much like is the confidence of the blessed Virgine Marie, when shee calleth God her Saviour. Luk. 1: 47:And Saint Paule is boulde to call God, his 1: Cor: 1: 4:God. It is therefore not lawfull onelyonly, but also a more plaine proofe of an assured conscience, when in their private petitions, which vppon speciall occasions they make, Christians rūne with a stedfast faith, and frō the bottome of the soule, with feeling of comforte, applie vntounto their heavy hart, this most gracious God, as a most soveraigne salue, to ease their griefe. As therefore the godly hauehave, and we may, in our private praiers, most comfortablie saie My Father, My God, My Lord, or, My Saviour, as GODS spirite, shall direct our spirite to praie: so yet as anie occasion shall arise, we must be mindfull also of all the members of Christ his Church, as members of the bodie, whereinto we acknowledge our selues to be incorporate; and as wee feele their afflictions, or know their wantes, we must be ready to intreat for them saying Our Father.
Nowe although this comfortable title which we giuegive vntounto him, might be sufficient to perswad vsus, to relie onelyonly vponupon him: yet because our nature is such, that as did the Israelites, we wil easilie starte aside like a broken bowe: and commit the two evilles, whereof GOD reprooveth his Idolatrous people in these words My people hauehave Ier: 2: 13:committed tvvo evils: they hauehave forsaken mee the fountaine of living vvaters: and dig them pittes, broken pittes that can houlde no vvater: therefore our Saviour Christ knowing howe readie we are to wander after our owne imaginations, and to devise vntounto our selues such Gods, as our selues imagine we may best deale withal, describeth this God to whom wee must come, & before whom we must pray, in these words, Our Father In heaven.which art in heaven. Which wordes being consi…ered of togither, doe so set before our eies the true God vponupon whom we must call, that wee are to foolish if we know him not, to carelesse of our own good, if we pray to any other. For although the wicked and vnbeleeuers, run after false gods,Esa: 50: 11: & kindle a fire, & are cōpassed about with sparks, as the prophet Esay vpbraideth the wicked Iews: yet because God heareth our praiers, vntounto him Psal: 65: 2:therefore shall all flesh (that feareth his iudgments and hopeth for his mercy) come. Because that as the prophet David in another place saith, there is Psal: 73: 25:not any in heaven, or earth, that hee doth (or wee should) desire but God only. VntoUnto this our heauenly Father the godly hauehave at all times lifted vp both hands and hea…ts, and hauehave found vnspeakable comfort. I will (saith the prophet Dauid)Psal: 121: 1: lift mine eies vntounto the mountaines, from whence cōmeth my helpe. My helpe commeth from the Lord, Psal: 97: 7:that hath made heaven and earth▪ But confounded be all they that serue that which is graven: and that glorie in Idols. But the Scriptures are most plentifull in this point, namely to shew that the true God, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Act: 7: 48.much lesse that Apollo was hee, who seemed to deliuer his Oracles at Delphi, or Iupiter that kept the Capitoll at Rome, or Diana of the Ephesians, or any other creature, that foolish men or women worshipped, either in their Temples or elsewhere: but wee must pray vntounto him who hath the heauen for his seate, the earth for his foote-stoole, whose substaunce is incomprehensible, whose waies are vnsearchable, whose power is so infinite, that none can resist it, whose goodnesse is so aboundant, that it is as a fountaine that cannot be drawen dry. Therefore omitting all creatures bee they neuer so excellent, since Christ hath so commaunded vsus, let vsus cry confidently in all our necessities, vntounto our Father which is in heauen.
And this difference which heere our SauiourWhich are in heauen Christ teacheth vsus to make, betweene our heauenly Father, & all false Gods, doth not only reforme the superstition of the Gentiles, but also the Idolatry of the Papists, who teach vsus not to lift vp our eies, or to send vp our praiers to heauēAgainst Idols. to intreat our Father: but they set vp Images in their churches, to keep the peoples eies occupied in beholding them, that their minds also may be drawne away from the true God. Both these I say are confuted heere by our Sauiour Christ by one breath because we must sue for helpe from heaven, not from the Temples of Idols: and in heaven, we ought not to entreat our brethren or sisters, that are at rest before vsus, but him that is Father & Saviour, both to them and vsus. WhatAmbros: in epi, a… Rom: cap. 1: gross…nes therefore and follie is it, that they to their condemnation will call themselues wise (as Saint Ambrose complaineth) with whome the deade can doe more, and are better accounted of then the liuing. For they departing from the living god, like better of them, that are deade.
