An Exposition of the Lords Prayer, Commentary (2 of 4)

An Exposition of the Lords Prayer · Commentary (2 of 4)

p. 55And if this our constancy come to farther triall, then must wee by our suffering hallow Gods Suffering.name, wherin are diuers points to be considered.The cause of suffering As first the cause. For not eueryevery one that is hanged vpō a tree, as was Christ, suffereth as a weldoer; for the theeues were iustly punished. Not eueryevery one that was stoned to death, as was Steven, was a Martyr; for it was a death appointed to many malefactours. Not eueryevery one that is cut in pieces, as was Esay, is a prophet, for it is a death adiudged to many wicked persons. It is not the death, but the cause that maketh one to bee a Martyr. If wee therefore suffer for our euill doings, how is God glorified thereby? If yee bee railed vponupon for the Name of Christ, blessed 1: Pet: 4: 14: 15:are yee: for the spirite of God, and of glory resteth vponupon you: vvhichwhich on their part (that persecute you) is evill spoken of, but on your part is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murthere…, or as a theefe, or as an evill doer, or as a busie bodie, in p. 56other mens matters. Therefore to the ende wee may euen in this, confidently lift vp our heartes vntounto God, wee pray heere, that if it seeme good vntounto him, to giuegive leaue to our enemies at anie time, to hauehave power ouer vsus, whether for our chasticement, or for our triall: yet hee will alwaies so guide vsus by his good grace, that we neuer iustly deserue any their punishmentes. But if for Gods cause, for his truth and gospell, for his glory, we indure any thing; because therein we hallow Gods name, our Sauiour Christ speaketh vntounto vsus to comfort vsus: Blessed are yee, when men Math: 5: 11: 12:revile you, and persecute you, & say al māner of evil against you for my sake▪ falsl…. Reioice and bee glad, for great is your reward in heaven.

But the cause of our suffering being not euil, we must afterwards hauehave great regard, that we make it not worse, by handling it not well. WeePatience.▪ must not therfore be angry at the meanes which God vseth to humble and afflict vsus, although it bee done by our enemies; wee must not seeke to take revenge; we must not murmure or repine against God: but we must louelove our enemies, blesse Math: 5: 44:them that curse vsus, doe good to them that hate vsus, and pray for them that doe hurte and persecute vsus. So did Christ when hee was vponupon the crosse: Father Luk: 23: 34:forgiue them, for they knowe not what they doe. So did Steven the first Martyr that was stoned p. 57to death: he cryed with a lowd voice: lay not Act: …▪this sinne to their charge. So did Saint Paule that chosen vessell, who of himselfe for our example testifieth thus, and of his brethren the Apostles: Wee are reviled, and yet wee …lesse: wee are 1: Cor▪ 4: 1…▪ 13:persecuted and suffer it; we are evill spoken of, and vve… …ray. If wee first indeuour to c…e vp vntounto this steppe of perfection, wee shall in the ende goe higher, and learne of the same Apostle To 1: Thes: 5: 18giuegive thankes in all thinges, not in prosperity only,Thanksgiving in tro… ble▪ Iob: 1: 21: but also in aduersitie. And this lesson patient Iob by his example teacheth vsus: Naked (saith he) came I out of my mothers wombe, and naked shall I returne thither: the Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken it: blessed be the name of the Lorde. And that this our patient and setled minde, may (as the Apostle exhorteth vsus) be known vntounto al men, it much cōcerneth the hallowing of Gods name. And therefore in this praier wee make request, that God will in all our sufferings, arme vsus with such quietnes, and indue vsus with such a thankfulnesse of hart, that we may praise God for all that he sendeth, and euen from the bottom of hart say The Lord is righteous in all his waies, and holy in all Psal: 145: 17his workes. And this we craue at the hand of God so often as we say H…llowed be thy name.The end of our suffering.

Thirdly it must be cōsidered to what end we must indure with patience, if we thereby will hallow p. 58Gods name. For the Marchant through hope of gaine▪ and profit, is oft times content to take in hand many dangerous voyages, to abide much trouble, and sustaine much griefe. Other men will do the like for their pleasures and delights. And they that runne in a race, or wrastle for a game, as the Apostle teacheth vsus, will abstaine1: Cor 9: 25 from such thinges as may hinder them, although it be but to get a corruptible crowne. Some for their sufferings looke for praise of men, other for merite of God. But all these respectes that wee hauehave to our selues, doe hinder vsus for seeking the glory of god, or hallowing his name. What must then▪ be the principall end that we should hauehave regard vntounto? Even Gods wil: because it is his pleasure it shoulde bee so; Which the Apostle Saint Peter, calleth a suffering for conscience sake toward 1: Pet. 2: 19: 13:God, or as in another place he saith For the Lords sake. And that we may the more willingly, for Gods cause,, take in good parte, whatsoever he shall lay vponupon vsus: we must call to minde howe graciously God dealeth with vsus, how fatherly he chastiseth vsus, howe gently hee correcteth vsus, how long he spareth vsus, how slowe he is to anger, how ready to forgiue: These I say and such like meditations, would be strong inducements to mooue vsus, in al our suffrings, be they never so grievous, to sanctifie the name of God.

p. 59Hetherto I hauehave declared, howe that in this first petition, we aske that God would grant vsus the meanes to hallow his name, either in our doings or in our sufferings. In our doings that hee will direct vsus to know, beleeue, obey, and confesse his will; in our sufferings, that the cause may bee good, the māner godly, the end Gods glory, Now it remaineth that I shew against the assaults of sinne what vse wee hauehave of this petition even in our good works: that is, in what respect we need to pray, that in them, gods name may be hallowed.

Fulgentius that godly and learned father, who as it seemeth had good experience of the subtilties of Sathan, and kn…w the depth of his deceauable devices: giueth a most necessary and Christian caveat, vntounto Proba a godly and vertuous virgine:Epist: 3: admonishing her to take good heede, that if that tempter and enemy of mankind, cannot draw her to doe the things that are evill, hee make her not proude of doeing, the thinges that are good. For sometime when he cannot prevaile by the sins where vntounto he allureth: yet he overcommeth vsus by our owne vertues. Hee riseth, by those meanes that shoulde presse him; and foileth vsus, by vertue that overthroweth him. But this is not the first attempt of Sathan, he maketh this his last refuge. When by no other meanes hee can bring his purpose to passe, p. 60then he trieth this waie. His earnest endevour is,Sathans practises: to snare vsus in his gins, and catch vsus in his traps. And therfore he wil as that Father there reporteth see if he can drawe v… to sinne, and that for the most part by sweete allurements. Sed violas Psychomachia …nx. & sbriet. pugna.lasciua iacit, fo…ijs{que} osarū, d…micat, as Prudentius very well noteth in the cumbate betweene Sobrietie and Riot. Excesse saith he or riot That wanton casteth violets in mens waies, and fighteth with rose leaues. And thē after he sheweth that by such meanes, the strength or courage of vertue being somewhat abated, vice by little and little creepeth in. If this device of his hauehave not good successe, yet he will not give over, but trieth another way. He w…l endevour to discourage vsus from doing of good, setting before vsus many terrours, and many dangers. If that prevaile not, yet hath hee a third sleight, and that very dangerous, by corrupting some way or other, our good actions, and our good affection…, with some old leaven of sin, to hinder as much as may be our holy ovedience vntounto gods will. And if in that we also withstande him, thē his last shift is, to make vsus prowd, of that that is in vsus. Seing therfore his cōmō enemy of mākind, hath so sūdry waies, to hinder vsus frō sāctifieng gods name; either opēly, by tēpting vsus to manifest & know… wickednes, or covertly by poluting our good works, somtime with sin, whē wee p. 61are doing thē, sōtime with pride, whē we have dōe thē: it is most needeful that we take good heede, and watch all oportunities to glorifie god. And whereas I hauehave before spoken of our obediēce as of a meane to hallow gods name (as it is in deed a principall meane, to the which the rest are but helps) that the obedience of our harts, that is the readines & willingnes which before I hauehave saide we beg at god hāds, may hauehave her perfect worke, let vsus consider further what we craue in this petitiō, cōcerning the performāce & accōplishing, of those our good motions, & godly desires to obeyour heavēly Father. We aske as doth the prophet David, that the Lord wil keep vsus frō presūptuous Psal: 19. 1▪ Open sin:sins, that he wil not let thē raign over vsus: That he wil keep vsus I say frō such sins & trāsgressions, as the world knoweth & accoūteth for sin: Least the reproofe wherwith y^• Apostle S. Paul toucheth his coūtry mē the Iews, should charg vsus whē he saith, The name of God is blasphemed among the Rom: 2: 2Gentiles through you. For if mē glorify our heavēly Father when they see our good works, as our Saviour Christ plainely teacheth vsus; then when they behold y^• evil works, especially of them that professe more knowledg of godlines thē other do, they dishonour & take occasiō to reproch his glory therby, Therfore y^• we may attain vntounto y^• Hallowing of Gods name, we first pray, y^• that whereby it may be prophaned & evil spoken p. 62of, may be reformed in vsus, that is, that the whole body of sinne, may in vsus at the least be snubbed, that it abound not in the fruites of vngodlines.

