; a 
 
 P L A 1 N E 
 
 AND FAMILIAR 
 
 EXPOSITION 
 
 ON THE L OR D S 
 
 PRAYER. 
 
 Firft preached in divers Sermons, 
 
 The Subftance whereof, is now publi- 
 
 fhed for the benefit of the C h v r c h . 
 
 Byl.D. Minifterofthe Word. 
 
 Humilitie heapetb Honor. 
 
 EcctESIASTES 12. II. 
 
 The words of the wife are asgotds^ and as nailes 
 faftenedBy the Mafttrsof Afftmblics, which are «- 
 ven by one Shepheard. 
 
 LONDON, 
 Printed by /. D. for Daniel Pakeman, andareto 
 bciold at ihe Stgneof the Rawe-bow, neere the 
 Inner- Temple Gate in F/ect-J?rect, 
 
 1 6 I 4- 
 

 25G38p 
 
 \ 
 
&&£&&? 
 
 leaa^sSfiSBae 
 
 To The Reader 
 
 i" /> // £^ afeV of every Chriftian to 
 imploy himfelfe for thefetting forth 
 of Gods glory, and not with the^? 
 unprofitable fervant to hide his ta- 
 lent in a napkin^ So I considering 
 how in thefe dayesfo great and important a dutiz_j 
 as prayer^ is much neglected and under -v alued : 
 haue thought good ( for the propagating of Gods 
 glory the increasing of Chriftian devotion, and 
 the inciting of every one tot he frequent practice of 
 fo necejfary a dutie ) to bring into the world this en. 
 fuing Treatife r which hath a great while bcenzs 
 in private hands ( and fb had remained by the Au- 
 thors goodwill) but now at length by the importu- 
 nitie of friends hath prevailed to come into the^j 
 light for the gener all good of all, which is the end 
 andutmoftayme of him that wrote it, in this as in 
 the reft to propagate Gods glory , and fir re up Chri. 
 ftians to the more fervent and frequent ufe of this 
 dutie, in which wepraife God for his bleffings that 
 he hath extended towards us, and pray to God for 
 thofede feels which we findein our felues^ and de- 
 firetobefupplyedwithall. <^_Andfomayferue very 
 fitly as a key, to let us into all the roomes of Gods 
 A 2 Treafur^ 
 
To The Reader. 
 
 Treafury andStore-houfe, where wee may be plen- 
 tifully f apply edwith all good things which we f and 
 in need of But leaf that I jhould fee me tedious to 
 your Chrifian patience, in detaining you too long 
 fr cm the work* ^ or that I may be thought to thruft 
 my fickle into another mans harvejl^ and fo 
 re ape where I haue not fowen ; 1 ref^pray - 
 ing the D ivine ajftfiancefor his grace, 
 to make a right ufe of all his blef- 
 fings^ through his Sonne our 
 S.iviour Jefus Chrijit* 
 
 CVJ 
 
 
 \ 
 
A BREIFE 
 
 AND HEAVENLY 
 
 EXPOSITION ON 
 
 the L o r d s Prayer. 
 Math. VI. IX. 8cc. 
 
 After this manner therefore pray yce : Our Father 
 which art in heaven^ Hallowed bee thy Name ; 
 
 Thy Kingdome come 5 Thy will be done in earth as 
 it is in heaven $ 
 
 Giuetts this day our daily breads , 
 
 And forgiue m our debts ^as we forgiue our debtors-^ 
 
 And lead us not into temptation $ But deliver us 
 from evill ± For^ thine is the Kingdome^ the Po- 
 wer \> and the Glory , for ever \ Amen, 
 
 Ur bleffed Saviour in that moft 
 excellent Sermon of his upon the 
 JV^/tf 3 having taught and delive- 
 red many excellent things unto 
 thofe Multitudes which then fol- 
 lowed him- at length knowing how ufefull a 
 _ B thing 
 
zAfter this manner 
 
 thing fervent and frequent prayer is for our fare 
 and comfortable palTage through this world to 
 our heavenly home: commeth toinformethem 
 of divers things touching this fofpirituali and 
 heavenly Dutie. Having therefore in the begin- 
 ning of this Chapter given divers inftru&ions 
 touching Almes J in the next place, he comes to 
 Prayer. 
 
 1 . Giving general I directions touching it. 
 
 2 . Teacbingthc forme and ground thereof. 
 
 In generall he fheweth them, i. what they fiould 
 Jhunne and avoid^_ Hypocrifie ] in divers inftan- 
 ces : Praying, (landing in the fire etes and Syna- 
 gogues, tobefeeneofmen : and then, to fhunnc_j. 
 vame repetitions, 2. Like unto a good Phy/ici- 
 an or Surgeon, he not onely fheweth the difeafe 
 what it is - y with the danger thereof: Verely I fay 
 unto youthey have their reward: But alfo hepre^- 
 fcribeth them the remedic ) quite contrary to the 
 difeafe : i . To enter into their Clofet : 2 . To/hut 
 the daore^ in fee ret. 3. To flie all like neffe unto 
 the fe Hypocrites : ( which indeed is a fure reme- 
 dic to Aunne the fTrftoccafions ofevill ) where- 
 unto he addes a ftrong moving reafon : For your 
 Father knoweth what things yee have need of be- 
 fore you as ke him. 
 
 I Now when pur Saviour had thus made way, 
 in preparing them for this fo heaven!y,fpirituall 
 and neceffary a dutie : he in the next place tea- 
 cheth them the right forme and ground of true 
 Prayer 5 anfvvering unto- all our neceflities for 
 
 foule. 
 
2. 
 
 3 
 
 - ■ !■ » 
 
 therefore fray yet^j. 
 
 foule and for body, and that in a fubftantiail 
 bricfe manner, vcr, g. <jrc. 
 
 ^After this manner therefore pray yee: Our Fa- 
 ther which art in heaven : Hallowed he thy Name^ 
 &c. wherein we haue fet downs $ 
 
 1 . A preface to the Prayer : After this man- 
 ner therefore pray yee : Our Father, &c. 
 The forme of Prayer it felfe^ in 6 . peti- 
 tions. 
 
 The conclusion of the Prayer, mewing 
 fhong reafons for granting of thefe.-i^r 
 thine is the Kingdome, the Power, and the 
 Glorie^ &c. 
 
 Firft, In the Preface ; we haue i. A difcovcrieof 
 our Saviours intention : viz, to fet downethe 
 ground and foundation of prayer, After 'this 
 manner therefore pray yee. 2. A direction how 
 to begin aright, 1. Not to goe unto Saints or 
 Angels, but unto our heavenlyFather:2. Not 
 to be full of felfe-loue as to goe alone, but to 
 take in others with our felues. 
 
 Secondly, In the firme of Prayer itfelfe, we are 
 prefcribedtoaske. r. In the three firft peti- 
 tions,/^^ things as cone erne the glory of God: 
 
 2 . In the three laft, fuch things as concerns 
 our good. 
 
 Thirdly, In the Conch fion : we haue the reafons 
 enforced for feeding of the fe Petitions, very 
 ftrong ones : becaufe, all Dominion, Power , 
 andGlorieis his for ever. All which is knit 
 up with the aflfurance of Faiths certaintie of 
 
 _________ & 2 fpeeding 
 
Snmme, 
 
 ler. t£ 144 
 
 ftAftey this manner 
 
 fpeeding well( having thus prayed) in the 
 
 word, Amen. 
 But more particularly in the Preface we haue fet 
 downe, a moft abfolute preparation unto faith fu It 
 Prayer and Tbanhefgiving^ wherein ourblefled 
 Saviour me weth, ( if we would aright call upon 
 the name of the Lord, fo as we and our petitions 
 may be accepted of him, and blefTed by him) 
 nrn, bow we muft ft and ajfeffed towards men, in 
 this word [ Our~\ which giveth us to underftand 
 that when we put up our fupplications unto the 
 Lord our God\ we muft not onely intreat him^ t» 
 beftow good things upon us, but alfo Jpeake a good 
 word for the reft of his elect jha.t he would vouch- 
 fafe to be gracious unto them , even as unto our 
 fel'ues. 
 
 Secondly, bow we muft be perfwaded of r God, 
 viz? RrR,tbat bee is our Father, that is, fuch a 
 GWaspittiethus, and hath a tender regard of 
 us, who is readie and willing to helpe us in 
 our diftrefTes, relieue us in all our miferies, and 
 every way els,ableto mew forth the bowels of a 
 lather towards us: whereof, untill wee be in 
 fomemeafureafiTureds wee may well utter the 
 words of pray er, but we can never bring a true 
 faithfull prayer indeed before the Lord. 
 
 And where itis faid in the next words, that 
 God is in Heaven, the meaning thereof is not, 
 thatGW is fhut upin that one place, more then 
 in any other : for as leremie witnefTcth, Heefilles 
 heaven and earth with bis pre fences, the whole 
 world cannot containe him, but he containes it. 
 
 Tor 
 
therefore prayjeL-j, 
 
 For in him we line, andmoue^ and haue our being. 
 Therefore when he is called. Our Father in hea. 
 ven^ it is as much in effect as if he had beene ter- 
 med, Our heavenly Father^ ( as elfe where he is) 
 CMath. 6.32. thatis,fuchanone, as is infinite 
 in Power, Wifcdome^ Mercie, and of All-fuffici- 
 encie in ev ry refpccl to doe us good, fo that 
 both of thefe, viz. that he is a Father, and an 
 heavenly Father ,are very necefTary to be known 
 and beleeved : For, if we be not perfwaded that 
 he is our Father^ we fhaUnot dare with boldnejfe to 
 approach unto him s and if we beleeue not that he is 
 an heavenly Father^ we jhall thinke it bootcleffz^ 
 to depend upon him, and to expect Uefftngs from 
 him. 
 
 t^ffter this manner therefore pr/iyyee. 
 Our Father^ ejre. 
 In that our blefTed Saviour here fetting down 
 amoftabfolute and perfect platforme of pray- 
 er, according to which patternc, the Amplica- 
 tions of all GW>fervants are to be formed and 
 framed, doth ftrielly enjoyne us to come unto 
 our heavenly Father, and to none other but to 
 him alone, whence we learne 5 
 
 That none is to beprayedttnto but God alone; 
 
 Forhowfoeverwebenotprecifely bound un- 
 to the words of this prayer, yet we aretyedto 
 /obferue thefubftance of it: becaufe no petition 
 or thankefgiving can be allowable or accepts 
 ble,unlefTeit haue ground and warrant from the 
 B 3 Lords 
 
 Afts 17. x8. 
 
 What, Our 
 Father which 
 Art tn heaven, 
 implieth. 
 
 Obfervat.i. 
 That God 
 onely is to be 
 called upon, 
 
 That all pray- 
 er muft haue 
 warrant and 
 ground from 
 the Lords 
 Prayer. 
 
6 
 
 ddfter this manner 
 
 PfaU *o. 13 * 
 Ifay 44. 
 
 Ifay *5» 6, 
 
 Math. 4. 10. 
 
 Reafon 1. 
 Bccaufe God 
 oncly know- 
 eih the heart. 
 t Chron. 6. 
 30. 
 
 Z^i prayer ; And therfo re in as much as there 
 is no one word contained therein, that may 
 giuetheleafrmewof allowance, to put up our 
 petitions unto any betide the £0;^/ himfelfe. it 
 henceevidently appeareth,thatthisferviceis to 
 be confecrated and offered unto him alone, be- 
 ing that high honor which alone hee himfelfe 
 challenged!, faying, Call upon mee in the day of 
 trouble, and I will heare thee, and thou jhaltglo- 
 rifiem<L->. He fends us to no other: for it is his 
 honor ( which hee will not depute unto any 
 Creature) to be the immediate hearer of all 
 fuites. And therefore the Prophet ifaiah giveth 
 this exhortation, Seeker he Lord, while hee may 
 he found, call upon him while he is necre, ^r.(not 
 toheape together many proofes in a point fo 
 cleare.) The Sonne of God himfelfe, who is 
 bell: acquainted with his Fathers willfaith,(ap- 
 plyingitagainftthe DeWIJ, ) Thou Jhalt worflrip 
 the Lord thy God, and him onely fh alt thou ferue. 
 
 If then Prayer be apart ofG^worfhippe,. 
 ( which none will deny ) it muft neceiTarily fol- 
 low, that itis to be appropriated unto him a- 
 lone. 
 
 Firlt, becaufe (as Salomon teftifieth in his 
 prayer ) The Lord onely knoiveth the hearts of the 
 children of men .• whether they pray faithfully, 
 orhypocritically, whether they come for cu- 
 ftome, with bare words of prayer,to ferue their 
 owneturnes : or of confeience, with iighes and 
 groanes to magnifie Gods name, in asking that 
 which may tend to his glory. If wee were to 
 
 make 
 
therefore pray yets. 
 
 make requefts unto men or Angels, that cannot 
 fearch into our thoughts and affeclions, afalfe 
 hypocrite might fpeed as well as a true hearted 
 Chriftian : ludas might finde as good fuccefie 
 as Peter ■, nay many times farre better: for di- 
 vers of them prefent their fuiteswith a more 
 glorious flourifh of words, and thofe uttered in 
 a more vehement and earneft manner in out- 
 ward appearance, than fundry or almoftany of 
 GW/deare children can attaine unto. Which 
 ftands with good reafon : for the Hypocrite 
 lookesonelytotheoutfide, even to the forme 
 and order of his words and fentences,thatther- 
 by he may pleafe others, or himfelfe; whereas 
 a Chriftian hath a principall refped unto the in- 
 ilde, and lobkes chiefly upon his foule and con- 
 fcience sttiathemay draw his heart into Gods 
 prefence, and keepe it there whenit is there, 
 from the beginning to the end of that holy ier- 
 vice: ftrivingwithall forfaith, reverence, and 
 willingnefFetofubmit himfelfe to Gods pleafure 
 concerning the things hee askerh, and for the 
 time of obtaining them, and the like : which in- 
 ward ft rife being that which God doth princi- 
 pally looke after, makethafaithfull man to be 
 in a fort rcgardleiTc of that which carnall men 
 doemoft refped. Whence it would come to 
 parTe,thatif any but the Lord had the hearing 
 of their pray ers,falfe hearted difTemblersmould 
 earrie away the reward from found hearted 
 Ch riftians : But feeing that is his office, who re- 
 fpe&s not the words of the lips, but the affecti- 
 on 
 
8 
 
 <*After tbu manner 
 
 z Cbron. 6. 
 3° 
 
 Reaf. 2. 
 In that prayer 
 muftbcmadc 
 to one of ab 
 
 folute iuffici 
 
 cncic. 
 
 lei. tp 
 
 Pfal. xi 5. 
 
 Dan. 4« 
 Pfal. 9* 
 
 Reaf. U 
 Becaufe the 
 Scriptures 
 giuenouich 
 precepts* 
 
 Rom uyh* 
 
 on of the heart, they (hall fpeede bed that are 
 i beft. Toy He giveth unto every one, as heeknow- 
 eth his heart. This then is the firft reafon, why 
 God oncly is to beinvocatedof us. 
 
 A fecond is \ That Pray er mttft be made tofuch 
 & enemas is of absolute power , and fuficiency to 
 heare and helfe all men, in all -places, at all times, 
 and in allneedes:{ for otherwife with what con- 
 fidence or comfort can we become petitioners 
 unto him, ) now it is fure that no Saint, Angell, 
 or any other Creature in heaven or earth is able 
 to doe, ( for they are all of a circumfcribed 
 nature, andofa finite power )onely the ^4l- 
 mightie and All-fufficient Lord of heaven and 
 earth can performe this, whofe elTence filleth 
 all the whole world, whofe power is fufficient 
 to doe whatfoever he will, whofe hand none 
 can refill:, and whofe goodneffe never faileth 
 thofe that feeke unto him. Whence it may 
 firmely be concluded, thatinour prayers wee . 
 muft haue recourfe unto him, and none other. | 
 Thirdly, becaufe there is not in the whole 
 Scripture any Commandement or example of 
 any one godly man or woman, that may giue 
 us warrant to ufe the invocation of any, but of 
 God alone: neitheris there any promife of good I 
 fuccelfeif we mould ufeit. And therefore fuch j 
 prayers of ours could not befaithfull prayers, 
 as wanting a ground from the word, but finfull 
 and confequently abhominable before the 
 Lord. Nay, we are fo farre from having any 
 example, or promife, or Commandement for 
 
 it, 
 
therefore pray yec_j. 
 
 ir, that we in this place hauea direct Comman- 
 demcnt to the contrary. Wbenyee pruy ( fayth 
 our Saviour • ) pr-ay thus, Our Father &c. For 
 thereby is implyed, that we muft keepe our 
 femes within the bounds of this prayer, which 
 tyeth us to make our requefts knowne unto God 
 alone, fo that hee that goes beyond the limits 
 that Chrifi doth prefcribe here, goes beyond a 
 prayer of faith, and fo makes a prayer of finne, 
 which the Lord cannot choofe but hate and ab- 
 horre. Which ferues. 
 
 Firft, forth confutation and overthrow of that 
 facrilcgiott* dofirine of Poperies, that teacheth 
 men to pray unto the Angels, and S aints depar- 
 ted, which prayers can yeelde them no more 
 comfort, then this prefcript forme here fet 
 downeby our Saviour chrifi, will yeeld them 
 warrant for that which they doe. 
 
 But they object, that they acknowledge their 
 prayers mufi be pre fen ted to God alone, but they 
 may ufe the Saints and Angels as Mediators be- 
 twixt God and them. 
 
 All this is but mcere diflembiing and cloa- 
 king of their fmne, for ( to fay nothing ofthat 
 point ) that there is but one Mediator betweenc^j 
 God and man ^ even the manChrifi lefus , who by 
 the incenfe of righteoufneffe perfumeth the 
 prayers of the Saints, thatthey may be pleafing 
 inthenoftrels of the Z^ofhoafts, thoughin 
 them&lues they favor ftrongly of the flefhrthey 
 doe giue them that divine worfhip, which is due 
 untoGWalone: which that we may the more 
 C cleerely 
 
 9 
 
 Vfe i. 
 
 OVphL 
 
 i Tim* % . 
 Revel, S. 
 
10 
 
 Rom.10,14. 
 
 oAfw this manner 
 
 cleerely difcerne, Ictus hearken what the Apo- 
 ftle faith. How jly all they call on him, in whom they 
 hauenotbeleevcd, &c. If then they profeffe that 
 they invocate Saints and Angels, they muft 
 likewife graunt they beleeuein them, which, 
 what is it, but to giueunto them divine wor- 
 fhip? 
 
 Againe, when they pray unto them, they in 
 efFed acknowledge thus much, that they are a- 
 bleto heare them, and to relieue them alwayes,. 
 every where, and in every one of their needes i 
 And what is this, buttogiue unto them divine 
 worfhip* 
 
 LaftJy, doe they not attribute that unto Ma.- 
 ry, and Peter , and to the reft of the Saints and 
 Angels, which is the peculiar prerogatiue of 
 GWhimfelfe, namely, to be able to enter into 
 mens hearts, and to difcerne oftheir afte&ions 
 when they are prayingunto theme' Whatisthis 
 but to afcribe unto them divine honour, and to 
 fetthem as it were in Gods Chaire ofeftate? 
 Therefore be they never fo full of damnable 
 hipocrifie and cunning, to colour over this 
 their fowle fin > with goodly and glorious pre- 
 tences; Insufficiently knowne unto God, and 
 unto all godly men, that they commit grofle 
 Idolatriein that worfhip which they pcrforme, 
 for which they are efteemed Idolaters, and Sa- 
 crilegious perfons, that robbethe Lord of his 
 due honor, and mall receiue at the hands of God ' 
 juftice, a proportionable mcafure of punifh* 
 xnent according totheir fihne. 
 
 Secondly,. 
 
therefore fray yet^:. 
 
 Secondly, It is foi'InftrucJion, fith God will 
 hauethc hearing of all flutes, immediately in 
 hisowne perfon, and fets none as fubftitutes 
 under him in that office* this mould teach us to 
 be in league with him^ And to caft off all manner of 
 corruptions , that will bring us out of favour with 
 hiwjor he is a God of pure eyes that cannot endure 
 iniquitie, intertained and maintained, for if we 
 regard wickednefTe in our hearts, he will not 
 heare us. Whence it comes to parte, that unbe- 
 kcvingPapi/ls, and other finfull perfons, haue 
 fo little heart and courage to goe unto theZ^ 
 in hisowne pcrfon, becaufe their owne con- 
 fciencesteftifie againft them, that they haue 
 beeneandare, andftill purpofe to bee notable 
 Rebels againft his Majeftie. 
 
 Let Chriftians therefore before they pray, 
 throughly co nfider with rhemfelues, that they 
 are to enter into his prefence that is a God of 
 perfect holinefle 3 and abfolutepuritie,and with- 
 all, that unlefle they can haue free and comfor- 
 table accefle unto the throne o( Grace, they 
 neither haue title unto, nor can poflibly haue 
 the comfortable ufe of any bleffing fpirituall 
 or corporali. And this they mall findeto be an 
 excellent meanes to awe and terrifie them from 
 offending him, on whom all their happinefTe 
 and profperitie doth depend. 
 
 IfalltheSubjedsinthe Land, were l>ound 
 in all matters of weight, topreferre their feve- 
 rail fuites unto the Kings Majeftie himfelfe, that 
 fo he might giue fentencc in his owne royall 
 G 2 perfon, 
 
 II 
 
 Vfe 2 
 
 Pfal. 66, 1 8, 
 
 A helpe to 
 prayer. 
 
 Simile. 
 
 .■W.<i i iw« ' ii 
 
IZ 
 
 Alls ii. 
 
 Simile. 
 
 zAftey this manner 
 
 perfon, cither for them, or againfi: them ^accor- 
 ding to their demerites, would it not make them 
 circumfpecl in their carriage and courfe of life, 
 that it might be altogether fuch as mould ex- 
 prefTe their loyaltie and due fubje&ion unto 
 their Soveraigne? So (lands the cafe with all 
 Chriftians, the great King of heaven, who is 
 their Lord andGovernour, willhaue the hea- 
 ring of all our caufes himfelfe, and willtruft no 
 dcputie under him, that might be bribed, flat- 
 tered, or feared, or in any fort corrupted, and 
 hiseyeis fixed not onely upon their outward 
 behaviour, (whichis as much as earthly Kings 
 can looke into) but alfo upon their inward man, 
 he being the fearcher and trye'r of the heart and 
 ofthe raines: which mould caufe us with all due 
 care and circumfpe&ion to looke unto our 
 hearts, and to our wayes, that he may efpie no- 
 thing therein, which will provoke the eyes of 
 his glory, andbreake off our peace and com- 
 munion with him. If they of Tyrus and Sidon 
 thought it a point of good policie ( as indeed 
 it was ) to come with one accord, and to pei% 
 fwade BlaFtm^Herods Chamberlaine, by this 
 meanes todefire peace>when Herod intended to 
 make warreagainftthem, becaufe their Conn- 
 trey was nourifhed by the Kings Land. How 
 much more fhould we account it Chriftian wif- 
 dome to prevent warres that might arife be- 
 twixt the God of heaven and usr Efpecially, 
 considering, that not onely the maintenance of 
 our Countrey and eftate, but the welfare of our 
 
 bodies 
 
therefore prayjet_j. 
 
 bodies and foules, and all the happinefle and 
 comforts that we enjoy here, yea our falvation 
 it felfe, and that felicitie which we expect here- 
 after, doth depend upon, and proceed from his 
 meere bountie and freeliberalitie. 
 
 Thirdly, this/*n;^ forth"- comfort of 'all Gods 
 fervants, that rhey are to put up their fuitesand 
 requefls unto the Lor dandy and immediately, 
 without the interceilion of any Creature, and 
 need not become Petitioners unto any other, 
 either Saints or Angels, of whofe continual! 
 prefen'ceand readinefTe, and abilitie to helpe 
 and fuccour them all, wherefoever, and in what 
 extremitie focver they mall be, they muft needs 
 be utterly uncertaine, and fbhaue their afflicted 
 foules much turmoiled and perplexed within 
 them : This ( I fay ) is a raaryellous great com- 
 fort unto them, that they may haue free acceffe 
 (without any further adoe) unto the throne of 
 his mercy, who is neere unto all them that call up- 
 on him in truth^ though in much weakenelTe,and 
 is an helpe introuble readie to be found* Who. can 
 dee what foever he will \in heaven, and in earthy 
 and commandeth us to call upon him in time ofdt- 
 flreffe^ with a certaine and undoubted promife 3 
 that he mil deliver us f hat fo wemayglorife him y 
 and will not impart this honor unto any other, 
 butreferueitto himfelfeasa fpeciall preroga- 
 tiue royall ( as it were ) to be fued unto alone,of 
 allfuch asprofefle themfelues to bee Servants 
 and fubjecls unto his Majeftie. 
 
 Certainely, in as much as wee haue fucha 
 C 3 worthy 
 
 J * 
 
 rfii- 
 
 Pfal. I4?.l 
 Pi'al. 46. i, 
 
 Pfal, nf. 
 Pfal. jo» 
 
i4- 
 
 lercmie. 
 
 Obfervat.t* 
 
 Our Father. 
 
 worthy priviledge as this is, that we may come 
 untothe Kings own perfon and prefence,when- 
 foeverwehaueoccafion, our flnne muft needes 
 be very great and grievous if we choofe rather 
 tohauerecourfeuntohis Iurcices, Conftables, 
 or under-officers whomfoever, ( who neither 
 will nor can undertake to heare us, ) than unto 
 hisowne Majeftie, leaving the fountainc of li- 
 ving waters, and making to our felues broken 
 cifternes that will hold no water. 
 
 Our Father^ &c. 
 
 Hr s word [0#r] imply eth what af- 
 fection wee muft beare towards men 5 
 namely, that when we bring our facrifi- 
 cesofprayer and pray fe before the Lord, wee 
 fhould be fofarre in loue and charitie with men, 
 Tharweihouldwimthem as well as our felues, 
 and pray and pray fe God for them, as well as; 
 for our felues : So that hence we learnc 5 
 . 
 
 That ivhen we Are to-c all upon the name ofthc^ 
 Lord*) rtimuftfo dedUfir our felues And our owne 
 to&Pers, as that we be alfo mindfull of others. 
 
 ■ . 
 All Chtiftiansmouldhauefucha fellow-fee- 
 ling each of others rieceflities,as thattheyfhould 
 make others cafe to be their owne,and become 
 
 futors 
 
Our Father: 
 
 n 
 
 i Tim,!,!* 
 
 i 6. 
 
 Mar. y. 44. 
 
 futors for them, and with thankefulneffe ac- 
 knowledge their graces before their heavenly 
 Father, who requireth thisdutie at their hands. 
 Aswefee,wherethe»Apoftle exhorteth Timo- 
 thie^ 7 hat firjl of all fuf plications^ prayers ^and gi- 
 ving of tbankes bee made for all wen. And fo in 
 James ^ acknowledge your faults one to ami her, ana '',. 
 fray onefoy another. Yea ; not onely fo $ but we j" 
 are enjoynedthat which doth more crofle our[ 
 wicked flem, viz. to fray for our enemies. Now 
 if it be a dutie to pray for them., that doe feting 
 maligne, hurt and ferfecute m, and that when 
 there is little or no appearance of grace and re- 
 ligion in them 5 Then how much more are we 
 tyed to become Petitioners for thofe that are 
 friendsto us, to Gods Church,and faithfullfer- 
 vants unto the Lord himfelfe? And as this is 
 commanded, fo was it practifed, as by other 
 of the holy men of CW, fo efpecially, by the 
 Apoftle Paul, who did without ceafing night 
 and day remember in his prayers the Churches 
 which he himfelfeand others had planted;asal- 
 fo divers particular perfons,which were of fpe> 
 ciall note and imployment in tire Churches^ 
 and in eftablHhing and propagating the G ofpel 
 ofchrijl ; yea, he did not onely make continu- 
 all mention of them in his prayers, but he was 
 alfo mindfull of them in histhankefgivings. As 
 he fay th, Ithanke my God{ fay th he ) having you 
 inferfetimemorie, because ofthefellomfhif which 
 yon haue in tfe Goffel frot#thefirftMy nntillmw. 
 And the like is done by thespnmted Ietvcsfas 
 
 Rom. 1. 9 10. 
 
 1 Cor. 1.4. 
 
 2 Tim. 1. 3* 
 
 Philemon 4. 
 
 Phil. 1. j.j. 
 
i6 
 
 Afts ix. * 8 * 
 
 Gal. U%zl 
 
 Reafon, 
 
 Note. 
 
 Our Father. 
 
 we may read in thz Act es ) to whom when Pe- 
 ter had rendred a reafon why he preached unto 
 and converfed with the Gentiles, and (hewed 
 them that hee had fpeciall warrant by a vifion 
 from heaven fo to doe : It is faid, When they 
 had heard thefe things, they held their peace and 
 glorified God, faying, 7 hen hath Godalfo to th<Lj 
 Gentiles granted repentance unto life. And fo the 
 Churches of ludea, when they heard of Panics 
 conversion, that he that had perfecuted them 
 in times paft, now preached the faith, which be- 
 fore he deft royed, They glorified God for him, 
 for whom no doubt, they had oftentimes be- 
 fore inftantly prayed unto the Lord. 
 
 Anditismeetc that all the Saints of God, 
 while they are in their pilgrimage mould per- 
 forme this dutie, mutually one for another, be- 
 caufe,they are members of the fame head, branches 
 oft he fame 'vine, Temples of the fame Spirit, chil- 
 dren of the fame Father, and heires of the fame^j 
 Kingdome.- In which rcgard,as they are neere- 
 ly linked together, fo mould they haue their 
 hearts as firmely knit together in one^ And then 
 | it cannot be but there muft needs proceede i 
 thence, many holy and heavenly requeftes, and j 
 praifes for oneanother,which will a cend as in- 
 cenfeintothe noftrels of thzLerdof hoaftes, 
 and be more pleafing unto him, then the moft 
 c oftly and precious perfumes can be unto us. 
 
 With earthly Princes ,the fewer petitions we 
 j prefcrre, and the fewer perfons we make fuite 
 | for, the better (commonly) we fpeedj but it 
 
 is 
 
Our Father. 
 
 is other wife, with the King of Kings, the mor e 
 in number our fupplications arc, and the more 
 thepcrfonsare for whom we fupplicate, the 
 better mall our fucceffe be: And the more wee 
 urge for others, with the greater bleiltngand 
 peace fhall we goe away our felues, according 
 to that in the pfalmc ,Pray for the peace of lerxfi- 
 lem, let them profper that louethe^ . 
 
 Seeing then that the truth of this Doclrine is 
 focleere, it ferveth ; 
 
 Fir ft, to convince divers > and 't bo fe of Gods own 
 Children to bee very faultie , who notwithstan- 
 ding they make many prayers, and multiply 
 their petitions before the Lord, yet they are fo 
 poflelTcd with felfeJottt, and felfe-rejpe'ft, that 
 they are wholy taken up with their owne mat- 
 ters, and are utterly rbrgetfullof others, either 
 to pray for them, or to praife God in their be- 
 half e. If any -one haue offended them, he fhall 
 haue many ill words, but few good prayers 
 from them. If any one be converted, or bette- 
 red, they feldomc or never fall on their knees/ 
 to bleffethe name of God for his mercie and 
 goodnefle towards him: this is an evident to- 
 ken that they haue little loue unto their bre- 
 thren, or zenle of Gods glory: He that is a true 
 brother, mufi fhew his brotherly affection by. bro- 
 therly actions. And they that can not arford o- 
 thcrsa part and portion in their prayers, can 
 hauelittle expectation of comfort and benefit 
 from the prayers of others, whenthey ftand in 
 greateftneed of them. And iurther^when the 
 D Lord 
 
 *7 
 
 A rule of 
 ipraycr. 
 
 Pfal-iii 6. 
 
 Vfe I, 
 
 Note. 
 
i8 
 
 Vfi*. 
 
 A comfort a« 
 gainft difccu- 
 ragemcm in 
 Prayer. 
 
 h&s x 2. 5,6,7 
 
 <?#r Father* 
 
 Z*r/beflowes a bleffing upon any of his peo- 
 ple, they fhall be fofarre from being ftirred up 
 to joy and thankefgiving therefore, that they 
 willbereadie rather to envie and malignethem 
 for the fame. 
 
 Againe,this is fir finguhr comfort fir all fuck 
 04 dee ip their htarts fear e the Lord .- For there is 
 neveraChriftian throughout the world, that 
 prayeth for himfelfe, but he doth more or lefle 
 pray for thcm,and glorifie God tor them>which 
 is anefpeciall part of the communion of Saints.. 
 What then though we be dull and heavie-hear- 
 ted> fa that we cannot powre out our foules be- 
 fore the Lord as we ouphtto-doc* Was there 
 not a time, when we could(through Gods grace) 
 haue prayed, and did pray, and thatearneftly^ 
 not onely for our felues,but likewise for others ?■ 
 If our confeiences witne/fe thus much for us $ 
 let us not be difmayed, as if we mould be utter- 
 ly defiitute of good-things, becaufe we cannot 
 askethem in that manner as wee would : for 
 doubtleffe, at that very time when wee feele 
 greater! inabilitie unto this holy exercife, there 
 are many thoufand Chriftians in the world, on 
 their knees offering up ftrong cryes unto God,. 
 which we haue as good intereft in ? as them- 
 felues. 
 
 The confederation whereof (hould fuOraine 
 us, and hold our hearts in hope and expectati- 
 on of favour from God, when we find ourielues 
 moft unapt and unfir for this fpirituall worke oS 
 prayer. When Peter was faft bound in prifon,. 
 
 and 
 
Our Father. 
 
 \ 
 
 i? 
 
 and fleepingbetwixttwoSouldiers,bound with 
 rwo chaines, the prayers of the Saints were (till 
 afcending for him , which did fo peirce the hea- 
 vens, that they caufed the chaines to fall off 
 from his hands, and made the prifon doores 
 and the iron Gate, to open unto him of their 
 owne accord, to the great comfort of the 
 Church, and aftonifhment oftheir adverfaries. 
 \ And of no lefle force may and fhall the fuites 
 and rcquefts of Gods fervants be for us, when 
 we are raft bound and fettered by finne and Sa- 
 than, and haue lefTe power to free our felues 
 from their bondage, then Peter had to efcape 
 out ofthe hands of Hervd, and ofthe Souldiers 
 and keepers that watched him with all care and 
 diligence. Fork is a true faying and worthy of 
 allmentoberemembred, That the fray erg of 
 the righteous d<v rile much jf they be fervent. Thus 
 muchconcerning that point, how wee muft 
 ftand affected to ward men, now it followes to 
 beconfidered, how we muft be perfwaded of 
 God in thefe words. 
 
 Father, which art in 
 Heaven. 
 
 Firft, for the word Father, It implyeth thus 
 much. That; 
 
 yntlii w the nffured that God u become eur T&- 
 D 2 t her 
 
 lam. {. i4 4 
 
 Obftri>at.$* 
 
20 
 
 Pfal. 12.1. 
 
 Pfal. 119. 
 
 Pfal 88. 
 
 Ifa. tf 4 , 8. 
 
 God hath in 
 him all the 
 properties of 
 a Father. 
 
 Heknowe<aU. 
 bis children* 
 
 wanes. 
 
 Math. 6. 32. 
 Exod. 37* 
 
 Our Father. 
 
 ther tn Chrtft^ wee haue nothing to doe with any 
 petition in the Lords Prayer. 
 
 In plainer tcrmes it is thus much 5 We cannot 
 pray at all in acceptable fort, Co as wee may 
 pleafethe Lord y and gaine any true comfort and 
 peace unto our fonles, till this perfwafion be 
 fetledin our hearts, viz. That we are Gods chil- 
 dren, and thatheis our Father. Therefore it is 
 that the Saints doe ufually ( as we may obferne 
 in the Scriptures ) lay this as the foundation of 
 their prayers, That the Lord is their God] that he 
 rs their portion, the God of their falvation, their 
 mercijull Ged^ &c. 
 
 Andagaine 7 the Church ufeththe very words 
 ofthis prayer. But now Lord thou art our Fa- 
 ther^ ejrc Neither is it without caufe, that the 
 Lord would haue us in affurance of faith to call 
 him Father; for indeed he is fuch a one, not 
 onely in name, butalfo in nature. Nay,he hath 
 all the properties of a Father, in afarre more ex- 
 cellent manner and meafure, then any man in 
 the world hath or poilibly can haue. 
 
 For, firft of all, Bee taketh knowledge of all the 
 wants ^grievances, and miferies of his children. 
 As appeareth in that argument which Chrifi le- 
 fa uferh todifTwademen from carking and ve- 
 xing cares for the things ofthis hie: For, four 
 heavenly Father ■( faith he) knoweth that yec haue 
 need of all the fe things . And fb the L Wtelleth 
 Mofes concerning his afflicted Church in Egypt 5 
 lhauefeene, 1 haue feene, the troubles of my people 
 
 which' 
 
Our Father. 
 
 which are in Egypt, and haue heard their cry ? be- 
 cause of their taske.mafiers: fori know their for - 
 rowes. From which places it is evident*, that 
 there is not one of Gods rainilie, but he takes no- 
 tice what his neceffities, and what his forrowes 
 and fufferingsarej There is none thatwanteth 
 money, food, appareli, or fleepe in the night,or 
 any earthly thing whatsoever, but he is fully j 
 acquainted with it, and throughly confidereth ! 
 ofit. There is no temptation, doubt, or feare 
 in their mindes : no difcomfort or heavineffe in | 
 their hearts: no mifchiefe intended by Sathan, 
 orbymenagainfttheir perfons or eftates, but 
 the Lord is privie unto all : whereas earthly Fa- 
 thers are ignorant of fundry of their Childrens 
 wants and griefes,as wellin the night when they 
 areileeping,asintheday when they are abfent 
 from them. Yea, when they are prefentwith 
 them,they are utterly unacquainted with many 
 inward matters that are amide in their foulesras 
 alfo with divers plots and pra&ifes of malicious 
 enemies, for the endangering of their bodies,or 
 the endammaging of their eftates. So that in 
 this regard, the Lord goeth infinitely beyond" 
 them. 
 
 Secondly, As he knoweth their netdes^fo hee^ 
 fiftieth them therein ; as a Father doth his child 
 whom heloveth, nay, he hath a more tender re- 
 fpe& of them, then any mother can haue of the 
 fruit of their owne womberfor fo fay th the Pro- 
 phet ifaiah : Can a woman forget her child, and 
 Lmt houe companion on the fdnne of her wombc^ .• 
 D 3 though 
 
 21 
 
 a. He pitties 
 them. 
 
 Pfal. 103.1$. 
 Ifa.4£.if« 
 
%% 
 
 Our Father. 
 
 Helouci 
 them, 
 
 Iobn tj. ij. 
 14, 
 
 iCor.i-5« 
 
 though tht y Jhould forget, yet will I not forget 
 thee^j. 
 
 Thirdly, for his loue unto his Children, our 
 Saviour declareth what it is, where he fayth, 
 Thou haft loved them, as thou haft loved mc . Nei- 
 ther doth Chrift tefus envie, that they mould be 
 Co highly in Gods favour, but prayeth in the next 
 verfe : Father I will that they which thou haft gi- 
 ven me may bee with me where I am, that they may 
 behold the glory that thou haft given mee. A man 
 would thinke it ftrange, that he mould bring 
 fuchbafe and vile creatures as wcare,unto fuch 
 exceeding gr eat glory s butitisftranger thathe 
 mould dealefo with his owne Sonne: nay, we 
 thinkethatbutequalland right. And why then 
 mould we make queftion of the other, feeing 
 thathelovethusas hee doth his owne fonne? 
 whichloving affection of his is further expref- 
 Ccd unto us, where he is called/^ Father ofmer- 
 ties, and God of all confolations . Whence it ap- 
 peareth, that all the mcrcie and kindneffe that 
 is in any creature, is derived from him, as from 
 a fountaine, and therefore is in hisowne Maje- 
 ftie infinitely more abfoluteand perfect. 
 
 From this which hath bcene fpoken, it is 
 cleere, that he is a Father indeed, as well as in 
 Name. 
 
 Nowitremaineth that we mew what neceffi- 
 tiethereis, forustobeleeueandto be perfwa- 
 ded that he is our Father , to the intent, that we 
 may more faithfully and comfortablycall upon 
 his name. Which will be plaine and evident if 
 wewellconfider * x. Hw_ 
 
 \ 
 
H 
 
 Rtsfr* i. 
 
 I. 
 
 Our Father. 
 
 1 . He w mi [er able our cafe is without this. 
 