But if our Father be in heauen and we vponupon the earth, what hope can we hauehave that we shalbe harde? Shal our voice pearce the cloudes, or shal our crie ascend into the heaven? If at any time, any such thoughts doe trouble or discourage vsus;How wee on earth are hard: wee may well assure our selues, first that Christ would never hauehave commaunded vsus to aske, but of him of whome we shoulde most certainely bee harde. Then also such is the nature of faith (with out which we cannot please god: For whatsoever is not of faith is sinne) that it never resteth vntil it hauehave found out him, in whome onelyonly it receiuethHeb: 11. 6: Rom: 14: 23 cōfort. It ever asketh that it may receiue, it ever seeketh vntill it finde, it ever knocketh, vntill the dore of mercy be opened. So that althoughe wee are vppon the earth, and can bee hearde but a little way; yet our hande of faith reacheth even vntounto god, and the crie of it soundeth more shrill then a trumpet in his eares, as by the example of Hannah and others most plainely appeareth.1: Sam: 1: 13 And this faith first taketh houlde of CHRIST whoe hath made our attonemente, and so bringeth vsus before GODS seate.
Neither yet must wee tie god vntounto the heavens,Everywher that place of glorious maiestie, as if hee were included within the same. Behould the heavens, 1: King: 8: 27:and the heavens of heavens, are not able to containe him. Whither shall I goe from thy spirit, (saithPsal: …39. 7 the prophet David) or whither shall I flie from thy presence? If I ascend into heaven thou arte there, and if I lye dovvne in hell, thou arte there. Let mee take the vvinges of the morning, and dvvell in the vttermost partes of the sea: yet thither shall thy hande leade mee, and thy righte hande houlde mee. And as rhe prophet sheweth there verie plainely, that god is present everie where: so hee also acknowledgeth, that his woordes and thoughts are not hidden from him. For (saith hee) there is not a vvoorde in my tongue, but lo, thou knowest it vvholie O Lord. Yea thou vnderstandest my thoughtes a farre of. And therfore the Scriptures speake sometime of gods eie, to shewe that hee seeth all thinges, sometime of his eare,, to shew that he heareth all things, as Tertullian very wel noteth. For euenLi de trinit: the Sea of mans conscience, lieth open before God, as Saint Augustine speaketh. And by thisConf. lib 10, cap. 2. meanes it cōmeth to passe, that the child of God, in his praier crieth so lowde that God heareth him, though he make no noise at all: hee vttereth no sound, but crieth in his heart. Although therfore we say, Our Father which art in heaven, yet doe wee not deny him to bee vponupon the earth also; yea he is so neere to eueryevery one of vsus, that in himAct: 17: 28: We liue, and mooue, and hauehave our being: so that he seeth our wants, heareth our sighes and sobbes, knoweth our thoughtes, and relieueth our necessities. Therfore in our praiers our comfort may be the greater, because our suites are made vntounto him, that hath absolut authority and power, both in heauen and earth.
You wil perchance aske, why we are taught to say Our Father which art in heaven, seeing heeWhy wee call him father in heauen▪ is not in heauen only, but in earth also? I answer first for the avoiding of our superstitious inuentions, and wandring affections (as I hauehave declared) that it may be as a bridle to restraine & keep vsus backe, from seeking to any other God, but the true God. Secondly because Gods glory most of all appeareth in heauen: where the SeraphimsEsa: 6: 3: cry one to another Holy, holy, holy, is the Lorde of hostes, the vvhole earth is full of his glorie: and the fowre beastes without ceasing daieRev: 4: 8: 9▪ 10: or night, and the twenty-foure elders, casting their crownes downe before the throne, ascribe all honour, and power, vntounto him. And whereas the Iewes in times past, though they did sufficiently set downe Gods maiesty and magnificence, if they described him thus: that he dwelleth in his holy habitation, and is in his glorious Sanctuary, and sitteth betweene the Cherubims: nowe our Sauiour Christ teacheth both them and vsus, to lift vp our cies higher, and not to seeke him in temples made with handes, but to looke vp vntounto him, in the place of all honour and excellencie. For euen that holyest place ofHeb: 9: 24: all, was but a figure of the true and perfect, that is the heauenly Sanctuary, whereinto our high Priest Christ Iesus is gone before, to make intercession to our God for vsus.