But because it is no great praise for a man to say of fruit or of a tree that they are not evill; but that it is looked for that the goodnesse thereof should be commended: even so gods name is not much hallowed, in that we cannot iustly …e chargedHolinesse: with grievous crimes: but thē shall his name be truely sanctified, when we are created in Christ Eph: 2: 10:Iesus vntounto good works, which God h…th ordained, that we should wa…ke in them: when we serue the Lord in Luk. 1: 75:Luke 1:75holines & righteousnes, al the daie… of our life. Hereof come these exhortations in the Scripture very common: Cease to doe evill, learne to doe wel, eschew Esa: 1: 16: 17: Psal: 34: 14:evill, doe good. And that is it also that wee heere craue at Gods hand Hallowed be thy name: Teach vsus O Lord so to live, that wee may serue thee, so to doe, that we may glorifie thee, to hauehave our candel so burning, the light of our lampe so shining, we may so be cloathed with the wedding garmēt of holy conversation answerable to our professiō, and so be decked with the roabe of righteousnesse and godly life, that through vsus, & by vsus, thy name may alwaies bee praised. For our woorkes are much better then a thousād mouthes, to set forth Gods glory. And we are knowen to be Gods children, not by wordes, but by workes, as the tree is p. 63iudged to be good, not by the leaves or flowers, but by Epist: 107:the fruit, as Saint Barnard saith.

But in our good workes there may be manyStaines in-our workes wantes, which are as spots and staines in a piece of white cloath, whereby the bewty of it is marred: so I say, there are in our good deeds such imperfections, as hinder the sound and sincere hallowing of gods name. Let vsus well examine our owne hartes▪ and I doubt not but we wil al most humblie confesse, that the best works that we do, are not such as god requireth of vsus in every respect, or that cā worthely sett out his holy name. Our knowledge is heere vnperfect, we know (but)1: Cor: 13: 9: 12: in part. For now we see through a glasse, darkely. Our louelove is farre short of the rule whereby it must be tried. For who can say whilest he liveth in this vale of misery, that he hath his hart so hallowed, and his affections so sanctified vntounto god, that hee can louelove the Lord his God with all his hart, vvith all Mat: 22: 37his soule, and with al his mind? If a man be so shamlesse as to say he could; yet I am sure no man is so sencelesse, but that sometime, his own conscience will tell him he cannot. The rule of charity towards our neighbours is this, Thou shalt louelove thy neighbour as thy selfe. Which perfection if at any time, vponupon some good and godly motions, and effectual working of gods spirite, if I say a godly man hauehave sometime attained vntounto such perfection p. 64of louelove, that the louelove towards his neighbour, hath made him forget himselfe, his profit or safety; yet alas such heauenly affections hauehave so bad lodging in this our body subiect to sinne and corruptiō, that long they cānot tarry or abide with vsus. How weake is the faith euen of Gods deare children? How soone is the light of Gods promises, which by his spirite hee hath kindled in vsus, dimmed with feare and mistrust vponupon eueryevery occasion? How is our faith darkened many times with these thicke clowdes of despaire? If any of vsus be better perswaded of our selues, & feele not our infirmity in this behalfe let vsus look vponupon the godly that are gone before vsus, Abraham, David, Iob, Ieremy, Peter, with many such like, who feeling a sweet tast and comfort in Gods promises; yet in danger and distresse, shewed manifest tokens, and some of them made plaine confession of their greate weakenesse. All which beeing considered, wee may learne thereby, earnestly to call vponupon our good GOD, that it may please him so to lighten our ignoraunce, to increase our louelove to God, and our charitie to our neighbour, and to strengthen our faith, that wee in, and by this, may alwaies Sanctifie his holie name.

And as we hauehave very often wantes and infirmities in our good and godlie cogitations, and p. 65in our deedes also: so sometime they are mingled with very sinnefull and corrupte affections.Worldlie respectes in seruing of God As when wee will seeme to serue God, yet not for Gods cause, but to please men, to seeke preferment, to gaine either goods or friendes, or for feare of losse. And to this end, and in this regarde hauehave many things bin done vnderunder the name of y^• works of charity, whereby rather idle loyterers are mainetained, then the poore and needy releeued. Yea and such is our corruption, that if our works of duty towards our neighbour, hauehave not altogither such considerations: yet wee shall finde a coldnesse, or vnwillingnesse, or some negligence in perfourming of the same. Al which stumbling blockes and impedimentes, wee are heere taught to pray that they may be taken out of the way, that wee in hallowing of Gods name may hauehave a free course and passage: that these worldly respects being reformed, our coldnesse somwhat kindled, and al our wants supplied, we may truly set forth the praise of Gods name.

And because we are here commanded to aske that, the contrary whereof hath a flat prohibition in the third commandement, there is a great coherence betweene the one and the other, in so much as we may well expound this petition, by that commaundement. Therefore that we take not in vaine GODS holy name, it is verie necessary, p. 66that in all, even our best workes, we endevourHoly affections: to call for a sincere affection to do the same. For that holines of hart, is that oyle and incense which must bee laide vponupon the people of IsraelsLevit: 2: 15: meate offeringes to make them through Christ, sweete and savory vntounto God. If wee talke of religion, wee must doe it with greate reverence. What hauehave the lippes polluted with wicked woords, or the mouth defiled with excesse of drinking, or that tong that is stained with vntruthes and shames, what hauehave these to do with the word of God? Feare they not that straight interrogatiue. wherevpon they are to be examined, beforeTaking Gods name in vaine Psal. 50: 16Ps 50:16 a Iudge that knoweth al things, yea seeth the secrets of the heart, whereof David maketh mention: Ʋnto the wicked saide God, what hast thou to doe, to decalre my ordinances, that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth. Seeing thou hatest to bee reformed, and hast cast my words behind thee? A iewel of▪ gold in a swines snowte is nothing comelie. And GODS holie and sacred wordes, in the mouth of a prophane man are nothing seemely. O consider this yee that forget GOD▪ in the midst of your drunken assemblies and meetings. You never almost talke of religion, but when your tables are defiled with spewings, your stomackes opprest with surfettinges, your heades made giddy with vnmeasurable and vngodly p. 67quaffings, your tongue scarce able to speak, your legges to carry you: yea when you are least like vntounto men, then wil you most talke of God, of whom we should not thinke, but as of the God of glorie, whom we m…st not worship, but devoutly, or serue, but with feare, of whose woorde wee should not talke, but with reverence, neither of his praise, but with ioyfulnes, by whom we must not speake, but in truth, iudgment, righteousnes, so shall we Hallowe the name of God. And this IIer: 4: 2 trust may suffice to teach vsus, that in all the general duties of a Christian man or woman, nothing can be acceptable vntounto God, but that wherby we goe about to Hallowe Gods name. Let vsus therefore in all our conversati…n striue to sanctifie Gods name, in our wordes, in our workes, in al our indevours, yea in thos… our ordinary well wishings vntounto others, God speede, God blesse, God saue, and such like, not vsing them as wordes of course, for fashion sake, but let vsus earnestly endevour, to hauehave them to proceede from a sanctified affection.

