The Power of Godliness, Book 6 · Chapter 22
CHAP. XXII. Of the Conclusion, viz. Amen. The inferences that may be drawn from thence. The principal use of the Lords Prayer; And why we are neither to refuse, nor confine our selves to this form.
Question: WHat is the Conclusion in the Lords prayer?
A. Amen: whereby is expressed the right disposition of the mind and heart of a man when he prayeth, which is indeed the very life of prayer. The word Amen is Hebrew, and remaineth for the most part untranslated in Greek, Latin, English, and all other Languages.
Q. How is Amen used in Scripture?
Rev. 3.14. 2 Cor. 1.20.A. 1. Amen is sometimes a title of Christ, because of his faithfulness and truth in performing all promises.
2. In the beginning of sentences it is an asseveration or corroboration of speech, and confirmation of that we are about to say, and that very vehement if it be doubled. Some take it for an oath, but it is onelyonly a confirmation of what we speak;Io. 3.11. & 6. Mat. 24.47. Luk. 12.44. Mat. 5.18. Mar. 3.28. Jo. 14.12. & 16.20. Mat. 16.28. Luk. 9.27. Mar. 12.43. Luk. 21.3. Luk. 4.24.25. Jo. 16.7. Mat. 23.36. Luk. 11.51. Apo. 22.20. Iam. 5.12. Mat. 5.37. Full. miscell. l. 1. c. 2. Maldonat. in Mat. 5.18. to which our English word verily, indeed, or in truth, answereth. This is manifest by sundry places of the Evangelists compared together: for where one hath Amen, another hath surely, truely, or verily; and in one and the same place these words are used one after another as signifying the same thing. Sometimes we shall finde Amen and yea used promiscuously, as words of the same signification. The Arabicke Interpreters never retain the word Amen, so oft used by our Saviour, and kept by other Interpreters, but render it by a word that signifies surely, assuredly, as a proper and clear interpretation. Aquila (as it is noted in the Romane Edition of the Seventy Interpreters) doth translate it credibly, faithfully, firmely; or as it is found in some Manuscripts, it is firm or stable.
3. When it is added in the end of blessings and prayers, the repetition of the promises,Num. 5.22. Deut. 27.15. Ps 41.1…. Neh. 8.6. Jer. 11.5. & 28 …. Rom. 1.25. 1 Cor. 14.16. Apo. 7.12. 1 Chro. 16.36. Apo. 1.7. Rom. 16.27. 2 Tim. 4.18. 1 King 1 36. Apo. 19.4. Deut. 27.15. Psal. 41.13. 1 King. 1.36. Num 5.2…. Ier. 21.5. Ier. 28.6. Neh. 8.6. 1 Par. 16.36. Rom. 9.5. or imprecations, it implyeth both a desire of the thing so to be, and confidence that so it shall be. That Amen is a wish or desire of what was spoken before, it appeareth out of many places of Scripture; as by the answer of Benaiah to David, when he had appointed Solomon to be ruler over Israel and over Judah, saying Amen, which he doth explain by these words, The Lord God of the Lord my King say so too. The Seventy Interpreters do render this word, sometimes Let it be, or God grant; sometimes they translate it, truely; and sometimes they keep the Hebrew particle Amen. That Amen sheweth a perswasion of faith touching the thing before spoken of, is evident by that of Paul, where having said of Christ, that he was over all, God blessed for ever, he addeth Amen, that is, he was assuredly perswaded that it was so. 1. So that Amen in this place, doth presuppose the understanding of what was asked; for every man must say Amen to his own prayers, as well as to the Petitions that others do make for him: But a man cannot say Amen to his prayers, if he know not what is said. 2. It is an asseveration,1 Cor. 14.16. Neh. 8.6. Ps. 106.46. 1 Cor. 13.13. wish or expressing of earnest longing to obtain all the things in this prayer above named. 2. It is a profession of our faith and confidence, that we trust in God through Jesus Christ, that it shall be unto us according to his promise and our prayer. True it is, we thus flie unto thee, O Lord, be it according to our desire and faith in thee.
Q. What Conclusions may be drawn from hence?
A. 1. Christ teaching us to end our prayers with Amen, doth thereby admonish us to pray with understanding, truth, intention of heart, and fervour; as also to believe that God presently heareth, and will certainly in due time grant our requests: so that ignorance, sloth, wandring, coldness, wavering and distrust are to be striven against. Lord I believe, Psal. 47.7. Psal. 17.1. Ier. 29.13. Ps. 119.10. Isa. 37.17. Dan. 9.19. Mar. 1….24. Iam. 5.16. 1 Tim 2.8. Iam. 1.6. 1 Io. 5.14. Mar. 9.24. Psal. 42.5.help my unbelief. Why art thou cast down, O my soul, why art thou disquieted within me.