And thus to consider our Fathers power andOur hope sure. greatnes, bringeth with it double comfort. First that hee vntounto whom wee pray, vponupon whome wee relie, and vnderunder the shaddowe of whose wings, wee desire to bee shrowded: is in no daunger of his enemies, but farre out of their reach. Nimrod that lustie hunter and his companions, thoughte to builde a tower that shoulde reache vntounto heauen, but the LORDE easilye confounded and broughte to naught, their proud purposes and attemptes. As at all times there hauehave beene, so at this daie there are to many Nimrods, whoe doe builde in their own conceipt strong and high towers, setting themselues against the councell, the gospel, and people of God. They conspire amongst thēselues, and combine themselues togither, they devise their purposes, and endevour to put in executiō their practises, against the Lord, and against his annointed: they make stronge their wicked coūcels, vnderunder the name of holy league, they trouble the peace of Christendome, with their vnquiet devices, they make havock as they cā, of Gods people, oppose thēselues to the truth, & vnderunder the hypocritical colour of religiō, seeke to overthrow al religion & truth. But he that dwelleth in heaven shal laugh, the Lord shal hauehave them in derision. ForPsalm: 2: 4: howsoever they flatter thēselues in their power & multitudes, saying in ther own perswasiō, we are they that ought to speake, who is Lord over vsus? yet can they reach no higher thē the earth; & therfore what can their foolish imaginations prevaile againstPsal: 18▪ 10. him that rode vponupon the Cherub and did flie, and he came flying vppon the winges of the wind. He made darknes his secret place, and his pavilion round about him, even darknes of waters and cloudes of the aire. At the brightnes of whose presence the cloudes passed, haile stone, and coales of fire. The Lorde also thundered in the heaven, and the Highest gave his voice, hailestone, and coles of fire. Then hee sent foorth his arrowes▪ and scattered them, he increased lightninges, and consumed them? What harme can they doe I say to this great and terrible God, with all their might and multitudes? Can they remoue the rocke of our safety, or overthrow the castle of our confidence? We, no they being conpared vntounto him, even in their greatest strength, are weaker then water, viler then worms. Yea he hath them so bound and chained, that they cannot hurt the least of his Saints, but by his leave, and therefore to their good. All the mischiefe then, which they intend against God and his servauntes, shall turne to their owne destruction: and this is it that they shall bring to passe; they shall provoke against themselues his implacable, but iust anger, in whose favour and louelove is the well of life, but in his wrath, is certain and eternall death. And this comforte we hauehave because our Father is in heaven, frō which place the dragon and his Angels are cast out, so thatRevel▪ 12: 9 woe and danger, belongeth onelyonly to the inhabitantes of the eatth.
And as it is a great strēgthening of our faith, to know that our Father is not subiect to any perils, because he is in the place of power and maiestie: so wee hauehave this assurance thereby, that we hauehave also by his grace, an interest in thatOur interest in heaven. Ioh. 14▪ …▪ glorious inheritāce. For our fathers house, is our home. And therfore our Saviour Christ, alittle before that hee should goe into heaven, telleth his disciples, that he doth both go before to▪ prepare a place for them, that (saith he) whe… I am, there may ye be also. This then is our consolatiō. If we here in this world suffer griefe or sorrow, if we be subiect to persecution & affliction, if we be hated and reviled, if we be scourged & killed: what marvel is it, if our enemy deal no better with vsus, (for the world is our enemy & hateth vsus, because we areIoh: 15: 19. not of the world, but God hath chosē vsus out of the world) But whē we come home to our Fathers house, sorrowe shal cease, there shal be no danger, no distresse, no losse, no affliction, but mirth, without mourning, ioy without easing, abundance without wāting, life without ending. This I say shal be our most blessed & happy estate, when wee shal be with our Father which is in heaven.