And as wee cannot in these offices andIn our severall vocations wee must sanctifie Gods name: woorkes, which every Christian is bounde to doe, please. GOD vnlesse wee hauehave an earnest care of his glorie: so neither in those particular callinges which are amongest vsus, Civill or Ecclefiasticall, even from the highest p. 68to the lowest, must wee doe any thing, but that our chiefe scope and purpose must be, to hallow the name of our heauenly Father. Kings and mightie Monarches must rule and gouerne, not seeking their owne pride, pro…ite, or pleasure, but GODS glorie, Subiects also in their obedience, must set before their eies that ende. The greater wealth or authoritie that hee giueth to any, the better meanes they hauehave, and by a more straighte bonde such men are tyed to glorifie God, as the parable of the Talentes teacheth vsus. And therefore I cannot but much lamente, the dangerous case which they stande in, vponupon whome God hath bestowed great talentes of authority or wisedome, with which notwithstanding, they gaine nothing so much as they might …o to Gods honor. I would aduise all such before it bee too late, to fear that sharpe but iust iudgemente, that when such as are lowe shall hauehave mercy, yet the mighty shall Sap: 6: 6:bee mightelie tormented. For if through their fault, others hauehave not glorified as they ought to doe the name of God; how shall they stande before their Lorde and Master, when hee shal call them to reckoning? Such men often hauehave emulation am…ng themselues, and striue who shalbe greatest, who shall bee most praised and renowmed: But who striueth to bee best, and chiefly p. 69respecteth the honouring of God? Therefore in steed of Macheuill his prophane conceites, & the perilous policies of worldly men, who make for the most part religion, to waite as a handmaide, vponupon the earthly wisdome of men, which is not descended from aboue: But leauing I say such patterns, which we are but too ready to followe; let this petitiō hallowed be thy name, be as a glasse before our eies, according to the which, wee will addresse our whole life and conuersation. It is a good praier for eueryevery of vsus to beginne our day worke withall. Princes, subiects, high, low, learned, vnlearned: yea the labourer and handicrafts man. That euerie one of vsus may bee diligent in our calling, not abusing it to doe wronge or violence, to deceiue or defrawde, by any false waightes, faulse measures, faulse labour or worke. To bee shorte, it were very good wee woulde take nothing in hand, but that lifting vp our heartes vntounto God, saying with a deuoute minde, Hallovved hee thy name, wee woulde consecrate our worke to GODS glorie. But heere Princes whose consciences are chiefelye charged for good refourmation both in their CHURCH and Common wealth, maye doe well to set before them the examples of the godly kings of Iuda in the things wherein they are commended by the spirite of God. As that p. 70of Asa who tooke away the high places, brake2. Cro: 14: 3 downe the Images, put downe the groues. And when Iehosaphat came to bee king, hee did these2: Cro. 17: 6 thinges yet more. But Ezechiah went farther then they, for besides such abuses in religion as they reformed, he also brake the brasen Serpent2: King: 18: 4 that Moses had made, because the people bur…t incense to it. So careful were these godly kings, that there should not be in the waies of their people any stumbling blockes, whereat either the weake might be …ffended, or the obstinate confirmed. For princes must hauehave as tender a care over their people, that they commaunde not any thing whereof iust offence may be taken, or the conscience grieued: as mothers hauehave not to giuegive any meate to their children, which they know is not fit for their tender stomaches: And ought to consider whether the thinges which they commande, doe tend to the sanctifying of Gods name or not. For that must bee the marke that they must aime at.

And for their whole duty it is a notable good lesson that the Queene of the South as our SauiourMat: 12: 42: 2: Cron. 9 8 Christ calleth her, giueth vntounto Salomon the most reno…med Prince for wisdome that we can read of: Thy God hath made thee king over Israel How princes execute Iudgement and iustice.(saith she) to execute iudgment & iustice. And this execution of iudgement & Iustice in Soveraigne p. 71Princes standeth in making of Magistrates not for fauour, but such as they knowe to be godly, men of courage, hating couetousnesse, fearing God: euen such as will carefully & faithfully looke to the people that are vnderunder them. Then also these that hauehave this supreme gouernment, must hauehave an eie to such their Magistrats. lest they peruert iustice or doe wrong, and punish them sharply if they finde them faulty, because their vngodly dealing is hurtfull to many. They must care to prouide good lawes and cause them to be executed. They must set themselues against the sinnes of their lande with might and maine: punishing especially the greater sort, that others by their example may be afraid to offend. They must take greate heede lest by not punishing the sinnes of their subiectes, or pardoning their dangerous and great transgressions: they doe make themselues partakers of other mens murthers, adulteries, violences, or wrongs whatsoeuer. To be short they may sanctifie Gods name as they ought, they shoulde fashion their housholde after Dauids patern, and the rule of the Apostles, inPsal: 101: modesty (though seemely enough for princes courtes) and comely attire, leauing foolish and vnseemely fashions (wherein now in these daies there is to much delight) to such as professe not in so sincere sort as we doe, the gospell of Christ. p. 72For we ought with al readines to obey S. Paule that forbiddeth vsus to fashion our selues after this Rom: 12: 2:worlde, but would hauehave vsus to delight in another change, which is of all sorts to little regarded; namely in the renuing of our mind. VntoUnto those godly & Christiā vertues, should princes seeke to the vttermost of their power to cōform their people, & so shal they sanctifie Gods name, which by contempt of these thinges is exceedingly prophaned.

But soveraigne princes are forced to vse the help of inferiour Magistrates for their better governing of their subiects: Which if they doe not zealously seeke to set forth Gods glory, must one day feele to their cōfusion, that which Ely heard and felt: They that despise me, shall be despised. For1: Sam. 2: 30 God will cal the greatest of you to a reckonning. Looke well then I pray you to your charge, sanctifie Gods name your selues, and by sharp punishmēts reform thē that are staines & blots, nay the biles & botches of our land. I heare credebly that as in to many places, so even in the right eie of our realm there are soul motes, nay filthy beāes, I meane notorious howses of gracelesse persons that liue to filthely. And although the stewes are not suffered, yet to many known places there are of shamelesse harlots, in the eies of the government, vnderunder the nose of Magistrates that hauehave authoritie enough to reforme such faultes, if they p. 73had care and courage to performe so good a service to the hallowing of Gods name. Where is the zeale of Phineas in you the Magistrates, to turne away the Lords wrath from this lande by your courage in reforming so greate filthines: Feare you not least he that threatned by his prophet that he would visite Ierusalem with lights,Soph: 1: 12: should come and visite London, and finde out all those filthy corners that you suffer, which are a staine to that we professe, a dishonour to our country, a snare to the people, and against your selues invisible arguments either of your carelessenes in looking to your charge, or of coldnes in setting forth Gods glory. You thinke perchaunce the offendors are to many and to well frended for you to punish. The better service you shall performe to her that hath vnderunder god placed you in your authority; The more good shall you doe your countrie in reforming that sinne in such persons; the more shall you Sanctifie the name of GOD, in shewing your zeale and courage, in defence of his glorie. Bee furtherers therefore of that you begge, that with more bouldnesse you may saye, Hallovved bee thy name.

And for vsus that are called vntounto thatMinisters glorifieng God highe function of the ministery of the worde, our service and whole travaile oughte so to be dedicated to the Lorde, that we shoulde seeke nothing p. 74so earnestly as Gods glory. For wee are as messengers from our Lorde and Master, to wooe in his behalfe, and to winne the good will of men & women to him. We are as friends to the bridegroome, who reioice not only at the hearing of2: Cor: 11: 2 his voice, but also prepare and decke the bride, that shee may please her husband. We should bee shepheards, to watch Christs flock from wolues and wandring; Stewards, to giuegive Gods familie their meate in due season; voices, crying out against sinne and superstion; Gods husbandmen, to sow and plant in the field of his church, laborers in his vineyard, to prune his vine, his soldiers, to fight his battels against all his enemies; Yea we should be light, to direct, and salte to season others, that by our Ministery Gods glory may shine, and his name be hallowed. And therefore our continuall groning, our sighing and sobbing vntounto God ought to be, that by our ministery Gods name may be sanctified.

And here, oh that it pleased God to giuegive mee a fountaine of teares, to lament and bewaile the misery of these our daies, wherein the sunne of Gods truth shineth most cleerely, and the star of his word appeareth most beautifully, but because we are blinded with the louelove of ease, or gaine, orNegligēce in our Ministery. some such corruption, the eie of our conscience being put out, wee see not that the neglect of our p. 75duty, procureth against vsus most imminent daunger; because wee followe rather the deceaueable lusts of the wicked worlde, then seeke in our calling with our whole indeuour to glorifie God. Many of vsus are content to take the charge, of the poore ignorant & vntaught people, that we may inioy the fat and the fleece; but who learneth of that good shepheard to call his owne sheepe by name and lead them out, and to goe before them, & to teachIos: 10: 3: them to knowe his voice? Many of vsus study to serue and glorifie men, that they may glorifie vsus againe, and serue our turne; with adding charge to charge, liuing to liuing, euen sinne to sinne. Some waite in the court and great mens houses gaping and suing still for more, although they hauehave no great care to discharge the charge that is already committed vntounto them. Some loyter in the country, with too little regarde of doing their duty. Alas how is the people by this means nussed in ignorance, confirmed in errour and superstitiō, made a pray to eueryevery runnagate Priest that commeth from Rome or Rhemes, to draw them to rebellion against God and man, wherby God doth want his honour, and princes their obedience? This therefore is a most needfull meditation, whereabout our hart should alwaies be occupied: this is a necessary praier for vsus to make, not dayly only, but howrely, that Gods p. 76name may be sanctified, by our diligence, care, watchfulnes, and faithfulnes in our ministery. And thus much of the first petition of the praier, Hallowed be thy name.

