glory of God, and in the continual, joyful sense of his love and essential, infinite perfection. All imperfection, sin, temptation, and suffering, being for ever ceased. Q. 38. But some think this kingdom will be begun on earth a thousand years before the general resurrection; and some think that after the resurrection it will be on earth.* A. This very prayer puts us in hope that there are yet better things on earth to be expected than the Church hath yet enjoyed. For when Christ bids us pray that "his Name may be hallowed, his kingdom come, and his will done on earth, as it is done in heaven," we may well hope that some such thing will be granted; for he hath promised to give us whatever we ask, according to his will, in the name of Christ: and he hath not bid us pray in vain. But whether there shall be a resurrection of the martyrs a thousand years before the general resurrection, or whether there shall be only a reformation by a holy magistracy and ministry, and how far Christ will manifest himself on earth, I confess are questions too hard for me to determine: he that is truly devoted to Christ, shall have his part in his kingdom, though much be now unknown to him, of the time, place, and manner." And as to the glory after the general resurrection, certainly it will be heavenly, for we shall be with Christ, and like to the angels. And the new Jerusalem, being the universality of the blessed now with Christ, may well be said to come down from heaven, in that he will bring all the blessed with him, and, in the air with them, will judge the world: but whether only a new generation shall inhabit the new earth, and the glorified rule thein as angels now do; or whether heaven and earth shall be laid common together, or earth made as glorious as heaven, I know not. But the perfect knowledge of God's kingdom is proper to them that enjoy it: therefore even we who know it but imperfectly, must daily pray that it may come, that we may perfectly know it when we are perfected therein. Rev. xx. 2; Pet. xii. 13. "Matt. vi. 20, 21; v. 12, and xix. 21; Eph. i. 3; 2 Tim. iv. 18; Heb. xi. 16, and xii. 22, 23; 1 Cor. xv. 49; Phil. iii. 20; Col. i. 5; 1 Pet. i. 4; Heb. x. 34. CHAP. XXVII. "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." Q. 1. WHY is this made the third petition ? A. Because it must be the third in our desires. I told you this prayer in perfect method beginneth at that which must be the first in our intention; and that is, God's interest as above our own, which is consistent, and expressed in these three gradations. 1. The highest notion of it is, the hallowing and glorifying of his name, and resplendent perfections. 2. The second is, that in which this is chiefliest notified to man, which is his kingdom. 3. The third is the effect of this kingdom in the fulfilling his will. Q. 2. What will of God is it that is here meant? A. His governing and beneficent will, expressed in his laws and promises, concerning man's duty, and God's rewards and gifts. Q. 3. Is not the will of his absolute dominion expressed in the course of natural motion, here included? A. It may be included as the supposed matter of our approbation and praise: and as God's will is taken for the effects and signs of his will, we may and must desire that he will continue the course of nature, sun, and moon, and stars, earth, winds, and water, &c., till the time of their dissolution, and mankind on earth for these are supposed as the subject, or accidents, of go vernment. But the thing specially meant is God's governing will, that is, that his laws may be obeyed, and his promises all performed." Q. 4. But will not God's will be always done, whether we pray or not? A. 1. All shall be done which God hath undertaken or decreed to do himself, and not laid the event on the will of man; his absolute will of events is still fulfilled. But man doth not always do God's will; that is, he doth not keep God's laws, or do the duty which God commandeth him, and therefore doth not obtain the rewards or gifts which were but conditionally promised. 2. And even some things, decreed absolutely by God, y Acts xxi. 14; Matt. vii. 21; xii. 50; xviii. 14, and xxi. 31. must be prayed for by man: for he decreeth the means as well as the end and prayer is a means which his commands and promises oblige us to. : Q. 5. Why is it added, " as it is done in heaven?" A. To mind us, 1. Of the perfect, holy obedience of the glorified. 2. And that we must make that our pattern, and the end of our desires. 3. And to keep up our hopes and desires of that glorious perfection; and strive to do God's will understandingly, sincerely, fully, readily, delightfully, without unwillingness, unweariedly, concordantly, without division, in perfect love to God, his work, and one another; for so his will is done in heaven. And these holy heavenly desires are the earnest of our heavenly possession. Q. 6. What is it that we pray against in this petition? A. Against all sin, as a transgression of his law, and against all distrust of his promises, and discontentedness with his disposals; and so against every will that is contrary to the will of God. Q. 7. What will is it that is contrary to the will of God? A. 1. The will of Satan, who hateth God and holiness, and man, and willeth sin, confusion, calamity, and who is obeyed by all the ungodly world. 2. The will of all blind, unbelieving, wicked men, especially tyrants, who fill the world with sin, and blood, and misery, that they may have their wills without control or bounds. 