Now a third reason why we are taught to sayWe must be heavenly. Our father which art in heaven, is for our instruction. For if our Father be heavenly, holy, seperat from sinners, then how ought we to walke before him, in all holy conversation? If our father bee in heavē, it becōmeth not vsus that professe our selues to be his children, to lie groueling heere vponupon the earth, as if we were tied, or nailed vntounto the same. It is therefore good that we harken to the sound & godly aduise, that our Sauiour Christ giueth vsus concerning this point, which is, that wee la…e not vp to our selues treasure in earth, but in heauen,Mar: 6: 19▪ 20 For (saith he) where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. And that we follow S. Paules counsell, who thus exhorteth: Set your affections on Colos: 3: 2:things which are aboue, and not on thinges which are on the earth. For although God hath given the earth to the sonnes of men, to liue vponupon it, and to receiuePsal. 115: 16 the fruits thereof, with our paine and labour: yet our hoped for inheritāce is eternal life, not heere, but els where; not vponupon earth, but in heavē. We therfore liuing in the world, yet must not louelove the world. We must learne of that kingly prophet David, who thus chargeth vsus: If riches Psal: 62: 10encrease, set not your harts thereon. And of that chosen vessel S. Paul, to vse this world, as if we vsed it not. Our Father is in heaven, our eldest brother,…: Cor: 7: 31: our head and captaine is there, our crowne of glory is there, our life is hidden there, our true hope and helpe is there. If then we be children of that Father, brethren vntounto Christ, mēbers of that head, souldiers vnderunder that captaine, and hauehave any true longing. after those spirituall and eternall good thinges; we must clime vp thether in affection; and howsoever for a time, we are absent in the flesh, travelers, and pilgrimes, in this vale of misery, our hart must bee at home. With such affection should we alwaie say Our Father which art in heaven. For I pray you with what confidence can wee aske any thinge of him, as of our heavenly Father, if our owne consciences testifie against vsus, that we are worldly, earthly, fleshly, carnally minded, and to bee shorte nothing lesse then heavenly. Wee can never perswade our selves, that our Father will ever hauehave delite in such children, as are so farre vnlike to their Father; or hauehave pleasure in the sonnes that are of so contrary disposition.
And thus much concerning the preface of the Lords praier, wherein wee hauehave comfort and instruction. Comfort, in that we are commaunded to call him Father, and that our Father; and such a Father as is in heaven, that is in the place of might and glorie, whether we his children hauehave promise that we shall come. So that our Saviour Christ would hauehave vsus hereby, as Moses a far of sawe the land of promise, so in our praiers, although on earth as it were to looke, vntounto our heavenly Canaan. Our instruction is to learne to obey God because he is our Father, both in doing that he biddeth, & in suffering that he laieth vponupon vsus. Thē also we learn to reform our selues according to the pattern that he setteth before vsus in al our conversation. For it is a praise for ye child, to be lik his vertuous Father. And to whō we must make our praiers wee are heere plainely taught, nāely to God only whose louelove to vsus ward, passeth the louelove of any Father to his childe, who because hee is in heaven, wee therefore must lifte vp our harts thither, and hauehave our affections heavenly.
The second part of the Lordes praier containeth sixe petitions, wherof the first three teach vsus to aske such thinges as chiefely doe concerne Gods glory: the three last petitions, do especially concerne our selues, and those thinges that belong not to our life onelyonly, or our body; but also to our soule, and happie or godlie life.
The first petition is, Hallowed be thy name. ByGods name the name of God is heere mente whatsoever wee knowe of God. For as by their names we knowe all the creatures, in so much as when we heare a thing named, we knowe what is mente thereby: So those attributes or properties whereby wee set forth Gods nature, whether of goodnes, or of greatenesse, or whatsoever else, are his name. And so the effecte of this praier is, that what thinge soever it is, that wee heare, learne, or knowe of GOD, we frame our selues with all reverence to receiue it, and to make such vse thereof, as may bee most to GODS glorie.
The order it selfe of these petitions, wherein the thinges that belong vntounto God (as it is meete and right) are preferred before those things that concerne our selues: teacheth vsus what reckoningGods glory to be preferred. wee oughtt to make of al thinges in this world. For if we be truely sanctified to the Lorde, and hauehave such care of Gods glorie as wee ought to hauehave, we will so greatly louelove it, and so wholy regard it, that no profit, pleasure, ioy, louelove, hope, honour, safety, or life it selfe, shall more delight vsus, then the doing of that whereby God may be glofied. No griefe, feare, danger, reproach, hatred, losse, or death it selfe, shal terrifie vsus from doeing it. Yea whatsoever it is that concerneth God, either his glory, or his wil, or his kingdōe, we must as it were forgetting our selues, and what thing soever we most reioyce in, wholy and readily applie our selues to fulfill the same, and to further it with all our indevour, This is it that God byDeut: 6: 5: his servant Moses, requireth of his people in the Lawe, and our Saviour Christ, confirmeth the same vntounto vsus as a thinge most necessary, to louelove Mat: 22: 37:the Lord our God with all our harte, and with all our soule, and with all our minde. And in this respect it is that the same teacher of perfect holines saith, Hee that loueth father or mother more then mee, is Mat: 10: 37not worthy of mee: and he that loueth sonne or daughthe more then mee, is not worthy of me. This zeale to further Gods glory, and to obey him, hath so wrought in the godly, that they hauehave bin content to be tried by mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover Heb: 11: 36by bondes and prisonment. They were stoned, they were hewen a sunder, they were tempted, they vvere slaine with the sword, they wandered vp and down in sheepes skinnes, and in goates skinnes, being destitute, afflicted, tormented. This was to our SaviourIoh: 4: 34: Christ his meate, and alwaies hath beene to the Saints of God their greatest ioy.