 2 . Hew happie and Uejfed it is, when wee haue 
 attained hereunto, 
 
 Firft, oirr cafe is very woefuU and hard, whe- 
 ther we looke ; 
 
 i. VntoGod: or, 
 2. Fntoourfelues. 
 Fir ft for GW, he is in himfelfe a juft Iudge,and 
 fuch an one as can indure no iniquitie, nor beare , 
 v/ith the lead: blemifh and imperfe&ion, unlefle j rabk'tSt 
 fatisfa<ftion bee made unto his Iuftice forthe; «b«atfurancc 
 fame. And then for our fdues> both our per - 
 fonsand oar bell fervices are flained with mani- 
 fold corruptions; and therefore cannot poffibly 
 find any acceptance with fohoJy and fo juft a 
 GWastheZ^is. Nay, indeed they areana- 
 bominationunto his Majefty,andinthemfelues 
 muft needcs procure punifhment, rather then a 
 bleflingfiom him. Which being confidered; 
 we may plainely perceiuethatit much concer- 
 ned us, before we approach unto the throne of 
 Grace, earneftly to feeketo haue ourperfons 
 reconciled untothe Lord^and to be afTured that 
 he is become our mercirull Father in chrifi Je- 
 fits, that fo through him our facririces may bee 
 accepted and rewarded of the i;^. 
 
 Now as theneceifitieoftheamjranceofG<&& 
 favour appeareth by this, that we are vcsy mi/e- 
 rable without it, fodothitalfobythis, that we 
 are exceeding happie when we haue the fruiti- 
 on of it : according to that of the Pfatmift,Blef- 
 jed are thep etpJe, . nthtfe God-is the Lord. Which 
 
 hap- 
 
 2. 
 Weareblef. 
 
 fcdifv?eluuc 
 k. 
 
z4 
 
 The benefits 
 oftheaflti- 
 rance ot 
 Gods favour* 
 
 i. 
 
 He hath all 
 the attributes 
 feta worke 
 foe him. 
 
 Our Father, 
 
 \ 
 
 \Vehaueri*ht 
 then to all 
 Chriflsme- 
 rit« and gra- 
 ces. 
 Ezek.36. 
 
 praU31.Lt. 
 
 happineiTe confiftethof fundry particulars, as 
 namely j 
 
 Firft, That rvbofoever hath this ajfurance, this 
 perfon hath all the Attributes ofGodfet A-\vork<L~> 
 for his good, the perfwafion whereof muft needs 
 be a great ftrcngthning unto his faith in prayer. 
 He hath the power of Godto aflift and uphold 
 him, to protect and defend him, and to over- 
 throw all adverfe power that comes againft 
 him. Ht\\n\\t\\c rv ifedomeoi God to watch o- 
 ver him, to fore- fee dangers, to prevent them, 
 to find out meanes of deliverance when croflcs 
 areuponhim, and in a word, toridde him out 
 of all doubts and difficulties, and to direct him 
 in all things that do concerne him, either for his 
 prefentoreverlafting eftate. Further, he hath 
 themercie ofGodfet a-worke for the pardoning, 
 of his daily offences, and the plentifull fupply 
 of all needfull comforts, and( nottoinffancein 
 all the particular Attributes of the Lord) hee 
 hath him to be an All-faff/dent God unto him, 
 for the accomplifhing "and perfecting of his 
 happinefTe. 
 
 Secondly, hee hath right to all the merits of 
 Ctiriftltfus, and the faving graces of the Spirit, 
 hee is juftifed already^ and hath all his iniqui- 
 I ties warned away, fothat he is without fpot in 
 Gods account. Which is the ground of all hap- 
 pinefle, according as the Prophet fpeaketh : 
 Blejfedisthe man^ whofe inlquitie is forgiven^ 
 > and whofe finne is covered. Blejfedis the man to 
 I whom the Lord imputeth no finne. And as hee is 
 2 ' jufttfed 
 
Our Father. 
 
 jufttjicdj Co is he a\Co ftnffified : ( for thcfe two 
 areinfcparable companions)GW takes away the 
 ftony heart out of his body, and giveth him in 
 ftead thereof an heart of flefh. He putteth his 
 fpirit into him, which fan&ificth him through- 
 out, in his minde^ memory , will^ in his confcience 
 affeftiws) and in every power and facultie of 
 body and foule. 
 Thirdly ,herevpon enfueth another priviledge 
 and that is, That hee hath peace with all the crea- 
 tures^ as it is promifed in H&feah^ when the Lord 
 marrieth the people unto himfelfe, then he will 
 make a Covenant for them with the wild beaflcs 5 
 and with the fowles of the heaven^ (jrc. So that 
 looke where God 'favours, there allthe creatures 
 fhall favour, and procure the benefit and com- 
 fort of the partie favoured,for they are all Gods 
 fervants,& muft therfore be at his appointment 
 Fourthly, whofoever hath gotten this afTu- 
 rance,that he is within the Covenant of Grace, 
 and is partaker thereof, he hath freedome from 
 all hurtful! crofTeS, Hee frail no more beare thc_j 
 reproach of famine ^ nor feele the fling of any o- 
 ther judgement, but all fhall worke together for 
 the be ft unto him. 
 
 Laftly, every fuch perfon may reft confident- 
 ly perfwaded of his finall perfeverance* and 
 continuance in well doing unto the end., and 
 fo of his everlafting falvation in the heavens, for 
 that is a part of Gods Covenant, That hee will 
 put his feare into his fervants hearts y fi that they 
 Jhall never depart fvm him. Slip and fail they 
 
 may, 
 
 25 
 
 Ezek. 35. 
 Icrem.gi* 
 
 1 Thef. y; zj \ 
 
 Then one 
 hath peace 
 with all the 
 Creatures, 
 
 Hof. z, 18. 
 
 Ezck.36, 
 Rom, 8,30. 
 
 Such may be 
 all tired to 
 perfevere in 
 grace to iai- 
 vation. 
 Ier. 1 a. 40. 
 
 ■UWW I <H ' 
 
r i<j 
 
 John io« 
 
 Math. if. 
 
 Luke i z. i z. 
 
 Vfii. 
 
 Our Father. 
 
 may, and will, but fall quite away they cannot 
 poflibly. None can take them out of Gods bands, 
 for heis ftronger then all. And will preferuethem 
 while they line, and raife them up at the laft 
 day, to haue full communion with himfelfe. 
 And to inker it e the kingdome prepared for them, 
 from the beginning of the world. To which pur- 
 pofe our Saviour faith unto his Difciples 3 F<w<? 
 not little fiocke, for it is your Fathers pleafure to 
 giueyou a Kingdome. tfonce the Lord become 
 a Father unto any, hcneedesnot to be terrifi- 
 ed and amazed at any thing that mall fall out, 
 for howfoever it goes with others, he (hall not 
 faileofthat celeftiallhappinefle, which God of 
 his owne good pleafure hath provided for his 
 Children. All which reafons laid together, 
 mould bee as fo many forcible arguments to 
 convince us of the point in hand; that it is a 
 thing abfolutely needfull in our- prayers, and 
 fupplications to be infomegoodmeafure allu- 
 red that GWis our Father. 
 
 Which being fo, mak'thfirft of all for the 
 utter overthrow of that opinion, and moft un- 
 comfortable dodrineof the Pap/fis, and of all 
 hypocrites, that count it hainous prefumption 
 forany one to fay, That he is affined of his electi- 
 on,andfhat God is become his F atherin Chrifi:for 
 bythat which h:>h beenefaid,itisapparantthat 
 none-without this afl brance can make a faithful! 
 and acceptable prayer before the Lord, there- 
 fore how reqiiiiitreitiSj let any indifferent man 
 judge. And hete let us note ( by the way) what 
 
 fmall 
 
Our Father. 
 
 *7 
 
 Hofea 
 
 7- M« 
 
 fmall caufethe Papifis haue toboaftof the mul- 
 titude of their prayers; for they profeflTc that 
 they are notfure ofthat which is here required, 
 viz,, that God is their Father, without which(as 
 wehaueheard) every prayer that we makeis a 
 raeancs to provoke the Lordto plague us,rather 
 then any way to procure his bleflings upon us, 
 and therefore they can haue fmall comfort in 
 the petitions which they haue & doe put up be- 
 fore him 5 nay, lookc how many prayers they 
 make, fo many linnes they commit,in that they 
 take his holy namein vaine, all their crying is 
 butasthe howling; of dogges, and. contenteth 
 the Lerdsezvts no more than chat doth ours-. 
 Let us in this cafe marke what xht Author to the 
 Hebrewes faith, Hee that commtth to Godmufi be- 
 leeveth.it God island that he is a rewarder ofthofe 
 that diligently feckc him. It is notfufficient for 
 him that prayeth, to know that hee is a God, 
 ( forfo farre the Dive lis goe ) but that he is his | Iatncs 2 - T 9 
 God, and will mewhimf dfe to be his God, by 
 recom pencing him according to his faithfulnes 
 infeckingof him. Otherwife, ifwebenotper- 
 fwaded chat he is full of power, wifedome, full of a mif^ 
 ofeoodnefTeand oftruth, and that he will ma- ^^"of'g 
 
 • rn 1 r l • 1 1 r ' nuance in 
 
 nifelkheiehis heavenly properties for our re- thenamreof 
 liefe and comfort when wecall upon him, wee God « 
 fliall rather runne unto any in our necd^ then un 
 to him, or if we doe come unto him, wee mall 
 not be fervent in our fuiteS) or if we be earneft 
 for a fit (in a pa/fion) yet we (hall not be able to 
 hold out therein. In which regard it is veryne- 
 £ 2 cefTary 
 
 Het>. n,6. 
 
 The danger 
 
iS 
 
 Vfi 2. 
 
 Markes of 
 
 Gods chil- 
 drcn 
 
 lames x. i8, 
 Iohn 3.3. 
 
 I. 
 
 A diflinft 
 knowledge 
 and inlighr- 
 ning in hea- 
 venly things. 
 
 Ierem. 31.33 
 
 34. 
 
 Our Father. j 
 
 cefTary, that we beleeue that he isarewarderpf 
 fuchasare fuitors unto him, and confequently 
 that he is our Father, that wee are in favour 
 with him, and hee bound by Covenant unto 
 us. 
 
 Therefore^ in the fecond place ) This fiould 
 caufeus toafe our be(t endevours to get this a(fu- 
 yancefirmely grounded in our hearts, viz,, that 
 GWisour Father, and that we are hischilden: 
 whichthat we may attaine unto,let uslabour to 
 haueinusthefe notes thereof, which follow. 
 
 It is Out of queftion, that none is the child of 
 God by nature,but every onethechild of wrath} 
 And therefore whofoever would deriuehis pe- 
 digree from God\ muftbeabletofhew that he 
 hath beenc begotten againe by the word of truth: 
 for except a man be regenerated, he hath no 
 place in the kingdome of heaven, and there- 
 fore no portion in God himfelfe. Let us exa- 
 mine then whether the word hath at any time 
 wrought efFe&ually upon our foules or nor, 
 which wee may difcerne by fundry efFe&s (a- 
 mong the reft ) by thefe that follow: 
 
 Firft, if it hath enltghtned our mindes And gi- 
 ven w an underft anding heart, and a particular 
 difiinff and directing knowledge concerning hea. 
 venly matters. For this is a part of the new Co- 
 venant expreiTed in Ieremie ( fayth the Lord) 
 This is the Covenant that 1 will make with thes 
 houfe of Ifrael, After thefe dayes {fayth the Lord) 
 1 will futmy Law in their inward farts, and write 
 it in their hearts , and will be their God> and they 
 
 {hall 
 
 m - ifi 
 
 'iium 1, l i 
 
Our Father. 
 
 (ball be my people : And they jhall all know me from 
 the leaf of them to thegreatejl ofthem.lsotxhaX 
 all mould haucrhe fame meafure of knowledge, 
 but every one fo muchasfhould beefufficient 
 for his direction unto everlafHng life. 
 
 Secondly, if it bath wrought in us an holy in- 
 dignation againfi ourfelues in regard of thofefms 
 which haue been formerly committed, and are now 
 pardoned. Thismarkc the Prophet E&ekielfets 
 downe, where fpeakingofthofe that were wa- 
 shed from all their filthineiTe, and enriched with 
 the faving graces of Gods Spirit, he fayth, Then 
 Jhall yee remember your owne wickedwayes, and 
 your deeds that were not g04 >d 3 and jhall judge your 
 felues worthy to haue beene destroyed, for your ini- 
 quitie, and for your abominations . Before their re- 
 generation, GW.; fcrvantsarereadic to fall out 
 with others, and to imagine that all is well with 
 themfelues : but after their converfion, their 
 greateft quarrell is againft their owne foules. 
 And howfoever they know and beleeue that the 
 ZWharh freely and fully forgiven them, yet 
 will not they forgiue themfelues for their evill 
 thoughts,words, andworkes. 
 
 Thirdly, Weemufl examine whether the word 
 hath brought us unto conjlant and generall obedi- 
 ence .♦ for, that effect it produccth in all fuch as ( 
 are indeed begotten againe thereby .-according ( 
 to that which is further promifed in the Cove- I 
 nant. I will caufe you to -walks in my (latutes, and 
 you j\) all keep e my lodgements , and doe them. If 
 once we be Gods Schollers, he will certainely 
 E 3 teach 
 
 20 
 
 Anhcly in- 
 dilation a • 
 gain ft our 
 
 (clues. 
 
 E«k. $6. 31, 
 
 When the 
 word hath 
 wrought us 
 
 tounivcrfall 
 
 obedience. 
 
 Ezck.36^7. 
 
5° 
 
 Our Father. 
 
 Simile. 
 
 the belt Tea 
 cher. 
 
 Aloucto the 
 Si-ints, as 
 Saints* 
 Pfal. if. 
 Pfal. i6«$. 
 
 teach us this leflbn, viz,, not onely to under- 
 ftand what his will is, but to pra<5ti/e itaccor- 
 dingly. Other Schoole- matters, though they 
 be never fo skilfull and induftrious, yet they 
 may mectewithfuch untowardly and untracea- 
 ble SchoHers, that they can doe them little 
 \good, either for learning or for manners. But 
 That God is the Lord is fuch a teacher, thai he never under, 
 [takes to injtruff any, but hees both informeth his 
 judgement, andreformeth his pracJije : fo that 
 fuch (hall not need to fay, this is my nature,and 
 I cannot amend fuch and fuch faults, nor per- 
 formethefe and thefe duties : But when God 
 beginneth to teach them by his fpirit, they may, 
 confidently tell their owne hearts, that through 
 Gods grace they (hall be inabled to doe both the 
 one and the other, infomegood and competent 
 meafure. 
 
 The laft note is,lfit haueftirredup in our hearts 
 an unfainedloue towards Gods people } even becaufe 
 they are his people, fo that we honour thofe that 
 fearethe Lord, and delight in the Saints that are 
 excellent, rejoycing to fee Gods Image mining 
 forth in any, even in fuch as haue beene no way 
 beneficiall, but rather fo me way injurious unto 
 us. 
 
 Thefe notes may giue us forae light to difccm 
 whether the word hath regenerated us, yea or 
 no ; whrch will appeare wherefoever they are, 
 though at fome times more evidently then at 
 fome other ;t>y thefe therefore let us try oure- 
 flate, in which cafe if we find them in our felues 
 upon 
 
Our Father. 
 
 upon a due fearch made. Then 5 
 
 Thirdly, here is matter of very great confola. 
 t ion for «*, howfoever the waues of adverfitie 
 flow in upon us on every fide, andwebetoffed 
 too and fro with fundry and fore temptations, 
 yet fo long as we can hold this, thatch is our 
 gracious Father, in and through Chri(l,\vc haue 
 afurcrefugeto flieunro, and a God AU-fufftci- 
 ent^ to whom we may make knowne all our di- 
 -itreiTes,aiid from whom we (hall receiue reliefe 
 according to ourfcverall ncedes and neceffitics. 
 Davids Ziklag, was in a great ftrait, being be- 
 reft of his wife and children, goods and fub- 
 itance and in dange r to be ftoned by the people \ 
 and thereupon wa:: exceedingly caft downe,fo 
 that, heewept till ' hee could 'tveepe no more,but af- 
 tertheflcili had had about, and playdthe firit 
 part,he recovered his fpirits, and comforted 
 himfelfe in the Lord his God, knowing that 
 though all other comforts were gone, yet God 
 remained itill,who was able to reftore unto him 
 his lofle ( as after it fell out ) and to paciHe the 
 hearts of the people that were cauflefly enra- 
 ged againft him. The like courfe mould we take 
 in all our extremities, namely, betakeourfelues 
 to our heavenly Fat her , by faithful land fervent 
 prayer, and fo long as wee may haue recourfe 
 unto the frefh fpringof all found joy and con- 
 tentment^never vexe our felues with unnecessa- 
 ry thoughts and cares, fo long as he takes not 
 himfelfe from us, let us never be difmayed, 
 though we becut fjiort of other things, for God 
 
 is 
 
 V 
 
 Vfiy 
 
 I Jam. 
 
 1 Sam. 
 
V> 
 
 Gen. 17. i. 
 
 Obfervat.^ 
 That God is 
 AlUfufficicnt 
 for the hclpc 
 of his 
 
 Nehcm,i.j. 
 
 which art in Heaven. 
 
 tsour exceeding great reward. And they who- 
 foevertheybe, that doe not foefteeme him are 
 
 from him WOrrhyandUnfitt ° recdue blc & a S 
 But this will more fully appeare in the next 
 point,which arifeth from hence,that God is faid 
 tobt a Father w heaven, thatis ( as it was be 
 fore interpreted) an heavenly Father fuch a 
 oneasisof perfect fufficicncietohelpeand re- 
 lieue every one that repaires unto him for fuc 
 cour. Whence wemayobferue 5 That 
 
 They that mil pray well and ft eed well, mufl be- 
 Leeve that God is an heavenly Father. 
 
 Thatis, perfectly ableto fupply all their wants 
 andtocomforttheminalltheirdiftrcfTes. This 
 perfwafion wasinNehentiah, when hemadehis 
 prayer for himfelfe and the whole Church be- 
 ginning thus, O Lord God of heaven, the Ireat 
 and terrible God, & c . Thefe wcretitlesthatbe- 
 fitted him for hisprefentpurpofe: for he was to 
 perlwadean heathen King to reedifie the Tem- 
 plc, and to reftore the true worfhip of GW,that 
 iiadbeenealong time aboliflied, to perfwade 
 nimto bea friend to Religion, that was an ene- 
 mieboth unto God md to all goodne/Tc-and 
 thereforehe termed the Lord y the Godof heaven 
 that is.the heavenly God^and more particularly' 
 the great and wmderfull God, that is fuch an one 
 as worketh great and wondcrfull things, and 
 thereforeableto effeclthat which he was now 
 
which art in Heaven. 
 
 3? 
 
 Dcut. 19. 21. 
 
 cointrcatof him, viz. to makethofe that wer 
 perfecutors of his people to become friends 
 unto them, and become furtherers of them in 
 their good and holy enterprizes. And further, 
 heprejfesthis, that Hee was a God that keepeth 
 Covenant andmercie, and therefore having pro- 
 mifed, that not with /landing they jhould tranf- 
 greffe^ and be therefore fcattered abroad among ) Dcu t'5°-4- 
 the people^ yet if they did turne vnto him, and 
 keepe his Commandements , he would gather them 
 from the utter mofi parts of heaven, and bring them 
 againe unto their owne Land. The Lord (I fay ) 
 having promifed them this, hee intreateth him 
 to'keope Covenant with them, and to be as 
 good as his word,and fo carries it cleere before 
 him, and obtaines his hearts defire. So likewife 
 Daniel, when he had undertaken to (hew Nabu- 
 cadnezzar his dreame and the interpretation 
 thereof, which was impofllble for him or any 
 man to doe by humane witor skill, hegoethto 
 his houfe, and intreateth his Companions, Ha- 
 namah, c Miflael, and Azariah, that they would 
 joyne in player with him, to befeec'h the God of 
 heaven for grace in thisfecret. Wherein the Lord 
 heard them, and granted them their requenr; 
 The like is attributed unto God in the Pfalmes^ 
 whereitisfaid, Our God is in heaven, not that 
 he is more there then in any other place ,but the 
 meaning is exprefled in the words immediately 
 following! which are thefe) hee doth wbatfoe. 
 \ verhe ivill, that is, heisoffuch zbfolute power, 
 fo that no creature is able to refill- him,- in that 
 P which I 
 
 Dan,;. 17.18 
 
 PfaUuj.j. 
 
34 
 
 4- 
 
 The wonder- 
 full provident 
 wiJedorac ©f 
 God, 
 
 jj Reafnt u 
 
 Exod. 34, 
 
 3J>i>/V^ <*rf in Heaven. 
 
 whichitpleafcrhhimto doe, and as his power 
 is, fuch is his wifedome : nothing is fo fccret but 
 itiswellknowneuntohim, yea, hee underflan- 
 deth our thoughts long before our fe lues .• Hee 
 knowesthe matter whence they will arife, hee 
 is fo infinitely wife,thathe can tell when to giue 
 and what to giue, and how to deale with every 
 one of us, yeafuchisthe unfearchablene/Te of 
 his wifedome, that he can draw light outofdark- 
 nejfe, and make us great gainers byourrnfirmi- 
 ties and follies, and moft dangerous falls. And 
 that which hath beene fpoken of his power 
 and wifedome, holdes as true of all other his 
 Attributes: for he is infinitely ju/l, mercifully 
 gracious, and in a word, an infinite God in every 
 refpeft : for if we take away any part of his At- 
 tributes, we take away part of the Godhead it 
 felfe. 
 
 Nowthereafbnswhy we mull be thus per- 
 fwadedof him, before we can faithfully pray 
 unto him, arethefe: 
 
 Thft^ecaufe other wife we cannot put confidence 
 in him, according to that of the Pfttmift, They 
 that know thy name will trufl in thee^ for tBou ne± 
 verfaileft them that feekei bee. Whence it may 
 evidently be gathercd,that till fu ermine as men 
 know that the Lord is ht nitely (Irong^ mercifrU 
 and ju/t'ejrc ( which is the name of God) they 
 can never truely red: upon him, and till they re- 
 lie upon him, they cannot poflibly in faith make 
 their prayers unto him,and fo confequcntly not I 
 obtaine any thing in mercie from him. * 
 
 Secondly,. | 
 
 
yphicb art in Heaven. 
 
 Secondly, Till they be firm* ly perfaaded hereof 
 they CAnnot with reverence worfiip the Lord ; as is 
 cleere by that argument that the wifeman ufeth 
 when he faith, Be not rajh with thy mouthy nor let 
 thy he Art be hafiic to utter a thing before God, And 
 why i For Cod is in the heAve»s y that is, of infi- 
 nite majeftie, and greatnefle, and thou art on 
 earth, that is, full of bafenefle and vileneffe. 
 Therefore { faith he ) let thy words be few, to ut- 
 ter no more then thou canft well juftifte from 
 the warrant of the Spirit of Grace and of 
 prayer. 
 
 This ferveth for the reproofeof a great cor- 
 ruption even in the beft of Gods children,in that 
 they doe not beleeuc that the Lordh ^dll-fuf 
 fcient,foi if they did,why mould they be faint- 
 hearted when they are in great ftraitsand extre- 
 mities. This corruption we may obferue in Mo. 
 fes,( the mod holy and worthymanthat then 
 lived upon the face of the earth ) who when the 
 Lord pvomifed to feed the Jfraelites with flefh, 
 and that for a whole moneth, being in a barren 
 wild ernefie, not neerc any market,and the num. 
 berof them being fo great as it was, even fix 
 hundred thou fund men, be fide women And chiL 
 dren, madedoubt how it could poffibly be : but 
 what faith 6^ unto him? Is the Lords hand 
 Jhortned( faith he ) JhouJ1)Altfeenow whether my 
 word f\)All come tojdfe unto thee>or not. Indeed, 
 ifhehadbeenean earthly King, it had beenea 
 matter impoflible for him to effect j But feeing 
 he was an heavenly King> it was all one for him 
 F 2 to 
 
 *5 
 
 I. 
 
 Ecclcf. $»i« 
 
 rfci. 
 
 Num.1 1. 19. 
 20. 
 
vs 
 
 Num.io, 10. 
 
 I Hcb* j 
 
 \ Vfe 
 
 3* 
 
 2. 
 
 which art in Heaven. 
 
 to feed fix hundred thoufand, as fix, yea, as one 
 poorechilde: to feed theminawilderneffe,as 
 in a plentifulllandrforamoneth together,as for 
 one day. For howfoever with us one thing is ea- 
 ficr, and another harder,yet with God all things 
 are alike eafie and poffible. 
 
 And the like frailtie did Mofes and Aaron be- 
 wray in another place. Heare novo yee Rebells 
 ( faith Mofes ) fiallwe hringjou water out of this 
 Roeke i ( why not ) I f Cod appoint it to be fo> 
 he can as. eafily bring it out of a roc^ke as out of 
 a River: but hereby they fo dishonoured God 
 in the prefence of the people, that he excluded 
 them both from the land of Canaan. And yet is 
 there not the fame unbeliefe in many of the 
 deare fervants of God in thefe our dayeSc'yes 
 furely, for if they haue great yeerly revenewes, 
 and a goodftocke lying by them, and plentie 
 of all things about them, then they hope God 
 will provide for them and others ; but what if 
 they be deft itute of all thefe earthly things ? 
 doe they notthen imagine, thatitwillgoehard 
 with them and their children? whatisthis,but 
 to make flefh our arme, and to with-draw our 
 hearts from the living GW> fo to pull downe 
 his heavie plagues upon us ?Let us therefore be 
 aihamed of our ignorance and infideliticin this 
 or any other refpeft, and hereafter caft our 
 cares wholy upon him, who hath faid, / will not 
 haue thee norforfakeiheos. 
 
 Secondly, Is it fo, that the Lord is a Father y 
 and an heavenly Father, of peife&abilitie and 
 
 fuifici- 
 
Mark: 9.23- 
 
 Dims com* 
 fores aga^nfi 
 
 1 
 
 which art in "Heaven. Trf 
 
 fufficiencie tomaintaine, deliver, and faue his 
 children? Then, let mraife up our hearts againf 
 all dtfeouragements ^ and in matters ef great dan- 
 ger and diffiadtie , goe unto the great God for com- 
 fort : and whenwemeete with impoffibilities, 
 in regard of any wifedome or ftrength thatisin 
 ourfelues, or anymortallman, then let us ha- 
 ften unto the Lord, with whom all things are 
 poffible. Butwithall, take heed that we come 
 in faith, and then, as all things are pojfible unto 
 God, fomalluheybealfd unto the beleever, as 
 our S iviour witneiTeth '.Are our iniquities (b ma- 
 ny and fo grievous, that we perfwade our fellies, 
 if men had fo provoked us, as we haue provo- 
 ked the Lord, wecould never find in •our hearts fatnibkau 
 to be reconciled unto them ? 
 
 Let us not be difmaied thereat, but fue unto 
 our heavenly Father for pardon: and then mail 
 yve Rndethat His thoughts are not our thoughts, 
 nor his rvayes as 'our wayes^ but that his mercie is 
 infinitely greater then our offences are or can 
 be, and that he is readietb forgiue the greate/r. 
 finneas well as the fmalleft, and ten thoufand 
 finnes, as well as one. 
 
 Againc, are our temptations divers and' flrange 
 ande-xcecdwgviolent^ fo as we doe not know 
 which way to turne ourfelues, nor how to be 
 ridde of themdetus make knowne our cafe un- 
 to Almightie God, who hath promifed, jfftivf/y to Rom. 16. 
 tread Sathan under our feete, and can quickly fo Ephe.oV 
 arme us with the fhe 1 Id of Faith ', thatwe ihaltbe 
 inabled to quench all'thefcrie ddrts$fthe devitt, 
 
 * 3 
 
 And 
 
# 
 
 which art in Heaven. 
 
 Objeft.V 
 A»fi** 
 
 Objell.l. 
 
 A»/i»» 
 Hofcax. 8.j. 
 
 Pfitl jo, 
 Pfal. »*• 1. 
 
 
 And ( not to inftancc in many particulars ) but 
 briefly to fhut up this Ufej 
 
 Whatfeevcr our wants or diftreffes bee, inward 
 or outward, JpirituaU or corporal!, let us make 
 them knowne unto our heavenly Father, who 
 is both willing and able to relieue and fupport 
 us. 
 
 But, wee fee no meanes nor likelihoodes how it can 
 bee done. 
 
 What haue we to doe with the meanes, is the 
 Lord All-fujficient or not < if he be, let him a- 
 lonetofind out meanes how to performe his 
 gracious promifes. 
 
 Oh, butthe world is hard, and men are unmer- 
 cifullyfjrc* 
 
 What of that, are we at the worlds finding or 
 atGjds? Is not the gold and ftlver his$ And the 
 beaftes upon thousand hills ; nay, is not the earth 
 the Lords, and thefulnejfe thereof? What need 
 haue wee then to care how the world (lands af- 
 fected towards us : fo long as we haue a rich Fa- 
 ther, and a good Father, our cafe cannot be mife- 
 t able, unlefje our owneunbeliefe doe ?nake it to bee 
 fe : and yet that fhall not hinder our happinefle 
 neither,iffobewefee it and acknowledge it, 
 and labor for ftrength again ft it. 
 
 Oh, but my afflictions haue beene very long and 
 very tedious. 
 
 Bee patient notwithstanding, for they pro- 
 ceed from the hand of an heavenly Father, who 
 knoweth beft when to deliver his out of temp- 
 tations. Earthly Fathers for want of difcretion 
 
 doe 
 
 »• f 
 
Vsbicb art in *Hearoen. 
 
 doe many times deliver their children ouc 
 of miferie,before they be fitted for deliverance, 
 becaufethey feare leaft by holding them too 
 Jonginfufpence, they mould be difcouraged, 
 and fo grow to take fome worfe courfes then 
 they haue done. ButtheZ*n/is an heavenly Fa- 
 ther, and therefore infinite m wifedome,fothat 
 he cannot over- fhoote himfelfeinthat regard. 
 Ashe will not keepe his children over-long un * 
 derthe rodde, Itaftthey Jhould turne uatofootij})- 
 neffe ; So neither will he exempt them from the 
 fame too fpeedily, leaft they fhould loofe the 
 fruit of their fufferings: hence it commethto 
 paiTe, that he holdeth them along while in fuf- 
 penee, to the intent that he may haue the more 
 prayers and teares from them, and in the end 
 beftow greater bleflings upon them, when they 
 are made capable hereof. Let us therefore qui- 
 etly fubmit our felues under his hand, refigning 
 up our wills unto his moft holy will, and fub- 
 je&ing our carnall reafon unto his heavenly 
 wifedome, alluring our fellies that if preienr 
 helpewerebeftforus, we mould not be difap. 
 pointed of our hope, and if it be not be ft, why 
 fhould not wee keepe illcnce unto the Lord^nd 
 waire upon him, untill he pleafeto haue mercie 
 upon us,and to free usfromall ourtroubfes,and 
 diitrefles. 
 
 Thus much belaid briefly of the Preface un- 
 to the Lords Prayer, which fheweth how wemuft 
 be affected towards men, and periwaded o£God 
 ifwe will call uponbimin a fan&ifled manner. 
 
 Now 
 
 & 
 
 Simile, 
 
 Note. 
 
 Wty God 
 (ufpends met* 
 cieitohis 
 children* 
 
40 
 
 v ftaUoTtoed-Jbee thy name* 
 
 
 ■ 
 
 . 
 
 Ow it followeth that we confider ofthe 
 Prayeritfelfe, which confifteth of fix 
 x "* feverall Petitions. 
 
 The three fir ft of them concerning chiefly the^j 
 Glorie of-God. 
 v % he three loft, the benefit and co?nfort of his 
 
 /~* L, *\ / Jl'»f hi* 
 
 
 Children.- 
 
 underftood 
 by the name 
 oi God. 
 
 Touching the meaning ofthe firft Petition,! 
 i.Tetitton. I jiallowedbe thy Name : wemuft underftandthat 
 , 1 by the Name of God, is fignified all thofe things 
 whereby he is made knownc unto the Tonnes of 
 men, as namely, his properties, and Attributes, 
 ! hi* rvmderfullworkes of creation, of redemption , 
 and of prefer vation : at dlfo Iris holy word and 
 ble fed Sacraments," which doe carry a goodly 
 ftampeand print of the nature of God, and doe 
 liuelyexprelTe and manifeft. what manncrof one 
 he is unto mankind MKJ unto all his creatures. 
 
 As for the word Hallowed, We mull: know 
 that to hallow, is tofet a-parta thing from the_j> 
 common u feu fome proper end, and therefore, to 
 fa&&iftx'm&hatiovi>xtht name of God, is to fet it 
 apart from all abufes to an holy and, reverent ufe. 
 So that when we pray Hallowed be thy Name^j, 
 itis thus much in effect. 
 
 Lor diet thy Attribute sifthy morkes,andthinc_j 
 Ordmumexhefo known* , efteemed,and embraced, 
 
 both 
 
 
 Hallowing 
 Gods name 
 what itis. 
 
 ■» ». »— 
 
Hallowed bee thy name. 
 
 both of mec and of all thine elect ft 6 fie, that thou 
 maift haue all due homr and glory ; and let all the 
 plots andpracUccs of the devill^ and his Injlru- 
 ments tending to the contrary^ bee utterly brought 
 ton ought ^andmade to fcrue for the greater magni- 
 fying of thy glorious Name* 
 
 Hallowed be thy ZhQirnc. 
 
 In that this Petition is fetin the fore-rfront of 
 the Lords Trayer, Hence we may learne. 
 
 That Gods honor and glorie ought to bemofldeare 
 and precious in our eyes. 
 
 Of all the things that we are to defire and craue 
 at the Lords hands, this muft be the firft and the 
 principal!, that his Name may be fan&ified by 
 us and the reft of his fervants. And for this end 
 and purpofe are all other things to bee asked, 
 namely, that by the enjoyment of them we may 
 be the better enabled to honor and glorifie the 
 Lord our God in all things. And therefore is that 
 argument ufed in the conclusion of this prayer, 
 for thine is the kingdome^ the power And the glory 
 &c. Which is,as if we mould fay in more words 
 Thefeand thefe things haue we requefted of 
 thee ( O heavenly Father ) and we befeech thee 
 togranttbemuntous,thatfothoumayefthaue 
 more/>^i/e'and Glory from us. 
 
 G And 
 
 ¥ 
 
 Ob/ervat.g. 
 Gods glory 
 muft bemoft 
 precious in 
 our eyes a- 
 boueall. 
 
4* 
 
 a. 
 
 This in all 
 ourobedience 
 muftbec the 
 cheefeft thing 
 aymcd at. 
 
 Ixod.32.32. 
 
 Rom, 9, 3. 
 
 &*/»» 1. 
 God defer- 
 vctbgiory 
 from us* 
 
 Hallowed bee iby name. 
 
 And, As this is the chiefe thing which wee ate 
 to as he in our prayers, fo it ts theprtncifall matter 
 which we are to ayme at in cur obedience, as it doth 
 evidently appeare by this, that the foure firft 
 Commandements,whichare backed withmoft 
 forcible reafons, doe efpecially concernc Gods 
 glorie,and require that homage and fervice 
 from us, which maketh chiefly for his honor. 
 And of this point had Uttfifes well confidered, 
 when he had fuch great refpect unto the glori- 
 ous name of the Lord, that he was content to be 
 blotted out of Gods booke, that Gods people might 
 be faved, and God himfelfe by that meanes the 
 more glorified. 
 
 A nd in like manner was P^/afFecled,for fee- 
 ing his brethren the ifraelites to grow ftill more 
 hard and obftinate, as the Gofpell was more 
 cleerely and powerfully preached unto them, 
 and knowing withall, that the Lord might haue 
 more glory by their falvation, being many in 
 number, then by his alone; he profeffeth, that 
 hee could wijh himfelfe^ { if it might haue ftood 
 with GW/goodpleafure) to bee feparated from 
 Chrifl, that they might be joyned unto him, and 
 to be accurfed,that theymight be blefled.-which 
 he did not fo much in loue unto them, as in de- 
 fire of advancing the glory of God^ in faving fo 
 many thoufand foulcs . 
 
 And there is good reafon why his honor 
 fhould be fo regarded of us. For, 
 
 Firft, Hee defervedno leffe at our hands , feeing 
 that he made us^ preferueth us^ andbeftoweth upon 
 
 us 
 
Hallowed bee thy name. \ 44 
 
 w whatfoever good thing's rve dse enjoy fir bodies 
 orfoulc, 2nd willat length make us partakers of: 
 the kingdome of his deare Sonne. 
 
 Secondly, Hee will folly recommence us if w<l^ 
 fee he to magnific him : for he hath foid^Tbem that 
 honor me j I will honor. If then we would be kept 
 from everlafting (name and reproach, and haue 
 the crowne of never- fading honor fet upon our 
 heads: the readier!: way to attaine thereunto is, 
 to defire and endevour abouc all things that the 
 Name of God may be glorified, For if we ei- 
 rherpreferre any thing before it, or equall any 
 thing unto it, either we fhal'l notobtaineir, or 
 not in mercie enjoy ir, becaufe indeed we make 
 anldollof it: andbefidesthatwe fhall be fure 
 to haue infamie and contempt powred upon us, 
 as a juft reward of our impierie. Which fer- 
 veth; 
 
 Pirft, forreproofe of a common and yet a 
 great corruption that is in our wicked nature, 
 which is, to lernore affected in our prayers with 
 the fence and feeling efcurrvAntsfhen with the de- 
 fire of Gods glorie. if we be poore and needie 
 we can bewellcontent that God mould be our 
 Treauirer, toferue our turnes, and to firpply 
 our prefent wantsandneceiiities. If we be ficke 
 and weake, we can be glad that he mould be our 
 Phyfiuonto cure our bodies, and to reftore 
 themuntoperfed health, Sec. But why doe we 
 defire thefe things, that wee may liue as our 
 neighbours doe,and hold up our heads with the 
 beft of them, that we may take o ur pieafure and 
 G 2 delight, 
 
 2. 
 
 He will fully 
 reward all. 
 1 Sam. z. jo . 
 
 The dangers 
 of noc. prefer - 
 1 ring 'Gods 
 I narpe before 
 a!L 
 1. 
 
 2* 
 
 Vfi 1. 
 
 Simile. 
 
44 
 
 A caufe of 
 croffe?, 
 though well- 
 beloved of 
 «od. 
 
 Vfe 2. 
 
 A tryall of a 
 right heart 
 with Cod. 
 
 , Exod. 3 a. 19. 
 
 i King,f 0.14 
 
 Halloaed bee thy name* 
 
 delight, and lead a merrie and contented life t 
 Is this to ay me at Gods glory in our petitions f 
 Nay this is to feeke our felues, and hence it 
 commeth topafle, that the more Godloveth hs^ 
 the mote he cre(fetht*s in our de fires ^ becaufe wee 
 doe not therein intend the fetting forth of his 
 praife, but meerely the fatisfying of our flefhly 
 lufts. 
 
 Secondly, ht us hence learne to try the found, 
 neffe of our hearts ^ by examining how wee are of- 
 fered towards his Name : for if wee cangrieue 
 when it is difhonoured, andrejoyce when it is 
 glorified, we may afliire our felues that our 
 hearts are right wkh the Lord. As for the for- 
 mer of thefe, we haue an example thereof in 
 Mofes • for nothing did fo wound and kill his 
 fbule, aswhenhefawldolatrie committed a- 
 mong the people o£God y whereby his glory 
 was ftained.*- hee was never fa much grieved 
 when the chfldren of ifrael were mutinous a- 
 gainft him, andrcadie to reject his government, 
 as when they were rebellious againnVthe Lord, 
 and cafloff the yoake of obedience d&e unto 
 him. And that was it that peirccd the heart of 
 E/iahalfOy t hauebeene very jealom for the Lord 
 G od of hoaftes y ( faith he unto God) becaufe the 
 childrenof ifrael haue for fak en thy Covenant, cajl 
 downethtne Altars 3 and<flainetby Prophets with 
 thefword. 
 
 The like may befaid of good King Hezekiah^ 
 who ( when Rabfhakeh railed on him and on the 
 reft of thzlewes ) was not much moved thereat : 
 
 But 
 
Hallowed bee thy name. 
 