The two petitions nexte following, are but as it were the meanes to performe the former. For if Gods kingdome bee established, and his wil obeyed, then is his name hallowed. But the first of these two, is this, Thy kingdōe come. For in earthly kingdomes, there is first a kingdome and state established, then follow the laws & decrees which in the same must be obeyed: even so in giving due honour to our heavenly Father, we must first acknowledge▪ his thr…ne, and power, then also wee must frame our selues to liue according to his lawes and will.

But what is the meaning of this request? was not God king evē then whē our Saviour Christ taught vsus this forme of praier? Or doth hee not nowe rule with power and maiestie? If he doe, why are wee taught to say Thy kingdome come? With that kinglie Prophet David wee must confesse: (O Lord) Thy throne is establ…shed of olde: Psal: 93: 2:thou arte from everlasting. And againe The Lorde is high aboue all nations, and his glorie aboue the Psal: 113: 4:heavens. Yea The Lord sitteth vppon the floudes, Psal: 29: 10and the LORD doth remaine king for ever. He is a great king over all the earth. We pray not thereforePsal: 47: 2: p. 77in this request, that God may be a king, but Thy kingdome come. As if we should say. O GodThe meaning of this petitiō wee acknowledge and confesse that thou rulest & raignest in heaven and earth; to thee al creatures stoop and thee they serve; thou commaundest the sea, and it obeieth; the windes and waues, and they are calme and quiet; thou settest vp princes, and mightie ones, thou makest of the meanest; againe thou pluckest them downe, and dauntest their stout stomackes, with thine angry countenaunce; thou turnest also their hartes, as seemeth good to thy divine wisdome. As thou thus shewest thy selfe, to be a king over all thy creatures; so raigne after a more especiall manner in thine elect children, to our good, and their glory.

Now the kingdome of God is taken after two sorts. For it signifieth either the kingdome of grace▪ or the kingdome of glorie, both which wee craue in this petition. But first and principallie,Our obedience. that which is called the kingdome of grace. Wee desire therefore in this, that GOD will so reforme our heartes and frame them to obedience, that hee in vsus may hauehave the dominion, and beare the sway, and wee may yeelde our selues to bee governed by his spirite. But because wee must clime vp to this throne of grace by certaine steppes: there are heere sundrie thinges sued for. As first that the p. 78Lord will worke in vsus, a reverence to the rod, orA reverēce to his word scepter of his power, which is his word, therby to subdue our rebellious affections, & to tame our vngodly lusts: so that whensoever we shall begin to wander after our owne waies, we by this scepter may be reclaimed.

But Gods kingdome is not as yet established amongst vsus, as soone as we are content to heare him speake; but it is farder required of vsus, that by Gods good grace our evill affections beeing cut of, this immortall seede, this Word of truth, may1: Pet: 1▪ 23: Iam: 1▪ 18: be planted and grafted into the hart of vsus, & there grow fruitful and yeld good increase, of holy and Christian conversation. So that when the olde man is crucified with Christ and the whole bodyRom: 6: 6: of sinne destroied, that we serue not sinne from henceforth: And are renued in the spirite of our mind: and put on the new wan, which after GodEph: 4: 23. is created in righteousnes and true holines, and hauehave mortified our members which are vpponColos: 3: 5: the earth: then hauehave we attained to the secōd step of gods kingdome. So that to intreat god that his kingdom may come, is to beseech him, that by his holy spirit, our affections being subiected to the rule of reason, (of reasō I say guided by gods word) our willes framed to gods pleasure▪ our minds also lightened by his spirit of Wisedome and councell, and all the members of our body, p. 79being made Servants vntounto righteousnes in holinesse: Rom: 7: 19:we louelove nothing but him, wee feare nothing more thē him, we serue nothing besides him, neither will in our harts be subiect to any other but to him, giving to him all honour and feare.

Thirdly we aske in this petition, the increaseIncrease of grace. of his graces in vsus, and to vsus ward; that we stepping forward from grace to grace, from faith to faith, may ioine vertue with faith; and with vertue,2: Pet: 1: 5: knowledge; and with knowledg, temperāce; and with temperance, patience; & with patience, godlines; and with godlines, brotherly kindnes; and with brotherly kindnes, louelove. For if these thinges be among vsus and abound, they wil make vsus that we neither shal be idle, nor vnfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ. When our life shall be adorned, with this faire chaine of Christian vertues, much more precious & beawtifull then any chaine of gold about our necke, or bracelets about our armes: then the kingdome of god, hath mighty increases in vsus. This happie increase in heavenly graces, the Apostle praieth for vntounto the Philippians; I p…ay (salrh he) that your Philip: 1: 9:louelove may abound more and more, in knowledge, & in all iudgment. And to the Colossians Wee cease not Colos. 1. 9:Col 1:9to pray for you, and to desire that you might be fulfiled with knowledge of his will, in all wisedome and spirituall vnderstanding. And these thinges doth our p. 80Sauiour Christ teach vsus to aske in these words, Thy kingdome come. For by the comming of Gods kingdome wee desire nothing else, but that it should be made manifest, increased, & perfected in vsus, by his good helpe and succour.

But nowe because The kingdome of God is not Rom▪ 14: 17Rom 14:17meate nor drinke, but righteousnesse, and peace, and io…e in the holy Ghost: we may hereby assure our selues, that Gods meaning is not, in or by these outward obseruances to raigne ouer vsus, or to intangle our consciences with such trifles. For Meate maketh not vsus acceptable to God: for neither 1: Cor: 8:if wee eate, hauehave we the more, neither if we eate not, hauehave wee the lesse. In which wordes Saint Paule teacheth vsus the selfe-same lesson that hee learned of our Sauiour Christ. That which goeth Mat: 15: 11:into the mouth defileth not the man, but that which cōmeth out of the mouth, that defileth the mā. So that not the meat and drinke, which we with thanksgiuing to him that bestoweth the same vponupon vsus, receiue moderately, and vse them soberly, maketh vsus more vnholy; but blasphemies, swearings, slanderings, cursings, reuilings, malitious and corrupt speeches, doe loade vsus with sin. Neither doth abstinence from Gods good creatures sanctifie them that abstaine, but rather (if they therefore esteeme themselues the holier) defileth them. This praier then extendeth it selfe even p. 81vntounto the thinges that are externall. For in itNot to be in subiectiō to …hese outward thinges: we craue that no man at his pleasure beare rule over vsus, or condemne vsus in meates and drinke, or in respect of a holiday or newe moone, or of the Sabboth: especially that these thinges, or rather a superstitious conceipt of these thinges, should never beare such sway in our consciences, that our owne hearte woulde forb…de vsus, saying, Touch not, tast not, handle not, and that our owneColos: 2: 21 persuasion would make vsus afraide, to take our parte of any of Gods creatures, which without breach of the lawe of charity, or the politicke ordinances of the common Wealth, may be received. Therefore wee praie, that righteousnesse and peace, and ioye in the holie Ghost, may so bee rooted and settled in our heartes, that we may with a Christian courage, either vse these externall thinges as meates, mariage, and such like, which some men in the abundance of their impiety, hauehave accounted prophane at sometime, or for some men: or refuse the bondage of ceremonies as may most serue for GODS glory, and other mens good. And thus wee see howe GOD raigneth in our heartes as king, both in framing our harts to an inward and sincere obedience; and also in governing our consciences in the good vse of all his creatures.

But this petition Thy kingdome come, may not p. 82only bee vnderstoode of that particular power, which wee wish that God woulde shew in eueryevery one of vsus (whereof hitherto I hauehave spoken:) but also more generally that God woulde shew himselfe to beare rule in his church, that his worde might be obeied, his truth maintained, his people preserued, his enemies scattered, that wee all his servants, being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, should serue him without feare; in holines & Luk: 1: 74: 75:righteousnesse before him, all the daies of our life. To be short we pray that in this church of God, or among the people of God, the traditions of men being reiected, vnwritten verities (so called, but in truth falsities) abolished, & all decrees besides the holy and sacred Scriptures, trodden vnderunder foot; the lighte of Gods lawes may only shine vntounto vsus, and the scepter of his word be only obeied among vsus.