And amongest the thinges which especiallye concerne GOD, wee must beginne with the sanctifieng of his name, that is, his glory. First because all our actions, yea our very wordes and thoughts, ought alwaies to bee directed to Gods glorie, as God willing shall after appeare. Then also because the sanctifieng of Gods name is so needful, that vntil an earnest desire therof be setled & planted in our harts, nothing that wee doe, can be good or acceptable vntounto God. If we pray, we must in the requests that we make, have a speciall eie to Gods glory. If we giuegive almes, if wee mourne & weepe for our sins, if we be doing good to others, in al things our chiefe regard ought to be this, that god may be glorified. For this cause must the light of religiō or professiō, shine (by our holy & Christian conversation) before men, that Mat: 5: 16:they may see our good workes, and glorifie our Father which is in heaven. For this cause our Saviour Christ teacheth vsus in this praier to lay this foundation▪ ro set before our eies first the Hallowing of Gods name.
But Gods name is of it selfe holy, in so much as whatsoever we consider in God, whether his wisedome, or his goodnes, or his greatnes, or his iustice, we cannot find any thing but holinesse in him: so that we must vnfainedly confesse, that Holy and reverent is his name: why are we thē taughtPsal: 111: 9 to pray, that his name which is never other then holy, neither yet can be, should be hallowed? We doe not make request that it may bee holy in itHowe wee pray for sanctifying Gods name selfe, but that we his creatures may sanctify the same, both in our hart & affectiō, louing his word, cōforting our selues in his promises, fearing his greatnes, trembling at his iudgmēts, reioycing in his mercies: & also in al our life & cōversatiō, by serving him in holines and righteousnes, such as shal be through Christ acceptable vntounto him.
And great reasōs there are that may not moueReasons why wee should sanctifie Gods name. vsus onelyonly, but that should even force and driue vsus, earnestly to seeke and sue for this: first the commaundement of our Saviour Christ, which to a Christian mā or womā should be of such waight, that it should more presse vsus, then any profite or pleasure. Then also that duty which of every one of vsus is required, in respect whereof it is, that the sweete singer of Israel, doth thus stirre vsus vp to that office: GiueGive vntounto the Lord ye sons of the mighty, Psal 29: 1:giuegive vntounto the Lord glory & strength. GiueGive vntounto the Lord glorie (due) vntounto his name, worshippe the Lord in the glorious sanctuary. And again, GiueGive vntounto the Psal 96: 7:Lord ye families of the people: giuegive vntounto the Lord glory & power GiueGive vntounto the Lord the glory of his nāe. Wherby we see, how earnestly the spirit of God by the prophet, requireth this duty to bee performed. Thirdly the exāple of the creatures, should be a great inducement to moue vsus therto. For in that they keepe their course, & serve to such vse as God created thē vntounto, therby they cōfesse the wisdōe of God, & acknowledg him to be holy in al his works. Therfore so often as we see spring time, sūmer, harvest, & winter, night & day, light & darknes, the profitable order also of the sun, the moone & the stars, the ornamēts of the heavēs, & the bewty & comely decking of the earth: wee hauehave great cause to praise the maker of these things, & to hallow his name, who hath created these to our vse; & to cōfesse his wisdōe & power, who hath set thē in so comlie an order; & his mercy to vsus ward, for whose sakes especially these thinges were made. And the other creaturs, because we hauehave so good vse of thē should move vsus to praise gods name for thē & by their exāple in that they obey gods order, & so in some sort yeld to Gods wisdōe & goodnes due honour, oughte to prouoke vsus to glorifie his name: so is the example of the Angels, those excellent creatures worthy to be followed, whose song is this in the praise of God, Holy, holy, holie, Lord God of hosts.Esa: 6: 3:
Fourthly, if we looke vponupon Gods benefits towardes vsus many waies, what cause hauehave wee to praise him? He hath created vsus of nothing, according to his own Image, most excellēt creatures. He hath giuen to vsus comelines of body, reason, & vnderstanding. He made all things to serue vsus, & vsus to set forth his praise. HaueHave we not then great cause to hallow his name? But yet his goodnesse towards vsus is greater. Whē we through our corruption, had marred that which he made good; he mended that which was amisse, reformed that was faulty, renued that was old, and sanctified in some measure, that which was vnholy; O therefore Psal: 107: 7:that men woulde confesse before the Lorde his loving kindnesse, and declare the wonders that hee doeth for the sonnes of men! For what can wee render Psal: 116: 12:vntounto the Lord, for all his benefites towardes vsus? Offer vntounto God praise, and pay thy vowes to the Psal: 50: 14: 23.most high. For hee that offereth praise doth glorifie him.