3. Especially our own sinful self-willedness, and rebellious and disobedient dispositions." Q. 8. What mean you by our self-willedness? A. Man was made by the creating will of God, to obey the governing will of God, and rest and rejoice in the disposing, rewarding, and beneficent will of God, and his essential love and goodness by sin he is fallen from God's will to himself and his own will, and would fain have all events in the power and disposal of his own will, and fain be ruled by his own will, and have no restraints, and would rest in himself, and the fulfilling of his will: yea, he would have all persons and things in the world to depend on his will, fulfil and please it, and ascribe unto it; and so would be the idol of himself, and of the world; and all the wickedness, and stir, and cruelty of the world is but that every selfish man may have his will. Q. 9. What then is the full meaning of this petition? 2 John i. 13; v. 30, and vi. 38; Luke xxii. 42; Acts xiii. 22; Heb. xiii. 21. A. That earth, which is grown so like to hell by doing the will of Satan, of tyrants, and of self-willed, fleshly, wicked men, may be made liker unto heaven, by a full compliance of the will of man with the will of God, depending submissively on his disposing will, obeying his commanding will, fearing his punishing will, trusting, rejoicing, and resting in his rewarding and beneficent will, and renouncing all that is against it." Q. 10. But if it be God's will to punish, pain, and kill us, how can we will this when it is evil to us; and we cannot will evil? A. As God himself doth antecedently or primarily will that which is good without any evil to his subjects, and but consequently will their punishment on supposition of their wilful sin, and this but as the work of his holiness and justice for good; so he would have us to will first and absolutely, next his own glory and kingdom, our own holiness and happiness, and not our misery; but to submit to his just punishments, with a will that loveth (not the hurt, but) the final good effect, and the wisdom, holiness, and justice of our chastiser. Which well consisteth with begging mercy, pardon, and deliverance. Q. 11. But is not heaven too high a pattern for our desires? A. No though we have much duty on earth which belongs not to them in heaven; and they have much which belongeth not to us, yet we must desire to obey God fully in our duty, as they do in theirs; and desiring and seeking heavenly perfection is our sincerity on earth.c Q. 12. What sin doth this clause specially condemn ? A. 1. Unbelief of the heavenly perfection. 2. Fleshly lusts and wills, and a worldly mind. 3. The ungodliness of them that would not have God have all our heart, and love, and service, but think it is too much preciseness, or more ado than needs, and give him but the leavings of the flesh. CHAP. XXVIII. "Give us this day our daily bread." Q. 1. WHY is this the fourth petition? A. I told you that the Lord's prayer hath two parts: the first a Luke xii. 47; John vii. 17; Acts xxii. 14; Rom. ii. 18; b Matt. xxvi. 42. Col. i. 9. e Psalm iv. lxxx. is for our end, according to the order of intention, beginning at the top, and descending: the second part is about the means, according to the order of execution, beginning at the bottom, and ascending to the top. Now this is the first petition of the second part, because our substance and being is supposed to all accidents; and if God continue not our humanity, we cannot be capable of his blessings, d Q. 2. What is meant by bread? A. All things necessary to sustain our natures, in a fitness for our duty and our comforts.e Q. 3. It seems, then, that we pray that we may not want, or be sick, or die, when God hath foretold us the contrary events? A. We justly show that our nature is against death, and sickness, and wants, as being natural evils: and God giveth us a dis cerning judgment to know natural good from evil, and an appetite to desire it accordingly: but because natural good and evil are to be estimated, as they tend to spiritual and everlasting good or evil, God giveth us reason and faith to order our desires accordingly and because our knowledge of this is imperfect, (when and how far natural good or evil conduceth to spiritual and eternal) it is still supposed that we make not ourselves but God the Judge; and so desire life, health, and food, and natural supplies, with submission to his will, for time and measure, they being but means to higher things. : Q. 4. Why ask we for no more than bread? A. To show that corporeal things are not our treasure, nor to be desired for any thing but their proper use; and to renounce all covetous desires of superfluity, or provision, for our inordinate, fleshly lusts.f Q. 5. Some say that by bread is meant Jesus Christ, because there is no petition that mentioneth him? A. Every part of the Lord's prayer includeth Christ: it is by him that God is our Father; by him that the holy name of God is hallowed: it is his kingdom that we pray may come; it is his law or will which we pray may be done it is he that purchaseth our right to the creature, and redeemed nature: it is by him that we must have the forgiveness of sin, and by his grace that we are delivered from temptations, and all evil, &c. : Q. 6. Why ask we bread of God, as the Giver? A. To signify that we are and have nothing but by his gift, and Jer. xlv. 5; 1 Tim. iv. 8; 2 Pet. i. 3. d Luke xii. 23. 2 Cor. ix. 10; 1 Tim. vi. 8. |