And thus we see what is the summe and substance of that we aske here, Thy kingdome come: namely that as in the former petition we craued that God mighte hauehave honour due to his name, which by sundrie meanes is perfourmed, so in this wee intreate him also, that hee may hauehave holie obedience, that his worde may hauehave such effect, as that it beeing planted in vsus, and sinne rooted out, we may greatly increase in al godlinesse. And further that the peace of God so rule p. 83in our consciences, that wee neuer stand in any feare, lawfully to vse Gods good creatures; that God only, and not superstitious conceites, may rule in our heartes, and bear the sway. And lastly that our heauenly Father, will so guide his whole Church after the lighte of his worde, and so defende it of his greate goodnesse; that it neither bee broughte into the bondage of the kingdome of darknes, by errour; neither yet be made a pray to the wicked, by their vngodly and cruell practises.

Now how greate is the necessity of this praier, as all men may easily see, that enter into any due consideration, of the miserable estate of this wicked worlde: so the g…dly cannot but confesse it, and therefore often and earnestlie seeke and sue, that GODS kingdome may come. For alas when wee take a view of the practises of the worlde, wee may easilie see, that a greate number of them, who hauehave in their mouthes not seldome these wordes, Thy kingdome come, yet doe not indeuour by such good and greate meanes as God hath giuen vntounto them, to set foorth the same; euen they who shoulde bee the great labourers to set it vp, and after some sort pillers in this worlde to vpholde it, by that greate authoritye and power that God hath called them vntounto; doe nothing so much p. 84as seeke to set vp themselues, and advaunce their posterity, setting forward Gods kingdome in the meane time, but by graines and scruples. Doth not religion many times serue pollicy, and the gospell of God, attend vponupon the pleasure of men? Profit, delight, ease, favour of men, estimation and credit in the world, and such like thinges, are chiefely thought vponupon, but GODS kingdome, no further then it may stande with these. Seeing therefore there is so little hope, that great ones will abandon their owne affections, to inlarge GODS kingdome: wee hauehave good cause to aske this of him, who can rule and guid the harts of all men, & vse the meanes of all creatures to serve his turne.

Againe the gospell hath nowe aboue fortyReformatiō yeares beene preached in this our land. Shall we aske what reformation in religion, is now more then at the first? Some thinges were then tollerated, if not offensuie to many of the godly, yet needles and vnfruitfull, to speake the least evil of them. Are they not still lefte and suffered, yea so, that sometimes godlie men, are by them brought in bondage and subiectiō, vntounto Atheists and vngodly persons, and enemies vntounto religion, who seeke by them to take advantage against faithfull ministers that reprooue their sinne, or discover their disobedience? If Cōmon welthes p. 85hauehave their parlamentes, for taking order for inconveniences, and to reforme such thinges as by experience are found to bee evill: If men of occupation, will revewe the worke that they hauehave made, and correct that is faultie: howe commeth it to passe, that in the Church there is so little amending of that which is amisse▪ why shoulde we abounde in knowledge more and more, as a little before is shewed, if not to practise it? And howe can wee bee saide to practise it, if wee seeke not to fashion our selues in all thinges according to it▪ But you will say the lawes of men neede mending, because they are vnperfect: As for Gods lawe it is such as may not be altered, and so pure, that it cannot bee bettered. This is most true. Yet if we hauehave sometimes borne with some thinges not in materiall pointes, but in thinges of lesse moment, least at the first we should offend the weake (for then that was alleaged) it were in my iudgment good for vsus to take heede, that by to much forbearing, wee make them not obstinat and stubborne, that weere but weake, and so by meanes to encrease their sinne: or grieve and offend in such thinges the most godly. God hath given vntounto this realme many blessinges, greate lighte and knowledge of the gospell of salvation, and a most peaceable profession of the same, by the meanes of our most blessed soveraigne: p. 86oh that it mighte please his Fatherlie kindenesse, so to worke yet more in her hearte, that nothing mighte bee lefte in Gods seruice, seemeth it neuer so little, but that which should set forwarde Gods kingdome. God is my witnesse I seeke not vndutifully any innovation or alteration, I thanke God heartely for that sincere trueth that wee hauehave, but I wish to all Christian Princes, but especiallie to such as God hath set ouer this our lande, to bee ielous with great ielousie for the Lorde God of hostes, and with a feruent zeale, to seeke the increase of Gods kingdome, and the taking away of any thing that may hinder it: that so growing neerer and neerer to the perfection of this kingdom, we may with greater comfort say alwaies, Thy kingdome come.

But there are also among vsus, such as are enemies to this kingdome of God, which he by his Sonne Christ Iesus doth administer & gouern;Recusante. who will hauehave a Pope to rule ouer them, a man whose office, is derogatory vntounto Christ, whose doctrines are contrary to the worde of God, and whose doinges, are like the doinges for the most parte, of prophane men. And as they vse all meanes they can, to ouerthrowe this kingdome of God, (for they seeke all waies, either to pull downe the scepter of this kingdome which p. 87is the worde, or to keepe it hidden in the case, that it bee not seene) so are many of them in our North countries perilous subiectes to the kingdomes of men. And though they will promise much, and professe greate fidelitie, and protest confidently of their loyaltie: yet I would wish that you whome GOD hath made greate, to oppose your selues against the greatest of his aduersaries, either abroade, or at home, should not trust them. For why their neighboures, finde them at home stubborne enough, and very insolent vponupon eueryevery occasion. These dare (so I had almost saide rebelliouslie, they dare I say) so boldlie, withstande the trueth, that there are with vsus some housholdes, and diuerse children, that either will not, or dare not come to the Church. Yea and they dare sometime to assemble in great companies, which how dangerous a thinge it may bee in pollicie, let wise politickes iudge. For my part I know it to bee little good Diuinity, to suffer the wedding dinner to be so vnfurnished; they should bee compelled to come in.

You will perchaunce reply, that there is authoritie enoughe by Commission to conuente them. But who shall bring them in, especially in these wilde countries? They are many, they are bolde, and some of them godlesse enough, p. 88and such whose state cannot be meaner then it is, and so fit for any change. And therfore it is needful such were looked vntounto. I hauehave heard also that there are of them, who though they will not in any wise submit themselues to the kingdome of God: yet they finde meanes to exempt thēselues, from the danger of the lawes of men. They are so well frended, that they can, nay they dare procure themselues to be bounde, to answere before them, whose name and authority should be fearefull, to such wilfull withdrawers of their loyalty & obedience: because that as through their greatnes they may, so in respect of their duty, they must hauehave a vigilant eie ouer such starting subiectes. But what is the cause of this their boldnes? Is it because they hope to finde more fauour there where they are not knowne, then amonge them that are somewhat acquainted with their behauiour? Indeed they sometime finde too much. Or is it rather because they trust neuer to bee called before them to make answere? It may very well be. For who wll imagine, that they who are troubled with so many matters of great importance, may hauehave leasure to think of recusants two hundred miles from them▪ But if the most honourable table would indeed call such, and let thē taste somewhat of law, if they would not dutifully cōforme themselues, they might worke a terror in p. 89the hartes of very many that are now obstinate. But if vnderunder that colour, they be free frō al lawfull punishment; at home, because they will not answer; aboue, because they are neuer called; cōsider I pray you, how repugnaunt that course is to the laws, and how dangerous to the state. If any man may liue in a common wealth, and not be a subiect in the same, but despise the laws, and contemne authority, what may grow thereof it is not hard to coniecture. These thinges make gods deere children, seeing such faintnes in some to maintaine Gods cause; in other, such boldnes, euen in these daies of the gospell, to impugne the truth, and despise authority; the consideration I say of such thinges, causeth them in griefe, with groanes to cry, and in anguish of hart to say, Thy kingdome come. To be shorte, the aboundance of sinne, the slacknesse of punishment, the incouragment of the bad, the oppressions of them that cannot withstand, the excesse in pride, the monstrous shapes of men and women, in their head, and in their body, & that when God calleth vsus to mourning and lamentation, these I say, and many other our grosse transgressions, wherewith wee defile our land, pollute our selues, procure Gods wrath, and prouoke his iudgementes against vsus, giuegive vsus iust cause earnestly to crie, Thy kingdome come.