2. We see what an excellent work prayer is: in which two most excellent graces of a Christian man be shewed forth, hungring after mercy, and faith whereby we believe the obtaining of it. And when in praying men speak to God, the Majesty of God is after a manner that cannot be expressed, nearer to him that prayeth then to others, whom he doth adorn with singular gifts: that they who pray holily unto God, may be compared unto them who do come unto the fire: who are made hot if they freez, and are made to boyle, if they be warm: for their minde is inflamed to the glory of God, their soul is enlightened in an admirable manner, and they are enriched with divine gifts. The more earnestly that men pray, the more comfortably do they feel how sweet the Lord is, and how blessed are all they that hope in him: and being compassed about with that clear light, they commit themselves to the bounty of God, nothing doubting, but that embracing them with his fatherly and admirable charity, he will abundantly supply unto them all things necessary to life and salvation. By hope and confidence it hath come to pass, that the Saints of God beginning to pray in anguish and trouble have ended in joy and comfort. It is admirable how the prayers of David have excelled in this kind: He beginneth often with complaint, Lord how are mine enemies encreased that trouble me: he concludeth in triumph, I will not be afraid of ten thousand, Ps. 3.1. Ps. 4.…. Ps. 6.1, ….that shall beset themselves against me round about; I will lay me down in peace, and rest in safety. Depart from me ye wicked, for the Lord hath heard the voice of my prayer.
Q. What is the principal use of the Lords prayer?
A. The principal use of the Lords prayer, is to direct Gods Church in making their prayers in all places, at all times, and upon all occasions though their prayers should be innumerable. In the using of it there be three things required.
The first is the knowledge of the Lords prayer, and all the parts thereof. He that would pray by it, must understand the meaning of it, the wants therein to be bewailed, and the graces to be desired.
2. There is in the second place required thus much skill, that he be able to refer every want and grace to one of the Petitions; for example, feeling in himself pride of heart, he must be able to say this is a want in the first Petition: and feeling a rebellion and slowness in doing Gods Commandments, he must be able to say, this is a sin to be prayed against in the third Petition. Thus every want he must refer to his proper head. Again, he must refer every grace to be desired to one of the Petitions: as strength in temptation to the sixth; affiance in Gods providence to the fourth; patience in adversity to the third; sence of comfort in the pardon of sin to the fifth; knowledge of God to the first.
In the third place he must before he pray, consider what be his wants and imperfections which most trouble him, as also the graces which he would obtain: then for helping of his memory, he must go to the Petitions, and he must set those things first in his minde, which concern the first Petition; those which concern the second Petition; must have the second place in his mind; and so he must proceed in order, as he shall have occasion. Thus a man keeping in minde the order of the Petitions as they stand, shall be able by referring every grace and want to his proper head, to make distinct prayer, and to vary it as time, place, and other occasions shall move him. But it is not necessary that we follow all the Petitions in conceiving a prayer: but onelyonly those which do principally belong to the time, place, and occasion. Again a Christian man may make an excellent confession of his sins by this prayer:Col. 1.9, 10, 11 if he shall, keeping the order of the Petitions, confess and bewail the sins which every Petition requires us to pray against. And it serves to furnish us with matter of thankfulness, thus: let a man remember all the graces which he hath received from God, let him then refer them to the Petitions and give thanks to God after the order of them, turning every Petition into a thansgiving.
Q. This form being so absolute, what need we use any other words in praying?
A. Because as to refuse this form savoureth of a proud contempt of Christs ordinance, so to confine our selves to these words alone, argueth extream idleness in this duty, wherein variety of words is required for the pouring out of our souls before the Lord,Hos. 14.3. and oftentimes, according to the occasion, some one Petition is more then the rest, to be insisted on and importuned.Mat. 26.41. Wherefore our blessed Saviour hath commended this form unto us, as an excellent copy or lesson, to be both repeated, and as we may,Jo. 17.1. Act. 4.24. imitated, or at the least aimed at, by us his Scholars; for which cause, both he himself, and his Apostles, are recorded to have prayed in other words, which yet may be referred to these.
Finally, The liberty, which the Lord affordeth us, is not to be abridged, or despised, who admitteth all languages, words, and forms, agreeable to this pattern, whether read, rehearsed by heart, or presently conceived;2 Chro. 29.30. Ps. 90.1. Num. 10.35. 1 Cor. 14.15. so be it, we pray both with spirit and affection, and with understanding also.
FINIS.
Balls Power of Godliness.
End of the text · John Ball, The Power of Godliness (1657)