 But when he heard of his horrible blafphemies 
 againft the Name of the Lord^ Nee rents his 
 clothes^ and puts on fackc loth, and fent unto th^_j 
 Prophet ifajah, certifying him, how he had railed 
 on the livwgGod 3 and reproached him with words: 
 earneftly intreating him tolifc up his prayer un- 
 to heaven, and he himfelfe doth the like -> Be- 
 feechingthe Lord to open his eyes to fee^ and his 
 eares to heareaiithe words ofSenzchtx'ibjvho had 
 fent hisfervants to blajpheme the living God. Be- 
 hold an excellent pattcrne of zcale for Gods glo- 
 ry, when he comraeth into Gods pretence, he 
 ftandeth not to aggravate the matter againft his 
 enemies, for that they had fpoken vilely and j 
 bafely of him, (as indeed they had done) but 
 this was it that filled him full of woe and per- 
 plexitie, that they had uttered fuch blafphe- 
 mousfpeeches againft the Lord. For indeed, 
 when they had foimpiouflyftrucke at the Lords 
 Name, it was a farre more hamous matter,then 
 if they had fmittenatthe name and lines, yest,. 
 andthefoules and falvation o£ Htzekiah and 
 ail his Subjects:- And that is the true reafon 
 why the fervants of God haue beene fo excee- 
 dingly arTededin fuch cafes. And that the Pf*l- 
 mifi faith, 7 he zeale of thine houfe hath eaten me , 
 up, andtherebukes of them that rebuked thee are^> j 
 fallen uponrsee : I wept, andmy foule faffed, &c. 
 And on the contrary part, for the matter of re^ 
 joycingwhenG^Nameisany way honou- 
 red. 
 
 We hatae the Prophet Davids example, who 
 G 3 faith, 
 
 V 
 
 I'* 39 3* + 
 
 V<rfc i 7 . 
 
 
 Chap. 3$, y. 
 
 PfaLtfp.9,10. 
 
4-tf 
 
 Via\, Hi. i. 
 
 iChron.29.9 
 
 Hallowed bee thy name. 
 
 faith, / was glad rv ben they f aid to me, we wiHgee 
 into the boufe of the Lord. It did his very heart 
 good to fee that men were forward in matters 
 of Gods worfhip, and readie to frequent his Or- 
 dinances. And in another place it is faid, that 
 when the people offered willingly and cheare fully . 
 unto theLord^towzxds the building of the Tem- 
 ple, D4i//VtheKingrejoyced wkh great joy, 
 an dble(fed andpraifed the Lord, who had put a- 
 bilitie into their hands and willingneflTe into 
 their hearts, to offer fo bountifully for fo good 
 a purpofe. Let all fuch therefore as would bee 
 efteemed faithfull and found hearted Chrifti- 
 
 ans. 
 
 ftriueto bring their hearts to be thus af- 
 
 feded unto the glory of God, that it may bee 
 their greateft griefe to fee or heare the Lord 
 difhonoured, and their greateft comfort to fee 
 or heare his Name to be glorified. 
 
 But oh i howfarre are the greateft fort of 
 men from this holy zeale ofGods glory i Let 
 them betouchedin their names, and difgraced 
 and abufecj in any reprochf ull manner, and you 
 mail fee them forth-with as hot as fire : what < 
 take away their name,that is morethen their life 
 unto them i they cannot put it up, neither will 
 they. But you that ftand thus for your owne 
 credit, thatyee cannot endure to be (laundered 
 and traduced, what account doe you make of 
 Gods honor? may not menblafpheme his glo- 
 rious Name, and febffe at his word, and dif- 
 grace his Ordinances, and cavill againft his fa- 
 cred decree of Fredejlination, and' againft his 
 
 wife 
 
Hallowed bee thy name. 
 
 wife Providence, and righteous government of 
 the world,and yet for all this you fhewno griefe 
 nor diflike thereof: what blockifhneffe and 
 fenflefnefte is this, can any imagine that the 
 loueof GWdwellethinhis heart, who is fo lit- 
 tle touched with matters that tend fo much to 
 his dishonour < Indeed when they are fo pnflio- 
 nate,andfo violent in the defence of themfelues 
 and for the upholding of their owne reputati- 
 on, they mew that they are eaten withzeale, 
 but it is the zeale of pride, the zeale of felfe- 
 loue, and the zeale of wrath, which will be fo 
 farre from comforting them, that in the time 
 ofmifery,of ficknefleandof death, it willlye 
 full heavie upon their confcicnces. 
 . Thirdly, Here is matter of (ingnlar conflation, 
 for them that make the glory of God their chiefs 
 joy, and his difoonour a cmfe of greater heart, 
 hreakingunto themjhen any private injury what- 
 fever, Certaineitis, that they fhall never want 
 joy nor glory, that are fo joyfull at the advan- 
 cing of Gods glory > neither need they to feare 
 difcredir, who are fo grieved that the Lords ho- 
 nor mould beimpeached. They that are glad to 
 fee the good behaviour of the godly, and 
 mourne to behold the lewd conversation of the 
 ungodly 5 defiring God to turne their out-rage 
 in finning unto his praife, and waiting when he 
 will effect fo muchj they haue laid up a good 
 foundation for themfelucs 3 and provided well 
 for their owne comfort and happinefle. Thus 
 much ingenerall that we muft haueaprlncipall 
 
 refpecl 
 
 4-7 
 
 A falfc zeale. 
 
 Vfi 3 
 
 I 
 
4 8 
 
 What things 
 arc chiefly to 
 be asked in 
 this petition. 
 
 Sound know- 
 ledge, 
 
 Pfal.o.io. 
 
 P61. 7 $, 
 
 Verf. i; 
 
 Hallowed bee thy name. 
 
 refpetf in our Petitions unto the glory of God, 
 now Jet us confidcr more particularly, What 
 things are chiefly to bee asked in this petition, to 
 the intent the Lord way be glorified by us, and o- 
 thers. 
 
 The firft thing that we are to pray for, is found 
 know/edge, without which it is impoflible to 
 fancMe Gods Name. Therefore it is faidinthe 
 Pfalme, They that know thy Name will truji in 
 thee, implying thereby, that none can honor 
 the/Winreftingand relying upon him, but 
 luch oncly as are acquainted with his Power, 
 ]upce,wifedome,znd mcrcie, ejrc And indeed, 
 till fuch time as we haue gotten -good under- 
 ftanding, we are apt and readie to miflike and 
 mif- confter the way es and workes of God, as we 
 fee in David, who in his ignorance and in the 
 pndeof his carnall reafon, was bold to con- 
 troll the providence of God, and to rinde fault 
 with his government, for that he fuffered the 
 ungodly to profper and flourifh, and to liue at 
 hearts eafe, when as his o wne heft fervants were 
 continually affli<5*ed,troubled,and pinched with 
 raan ^ldwantsandmiferies:Hee fretted and 
 chaffed at this, and was readie to giue over Re- 
 ligion upon the consideration thereof, yet,for 
 me, (faith the Prophet ) my feete were almofi 
 gwtjor 1 fretted at t he fooltfi, when 1 fawthc^ 
 troftemieof the wicked, &c. And afterwards in 
 thzt Pjalme he fayth, Certmnely 1 haue cleanfed 
 my heart tnvaine, andwajhedmy hands intnno- 
 cencie. See how farre wide he was carried for 
 
 want 
 
Vcrft %u 
 
 VctC 18. 
 
 Vcrf.r4. 
 
 Hallowed bee thy name. 1 4.9 
 
 want of fpiritnall wifedome, as hee him fclfc in 
 that very place acknowledged, /0/W//?.) was 1 
 And ignorant^ I was a beaft be fire thee. But when 
 he left rcafoning with flefh and bIoud,and went 
 into the Sanctuary to confult with Gods word, 
 then he faw and confeffed his error and follie, 
 being fully refolvcd that wicked men were ex- , 
 ceeding miferable in the height of their world- ► 
 lyfelicitie, becaufe they were in flipper y places y 
 <andmufl fnddenly and fear e fully be cafl downe in- 
 to defolation. And that Gods children were ex- 
 ceeding happie, even in the depth of their ad- 
 verfi tie, 'becaufe the Lord is their portion .andwifi 
 guide them by his counfell while they Hue , and re- 
 ceiue them unto glory when they die. 
 
 Thus we fee, how Gods name was dishonou- 
 red by him in his ignorance, and fanctified by 
 him when he had knowledge. And the like may 
 be laid concerning Gods eternal! Decree of Pre- 
 defination : A great many not having their 
 mindes informed with found understanding doe 
 fret, repine, and cavill againft the Lords dealing 
 in that behalfe, as i fit could not ftand with his 
 juftice to elect fome, and to reject others, to ap- 
 point fome unto eternall joy and happineffe, 
 and other fome unto everlafting wee and mife- 
 rk. But the holy ApoftleP^ being through- 
 ly inflructed in heavenly mifteries, doth great- 
 ly magnirTethei^^forthefame,having that in 
 high admiration, which hee could not bring 
 withinthe com parte of his comprehension, oh I 
 the deepeneffe of the riches bothofthewifedom^j r ».h;? 
 H dnd\ 
 
5© 
 
 Simile, 
 
 Hallowed bee thy name. 
 
 and knowledge of Gad ( faith he) howunfearchablt 
 arc bis judgements, and his wayes factfinding out? 
 Neither are ignorant pcrfons any whit more fit 
 to glorifie God y in making uie of his word, then 
 they are in taking benefit by his workes. For^ 
 to them all holy inftru&ions are as parables, 
 which they cannot underftand, and do no more 
 affed them, then excellent pictures or colours 
 doe affect a blind man, or fwecte andpleafant 
 muficJrc a dead man* 
 
 But when once wifedome entersinto the foule 
 and knowledge delighteth the heart, then are 
 they fitted to fan clifie the name of the Lord in 
 every re fpe<5r, in his word,workes, judgements^ 
 mercies, bothinthemfelues,and others, in this 
 life, or in the life to come. Here then we are to 
 pray, that wee our felues and all Gods people,, 
 may attame unto found underfhnding: and fo- 
 farreaswe labour for this, and ftirre up others 
 todoethelike, fofarremen doe confeionably 
 ufe this Petition, H allowed be thy name $ Other- 
 wife, though the words be never fo frequentin 
 our mouthes,wedoe but difTemble, and doe not 
 indeed from our hearts defire that Gods mme 
 may be fan&ified. And therefore hee may an- 
 fwer every one of usthat pray in that fort, thou 
 hypocrite, doeftthouintreate that my Nantes 
 may bee hallomd \ and yet nevertakcflany courfe 
 whereby it may be crfecled i What is this, but 
 to take my namein vaine, and to abufe my holy 
 pretence f If thou wouldefl haue thy requefls to 
 be accepted of me, labour for that in action, 
 
 which I 
 
• Hallowed bee thy name. 
 
 51 
 
 i which thou haft in petition,getthat holy know- 
 ledge, whereby thou mayeft be fitted to glori- 
 fie my name,and thereby thou (halt make it ma- 
 nifeft unto thine o vvne foule, that thou ufeft this . 
 petition in a confeionabie manner. 
 
 Now further, as we are to pray for knowledge, 
 fo are rve alfo to defire that it may be effectually and 
 bane its due operation: Forotherwife, the Lord 
 cannotbeglorifiedthereby, buthisname fhall 
 by that meanes rather be difhonored. For the 
 Dc vill him felfe 5 and his inftrumentshaue know- 
 ledge ( as wicked ludas had, with many moe of 
 whom the Scripture maketh mention) but they 
 ufedit toveiyillpurpofes, and to the utter di- 
 flionourof GW.rname, asfarreas in them lay> 
 Therefore wemuft pray, not for a bare and na- 
 ked knowledge onely, but for a powerful! and 
 working knowledge; whereby, 
 
 1. 7 he heart may bee rightly affected, 
 
 2 . The tongue wellfeafoned. 
 
 3 . The conversation religion fly ordered. 
 Firft, concerning the heart, it muftbeinwardly 
 touched, aid wrought upon by the knowledge 
 wehaue: Asforinftance, Doe we know that 
 GWistnu-mrhe performance of all hispromi- 
 fesjthen are we bound to fin&irie his name in 
 our hearts by beleeving them, and by depen- 
 ding and waiting upon him for the fulfilling of 
 them, whatsoever difficulties there bee, which 
 may any way hinder :he fame. 
 
 Thusdi4<^fi>rAhawg\ori6eGod,as the A- 
 
 poftlewitnefiethof him, Romans ^.ihzxzwe 
 
 H 2 two 
 
 We pray that 
 our IcnowlciJg 
 
 The heart 
 muft be right* 
 1/affcdcd. 
 
 ■ i tfrmmi 
 
V 
 
 Gen, 17, 17. 
 
 Hebr. tu 
 
 Halloaed bee thy name. 
 
 £~ 
 
 twoimpoiFibilities, the one in nature concer- 
 ning i^fbraham and his wife, that he being al- 
 moflan hundred yeares old ,fhould beget a fonne, 
 and flie being ninetie yeares of age fliould beare 
 afonne. The other was concerning the Lord, 
 who ifhe did not effect this, muft needes (hew 
 himfelfe to be untrue of his word, and unfaith- 
 ful! in keeping his promife, as for this latter, it 
 wasfimplyanimpotfibilitie, and therefore A- 
 braham concluded with himfelfe,that God could 
 not be a Iyer, therefore whatfoever impoflityili- 
 tie there was in nature, yet he refolded that he 
 would glorirTe God, in beleeving that he would 
 be as good as his word. Hee confdered not his 
 ownelody ( faith the ApofHe ) which was now 
 dead, neither the deadnejfe of Sarahs wombe, nei- 
 ther did he doubt of the fromife of God through 
 unbeleefe, but was frengthned in faitb^ and gaue 
 glory to God, king fully affuredthat- hee that- had 
 promife d was alfi alle to doe it. And that this is 
 an honouring 1 of Gods name, will hence evident- 
 ly appeare,. that men doe account it a great cre- 
 dit unto themto be beleeved, and to bee eftee- 
 med men of their word: and doe thinkethe con- 
 trary a great difgrace. Are men fo jealous of 
 theirnamesinthatbehalfe, and (hall wee ima- 
 gine thatthe Lordis not much more jealous of 
 his? Yesfurely > he makes reckoning ofthofc 
 thatgiue him the glory of his truth, doe much 
 magnifie himrand that they who do in thought, 
 word, ordeed detract therefrom, doe greatly 
 di/honourhim. Yet fuch is thefinfulneffe of 
 
 our 
 
Hallowed bee thy name. 
 
 our wretched natures, that notwithstanding all 
 the blefTcd promifes that are made unto us con- 
 cerning fpirituall things, and our eternall fal- 
 
 vation, as a 
 
 lfo 
 
 ng the things of this 
 
 life, and our outward prefervation, yet we are 
 readieto doubt ftill, and to make queftion whe- 
 ther they fliall be performed or not: What is 
 this, but to imagine that the Lord is like us, 
 much in words, and little in deedes? 
 
 But, will fome fay,/ am not troubled with doubts 
 touching the falvation of my fbule, but am well 
 refolved of that point : but all my feare is, how 1 
 JJjallbee 'provided of food and rayment, and fuch 
 like nee claries for me and mine. 
 
 What vile hypocrifiersthis? willcyou per- 
 fwade men, that you beleeue that GWwill doe 
 the greateft things for you -, when you will not 
 truft him inleffe matters t Nay certaineIy,who- 
 foever is throughly perfwadedthat the Lord wil 
 beftow his kingdome upon him, he will in the 
 like meafure allure himfelfe that he will not faile 
 him fbr.outward bleffings: Andintruth,allour 
 doubtings for earthly things, proceedc from 
 want of refolntion for heavenly things. - 
 
 Againe, The name ofGodisfancJifiedbyus, 
 when we afcribe unto his Majeftie thepraife of his 
 power : asmay be feene partly in the example of 
 Abraham before ailed ged, who is faid to giue 
 glory to Gcd'm this refpeft, that hee was fully af 
 fured, that hee that had 'promt fed, was able to doe 
 it. And like wife in the former Epiftle of Peter, 
 where hethus exhorteth, andincourageththofe 
 H 3 that 
 
 n 
 
 * 
 
 Ob)ett. 
 
 *4»jK 
 
 2. 
 
 Wegiue<?«</ 
 here thepraife 
 of his power. 
 
 Rom.^xo.ai 
 
 i Pet. 3, 14, 
 
*4- 
 
 Ifa. 8. i j. 
 
 Objeft.v 
 
 A#(i»* 
 
 Halloaed bee thy name. 
 
 - . " i ■ ■ ■ * 
 
 that were in perfection, Blefjedare yee ifyez^t 
 fuffer for right eoufneffe fake : yea, feare not their 
 feare neither be troubled, but fancJifie the L ord in 
 your hearts. And ( as it is in ifajah, out of which 
 thefe words arc taken ) Let him be your feare and 
 yottrdread? in which place, the holy Ghofi mee- 
 \ teth with a common corruption that Gods owne 
 children doe finde in themfelues: for if at any 
 time, they feethearmeof flefh not to bee with 
 them, but that indeed the great ones of the 
 world doe eppofe againft them for keeping a 
 goodconfeience, they prefently beginne to be 
 troubled and perplexed with many doubts and 
 fearesj Oh(thinkethey) if fuch mightiemen 
 as thefe band themfelues againft us, there is no 
 waybutone: they will certainely crufti, and ut- 
 terly overthrow us, but what is Gods advice in 
 this cafe : feare not their feare ,( faith he ) that is, 
 be not afraid of crofTes and loflTes, of dangers 
 and difgraces, and fuch like, whereof carnall 
 men are afraid themfelues, and therefore ima- 
 gine and goe about to fright you with the fame. 
 Feare them not ( I fay ) nor any thing that they 
 can doe againft you. 
 
 But, Is there not caufe ( might fome fay ) when 
 they areftrong, and we are weakejbey wealthy and 
 weefoort, they many^ and wee few , &c. What 
 would you haue us doe in this cafe f 
 
 Toftnftif e God in your hearts y ( fayth the A- 
 poftle) that is, giue him the honor of his po- 
 wer, of his providence, whereby hee over-ru- 
 leth and over-fwaieth all the men in the world, 
 
 and 
 
Hallowed bee thy name. 
 
 and through which he is as well able to protect 
 and defend you from the mightieft adversaries, 
 as from the weakeft : from the wealthieft, as 
 from the meaneft :and from tennethoufand, as 
 well as from one perfon. For, hee is of in- 
 finite Strength, and therefore all things are alike 
 eafieuntohim. And this the Lt>rd would haue 
 to be fetled and grounded in our hearts, which 
 will t>eas a ftrong bulwarkc to fence and forti- 
 fieus againft all unnecefifary and miftruftfull 
 feares. This perfwafion was it,that caufed Sha- 
 drach y CMefiach, and K^ibednego, to be fo bold 
 and couragious, when Nabucadnezar threamed 
 to call: them into the hot fierie furnace, if they 
 would not falldowne to worfhip his golden I- 
 mage that he had fet up: o 7ftbucadnezar,(fayd 
 they) Wee are not care full 'to an fiver thee in this 
 matter, as if they mould haue ifaid. It is not the 
 fierie furnace that can daunt us, and driueusto 
 yeelduntothis Idolatrous wormip: no we are 
 refolutein the point,and will never putit to fur- 
 ther confutation. Beheld our God whom weferue 
 (cveninrefufing to yedd unto this thy com- 
 mandement) is ableto deliver us out of the hot 
 fery furnace ; and he will deliver m out of thinc^> 
 hand, King. Kabucadnezar had blafphemouf- 
 lyinfulted over them, faying. Who is that God 
 that can deliver you out of my hand. Now thefe 
 holyfervantsof the Lord, being full of hea- 
 venly zeale,gaue unto their God the honor of 
 his power,and told him to his face, that he was 
 able to deliver them out of his hands, and to fet 
 
 them 
 
 55 
 
 Dan.;*xl«X7 
 
 V*rfe if. 
 
%6 
 
 I 
 
 Hallowed bee thy name. 
 
 
 them free, if it flood with his good pleafurc fo 
 to doe: butthat they referred it wholy to his 
 wifedome,refolving with themfelues,thatthey 
 would rather frie in the fcorching flames, then 
 fofarredimonorthe Lord, as by the fmallcft 
 gefture to make (hew of offering divine worfliip 
 unto that abominable Idol. This tended won- 
 derfully to the glorifying of Gods name,beforc 
 that heathen King and all his Princes and peo- 
 ple that were prefent, and therefore, herethofe 
 are greatly to be condemned,who in fuch times 
 of danger will ihrinke, and pull in their homes, 
 and rather lie, dilTemble, and yeeld to any cor- 
 ruptions, then they will expofe themfelues to 
 imminentperils, albeittheyhaue never fo ma- 
 ny comfortable promifes of afiiftance, and de- 
 liverance from them, if they would fan&ifiethe 
 Lord in their hearts, & perfevereina Chriftian 
 courfe keeping faith and a good conference un- 
 to the end. 
 Laftly, we may glorifietWin our hearts, by 
 Thzvxi\k<>l\>)eeldinguntohimthchonor of his rvifedome, and 
 his ™ momc '\off>isju/}ice, as in beleeving other things that 
 1 depend therevpon, foalfoin giving credence 
 unto this, that he feeth the mod fecret offences , 
 as well as thofe that are moft obvious unto the 
 veiwof men. Wherein they doe exceedingly 
 faile, that dare doe fuch things in fecret cor- 
 ners, and in the darkc, as they would not for 
 their Hues adventure to commit before any ho 
 neft man may, not before a child, for feare it 
 j mould bee discovered and brought to light. 
 I What 
 
Hallowed bee thy name. 
 
 What is this, but to imagine that either the Lord 
 doth not fee mch hidden things, or clfe is not 
 able or willing to punifli men for the fame 1 ei- 
 ther of which is an horrible blafphemie for any 
 to conceiue. 
 
 Thus we hauein part heard, how our know- 
 ledge of Gods name muft b.e effecluall in our 
 hearts. This point might'beamplified by fun- 
 dry other particulars, as namely, how by the 
 word and workes of the Lord our foulcs mould 
 be affected vrithj&y or griefefeare or admiration ', 
 or the like, according to the nature and qualitie 
 ofthe word which wee hearc, or the workes 
 which wee behold i But my purpofe was, but 
 briefly to touch thefe things. 
 
 In the next place, we pray here that our know- 
 ledge of Gods name may bee effect uall in our 
 fpeeches, fo that by our tongues we may bring 
 glory and honor unto his blefled Majeftie: and 
 that by fpeaking of his holy word with all due 
 reverence, for our owne and others edification ; 
 by yielding unto him the praife of all his works 
 whatfoever. And more particularly, we muft 
 defire ft rength from heaven to glorifie our God, 
 not onely in profperitie,but even in our deepeft 
 diftrefteandmiferiej acknowledging chat, It is 
 Gods mercie that wee are notconfumed • That righ- 
 teoufnejle belongs unto him^ andto us open frame : 
 That the Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh, and 
 therefore that his name is evermore to bee blefjed 
 and magnified. And if it be our bounden dutie 
 to offer praifes unto God, when his afflicting 
 
 I hand 
 
 \ — _ £ .A 
 
 57 
 
 A further am . 
 plific.nion of 
 the point. 
 
 
 Wc pray that 
 our tongues 
 rmy bee well 
 guided and 
 teafoneJ* 
 Pfal. 119. 1 j. 
 Ephe. 4, *$. 
 
 Pia!, 1 03.104. 
 10c. 
 
 Lara. j. a. 
 Dan. 9, 7. 
 
 lob I, 21. 
 
58 
 
 Luk. 17. ii. 
 
 Vcrf. 16. 
 
 Wemuft hal- 
 low him in 
 out iiues. 
 
 Math. j. 1 ^ 
 
 Hallowed bee thy name. 
 
 hand lyes heanie uponus,much more is it re- 
 quired of us, when any fpeciall blcflings and 
 benefits are beftowed upon us. The neglect 
 hereof is fharply taxed by our Saviour Cbrift in 
 the nine Lepers that being clenfed of* their le- 
 profie,didnotreturnetogiue God praife there- 
 fore.There were terine of them in all, that were 
 healed,one of which came vnto Cbrift and fell 
 downeathisfecte togiue himthankes: but all 
 the reft meerelie feeking themfelues and their 
 owne eafe, were all-together unthankefull for 
 that mercie which they had received, and fo 
 robbed him of that glorie which was due unto 
 him. This is a fault too too ordinary in the 
 world,thereis fcarce one among tenne,that doe. 
 with thankfulnelTe acknowledge the loving 
 kindneiTc of the Lord towards them, but the 
 commonneiTe of the fault, doth nothing dimi- 
 nifh the greatnelTe thereof 5 And better it were 
 an hundred rimes, that men mould want helpe 
 in their miferic, then that GWfhould want the 
 praife of his mercie. This bee fpoken concer- 
 ning our fanclifying of oWr Name-in our com- 
 munication. 
 
 Now in the third and laft place, we are to in- 
 treat the ZW, that he willinable us according 
 to our knowledge, toglorifle him in 'our Hues 
 and conversions. Which wee may the more 
 confidently aske, becaufe our Saviour com- 
 mandeth it foying^Letyour light fofhine before 
 men., that they feeing yettr good rvorkes^ may glo- 
 rijieyour Father which is in heaven. Which is 
 
 pro- 
 
Haltotfed bee tby name. 
 
 59 
 
 propounded by the Apoftle Paulas the end of 
 all our actions, whether naturall, civill, or fpi- 
 mmW.Whetheryee eate or drinke ( faith hee ) or 
 whatsoever yee doe, doe all to the glory of God. 
 
 Nowthc fpeciall thing whereby every Chri- 
 ftian muft glorifie him, is in performing the du- 
 ties of his owne catling, according to that faying 
 of our Saviour, Father I have glorified thee ufon 
 earth, how proues he that i I haue finifled the^j 
 worke rvhichthou gavefl me to doe. The Minifter 
 muft doe his dutie, which is, to teach his peo- 
 ple faithfully, to waike before them confciona- 
 bly^ to watch over their foules continually,and 
 nevertoceafe praying for them, that the Lord 
 'may pleafe to convert, and ftill further to con- 
 firmeallfuchasarehis chofen ones, appointed 
 to eternall life, in his unchangeable decree and 
 purpofe> 
 
 The people on the other fide muft be as care- 
 full of their dutie, which is, to get knowledges 
 andcorifcience, and evermore to preflc forward 
 untogreater perfection of obedience,that thofe 
 that arc without the meane's of faluation, may 
 fee what a benefit it is toliue under an holy Mi- 
 niftrie,( and fo may become defirous of it, and 
 >painefull in fceking for it ) when they behold 
 and confider what innocencie and frnceritie 
 there is in the tongues of Chriftians, whatfim- 
 plicitie and faithfulneffe in their dealings, what 
 uprightnefTeand holinefTe in their behaviour; 
 how loath they are to defraud and over-reach a- 
 nyone: how circumfpeft, that they doe not 
 I 2 giue 
 
 i Cor- io.j i. 
 
 Wherein eve- 
 ry one muft 
 glonfie God 
 in their hues. 
 
 Iohn 17.4. 
 
 1 Peter, y i. 
 Phil.1.9. 
 
 Philip 3. 
 
 The benefit 
 of a beautiful! 
 chrifiiancon* 
 Tcriatioa, 
 
6o 
 
 Rom. a. 
 
 Hallowed bee thy name. 
 
 giue any offence to thofc that are without, and 
 in a word, how warie they are in the whole 
 courfe of their carriage, that they may doe no- 
 thing tending to the difgracing and blemifhing 
 of their holy profeffion. 
 
 This might be further prefTed upon parents 
 and children^mdjlers and fcr -<vants \Hufb an ds and 
 wines chateverie one ihquld be careful! to glori- 
 fieGWin doing the workesofhis owne place: 
 which if wee could needfully looke unto, wee 
 mould be able to ftop the mouthes of all the 
 Papifls and Brorvnifis in the world though they 
 fharpen their wits,and whet their tongues, and 
 penstofpeakeand write againftvs, in the moll 
 defpitefull, & difgracefull manner that may be. 
 Whereas on thecontrarie part, ifweeproove 
 ilackeand negligent in this behalf e, the name of 
 GWand the Religion of GW,wilbeillfpoken of 
 for our fakes, when wicked Infidels doe defile 
 themfelues with any foule and fcandalous of- 
 fences, they beare all the blame on their ovvne 
 moulders, and GWis by a confequent glorified^ 
 thereby. In that they being the fervants ofthe 
 diuell,doc continually performethe workeof 
 the diuell, and beare the fhame of their finfull 
 waies, becaufe they haue refufed to walke in 
 Gods waies. But the cafe ftandes otherwife with 
 Chriftians : for whatfoever groffe evills are 
 committed by them,doe not onely tend to their 
 owne reproach, but alfo redound unto the 
 difhonor of their m after. And therefore we 
 mould befeech the Lord to giue usgracein our 
 
 hearts, 
 
Ha/lowed bee thy name. 
 
 6x 
 
 Luke i. 7?. 
 
 Tir. 2. 14. 
 
 hearts,that wc may bchaue our felues as men of 
 
 an other world : as men that are redeemed from 
 
 the earth, to feme the Lord in holine(fe and righ- 
 
 teoufneffe all the dates of our life, and to be an ho lie 
 
 nation and a peculiar people zealous and forward ' iPet.z«£ 
 
 tn everiegood word and worke : fo that all who 
 
 heare our conference, and are acquainted with 
 
 our conuerfation, may be driven to confeffein 
 
 their hearts atleaftif not with their lips ,that we 
 
 are the onely bletfed people in the world. And 
 
 thatallfuch among them as pertaine vnto the 
 
 L ord y may glorife God in the day oft heir vi fttatt- 1 Pet. 3. x. 
 
 en. 
 
 And thus much concerning the particular 
 things, which we are to aske under this petiti- 
 on. 
 
 Now as touching the things to bee prayed a- 
 gainft, they mall be but onely named, and con- 
 ferred tothefe two heads, viz. 
 
 1. Ignorance of the former things, 
 
 2. 7 he ill effects that follow therenpm^ in the 
 heartSyJpeeches^ and convcrfation, of thofc 
 tfcat take upon them the profeflion of the 
 Gofpell. 
 
 Thus much concerning the firfl Petition 5 The 
 fecond folio weth 5 
 
 Things to be 
 prayed againft 
 
 3 
 
 Tkr 
 
 1 uiumi ^m.tnivuu mmm^m mjtM0! .in i 
 
<£z 
 
 locution. 
 
 How the 
 kingdome of 
 God is vndcr- 
 ilood. 
 
 1. 
 Pfal.93.1. 
 
 Pfai.90. i, 
 Pfal.9j.j« 
 
 Thy Kjngdome come. 
 
 Thy Kingdome come. 
 
 w 
 
 EE heard out of the former petition 
 whatthe firft and principall thing is 
 which every Chriftian ought to bee 
 carefull of, namely, that all due honor and glo- 
 ry may be yeelded unto the holy name of God. 
 •Now in the two next petitions, to wit, the fe- 
 cond and the third, are declared two fpeciall 
 meanes whereby that may be effe&ed. Which 
 are j 
 
 1. The commingof his Kingdome. 
 
 2 . The doing of his will. 
 
 For where Gods Kingdome is moft advanced, 
 and his will bell: performed, there is his Name 
 moft glorified. 
 
 But for the better underftanding of this peti- 
 tion, wcemuft know that the kingdome of God 
 is taken two waves, viz. 
 
 Firft generall, for his government over all the 
 whole world: In which fenfe" it is faid in the 
 Pfalme, The Lordraigneth, and is clothed with 
 majeftie^the Lord is clothed and girded with po- 
 wer. And in another Pfalme - 3 The Lordraigneth i 
 let the people tremble. Andagaine, The Lord is a 
 great God, and a great King aboue all Gods . From 
 ! which places, it is evident that he ruleth,gover- 
 I neth,and exercifeth his power over all the earth 
 i and 
 
Thy K^ngdome come. 
 
 <* 
 
 and over all the creatures in the fame. As for this 
 Kingdome, we pray not for it in this place,fork 
 hathbeene,iS) and ever (hall be alike: fo that 
 to pray for the comming of this Kingdome, 
 were not a prayer of faith. 
 
 Secondly, It is taken for that more fyeciall go- 
 vernment ofGod,whichhe exercifeth in the hearts 
 andconjeiences of his people, by thefcepter of his 
 word, and the power full operation of his holy fpi- 
 rit, through the which hee pulls us out of the 
 kingdome of Sathan, ( who is the prince of 
 darkenefle, and ruleth in all the children ofdif- 
 obedience ) and receiveth us unto himfBfe, to 
 be guided and governed according to his di- 
 vine ftarutes and heavenly lawes.For this King- 
 dom ewe pray in this petition: whichis indeed 
 properly the Kingdome of Chrift, becaule hee 
 is the King of Saints, ( as the Scripture termeth 
 him ) but it is here attributed to the Father, be- 
 caufehegoverneth by hisi'ttWfO'. 
 
 In this Petitim therefore, tveepray that all Gods 
 Elect may bee converted, that they may attaine to 
 knowledge and con fcience • And that fuc has haue 
 this goodworke of grace begun in them alreadi<^>, 
 may haue it daily increafed, and continually per. 
 fccled more and more : and that at length, after 
 they hauejpent their dayes in the kingdoms of 
 Grace, they may come to the fruition of the king- 
 dome of Glorie . Whichis alfo intimated in this 
 Petition. 
 
 Thus much briefly concerning the general! 
 
 Ephe.i. 
 
 drift and meaning of thewords* 
 
 Nov; 
 
 Rev«].if«$« 
 i Cor. if. 24, 
 
 What we pray 
 
 for here. 
 
6$. 
 
 T 
 
 Obfervat.6* 
 
 Pbil.5.8. 9. 
 
 'T'by K^ngdome come. 
 
 I 
 
 Now more particularly, concerning fuchin- 
 ftru<5Hons as are therein contained for our lear- 
 ning, in thefe words . 
 
 Thy t\ingdome come* 
 
 Whence weemayobferue, That ; 
 
 1 he faith full ought earneflly to long for 9 and 
 heartily to pray for the Kingdome of Chrift. 
 
 Every one that profefleth himfelfe to be a fub- 
 je& unto the King of heaven, muft ardently de- 
 fire that Sathans kingdome may be demolifhed, 
 andoverthrowne, and that the Lord may beare. 
 fwayinhisfoule, andthefoulcsof all that be- 
 longunto him. This did Pauldefat for himfelfe 
 thinking all things but loffe^andjudgingthemno 
 better then dung for the excellent knowledge fake 
 of Chrifi lefts y that he mighthe found in him, not 
 having his owne right eoufneffe^ which was by the 
 Law, but that which is through the faith efChrifl, 
 thdt hee might know him, and the <vertue of his re- 
 furrecJien, and the felloivjhip of his afflictions , and 
 might be made conformable unto his death. No 
 man knowcstheexcellencieof grace, but hee 
 that hath it, which when any hath in fome good 
 meafurc,he is fo ra vifhed with the loue and like- 
 ing of it, that hepreferres it before allthetrea- 
 fures in the world. And fo did Paul, as we fee 
 in this place, having once t-afted how good the 
 
 Lord 
 
Thy K^ngdome come. 
 
 Lvrd was, hee could not bee fatisfied with that 
 meafure of mortification, and viviflcation 
 which he had received, though it were very 
 large, butheeftilllongeth and labourcth for' 
 more, and ftriveth hard toward the marke, that 
 he might attaine to an experimental! knovvledg 
 of the vertueof Chrift his death, for the cruci- 
 fying of his fkfh and of his refurre<5tion,for the 
 quickning of his foule unto everie good 
 worke. 
 
 Neither doth he defire this for himfeife a- 
 lone, but for his brethren the Iewes^ being con- 
 tent ( as was before noted ) himfeife to be ut- 
 terly cafboff ( ifit had becne poffible) feparated 
 from Chrift, fo that they might bee converted 
 andfan£tified,andfaved: and, for the increafe 
 of Grace where it was begunne^ we may obferue 
 throughout hisEpiftles, how earned: heis for 
 the obtaining thereof. I willonely quote two 
 places of many, for the manifeftation of his 
 zealeinthisbehalfe. 
 
 One out of the Ephefians^ where he faith, For 
 thiscaufe 1 bow my knees to the Father of our Lord 
 lefus Chrifl , that he would ' gr aunt you, according 
 to the riches of his glory, that you may beflrength- 
 nedby his fririt in the inner man, thatchrifl may 
 dwell in wur hearts by faith, that yoe being rooted 
 and grounded in hue, may bee able to comprehend 
 with all Saints, what is the br^dth, and length, 
 and depth and height &c. 
 
 Andagaine,forthe Philippiahs^ he prayeth 
 that their loue might abound more and more in 
 K knowledge, 1 
 
 -s 
 
 €i 
 
 Ephcf»j,i6. 
 
 «7 
 
 Phil 1 9, 
 
2_ 
 
 16 
 
 Reafons, 
 
 &om<»8.j. 
 
 Thy Kingdome come. 
 
 knowledge, and in all ' judgement ^ that they might 
 difcerne things that differ ', and that they might be- 
 pure and without offence untill the day of Chrifi % 
 
 &c. 
 
 Thus we fecit plainly proved, out ofPatrter 
 example,thatitisadutieforus evermore to de- 
 fire that the graces of Gods fpirit may bee 
 wrought and continued and ftill increafed both 
 in our felucs and others : which is all one with 
 this petition, where Chrifi bidd'eth us to pray, 
 ihykingdome come : for wherefoever the fan- 
 difying gifts of the holy Ghoft are, there dothf 
 Chrijl lefks rule and raigne* 
 
 But let us yet further conftder of fome rea- 
 fons for the confirmation of this point, that it 
 ftands us upon to pray for the erecling of his 
 kingdome in our hearts. 
 
 Firftofall; This may be one forcible reafbn, 
 to induce us thereunto, that till fuch time as this 
 holy government is eftablimedinour hearts, we 
 can never fan&ifle nor gloriffethe name of God, 
 as in the former petition we are taught to doe. 
 For no unregenerate man, can in thought, word . 
 or deed, eonceiue, utter, or peribrme any thing 
 that may tend to the Lords honor, uhtill he be a 
 fubjecl and fervant unto Chrift lefts, and until! 
 he by his fcepter haue beaten downe the finnes j 
 of hisfbule, he is but a lumpe of flefh : Hee fa* 
 voreththe things of the flejl), and is led by thes 
 mi fe dome of the flejh y which is not fubjett to thz^j • 
 law of God, neither indeed can bee ■: and being 
 wholymthefkfh(astfre Apoflle fpeaketh) it 
 _ iss 
 
T^y K^ngdome come. 
 
 is impoflible that he mould pleafe God^ and con- 
 fequcntly impoflible that hce fhould any way 
 glorific God. And therefore,as often as he com- 
 meth before the throne of- Grace with that Pe- 
 tition, H allowed bee thy Name -, he prayes with- 
 out faith, as having no warrant to take that Pe- 
 tition within his lippes,* being utterly unfit for 
 that great worke of hallowing the Lords rnoft 
 glorious Name. 
 
 A fecond reafon, to moue us to defire the 
 comming of the Kingdome of Grace,/*z<ry beta- 
 ken from the miserable cflate that we are in before , 
 and the happie condition that we are brought vnto 
 after we haue C hrift to beare rule in vs. 
 As for our miferie before fuchtime as we haue 
 taken up the fweet and pleafant y oake of Chrift 
 it is verie great : for we are in bondage unto Sa- 
 tan,and unto every vile and bafc Iuft,andfo are 
 fubiect to the eternall curfe and maledi&ion of 
 GW,& lyablcto all manner of judgments both 
 corporall and Jj/irituall, both in this life and in 
 that which is to come. This doth partly appeare 
 in that place of the Ac~h, where the Lord 
 fheweth the ufe and end of Patties miniftrie, for 
 that he was fent unto the Gentiles,T<? open their 
 eyes ^th at they might tumefrem darkneffe to light, 
 and from the power of Satan vnto God, that : they 
 might receiueforgiueneffe of their fmnes^ and in- 
 heritance among them which are fanfiifedby faith 
 in Chrift. In which words, is Jiuely defcribed 
 and fet forth the eftate of allthofethatare with- 
 out theprecincls and limits of Chrift his king- 
 K 2 dome; 
 
 <7 
 
 R**f. 2, 
 
 For oar fors 
 ncer mjferie 
 
 Ephefo. j, 
 
 Ads 2$. 18. 
 
f— 
 
 JL 
 
 I 68 
 
 x Iohfi' 
 
 Thy K^ngdome come. 
 
 dome 5 to wit, that they are altogether blind in 
 fpirituall matters, the eyes of their mindes are 
 quite fhut up, fo that they can fee no more con- 
 cerning hcauen or hell, concerning holy duties 
 to bee performed, or finfull courfes to bee 
 efchewed, then one that is vtterlie voide of 
 fight, is aileto difcerne of thofe obie&s that lie 
 direclly before his eyes. There is nothing in 
 their mindes but a confufed heape of ignorance 
 errours and falfe opinions, and confequently 
 nothing in their hearts but (as it were ) a Sea of 
 ungodly lufts , and wretched affections : 
 whence it commeth to pafle, that living wholie 
 in darknes,they are enthralled unto the diuell. 
 himfelfe, who is the Prince of darknes,and (as 
 this textfpeaketh) #»*#>- *^i? fewer of Satan that 
 is, not onely fubieel to betempted, and aflaul- 
 tcd, by him ( for that is incident to the mod 
 godly) but wholy given up tobee ruled,guided 
 and ordered by him, and that in their thoughts 
 words and w or kes, This is the naturall condition 
 ofalltheSonnes of Adam^ to be vaflTals unto 
 all manner of impietie and iniquitie, and confe- 
 quently flaues unto him that rulethinthe chil- j 
 dren of difobedience, fothat they muft be at\! 
 his command and be fubieft to his lawes, even • 
 the lufts of the fief}}, the luflsofthe eyes, and the 
 Pride of life. Andwithall (which is theworftj 
 of all)they muft ftand to his reward, which is , 
 vericbad in this world, but farreworfeinthat j 
 which is- to come : For they that haue giuen 
 themfeluestothefervice of the devill in their 
 
 * life 
 
 i ii n m m 
 
I 
 
 Thy Kjng&ome come. 
 