p. 90But besides these impedimentes which wee finde without, whereby the increase of Gods kingdome is greatly hindered, if every of vsus consider truely, what we feele within our selues, it will make vsus seriou…lie to say, Thy kingedome come. For wee hauehave our owne lustes as rebelliousOur owne lustes: subiectes, striuing to raigne in vsus, and to beare the sway. And they are to GODS kingdome sworne enemies. Sathan taketh occasion thereby also, to blowe the bellowes, and to stirre the coales of our corruption, and to make our owne lustes, our pleasures and delites, to fight against our soules. His onelyonly endevour is to set vp his throne in our heartes, that wee might serue him as our king. The world likewise as a deceiptfull neighbour, sometime favoureth and flattereth, sometime threatneth vsus, leauing nothinge vntried, to beguyle vsus. Thus everie one of these three…, enemies to our king and to vsus, seeke to sett vp in our consciences, their chaire of estate, and to get the Soveraignetie over vsus. Sathan an olde crafty adversarie, subtile, malicious, cruell, vigilant, watching all opportunities, going alwaies about seeking to devour. The worlde wherein wee liue, wherein is plentie both of thinges which wee louelove, and that wee hauehave, that we like, and that wee feare. Yea our owne p. 91selues, our flesh, that wee hauehave alwaies with vsus, and cannot leaue it; our owne affections which alwaies goe with vsus, sleepe with vsus, and which we can neither mislike of, nor be without, All these labouring to bringe vsus into subiection vntounto them. is it not necessarie that wee craue of god, that he will shew his power in vsus, and by his spirit mightely subd…e th…se our mortal foes, and deliver vsus out of their thraldome?

But because this Kingdome of grace, is as it were alwaies in the cradel; (for the Church shall alwaies finde enemies, to trouble the quiet peace thereof, and stumbling blockes in her waye, to hinder all her godlie proceedinges:) as we seeke in this petition the direction of gods spirite, for our sanctification, and the defence of his stretched out arme, for our protection, whilest wee must doe him service in this vale of miserie; so doe wee also praie for theThe ending of our miseries. consummation of our ioye, the ending of our miseries, the finishing of our battels, the full fruition of our happie estate; which is that wee call the Kingdome of glorie. Neither is this kingdome of grace and of glorie, two diverse kingdomes: But the kingdome that wee cal of Grace, is the beginning, of that which wee call of Glorie. Therefore the kingdomeKingdome of grace. of Grace is as if a king newe called to his kinkdome, p. 92and finding many that rebell against him, hauehave continuall toile and trouble, striuing and fighting alwaies against thē, that rise vp against him; neither can he be said to hauehave a glorious & flourishing kingdome, vntill that he hauing subdued his aduersaries, raigne quietly and peaceably ouer his subiectes. But when his estate is without feare or daunger, either of forraigne or home enemies, then is he indeed a glorious and triumphant king. Even so we whilest here weKingdome of glory. liue, compassed aboute with mighty & malitious foes on euerie side, which seeke either by faire meanes, to intise vsus, or by false means, to deceiue vsus, or by forcible meanes, to constraine vsus, to obey their will; against whome wee are not able to lift vp our hand, or oppose our selues, but as wee are assisted by Gods good grace: although wee wee are by the power and spirite of Christ kings Apoc: 5: 10:vntounto God, yet doeth not our glory as yet appeare. But when these our bodies shal be renued, death ablolished▪ and life restored, and we shalbe wholy sanctified to the sincere seruice of our God; then shal we hauehave mirth without mourning, ioy without sorrowing, light without shaddowing, glory without fading, blisse without ending. We are heere although heires, yet not much differing from seruants, because we are vnderunder age (for we are but children:) but when we are perfect men, p. 93and (come) to the measure of the age of the fulnesse Eph: 4: 13:of Christ, then shall we possesse eternally, that inheritance which here we hope for, and striue to attaine vntounto.

If then as we craue here Gods good grace to direct and defend vsus, in this our place of perilous pilgrimage, so we also beg of God an end of these our miserable daies: then let vsus consider what affections we ought to hauehave, and how we should be minded, when we say Thy kingdome come. We desire him to consume the worlde, to hasten the comming of his son Christ Iesus, to iudge theWe must be holy. quicke & the dead: we prouoke him to pronounce his sentence. What manner of persons (then) ought 2: Pet: 3: 11 12:wee to be in holy conversation and godlines? Looking for and hasting vntounto the comming of the day of god. Shall we sinne without remorse, or transgresse the law of God, without regard? Shall we walk after our owne lustes, wallowing in our worldly delightes, greedy desires, malicious purposes, deceitfull practises, and followe such vngodly waies, and yet say, Come Lord Iesus, come quickly? Apo: 20: 2…Let vsus take heed if we so do, lest our own tongue cal for vengance against our selues, and our praiers be turned into sinne. But if we will in good earnest, and with an assured perswasion that we shall be heard, and with comfort say, Thy kingdo… come: then must we flie from euill, hate sinne, and p. 94bee sorie for our transgressions, wee must louelove godlinesse, and hauehave a constant purpose of amendement: that this glorious kingdome of GOD whensoever it commeth, it may come to our consolation, and not to our confusion. Therefore so often as wee begge this at gods hand, it behooveth everie one of vsus, from the highest to the lowest, carefully to consider, howe sincerely wee have performed all manner of dueties to GOD or man, howe wee hauehave aimed at that marke in our whole life, howe wee our selues hauehave furthered the same kingdome, to the vttermost of our power, for feare least when our mouth shall saie Thy kingdome come, our owne heart answere vsus, that wee by our doings do hinder the same, and that wee aske wee wot not what, and that wee woulde not hauehave. And thus much of the two petitions.

Nowe followeth in order the third petition, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. But because this word ƲƲill of god, hath not in the scripture alwaies one signification, wee must vnderstand, that it is sometime taken for gods secret and hidden councell, as Ioseph telleth hisGods secret will. Gen. 45: & 50: 20:Gen 45 brethren, that it was not they, but god that sent him before for their preservation: shewing that god therin, had his ƲƲill, that is, his secrete councell. And Saint Peter willeth vsus if Gods p. 951: Pet: 3: 17vvill bee so (that is, if GOD in his determinate purpose, hauehave so appointed it) that wee rather suffer for well doeing, then for evill. And if wee should expound this petition after this interpretation, the sence is not evill. For then it hath this meaning. O LORD GOD who in wisedome governest all thinges, and disposest of thy creatures, as it seemeth good to thee according to thy vnspeakable knowledge, whose thoughtes are out of our reach, and thy waies past finding out: worke thine owne wil, performe in vsus thy pleasure. Thou arte the potter, wee are as the potte. Thou arte the Creator, wee are thy creatures, the woorkes of thy handes. Thy vvill bee done. Of this minde was that most patient Iob. In this sence our Saviour CHRIST saide, Not Luk: 22: 4▪my vvill, but thine bee done. According to this will of GOD, was Paule ready not to beeAct: 21: 13 bound onelyonly, but to die also at Ierusalem, for the name of the LORD Iesus. And the godly at Cesaria, when neither by intreating, nor by teares, they could turne him from going to Ierusalem, submitting themselues to Gods good pleasure, said; The will of the Lord be done.

Sometime by Gods will, wee are to vnderstand his knowen or revealed vvill. Of this Saint1: Thes: 4: 3 Paule saith, This is the vvill of God even your sanctification. p. 96And Saint Peter; So is the will of God, 1: Pet: 2▪ 15:that by wel… doeing, yee may put to silence the ignorance of the foolish men. And of this the prophet David maketh this suite vntounto god: Teach mee to Psa…. 143: 10doe thy will, for thou art my God. And then this praier hath this sence. O Lord, in heaven what thouGods wil revealed. biddest is done, what thou commaundest is obeyed: frame also our heartes that are heere vppon the earth, to serue thee as sincerely, and to doe thy will as readily. And this doe I take to be the true meaning of these wordes. So that heere we pray, not so much that gods determinate councel may stand and be executed, as that wee may doe that which is acceptable to him. For this will of god is simply good, and acceptable to him when it is performed. But that his secrete will or determined councell as Saint Peter calleth it,Act▪ 4: 28:Acts 4:28 is good but in respecte of such endes or purposes, as GOD hath appointed the same vntounto.