Now as these & many other reasons may induce vsus to confesse, that wee must sanctifie Gods name, vnlesse we will reiect Christes commaundement, neglect our dutie, bee more slacke and dull heerein then the senselesse creatures, & more vnthankfull then beseemeth Christians: so there is nothing that should rather allure vsus, seriously to seeke, and earnestly to pray, that Gods name may be hallowed, then the great lets & hinderāce that we hauehave, whereby we are made more slacke and vnwilling to doe the same. For of our own nature wee are prone and inclining to euill, ready to transgresse, delighting in pleasures & fleshly lustes, easily taken with the sweete baites of sinne; vnwise and vnwary in matters belonging to the saluation of our soules. Our harts are most ready to conceiue and thinke, our mouthes to speake and vtter, and all the members of our body to do the thinges that prophane the name of God.
Then if wee hauehave regarde vntounto the thinges that are without; good Lorde what incouragemente hauehave these our vngodly motions, what prouocations vntounto sinne doe wee feele, what allurementes vntounto wickednesse, what discouragemente from good? The woorlde sometime frowneth, and sometime fawneth, but alwaie deceaueth. The deuill stirreth vppe our owne corruption, and bloweth as it were the fire of impiety that is within vsus, to make vsus worse then naughte. Our friendes vnderunder a colour of worldly frendship, by worldly persuasion abuse vsus; our foes by threatnings and brags seeke to terrifie vsus. So that sometimes by faire meanes sometime by foul alwaies by false, we are drawn backe, if at any time we would sincerely sanctify the name of God. Sith therefore it is so hard a thing for vsus being so many waies letted to perform this duty: we see, good cause there is, why our Saviour Christ in this form of praier which he setteth before vsus, should teach vsus to begge as a thing most necessary, that Gods name may bee Hallowed.
But why are wee taught to aske this of ourGod onelyonly worketh in vsus to sanctifie him. Father in heaven? Because he only can giuegive it; he onelyonly by his holy spirit can worke it in vsus; whoe also of his abundant grace and mercy, shall and will frame them to it, that earnestly seeke it. We can saie Our Father vvhichwhich arte in heaven. Wee may speake the wordes of praier: But vnlesse we hauehave the spirit of praier, which God onelyonly giveth vsus from aboue; although we number our praiers vponupon our beades or knottes, or score them vp as vponupon a Bakers score, to call God to reckenning for them: yet such praiers are turned but into sinne, so farre are wee from Hallovving Gods name by them. If wee hauehave in our mouth alwaies, GOD bee praised, or, The LORD bee thanked, and sing manie songes of thankes giving vntounto the almightie: yet if GOD doe not inwardly touch vsus, with sweete and comfortable feeling of his graces toward vsus, that wee may singe and make melody to the Lord in our harts Eph: 5: 19:our mouth or lippes are but as a sounding brasse or tinkling Cimball, and yeeld not to GOD, the honour due vntounto him. Wee may bestowe our goods vponupon the poore, or doe other externall woorkes of charitie: but GOD in such thinges is not glorified, vnlesse wee hauehave regard to the end of the lawe, which is, that louelove proceede out 1: Tim: 1 5:of a pure hart, and of a good conscience, and of a faith vnfeined; which thinges vnlesse GOD woorke in vsus, wee cannot attaine to them. And for all our woorkes of obedience to Gods law, howsoever men esteeme of them: yet are they not either acceptable services to God, or such as can sanctifie his name worthely, vnles our harts be (first)Act: 15: 9: purified by faith, which because it is Gods gifte, must bee asked of him. For vntil the tree of ourMatth. 7 1. 18: hart be made good, what good fruit I pray you cā we hope, that it may beare? Therfore howsoever in our outward appearaūce, we may seem to hauehave a kind of resemblaūce & imitation, of such godlie & Christian deedes: yet because his name is not truely and sincerely hallowed, vnlesse wee followe the Apostle Saint Peters councel, to Sanctifie 1: Pet 3. 15:the Lord God in our hearts: we hauehave no hope, that euer wee shall performe this dutye holyly, except we hauehave this grace from God, who onlie must, because hee only may, giuegive vsus newe and cleane hearts, and renue right spirits within vsus. Therefore our Sauiour Christ teacheth vsus toPsal. 51: 10: begge this of him, and to him to say, Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Now to shew in few words, what it is that weWhat wee aske in this petition. sue for in this petition: wee pray that God will giuegive vsus such meanes to learne, and such grace to knowe Gods will, that we also may be obedient vntounto the same, and so glorifie him in wordes, in works, and eueryevery way, yea euen in our sufferings also. But because that eueryevery one of vsus doeth owe a twofolde duty vntounto God; the one generall, by that our generall vocation, whereby we are called Christians; the other particular, in respect of some more priuate place, or peculiar function, whereunto we are appointed; it shall not bee amisse to consider, how we may both in the one, & other, vse the best meanes to hallow the name of God.