 <S 7 
 
 Math. *y. 
 
 lifetime,ftiall afterwards be tormented withthe 
 dcvillandhis Angels inhellifh torments, and 
 that for evermore: and therefore if itbeillfer- 
 ving off fuch a m after, as can requite us with no 
 better wages Jet us caft of his yoake with all 
 fpeed,and pray as we are command td,Thy king- 
 dome come. 
 
 Butoh ! Thisisitthataddeth much unto the 
 miferie of un regenerate perfons, that the more 
 finfully they carrie themfelues, the more they, 
 pleafe themfelues : and when they runne full 
 manie in the broad way toward hell, they 
 thinke themfelues the happieft men that liuej 
 and condemne them for foolifli andmadpeo-, 1 
 pie, that walke in the wayes of life and happi- 
 nes ; and decline from fuch dangerous cour- 
 fes as they in their follk goe forward in, to 
 their euerlafting mine and perdition. Thus 
 much breefely ofthe miferie that we are in, 
 till fuch time as we be fubje&s of Chrifi his 
 Hngdome. Now in the next place, let us eon- 1 a> 
 fider, ef the benefits which we flail nape hy ii U ST g undcr 
 lining under that heauenly gouernment, and that, Chrirthis 
 in refpeft of our king, of his lawes and of his \ g"*" 1 *™; 
 rewards, prefent and future, temp or all andtternail 
 As for our King ( in the f irft place ) rre 
 is All-fupcient, both able and willing to make 
 all his fubiec^s perfectly happie in all refpe&s: 
 which that we may more fully and cleeriy 
 perceiue, let- us take abriefe veiw of fome 
 places of fcripmre, which doe moft liuely 
 defcribe him unto us. 
 
 K 3 And 
 
 In refpe<S 
 ofoiirKing. 
 

 Pfal^,i. 
 
 Thy K^ngdorne come* 
 
 And for this purpofe ^Pfalme p^.is very wor- 
 thy our consideration, where it is faid, The^j \ 
 Lordraigneth^andis clothed with majeftie. Ci- 
 ther Kings are adorn; d with gorgeous and roy- 
 allapparcll, as was Solnmon^ to make them ap- 
 peare more glorious unto the beholders, which 
 argueth an imperfection in themfelues, in that 
 they are driven to feeke a kinde of excellencie 
 out of themfelues: but the King of Heaven 
 ncedes no fuch matter : his owne Majeftie femes 
 indeed of royall robes, and therein doth hein- 
 finitelyfurpafle all the glory of earthly Mo r 
 narkes. Then further it is faid in that Pfalme, 
 The Lord is clothed and girded 'with power •: ^ earth- 
 ly Kings haue their guard about them, and doe 
 protect their perfons by men and munition $ 
 by fword and fhield and the like, becaufe in- 
 deed they are weake in themfelues, and neede 
 thefe externall helpes for their fafeguard: As for 
 the Lord j he cares not for any of thefe 5 his own 
 poweris fufficient both to iaue himfelfe and his 
 fubje<5t.s",and to overthrow his foes with all their 
 malicious attempts. Againe, in that pfalme is 
 (hewed, that as God hath power, fo hedothex- 
 ercife the fame. The world is eftabliflfcd by him, 
 th<itit cannot be moved. Earthly Princes doe not 
 alwayesufethat power' which they haue, for 
 fometimes they are fo idle that they will not, 
 and at other timesfocrolTed that they cannot, 
 but the King of Kings doth al way es put his po- 
 wer in practice, in the government of the 
 world and of every thing therein. And among 
 
 other 
 
Thy K^ngdome come. 
 
 other things, herein doth his wonderfull po- 
 wer appcare, that he makes the whole earth to 
 hang immoveable even in the midft ofthe ayre, 
 without any prop or ftay at all. 
 
 Thus we feein part out of that Pfalme^ what 
 a glorious and mightie King the Zor^is.-buthis 
 excelieneie will be yet more perfpicuous, if we 
 confida: of fome more of his Attributes, as we 
 findethem fetdownein the Scriptures. 
 
 Firft then to fpeake fomewhat of his Omni- 
 jcience^ and infinite knowledge? itisfuch,thathe 
 understands all things, and therefore knowes e- 
 very oneof hisfubjeclsby name, which Solo, 
 imn himfelfe, though the wifefl: King that ever 
 was, could not doe. The Lord himfelfe profef- 
 feth by the Prophet Ifaiah^ complaining of his 
 peoples unbeliefe, Zion hath [aid, the Lord hath 
 forfaken mee and my God hath for gotten mee : Can 
 a woman ( faith he ) forget her child \ and not hme 
 companion on thefonne of her wombe '.though they; 
 fioula forget , yet will 'not l forget thee ', ejrc And 
 heyeeldeth a very forcible reafon, Behold 1 ham 
 graven thee upon the palme of mine hands, and thy 
 walles are ever in my fight . This much was ve- 
 ry Ji uely fignified in the time ofthe Levitic&ll 
 Law, for then it was commanded thatthe high 
 PriefKWhowasa type ofchrift) mould Car- 
 rie the names of the twelue Tribes ofthe children 
 ef\{x2Lt\on both his fioulders; being graven on 
 the £f>hod, and on his hearts and on his moul- 
 ders, fothatheloues them dearely, and fup^ 
 ports them mightily, and that at all times, for 
 
 hee 
 
 7 r 
 
 OtGoAs 
 Omnifcicnce 
 and knolcdgc 
 
 Ifaiah 
 
 4p. 14- 
 
 Exod. iS. 
 
 ri. 
 
 12, 
 
v> 
 
 Tfer Kjngdome come. 
 
 I 
 
 That God 
 fees the ne- 
 ceffitics of 
 his children. 
 Math.6,2,3. 
 
 Of Gods 
 excellence 
 inforfeeingof 
 dangers. 
 
 Kal.105r.17. 
 
 Of Gods 
 
 goodnes in 
 
 hislouetohh 
 ferrants. 
 
 Ifaiahj47 
 
 I 
 
 he is ever bufied in the execution of his office: 
 whence it muft necefTarily follow, that he takes 
 fpeciall notice of all of them, and of every one 
 of them: yea, not onely of their perfons, but 
 alfo of their wants: he fees all their diftreffes,and 
 forefees all their perills. 
 
 Touching their neceffities, our Saviour tefti- 
 fieth faying, Tottr heavenly Father knoweth that 
 youhaue need of all the fe things, to wit, of food 
 andrayment, and fuch like, whereof mention 
 was made before in that Chapter. 
 
 And concerning his foreseeing of perils, it is 
 evident in this, that knowing ofthe famine that 
 fhould be in the Land of Canaan . he fent Iofeph 
 before hand into the Land of Egypt, to provide 
 for his Father lacob and hisfamilie. And indeed 
 howcanitbe, but he muft needs fore-fee fuch 
 things, flnce he doth fore-appoint the fame i 
 And herein alfo hee goeth beyond all worldly 
 government: For they are not acquainted with 
 the wants of all their fubje&s that are prefently 
 upon them, much lefTe can they haue underftan- 
 ding of dangers before they befall them, and 
 I leaft ofali,prevent every imminent evill where- 
 by their Subjects may be annoyed. 
 
 Againe,asGWin wifedome doth infinitely 
 excell all earthly Potentates, fo doth he alfo in 
 goodnejp, there is never a fubject nor fervant of 
 his, butheloueshimwithanunmeafurableand 
 withaneverlaftinglouc; as the Lord himfelfe 
 protefteth unto his Church, faying, For a little 
 while haue 1 f or faken thee, but with great compaf- 
 
 ftn 
 
Thy K^ngdome corns. 
 
 fion wilt I g at her thee : For a moment in mine an- 
 ger 1 bid my face from thee, for a little feafon^ hut 
 with ever lading mercie hauel had companion on 
 thee^ faith the Lord thy Redeemer. It is" hot fo 
 with any earthly Prince; For,their affection is 
 butinmcafure, and that which is, may foone 
 failebytheilldefertof the partie himfelfe, or 
 by the ill report of others: at the leaftwife, it 
 m uft end with the life of the Prince : for, when 
 their breath depart eth all their thoughts perifh . 
 Now as concerning the Lords favour, the re can 
 be nothing to diminish that, he will not be mif- 
 informed by ill willers- concerning any of his 
 children, for, He fearcheth their hearts and their 
 reineSj and is acquainted with all their wayes^ and 
 V9 Hide ale with every one m he know eth their henrts 
 andtheirworkes. And whereas the beft of his 
 1 fubje&s are tainted with innumerable faults, 
 which doeindecd deferue his difpleafure 1 yet 
 fhalltheynotbecaftout of favour: fox if they 
 ' dee but confejfe their finnes ^and craue pardon for 
 them^ (as they will doe who arc led by the Spi- 
 rit of Grace) hce will forghte all their iniquities^ 
 andpaffe by all their tranfgrejpons , yea, bee will 
 not one ly hane companion upon them, but will alfo 
 fubdue their iniquities ^and cafi all their ftnnes into 
 the bottome of the Sea. And whereas the death of 
 other Kings cuts off their loue, this heavenly 
 King louesfor ever: and therefore as there is 
 no end ofhisdayes,folhalltherebeno end of 
 his mercies. 
 Againe, in regard of his Truth? the L&rd is 
 L greatly 
 
 71 
 
 pfai.14*. 
 
 Read 2.23. 
 
 Pral.1.39. 
 
 Cbr 011.6,30. 
 
 Pro, 2$. 13. 
 x Iohn 1. 
 Micah 7.18. 
 
 Dan.i*: 
 
7+ 
 
 In regard of 
 his truth* 
 
 lames i. 
 Efal.iiy«3, 
 Dan. 4, ij. 
 
 4* 
 
 In regard of 
 bis jufUce.. 
 
 3 Sam, 
 x King 4. 7» 
 
 Pfal. oi 4. 
 
 T£? Kingdom e come. 
 
 greatly to be magnified, for we may build upon 
 hih word :. whatsoever he faith he will affuredly 
 doe it, not one jot or title cf his word jlialLf>eri[li y 
 till /ill bee fulfilled. It is otherwifc with earthly 
 i?ukrs, they many times fay and doc not, be- j 
 bauie^hey are fickle and changeable, and mind j 
 one thing today, andanotherto morrow I and j 
 becauie they oft-times lay,, that which they are j 
 utterly unable toperforme, or they are cut oft j 
 before they hauetime to goe thorough with it. 
 But with the King of Kings there is no variaBh- 
 nejfc, rhe is the fame frill, and changeth not i his 
 power is as large as his- will, and his kingdome is 
 from generation ta^tf^tt'otf, and therefore hee 
 mail needes be as good as his word. 
 
 Furthermore,this King is juitinalfhis wayes, 
 whereas-£W;Wand Solomon^ though otherwifc 
 good and godly Kings, dealt unjuftly in divers 
 things, as Davidin the matter of VrUh^ and of 
 Mephiiojhetb > and Solomon^ in laying too hea- 
 vie burthens upon the people, in fo much that 
 being wearie of them, they fell to mutinie and 
 rebellion. But the Lord ''never wrongs any of 
 his fubjcds: but guides and governesthem with 
 all cquitie and juftice. Hee is fet ttpon the throne, 
 and judgeth right, as tht Pfalmiftfpeakeih* Now 
 then ( to lay all thefe together ) if it be a lingu- 
 lar prerogatiue to line under fuch a King as is 
 full of maje£tie,antfglory, power and fufficien- 
 cie, full of wifedome and underftanding,f ull of 
 jufticeand tender corapaflion, fullof truth and 
 of equities Under fuch a Kingasknowcs and 
 
 confiders 
 
 i>« l |Q *I 
 
 mmmmmmmm 
 
 rr 
 
^by Kfngdome come. 
 
 1% 
 
 confidersall hisfubje&s wants anddiftrefles, as 
 pitries their cafe: as is able to helpc andfaue 
 them, and becaufe hehath promifed To to doe, 
 cannotin his juftice deny the performance chf r* 
 of. 
 
 If (I fay) it bee a fpeciallpriviledge,, to iiue 
 under fuch a ones government, then may. it 
 Wrongly bee concluded hence, that his king- 
 dome ought earneftly to be defired, which is 
 the point that we haue now in hand. And thus 
 much concerning our King. 
 
 I n the next place, let m eonfiderof his lawes^ 
 which will litewife induce us to long for e- 
 reding and eftabliming of his kingdomein our 
 foules and confeiences : for fuch as our King is, 
 fucharehisftatutes, even holy, juft, and equally 
 and fuch as are made for the good and comfort 
 of all his fubjeds. Other Princes doe now and 
 then makelawes and conftitutions,to r eruc their 
 owncturncs, though in the mesne time thofe 
 thatare under their jurifoli&ion, pay for it, and 
 findethemfeluesmuch opprefTed and over-bur- 
 thened: but there isnotthe meaneft Chriilian, 
 that hath any caufe at all to complaine. For, 
 Gods commandements ar-e not grievous v but Chriji 
 his yoke is eajie, and his bttrdenlight. Every one 
 ofhis lawes are given to bring all manner of 
 bleffingsonus,andtokeepeorFall manner of 
 judgements from us, as is at large fpecified in. 
 D enter onomieiZ. 
 
 Thcnthirdly, eoncernmg the rtwtrds and-pro- 
 
 motkns that he beftwetbufon his fubjefts, they 
 
 3L z are 
 
 In regard of 
 his lams. 
 
 Horn. 7. i». 
 
 Mat. 1 r, 30. 
 
 In regard of 
 his remrds. 
 
7 6 
 
 I. 
 
 OtGoit 
 present re- 
 wards. 
 Rom. 14. 17, 
 
 Spirituall 
 reward, is 
 (Thrifts righ- 
 teoufneffc 
 imputed, 
 a. 
 Peace. 
 Rom. 5. 1. 
 Ifajah 9. 
 
 Rom. 5; 
 Ifa. J7- 
 
 Ipy in the 
 holy Ghoft. 
 x Peter 1.8. 
 
 Thy K^ngdome come. 
 
 are marvelous large, and very excellent, whe- 
 ther we regard 5 
 
 1 . Thofe that are prefent : or 
 
 2. Thofe that are to come. 
 
 Touching thofe that are prefent, they are 
 either^ irituall or corforaU. The fpirituall are 
 right eoufnejfe, and peace, and joy in the holy 
 Ghoft. 
 
 Firft ; th ey hau e the righteottfneffe ofchrift im- 
 puted unto them^ whereby they are made per- 
 fectly righteous in Cods account, even as the 
 holy Angels in heaven are. Hereupon followes 
 peace, for being]' ufti fed by faith, wee haue peace 
 mthGod b (as faith the Apoftle) andfoconfe- 
 quently with our owneconfeiences. Chrift,who 
 is the Prince of peace makes a reconciliation be- 
 twixt God and w, by taking away theguiltinefle- 
 of ourfinnes, which formerly made difference 
 and difagreement, beftowing upon us the me- 
 rit of his owne abfolute obedience, which ma- 
 keth us to ftand perfectly juftih>d before the 
 throne of Gods juftice. Till men doe attaine un- 
 to this they haue no quietnerTe at all : for, there 
 is no peace to the wicked^ who are like the raging 
 waues oft he Sea, that are ft ill toffing and tumbling 
 from one ftdeto another, and cafting up mire and 
 dirt. But as foone as ever theybetakethem- 
 felues to liueiinderthe regiment of the King of 
 heaven, their hearts do grow to found tranquil- 
 litie, and to a fetled peace. 
 
 From whence arifeth a third grace, which is, 
 Joy in the holy Ghoft; That is, fuch joy as is* 
 
 wrought 
 
Thj K^ngdome come. 
 
 77 
 
 wrought by Gods holy fpirit, which is unjpeak- 
 able and glorious, whereof when men haue once 
 tafted, they giue over their vaine and foolifrr 
 fports, with their flefhly and mad delights, with 
 fuch a deteftation of them, that it makes them 
 even ficke to thkike upon them. 
 
 Thefe are the priviledges of Chrift his king- 
 dome, the like graces whereof hec doth com- 
 municate to every one of his Subjects ; where- 
 by indeed they are made fpiriruall Kings, accor- 
 ding to that in the Revelation, where it is faid, 
 thatChri/l bath loved us, and (for the manife- Revel, i j^. 
 fting of his loue yjiath wafted us from our /inner 
 in his blond, what folio weth upon this? Hec^> 
 hath made us Kings and Prcifts unto God, evert 
 the Father, ejre. No earthly King can thus pre- 
 ferreany of his Subj»e<5ts,much lelTeall ofthenr 
 One Kingdome can admit but of one King: but 
 in the Kingdome of Grace, there is never a fub- 
 j e<5fc but it may truely be faid of him, thathe is^ 
 a King, yea a more excellent Kingj then any: 
 that this world can afford. 
 
 And thus much for the fiirituali l rewards /j 
 that this King'giveth in this world. As for the \ 
 corporall andtemporallcommodities which he! ^jJi 
 beltowes, they are likewife very great : For, I wirdi. 
 when Chrifi is ours, all things art ours jfor, he^j ]££ x, \\ z ' 
 is heire of all things i therefore,// Godgint his 
 owne Sonne, how Jhould not hee with him giue «f|Rom.8. 
 all 'things' 1 . '■ Whoibcver therefore hath the Lord 
 to rule in him and over him, hec mall befureto ] 
 want not king that is* good tot him. If wee bee 
 L 3 Goates 
 
 Godi cor» 
 re- 
 
7« 
 
 J 
 
 Thy Kjngdvme come. 
 
 Vfii* 
 
 Goates^ or Swine, Woiues, or Beares, or the 
 like, notfubmitting our felues to the govern- 
 ment of C^r//?, to be ordered and ruled accor- 
 ding to his word,we can expect nothing at (Ai- 
 rland but judgements and plagues, butif we be 
 iheepe of his pafture, hee hath undertaken to 
 \ provide for us : that when we are well, he will 
 Ikeepeuswell, and whcnweareinanydiftrefTe, 
 he will recover us - 3 as is at large (hewed in that 
 Pfalme. Thefe things mall we be fure of while 
 we are in our pilgrimage, but the largeft recom- 
 pence ofall fhall be when wecomeinto the hea- 
 vens, to enjoy that Kingdome which hath been 
 of old prepared for us. Whofoever will let 
 C/^//?raigneinhis heart while he Hues, fhall 
 undoubtedly raigne with him when hee dyes. 
 And whofoever is a fubjedt. in the Kingdome of 
 Grace,(hall beaKingcverlaftingly in the King- 
 dome of Glorie, where he fhall haue more com- 
 fort and happinefTe in one minute of an houre, 
 then he had here in all his life time. And here- 
 in, (as in all other things ) Geds rewards and 
 promotions doe furpaflc any earthly Kings; for 
 theirs are momentarie and vanifhing, but his 
 durable and eternall.But of thefe we mall haue 
 occafiontofpeakemore fully in handling the 
 next point. 
 
 Now that we may draw to fome vfe of the 
 point, isitfo, that the comming of Cbrift his 
 kingdome, is fodefirablecThen fMofail,hcre 
 are thofe to bee reprooved,that in words pray, 
 7hy kingdome come$B\& in truth, they wifh.it 
 
 not 
 
Thy Kjngdome come. 
 
 not from their hearts, as their practice doth 
 evidently declare : for, they hate the fcepterof 
 this heauenly King, viz,, his holy word, and 
 the inftru&ions tSat are given them by his 
 fcrvants,andif God would graunt the denre of 
 their foules (as many times in his juftice hee 
 doth,) they would much rather line where 
 the fcepterof the diuell rules^hen whtreCfoiJF 
 fwaies by the rod of his fewer , as the word is 
 termed. Pfalm.i 10.2. For ifaman mould ap* 
 peak to many mens conferences, would they 
 not ehoofe rather to be in fuch families, and 
 congregations,where there is fwearing 3 and fab- 
 bath-breaking , and rioting, and {willing, 
 dauncing, gaming, and fuch like, then where 
 there is praying, preaching, catechifing , and 
 iinging of Pfalmes, and other the like holy 
 and religious exercifes: If it be fcr( as they can- 
 not deny) what mould they fpeake of their 
 defiring of the comming of Ckrifi his king- 
 dom,e? they doe but play the hypocrites in Co 
 doing r forthey refufe the government of this 
 heauenly ICing 3 and ihewthemfeluesto-bepro* 
 fciibd enemies unto him, whatfoever pretences 
 they make to the contrary. This lob prooveth 
 euidently, to the faces of all hypocrites, of 
 whomheavoucheth, that They fry unto God, 
 depart from *y, not that any will be fo blas- 
 phemous, asinplaine termes to utter fomuchy 
 Jiutin effe&they manifeft that their defire is 
 fuch, that they would willingly hauc nothing' 
 to doe with God: and how doth he proouc 
 
 thisr 
 
 79 
 
So 
 
 a. 
 
 Luk* i g< 14. 
 
 T'hy K^ngdome come. 
 
 I 
 
 this? by two arguments: one is thisTto they 
 doe not defire the knowledge of his rvayes, for 
 they are utterly deftitute of heauenly under- 
 {landing, affecting their groflfe ignorance more 
 then failing knowledge,which appeareth in that 
 they will nottake paines for it : nay, they will 
 not entertaine it, when it is brought home 
 unto them. 
 
 Another argument is, that they imagine, 
 there comes no profit, nor benefit by ferving 
 fuch amafter, ^0 is the Allmightie, thatrvee 
 ftould feme him (fay they)<*W what profit 
 jlwuldtvehaue^ ifwejljottld pray unto him? As if 
 they mould fay , there is much a doe about 
 feruing of God, and many faire promifes are 
 made tofuch as fecke unto him: but we cannot 
 fee that men fpeed fo well by their hearing and 
 praying and fuch like : others that take not fuch 
 courfes carry away the wealth and promotions 
 of the world from them; And therefore I will 
 neuer trouble my felfe with fuch matters, thefe 
 are the thoughts and refolutions of carnall 
 men : who hope to get more by the fervice of 
 Sathan, and of their owne Iufts then by the fer- 
 vice ofthe King of heauen. And thereforethey 
 wholy apply themfelues to rooting and win- 
 ding in the earth flike moles, >utterly reiecling 
 the knowledg and practice of holy duties. Such 
 were they of whom mention is madein the 
 Parable that would not haue the king to raigne 
 ouer them. And as they loue notthe King, nor 
 ' -his lawe-s^fo can they not away with his fir- 
 
 vanfis 
 
 U K I .11 m i | i H ' ll. l ■!»» ■ 
 
Thy Kgtgdome come. 
 
 81 
 
 wants and fubjeBs .- but when they fee them 
 come from other.places with their bibles, to be 
 inftru&ed in the lawes of their heavenly King, 
 they maligne them, and fnarle at them, and will 
 notfufc them by their good will, to fit quiet at 
 fcrmonbythem. 
 
 Neither doe they efleeme of thofe rewards, 
 which are conferred upon Chriftians, but like 
 prophane Efau, doe make more account of a 
 mefje of pottage, then of the birth-right* of a few 
 finf ull pleafures and bafe commodities, then of 
 the righteoufnejfc of ' Chrift^ and of that peace of 
 confeiene*^ that pajfeth all under/landing : with 
 the joy of the holy Gho/l, which is unjpeakable and 
 glorious t or of that happinefle, which is treafu- 
 red up for the Saints in the life to come. They 
 make more reckoning of the Devills falfe prof- 
 fers. All thefe will lgiue thee, if thou wilt fall 
 downe and 'worflnp mee,thenofChri/l his true of- 
 fers, feeke fir ft the kingdome of God, and his righ- 
 teoufneffe, and all other things jh all bee caft upon 
 yen. But whofoever they be, that are of this dif- 
 pofition, let them haue their doome, as it is fet 
 downe byour Saviour, Thofe mine enemies that 
 would not that I [hould raigne over them, bring 
 them hither and flay them before me. 
 
 Secondly, This ferveth for Inftruction^ that 
 whofoever would haueafTurance that he is of 
 thenumbcrof Chrifi his fubjeds, fhould fer- 
 vently defire, and heartily longfor,and labour 
 forthe letting up of his kingdome, bothin his 
 o wne foule, and likewifeln the foules of all his 
 \ M people: 
 
 Gen.if.31. 
 
 Matb.4; 
 
 Math.6. 
 
 Luk. ip«27< 
 
 Vfil, 
 
Si 
 
 Mat, it* iz. 
 
 Thy ¥^ngdo%e come. 
 
 Hcb. %i- t fa 
 
 That we muft 
 
 : compellour 
 memories and 
 affcftionsun« 
 to the be ft 
 things. 
 
 people: and though Gods children be fheepe and 
 lambesinotherthings, yetherein they mould 
 fhevv an holy kind of violence, according to 
 that of our S aviour, From the time oflohn Bap- 
 tifi, the kingdoms of he&venfuffereth violences^ 
 and the violent take it by force. That is, asfoone 
 as ever their hearts were trucly and throughly 
 touched by the word andfpiritof God^ they favv 
 their miferie that they were in, in being vallate 
 unto.finne and Sathan^and what then? they pre. 
 fently betake thcmfeluesto liue under the go- 
 vernment of Chrifi : And whereas they found 
 many lets and impediments, many hindrances 
 and pull-backes to keepe them from Chrift, 
 they violently breake through them all, and ra- 
 ther thenthey would loof/their hope, and be 
 fruftrate of their expe&a .ton, they woukTrun 
 through fire and water, the like eagerneflTe muft 
 we labour for : though there be in us naturally 
 agreatdeale of backwardnefTe, aryi finne doe 
 hang very fall: on us,andpreiTeus downemfuch 
 fort, that we cannot doe as we would, yet muft 
 we notbedifmayed, butftriue againftourcor- 
 ruptions. And though wee be very unapt to con. 
 ceiue of holy things^ yet muft wee as it were breake- 
 openthe doorcs of our m'wdes , that they may un- 
 ci erftand heavenly myfteries, and though our 
 memories be very unrruftieand unf-akhfullfer- 
 vants unto God 'and unto us,&very readytogiue 
 way unto Sathan, torobbeusof the tructrea- 
 fure which is laid up it\ them . Wee muft even 
 conftraineandcompellthem to hold fail: the 
 
 holy 
 
Thy K^ipgdome come. 
 
 holy word of God, and never ceafe praying and 
 labouring, till the Z^haueftrengthnedthcm 
 in fomegood meafurc, and made them fit to en- 
 tcrtaineandto retainethebeft things. And dr 
 hat our heart she very rebellious and ftnbborncjj 
 and all our affections exceeding head-ftrong and 
 untamed } yet muft we by an holy kind of coafti- 
 on and compulsion draw them unto fantfified 
 obedience, and to an orderly fubje&ion unto 
 their chiefc Soveraignethe King of glorie. And 
 becaufeall our endevours without Gods fpeci- 
 allblefling are nothing Worth, therefore it is 
 ourpa:r,tobeinfhnt with the Lord, that hee 
 would pleafc to a (lift us, and helpe us, to cruci- 
 fieourflefh, and to mortifie our finfull mem- 
 bers, and to make his facred word powerfull 
 andeffecluallinus: thatit may not onely bee 
 brought unto our eares, but alio written in our 
 hearts bythe finger of Gods holy (pint. For it is 
 as eafie for God to reach it unto our foules, as to 
 drawitfrom the Minifters mouth,to caufeit to 
 takerootein our hearts. Thus if we can doe, we 
 may be allured that we m?.ke this Petition in 
 truth, Thy Kingdome come. And we mall find 
 thatit will come, and that God will dwell in our 
 hearts, and daily increafe his graces in us, till at 
 length we be throughly fitted for his kingdome 
 ofglorie. 
 
 And thus much generally for this Petition : 
 But that we may make yet fomc better ufe ther- 
 of, let us briefly fee - } 
 
 I. What things particularly wee fray for. 
 
 M-2 ' i.What 
 
 8? 
 
84. 
 
 What thingi 
 ate to be 
 prayed for in 
 this petition* 
 
 Ifa.6"2.3.4, 
 
 That mini- 
 flers are the 
 inftruments 
 forourcon- 
 
 ucrfion • 
 
 I PtlJi^l 
 
 a^sio. 18. 
 
 Thy Kjngdome come. 
 
 2. What things wept -ay againft. 
 Concerning the former, our maine and great re* 
 que ft muft bee, that it would pleafe the Lord to fend 
 firth labourers into his harveft^ andtofurnijb alt 
 Congregations with learned^ abte^ and faith full 
 Minifters. For they are the Lords Captainesto 
 fight his battels, againft the flefh, the world, 
 and the devill : and to cfraw men from under 
 Sathans tyrannic 5 to Hue under the Prince of 
 peace. This is cleere in the Prophefie oflfaiah, 
 where when the holy Ghoft fheweth, howpoore 
 and finfull men & women come to be a crown of 
 glorie, andaroyall diademeinthe hand efthzs 
 Lord } how they become a delight full Spoufe un- 
 to him, andheamoft glorious and comforta- 
 ble Husband unto them. The Inftruments ofef. 
 feeding this wonderfiill worlce, are faid to bee 
 Watchmen,(cnt unto them by the Z^himfelfe., 
 Who all the day and all the night continually never 
 ceafe, but either call upon the people, or cry un- 
 to the Lord for them, giving him no reft, till hee 
 repaireandfetup lerufalem in her beautie. Thefe 
 are the inftruments of the converfioa of Gods 
 chofen, and whereby they become the praifc 
 of the whole earthy as there it is faid. They are 
 a chofen generation^ a royal! Prieft-hood, an holy 
 nAtion^apecuhar people^ as Peto-termeth them. 
 The preaching of the Goipell is the ordinary 
 meancs that (Wtifethfor- the calling, fan&ify- 
 ing, andfavingof them, as it is yet more evi- 
 dent in that place of the JcJs before cited, where 
 theho/y Ghoft declareth 3 xh^frft he opened their 
 
 e ) es > 
 
Thy Kjngdome come. 
 
 eyes, and illuminated their under/landing, and 
 maketh them able to put a difference betwixt 
 good and bad, truth and errour, light and dark- 
 neiTe. And is that all, nay, as it fheweth them 
 what is to be efchewed, and what to be imbra- 
 ced,foitinableththemto fhunne the one, and 
 to lay hold of the other. And (as there it is faid) 
 to turnefrom darkenejfe unto light. But what be- 
 nefit commeth unto them thereby, They are by 
 that meanes fet free from the power ofSathan, and 
 are brought under the power of God, being tranfla- 
 ted into his glorious kingdome, they receiue re- 
 miilion of finnes, and haue right unto, and in 
 due time fhall haue the fruition of an eternall in- 
 heritance among them that are fancJifted. To this 
 very purpofe tendeth that faying of the Apo- 
 ftle, The weapons of our warfare are not car nail, 
 but mightie thorow God, to cap downe holds : caft- 
 ing dewne the imaginations, and every high thing 
 that is exalted again ft the knowledge of God, and 
 bringing into captivitie every thought unto the &. 
 bedtenceofchnft. In which place, the 'Apoftle 
 Paul together with his fellow-workmen in the 
 Mini/try of the Gofpell, are compared unto 
 CharHpions,that are to goe forth in the name 
 of the Lord, for the recovering of his chofen 
 out of Sathanshand, who doth tyrannoufly u- 
 furpeauthoritie over them. 
 
 Now, what weapons doe they ufe in this wat- 
 
 Not fuch as are carnall, that is, weake and of 
 little or no force againft the Adverfarie, , but 
 
 M 3 
 
 Jpiritnall 
 
 8* 
 
 a Cor. 1 0,4. 
 
U 
 
 Thy Kingdom e come. 
 
 Gal. 3. x. 
 
 Horn. 1 0*14* 
 
 Ephcf.3. 13. 
 
 ThecfFcauall 
 power of the 
 miniftrie of 
 the word is 
 fhewed. 
 
 Jpirituallweapons, taken out of the Lords own<LJ 
 Armorie^ which are mightie and powerfull, 
 where it plcafeth the Lord toworke by them,to 
 overthrow all the ftrong holds, and fortrefles 
 thatSathanhathietupin mens foules, and to 
 bring into fubje&ion not oncly the outward 
 \ man.) (which is as much as any earthly Prince 
 can require ) butthe inward man alio, framing 
 and inclining the very fecret thoughts and ima- 
 ginations of the heart, unto that whole obedi- 
 ence which the Z^requireth.And yet further 
 the fame Apoille, writing tothe Galatians^put- 
 teth them in mind, how they received the fyirit by 
 the hearing of faiths that is, of the doctrine of 
 faith, which is fo called, becaufe ( as hee faith 
 clfe where) by the preaching thereof we come to 
 beleeuc, and fo to haue Chrift his throne fet up 
 within us, for hee dwelleth in our hearts by faith. 
 If then the Miniftrie of the word bee that 
 which difpofTefTeth Sathanthe Prince of dark- 
 neffe, which maketh a riddance of all manner 
 offinnes and corruptions, and which is as it 
 were a Chariot to convay the holy Ghofi into 
 mens hearts, which worketh in them faith, and 
 all other graces necefTarie to fai vation, and ma- 
 keth them fit and readie for every holy dutie 
 andfervice. Thefe things confidered, it rauft 
 needes be concluded to be a fpeciall meanes to 
 ere&thekingdome ofC^//?in the foules of his 
 chofen, and therefore we are bythisfecond/V- 
 | tition directed to pray, that where there is fin- 
 ! cere and powerfull preaching, the Lord would! 
 
 
 continue 
 
Thy Kjn^dome come. 
 
 87 
 
 ,ThcC 
 
 continue it,and giuehis Servants grace and wif- 
 dome to ufe their gifts aright, otherwife, they 
 may doc more hurt then good. 
 
 And withall, that he would vouchfafe, toblejfe 
 all School cs of learnings that they may be Semina* ! We pray here 
 rjes of good and holy zealous teachers, that fo I ^ouni kUiTc 
 where an holy Miniftery is wanting, it may be! aitschooies 
 ftp plyed. And light mayfhine to them that fit in ' ' 
 darknes , and in the Jhadow of death. Thus the 
 ApofUe exhorteth the 7 he ffalomans-, Further- 
 more Brethren fray for us ( faith he) that the word 
 of the Lord may hauefree pa(fage,and be glorified 
 even as it is with you: Where he willeththem, 
 to aske thefe two things, firft that they might 
 haue liberty in their miniitrie, to preach the 
 Gofpell without interruption: And thenalfo, 
 thatit might be glorifyed, that is, that it might 
 fo enter into the mindes and hearts of their 
 hearers , that they might pra&ife it in their 
 lives, and fo bring credit to the Gofpell. And 
 then indeed e is Chrifi his throne eftabhfhed in 
 mens hearts^ and his fcepter beares fway, 
 among the fonne-s of men. 
 
 Now on the other fide. The things principally 
 to be prayed againfi^ are two. 
 
 Firft, 7 he bondage of finne^Cpechlly of origi- 
 nall finne\ which flicks fo fail; unto us, and is 
 the greateft hinderer of theworke of grace in 
 usjfor the deuill, though he beabufie, anda 
 malicious adverfarie,yetheisfometimcs quiet 
 (through Cods retraining hand) and departs 
 /tfA-^rf^^asX^efpeaketh.^Butthisnaturall Luke 4. if 
 
 cor- ' 
 
 What is to be 
 
 prayed againft 
 
 1. 
 
88 
 
 Natural! cor- 
 ruptions pro* 
 jccb. 
 
 Rot».7.i4« 
 
 T^bj Kjngdome come. 
 
 I 
 
 corruption is alwayes with us, in the day and 
 in the night : it goes to bed with us in the eue- 
 ning and hinders us ofthat fandified reft that 
 otherwife we might enioy. It rifethwithusin 
 the morning, and accompanies us in all our ac- 
 tions, egging us forward unto that which is 
 euill, and pulling us backe from that which is 
 good, or at the leaft inter-mingling it felfein 
 ourbeft adions, andcaufingthemtotaftofthe 
 cask from whence they proceed, and to favor 
 of that defiled Chanell through which they 
 flow. And therefore we mould with Paul cry 
 out againft it, for though he were a regenerate 
 man, and had beenean Inftrument of conuer- 
 ting many foules, unto God^ yet he found flefh 
 remaining in him ftill.-fo that the good that he 
 would doe, he could not, and the evillthathee 
 would not doe, that he did. 
 
 What doth be in this cafe, he takes up a la- 
 mentable complaint, o wretchedman that I am, 
 Who jhaU deliver me from the body oft his death. 
 He calleth original! finne a body^ becaufeit hath 
 many wretched members, and, a body of death, 
 becaufe befides many other miferies, it drawes 
 both the naturall and fpirituall death upon the 
 parties in whom it is, and here with many of 
 Cods deareft fervants are fo troubled and 
 diftempered,that they many times make que- 
 ftion whether they be Chrifis fubje&s or Sa- 
 tans, the children of light, or the children of 
 darknes: but this may be a comfort unto them, 
 andacleere teflimony that they belong, unto 
 
 Ckrift, 
 
Thy Kjngdome come* 
 
 Chrijf^ if with the Apoftle^ they gr/euefir it, 
 ^roane under ft, comflaine againfl it^ and define 
 to be freed from tt^ for, as for thofe that are unre- 
 generate, when the corruption of their nature 
 breaketh out in fpecches or finfull actions, they 
 arc rnerrie, jocund, and not one whit troubled 
 thereat, butlike better of thcmfelues at fuch 
 times, then Gods children doe when they arc 
 mod full of grace, for, they feele their infirmi- 
 ties when they nre At bejl^ and feare future falls 3 
 when they fland in mo ft uprightnejfe, whereas 
 carnal! men are bold and venturous, and are not 
 touched with any feare or fhame of (Inne at 
 all. 
 
 . Letthisthereforebeoarcomfort,that though 
 we be tempted and aiTaulted, and many times 
 dangeroufly plunged, yet herein wee goe be- 
 yond all unregenerate people, in that wee ; la- 
 bour againftour corruptions with might and 
 maine, as one in a mightie River would doe to 
 keepe his head aboue water. This is the firft 
 thing to be prayed againfl even the ilaveryof 
 finne. 
 
 Inthefecondplace, wee are to pray againft 
 all lets and {tumbling blockes, that doe hinder 
 the proceedings of the Gofpell, and the con- 
 version of the elect : we are to intreat the Lord, 
 that he would crofTe and curfe all the plots and 
 practices ofAntichrifi and his Adherents, and 
 of allthe limmes of thedevill whatsoever, and 
 withall, thathc would in his good time, purge 
 I his Church from all idle and Idol Minifters, 
 I N .and 
 
 $9 \ 
 
 Tryall of 
 true hatred 
 to a corrupt^ 
 on. 
 
 A difference 
 bctwixc car- 
 nail and fpi- 
 simallmcn* 
 
9Q 
 
 Iohtt. 
 Mat. i$«. 
 
 ObferVAWfk 
 
 Tfa Kjngdowe come. 
 
 and from blinde, deceitful!, and unfaithful! 
 guides ; that he would roote out every plant that 
 hee himfelfe hath not planted, and abandon all 
 things that doe offend, even all the remnants 
 and reliques of fuperftition, andfuch ceremo- 
 nies as doe but infnare the eonfciences of men, 
 and draw a great many into perfecution and 
 trouble. And when we fee the people of God to 
 be peftered and burdened with fuch things, and 
 to ltue as fheepe without fhepheards, we mould 
 with our Saviour haue companion upon them, 
 andbefeechtheX^to open their eyes^ that 
 they may fee what a lamentable cafe they are 
 in, that fo they may feeke to come out of the 
 iriaresof thedevill, by whom they are kept in 
 miferablethraldorae. And thus much touching 
 the Kingdome of Grace. 
 