And heere is it first to bee marked of whome our Saviour CHRIST teacheth vsus toGod must f…ame vsus to doe his will begge this: even of our heavenlie Father. If wee of our selues had power to doe GODS will, and to performe his commandements, then were this petition, as also the two former, needlesse. But such is our blindnes, y^• we cānot know his pleasure of our owne selues, or by our skill: p. 97For the natural man perceiueth not the things of the 1: Cor: 2: 14:spirit of God: for they are foolishnesse vntounto him; neither can hee know them, because they are spirituallie discerned. And when we vnderstand our heauenly Fathers will, such is our stubbornes somtime that we wil not doe it, Because the wisedome of the Rom: 8: 7flesh, is enemity against God: for it is not subiect to the law of God, neither indeede can bee. Yea and when God hath begunne in vsus his worke of new birth, so that wee hauehave our mindes lightened in such sorte, that wee hauehave some vnderstanding of his law; and our harts so reformed, that faine we would be obedient vntounto it: yet such is our weaknes, that The good thing which we would, we do not; Rom: 8: 19: 23:but the evill which we would not, that doe we. Because there is a law in our members, rebelling against the law of our minde, and leading vsus captiue to the law of sinne, which is in our members. We then being such, and so farre from all ability to keepe Gods law: it is most needfull that we should seek for strength from God, to supply our weakenes, and for his grace, to reforme all our infirmities, & craue this of him as our Sauiour Christ hath taught vsus, saying Thy will be done.

And this vntowardnes which we in our selues doe finde, yea the lets and hinderances which we meete withall, whensoeuer wee indeuour to performe the same; is one reason that should induce p. 98vsus to thinke this petition to bee very necessarie, to bee vsed of vsus often. For seeing, as I hauehave shewed before, wee oughte to imploy our whole life to glorifie Gods name; and that is done especiallie, by resigning our selues who…e to bee ruled by his lawes, and to obey his will: ifOur affections carry vsus against God, will. wee looke vponupon our rebellious affections, which are continually striuing to hinder our good courses, and so to make vsus dishonour God, wee will I warrant you often, from the very bottome of our hart with deep sighes say; Thy will be done. If we apply our selues wholy to depend vponupon God, and to make him our staffe & stay: the least trouble or danger that we fal into, either moueth vsus to some mistrust of Gods helpe, or maketh vsus too earnestly to hang vponupon worldly meanes. In pouerty, we canot rest vponupon Gods prouidence, who was vntounto Abraham his exceeding great reward, &Gen: 15: 1: hath promised to giuegive vsus all things that we stand in need of; but to inrich our selues, we will labor too greedily and mistrustfully, deale deceitfully, take other mens goods or possessions by fraud or force, and vse many waies, rather then apply our selues to knowe and doe Gods will. It is the will of God, that we should louelove our enemies; blesse them that curse vsus; doe good to them that hate vsus; Math: 5: 44:and pray for them which hurt vsus, and persecute vsus. But what doeth the corrupte nature of man in p. 99this? Wee grudge, wee murmur, we reuile, wee beare malice, wee seeke reuenge. Wee are sometime violently carried with a furious motion, to shew all extremity: sometime a conceit of our estimatiō & credit, maketh vsus to ouerthwart this will of God, lest others should thinke vsus, not to be men of our hands. An inordinat louelove of the world, doth intangle vsus; an ambitious desire of praise and preferment, doth tickle vsus; the filthie lust of our wanton flesh, be witcheth vsus; the vaine feare of man whose breath is in his nostrels, discourageth vsus; to bee short, so many affections as we hauehave, so many enemies within vsus, oppose thēselues, to the will of God, and seeke to make vsus followe the will and lust of man. In all these extremities, if wee hauehave any good regarde of our dutie to God, wee will say with sobs, Thy will be done.

And then if on the other side wee remember,Gods wrath against sinners. what heauy iudgementes God hath denounced, against the transgressours of his worde and wil, how vnhappy shall bee their ende: it will make vsus, in anguish and bitternesse of our soule to say, Thy vvill done. For as they are blessed that knowe the will of GOD and doe it: soLuk: 12: 47: the servante that knovveth his Masters vvill, and prepareth not himselfe, neither doeth according to his will, shall bee beaten with manie stripes. p. 100For without (the heauenly Ierusalem and holy city)Apo: 22: 15: shalbe dogges, and inchanters▪ and whore mongers & murtherers, & Idolaters, & whosoever loueth or maketh lies. Because they hauehave not the wedding garment of sincerity and holy conuersation, They Mat: 22: 13:shalbe bound hand and foote▪ and taken away (from the wedding dinner) and east into vtter darkenes; there shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth. They Apoc: 21: 8:shall hauehave their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which …s the second death. That therefore we may in some good measure, bee reformed by the grace of his holy spirit, to doe that which is agreeable to his will, and escape his wrath, (into whose hands to fall it is a fearful thing)Heb: 10: 31: let vsus learne of our heauenly teacher to say, Thy will be done.

Here therefore we vtterly renounce our own will, and abandon our own desires, and bid farewell to all our affections, whatsoeuer are not agreeable to Gods pleasure. We humbly acknowledge, and reuerently conf…sse, that his worde is perfect, and his will is good, and that as it cannot bee but corrupt, that commeth from vsus: so whatsoeuer he willeth, must needes be holy. And to the ende wee may attaine to the doing of the same, wee first pray here, that we may hauehave vnderstanding To know his wil.of his wil. For how can we doe it, vnlesse we know it? For as in the first petition wee hauehave p. 101asked that his word may be published and maintained, and in the second that it may be reverenced, as the scepter and mace, whereby he maketh his power knowne: so here we pray, that we may be framed to do and practise the same. First therfore we must know Gods will, & so think of that which the prophete requesteth of God, saying Teach me, O Lord the way of thy commandements. Psa: 119: 33 34. 27▪ 98.GiueGive mee vnderstanding and I will keepe thy lavve. Make me to vnderstand the way of thy precepts If the prophet Dauid, whom God had indued with great knowledge of his law, whereby hee was made wyser then his enemies, had need to beg this knowledge of god, then how much more we, who seeke it not so zealously, and seriouslie as hee did? Let vsus therefore when we say this praier, remēber that our minds are dark…ned with the grosse mist of ignoraunce, and intreate God that in his great mercy, by his holy spirit he wil lighten our harts that we may know his will.

Then secondly it is necessary that we louelove his LoueLove of God… …will: wherein we hauehave also that kingly prophet a patterne whom we should follow. Oh (saith hee) how I louelove thy law, it is my meditation continually. I Psal: 1…9 … 127.louelove thy commaundementes aboue golde, yea aboue much fine golde. And that wee may louelove it the more fervently, he assureth vsus that great good shall befall them that louelove it. They that louelove p. 102thy lawe shall hauehave great porsperity, and shall hauehave no hurte▪ What is the cause we followe our worldly delights either of profit or of pleasure to greedely? It is not be cause we louelove them? If then wee coulde louelove heavenly thinges; by howe much they are better worth louing, so much more easily wee woulde seeke after them. Heere therefore wee praye that GOD will incline our hearte vntounto his testimonies.

And although hauing attained to these two thinges, wee hauehave goue forwarde two good steppes, to the doing of GODS will: yet are wee not come to the perfection. Thirdly weeAbility to doe Gods will aske heere of GOD, that hee will giuegive vsus abilitie to doe the same. For as before I shewed, wee are weake and verie vnable to serue GOD according to his woorde. Wee hauehave manie drawebackes, that will not suffer vsus to goe on forwarde, with such constant courage as wee ought to doe. The commaundement it selfe hard to performe, because it requireth all the powers of man, to the perfect keeping of it. All which thinges being considered wee doe not onelyonly pray that GOD will direct vsus, in the pathes of his commaundementes; but also that hee will strengthen our weaknes, supplie all ourPsal: 17: 5: Philip: 1: 6: wantes, Stay our steps on his pathes, that our feete p. 103slide not, performe that good vvoorke that hee hath begonne in vsus, to the day of IESƲS CHRIST: 1: Pet: 5: 10▪make vsus perfect, confirme, strengthen, and stablish vsus, in every good way. To bee shorte wee praie, that we who without CHRIST are not able to doe any thing, may bee able to doe all thinges Ioh: 15: 5: Philip: 4: 13(agreeable to GODS will) by the helpe of Christ that strengtheneth vsus. All these thinges we beg of our heavenly father in this sorte of praier, when we say Thy will be done.