First therefore we pray that the word of god,Gods word published: wherein his iustice, wisedome, goodnes, & greatnes is aboundantly reuealed, may bee published and proclaimed, that the sound of it may be hard farre and neere. This meane to Hallowe Gods name, Saint Paule hath respect vntounto, when hee willeth the Ephesians to pray for him that vtterance Eph: 6: 19:may be giuen vntounto him, that he may open his mouth boldly, to publish the secret of the gospell. And writing to the Colossians; pray (saith he) for vsus, Colos: 4: 3▪that God may open vntounto vsus the dore of vtteraunce, to speake the mysterie of Christ. He willeth also the Thessalonians to pray, that the word of God may 2: Thes: 2. 1▪hauehave free passage, and be glorified. And vntounto this had Peter and Iohn regarde, when they thus prayed. And now, O Lord…, behold their threatnings, Act: 4: 29:and graunt vntounto thy servauntes vvith all boldnesse to speake thy vvorde. And as wee desire that the gospell may hauehave happie successe, so doe wee aske that all stoppes and hinderaunces may be taken out of the waie: that the crueltie of the aduersaries thereof may be stopped, their mallice mitigated, and pride asswaged: that either their heartes may bee conuerted, or their purposes confounded, and brought to naughte. Of which sort of petitions wee hauehave many in the Scriptures, but especially in the Psalmes. If then this knowledge of Gods will, be one of the meanes that wee hauehave to Hallow gods name; with what confidence or cōfort of conscience, can they say halowed be thy name, which seek by al means possible to hinder ye course of y• gospell in word & deed, teaching ye ignorāce is the mother of deuotiō affirming most vngodly, & yet stifly, that lay men or women may not reade the Scriptures in the mother tongue, will not suffer them to bee translated, but persecute them that louelove them, yea kill such as read them, and so do what they can, to hide this light, vnderunder the bushell of their own traditions? But to leaue them that are without vntounto their Lord to whom they shall either stande or fall: with what countenance can they who professeNegligēce in maintaining gods worde. themselues to like of Gods word, and hauehave authority and power to mainetaine the same in all sincerity and truth, and yet neuer seek soundly to set forth the same; I say with what countenaunce can they pray, that Gods name may bee hallowed? Shall not their owne conscience accuse them, that they hauehave not to the vttermost of their powers sanctified Gods name, in zealous setting foorth of his truth, in their kingdomes, countries, cities, townes, and howsen, wherein God hath made them great, that they might hauehave glorified him? I hartely therefore beseech you, whom God hath lifted vp aboue your brethren, to that end that al your power should be emploied to his glory that gaue it to you: if you hauehave any regard of duty, louelove of the truth, tender care of your people, respect of your owne estate after this life; so incourage the godly, and compell the obstinate, with others to hallow Gods name, by receiuing and hearing his word, that heere you may say without an accusing conscience in respect of your owne negligence herein, Hallowed be thy name; and elsewhere without feare & confusion, heare these wordes, GiueGive an account of thy stewardship. And wee also that are Ministers of Gods word, of what great place soeuer, must remember, that we are salt, to giuegive season, and candels to giuegive light to others, as a light I say shining …n a darke place; and therfore both by speaking and liuing, we must hallow Gods name, especially among them that are committed to our charge: taking great h…ede, that neither by our negl…gence in teachin…, wee chearish their ignorance; neither by our vngodly life, w… offend the weake ones, or open the mouth of slanderers.