 Now concerning the Kingdome of Glorie, 
 that is alfo to be comprehended in this Petition, 
 and therefore to be deliredof us > fo that from 
 thefe words, 
 
 Tbj Kingdome come 
 
 Thus underftood arifeth this obfervation.Thats 
 
 Every childof God ought from his heart to fray 
 for the end of the tforld, and for confummation »f\ 
 the kingdome of Chrijl, at his la ft camming . 
 
 This is proved in the Revelation, where Ivhn 
 teftifieth, that the Spirit andthe ttidtfaf cemt. 
 
 The 
 
 ■ ' pi , i ■ ■ i 
 
Thy K^ngdome come. 
 
 ■ . .. .^ ■■■ *-.fc> 
 
 The fpirit of regeneration that knowes the 
 joyes ofheaven,being (bed abroad in the hearts 
 of the faithful!, (tirresthemupto fay, w»o, 
 and the Z?r/</e, thatis, the Church ( being infpi- 
 red by the holy Ghoft ) fayes, come. Icisaspof- 
 {ibJe for one that is betrothed to fuch an excel- 
 lent husband, as will never fall out with her, 
 but bellow every good thing on her, not to de- 
 foe the day of mariagc, as for the people of God 
 nottolongforthecornmingof Chrijf. Indeed, 
 •as the fpirit fayth come, fo the flefli fay thj- oe l If 
 Adam after his fall might haue obtained his de- 
 fire, hee would by no meanes haue come into 
 God* prefence: and foitis with flefhly men ftill, 
 they cannot endure that c hrifi ihould come un- 
 to them in his gracious prefence by his Ordi- 
 nances, muchleffein his glorious prefence \ but 
 it is quite contrary with the godly. 
 
 Now the reafons why all loyall Subjects 
 mould deiire the comming of their King, are 
 the/e. 
 
 Firft, In regard of God, who hath not the full 
 glory of his mercie And juflice till then ; for, in 
 the militant Church the Devi I I and his members 
 areftillup in rebellion, whereby the beft of Gods 
 fubje&s that hue upon the earth, doe pafle no 
 day nor night without fome offence or othera- 
 gainft their foveraigne Lord: and for thofe 
 whofefoules are glorified in the "heavens, their 
 bodiesforthe moft part doe lie in the duftrbnt 
 atthelaftday all enemies fhall be utterly put 
 downe and vanquifhed, and the ele<5t of God 
 N 2 mall 
 
 9' 
 
 Revel, n. J 7. 
 
 ReafsH i. 
 
 iCou I J. 
 
9 l 
 
 rTfact *x«« 
 
 iTim 4* 3* 
 
 Pro. 7. 15I 
 
 T^v Kjngdome came. 
 
 /ball be freed from all finne, whereby CW"is dif- 
 honored,and be clothed both bodies and foules 
 with glory and immortalitie: fo that if weloue 
 the honor of our King, wee mould denre his 
 comming. Seeing then, that his foes mall tafte 
 fully of hisjuftice, and hisfervants of hismer- 
 cie, ( both, which doth make for the fetting 
 forth of hisglorie)theZfl^ name mall be mag- 
 nified, and the execution of judgement upon 
 the wicked, and upon unbeleevers mall bee me- 
 wed, as well as he mail be glorified in his Saints; 
 and he made marvellous, in all them that beleeiie in 
 himi 
 
 Secondly, In regard of our felues wee mujl de- 
 fire his comming : for if we doe not, wee cannot 
 be aflured of any happineflethat we (hall enjoy 
 after his comming. This is evident in Timothy, 
 where Paul {peakeththuss Henceforth ts layd up 
 fir me the crowne of righteoufneffe, which thc_j 
 Lord the righteous Indgejliallgiue me at that day, 
 and not to me only ,but (to whom dfet)to all them 
 alfothatUtte his appearing. So-long- as-we frade 
 not thisaflectiorrinfome meafurein our hearts, 
 we want an excellent argument of the certaintie 
 of our falvation: we may be fa ved indeed though 
 fortheprefentwe doe not feeie this, but wee 
 can hauenofetled comfort inxhc confederation 
 thereof, tilHn our very foules we louethe glo- 
 rious appearance of our blcfled Saviour. It • is 
 the note of an harlot to fay, my husband isnot 
 at home, he isgone a journey farre off, &c. and 
 To to rejoy eeat her. husbands abfence : as for 
 
 thofe 
 
Thy K^ngiome come. 
 
 9? 
 
 thofe that would hauc comfort that they arethe 
 chaft Spoufe ofchrifl, they muft with the bride 
 fay come 7 jis was before noted. 
 
 Another benefit that we (hall reape by this af- 
 feclionuntothecommingof Chtifi, is, tb.it it 
 will 'marvel leu fly eft range our mindes from tbe_j> 
 world^ and make m account all but droffe and dung j 
 ineomparifonofthat bleffcdnejje which wee frail \ 
 then attaine unto : The meditation hereof caufed 
 K^ibrabam^ ifaak^ and Iacob to Hue as pilgrimes Hets x ■• l .°- 
 and (hangers upon earth, becaufe( as the Apo- 
 (Hefiyth ) They looked for a Citie having a foun- 
 dation^ whofe builder and maker is God. They 
 had a defire of a better Countrey then the land 
 ofCanaan^cven ofa heavenly Countrey 3 which 
 caufed them fo little to regard the things ofthis 
 life. The like may be faid of Mofes^ who when 
 by the eye of faith hee had feene the promoti- 
 ons of the Court of Heaven, did eafily con- 
 temneand forfake whatfoever honors and pre- 
 ferments we re to be obtained in the Court of 
 Pharaoh, He that hath akingdome to fway in his 
 own Country ^ill never be over-much enamo- 
 red on fome fmaIlfarme 3 or cottage inan other. 
 
 Againe 3 7 his ear nefi '-longing for the king dome 
 of Glorie y will very much quicken, and helpe us 
 fir war din the performance of our dutic both unto 
 God and me n_ $ when we confider, That our worke 
 will not be in vainein the Lord y but that^ he, that 
 frail come will come^ and will not tar rie^ and his 
 reward.is with him. This will caufe us to bee a- 
 bundant in all good workes, that fo our crowne 
 N \ may 
 
 Heb. 
 
 «« 34* 
 
 1 Cor. x 5, 58. 
 Revel, 
 
 I 
 
9\> 
 
 Ianus f. 8. 
 
 2 Con 4 14. 
 
 r/< l 
 
 Simile* 
 
 Thy t\ingdome come. 
 
 may be more glorious, and our recompcnce 
 more plentifull in the day of the Lord. 
 
 Laftly, This holy dcfire and expectation will 
 make us patiently to under goe all manner tffujfe- 
 rings of what kind foever. Which is implyedin 
 that exhortation of the Apoftle, Beeyee patient 
 Brethren^and fettle your hearts for the comming of 
 the Lorddraweth neere. Grudge not one againft 
 another. Brethren^ leaftyee be condemned, be- 
 hold the ludge flandeth at the doore. Paul had a 
 very heavic burden ofaffli&ion lying upon him, 
 enough ( one would thinke ) to make him finke 
 under it; yet he profefTeth, that he did not faint 
 nor grew to be di fmayed thereat : but what was 
 itthatdidfupport him? even the expectation 
 of that glorious eftate, which he fliould come 
 unto atthe laft. Therefore (.faith he ) wee faint 
 not, knowing that he which hath rat fed up the Lord 
 lefts* , fhallraife m up alfo by lefus . And againe, 
 verf. 17. Our light afflictions which are but for a 
 moment, caufeth unto us a fane more excellent and 
 eternallwatght of glories. 
 
 Seeing then in all thefe refpeCte it appeares to 
 bea-dutievery needfulland necefTarie for us, to 
 pray for the Kingdome of glory 3 This ferveth 
 flrft ©fall, for the juftreproofe of fuch as fay 
 this petition every dzy,Thy Kingdome corner: 
 But would they bee willing that chrifi mould 
 comeunto them r Oh no, They will none of 
 that, theyloue him well, if you will beleeue 
 them, but they care not for his company,what 
 -vile hypocrifie is this? If a woman mould fay, 
 
Tbj Kjngdome come. 
 
 Iloue my husband, as well as any wife living; 
 but if one tell her of his comming home, fhee 
 cannot abide to heare of that : might not a man 
 boldly fay,furely her heart is not right towards 
 her husband, all is not well with that woman: 
 Or if a fubjecl mould brag that he were as loyall 
 and true hearted to his King, as any man in the 
 Realme, and yet could notindure to heare that 
 his Soveraigne had wholy fubdued fiich and 
 ftich Rebels as did rnutinie againlt him,and now 
 wastoexercifehis full, authoritie over all his 
 fubje&s : would wenotfufpe&fuch an one to 
 be of a treacherous and dill oyall affection, not- 
 withstanding all his great words, and boafting 
 fpeeches? Such is the cafe of all thofe that 
 would faine perfwade men, that Chriftis their 
 husband and their king, and that they loue him 
 and his honor with all their hearts : and yet are 
 marvellous unwilling either to haue him to 
 eome unto them inthatglorious manner, as at 
 length he (hall, putting all bis enemies under his 
 feete, and tryumphing over finne, the world, 
 and the devill,or that they themfclues mould 
 goeuntohim, before that great day of alHies 
 doeappeare, it is greatly to be feared, that they 
 are Adulterers and. Adulter -effes ('as lames calleth 
 them ) and that they runne a whooring after the 
 world, having combined themfelues with Gods 
 mortall enemie, the devill : whatfoever preten- 
 ces they haue to the contrary. And hence it 
 comes to paiTe, that they are. io immoderately 
 a#ra*d of the peftilence, of any of thearrowes 
 
 91 
 
 The vaine 
 pretences of 
 manr for 
 Ghrifts com* 
 mtng to re« 
 joycethcrcat, 
 is (hewed . 
 discovering 
 thcirhypo. 
 enfie, 
 
 Siwile* 
 
 Tames 4* 
 
9 6 
 
 Simile. 
 
 Ofytt. 
 
 ^iafiv. 
 
 Simile* 
 
 T^'by K^ngdome come* 
 
 — f 
 
 of death, whereby they are likely to be deadly 
 wounded, and fo to be difpatched out of this 
 world: Why? whatisthepeftilencetoaSaint 
 of God ? Is it not a mefTenger to call him from 
 abafeandmiferableeftatehere, to raigne with' 
 Chrifllefa in the lcingdome of heaven i If then 
 they were the Spoufe of Chrift, and could fny 
 with the Bride, come: Lord lefut, they would not 
 much care what the mefTenger is that doth call 
 them to fit upon a throne in heaven. 
 
 If one fhould come unto any of us, and tell 
 us r youmuft repaire unto the Court inaK the 
 haft you can poffible, the Prince will beftow 
 this or thatgreat office upon you, you need not 
 doubt it, I will fhe w you my commiffiori I haue 
 thus to warne you: albeit the mefTenger had 
 tagged apparel on him,and dealt fomwhat rude- 
 ly and roughly with us, we would not much 
 ftand on that, fo long as he did invite us to fuch 
 promotion. Now what is the Plague unto the 
 fervants of God, but a meffenger to fetch them 
 fromearthto iieaven, wherethey ihall bee ad- 
 vanced to farre greater dignitie then any the 
 world affords * 
 
 Oh i But it is 4 terrible kind of death to die of 
 thepeftilence. 
 
 Grant for the time it be fo ( though indeed it 
 be notfo terrible as men doe imagine) what is 
 that in effect, but that it is a mefTenger not fo 
 gaylie apparelled, or not fo courteous altoge- 
 ther as an Ague, orfomelikedifeafe: To long as 
 it calleth us to fo happk a place, we fhould bid 
 
 it 
 
Thy K^ngdome came. 
 
 It welcome. And fo we would doe, if we were 
 fully perfwaded of the happines of our chan^. 
 Blejjed ( faith the holy Ghofi ) are thofe that die in 
 theLord^&c. So that now, if you would beaf 
 furcd you die blefledly 5 the queftion is not, whe- 
 ther we die in this place or that, of this ficknefle 
 or that, by Sea or by Land, in bed, or in the 
 field, butallthe matter is, whether wee die in 
 the Lord? 1 hat is, in Gods favour, yea or no, 
 whichifwecan be affured of, weareblefTed in 
 ourend, whatfoever, and wherefoeuer it bee: 
 for, death comes with a fling to none, but u wic- 
 ked and impenitent perfons. - 
 
 Secondly, here is aUfe of Inftru&ion for 
 us, That we flriue with our owne hearts, to make 
 them ivilling anddefirous, not enely that the king- 
 dome of grace may be flablifbed, but that the 
 kingdome of glory may be haflened. Now becaufe 
 a number doe faile of this willingnes (though 
 fome there be indeed, that herein if in any thing 
 may belaid to be ficke of Ioue,) longing, to be 
 diffblved, and to be with Chrijl, and de firing and 
 fighing to be clothed with their houfe which is from 
 heauen: becaufe (Ifay,) many and thofeof Gods 
 deare children doe come fhort of this holy af- 
 fection. It will not be amis, to mew by what 
 meaner we may attain to this, that if we might 
 haue our hearts defire graunted, we mould 
 aboue all things wim, that there might be an 
 end ofthefedayesoffinneunto all theeled, or 
 at leaft unto us in particular, that we might lay 
 downe this our earthly tabernacle, and goe 
 \ O unto 
 
 97 
 
 Reycl. 14. 
 
 Vfei. 
 
 Philip j. 
 z Cor. f . 2. 
 
98 
 
 How we may 
 get adcfire of 
 the king- 
 dome of glo- 
 ries haftcmng 
 
 1. 
 
 To labor to 
 denie t-e 
 world* 
 i Cor 7. 
 1 Iohna. ij. 
 
 1 lames 1. 
 
 ] Simile. 
 
 . To flrif e for 
 'fomecertain* 
 tyofour own 
 goodeftat<y 
 tohaue a 
 •Ihaxe therein. 
 
 Simile. 
 
 Thy K^ngdome come* 
 
 mo«*a««*M>> 
 
 unto our graucs in peace : 
 
 The way to attainetothis is, Firftto labour 
 to denie the world with all the lufts thereof, 
 and not to fet our mindes upon profit, pleafurc, 
 orcreditrtobeufers of the world as if weufed 
 it not$ but at no hand lovers of the fame, for 
 then, the hue of God is not in us, and if that be 
 not in us, howcanwedefirehiscomming unto 
 us :Let us then ftriue to keepe our fclves as a 
 chafte Spoufe unfpoted ofthe world, and then- 
 we (hall not be afhamed to loske our Bride- 
 groome in theface. but fhalllifttrpour heades 
 with joy when the day of his appearance com- 
 meth, one that hath- played the good child or 
 fervant, in his fathers^or matters abfence, will 
 be full glstdy to be called to a reckoning, con- 
 cerning his carriage and behaviour, whereas 
 guiltinejfe can fetb fear fit Inejfe, and cowardli- 
 nefle. 
 
 Secondly \w* muft firiue to get form certainty , 
 that when Chrift doth come to judgement, we Jhai/ 
 Jpeed the better for it, that heaven is ourinheri- 
 tance, and that then, we (hall enter into the full 
 polTeifion and fruition thereof: till fuchtime as 
 men haue gotten this affurance, there cannot be 
 a greater torture unto them, to heareeither of 
 their particular, or of the generall day of judg- 
 ment. It is no joyful! newes^ for aprifoner, 
 that knowes not whether hefhall be fpared or 
 executed, to hearethat the Aflifes are neere at 
 hand, andthatrhe Itidge is fhortly to pafle fen - 
 tence upon him. If then we would attaine to a 
 
 longing 
 
Thy K^ngdome come. 
 
 99 
 
 longing defire after the comming of Chrifl, let 
 us labourto be rcfblved of this poinr,thatwhen 
 we lcaue this world we mall change for the bet- 
 ter, which aifu ranee we fliaH haue if our con- 
 verfation be truely religious, and our profeilion 
 beautified with the workes of pietie, mercie, 
 and of upright and Chriftian dealing in the 
 whole courfe of our Hues. 
 
 Thirdly, Weemuft labour to know the excel- 
 lencie of that eft ate, which we fl) all come unto in 
 the heavens. Orherwife, though a man haue the 
 certaimie thereof, if he be not perfwaded, that 
 it is very well worth the having, he will never 
 be much affected with the defire of it. Tell an 
 unre?enerateman(thatiraaginethhc mall bee 
 favedaswellas the beft) of the happineiTe of 
 the life to come, and it will fceme an idle and 
 frivolous tale unto him, becaufe he cannot con- 
 ceiue of fuch matters: but tell him of fomc 
 bootie thathe may get, or of fome kgacie that 
 is alreadie bequeathed unto him, and hcewill 
 befth re himfelfe at the hearing ofit,yea,though 
 you wake him out of his firft fleepe: he will be 
 frefT) aud nimble, and not bee able to fleepe a- 
 gainefcrjoy. Why then fliould hee be fomo- 
 ved with earthly matters, and nothing at all 
 with heavenly, becaufe he hath a conceit of the 
 excellencieof the one, and not of the other: 
 for heavenly things cannot be comprehended 
 but by the helpe of the holy Spirir, which fear- 
 cheththe deepe things of Godj and revealeth 
 them onely unto his children. 
 
 O i Now 
 
 t Pet. i . 
 
 To labor to 
 know the ex. 
 cellcncie of 
 
 that c (late. 
 
 
 t Cor.' u 
 
100 
 
 Thetxcellcn- 
 cie of heaven 
 
 is diva fly 
 fhetvcd* 
 
 In regard of 
 the place. 
 
 Hebr 
 
 *4 
 
 Compared to 
 a great Citie, 
 Revel. j i. n» 
 
 Thy Kingdome came. 
 
 Now to the intent that we may attain c to a 
 more cleere understanding of the exceliencie of 
 thekingdomeof heaven, let us a little confider 
 wherein it confifts. Notonely $ 
 
 i. In a perfect freedome from all evil! . Butalfo 
 2 . In the en] oyment of all manner of good. 
 And that; 
 
 1. tn regard of the place.. 
 
 2. Ofthecompmie. 
 
 £. Of the ejlate of the elect then, 
 
 Firft, F or the place whereunto they f\) all goe. It 
 is full of all manner of contentment, as farre 
 beyond that Paradife wherein Adam lived in 
 the time of hisinnocencie ( though it were ve- 
 ry excellent) as that was beyond the moiHoth- 
 fome dungeon that is$ and this muft needs be a 
 very rare place, becaufe it is a Citie of Gods owne 
 buildings and that for the entertaining of his 
 beft creatuies, when they are in their moft glo- 
 rious eftate. Therefore is it fhadowed out for 
 ourcapacitle, by the things that with men are 
 hadingreatefteftimation: that thereby, as it 
 were by (hires, we might come to the veiw of 
 this glorious place, Imeane the new lerufalem. 
 The particulars whereof we may fee in. Revels 
 2i . 22. Chapters, fome of which we will brief- 
 ly touch. 
 
 It is there compared** a great Citie r which is 
 fay dtt> bee fcitnated upon an high Hill, noting 
 thereby, the excellent fcituation thereof, both 
 
 in 
 
Thy I\ingdome come. 
 
 in rcfpeft of the pUafantneJfe^ as alfo of the 
 firength ofit. Then further it is defcribed* 
 i. By the effentiall parts thereof 
 
 2. By the properties and qualities, 
 
 3. By the prim ledges and good things belon- 
 ging unto it. 
 
 The efTentiall parts ofit are the rvalles, the 
 Gates, the free tes, the foundations of the Cities, 
 andofthcwalies, which are fet forth by the mat- 
 ter and forme. The matte? ishid to htgold, pre. 
 cious/lones,(jrc. 'to wit, the moft precious things 
 ! that can be. The forme ^ that they are the moft 
 glittering, beautifull, mining, Chrijla/l-like,and 
 laftly, in moft excellent order.. 
 
 Having fpolcen of the Citie, and of the parti- 
 cular parts of it, he comes to fpeakeof the pri. 
 vi ledges thereof, that they that dwell there mall 
 need no Temple y that '\sm meanes of infirutfion,. 
 nor any Sunne,norMoonc, becaufe the glorie 
 of 6Wdoth lighten that Citie. Furthermore, 
 it is faid, that there is no night there, andthat the 
 Cater are not flmt: to fignifie, that there mould 
 benofeareofdanger, no, nor terror of ene- 
 mies, but all peace. And laftly, thatnomcleme 
 thing fhould enter into it. 
 
 Againe Chap. 22. it is faid to haue a' pure Ri- 
 ver of ivater of life, cleere as Chryjlall running 
 through it ( which is an excellentcommoditiein 
 a Citie, ) and in the mid ft of thejlreetethenofthe 
 tree of lift •, &c . By all thefe intimating unto us, 
 that it is a moft ftngular and excellent place, and 
 this is to be noted, that nothing is faid of the 
 Ji O 3 houfesy 
 
 IOI 
 
 II* &c. 
 
 Theeffcnciall 
 parts of the 
 new Icrufa- 
 icra. 
 
 VetHra: 
 
 J 
 
IOZ 
 
 Why no men- 
 tion is made 
 of houfcs in 
 the new Itru- 
 lalcta* 
 
 The company 
 
 
 Thy K^ingdome come. 
 
 houfes, nor the things within thcm,becaufe no- 
 thing could ferue fitly to illuftrate the excellen- 
 ce thereof. Now, who would not defire to 
 Jiue in fuch a place 1 where there is nothing for 
 annoyance, but all things that may be for com- 
 fort and contentment. 
 
 If it were propofed unto us, whether wee 
 would fpend our dayes on the earth where now 
 we are, or in Paradife where Adam was < If we 
 were in our right wits, we mould make choice 
 of heaven before Paradife, ( which was a place 
 ofall manner of delights) in the earth: which 
 is a vaile of mifery, and an houfe of mourning, 
 wherein all creatures doe figh and groane in re- 
 gard of the miferies which finne hath brought 
 upon them: much more then mould we preferre 
 the pallace of heaven, before our prifon here 
 upon earth 5 feeing that ( as was before faid ) it 
 doth infinitely furmount the earthly Paradife. 
 Thus much of the excellencieoft'hepace. 
 
 Secondly, as touching the company: Itise- 
 very way futable unto the p/ace, for there wee 
 mall enjoy full-communion and fellowfhip with 
 the holy Trinitie, with our blcfTed Saviour, and 
 with all the holy Angels and Saints, even with 
 the whole companie of heaven, all which mall 
 loueusmoft dearely, and ro the full exprefTe 
 thatloue towards us. Here though wee haue 
 fomegood friends, yet we haue withall many 
 foes, many bad neighbours, the flefli, and the 
 deviilthe worft of -all: as fomedoeloue us, fo 
 others doe hate us, and thok that Ioue us beft, 
 
 haue 
 
Thy Ityigdome come. 
 
 haue their imperfections, and doeloue us but in 
 part: and in deed wedoedefire their louebut 
 onelyin part. Hence it commeth to parte, that 
 there arifeth unkindnefles and breaches now 
 and then betwixt the neareft friends, and mofr 
 loving couples: Butin heaven there (hall beno 
 fuch thing, but we mall loue others, and they 
 (hall loueus with a perfect and conftant loue, 
 for their ihalbe in us nothing but caufc of loue, 
 grace^goodneflejVertue and holineflTe in all per- 
 fection y 
 
 All men will graunt, thatitisavcrydefirea- 
 blc thing, to live among company that one can 
 thorowly affec>, and it is one fpeciall comfort 
 that Gods children doe £ndin their pilgrimage; 
 that fome times they enjoy the fweetfellow- 
 ihip of fuch as are led by the fame fpirit thar 
 they are. O then how de/ireable a place is Hea- 
 ven, where we mall haue the fruition of fuch 
 bkffbd company, where we ihall both loue 3 
 and be beloved beyond thar which we can 
 nowimagine. If one mould there meetewith 
 a delightfull place onely, and no company, or 
 fuch as he could notlike of$ Heaven were no- 
 thing fo defireable, but feeing both doe accord: 
 and meet together, it mould fetanedge upon- 
 our arTe&ions, and breed in us a longing defire 
 to be there, efpeeially fith that. 
 
 In the third place, our eft ate there mall be 
 every way anfwerable to- our place^ and com- 
 fan j. 
 
 For firlt 3 touching our Inheritance^ it fhall be 
 very 
 
 IO ? 
 
 there* 
 
 OurinhcrP 
 eance. 
 
i04 
 
 Luke 
 
 Rom. 8. 17, 
 
 1 Pet. 1.4. 
 
 Oar perfonf* 
 
 Shall be deckt 
 with all hea- 
 venly know- 
 ledge. 
 
 1 Cor. 1 3.11. 
 
 'Thy K^ngdome come. 
 
 very large, it is our fathers pleafure to giue m a 
 kingdome : And to make us Ffeires y yea, fellow, 
 heircs with his owne Sonne, Vpon the^artb, 
 Gods deareft fervants are many times Icanted 
 of pofTeflions, and thofc that they haue, are 
 but earthly, foone fading and vanishing: but 
 in heaven they fhall haue an everlafting King- 
 dome. Aninheritance Immortally andundefled^ 
 that fadeth not. ejrc 
 
 Then for our perfons y they fhall be moft hap- 
 py, and that both within, and without, they 
 fhall h:iue perfect hoiinerTe, ( whereof they 
 haue but as it were afparkle in this life) No 
 uncleane thing jhall enter into that Citie. But 
 allfinne fhalbe quite and cleane purged away, 
 and weftialbe as freefrom corruption, as Adam 
 before his fall. And as* the eUft Angels, that 
 are ever in Gods prefence. Allthemeanes that 
 hereweufe, can but weaken our originall cor- 
 ruption 5 but death will makeafinall difpatch 
 of it, and when we are rid of it, we malbe clo- 
 thed with hoiinerTe in ftead of it,our minds fhall 
 be furnifhed with all manner ofheavenly know- 
 ledge fb that there wefhallhauenoneedefaTem- 
 ple y {as was noted before )that is, of any meanes 
 of our-falyation, as reading , preaching, or the 
 like: for the meaneft chriftian mall haue more 
 cleare knowledge, as foone as ever he comes to 
 heaven, then ever any proprietor Apoftle had 
 here upon theearth: for here, the beft that are, 
 fee through aglaffe darkly y hut then we Jhall fee 
 face to face : here we knowe in part , ( as it is laide ) 
 
 but 
 
Thy K^ngdome come. 
 
 but there wejhall know even as wee are knownc» 
 that is, as God knowes us perfe&ly, fo wee fhal* 
 know him, and all things that any way pertaine 
 to the filling up of our happinetfe. 
 
 And as-our mindes Jhall bee fully informed^ fo 
 p) all our hearts be accordingly fanttifed^ and all 
 our affections duely ordered. Hence will arife 
 unfpeakableandendleiTe joy, for there mall be 
 nothing to dimini(hit,muchle(Te to breake it 
 off. All teares [hall bee wiped away from our eyes. 
 And alloccafionsofforrow quite removed:for 
 In Godsprcfcnceisthe fulneffeof joy, and at his 
 right hand ar e plea fures for evermore. Now from 
 this inward comfort, we mall be ftirredup to 
 praife and magniiie theZ.or^,and that without 
 wearinefleeven asthe Angels doe. And if Gods 
 fervants doe in this world find unutterable con- 
 folations, now and then in finging of Pfalmes^ 
 and offering up their thankefgivings unto the 
 Lord y much more, (yea infinitely more ) mail 
 betheirjoy inthekingdome of heaven, when 
 they performc this fervice unto the Lord. 
 
 Adde hereunto thzglorie which we mall bee 
 crowned with, which is the fame wherewith 
 chrijllefttshimfclfeis inverted: as appeareth, 
 John the 1 7. 22. Now if the very fight of the 
 glory of Chri(l y ofMofes^ and of Elias upon the 
 UMount, did fo affeft Peter as that he could fay, 
 Mafteritis good for us to bee here : much more 
 will the feeing and enjoying of farre. greater 
 glory in the heavens, caufe us in the gladnefTc 
 of our heartsto fay, It is good being here, 
 
 P Now! 
 
 IO; 
 
 2. 
 
 WefliaU hiue 
 abundance of 
 joy. 
 
 Revel. 
 
 Pfal. xel.11. 
 
 Glorie. 
 
 Luk. 
 
 9 31> 
 
I Cor.4.?. 
 
 106 I Tby Weill bee done in eartb> 
 
 Now befidesthis glorie which (hall be inhe- 
 rent in us 3 Wee (I) all alfo hau.e tfte glorie of all our 
 good thoughts^ words , and workes, as appeares 
 CMath.%^. 35. Wee fee how worldlings doe 
 hunt after praife here, though it be amongmor- 
 tallandfinfullmen, which know not (indeed) 
 what true praife means, how much more mould 
 wc be affected with that praife which God the 
 righteous Iudge fhall giueunto us, and that in: 
 the prefence of men and Angels, who (hall bee 
 everlaftingwitncflesof the fame. 
 
 Thus we haue in part Cccne what is the excel- 
 lence of the kingdome of heaven, this let us 
 often and feriouily meditate upon,and bethinke 
 our fclues of the place, of the company, and 
 of the eftate that there wc (hall enjoy 5 which if 
 wecandoe,aflliredIy it will caufe us from our 
 very foulesto fay, Thy Kingdome come^ Evenfo 
 come Lord It 'fus, c erne quickly. Thus much con- 
 cerningthefecond Petition. The third follo- 
 wed. 
 
 ji Tetittov, 
 
 Thy mil bee done in earthy 
 as it is in beamen. 
 
 T N the former Pttiti on ywehaue beene taught 
 I to pray both for the gracious^ and glorious 
 kingdome of lefns Chrijl. Now in this Pe- 
 tition is (hewed, horvwee may manifejl our fe lues 
 
 to 
 
Thy "»/// bee done in earth > i 107 
 
 to bee Subjects of this heavenly kingdom? here^and 
 Sow wee may befitted for his glorious frefence here- 
 after • viz. By dving his will, &c. And there- 
 fore are weetommanded to pray, Thy mil bee 
 
 But for the better understanding of this Mi* 
 tion^ we muft know that the will of God is two - 
 fold : Oneabfolute, andthe other fecret, which 
 we pray not forjforrhat ever hath beene,is,and 
 mall be done : in which fence it is fiid, Who hath 
 refftedhis will ? The LordisrWheaven, and doth 
 whatfoevcr hee will : [o that it were an idle re- 
 quelt to pray that that will of his might bee 
 done. 
 
 Another is his revealed mil, which isalfo 
 tionbIe,( as after mail be flic wed,) unto which 
 we deiirethatobedienceandfubmiffionmay be 
 yeeldedi T hy will be done : but where, and by 
 whom 1 in earthy that is, of the Elect which Hire 
 on earth. But what muft be the manner of this 
 obedience? as it is injheaven^ that is, m the An, 
 gels andthefpirits of good and ferfect men doe e- 
 bey in heaven •• fo muft we deiire to doe,not that 
 we can attaineto thatperfedion that is in them, 
 which is impoffible,( they being now without 
 ftaineor blot) but we muft ay me at it, and o- 
 bey in that fort as they doe.asneere as we can, 
 as in handling of thefe words /hall be more ful- 
 ly expreiTed. 
 Thus much briefly for the fenfe of the words. 
 Now let us fee what further inftru&ions are 
 there contained for our learning. 
 
 80111,9.19. 
 
 What ittnent 
 by Gods will. 
 
 P 2 
 
 Thy 
 
[o8 
 
 Ohfervat.% 
 Thatobedi a 
 ence co Gods 
 willis agsinfi 
 our nature. 
 
 Th mil bee done in earth 
 
 John €, 44. 
 
 <Tby mil bee dont_j. 
 
 Hencethis obfervation may briefly be noted. 
 Thar, 
 
 oilmen are naturally unwilling to doe thc_j 
 will of God, 
 
 Otherwifc, irthere had becneinusanyabi- 
 Ikie and aptnelTe therunto, why mould we pray 
 for ftrengthtodoekf Whatfoever we are bid 
 to aske of (W, furekis y we haue knot in and 
 ©four felues, and there fore our J^/wr in wil- 
 ling us to intreat God to bow our hearts, and to 
 incline our affections unto his will, doth teach 
 us, that we are utterly deftitute of all naturall 
 power whereby wee might attaine thereunto. 
 HenceitisthatCVBw/? faith, None cancometome 
 (cither in faith or obedience) except the Father 
 that fent wee draw him, drc. 1 he Lord muft 
 by his good fpirit winne our will and affections 
 before there can be any found converfion: yea 
 after that the worke of regeneration is begunne, 
 and men haue attained to fome competent mea- 
 fure of grace, yetthe ftefh, which isin parr un- 
 fubdued, fo Jong as their breath is in their bo- 
 dies, will ftill be rebelling and drawing backe, 
 fo that they fhall haue much adbeto go through 
 withthefe good duties that are en joyned them 
 toperforme, and to forbeare thofc ill courfes 
 
 which 
 
T~by mil bee done in earth* I 109 
 
 which they arc forbidden to walke in. They can- 
 not doe the good that they would r , but the evill that \ Rona * 7 * * 9 ' 
 they would not, that doe they. Hence it is that the 
 Pfalmijl prayeth, Incline my heart unto thy tefti- P&l. » »$♦ J*- 
 monies , and not unto covetcufnejfcs : implying 
 thereby, that he had not the command of his | 
 owne heart and affections, but that he flood in 
 need of the Lords helpc,both to with- draw him 
 from evill,and to draw him unto that which was 
 good. 
 
 Now the reafon why allthe fonnes of Adam, 
 are by nature unwilling and indeed unable to 
 doe as God would haue him, is this/to /'# them 
 there dwelleth no good thing, but all the imagina- 
 tions of the thoughts of their hearts are evill, yea, 
 enely evill, and that not by paffions and fits, but 
 continually. Whence itis,thatthe Apoftlefpea- 
 king of natur all reafon, which is the moft excel- 
 lent part in man, faith thereof, That the wife- 
 dome ofthefeJJ) is enmitie againft God, why i be- 
 caufe it is notfubje6r to the will of God, but may it 
 not by ufage and ordering be brought to fome 
 better patfe? no ( faith he ) // isnotfnbjefl to the 
 will of God, neither indeed can bee : now reafon, 
 which is the beft facultie of the foQle, and hath 
 ( as a Captainegenerall)the command of all the 
 reft^ if that ( I fay ) be fo corrupt, furely all the 
 reft muft needs be out of order. If that be ob- 
 jecting and mutiningagainftthelaw of our hea- 
 venly King, and all the other powers of the 
 foule,willbereadieasillfouldiers, to ftand up 
 in rebellion againft their Soveraigne. 
 
 P 3 Which 
 
 Reaftn I. 
 Rom. 7, 8. 
 
 Gen. 6.j.y» 
 
 Rooa. 8. 7; 
 
no I c Tby yt>ill bee done in earthy 
 
 Vf* i. 
 
 Rom 7,18. 
 
 Vctfc 15,14, 
 
 Cant.i.j. 
 
 I Which fervet h firft of al I, for the overthrow 
 of that wretched and ungodly opinionofthe Papifts 
 whohold, that there is in men naturally fome 
 freedome of will, to repent fortheir finnes, to 
 ferueGW, and to doe good and holy dudes. 
 Butwhythendoetheymake this petition, Thy 
 will be done { If they haue abilitiein themfelues 
 whatneedtheyaskeitof the Lord? But here-; 
 in, ( as in all other their erroneous opinions ) 
 they fhew themfelues to be blind, foolim, and 
 altogether deftitute of the knowledge of Gods 
 law, and of the corruption of their owne na- 
 ture. Paul was of their mind, fo long as he was 
 a proud P hart 'fee , but when once the Lord had 
 opened his eyes, and touched his heart with 
 the fight and fenfe of his originall corruptions, 
 then he was of another mind, he found in him- 
 Celfe no ahilitie to doe that which was good, but] 
 though he knew the will of God, and did con- 
 fentuntoit ( through his grace ) in the inner 
 mm,yetheeftw another law in his fnembcrs, re- 
 helling again ft the law of his mind \ and leading 
 him caftiue unto the law of finne, which wm in his 
 members, which makes him cry out, O wretched 
 man that 1 am, &c.And cenaindy, if they knew 
 the violence of their nature, as throughly as he 
 did, it would make them leaue offtheir bragging 
 and boa(ting,and fall to lamenting, and praying 
 W T ith the Church, Lord draw us, andwecj mil 
 runne after thee, Lordturne us and wee will turne 
 unto thee. For otherwife, all the teaching and 1 
 preaching, and good examples, bleffings, crof- 
 
 fes, ' 
 
Tbj mil bee done in earth, I in 
 
 ks, and whatfoevergood meanes elfe, the Lord 
 hath appointed for the converting of men,ali of , 
 them{I fay)candoe them nogood in the world, ^ 
 but they will rather be made worfe, then better | 
 thereby. ItmurtbetheZ<?>vfr ovvne hand that 
 mult ftrike the ffroake, otherwife all his ordi- 
 nances will proue uneffectuall. 
 
 Secondly, feeing there is fuch a contrarietie j 
 betwixt our will and Gods will, Wee jhould labor \ 
 to denie our carnall reafen^and worldly lujls,rvhich\ 
 fight again ft our fettles, and are our fere ft enemies : 
 For though the devill doe much maligne us, yet 
 could he not doe us any hurt at all, unleiFe our 
 ownc finfull will and arre<5tions doe take part 
 with him: but when we come to this, Imuft, 
 and I will doe fuch and fuch things, and why t 
 Itismy pleafure,itismy deligmvthen we run 
 headlong to all manner of eviil, even as our 
 great grandmother Eue did, whenfhe began to 
 yeeld to her own fenfe and wifHomc, in judging 
 of the eating, or not eating of the forbidden 
 fruit, whenfhe came fofarre, the devill had as 
 much as he defired. Would we then from our 
 hearts pray, Thy will be done t Then let us crofle 
 and curbethe motions and affections of flefh 
 andbloud, and not be over-maftered, nor o- 
 ver-fwayedbythefame, otherwife, wee make 
 this petition but onely in hypocrifle. 
 
 Thirdly, This makethfor theconfelation of Gods 
 orvne people, though they find in themfelvesa 
 great unwillingneffe to keepe the Sabbath, to 
 pray, to fing pfelmes, togiue admonition, &c 
 
 Albeit 
 
 Vfe. 3. 
 
 ipet.z.xx. 
 
 Vfrp 
 
Ill 
 
 Comfort for 
 a general! dif- 
 eafc* 
 
 Thy mil bee done in earthy 
 
 Roml 7. 8. 
 
 Albeit I ( fay ) their flefh be very backward,and 
 untoward ,fo that they come unto the fcrvices 
 of God^ SLszBcart unto the ftakeryet let them 
 not be difmayed, asif their cafe wereextnor- 
 dinarie: for this is anhercditariedifeafe, that 
 all Gods deft are troubled with. Indeed when 
 they come to heaven, to enjoy that blefTed 
 eftate, before fpokenof, they fhallobey Gods 
 will abfblutely, and perfectly, without any 
 mixture of naturall corruption : but while they 
 remain upon the face of the earth,they (hall find 
 that they haue great need to make this petition 
 Thy wilbe done ^Thatis, Lord incline my heartto 
 obedience, and frameit in all things, tobefub- 
 je&tothy blefTed will, let me not follow the 
 wicked lufts of mine owne flefh, but the good 
 directions of thy holy word. Let us make full 
 account, that while we carry about us thefe 
 fraikTaiernaclcs, we (hall find in us, much un- 
 wiIlingnefTe unto every thing that is good, and 
 great aptnes and pronencsunro everything that 
 is eviil. And if ( with the Apoftle /W,)wc can 
 fee and acknowledg, and bewaile this corrup- 
 tion in our felves, and withall, ftriue to cruci- 
 fie thefame, let usefteemeitagrear mercieof 
 G*di for no unregenerate man can goe fo 
 farre. 
 