And least we should surmise or suppose, that we pray heere that the Angels that stande before Gods face, and are ministring spirits, to serue for his glory and our good, might performe the duty that they owe vntounto him: our Saviour Christ giveth vsus to vnderstand, that wee desire that Gods will may be done In ea…th, of vsus sinfull and wretchedGods will done of vsus heere creatures, that liue in this vale of misery. Thy will be done in earth. This earth is the place of trouble and triall, of tentations and offences, of lettes and hinderances, of sinne and wickednes. Whilest therfore wee are in the place of striving and fighting, wee must endevour so to fight the Lordes battell, that our enemies being by Gods good grace subdued, wee may without let or hinderance, doe the will of our heavenly Father. Even heere I saye where the danger is of not doing GODS will, wee begge that our p. 104God will so stande with vsus, that wee may doe it, triumphing over all thinges, that withstand the same.

In this also doth our Saviour Christ reform our corrupt and forward thoughtes. For wee acknowledging our owne imperfection, & that sincere holinesse, which the lawe as a severe schoolmaster prescribeth vntounto vsus, which wee are not by any meanes able to performe: are straight waies ready either like faint harted souldiers, to yeelde without striking one stroke, and not to endevour to performe Gods will: or else imagine that it is enough, that the Saints of God▪ shall then attain vntounto perfect holines, when this corruptible body hath put on incorruption: and so put of from time to time, to apply our selues, vntounto the will of God. But our Saviour Christ correcteth that errour, teaching vsus that howsoever wee finde our selues vnable to doe as we should; yet while we are vpō the earth, we must striue to be perfect. We must seeke to deny our owne will, that Gods will may be obeied. This should be our meditation night & day. For the accōplishing heereof, we should humbly begge his grace, Which only vorketh in vsus both Philip: 2: 13the will, and the deede, even of his good pleasure, that his holy will may be done vponupon earth.

And because that many times we deceiue our selues with a bare shew or shadow of holines; and p. 105delight to set before vsus the example of others, not iudging our selues to be evill, if other bee worse: therefore hee giueth vsus a patterne to imitate and follow, wherby if we be directed, we shall not doe amisse. He draweth vsus to a consideration of those heavenly spirites, and pointeth as it were with the finger, vntounto that holy obedience of the celestiall Saints: that we seeing how sincerely they doPerfection in obedience Gods will, may endevour our selues to doe the like. Therfore he teacheth vsus thus to pray, Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Not that we can hope, that whiles we carry about vsus this body subiect to sinne, we may ever attaine to such perfect fulfilling of Gods will as either they doe, or we should performe: but Gods deare children should hauehave such desires, & harken vntounto this godly exhortation, or rather admonition, that our heavenly Master giveth vsus. Be ye therefore perfect, as you… father wh…ch is in heaven, is perfect. And if we thus endevour to be better then we can be, & are displeased at our selues, for being worse then we should bee: then for Christ his sake, shall all our wants be pardoned, and all our imperfections covered, vnderunder the cloke of his perfect obedience. Therfore we may with good comfort pray, Thy will be done in earth as it is heavē, seing that which is lacking in vsus, shall be fulfilled in him, and that sincere obedience which is inherent in him onelyonly, p. 106shalbe imputed vntounto vsus as ours.

And that wee may aime neerer the marke of true obedience, let vsus call to minde, howe the Angels in heaven doe obey GOD. First thereforeWilling …bedience. they obey willingly, without murmuring or grudging, without repining or resisting. And this is as an excellent perfume, to make our obedience sweete and savorie, if it come from a willing hearte. For th…s is Abraham commended vntounto vsus, that when GOD willedGen: 12: 1: him, to get him out of the countrie, (where hee was borne) and from his kinred, and from his fathers house, to a land that GOD woulde shewe him, without any reasoning or disputing he obeyed Gods will. The Apostle ther…ore to the Hebrewes; sheweth this to bee a notable fruit orHeb: 1: effect of faith. It is required that the people offerExod 35: 5: Psa: 2…. 29:Exod 35:5 their sacrifices, with a willing hart, and Moses to their praise, giveth testimony that they did so. David giving advice and fatherly councel to Salomon his sonne, concerning the building of the2: Cro: 28 9 Temple saith thus: And thou Salomon, my sonne, knowe thou the God, of thy Fathers, and serue him wi…h a perfect heart, and vvilling minde. And if we will giuegive any thinge to such as stand in neede: If there be first a willing minde, it is acceptable according 2. Cor: 8 12to that a man hath, and not according to that he h…th not. And, as every man wisheth in his hearte, so p. 1072: Cor: 9. 7:let him giuegive, not grudginglie, or of necessitie: for God loueth a cheerefull giver. If wee hauehave chardge of of people committed to vsus, wee shoulde care for them (for them I say not for our selues) not by 1: Pet: 5▪ 2: 1: Cor: 2: 1…constraint, but vvillinglie, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready minde. So the Apostle Saint Peter teacheth vsus, Saint Paule also testifieth the same. This wee see, that whether wee offer to GOD, or giuegive to man; whether wee serue the Creator, or governe our fellowe creatures, yea in all thinges that wee woulde have well done, a ioyfull and willing minde, is as I saide before, as it were the salt that maketh it savory: because that without this willingnes, nothing y^• we do cā hauehave any seasō in it. But being seasōed herewith through Christ & for his sake, it shalbe acceptable.

A second thing that commendeth the obedience of the Angels, is their readines and speede Speedy obedience.that they vse to perform it. They make no delay, they put not of frō time to time, but with all hast dispatch their busines. And therefore in the sixt of Esay, and in sundrie places of the prophet Ezechiel, the Angels are described having winges, wherewith they flie, for speedie dispatch of their messages. And in this point wee hauehave also Abraham a very good patterne, when hee was commanded to offer vp his sonne Isaac, the son of his age, the onelyonly hope of the promises. For to follow p. 108Gods will euen in that point, Abraham rose vp Gen: 2…: 3:early in the morning: behold his readinesse. Our Sauiour Christ aduiseth vsus thus, Agree with Matth: 5: 25thine adversary quicklie. For as in al things delay is d…ngerous, so in Gods matters, or when we go about his worke, it is before God most odious. This the Prophet David knewe, and therefore hee speaketh thus to GOD, I made hast, and Psa: 119: 60delayed not to keepe thy commaundements. Alesson most necessarie for all Christians. men or women. Our sinnes are great: they crie out for vengeance; yet wee differ and put of from day to day the time of our repentance. But since it is gods wil that we should repent, and turne from our vngodlines vntounto the Lord, as his manifold exhortations vntounto repentance, doe declare; Let vsus not lull our selues asleepe in the cradell of security, prolonging the time for our amendement, but let vsus hartely without hypocrisy, and hastely without delaye, eschewe evill and followe after good.

But this is a needefull glasse, for such as are in authority to looke in, whether they bee such as beare the sway, and hauehave the rule of others, or such as by their greatnes are able to doe good to others. For it is the will of god, that wee as the members of one bodie, shoulde all hauehave …are to doe good one to another, and that the p. 109most excellent members, whome GOD hath made most honorable, should heerein shewe most readinesse. You therefore whome GODMagistrats should doe good speedely hath placed in high roomes, and set you neere vntounto princes, giuing you fauour in their eies: helpe the distressed, pitty the poore, further their iust suites, preferre their honest causes, Open thy Prov: 31. 8:mouth for the dumbe, in the cause of all the children of destruction: Yea and doe it speedely, not looking to they gaine, but to his good, and Gods glorie. And that you may shewe that you hauehave an earnest care, with all speede to further gods will▪ and to doe him this good service: hauehave an eie to your servantes, looke into their doings, suffer not in anie wise their louelove of filthie lucre, (for the Apostle Saint Peter iustlie calleth1: Pet: 5: 2: it filthie, if it be any hinderance to the performance of GODS holie will) let not I say their greedie getting, sometime to mainetaine riot and vaine expences, bee anie staine to your selues, or stoppe of the cause of the poore suiter,Bribery an hinderance to speede in doeing Gods will▪ or let of doing the will of GOD in such sorte, as may bee most acceptable to him, A lesson doubtles necessary to be taught in our days wherin briberie is so common, that for the most parte the favour of greate personages, is greatly abused thereby. For the distressed ones, whose cause is not onelyonly to bee pittied, but also some p. 110remedy to be provided for y^• same, by the means of such buying & selling the helpe that they hope for, are forced many times to pay for the verie lookes that they hauehave, and words that they hear, much more for any good that is done vntounto them. By such meanes it commeth to passe, that the benefite which at the length they receiue, with much suite and great charge, is so late and long in getting, that the expenses of their suits grow greater, then the benefite that they reape, so that where they hoped for gaine, they finde losse. But if wee knowe what wee aske in this petition, Thy will bee done in earth as it is in heaven, we must from hence forth, learne with more readinesse to succour them that stand in need of our helpe.