And as wee heere pray, that God will by allThat the word may be beleued▪ meanes publish his word: so we also craue that it may be beleeued. For otherwise what glory shal God hauehave yeelded by vsus vntounto him, if the messengers that bring these tydings, may complaineEsa. 53. 1. with the prophet Esay, Lord, who will beleeue our report, and to whom shall the arme of the Lord be revealed? We therefore desire, that God by his holy spirit, will sanctifie our hearts, that when the knowledge of his will is offered vntounto vsus, we may not be so godlesse and graceles, as to iest at it, or the preachers thereof, refuse to heare it, or to persecute it, or them that teach it: but that our consciences may yeeld vntounto vsus this testimony, that God therin speaketh to vsus, and therefore that we will with all readines heare it, and with all reverence beleeue it.
And concerning this point it must here be remembred,Gods word our onelie rule. that it belongeth to the hallowing of Gods name, y• we receiue no doctrines, but such as out of Gods book shall be deliuered & taught. For how can we giuegive him the praife of wisdome, if we doubt whether his word containe whatsoeeur is necessary for vsus to know, and thinke it fit that there should be matched with it, the traditions of men? Or how can we imagine that to be a rule of our religion, which men so ouer rule at their pleasure? Therfore that we may truely hallow his name, we must admit no teacher but him onelyonly. For we hauehave but one lawmaker in ChristMa…h: 23: his church, and one Master in the same, even Iesus Christ, to whome God hath assigned that office,Matth: 17. 6 and whom he hath commanded vsus to heare.
But because that the more we know, the greater is our cōdemnation, vnlesse our life be in some measure answerable to the same (for heavy is the iudgment of that servant, that knoweth his maistersLuk. 12. 47: will and doth it not) it is therefore needfull that we should set forward yet one step more, towardes the hallowing of Gods name: that isDoeing Gods word▪ that vntounto hearing and beleeuing, wee shoulde adde doeing. But because after in this and in the petitions following, I shall hauehave better occasion to intreat therof; it shall now suffice only to note thus much: that without our holy obediēce, gods name is never truely glorified, and therefore that in this petition we aske, that God will so frame vsus to obedience, that wee may serue to his glory. But the end of our obedience is heere chiefely to be noted. For if wee obey that we may▪ halloweMat: 5: 16: Gods name, as our Saviour Christ, most plainly teacheth vsus that we should: then must wee not seeke thereby our own praise; much lesse may we hope therby to merite and deserue Gods favour, and to satisfie for our sinnes.Luk: 9: 62: Heb: 3▪ 14:
But because No man that putteth his hand to to the plough and looketh backe, …s apte to the kingdome of God. For we are made partakers of Christ, of we keep sure vntounto the end, the beginning (of our assurance by the gospell) wherewith wee are vpholden: and he (only) that endureth to thend, shalbe saved: therfore that we may more sincerely glorify god, we pray yet farther, that God would giuegive vsus constancyCōtinuace and continuance, to persevere alwaies in hallowing his name. For it is an easie matter to speake of religion, and professe the truth, so longe as the woorlde alloweth thereof. But if our friendes will forsake vsus, our neighbours despise vsus, our enemies trouble vsus, our Masters molest vsus, our Landlords vndoe vsus, our Magistrates imprison, punish and put vsus to death, vnlesse we will deny our religion, or dissemble with the world, and yet continue constant; i… we bee in danger to leese our friends, our goods, our life, vnlesse we will forsake that God whom we hauehave serued, and that faith that we hauehave fauoured; and perseuer in our profession still, then shall we hallow Gods name. But this setled & stedfast hart, and firme purpose to abide in the truth, is not in any but in such, as hauehave in their owne perswasion, ascribed vntounto God the praise of power and goodnesse; that he can if he will, and will if it bee good, for his glory, and their comfort deliuer thē. They will say then in the face of those bloudy tyrants with the three children We are not carefull Dan: 3: 16: 17: 18:to answere in this matter. Behold, our God whom we serue, is able to deliver vsus from the hot fiery fornace, and hee will deliver vsus out of thy hand O king. But if not, be it knowne to thee O king, that wee will not serue thy Gods, nor worship the golden Image, which thou hast se… vp. They in their very consciences, subscribe vntounto that which S. Paule testifieth, that God is faithfull, which will not suffer his to bee 1. Cor: 10: 13tempted aboue that they bee able, but will giuegive the issue with the tentation, that they may be able to bear it. Yea they acknowledge also, the praise of iust and righteous dealing to belong vntounto God, with whom it is a righteous thing, to recompence to2: Thes: 1: 5: such as are troubled, rest with the Saintes of God▪ To be short they glorifie his name because their constancie doth testifie, that they are perswaded that the issues of death belong to God, andPsal: 68: 20: therefore will confesse him before men, what dāger soever may follow of it, rather then by denying him to dishonour his name.