 And furthermore let us be affured, that 
 
 though we haue-in us many lufts and paffions, 
 
 yetthat <?'*/, that hath enabled us, to fee them 
 
 and to hate them, will alfo enable us in the end, 
 
 1 to fubdue and o vercom them . If we mortife the 
 
 1 deeds 
 
Tly mil bee done in earthy \ 113 
 
 deeds of the flefl) by the Jfirit, we [lull line. In 
 which regard , the Apoftle Paul profefTetb, 
 that hce did beat downe his body, (to wit ) the 
 body offinne that was in him, where the word 
 that he ufeth, -doth fignifie to beat doivne with a 
 club : and is borrowed, from thofe, that ufed 
 then totrymafteries, who laid load on one an- 
 other, as hard as they could, knowing that if 
 they did not ftrike, they mould be ftricken, and 
 therefore they fattened their blowes asfureas 
 might be. 
 
 In the like forr, did the Apoftle deale with 
 his corruptions, he did his good will to worke 
 the death of them, knowing that if he did not 
 kill them, they would (lay him; And therefore 
 he did notascowardly fencers, that onely beat 
 tbeayre, and dare not come nere one another; 
 but he ftrucke home, and did his good will, ut- 
 terly to deftroy finnc, that fo it might not de - 
 ftroy him. Whofe example if we can follow 
 though we feele much deadneffe, and back- 
 wardneiTe in welldoing, we need not be dis- 
 couraged thereat: for if that mould not haue 
 beenein Gods children, our Saviour would ne- 
 ver haue bidden them make this petition. And 
 as for thofe that fay, they are alwaies very wil- 
 ling unto GW.rfervice,to pray, to heare,to me- 
 ditate, and the like, indeed they doe not know 
 their owne hearts. For whofoever knovves him 
 felfe,1hall be driven to confefle, Thdxwhen bee 
 would doe good, evillis prefect with him, fo that 
 the gotd which he would doe^ that he cannot doe. 
 \ CL Now 
 
 Roai.S.ij, 
 
 1 Cor.o.tp. 
 
 Rom. 7. 
 
n4- 
 
 That God» 
 revealed will 
 is two fold* 
 
 Thy mil bee done in earthy 
 
 Obfervat.g, 
 
 That Chrtfti 
 fubje&s muft 
 obey his 
 lawes. 
 
 Reaf. I. 
 R.om.7. 12. 
 Prov.30.5. 
 
 • Now more particularly; l.'herevealedwill of 
 God is twofold. 
 
 1 . That which he hath revealed in his word, 
 
 2. That which hee hath revealed by his provi- 
 dence. 
 
 Touching the former of thefe it may afford 
 us this obfervation. That, 
 
 i^sf liChri (this fubjeffstKU fi obey his will, as- 
 it is laid open in his word. 
 
 If we would not be efteemed hypocrites, and 
 rebels againft the Lord of heaven, we muft yeeld 
 upourfeluestobeadvifedand guided by him, 
 and by histeftimonies. We need not (land to 
 proue the point, the whole Scripture and expe- 
 rience of all yeeld to it. Nowthereafons to 
 moue us hereunto are thefe. 
 
 Firft, becaufe every word of God is holy, ]uft^ 
 and putt, even as gold that is tryedinthefire. 
 Thereis never a Commandement of Godbur.it 
 is holy : neverapromife but it is f aithf ull : ne- 
 ver a threatning but it is true. And therefore we 
 haue reafon to yeeld tothem, rather then to the 
 unholy, unjuft lawes of ilnne and Sathan. 
 
 Secondly, Inregardof our ewne good : if wee 
 heare his word and keepe it wefhallbe ble/fcd:b\ef- 
 fed in our bodies, bleffed in our goods, blefTed< 
 in our names, blerTed in our feede, and in a 
 word every way blcfTed, both at home, and a- 
 brOad, &e*t.2&. And when the word of God is 
 alight unto our feete, and our fteppes directed 
 
 there- 
 
Thy mil bee done in earth* 
 
 thereby, Gods Angels Jhallminifler unto us^ and 
 keepe us in nil our rvayes, fo that no evil/ Jh all be- 
 fall us And as for temporall commodities ,fo alfo 
 for (pirituall comforts „• we fhall enjoy them W- 
 bundantly, for if we keepe the word of God in 
 our underftandings,and in our memories, in our 
 hearts, and in our practices, weft all bee loved of 
 the Fat her : Not, but that hee loved us, even 
 when we were his enemies, yea from eternitie : 
 Butthen, he will mani felt his loueuntous, and 
 wc fhall finde by evident experience and by 
 found effects in our foules, that he doth car rie a 
 fatherly affe<5tiontowards us. 
 
 And further, it is added in that place by our 
 Saviour^ Andlwillloue him : but how will he 
 manifeftthislouc? / mUfrewmyfelfetmohim 
 ( faith he ) to wit, in his holy word, and in his 
 blelTed Sacraments, &c. We /hall be better a- 
 ble to feewhat Chrift hath doneand fufFered for 
 us, and (hall every day more and more find the 
 comfort and benefit thereof. And zgaineverf 
 23. hefiyth, zhithis Father and hee will corner 
 unto him, and dwell with him that keepeth his 
 word. Sothatthere fhall be a bteflcd commu- 
 nion betwixt the LordznA all fuch perfons : Hee 
 willtakeuphis abode in their hearts, and fill 
 them fullcfall hoIinefTeand peace,and joy fuch 
 as none can conceiue but thofe that fede h, and 
 at length when they hauefinimed the dayes of 
 their pilgrimage, hewillfaue their foules, and 
 rcceiue them unto himfelfe in glorie. 
 Many other are the benefits of obeying Gods 
 0^2 fecred 
 
 "5 
 
 Hcb. 1. 
 P(ai. 91. 
 
 Iohn 14. 2 1, 
 
 lames \\ zi. 
 Ifaiah5f.j. 
 Pfal.84. 13. 
 
u6 
 
 y/ci, 
 
 Vft. 
 Luke u 
 
 47. 
 
 4,. 
 
 Thy - mil bee don e in earth, 
 
 facred will which we may read of Pfdme 1 19 * 
 and in fundry other places of Scripture, which 
 for brev.ne fake I doepurpofely paffe ovc7,tnat 
 wemaycomeuntotheufeofthepoint.-Which 
 
 f ^ are I 0firre / rom doi "gthewill of W 
 that they doe not f muchasknowit; that are 
 (o farre from obeying their mafter,that they are 
 utterly 'unacquainted with his pleafure ; efpeci- 
 
 tlh u Y T,' be (har P el 5' rcbul *d 5 that^oe 
 pleafethemfekes m their ignorance, and doe 
 defpifetheknowledge ofholy things : and ther- 
 
 fhl W f K n thi f U ° F God * de ' iv ^d ""to- 
 them they are fleeping all the while, or mind- 
 ing other matters then thofethat are in hand: 
 they can bee mmble and finely enough about 
 earthly things , but altogether fiWifh and 
 drowfie when they mould* attend and marke 
 heavenly things. Thefemenscafcsareveryia- 
 mentableandfearefull, neither can they pray 
 Thy mM ice done in any truth of heart,becaufe 
 theynctherdoeknowit, not will know it. An 
 earthly King tfouldefteeme fuch little better 
 then rebels, that mould dealefo with his lawes- 
 Andcertainely, the Lord willnot judge them 
 to be good fubjeds unto his Majeftie, tflatdeale 
 focontemptuoufty with his holy ftatutes and 
 divine precepts. 
 
 Againe, here come another fort to be repro- 
 ved, Wholwvtktirmaitersmll, but dee it not ■ 
 that underftand what is their dutie,and can talke 
 - — _____^ as. 
 
Thy mil bee done in earthy I 117 
 
 Pfel.50.-1tf. 
 »7» 
 
 as well as the beft but practice little or nothing: 
 there is no alteration in their hearts, nor refor- 
 mation in their Hues: with which kind of men 
 theZ^expoftulateththe matter in this wife: 
 What haft thou to doe to declare mine ordinances , 
 that thou fljontdejl take my Covenant within thy 
 mouthy feeing thou hat eft to bee reformed ', and haft 
 caft my words behind thee ? For when thou fee ft a 
 Theefe, thou runnefl with him, and thou art parta- 
 ker with the adulterers. The £0r</cannotindure 
 fuch as will pretend religion in words, but de- 
 nie the fame in their lines : and therefore will he 
 not onely rebuke them, but alio fit their ftnnes 
 in order be fore them, for their terror and amaze- 
 ment : If they doe not repent, he will teare them 
 inpeeces, and there fhallbe none to deliver them: 
 asitisinthePp/w/aboue quoted: he will lay 
 to them at the laft day, Depart from mee you wor- 
 kers ofiniquitie^ and then they flail bee beaten 
 with many ft ripe s ,becaufe they knew their mafters 
 will and didit not. 
 
 Laftly, let thisferue for an inftruclion unto 
 us, that we every day get more understanding, 
 and ioyne practice with our knowledge, adding 
 unto our faith j vertue ,temperance, patience, God- 
 linejfe, brotherly kindnejfe, and hue, as the Apo- 
 ftle Peter exhorteth, which if we doe, thefe be- 
 nefits will come unto us thereby. 
 
 Firft, that being faith full ftewards in a little, 
 
 the Lord will truft us with a great deale more ? for, 
 
 To him that hath, it ft&ll be given, andheftiatt 
 
 haue abundance, he that makesa good and pro- JMatb.aj.ao. 
 
 Q_3 fitable 
 
 Mat,7.zj. 
 Luke 12.47. 
 
 Vfif 
 a Pet, 1. j. 
 
 Benefits a- 
 rifingfrom 
 the pra&ifeof 
 Gods will. 
 I. 
 
n8 I " Thy will bee done in earthy 
 
 Iohn 7. 17, 
 
 Luke 6,48, 
 
 Iohn 13.17. 
 
 2. 
 The will of 
 God revealed 
 byhisproyi. 
 dence. 
 
 Obferva*lO 
 Patience re- 
 quire* 
 
 fitable ufe of fmall knowledge, he (hall hauethe 
 fecrcts of God more fully revealed unto hiiTi, he 
 that will doe his will fhall know it, that it is his 
 will by the workedone. 
 
 Secondly, Hee that heares the word and doth 
 itjhallbefureto holdout conflantly, whatfbever 
 ftormes and temptations doc axiteMfitttbelike 
 an houfe built upon a rocke. 
 
 Thirdly and laftly, to conclude many things 
 in one, fiich (hail before of all manner of hap- 
 pineffe, accordingtothatof our Saviour, Ifyee 
 know t he fe things blefjed are yee ifyee doe them. 
 Many Papifts and ignorant perfons doe good 
 things, bat they are never a whit the more hap- 
 pie, becaufe they know not that they are goooV, 
 and therefore doe them not in obedience, o- 
 thers haue great ftore of knowledge, but it 
 puffes them up, and makes them more finfull, 
 and fo more miferable, onely they that know' 
 and doe, fliall be happie while they Hue, and 
 blefTed when they dicy as was in part (hewed be- 
 fore. Thus much concerning Gods wiU revealed 
 in his word. 
 
 Nowthereis anotherwill of God, which is 
 revealed by his providence^ and that is concer- 
 ning crofles and afflictions which eitherare up- 
 on us, or likely to befall us : Now, 
 
 As we mufi pray for obedience unto that which 
 he faith \ fo muft wee alfo for patience in that which 
 he doth. 
 
 That 
 
Thy will bee done in earth* I 119 
 
 That we may quietly and gently fubmit our 
 fclucs under his ftrokes, corrections, and cha- 
 ftifements This point may be confirmed by 
 fundry reafons, and that both 5 
 
 1 . In regard ef Godhimfelfe. 
 
 2. Of the afflictions wefuffer. 
 
 3 . Of our J dues that under goe them, 
 
 Firft, In regard of the Lord, that layetb his cor- 
 recting hand upon us, wc ought with all humilitie 
 tofubjeffourfelues, for he is a juft God and doth 
 us no wrong at all : a wife God, and feeth what 
 croflesarefitteftfor us: a mercifull God, that 
 willnotfufferus to beprefTeddownetoo low y 
 butin judgement mil remember mercie: and lank- 
 ly , a mighty God, that can lay upon us as heavie 
 burdens as he pi eafeth; and therefore the longer 
 we (land out with him, theworfeisit likely to 
 goe with us : for when he fets in with us, he will 
 never leaue us till he hath either broken our 
 hearts or broken our backcs. And therefore 
 when men come to this,, that they cannot pur 
 up Sathansinjurieorindignitie, that they will 
 notundergoeiuch acrofTe and fueh a miferic, 
 then they take the tight way to caufe the Lord 
 to heapc more afflictions upon them, till they be 
 either converted or confounded. 
 
 Letus therefore in all kindes of diftrefTes la- 
 bour to come to this refolution: thatthereis no 
 evittinthe Citiebutthe Lord doth it. That not 
 one haire of our heades can peri/h without him : 
 that there is no 'lofle can befall us in our eftate, 
 in fickneiTein our bodies 5 no affliction in our 
 
 children 
 
 Rtafon 1, 
 
 Hofca. 
 
 Aneceflarie 
 refolution for 
 Chriftians* 
 Amos j. 6. 
 
 Math* 10. 30, 
 
120 
 
 Icrem. 
 
 Math .26. 42 
 Luke 22,41. 
 
 John 18.11, 
 
 Tfo mil bee done in earthy 
 
 iSaov;. 
 
 1 King. 
 That it it a 
 great C\nne 
 potto joyne 
 our will to 
 Gods will. 
 
 children, no blemifh in our names, but our God 
 hath a fpeciall hand therein \ yea a juft, a wife, 
 a mercifull,and a powerfull hand,and that ther- 
 fore there is good caufe why we mould with pa- 
 tience bow before him,and yeeld unto him,and 
 conclude with the man of God, It is my afflicti- 
 on and 1 ml Ibearc it, yea, albeit our croflebee 
 very grievous and extraordinary, yet rauft we 
 fubmit our wills unto Gods hand, even as our 
 Saviour did, when hee was to indure a mod 
 fhamefull and painefull death, Not my will, but 
 thine be done, (- faith he ) and when Peter layd a- 
 bouthim with his fword, tohaue refcued him 
 from them that came to apprehend him, hee re- 
 buked him faying, Put. up thy fword into thy 
 fh tath, fhall I not drinke of the cup which my Fa., 
 ther hath given meet This was a fufficient argu- 
 ment to arme him againft all inward terrors, 
 and outward fufTerings, that whatfoever befell 
 him, wasnothingelfebutacup of his Fathers 
 owne mixing. So when Eli heard of fearefull 
 judgements that mould fall upon him and his 
 |lioufe, he pacifleth his heart with this, It is the 
 ! Lord, let him doe what feemcth him good. And 
 la{Uy,good King Hczekiah, hearing that his 
 feed mould be carried away captiue,and all that 
 hehadbetranflatedunto Babell, heframes his 
 heart unto patience with this meditation, Thcs 
 word of the Lord is good. When (^thought it 
 bell:, Hezekiah thought ir bell: likewife. 
 
 And it is a fhamefull thing, and a fearefull /in, 
 foranyonetothinkeotherwife, and for a crea- 
 ture 
 
Thy will bee done in^ earth, 
 
 turc to imagine his will to bee better then his 
 Creators 3 as every man doth that fhewes hiiH- 
 felfedifcontcntedatthat which it pleafeth the 
 Lor J to inflict, upon him. And thus much touch - 
 ingthefirft reafon taken frornGWhimfelfe. 
 
 A fecond moriue to induce us to patience, 
 may betaken from the afflictions which dec liz_^ 
 upon us*) and that in divers refpecls, viz,. 
 
 Firft, becaufe if we be the elect of God we /half, 
 be corrected in me a fare and in moderation, not ac- 
 cording to the defert of our finnes, but accor- 
 ding to the proportion of our ftrength. The 
 Ztv^will deale with us in that cafe, as wife 
 earthly Parents ufeto doe with their children, 
 who will not lay fo waightie a burthen upon 
 thofe that are young and weake, as on thofe 
 that are of riper yeares and of greater ftrength. 
 God is faithfull and will n&t fuffer tit to bee temp- 
 ted abotie that we are able-, but will giue his 
 ftrength unto his fervants, that we may be able 
 tobeare all whatfoever he impofethupon us. 
 And therefore we need not to be diftnayed un- 
 der afflictions , feeing that we haue fo fure a pro- 
 mife to be fupported therein, and that thcZord 
 willnotinfliclifo much on us as our iniquities 
 deferue, but as our need requires and as our 
 ftrengthcanbeare. 
 
 Secondly , our fujferings here^are but momen- 
 tary and therefore we fhould quietly fubmit 
 our felves under them , as the Apoftle Paul 
 did under his. Indeed, we do many times thinke 
 them to bee very long s but what is the reafon 
 R thereof: 
 
 III 
 
 Re-tf. 2« 
 
 They are in 
 measure. 
 IU, z 7 .8. 
 
 i C0M0.13. 
 Pfal. 86. 
 
 They are mo- 
 raencane. - 
 t Cor. 7. i4 T 
 
m 
 
 Vcf. i9. 
 
 Thy frill bee done in earthy 
 
 They art for 
 our good. 
 
 Heb. ii. 10 
 
 Ifaiah 17. 9. 
 
 4v 
 
 In regard oar 
 fufteungs are 
 under our dcs 
 fervings. 
 
 I. 
 
 A true reafon 
 of muchiaa. 
 patience un- 
 der cxoflcs. 
 
 thereof: bceaufe wc confidcr of them in a car- 
 nail manner, not Ioking ( as Paul did ) on the 
 things that are notfeene, but on the things which 
 are feene for if we did compare our temporary 
 affliction with the eternall joyes of the king- 
 dome of heaven, they would feemc to be of no 
 continuancein companion thereof. 
 
 Thirdly, we mould patiently beare thofe 
 corrections, that the Lord infl'i&eth upon us 
 In regard tf the benefit of them, viz,., that they 
 tend gre atly to our pro fir, that our iniquitie may 
 be thorowly purged, and that onr holmes may be in ■ 
 creafed. Thus we fee in regard of the nature] 
 quality , and profit ableneffe of the croffes, that 
 God cxercifeth his children withall, that there 
 is great reafon that the^ mould fay, Thy mil be 
 done. Laftly, In regard of our fe Ives there is juft 
 caufe, that we ftould meekly and quietly, fubmit 
 under his hand: becaufe when we thinke our 
 cafe to be moftdiftreffed, we fuffer nothing fo 
 much as we haue deferved, or as many others 
 of Gods deere fervants haue endured, who haue 
 yet done nothing fomuch hurt and mifcheefe 
 by their iinnesas we haue. And iri truth the rea- 
 fon why many are fo impatient under croflTes* is 
 this, that they haue not theii fullloadas yet 
 I laid on them .* that they haue had fo much 
 affliction, as hath wakened their pride, but not 
 fo much as hath mattered the fame : for if they 
 were paid home, in any proportion, as they do 
 deferue, they would betame^nough( through 
 Gods grace) and lay their hands upon their 
 mouthes^ 
 
T^ jm7/ £<?? ^^ w ^r^, 
 
 mouthcs, as lob did, judging thofe afflictions 
 that now theyundergoc, to he matters of no- 
 thing, and acknowledging with the people of 
 God, that. It is -his mercie that they are not con- 
 fumed. 
 
 Againe, as in regard of our deferts, fi in regard 
 of our need, we mould be patient in all manner 
 of afflictions, for having fo corrupt a nature as 
 | we haue, what mould we doe unlefFe we had 
 ' fomemeanesto curbeus? we are naturally like 
 wild afTcs cokes, (as it is (aid in lob, ) altogether 
 untraceable, unreachable and unferuiceable, till 
 the Lord haue broken our hearts, and taken 
 downethe pride and itubbornefTe ofourflefh, 
 and framed us unto fbme dutifulnefTe, and obe- 
 dience. And.even after this is done, if we du- 
 ly looke into our hearts, mall we not find that 
 we (land in great need of continual! taming? If 
 onedifefain us, or fcoffe and jeftatus, mall we 
 not quickly find a great dealeof pride boy ling 
 withiaus 1 (hall wee not requite like for like, 
 taunt for taunt, fcoffe for fcoffe? if it be thus 
 with us, aflu redly wee need all the corrections 
 that lie upon us: and when we fecle this fxvdl'm^ 
 about our hearts, it is high time that aveine 
 mould be opened, that our corrupt bloud 
 moudbeletout. 
 
 Seeing then that there is fuch great caufe why 
 wemouldfubmitourfeluesto Gods mil, in all 
 manner of tribulations $ This ferveth for the 
 juft reproofe of fuch as are very unquiet under 
 their croffes, and make fir greater adoe about 
 R z their 
 
 u? 
 
 lob. 
 
 Lam. §. 
 
 lob 
 
 11. 
 
 Vfiu 
 
~= 
 
 
 
 1x4- 
 
 The way 
 be rid of 
 
 fli&ions. 
 
 to 
 af- 
 
 Levit. i. ©*« 
 
 'Tfa will bee done in earth, 
 
 their afflictions, then about the finne that bring 
 
 their afflictions, whereas the readied way to be 
 
 freed from miferies, either alreadie lying upon 
 
 them or likely to come upon them, were this. 
 
 Firftofall, to purge their hearts, and their hands 
 
 from all manner of iniquities by found and hearty 
 
 repentance, and then toprepare and arme them- 
 
 felues with patience to take up their erojfe, and 
 
 with contentedneffe to beare the fame fo long as. 
 
 it pleafeth God to continue it upon them. Not 
 
 but men may ufe lawfull and good meanes for 
 
 the preventing and avoyding of needlefTe and 
 
 unneceifarie dangers, or for the removing of 
 
 fuch evils as haue already befallen them: but the 
 
 meaning is, that they fhould not vexe and fret 
 
 when they perceiue by good effect that ir is the 
 
 will of the Lord, that they fhould be thus or | 
 
 thus exercifed and tryed. 
 
 A worthy example hereof wee haue in Abra- 
 ham , the Lord commanded him to faerifice his 
 owne Sonne for a burnt offering, to kill him,to 
 cuthiminpeeces, to pull out his entrails ( for 
 this was the manner of the burnt offering ) to 
 burneall upon the Altar ; and this he wasto doe 
 with his owne hands, unto him that was not 
 his fonne alone, but his onely fonne,his obe- 
 dient and beloved Tonne* th.e fonne of the pro- 
 mife, for whom hee had fo long waited and 
 prayed: yea, thatfonneof whom Chrijt lefus 
 mould come: fo that in killing him he might 
 feemenot onely unnatural], but monftroufly 
 1 wicked, in that thereby he fhould depriuenot 
 I hknfelfc 
 
m 
 
 Thy mil bee done in earthy 
 
 himfelfe alone, but all the ele& of eternal! fal- 
 vation. Yet notwithstanding, as fooneasever 
 he knew that it was Gods will that he fhould doe 
 it, hee confulted not withflefh and blond r , but pre- 
 fentlyfet upon the performance of it: Rofe up , 
 earely in the mornings made every thing readie 
 that might ferue for iuchabuilneiTe,went unto 
 the place which the Lord appointed, not ac- 
 quainting wife, or fe-rvants, or any body clfe 
 with his purpofe, leaftthey mould haue gone 
 about tohmderhim: and when he was come 
 unto the place, He built an Altar, .couched thc^t 
 wood) bound ifaak hisfonne y Uydhim on the Altar 
 upon the xvood^ and fir etched out his hand, and 
 tooke the knife to haue killed him, DoubtleiTe it 
 wentvery neere his heart, nottofeeonely, but 
 to be alfo the death of his owne Sonne : Yet,he 
 quietly fubmitted himfelfe unto his good plea- 
 fure, as knowing that he mould get nothing by 
 wrangling with God, which willing and readie 
 fubmiflion of his the Lord did fo accepts that 
 hefwearesby himfelfe that hee would greatly 
 blefTe him,and exceedingly multiflie his feed ejrc. 
 And that therein aUthe Nations of the earth fhould 
 behUffed. 
 
 The like we may obferue in David when that 
 K^ibfolon rebelled againft him, and with-drew 
 moft of his fubjech from him> andcaufed him 
 to flee for his life. He never chaffed at the mat- 
 ter as many a one would haue done, nor ufeth 
 anytermes arguing difcontentment, fuch as 
 thefes rV'fo w as werfo wronged, who eiierfo ahu* 
 R 3 fee 
 
il£ I Thy mil bee done in earthy 
 
 a Jam. 
 
 Vfei. 
 
 fed as 1 1 What^ to be defofedfrom my throne, and 
 driven from my kingdome by mine owne Sonne , by 
 Abfolon^wnom J from a child fo dearely reflected 
 whom having deferved to die y 1 freely par done d^ 
 and greatly favoured ? T his is a moll intolera- 
 ble injurie, and fuch an indignitie as I will ne. 
 verindure, &c. We heareno fuch words from 
 David, but rather contrarie, if the Lord fay 
 thus, lhaue no delight in thee, behold here T am, 
 let him doe as feemeth good in his eyes •• and if he 
 will not reftore me the Kingdome againe, His 
 will bee done, lam well contentto part with it. 
 So mould we conclude for all manner of crof- 
 ies, and in particular for the peftilence, where 
 [with our Townes are now vifitcd; If itbeethe 
 * Lords will that I (hall fall by that ftroake, Blef 
 fed be his name. Though it be notanordinarie 
 doore, yet a doore it is through which many of 
 the Saints hauc gone to their reft, and through 
 which I hope to come unto the like : If it be the 
 Lords good pleafuretocall me that way : which 
 chearefull refolution if we can attaine, Then 5 
 
 Secondly 3 here is matter of fngular conflation 
 forvsfm that God hath given vsan anfwer to 
 this petition, which wee haue often made .• Thy 
 will be done , for it is not a matter of nature, or 
 of wit, to be able to fubmit vnto Gods will, but 
 indeede a worke offupernaturall, andfpeciall 
 grace of the Holy Ghofr, vouchfafed only vnto j 
 theeleft. 
 
 And indeed this argueth that there is much 
 heavenly wifedome in vs, according to that of 
 
 the 
 
As it u in beaten. 
 
 127 
 
 the Apoftle lames, where exhorting men to pa- 1 
 tience, (hee faith ) If any wantrvtfedom^, /*;\ lames x, 
 himaskett, ejre. implying thereby, that when 
 we grow impatient in any diftrefTe, it is not by 
 reafon of the greatneffe or multitude of our 
 erofies, but by reafon of our want offpirituall 
 wifedomerfbr if we could conlider(as was mew- 
 ed before ) whence, and why our afflictions 
 come, and what effeifh they mall haue in us,we 
 mould be able to undergoe any miferies, and 
 be well conrent as dutifull children, to be who- 
 ly at the difpo/ing of our moil loving and mer- 
 cifull father. 
 
 As it is in heaven. 
 
 Hitherto of that obedience which is to be 
 yeelded unto the revealed will' of God: 
 now it followeth out of thefc words to 
 be considered, how and in what manner wee 
 ought to obey, viz.. as the Angels and Saints 
 doe in heaven : not that any man living can at- 
 taineunto that meaftire of obedience as they 
 doe, butthemannerof theirobedienceistobe 
 imitated and aymed at with all care and dili- 
 gence. So that the point here to be learned^ is 
 this. That; 
 
 Tbofe tbatwould bee found faithfull andobedi- 
 tnt tmto the mil of God, mufi not follow tht exam- 
 ples of mortal! men ^ but oftkz holy Angels and 
 I bUffkd Saints in heaven. 
 
 Obferva % X\ 
 Angchcxaro- 
 pic to bee i- 
 mkatcd 
 
u8 
 
 ReAjem. 
 
 How the An- 
 gels doe obey 
 the will of 
 God, 
 
 I* 
 Willingly. 
 Ha. 6. i. 
 
 As it is in heaven. 
 
 Firft, Becaufe they arc perfect patterns, and 
 without any exception, asforthebeftmen that 
 are, they may offend, and doe offend as well as 
 we: and therefore are no fure-coppiesforusto 
 follow. 
 
 And befides 5 this muft needs be a fpeciall 
 meanes to humble us, when we fee howfarre 
 fiiort we come of that holineffe which is in 
 them. 
 
 And it may be alfo a continuall fpur unto us, 
 to help us forward unto perfection, fo that we 
 mail alwayes be at the growing hand, whereas 
 ifwe imitate any mens example, we mall faile, 
 both of humilitie,and of growth in grace, for 
 within a while we mall either indeed( orinour 
 conceit at Ieaft ) be as good asthofe whom wee 
 propofe as patterns to be followed. And then 
 we mall fwell with Pride, and beginnc to be 
 high minded, and lb not ftriue unto perfection 
 but either ftand at a flay, or goe backward. 
 
 Now, that we may the better difcerne, how 
 the Angels and Saints are to bee imitated, wee 
 muft confider more particularly, how they doe 
 obey,^/^. willingly, faithfully, and humbly. 
 
 Firft, they obey readily, and faithfully, and 
 humbly. In which regard, the Angels are laid to 
 hauewinges, to note their fwiftneffe, in perfor- 
 ming whatsoever is injoyned them, they find 
 fuch joy and contentment in G*ds will, that 
 they doe with much delight undertake and goe 
 through with whatfoever fervice he calleth 
 them unto, and fuch as is the obedience of the 
 
 Angels, 
 
As it is in beaten. 
 
 Angels ■, a> alfo that of the Saintes, for they are 
 as free from all impediments and hindrances, 
 and as full of all grace, and goodnefTe, as the 
 Angels thcmfclues. Herein therefore let us la- 
 bour to belike unto them, evento be joyfully 
 andchearfullintheferviceofGW, notas many 
 who will not come unto prayer, or hearing of 
 the word, orthelike, butthey mud: be haled, 
 and drawne thereunto by a kind of violence: 
 but as for their luits, and the purfuite of plea- 
 fures,and vanities, there they are winged, and 
 very nimble and forward. 
 
 Let us be otherwife minded, and carting a 
 way whatfoever clogs may hinder us, let us 
 chearfullyrunnc the race of chriftianitie, that 
 is fet before us, till we be crowned with happi- 
 nefleand immortalitiein the heavens. 
 
 Secondly as the Angels of God obey readily., 
 fo doe they alfo obey faithfully^ notin foaie 
 things at fome times, but in all things at all 
 times 5 If the Lord giue them never fo many 
 commandements .- they care as much for the 
 performance of all of them, as of any one of 
 them. When xhtAngell was fent toinfli&the 
 peftilenccon-/#alk*, hedid not finite one or two 
 villages and then deiift : he did not pretend 
 that it wasagainft his nature, to proceed any 
 further, no,that had been enough to haue made 
 hima,devillinhell. 
 
 And fhall any. man then, whoisbutaworme 
 prefcribe unto God what he (hall .command 
 him, andrefufein fome things, to yeeld obedi 
 i S ence 
 
 lip 
 
 2. 
 
 Faithfully, 
 
 Chron. 
 
n° 
 
 Revel ► 4- 
 
 Vfe 1. 
 
 J<r it is in beaten. 
 
 ence unto his holy will, becaufe it is againft his 
 nature,nay,his nature multiloop unto Godshw 
 otherwifeit will bring him to deftruclion in the 
 end. None are fuck grojf'e finners, but they mil for- 
 leave one finnt or other • and none almofl are fo 
 fanclifed, but they would fame be borne with, in 
 onefwne or othtr. Come to fome that haue beene 
 iniuriousto their bretheren, and tell them that 
 they mitft be reconciled , they wil be content 
 with that, but tell them withall that they rauft 
 make reftitution, and there they will leaue you ; 
 Oh, they cannot like of that, but why mould 
 they not like as well of one commandement of 
 God as of another: Is it not their duty to yeeld 
 obedience unto all r* certainly if they endeuour 
 not Co to doe, they are not like the Angels in 
 heaven, neither doe they make this petition 
 from a heart altogether fincere and faithfull un- 
 to the Lord. 
 
 Thirdly, andlaftly, they yeeld obedience in 
 humilit'te, cafting downe their cnwnes before the 
 Lords foot ftoole : And being welicontent, that 
 he mall haue all the glory, to whom alone it 
 doth appertaine, how muchnnre mould wee 
 that arc but duft and'ames,abafeour felues, and 
 humble our hearts in his prefencc,acknowledg- 
 ingthat of him areal things, and that therefore, 
 all praife be longeth unto his maieftie. 
 
 Here then are thofe to be reproved, that 
 though they take moft lewd and wrerched 
 courfes, yetimagineto carry out all their foule 
 iinnes with this, that others are as bad or worfe 
 
 then 
 
As it is in beaten. 
 
 ■■ ' 
 
 then they are. What need fucha ftirrc(fay they) 
 I hope I doe butas my neighbours doe,and ma- 
 ny thoufands are as great offenders as I? Like 
 enough fo;but haue you learned the Lords pray- 
 er no better? Haue you babbled over this petiti- 
 on, Thy will bee done in earthy as it is in heaven,{o 
 often, and not underftood it c Or if you did 
 underftand it, and knowthatGWrcquireththat 
 wefhould obey him, as the Stints and Angels 
 doe^ haue you fo little regard of his commande- 
 menr, that you will rather follow the crooked 
 Tule of wicked mens cxample,then the perfeftdi- 
 re&ion,\vhich the examples of the S a? ntsejr A n- 
 gels do giue to you?This fheweth that we are far 
 from.fincereobedienee,and therfore we mould 
 learne betimes to take better wayes, lead being 
 altogether unlike the Saints of GW here, we be 
 utterly excluded from their company hereafter. 
 Secondly ^T his may feme for the humbling of 
 the bejl that are feeing that when they haue done 
 what they can, yet they come farre mort of An- 
 gelicall obedience. The proud Pharifie thought 
 himfelfe in very good cafe, when hee was not 
 like the Publican : but who bad him to make I 
 comparifon with the PuUicanf Hefliouldhaue 
 compared his obedience with that that is per- 
 formed in heaven, & then he mould haue found 
 himfelfe more like a devillin hell, than an An- 
 gel or Saint in heavenrand furely the raoft god- 
 ly that are if they examine their a&ions by this 
 touch-ftone, fliajlfee great caufeto cry out with 
 the Public an >Lor die merciful! t$ me afmner, 
 
 S 2 Verse 
 
 l V 
 
 Vfi 2. 
 
ip 
 
 Cjiue us this day 
 
 4, Tetiuon, 
 
 Whatisment 
 bj Bread* 
 
 V 
 
 ERSE II. 
 
 (jiue us this day our 
 daily *Bread. 
 
 IN the three former Petitions are fetdowne 
 the things that concerne the Glorie of God , 
 and the fanclifying of his Name, which is 
 done, when his kingdome of Grace is advan- 
 ced, nndhiskingdomeof Glorie doth come, 
 and when his will is done in earth,asthe Angels 
 and Saints doeitin heaven, that is chearefully^ 
 faithfully , humbly^ and without objecting, for 
 fothe Angels doc it likewife. This, being at 
 length fhewed,followeth the three laft petitions 
 wherinwe beg of CT^things neceflTarie for our 
 ownegood.. 
 
 1. For our natur all life ^ in the fourth petition. 
 
 2. For ourjfirituall life^ in the two laft peti- 
 tions. 
 
 Not to itand onthe curious divifion and fcan- 
 ning of the feverall words, becaufe plaineneffe 
 and brevitieis'intended. In the rlrft- place wee 
 muft know, that by bread we tmder (land aU ihe_j> 
 commodities and comforts of this hfe± which arz_j 
 needful I for our health and fafetie y and for our 
 c em fort and delight . Its afguratiuejpeech, the 
 
 part 
 
Our daily 'Bread. 
 
 l V 
 
 iChron. 19. 
 14. 
 
 part for the whole. Now in that we are to pray 
 Giueusthis day our daily bread, that is, food,ap- 
 parell, &c. In that we muftbeggethcfe things 
 at Gods hands, the obfcrvation is 5 
 
 That all the commodities of this life are the gifts Ol[ervd % i\ 
 of God j and if we would have any comfort or pro- 
 fit by them y we muft fuc unto the Lord. 
 
 This, David ( though a King, and fuch a one 
 as came by that hee had as lawfully as any man 
 in the world ) confefTeth of him and his people 
 when they had beenefo liberal!, Who am 1 &c. 
 It was a great matter that they had abilitie to ; 
 offer fo largely, and to doe it willingly, in that 
 he faith. Who am 1 ? and who tfmy people, that we 
 jhould be able to offer willingly ? That was a dou- 
 ble benefit, yet he iaith 3 All things come of thee y 
 (jrc. They had given great gifts, yet they had 
 butpayd GWhisowne, nay, but a little part of 
 his owne ; and therefore he faith, O Lord aU this 
 abundance is from thee, &c. And hee dwells on 
 this, that though God had put them intopoffeffion, 
 yet he had not put himfelfe out ofpofp/po?*: Y ea, 
 might fome fay, we received it from him at the 
 firftincfeed, but now hee hath loft his title to 
 them . Nay, (faith he,) verfig.xhcy arc his ftill, 
 the goId,and filke,& the purple, Sec. was (W-r, 
 and thatthey could ufe them to fo good a pur- 
 pofe, was from God: fo 2>4v*Vpren°et!nhis,and 
 
 ^yeeldes two reafons of it, to wit, why the earth 
 is his 5 firft, hee made it: andfecondly, he pre- 
 S 3 ferveth 
 
 
 PfaL 14. 
 
w 
 
 Cjiue us this day 
 
 Obje%. 
 
 A»ftv* 
 
 Objebl. 
 
 An/n>, 
 Hag. i, 9 . 
 Pfal jo. 
 
 * King. 7. 
 
 fervethit. If we haue made any thing on the 
 earth, or did preferue any thing, wee might 
 claimefome title to it, but GWdoth both,ther- 
 fore, The earth is the Lords , and all that there- 
 in is. 
 
 But, We need mt aske divers things which wee 
 haue right and inter eft in, and which we haue got- 
 ten by our labour andtraveU. 
 
 Whatisanfwered, Deut. 8. where is fhewed 
 that the Lord giveth ftrength to get riches, and 
 befides, hee giues men a heart to ufe their 
 ftrength, and good fuccefTe in ufing of thefe, 
 that we are Co much more indebted to God, 
 
 But, / haue purchafedfuch andfuch things with 
 my money . 
 
 What faith God. ? The gold 'is mint \ejrc. And 
 the beafles on a thou fand hills are mine : and God 
 giues them theirmeatein due feafon. We cannot 
 provide for them, but it is God that makes the 
 grafle to grow and ripen, and hee giveth it 
 ftrength to nourifh them . So that, turne which 
 way we will, the Lord hath right to all things, 
 he is the owner and poflfeflbr of them ftill . 
 
 So that the firft reafon that they are his, is be- 
 caufe of his right. 
 
 And fecondly, thatthough we had them al- 
 ready in our hands,y et if God doe not maintaine 
 and continue them unto us, they can doe us no 
 good. As the Prince hearing of the Prophet 
 what abundance there mould be,faid,fte if the 
 windowes of heaven fheuld be opened it could not 
 bee : Eli/ha faid unto him, thou JI)altfee thefts 
 
 things, 
 
Our daily ^read. 
 
 W 
 
 things J?ut ft alt net taflofthem,8che did feerhem 
 and yet could not eate one morfel, but was 
 trodden under foote. So Baltazer, he had pre- 
 pared afumptuous banquet, yet when the hand 
 writing came againft him, it did him no good, 
 but his knees fmote one againft the other. So it 
 is laid of the Israelites, When the meate was in 
 their mouthes the wrath of God fell upon them. 
 
 But fome may fay, When we haueit not in our 
 hands onely, hut in our meuthes what need we aske 
 it? 
 
 Yes, we haue need, for if we doe not,the Lord 
 m ay deft roy us, fo that when we haue our meat 
 we cannot eate it, unleflTe God permit us, orif we 
 could, it could not profit us unleffe GWble/Te it 
 unto us. As it is faid in Haggai^ Tec haue fowen 
 much, but bring in little .• yee eate y but haue not 
 enough : yee drinke, but are not filed with drinke; 
 yee c loath you , but there is no warmth • and he z^ 
 that ear net h wages ^earneth wages to put in a bagge 
 with holes. And therefore men had need come 
 unto God be they never fo wealthy, becaule elfe 
 their wealth will be but poifon unto them, ra- 
 ther a meanes to hurt them than to dot them a- 
 nygood„ 
 
 For Inftru&ion, that therefore before we lay 
 hand of any of the creatures, we pray unto God 
 that he would beftow them on us, and fan&ifie 
 them unto us j forevery creatureis fan&ified by 
 the word and prayer. So that we mu ft pray that 
 €Wthatgiuesusthe creatures, would fan&ifie 
 them unto us, and us unto them^ and then wee I 
 
 muft\ 
 
 Dan, 5. 
 
 Pfal. 78. 
 
 Qbju-l. 
 
 JfrfVm 
 
 Haggai 1. £. 
 
 r/et. 
 
 x Tim, 4. 
 
/ y* 
 
 Vft. 2, 
 
 Vfc S , 
 
 Qiue us this day 
 
 muftbe thankfull, which we fliall be if we pray 
 fervently for them, and that not onely in word 
 but in deed, which we (hew, when we life them 
 to thatcnd and purpofe that God hath appoin- 
 ted. Contrary to this is the practice of thbfe, 
 that if they haue apparel and food enough,they 
 pray not for them, or if they doe, itisfo cold- 
 ly, as who mould fay, this they hauealreadie, 
 and therefore doe not with fervencie craue a 
 blefling upon them from the hand of God. But 
 fuch men mockeGW when they fay thispetiti- 
 on, and thinke whether GWgiue it, or giue it 
 not, wee care not, if God will not, our barnes 
 and ftore-houfes will. 
 
 Secondly, this ferues to reproue thofe, which 
 abufetheir wealth to excefle and riot, and pride 
 &c. Who, howfoever in word they come unto 
 God, yet they doe not in deed: for as far as any 
 oneisproud, fofarrehetruftsnoton God, but 
 would thruft him out of poffeffion ; and if they 
 thought they were appointed to bee Gods to- 
 wards, andthat all they haue came by his mer- 
 cie,andthattotheend they might ferue him, 
 in them, and by them,they would be more care - 
 fulito ufethem accordingly, as GWhath ordai- 
 ned, but the great abufe of them to furfet and 
 riot, this doth proue, that howfoever they fay 
 they haue thefe things of God, yet they come 
 by their owne labour, by their wit and indw- 
 ftrie. 
 
 For fmgular comfort to Gods children^ If all be 
 from the bountie of our heavenly fathcr,and by 
 
 defert 
 
Our daily Thread. 
 
 defert none hath more then others, and there be 
 none of the deft but oWdothloue, therefore 
 they mould make reckoning, that they be pro- 
 vided for in their needs, as well asthegreateft 
 Prin ce in the world. But how is he provided for 
 but by prayer,and callingonthe nameof God? 
 Yea, but he hath wealth and friends which hee 
 lcanes upon. Hath hefo t yea, curfed is he be- 
 caufe he with-draweth his heart from God, and 
 rcfteth on the arme of flefh, we mud flrft, waite 
 on God^ and pray unto God y and then afTurc our 
 hearts he will not faile us: And though others 
 haue more, yet let us not envie them : mall our 
 eyebeevill, becaufeCW^eyeisgood? let him 
 doe what he will with his owne, neither let us 
 murmure nor repine, becaufe others hane grea- 
 ter plentic then we: for, what is that but tothinke 
 the world beares fome fway in the matter, and that 
 God is put out ofpcjfejpon f But we muit know, 
 as/> 'ometion , fg riches come neither from the E aft 
 nor from the Weft \but from God alone. And there- 
 fore this mould pacifie our hearts, if wee pray 
 unto him and depend upon him, according to 
 ourfaith it mail be unto us. 
 
 In that he bids us pray, Giue us, not giue mee 
 cjrc we may obferue : 
 
 That weefhouldbee care full of our brothers eft ate 
 as well as of our owne. 
 
 So that every faithfull man mull pray for all 
 faithfull men, becaufe we are members one of 
 T another, 
 
 *J7 
 
 0b[crv4\\$ 
 
'# 
 
 Simile, 
 
 (jiue us this day 
 
 Pfal.il?. 
 
 Iobzp* if. 
 
 Vfi w 
 
 Vfi 2 • 
 
 another, and all members of Cbrift : therefore 
 wemuftbecarefullforthem as for our felues. 
 For in the naturall bodie,we will not be content 
 tohaue onearme clothed, and the other naked, 
 or to haue both clothed, if the legge be naked : 
 nor will not reft fatisfied, till all bee provided 
 for: fo we being the members of Chrift ,(houid 
 pray that others fhould be provided for as well 
 as our felues j that alt Gods' people who are his 
 inheritance be prayed for. This we fee by the 
 practice of lofr, who was carefull of others need 
 as of hisowne : infbmuch,thathe was a Father 
 to the pooreandfatherlejfi, and as an husband t& 
 the widmv, &c. and did not fpend that which 
 God gaue him in exceffe and riot. 
 
 To reproue thofe, whoif their bellies bee 
 full, and their backes cloathed, they care not 
 whether others finke orfwimrae: how can they 
 lift their hands unto God, or take this prayer in 
 their mouth, who though they can helpe others 
 yetgoe not about it i they fay but in hypoeride 
 Giue us this day onr daily Bread, Fbrthe meaning 
 ofchrift in this petition is„to ftirre up mens 
 hearts that they may giue- to thofe that haue 
 need 5 now whenthey haue abilkie and willnot 
 giue, what doe they but dlflkmbltt They muft 
 i doe this with the hand, as well asprayitwith\ 
 the mouth, elfethey doe but take Gods name in 
 vaine. 
 
 Secondly, for fibular comfort to alt poore f>e$. 
 plethat-arehoneft arid godly, certainely it mall 
 goc well with them, in- this regard^ that Gods 
 
 Saints- 
 
 m ' ".»' 
 
Our daily 'Bread, 
 
 \ W 
 
 Saints doe not oncly craueof C7<?^ the things of 
 etcrnall life for them,butalfb all things conve- 
 nient for this life: now God will hca re their pray- 
 ers when they pray in faith, and will deny them 
 no good thing. And therefore let them make 
 rhis account, in their doubts and in their feares, 
 ( for then is their tryall how they ftand upon 
 Gods proraifes ) when they haue no eomfort,let 
 them rememberthat all the Church doth pray 
 for them, and then what if their neceflitie in- 
 creafe, andtheirfamilie increafe, the Lord is sl- 
 blcto maintaine a great family, as well as a 
 fmallfamily. And if one Eiiah could prevaile 
 with C7^ for a whole Countrey, for raine to 
 make the Land fruitfull : then may wee doubt, 
 when all Chriflians^xzy for us, we /hall be un- 
 provided for : Butin truth the Lord doth often- 
 times fcant us, becaufe tve doe mt Beleeue the Pe- 
 tition]}) all take effeff, and according to our faith 
 it is unto us. Let us labour therefore to beleeue 
 that all worldly thingsare not the worlds gifts, 
 but Gods gifts, and that he is follicited day and 
 night, whenwearea-fleepe,and ourfamilieis 
 at reft, that then perchance, many thoufand 
 Chriftiansarcfollicitingourcafeunto GW, that 
 he would fend usreliefe. If we could beleeue 
 this, it would quiet our hearts, and we mould 
 be provided for and our ftate maintained. 
 
 It folio weth, Giue usthisdxy our daily Bread. 
 £ This day ] That is for the prefent time to ferue 
 ourturne, and that, that mould content us, as 
 our little children they depend and cruft upon 
 
 T 2 us 
 
 lames %. 
 
 i King. 
 
140 
 
 
 Obferva.i^ 
 
 Eiod- 
 
 SimiU, 
 
 Qiue us this day 
 
 That all carle 
 ing and car- 
 ing is booties 
 and needlcffe. 
 
 I. 
 
 Nccdlelfc. 
 
 us, though indeed, as they grow bigger, they 
 are more full offufpitionand of unbelcefe,they 
 doe not defireadayes provision before hand; 
 but if they haue enough for the prefent,to ferue 
 their turne, they referrethc reft to us, and liue 
 from hand to mouth. And foGod would haue 
 usdeale, not to aske for many ages, but for the 
 prcfent day. Whence we obferue 5 
 
 7 hat Christians mu ft be content though they have 
 nothing before hand jo that they haue to ferue their 
 prefent need. 
 
 Note the ftate of the Church in the wilder- 
 neflTefortieyeares, in the mornings they had 
 provifion, but at night all was gone. So that if 
 a man mould haue asked them where their 
 break- faft was, they muft haue anfwered, in the 
 heavens.Butis not that farre? No furely,when 
 it is in Gods hand : for a child it his Father carry 
 his victuals, will thinkekssgood as if heehad 
 ithimfelfc, and itsas good to haue blefKngs in 1 
 the clouds, as here on earth .And that we might I 
 be thus contented Chrifi prelTeth this point: 
 where he (hewes, that allcarking and caring is 
 Bootleffe, and needleffe. 
 Its needle /fe > bcca.uie our heavenly Father knowes 
 that we haue need of all thefe things^ and there- 
 fore will fupply us inthe beft time. If we could 
 fetdowne thefe two things firmelyand ftrOrrg- 
 ly 5 firft, God is our Father: and fQCondly > out- 
 heavenly Father : we need not care* 
 
 Oh, 
 
Our daily *Bread. 
 
 14.1 
 
 </• 
 
 Oh, But my need is more then any man knowes 
 
 Yea, bur he is an heavenly Father, and hath 
 power and is able, and mercifull and willing to 
 helpe us, and is full ofwifedome, and therefore 
 will not fuflfer us to bee pinched aboue our 
 ftrength. 1 herefore our owne children mall rife 
 upin/udgementagainftus, when they fee that 
 we know their wants, and they haue tafted of 
 ourkindnefTeheretofore,wefeehowchearefull 
 and comfortable they are, yet we arc earthly, 
 I and God'is an heavenly father, that hath dealt 
 mercifully with us many times- nay, with dogs 
 andfwine, heclotheththe grafle, and feedeth 
 the beaftes of the field, the young Ravens^ &c. 
 And why then mould wee not come unto him, 
 and reft upon him/* It were eafie for God, to 
 giue us enough for twentie yeeres at one time, 
 butthen we mould be undone: we fhould bee 
 like the ProdigallSonne, never come to our Fa- 
 thertill all were fpent. A father will not giue his 
 fonneallhis goods at once, he loues his com- 
 pany better then fo,becaufe he would haue him 
 cometo him often. So God deales with us, he 
 is our Father that hath care for us, Sc yet would 
 haue us come unto him for all things we want. 
 
 Secondly, It it lootelejfe : and therefore hee 
 faith. Care not for the morrow .• wee mould not 
 care for to morrow, or for this time twelue- 
 moneth, and headdesthefeafbn: for, who by 
 taring canadde one cubit to hisfiature, (jrc. If one 
 1 thatisofalowflature mould fay, I <will never 
 T 3 reft 
 
 Ob\ea, 
 
 Anfvh 
 
 Math. 
 
 Simile. 
 
 Bootlcfie. 
 
 Math. 
 
gft 
 
 (jiue us this day 
 
 — : ■' . _. * — — 
 
 Simile, 
 
 ■\ 
 
 Vfc\. 
 
 
 reft till I am as tall as fuch a man, or one chat is 
 tall fhould fay, Iwillbeftowmuch inapparell, 
 IleneVerreft till I become as little as iuch a 
 man, neither of them would adde to, or de* 
 tra<5t from their ftature. And as it is for ftature, 
 foitisforftatealfo; what condition GWhath 
 ^fligneduntousthatwe mail haue, when wee 
 haue done allout working 3 carking and caring. 
 This femes againe exceedingly for reproofs 
 of thofe wretched tmbeleevers y that fay, giue us. 
 things for ou r prefent necefTitie,and yet all their . 
 mind is how they may get riches for. many 
 yeares.Tbey will trnft God no further then they 
 muft needs, though God fay they fliall want no- 
 thing 5 heifrtheir fhepheard, yet they will di-\ 
 ftruft, if the barnes were full, and the purfefuil,! 
 and the debts payd, then they would be out of 
 care : would you indeed * then you are a wret- 
 ched Idolater, to ftay upon the creature, more 
 then upon the Creator: and in truth, that is in 
 every ©ne of us, to fay with the rich man in the 
 Gofpd\,fouletake thy reft, thou hajl riches laid 
 ftp for m^ye ares. But a Chriftian muft thinke 
 thus,thathisfoulecan haue no reft, till he de- 
 pend upon God and beat his finding j For if he 
 haue riches for many yeeres, he may not liue 
 oncyeere,no, nor an houre, as that rich man 
 did itoft, -but Gad made his will, and he was exe- 
 cutortoo, he appointed whether his riches and 
 faimfelfcmould goe. 
 
 Thereforeif we haue nothing before hand, 
 but liue all our life as the ifraelites did, that at 
 
 evening 
 
Our daily 'Bread. 
 
 w 
 
 Onecaufe of 
 
 ExocL 
 
 evening we can raake an even reckoning with 
 all the world, andhaue nothing left but Gods 
 promife : yet we mould be thankfull, for haue ] 
 we not caufe to be thankefull, when we haue as 
 much as we pray for, and that we haue: {bme- 
 times God doth try his children with want of 
 .apparelland of food, not but that he can giue 
 it them, but that he may fee what ufe they will . £TiJ«" t ^iL 
 make of hispromifes, what faith they haue id, 
 their hearts, as he did the Jfraelttes to fee' how 
 they would remember their Jate deliverance ? 
 7 hey thoughtthey had beenc full of faith, but 
 when they wanted water, they mewed that they 
 were full of unbeliefeand of murmuring, and 
 therefore they fell out with iJWofcs: but he that 
 will pray in faith muit fay, Lord giue fomuch as 
 isneedfullforthe day, which God will never 
 with-hold: hee that hath given us hisfonrrej 
 could giue us all the wealth under heaven, but 
 we muft be content, if we haue things needfulf 
 for the day, and if he gitie us anything before 
 hand, labourto bee more thankefull, and not 
 wholy to reft upofi ft. 
 
 [ our.' 2 Here mould feeme to be a contrarie- 
 tie, that wee mould begge it: yet it being our 
 orvne, its 6W/ gift, and yet Our : butthcrcafon 
 why it is termed Our t is, 
 
 Beeaufe, Every beieever is in Chrijl lej r us \*nd 
 having interest in him ,aS is ours ,i Cor. ^Though 
 wet haue nothing, yet wee pjftjft all things, be- 
 caufe we poftdfechrift : and therefore its cal- 
 led our ; for howfoever we loil our right by our 
 
 fciM 
 
 Why we fay 
 oar daily 
 bread. 
 
 I. 
 i Cos. 6. 
 
i44 
 
 Gen. j. 
 
 iThcf.^. 
 
 Pfal. ix8. 
 
 Simile, 
 
 Vfe. I. 
 
 AS, 
 
 (jwe m this day 
 
 fall,yet being converted,and beleeving in Chrift 
 all the creatures may be called Ours againc. 
 
 Secondly, becaufe wee come by them by fuch a 
 meanesas God hath ordained, viz,, by labour and 
 diligence in our calling, which is Gods decree, 
 Thou [halt eate thy bread 'int he five ate of thy face. 
 Though Adam were reconciled unto God, yet 
 he muft labour and travell, and if he did fo,th en 
 he might eate his owne bread comfortably: So 
 he exhorts in another place men to labour and 
 to eate their owne bread. As David faith in this 
 cafe, h leffedjhalt thou bee when thou eate ft the la. 
 hours of thy hands : becaufe then wee walke as 
 God bids us. And therefore we doe as children: 
 who when their parents bid them doe fuch and 
 fuch a thing, to the utmofl of their ftrength, 
 and then promife them fomewhat for their 
 paines: when they haue doneit,they may com- 
 fortably and boldly craue that as their owne. 
 
 For the terror of thofe that are not in Chrift, if 
 iftheyaske their owne, they can looke for no 
 thing but damnation ; As Iudas, when he went 
 to hell, its laid, Hee went to his owne place, hee 
 was never in his owne place till he came to hell, 
 that Was his inheritance: And therefore thofe 
 that haue not remiffion of finnes, nor thefpirit 
 of (7a/rofan&ifie the creatures untothem,they 
 can never pray, Giueus our bread^for if Chrift 
 benotburs, nothingisours, but we are intru- 
 ders and ufurpers : we be borne to fuch a Jiving, 
 drhauepurchafedit; yetweehaue no right to 
 it, becaufe w* haue no right in Chrift. 
 
 Secondly, 
 
Our daily ^Bread. 
 
 t Secondly, it femes for the overthrow of thofe 
 th.it line idly and unfrofitably r they can never fay 
 in faith, Giue us ear bread : for it is Gods decree 
 that wholoevcr would eate his ovvnc bread, 
 fhould eateit in labour : and therfore they living 
 in no labour, either of mind or bodie, where- 
 by they might be profitable to the Church or 
 Common- wealth,they can never haue comfort 
 thatthcy eatetherrowne bread, but are intru- 
 ders, fhifters, and fcandalous peifons. And 
 therefore/^ faith of fuch they mall bee thruft 
 out as the moth 5 what reafon is there for that i 
 becaufe they haue no more right in that they 
 potTefre,thentlie moth hath in our coate,whtc|i 
 we brum out,aad tread under our feetand bring 
 to nothing : thus is every unregenerateman, be 
 heneverfogreatin the world. 
 
 It is ForftnguUr comfort, to thofe that are the 
 members of Chrijt,md liue in a calling, they 
 may boldly fay, gitte me my bread. We would 
 thinke it ftrange, that he that hath nothing, 
 mould fay as boldly, as they that hauemany 
 thoufands: butif we confider, what makes it 
 ours , viz.our being in Chrif, our living in a cal- 
 ling : why may not we haue asgood, my better 
 intereft. in the things of the world, then thofe 
 that haue mod and are not in Chr/fi &c. In 
 truth many times, thepoorefl iervant in the fa- 
 mily, may better fay, giue me my bread &c. 
 then the matter of the family, that hath goods 
 and lands and all, ifthou be in C^r//?, and the 
 other not. 
 
 'u \: xP*m\ 
 
 r/e 2. 
 
 SimiL 
 
 e. 
 
 Vfe V 
 
\^6 
 
 Cjiue us this day 
 
 What we b^g 
 inasking dai- 
 ly bread* 
 
 
 Pxoverfc 
 
 Simile. 
 
 [Daily ] In the originall it is, bread untemy 
 
 fubflance^ for my good, and profit : for many 
 times riches are to the hurt of the owners, ap- 
 parell doth not warme them, nor food ftreng- 
 then them, nay they abufethefeto pride, and 
 furfeiting, anddrunknefferthe ftrengthofq'iar- 
 relling: fo that fumptuous houfes cannot de- 
 light them, becaufe of the gripingsoftheir con- 
 fciences : and therefore Chrifi doth teach us to 
 pray for that, by which we may be bettered, 
 under which wecraue two things. 
 
 Firrt, that God that knotves our eflate would 
 giue us a portion fit for m^thisis notably expoun- 
 ded where ^4gur faith,£/#? me net poverty^ nor 
 riches, &c .feedme with food convenient , that is, 
 bread fit for us," viz.. that God would giue us 
 fuch a portion,& proportion,and fuch a mode- 
 ration's may neither bee to little nor to much : 
 Asa patient having a good carefull phyfition, 
 will not fay let rnefo much blond, or giue me 
 fuch a purgation as my {km would defire: but 
 you know the ftateof my body, and what is fit 
 forme; giue me that purgation which will free 
 mefromnoyfomehumors, and prefcribe mee 
 that dyet which is moft convenient for me. If 
 men mould haue as much wealth as they would, 
 it would make them proud, and if tuey mould- 
 haue fo little as their enemies would, k would 
 make them fret and murmurerfb that we fhoulct 
 pray for fo much as is fit for our charge, and as 
 that doth increafe, that G*</ would enlarge our 
 maintenance. 
 
 But 
 
Our daily ^Bread. 
 
 '47 
 
 But here a number fail e, who think they would 
 haue dill more and more, yet nothing can ferue 
 their turne. GWknowesthey are woeful! pro- 
 digals, or unjuftly miferable ftewards of that 
 they haue already, which appeareth bythat they 
 are unwilling to goe out of the world, and more 
 proud and idle,in hope of that which they (hall 
 haue. What then would they doe if they had 
 more^they pray that oW would giuethem that 
 which is fir, and yetthey are never content with 
 that which oWgiues.; he that is poore would 
 he rich, and he that is rich would be as rich as 
 the wealthier!:, and their reafon is, becaufe they 
 hope they can difpofe of it as well as others:but 
 that is not the queftion, what weethinke wee 
 could difpofe of, but what God fees fit for us : e- 
 very one would haue fo much honor as would 
 make him proud, and fo much wealth as hee 
 might make a Cod of it, and fodefire one thing 
 and pray for another, butwemuft craue that 
 whichisfitfor us. 
 
 We pray that God would giue us a bleffedufe of 
 thatwhichwehaue : for the fofteft bed cannot 
 giue us fleepe, northe fineft food fill our hearts 
 with joy and gladneiTe without Gods blefling, 
 but wemaycate with much bitternefle and dif- 
 contentment: a man may labour and heape up 
 riches, andyetleauethemto others. If a man 
 hau4 bread, God may breake his jlaffe of bread, and 
 then it can bring him no comfort. Therefore 
 we fhould pray,that<7^wouId giue us that por- 
 tion whichheknowestobefit for us, andfuch 
 U 2 ufe 
 
 2. 
 
 EccIcC a. 
 
 A mo j. 
 
14.8 
 
 S% petition 
 
 And forgiue us our tre/pa/fes. 
 
 ufe of it, as may bee for our comfort: Thus 
 much of the fourth Petition : The next is. 
 
 What 
 "for m 
 roll. 
 
 Uptayd 
 gene- 
 
 oAnd forgiue us our debts, as 
 ypee alfo forgiue our 
 debters. 
 
 AS in the three former petitions ^,ve were 
 taught by our Saviour to begge fuch 
 things as belong to the glorie of God: 
 foin the three latter our Saviour is fo mercifull 
 and bountifullto his poorefervants,thathetea- 
 cheth them how to pray for their ownegood s 
 forthings neceflary for body and foulc. Where* 
 in are contained all thofe things which concern 
 our comfort: partly for this naturall life, ( of 
 which you heard before:) partly, for the life 
 | of grace, in thefe two laft petitions, wherein we 
 1 pray* 
 
 i. Forjuftificathn, in this Petition. 
 2. F organification, in the laft. 
 By debts here is meant the forgiuene/fe of our 
 finnes^ and the Imputation ofchriftsrighteoufnes: 
 a part for the whole. In which rcfpeft, our fins 
 are called debts, becaufethey make us mifierablt^ 
 defoers,znd liable to all the punifhments of God. 
 [~ As we forgiue our debters^ not, that wee can 
 forgiue finne, but^r wee pafie by injuries, that 
 
 men 
 
Andforgiue us our trejhajjest 
 
 49 
 
 men offer us ; fo men pray God to pafle by our 
 iinncs: fothat herein, wee pray for jufiificati- 
 tn. Wherein is fliewed 3 
 
 1. What wee are^ viz. alldebtcrs. 
 
 2 . How we may beefreed'.by forgiving others. 
 Now in the firft place, where wee are taught 
 
 to pray for forgiuenefTe, we may obferue that , 
 
 None arefo good in this life, but they haue dai- obfervation 
 ly need ofremiffton of (innes. 
 
 For this petition did belong to all the Pro- 
 phets and Apod les and holy men of God, as 
 well as unto us, for in many things we offend all-, iames 3 , 
 heputsinhimfelfe among this number. And 
 PW an holy man, and one that was throughly 
 converted unto God, faith, When 1 would does RoBI ; 7 ; 
 good, evill is frefentwith me, &c. And Daniell, 
 o Lord } enter'not into judgement, &c. Further 
 this prouesthat we ftand in need of forgiueneffe, 
 viz,, that manifold afflictions and erodes which 
 'are appurtenances of fin doe ever follow us, for 
 if we did not fm on our part, God would not lay 
 on affii&ion on his part, fo that all haue need to 
 craue mercy at Gods handintheforgiueneiTeof 
 
 finnes. 
 
 For confutation ofpeperie, which teachethand 
 bearesmenin hand, that they can fulfill the 
 whole law: and that they are without iinne,. 
 nay that they can goe beyondthe law,, and de- 
 ferue fomewhat for otherslikewife.Surely then 
 1 they need not this prayer, nor to be beholding 
 I U3 J?j_ 
 
 ft*- 
 
 rfei> 
 
150 | And forgiue us our trefyaj]ts> 
 
 Erod.34. 
 
 Vfiz. 
 
 Vfih 
 
 to God. Aslikewife to overthrow the pra&ice 
 of the frailer fort, ( as they terme them) that 
 goeuntothePrieftto forgiue them, and pray 
 unto Angels and Saints.-whenas Cfe'/heacheth 
 us, togoediredUyto our heavenly Father for 
 remiffion, it being his Name, and his Cove- 
 nant onely to forgiue finne. 
 
 Thenalfo, It feruesagainft corrupt nature y that 
 whereas we ftand in greater!: need o£remiJf?*n of 
 finnes^ yet when we.want meate,and drinke,&c. 
 wecanbeearneftforthem, but are nothalfe fo 
 eager for che rtmiffion of our ftnnes^ whereas we 
 fhould hunger andthirfi after right c ou fnejfe,that 
 is the pardon of ourfinnes, and Chrifs righte- 
 oufnejfc; this indeed fhewes that a number doe 
 not beleeue that they ftand fo much in need of 
 remiflion offlnnes. 
 
 ¥otlnftru£liony that therefore wee fhould more 
 defire the pardon of our fmnes^thenany other bene. 
 yfr,becaufeks bettcrto want bread for our bo- 
 dies, then C^W/frrighteoufnetfe for ourfoulesj 
 to want meat, the which we,may doe without 
 any great hurt, then to want remiflion of our 
 finneSj which hardens the heart, and procures 
 manyjudgements. We may as boldly come for 
 that as for our dzily bread ; and therefore the 
 Lord hath put tfce petition for daily head before 
 this, fecaufemen will fay, they hope God will 
 giue them food and rayment, &c. becaufe hee 
 promifed it. Why fo, he hath promifed remifli- 
 on of finnes likewifc,and doth offer it as mlling- 
 ly, and giue it as eaftly, as our daily bread. 
 
 There- 
 
II ■■ ' II ■ I I I II ■ — ^ ^.^—1 
 
 Andforgiue us our trefpajjer, 
 
 151 
 
 Therefore if wee come unto God, wee fhould 
 make God a Iyer, if we thinkehee will not par- V 
 don our finncs, as well as giue us our daily 
 bread : nay rather too, becaufe he hath made us 
 morepromifes for that : and its certaine, Whofo- 
 ever hath his me. it e and dr Me inmercie, he hath 
 remi(fion of hisfmnes likewife. Otherwife ifthey 
 beoutofGW* favour, let men fare as well as 
 they can, thecurfeof^GW fhall be upon their 
 meate: he will vcxe their foules, and purfiie 
 them by his plagues, that they mallhaueno 
 comfort inthcir meate. Therefore this fhould 
 ftrengthen our confolation, that howfoeverour 
 finnes haue beene horrible, yet upon our repen- 
 tance we may aske forgiuerres of them, as bold- 
 ly as we may aske our daily bread. 
 
 Now in that we are taught by our Saviour to 
 take in others with our felues, faying, Forgiue 
 us, &e. hence alfo we may obferue 5 
 
 That it is not enough, when we aske remiffion of 
 our finnes, to eraue it enely for our felues, but wee 
 mujl aske it for ethers alfo. 
 
 As lames fpeaketh, Confejfe your finnes one to 
 another^ and fray one for another. So Samuel 
 counted it an horrible nnneagainft God, toceafe 
 to pray for the feeble, and darft not ceafc praying 
 for them. So LMofes, when the people had caft 
 off God and him alfo, and worfhipped Idols, he 
 was not content to fpeake unto them onely by 
 rebukes,but fpake unto God for pardon for their 
 
 finne\ 
 
 lames 5. 
 ijSam. i£. 
 
 Exod. 
 
 
tf* 
 
 Simile, 
 
 Aa»7« 
 
 rpi* 
 
 Iercna. 
 
 Andforgiue us our tref^ajjes^ 
 
 finne by prayer. As it is'not fufficient to fay un- 
 to pur friend lying ficke of an Ague, what 
 meant you to ufe fuch meanes as brought you 
 to tbis cafej but we muft goe unto the Phy fition 
 ; for him: fo Mefes did not onely chide them, but 
 goes unto God to healc them. So Stephen, when 
 they were readie to dam out his brakes, yet he 
 fought not revenge, bur that little time he had, 
 hefpentitin prayer for them: for in truth they 
 had done him no hurr,but drew him from mi(e- 
 rieto happinefTe ;fo though the lewes did pcrfe- 
 cutei^Wmiferably,yethe was contentfor their 
 fakes to be caft out as an alien, fo they might be 
 fayed. 
 
 Toreprouethofethatare content to fee and 
 tofpeakc of the fault of others, and topafle 
 fharpecenfuresagainft them, but never poure 
 forth a prayer unto God to helpe and comfort 
 them. Ieremy toote another courfe, when hee 
 could not mend them by fpeaking unto them : 
 yet he would never leaue fpeaking untotheZ^ 
 for them : his foule wept for them in fecret. 
 Much more are they here to be reproved, that 
 are glad in their hearts to fee men fall into fin a e, 
 that are fb Told unto the devill, and receiuepay 
 from him : that as he can never heare more joy- 
 full newes, then that a profetfbr is falneinto 
 fome finne, ( nay, if it be but a falfe and flande- 
 rous report, hee will greatly rejoyceatit) fo 
 will they likewife: oh they are farre from faying 
 this petition from an upright heart, nay, they 
 rather wifh, oh, that men might fall into finne, 
 
 and 
 
Andjorgiue us our trefrajjesy 
 
 and thar which they wifh to others, might be- 
 fall thcmfelues: as theyftand affected, fo they 
 profper. 
 
 It is for comfort to the members of Chrift, in. 
 that not they alone, doe pray for the remiflion 
 of their finnes,but even all the elect doe recom- 
 mend their caufe to God, that he would pardon 
 their finnes, and giuethem the righteoufnefle 
 otCbrijt, which mould cheare our hearts when 
 we feele deadnefle and faintnes in our prayers : 
 namely, that chrift hath commanded all the e- 
 le£ to pray for us. 
 
 [_ Our debts ~]/>ur finnes -, which are called debts 
 the more to terrifie us, for that is in our nature, 
 to loath to be in debt : and men will fay, oh i if 
 I were out of debt I were well 5 it troubleth 
 muchtobeinthat'cafe, that a man cannot goe 
 upanddownetheTowne, but he mud looke 
 over his moulder, fearing leaftfome one or o- 
 ther fliould haue him by the back to arreft him : 
 now the debt of finneis farremort dangerous 5 
 So that hence we obferue. 
 
 That finneis the mo ft mi fertile debt in Ml the^j 
 world* 
 
 Fir/t, becaufe other debts make us liable to 
 bee arretted in our bodies onely, but finne en- 
 dangers both body,fouIe and all. 
 
 Secondly, other debts when the debters are 
 
 dead, doe not hurt him, but the debt of finne 
 
 lies heavier then, than before 5 as foonc as the 
 
 X foule 
 
 «i 
 
 ppi< 
 
 Why oar fins 
 axe called 
 debet. 
 
 Obfcruation 
 Reaf. I? 
 
 
m 
 
 Pfci. 
 
 s- 
 
 Vfe. U 
 
 Andforgiue us our trefpafjes, 
 
 foule departs from the bodieitgoes to the pri- 
 fon of hell, and the bodie followes foone after 
 to be tormented together with it. 
 
 Thirdly, other debts, thoughthey bee great 
 maybe recovered,& the creditor be recompen- 
 fed^ but this debt all men and Angels and all the 
 creatures in the world, arenotableto keepe us 
 out of it . No man can fatisfie for our finnebut 
 oncly the bloud oichrijf : and thereforeif men 
 doe fo feare thofe arrcrages, which their friends 
 andthemfeluesmay helpethem out of: oh,then 
 how mould they feare that woefull debt,which 
 none can fatisfie but the bloud of Chrift: which 
 if it be not difcharged that way, makes ihem li« 
 able to eternall dam nation 1 
 
 Againe, for other debts, a man may goe out 
 of the Countrey beyond Sea, and fo efcapehis 
 creditor: butfor this debt, whither can we goe? 
 if to the Sea God can drowne us, if to any place 
 on the earth, he can caufe the earth and hell it 
 felfe to open their mouthes to fwallow us. 
 
 Laftly, now and then we may meete. with our 
 \ creditor, when he hath noprocefTe nor writ for 
 us; but wherefoever GWmeetes us,he hath pro- 
 ceffeforus, andaprifonfor us alfo: therefore 
 this is the greateft. debt, and the caufe of all other 
 debts. 
 
 Torcprouc thofe that are loth to forfeite a 
 bond, andtorunneinto debt more then they 
 are worth; what fay they V debt it is a trouble 
 and toyle of all other: oh i there are a number 
 that haue worfe debts, whereby they are in dan* 
 
 ger 
 
Andforgiue us our trefyajfef) 
 
 ger every day to becaft into hell, and yet they 
 care not. It were aftrangematterif a number 
 of writs and attachments mould come out a- 
 gainftamanroiay hold of him, that byandby 
 hemuftbee committed to prifon, if hee then 
 mould fall to fporting and gaming, we would 
 thinke him more fit for his franiie to be carried 
 to Bedlam, then for debt to becaft intoprjfon. 
 Yet here are many writs gone out from God a- 
 gainft wicked perfons, for taking his name in 
 vaine, for rece-ivng the Sacrament unworthily, 
 &c. and for breach of all the renne Commande- 
 ments, thofetenne bonds, and yet they eate 
 anddrinke,asifdebttooWwere no debt. As 
 if a man mould fay, oh, it is a fearefuil and dan- 
 gerous thing to owe money to apoorcman,but 
 tooweto the King, its nothing. Is it nothing? 
 yes, thelaw is ftronger with the King, and fo 
 it is with God 5 he willfearch out the matter ac- 
 cording to the right of the law, and if they 
 come not to conversion, he willbringthern to 
 confufion, andiftheygetnottheir acquittance 
 fealed with thebloudof Chrift, he will damne 
 themeverlaftingly. 
 
 T his is firft for Inftmttion, that feeing ftnne k 
 t he debt of 'all debts , and-mttkes us liable to un- 
 fupportablepainess therefore wee mould be- 
 wareof this debt, that we doe not forfeit our 
 bonds: or if we doe, to follow that counfell : 
 ifthou haft entred into bond, and given thinc^t 
 hand, having nothing to pay , goe and humble thy 
 Jelfe,and giue nojleepe to thine eyes, nor flumber 
 X 2 till 
 
 155 
 
 Simde, 
 
 Simile. 
 
 Vfe 2. j 
 
 Pro, 6. 
 
vj6 
 
 OkjeB. 
 Anfw, 
 
 Simile, 
 
 Simile, 
 
 Rom. i. 
 
 Deut.zS. 
 
 Andforgiue us our tre/pa/fes, 
 
 till thou bee fafe gotten out of it. 
 
 But I truft, ( might one fay) the danger is not 
 fo great. 
 
 Yes, ( fayth he ) for if the Doebcin chafe be- 
 fore a kennell of hounds, wee would thinke it 
 hath caufe to flrift : And if the Bird be taken in 
 the fnare of the Fowler, it is in great danger jfo 
 are they who are fnared by their owne finnes, 
 and culpable of wickednefTe againft the living 
 God, If a man were indebted three or foure hun- 
 dred pounds more then he is worth, */e would 
 thinke he had caufe to humble himfelfe, then 
 much more haue they that haue forfeited their 
 falvation, and are in danger of Gods eternall ma- 
 lediction -every houre. And why mould not 
 they humble themfelues, and labor to bee deli* 
 veredeven as the Doe? If we thought finne were 
 the greateft debt, and that it would never be re- 
 deemed by any thing in the world, then would 
 wee not be as carefull to redeeme our bonds 
 with God, as with men ? but becaufe men doe 
 not beleeue this, therefore they forfeit bond up- 
 on bond, and heape up wrath againft. the day of 1 
 wrath: and therefore this isajuft judgement of 
 cWupon many,that becaufe they care not how 
 they runne into debt with God 9 he lets them fall 
 into debt with men ; that they alwayes borrow 
 and never lend, asitsthreatned, Dent. 28. but 
 if once they could get out of thedebt of finne, 
 ger a pardon and be reconciled to God : then its 
 certainethey mould be freed from debt unto 
 men, or if they did dk In debt, the Lord would 
 
 pro- 
 
As wee forgiue them^ that I 157 
 
 provide meanes, as he did for the poore Pro- 
 phet to content and fatisfie the creditors. 
 
 cAs rt>e forgiue tbem that tref 
 paj/e againji us. 
 
 Now the condition is annexed in the next 
 chufc. <^sfs wee forgiue (jrc. Not that wee can 
 forgiue finnes, beeaufenomancanfatisfie for 
 finne which is directly againft God y and a breach 
 of his righteous law: therefore we can never 
 fatisfie Gods infinite juftice. The meaning there- 
 fore is 5 That wee put away malice and revenge a- 
 gainji that man that hath wronged its. [_As~\is a 
 fieech of qualitity and not of quantitie .• for wee 
 may not looke to forgiue in that meafure that 
 GWdoth, but the meaning is, that we muft for- 
 giue truely, as God forgiues perfectly : and 
 though the flefli will haue a bout oftner then we 
 would, yet we muft labor and pray that we may 
 be forgiven, as we defire forgiuenefle. Whence 
 we learne for our inftrudion this obfervajion- 
 
 That they onely can be affuredofthe remifjion of 
 their finnes^ and come to God for pardon of them, 
 that can from their hearts forgiue others. 
 
 CHath. 6. 14. He there lets downe both: if 
 
 we forgiue others their wrongs,<7<?*/will forgiue 
 
 us o ur finnes 5 and he that cannot bring his heart 
 
 I X 3 to 
 
 1 King, 
 
 Ob[erv*\ 
 
*# 
 
 
 1 
 
 trefftafje again ft us. 
 
 Reafen i. 
 
 Galath. 
 
 ?• 
 
 i Iofan. 
 
 Vfig. 
 
 
 to this, cannot be aflured that he mall be ibrgi- 
 Matb. is, ■ ven ; as-heibewes, that it is not fufficientto gitie 
 (good words, but except we forgiue from our 
 hearts, we muft looke for our portion with hy- 
 pocrites: bur if we forgiue, we may be allured 
 we mall be forgive^. 
 
 Becaufe, then its certainet'here^isaworke of 
 gracein us, for our fiefh is froward and if God 
 had not wroughtupon us, we mould giue place 
 to wrath and to the devill: therefore if we can 
 
 haue ar- 
 and taken 
 downe our pride. 
 
 Secondly, Its a fure fruit of faith, for faith 
 worker h by m£ arid a greater token of loue there 
 canndr be, then to forgiue and pray for our ene- 
 mies, and defire their good. 
 
 Further, This is ajigneive haue the holy Ghofl, 
 becaufe loue is a frmtof it, to loue men as they 
 are die creatures of God, though otherwife fin- 
 full. 
 
 Toreprouethofewoefullmiferableperfons, 
 th at tymif d haue Gvd forgiue them, and yet they will 
 net firgitre others .• How canthefe be fit for the 
 Sacrament in this cafe I pray you t or fit to fay 
 the Lords prayer C They would be afhamed not 
 toprayinaquarterof ayeere, and yetintruth 
 if they fay it till. they ha'neforgiuen, they doe 
 butcall for vengeance upon themfelues: and 
 when tricy pray in wrath, they doebutcallfor 
 
 i wrath.. 
 
 
 
 Ob)*U. f m^uttfoirtjurietst 
 
 Na y»_ 
 
As y»ee fergiue them that j 159 
 
 Nay your heart is great, for. Pint zn&chrift 
 fuffered more wrong then you haue done, and 
 yet they prayed for their enemies : and fo did 
 Steven, though they ranne upon him without 
 any judieiall proceeding: andin truth thempre 
 mad men are, the more need had we to pray for 
 them and pittie them, as we will men that in a 
 frenzie utter foolifh fpeeches : and defire the 
 Z^thathewouId f convert them, which if he 
 doe not, we need not care to pay them home , 
 for^they (hallbe payed homeenoughin hell. 
 
 For fingular comfort, feeing this petition is 
 tiedwithfuchabond,therfore whofoever can 
 fay, with a true heart, 1 forgive, this may bee 
 his comfort, the Cod of heaven hath faid, that 
 hee will for giue him : And therefor, in L»ke y \t is 
 faid, fir. even wee forgiue our debters. An argu- 
 ment from the lelTe to the greater. As if hee 
 mould fay, if we that haue buta little mercy, 
 and haue made no promife, can yet forgiue, 
 then doe thou, which artthe God of mercy , and 
 haftgiuen us thy Promife, thy Covenant, and 
 thy Oath to forgiue, doe thou forgiue mee 
 much more, and if I forgiue, ( though I haue no 
 fatisfaclion ) then doethou forgiue much more, 
 which art fully fiithRed'm lefns c&r/ft: and this 
 fhould lnaruelloufly ftrengthen our touks, 
 when wee can forgiue wrongs, wee may urge 
 47*^ with hisjuftice, and k Hands him upon it 
 to forgiue us. Its not a good argument, Lord 
 forgiue me, for Ihauegiuen to thepooreior 
 I haue walked in my calling .-for a man may 
 
 doe 
 
 Anfa* 
 
 AS*?. 
 
 
 
 The excellent 
 comfort of 
 forgiving o- 
 thers. 
 
ido 
 
 Mean es to 
 bring oar 
 fellies to for- 
 giue others, 
 with our 
 hearts* 
 1. 
 Our debts to 
 God. 
 
 Our ill dea- 
 ling with men 
 
 Ecclcf. 
 
 Qfyth 
 Anfw* 
 
 \Ob)eU. 
 
 trcjpajje againfl us* 
 
 doe that and yetgoeto hell .-but this is a good 
 
 argument, Lord I haue forgiuen others, Co for- 
 giue me : But if wee find any ftubbornneffe in 
 our flefh, this may, as indeed it is a thing, that 
 goes marvellous fore againfl; our nature, yet 
 let us not bee difcouraged, but ufe thefe me- 
 dicines. 
 
 Firft remember all that thou haft done againft 
 God , if any one owe us, an hundrerh pence wee 
 owe God tenne thoufand talents: if then wee 
 haue committed great finnes againfl the great 
 God, and would haue pardon, and find com- 
 panion at his hands to warn us from all our 
 tranfgreffions$ why fliould not wee remit fmall 
 injuries offered us by earthen veflTells,fuch as 
 j^urfelucs are 5 that is our reafon why wee can- 
 not forgiueas we mould, becaufe we confider 
 not of this, which if wee did, would much 
 tame us. 
 
 Our ill dealings againft men y which is expref- 
 Ced in Ecclefitfles, where hee faith that men 
 fhou Id not regard every thing which is told them 
 of their fervants. 
 
 But, who ever hadfuch injuries offerecfthem ? 
 
 Why, thine ownc heart tells thee, that thou 
 haft done much ill to others by craftie bargai 
 ning, and cofening &c. But here is a purgation 
 to bring you to repentance for your paflions^ to 
 confider how injurious you haue beene to o- 
 
 But many will fay, I doe not remember it. 
 Butchufe whether you will or not, if you doe 
 
 not 
 
As rt>ee forgiue them, &*c. 
 
 not you (hall fecle the (mart of it at length. 
 
 To meditate that no wrongs come but by 
 Godsjufl appointment, which made David to 
 endure Shemei with fuch mildneiTe : he was a 
 ! King, and the other a bafe fellow, he reviled 
 i him, and would caft duft in his face, but, who 
 | can te/l whether God bad Shemei cur feme? ( fiyth 
 David-- ) and that alfo made lob to endure all 
 quietly ; his fervants were killed, his goods 
 fpoyled, and that not a little, fe\'en thoufand 
 fheepe, and three thoufand Camels, and fine 
 hundred yoake of oxen, &c. would not this 
 bringamanjntoapafjion and diftemperr Not 
 a whit ( if he be wife ) lob knew that it was the 
 juftdecreeof God, he would haueit fo: and i£ 
 he fhould buckle .with God, he wasfurctohaue 
 the word: : And therefore hce fits downe quiet- 
 ly and fay th, The Lord hath given and the Lord 
 hath taken file (fed be the name of the L ord. This al- 
 fo made chrift fo patient, when hefuffered mo ft 
 unworthy wrongs, to be betrayed of his owne 
 Apoftle, and condemned by the high Prieft, 
 (who pretended to be pillers of the Church ) 
 to be delivered to the heathen, and hanged on 
 a tree, &c. betweenetwotheeuesasa Traitor, 
 yet he puts up all with this, Shall 1 not drinke of 
 the cup which mj Father hath provided for mee ? 
 He did not looke to Iudas^norto the folfelewes, 
 but unto God : fo that when men ftorme and fret 
 it is for want of confederation of theie things, 
 for that they are purblind, andcannotlooketo 
 God a farre off,but to men thatare neere. Which 
 \ Y mail 
 
 161 
 
 Meditations 
 
 whenin/ancs 
 
 cotne. 
 
 i Sim. 
 
 lob. r. 
 
 */ith. 
 
\6% 
 
 6% petition, 
 
 And lead us not into temptation. 
 
 fhall fuffice for the handling of this fifth Peti- 
 tion! 
 
 Wee heard before what we were to aske in 
 theformer?etition,namely that God would for- 
 giue us our finnes, and impute unto us the righ • 
 teoufnefTeof/^/W Chrift. Now in the next Pe- 
 tition, weprayforfanc7ification y wherein we are 
 taught. 
 
 Firft, What to pray again fl 3 viz. That God would 
 not lead ' m into temptation : that he would not 
 fuffer us to be overcome by finne and Sathan» 
 nor punifh our inward corruptions by giving us 
 to fall into grofle crimes, but either keepeus 
 from temptation, or giue us vi&orie in tempta- 
 tion. 
 
 Secondly, To pray forth meanes whereby wee 
 may be kept from falling into temptation^ viz. the 
 Lord would deliver us from the evill of tempt ati- 
 cn$ andpreferue us fo, thar finne and Sathan 
 may not baue dominion over us . 
 
 oAnd lead m not into tempta- 
 tion % but deliver tu from 
 evilL 
 
 F 
 
 Irftforthet70/^#<r*,in that our Saviour 
 having taught us to pray for remiffton of 
 finnes, now teacheth us to pray forfantfi- 
 
 fication, 
 
And lead us not into tempt at ion > 
 
 f cation, and for grace and vertue to bee kept 
 from the power of finne and Sathan. The point 
 is. That, 
 
 It is not enough to haue pardon of finne paf y but 
 wee muft pray for power and grace to refift finne and 
 Sathan in time to came. 
 
 For elfe we fhall be as bad as ever we were be- 
 fore: Therefore Bav id when he was as fure that 
 his finne was forgiven, as that God was true; yet 
 that would not fatisfie him, but he laments his 
 originall finne and his rebellion, andprayesfor 
 anew he art, an da right fpirit, and that God would 
 ftablifn him with his free fpirit y that hee might 
 not be under the bondage of finne : fo that ha- 
 ving apprehended the remiflion of his finnes, he 
 labours to be delivered from the corruptions of 
 his heart, that he might not fall into the like 
 mifcheife againe. For in truth there can bee no 
 comfort in theremiffion of finnes, as longasftrong 
 pafftons andunrulie luffs doe remaine: And, where 
 finne andlujl Uflrong, faith and hope are feeble .- 
 therefore if we would beleeue the remiflion of 
 ourfinnes, and haue joy in the fame, wee muft 
 pray forprefervation againft finne,aswellas for 
 remiflion of finne. And hereunto wefliould be 
 ftirred up, yea the rather, becaufe when wee 
 haueremiflipn of our finnes, then the Devill 
 hath the greateft quarrell againft us : before that 
 when we carry the Devils image, he can accord 
 with us very well 5 but when we are converted, 
 Y 2 . and 
 
 \6% 
 
 Obfervat. 
 
 PfaU * i. 
 
 Anincotirage 
 mem to ftudic 
 for fan<ftifi:fl E 
 tion to fub- 
 due finne. 
 

 2. 
 
 rr<*. 
 
 And lead us not into tenftation-, 
 
 and carrie the image of God, ( which the Devill 
 doth hate ) then he knowes us to be fuch as will 
 tread on his head 5 and therefore he is the more 
 violent againft us with horrible temptations, to 
 overthrow us. And then like wife our flefh be- 
 ginnestoftirremore, to bee more unrulieand 
 ftrong, and to fhew what it is when God begins 
 toworke. 
 
 And therefore this mould teach us to joyne 
 thefetwoPetitionstogether, and to bee inftant 
 with the Lord to purge our nature, as well as to 
 take away the guilt of our finnes: for, to defire 
 far don for that -which is f aft with teares and for- 
 row , is but to make God an earthly Father, as our 
 children will fay, forgive me and I will doe fo no 
 more : and yetintruth, if God giue them not 
 grace, they will doe foagaine, for wee cannot 
 amend our nature, butwemuftcome unto the 
 Lord for pardon for that which is paft, and for 
 grace againft the time to come : for el'e we fhall 
 be as bad as ever we were, and worie t^o,if God 
 doe not helpe us in continuance. 
 
 To reproue thole, that having fwnt in their 
 
 hearts, and their confciences being terrifed, can 
 
 and will be very earnefi with God to for giue them, 
 
 and then they thinkeaU is well : as who mould 
 
 fay, their corruptions would meddle no more 
 
 with them, the devill would tempt them no 
 
 more, and fo when they fall into a miferablere- 
 
 I lapfe, then they will tell us, it is their nature, 
 
 andtheircuftometobe froward anddiftempe- 
 
 red. But if they would as cajneftly pray for 
 
 fan Eli- 
 
And lead us not into temptation, 
 
 fancJtfication, as for jufl if cat ion, God would as 
 well helpe them againft the corruption of their 
 nature, as againft the guilt of their conferen- 
 ces. 
 
 Oh, But lay they, they hatte asked pardon of 
 ten. 
 
 Butwhyhaueyounotintreatedthe Lord to 
 healeyoualfo i for he isnotaPhyfition, that 
 can hc^letheoutfideonely, buthecanhealethe 
 infidelikewife: and therefore cdme unto God, 
 and confeiTe your fpeciall finne, covetoufnelTe, 
 orpridc,orwhatfoeverit be, and befeech the 
 Lord to plucke out this, to take away your 
 proud and fro ward heart, and then when the 
 heart is healed, it will be an evident demonftra- 
 tion that your finne is forgiven. 
 
 his for confutation unto Geds Childrgn, that 
 find by good effects, that they are not conten- 
 ted to haue pardon for their finnes, but with 
 tearesandcryescraue/4tf#/)$ 'cation, as well as 
 jujlif cation. When with feeling they can pray 
 againft the ftrength of their temptations, and 
 their corruptions, they may be fure that they 
 haue remiiTion of their finnes, fince they haue 
 the effect thereof, vh&. to beinftantfor fanctifi- 
 cation, as Fattl faith, before the law camehtewa& j 
 aliue, but when Ananias was fent unto him to ; 
 wafh away his finnes by baptifme, and the Lord \ 
 had alTured his confeience of the remilllon of 
 them, then all his woe was for want of fanctifi- 
 cation &c. The evillthat J would not, that doe I, 
 
 I&c. miferable man that I am, who flail deliver 
 Y 3 me 
 
 ObjtR. 
 A*fa. 
 
 Vfc 2. 
 
 Rora.7, 
 
i6 6 - And lead us not into temptation^ 
 
 fizek. 
 Ier. 
 
 ObfervM. 
 
 Iudcrf. 
 
 Oh)ett. 
 Anfw 
 
 me from this bodie of death ? Say not then, I 
 doubt I (hall not overcome thefe infirmities, 
 hath not God bid you pray for fan edification, as 
 well as for; 'unification ? and hath not he pro- 
 mifed that he will write his lawes in your hearts 
 as well as to warn you from all your filthinerTe t 
 therefore be inftantin time, for he would never 
 haue bid you aske it, nor given you his Cove- 
 nant to performed, except he had beeneable 
 and readieto beftow it. 
 
 <^4ndleadus not &c. Chrifl would haue us to 
 ufethofetermes, and not as fome doe^ Let us 
 not be kd, &c. but [lead us not ] or carry us 
 not, &c. Whence obferue. That, 
 
 Sathan, the fiefh, and the world, can' doe no- 
 thing, further then. God will haue them. 
 
 And therefore we need notfay,permit us not 
 to be led, but lead us not, for except God doe 
 lead us, the devill cannot, for he is chained,that 
 though the devill might feeme to be able to doe 
 great matters, yet God doth referue him in 
 chaines. 
 
 Oh! But is not the devill full of windings and 
 turnings, and mil he net at length get out ? 
 
 No, he is kept in everlafting chaines, viz. of 
 the power, and providence, and eternall decree 
 of God, and under darkneffe likewifc, fo that 
 he is full of terrors and horrours, by reafon of 
 the wrath of God already. And yet there is a 
 worfe matter behind, namely ,the judgement of 
 
 • ' the 
 
And lead us not into temptation, 167 
 
 the great day, when he mall be paydhome in 
 foil meafure : the fentence of the Iudge is paft, 
 and he is kept in prifon fill the day of execution, 
 and no Iudge hath a prifoner fo fafe,as GWhath 
 the dcvill chained by the hooke of his provi- 
 dence : fo that what can he doe, but that which 
 God appoints him < So we fee, there were a Le- 
 gion of devils in a poore man, which chrift 
 caftout, who befought him, that he would fend 
 them into the hear 4 of fwine, ejre. Though they 
 were but fvvine, and the fwine of wicked men, 
 that could not abide Chrift, yet a whole Legi- 
 on of devils could not touch one fwine, till 
 Chrift fent them . If Chrift fbould haue faid un- 
 to them, if you haue any power in your felues 
 goe$ they could not haue gone, and therefore 
 they pray Chrift to fend them, and if they can- 
 not touch onefwine, muchlefle any fervant of 
 God, man or woman whofoever. So God tells 
 the Church of Smyrna, that the Devill fhould 
 caftfome of them into prifon for tennedayes, be- 
 fore the Devill dealt with them, Gsd fet him 
 downe what he fhould doe, and how long he 
 fhould afflict them, not fo little time as they 
 would, nor fo long time as hee wouldafflidfc 
 them 5 and then he mewes what mould bee the 
 effeft of the temptation , namely, that they 
 might be tryed and refined : the Devils end was, 
 thatthey might be difcouraged, but Godsend, 
 that they might be polimed and reformed, fo 
 Zuk.^. it is faid, when the Devi It hadfinijhed 
 a/this temptation, he departed I from Chrift j'ithee 
 
 fhould 
 
 Wark. y. ii. 
 
 Rct. 
 
 tut; 
 
6$ ] And lead us not into tempt atioti) 
 
 Vfe, I. 
 
 Simile, 
 
 lofaa 17, 
 
 ObjehL 
 *4nfw. 
 
 mould haue gone as farre as he would,he would 
 haue tempted him all his life, for heeis never 
 wearie of doing mifchiefe, and hee is of fuch 
 impudencie, that he is never amamed and there- 
 fore its faid, when he had f niched all his tempta- 
 tions > eye. that is, when hee had done his taske 
 that God had appointed him, when he had gone 
 through with his meflage, he had no more to 
 lay, and then he departed : fo whenhefets up- 
 on any, the Preappoints how long, and how 
 much he fhalltempt them, and when he hath 
 done his worke,togiueover. 
 
 This is firft, for confolation unto Gods Children 
 that are at peace with God, they (hall be fure that 
 no temptation (hall befall them for their hurt: 
 if that the wolfe could never touch the meepe, 
 but when the fhepheard would, the meepe 
 mould haue no hurt; and if a malefactor could 
 not touch the child, further then his father 
 would appoint him, furely the child mould be 
 inlittledanger.So A\Chrifiians are Gods flicepe, 
 bought with the bloud of his fonne, and we are 
 Gods children, and heloues us, even as he loues 
 Chrijl himfcife : and we mall be led into temp- 
 tations,no further then our Father and our (hep- 
 heard will, therefore it cannot goe amhTe with 
 us. 
 
 But, What if witches and forcer ers fhotddcomt 
 neereus? 
 
 What if they mould, they can never hurt us, 
 except God will lead us into temptation.-and^^ 
 will not lead us fo farre as mall be any way for 
 our hurt. Secondly, 
 
And lead us not into tempt at ion^ 
 
 Secondly, It is for Inftrstc7ion y ifwewould not 
 hauetheZWleadusinto temptation, then let 
 us labou r for peace with God, and not provoke 
 him by our pride, forthenweare in danger to 
 be fed into temptation $ as Peter and David 
 were : if we nourifti fuch corruption within, the 
 Lord will bring us to humiliation that way, yet 
 not for our hurt, for we are alwayes in the bo- 
 fome of our mepheard lefus Chrifl .•« but the 
 Lordmzy puniflb finne with finne, and bring 
 fhame and anguhli upon us, and in trya/'s, that is 
 the for eft temptation, when the devill isfet to whip 
 us. As if a Father mould fay to his child, true- 
 ly, I will whippe you no more, but lie fend for 
 the notableft malefactor and hangman in a 
 Countreyto doe it, that were a fore punifh- 
 ment : efpecially, if he could notonely whippc 
 thebodie, butthefouleof the childe. And fo 
 it is when the Lord lets the devil! loofeto fcourg 
 us ; now therefore consider the mcanes which 
 might keepe us from this : which are; 
 
 Firft, to bearea fervent hue to the word of God, 
 and never to be led from it, though great tempta- 
 tions come, yet if the knowledge of the word 
 delight our foules, it will fo fweeten our hearts 
 with good affections, that we mall not be over- 
 come, but, if our Affection to the word doe dec ay, 
 anddulnejfe creepe upon us, then are we neereto be 
 led into temptation. Ids faid of thc'Ietpes t as when 
 they would not hearken unto Gods voice, then 
 hegauethem up unco their owne hearts Ijft, 
 that is to be led into t&nptation. 5 o when we haue 
 
 1 
 
 no 
 
 l69 
 
 Vfc 2. 
 
 Simile, 
 
 Mcanes how 
 not to be led 
 into temptati- 
 on. 
 
 1. 
 Fcrvcncieof 
 louc to the 
 word. 
 Ptov.z. 20. 
 
 PfaUi^a. 
 
170 ( And lead us not into temptation* 
 
 xThcCi.io. 
 
 Delation 
 
 whac 
 
 Simile* 
 
 Vfii. 
 
 no word of God to checkeus, nor worke of the 
 fpirit to tame us, nofriendtoadraonifhus, nor 
 any helpe from heaven to reforme us,but runne 
 on in ffn boldly & carelefly, ask is 2 Thef.i.io. 
 To tis with us^Seeing they did not receiue the truth 
 in the hue of the truth ,t her fore theLord gauethem 
 up to firong delufionsjo beleeue lyes &e .They had 
 no pleafure in the word, and could they, liue 
 without pleafure < nay furely, but then, Hey 
 take pleafure in unrighteoufneffe,md fo the word , 
 was but a vexation unto them: then God giues 
 them up to firong delufions to beleeue lye j,that Sa- 
 than mould delude them, and they mould bee 
 ftrongly perfwaded to evill, for, delufion is a 
 firong perftvaft on of that which isfalfe, as faith is 
 a firong perfwafion of that which is true : and as 
 faith depends upon the word, of God, and is 
 wrought by the fpirit of God-> fo delufion de- 
 pends on the opinion of men, and is wrought 
 by the fpirit of Sathan: So when men delight j 
 too much in their child, and fa their hearts up- 
 on their commodities, they arein danger to be 
 deluded : and whenthey will not be Gods fchol- 
 lers, God will fee what Sathan can doe with 
 them, which is one caufe why Ged giues met* 
 up to Sathan for a time, becaufethey ioue the 
 things of this life, more then the things of eter- 
 nalllife. 
 
 Secondly, we are taught hereby, totakehttd 
 offecuritie and confidence in earthly things , for if 
 wetruftin any thing in this world, wee (halt 
 grow fecure and carelcfle, .and then weihali nor 
 
 walke 
 
And lead us not into temptation, 
 
 171 
 
 walkein feareand trembling, but in a flefhly 
 boldneffe, after which the next newes is, that 
 our inward finncs are punifhed with outward 
 finnes: that was the beginning of all Davids 
 trouble, when in his profperitie he faid he eft oh Id 
 rtever be cafl downe : why i becaufe his moun- 
 taine was fo ftrong ; if he had faid becaufe God 
 is ftrong, then hemight haue ftood,but he ftaid 
 upon fleflily reafon, becaufehchad many men 1 
 and good ftore of money, and ftrong walles 
 &c. Therefore he thought he mould never be 
 caftdowne, but fo (bone as hecameto pride 
 andooafting, he was caftdowne, God turned 
 away his face, and withdrew his grace, and fet 
 Bathflyebd before him .-and then he fell to adul- 
 tery, murther,and cloaking of his finnc, and 
 that at length wakened him. So Peter, chrift 
 foretold him, that he was weake and would de- 
 ny him, he thought himfclfe ftrong enough: if 
 all the world fhouidforfake Chifi, he will fight 
 for him, and fticke to him, and never forfake 
 him. If he had faid, Z^thou haft feene more 
 in me then Ifeeinmy felfe, indeed it is in my 
 nature to deny thee, ftrengthen me that I may | 
 not, &c- thenhehadbeenefafe; but ftanding 
 onhisowneftrength, he quickly denies Chrift, 
 fweares and.curfes,and falls into manyevils, but 
 after the refurrcdion, Chrift comes unto him, 
 and askes him, Peter loveft thou mee more then 
 thefe f as though he mould lay, Peter you made 
 your bragges that you had more loue tome, 
 thenallthe world befides, what fay you now, 
 Z 2 doe 
 
 Pfal. 
 
 Math. %6 t 
 
 Iohn.21, 
 
l 7 z 
 
 Simile* 
 
 And lead us not into ten ptation-> 
 
 docyouloue me more then the fe ! Oh no, hee 
 would not boaft of his valor any mOre, but he 
 fayes meekely,ZW thou knoweft that J loue thee y 
 he had left his companion now : if a man mould 
 haue asked Peter before he had fallen, you fay 
 you will never forfake your mafter, where I 
 pray you haue you this ftrength 'i from your 
 felfe,orfrom Chrift, he would not haue faid 
 from Chrift^ becaufe he prayed not for it, and 
 thrift told him, that it was not in him 5 but hee 
 thought it to be in his owne nature, that he had 
 had more valor and worthineffe in him, then a 
 thoufandof them. But when men come to this 
 bragging and boafting, then the next newes* 
 and the beft newes for them is, that they fall in- 
 to fome groffe finne to waken them: as we fee in 
 a Lethargie, which is a kind of falling ficknefic, 
 thatbringsmen into a great ilumber r the beft 
 way that Phyfitions can take, is to giue them 
 receipts that may call: them into a peftilent bur- 
 ning fever, becaufe their fencesarebenummed 
 and dead, to- waken then*, and dry up the hu- 
 mors that benumme and befotthem:fo it is with 
 Cods children, when they grow carelefle God 
 cafts them into a burning fever, and lersSathan 
 and their owne corruptions loofe, thatfo^ they 
 may fall into fome groffe firme,and confequent- 
 ly into fhame and fbrrow, into anguim and 
 reare,.that every body may rebuke them, which 
 istheirbeft medicine, as it was for Dtwiefand 
 Peter: but if we would loue the word of God 
 unfainedly, andwalkein humilitie and' feare, 
 
 and 
 
And lead iu not into temptation^ 
 
 andnottruft on riches, nor ftrength,nor aay 
 earthly thing, thofe would be the beft preferva- 
 tiuesto keepe us from temptation. 
 
 But here may arife a queftion, how this cart 
 goe currant, that Godjhouldleadusintfrtempati- 
 tion, fince its faid, that Cod tempteth no man, 
 and a rca Con is added, becaufe he himfelfe cannot 
 betemftcd? one wicked man tempts another, be- 
 caufe he himfelfe is tempted firft. Theadukcrer 
 corrupts a woman, becaufe he himfelfe is cor- 
 rupted firft, and fo the devill being naught him- 
 felfe, hewouldhaueno body good, and there- 
 fore tempted our firft parents. 
 
 Thereforeits faid , that God can temp no man, 
 becaufe he himfelfe is not tempted: the meaning 
 whereof is, that God foliciteth no man to evil/, 
 nor puts ill into any mans nature, he being the 
 fountaineof all goodneffe, yet he may be faid, 
 to Jeadinto temptation. 
 
 Fir/t, by with-drawing his grace and holy f}>f- 
 rit, when we waxe proud, and will not be ru- 
 led. 
 
 And then, by fetting occafions before tts, which 
 are very forcible to draw us to evill, when Gods 
 grace is taken from us. As we fee in David,xvhen 
 the baite was layd before him, he was quickly 
 gone : and fo Peter he would fight, and doe fucfr 
 wonders at firft, &c. but God fets him in fuch a 
 place, where a poore filly maid might examine 
 him, and prefently he faintly denies his Matter, 
 lyes and fweares,and had no valor in the world. 
 
 J For, when occafions are offered^ all the firength of 
 ___ Z 3 the 
 
 m 
 
 2*<fi. 
 
 lames i, 
 
 Attfi*. 
 
 How God is 
 faid to lead us 
 into tempta- 
 tion. 
 
 3. 
 
174- , And lead us not into temptation, 
 
 loft. 
 
 Simile, 
 
 Simile, 
 
 Why God 
 
 leads the wick 
 led into temp- 
 tation* 
 
 thefiejb confumes as toaxe before the fire. If a man 
 would fay, I haue a bodie that the fire will not 
 heate, the beft way to convince Untie, is to put 
 acoaleto finne: So Achan confefTeth that he 
 faw a little wedge of gold, and two Bahylonijh 
 garments, that he coveted them and tooke them 
 when nobody was by: hce faw the coaft was 
 cleere, therewasagoodbootie, and there was 
 enough for the Tabernacle befides the Lord did 
 notput this into him, butthis occafion difcove- 
 red what was in him : that occafion made not 
 Achm naught, no more then the fruit makes the 
 tree naught, but that manifefted what he was. 
 By letting Sathan and their owne corruption 
 toofe t as its not much, that when the fheepe will 
 not be guided by the fhepheard, they fbould be 
 cxpofed to the woolfe. So when originall finne 
 isletloofe,the devill fets it forward, and yet 
 neither is thisagainft mens wills,but they runne 
 violently into finne, and good it may be for 
 them in conclufion: for fince they haue not been . 
 thankefull, that God hath heretofore reftrained 
 the rage of Sathan and finne,fo that all the fault 
 isin'6iir fellies, for having opportunitie, they 
 finne willingly and readily. 
 
 Then the end is good. Firft, in the wicked, 
 Pddifoi&er their hypoc rifle, and 'that God may haue 
 the'fhore glory therehy. ladas^ and ^chttophel 
 had they not beene difcovered,they fhould haue 
 beene reputed as good men as any in the world. 
 Duvidhzd not a friend which hee could truft 
 mortihcn-ijkehtttpel, what my familiar friend 
 
 _ (faythl 
 
^ut deliver lu/rom evilL l 17$ 
 
 Pfal. 
 
 The end why 
 
 ( fay th he ) we who tooke fweet counfell toge- 
 ther, and went to the houfe of God, &c. but 
 when a baite was laid before him, then hee 
 ftiewes his traiterous heart, and none could 
 haue given more beaftly and pernicious coun- 
 fellagainft David then he did, whereby he pur- 
 chafed to himfelfe /hame and definition. 
 
 Secondly,/// the godly, when they are fe- 
 cure and proud, to humble thm ? waken them ,and <*** 1 " d . s 
 tomake them fit furer all their life after, as tt4j|ho£j£S£ 
 David and Peter^David would braggeno more 
 jieither would P&er boaft of his ioile, but (faith 
 he) Lord thou knorveft that I loue thee ,trudy and 
 unfainedly, though weakly. The fecond branch 
 of the Petition is. 
 
 <But deliver us from eyilL 
 
 As if he mould fcy, butplucke us from evilb 
 for its a word of violence, fa that we dcGrcsfr 
 be pluckt out of our finnes and corruptions, as 
 a beaft out of the mirej for we are funke fbdeepe 
 and are fo heavie, that except the Lord pull with 
 both hands as it were, we fhall flickein then* 
 ftill. Whence we learne j 
 
 That there is a wonder find aptnejfc and f rone JJe 
 in our nature tofinne. 
 
 O ur reafon is enmkie againft God, our affecti- 
 ons are unruly, the fie jh lufieth againfi thtfiirit, 
 
 dnd 
 
 Otjervat. 
 
 Rom»e« 
 
i7<* 
 
 rr<i. 
 
 V(ei> 
 
 OfySl. 
 
 *dnfw. 
 
 *But deliver us from evill. 
 
 and the fyirit again/1 the flejh, Co that there is 
 continuall warres betwixt them, then the de- 
 vill and the world are ready alfoto allure us un- 
 to evill, our experience tells us thus much. 
 
 Seeing then it is fo, let us not venture on fin, 
 upon confidence in our owne ftrength or wit, 
 or good affection, as many, theyean beprefent 
 at idolatrous and falfe worfhip, aricfhold out in 
 any thing. O no, If they knew how w&ake they 
 are, they would never be fo ventrous, David 
 when he gaue liberty to his eyes, what became 
 of it ? did he not finne woefully i fo Achan and 
 Eue when they gaue liberty to their eyes, and 
 carnallreafon, they were gone, and therefore 
 we mould take heed by their examples leaft we 
 alfo beovertaken. 
 
 It is for comfort, tbottgb wee find a great pro- 
 nejfe unto finne ^ y et not to be difcouraged : "for the 
 godly commonly thinke themfelues worfethen 
 every body, as hypocrites thinke themfelues 
 better then every body. 
 t Was ever my body fotempted^andfofuU ofun. 
 rulypapons ( fay they t ) 
 
 Yea furely, every one naturally, for elfe they 
 neednotpray, Pull us out of evill, neither muft 
 they fay this for good manners£ake,but in truth: 
 every one that is acquainted with his owne 
 heart, (Kali find it,that doe what he can, he can- 
 notgather fufficient ftreng th to efche w evill,ex- 
 cept the Z§rd draw him out of evill. 
 
 £ Evilly Not from temptation, nor from 
 Sathan (imply, but from the hurt and evill that 
 
 might 
 
*Bm deliver us from eViU. 
 
 •might come thereby : Co that hencealfo we may 
 obferue;That, 
 
 Chrifkians may not pray not to bee tempted, but 
 that they may not be overcome in temptation, 
 
 Vorlefa Chrift, Paul y and others were temp- 
 ted, whereof cWgiues two reafons why Paul 
 was tempted 5 Firft, to worke humilitiejn him, 
 and to keepe him from pride. And fecondiy, 
 that Gods ftrength may appears in Pauls wcake- 
 nefle, fox when we are mefl out of liking with our 
 felues, then are wee in befl acceptance with God, 
 who brings light from darkened, perfection 
 from weakenefle, and life from death. Which 
 femes firft; 
 
 To reproue thofe, that in afflictions andtrou- 
 bles are more weary of the affliction , then ofthes 
 finnCy andwill commit flnneto get out of their of 
 fli&ion : they pray to bee delivered from evill, 
 and yet willingly and wittingly runne into e- 
 vili. ItisSathansdrifr,when we arein danger 
 to driue us to fall to fhifcing and lyin^, that is it 
 which he would haue.Ifonehad coineto Peter ^ 
 and told him, if he be one ofchrifls Difciples, 
 hemuftfufFerwithhim, and Peter hadfaid, the 
 will of the Lord be done, then he had beene deli- 
 vered from evil!, but whenhedenyed his Ma- 
 tter, then he rufhedinto the evill. of temptati- 
 on. 
 
 Secondly, It is for comfort, that we be not 
 
 difmayed though we hauemany bitter aiTaults : 
 
 \ A'a for 
 
 *77 
 
 Obfervat. 
 
 z Cor. 1 1. 
 2. 
 
 Vfei. 
 
 Vfet, 
 
7 8 
 
 lames i. 
 
 ^ut deliver us from evilL 
 
 for thus Chrift and Paul were mightily and fore. 
 Iy tempted: and there fore ( as James faith ) We 
 fhouldcount it exceeding joy when wee fall into* 
 divers temptations, becaufe they try our faith, and 
 worke patience $ they make usto haue a ftrong, 
 and pure, and found faith, and abundance of 
 patience, therefore, though we may not pray 
 not to be tempted, yet we may pray, not to be 
 hurt by temptation: And then, the more bjtter 
 our temptation is, theftvecter andflronger our con- 
 folation (J) all bee, for when theflefh is mofl abafedby 
 temptations^ then men are rat fed up to moft comfort 
 in Chrift lefus^andtofuch peace as paffethall tin- 
 derflanding. Sinneis the greateft evill, under 
 which all other evils may bee comprehended, 
 this once removed, theloving countenance of 
 6Wfhineth full of mercieand confolation :and 
 plentieofall rich mercies expedient for us doe- 
 follow s Therefore we are taught to pray here. 
 Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from 
 evill. 
 
 Now followeth the Conclufian ofthishcaven- 
 ly Prayer ; In theft words. 
 
 '/ 
 
 »■ ' ■'■ i » ii urn 
 
 ■ m i »«aa»W^ 
 
For thine is the Kjmgdome % 
 
 179 
 
 For thine i& the K^ingdome, thc^j 
 
 power, and the glorie, for 
 
 eDer> z4men. 
 
 WE E heard out of the former words, 
 what is the firft part of perfect pray- 
 er, viz,. Petition, In thefe words fol- 
 lowes the fecond part to be ipoken of, which is 
 Thankefgiving, containing, a rcafentvby the far- 
 mer petitions fiould be grattntcd. Wherein we are 
 to obferue. 
 
 Firft, An acknowledgment *f Gods ^All-fuffi- 
 ciencie, (thine is the Kingdome, the power, and 
 glorie : ) All which is fet out by the perpetuirk 
 .• thereof, for ever : which words fhall be more 
 fully interpreted in the handling of them fede- 
 rally. 
 
 Secondly,^ confeffion f the cert aintie of faith, 
 for the obtaining of the things asked, which is 
 implyed in the word <^4men t which is as much 
 as to fay, So it is, I haueintreatedfuch things of 
 the Lord, as concerne hisg lorie and my good, and 
 now I reft confident for the obtaining oft hem at his 
 hands. Thus much briefly for the order of the 
 words. 
 Firft, In that our Saviour doth annexe this 
 A a 2 reafon 
 
i8o 
 
 
 OhfervAt. 
 
 Gen* 3 2. 
 
 Exodus. 
 
 Nehe. g. 
 
 Dan. 9, 
 
 Vfo fc 
 
 to/, ii 
 
 T^ ^orper^ and the Qlorie* 
 
 reafonin the conclusion of this Prayer, far thine 
 is the Kingdome, that is, thou haft fovcraigne 
 authoritie over all 5 the power, that is, as thou 
 haft right to rule, fothou haft withall fuffieient 
 abilitie to manage thy Kingdome: and the glo- 
 ry , that is,and 'feeing t he praife and honor of what- 
 soever is done belongs wholy unto thee :8c therforc 
 (for fo much is implyed)graunt us our requefts- 
 Hence let us briefly note 5 7 hat, 
 
 Whofoevjer would pray aright, mufiufe forcible- 
 Argument sin his prayers. 
 
 The Scriptures abound with examples for the 
 confirmation ofthis point. Iacok, when he pray * 
 ed for protection and deliverance from his bro- 
 ther. CMofes, when he made fuite for the lfrae- 
 UtesMehemiah and Dantel,whm they humbled 
 themfeluesfortheirowneand others offences, 
 did ufe many and unanfwerable arguments, un- 
 to the which- the Lord could not but yeeld . 
 
 Now,,theendwhy we fhould deale thus, is 
 not, that thereby we may perfwade.the Lord, for 
 hee hath fully determined before hand, even 
 from eternitie what to doe jbutindeed, to per. 
 fwade our owne unbeleeving hearts to reft upon 
 the faithfullpromifes of God, and nottogiueo- 
 ver praying, albeit the Lord make, us wake for a 
 time. 
 
 The ufe of which might haue beene,/*r th'c^ 
 
 humbling and confounding of all ignorant per fpns, 
 
 whofe prayers are grounded upon no reafons at 
 
 1 all, 
 
For thine is the Kingdome, 
 
 181 
 
 all, especially fuch as doe not underftand what 
 they fay, when they come with lip-labour be- 
 fore the Lord. 
 
 And furthermore, It might injlruft the fer- vfei, 
 wants of God, toftriuefo to be acquainted with 
 the word and workes of God, and with the name 
 of GW,that they may be able in their prayers to 
 wreftle with the Lord,or rather with their owne 
 unbeliefe, by bringing undeniable arguments 
 why their fuites andfupplications muft needs be 
 graunted . But becaufe brevkie is intended, wee 
 will not inflft upoa this point. 
 
 For, thine is the Kingdom e, &*c. 
 
 In the next place from this, that Chriji left* 
 prefcribing a perfect forme of prayer, doth di- 
 rect us untothankefgiving,as well as untopetir 
 tion, we may learne j 
 
 That it, is not "enough for usto fray unto the Lord) o&fcrva 
 for afupfly of our wants, but wee mu(t alfo offer i 
 unto him the excellent facrifce of fraifes and 
 thankes. 
 
 We muftnotonely feekeunto him for that 
 which weneed,but render unto him that which 
 hedeferues. And indeed, of the two, better it 
 were that wee mould want his helpe, then that 
 he mould bee deprived of his glory. To this 
 purpofe,is that exhortation of the Apoftlc. Let 
 A a i hs 
 
i8z . The Tower, and the (jlorie. 
 
 Heb. i j. 
 iThcf. j.i8. 
 Ephe y, 20. 
 
 us offer the facrifice of praife alrvaies to God : and 
 againe, in all things glue thanks, Wherethe ho- 
 ly Ghoft meeteth with our corruption,and apt- 
 netfe to omit this duty, by binding us conftant- 
 \y unto the performance thereof at all times, 
 and in all things : for otherwife we mould finde 
 fo many hindrances, that wee would either al- 
 together, or for the moft part, omitte this holy 
 feruice of his : this was pra&ized by David- for 
 be/ides that many of his Pfalmes doe confift 
 wholy of thankfgiving, we may obferue in fun- 
 drieothers, thatalbeit hebeginneth with com. 
 plaints, and cries, yet before he makes an end, 
 he breaketh forth into the praifes of the Lord. 
 So did Paul and Silas , even when they had 
 beenegreevoufly whipt being in the dungeon, 
 and in the ftockes : And fo did our Saviour with 
 his Apofiles after the paffover, when he was 
 forth- with toincounter with his moft deadly 
 ene'mies,and with the wrath of his f ither which 
 wastofeize upon him for the finnes of his e- 
 lecl. Thefcripture is plentifull in examples of 
 thiskinde, therefore I will not heape together 
 any more, the point being very cleere and per- 
 fpicuous, onely, let us confider of fome rea- 
 fodsthat may induce us to the practice of this 
 holy duty. 
 
 Reaftn 1. Firft, therefore, let this be a motiue unto us, 
 
 to offer unto the Lord continuall praifes, becaufe 
 
 this is both the mofl excellent, and mofi acceptable 
 
 Ifervice that wee can per forme. The exc Hemic 
 
 j thereof, doth appeare in this, that the holy An- 
 
 1 gels) 
 
 Pfal. 
 Pfal. 
 
 Ads 16. 
 
 Math. 16, jo 
 
 I. 
 
 Ifay*. 
 
For thine is the Kjngdome, J 185 
 
 gels of God, and the foulesof juft and perfect 
 men in heaven^ are continually exercifed herein 
 and therefore by the performance thereof wee 
 mall be made moft like unto them. Then for 
 the accept ablemjfe of it, let us hearken what the 
 Lord himfelfe faith, he that offereth praife glori- 
 ficth me, a man may offer requefts unto the Lord 
 and not honour him, but feme himfelfe, in feek- 
 ingtohauehis neceffkiesfupplyed.-buthe that 
 offereth the facrifice of praife mufl needs glori- 
 fie Cod , becaufe that proceedeth from a free 
 and loving heart, which is touched with a liue- 
 ly fence and feeling of Gods loving kindnes and 
 mcrcifjllgoodnes. All the tenne lepers pray- 
 ed unto Chrjp to be healed, but only the poore 
 Samaritan glorified GW, becaufe hee alone re- 
 turned to giue thankes. 
 
 Secondly, it ftands us upon, evermore to 
 magnifie the Name of the Lird, becaufe we haae 
 alwayes caufe of thank [giving. For even, in the 
 midft of our crofles, wee enjoy innumerable 
 bleffings, corporall, and ipiriruall,the Lord m 
 iudgement remembers mercy. And thofe very 
 afflictions which come neereft us, are fent in 
 mercy, he never layesmore upon us then we 
 need,nor ever fo much as wee deferue : And in 
 our greateft extremities heiswithus,toftreng- 
 then us,to uphold us, to dired us, to fanclifie 
 our troubles unto us, to giue us patience under 
 them, a good ufe ofthem, and in the end, a 
 bleffed iffue out of them : In all which regards^ 
 he is greatly to bepraifed. 
 
 Thirdly, 
 
 Pfaljo. zj. 
 
 Reafen 2. 
 
 Lam, 
 1 Pet. I« 
 
 Ifa. 
 
 Ifa. 
 
 Ila. 27. 
 
 Zeph. 
 
18+ 
 
 Reff. 3. 
 
 RtAf.4* 
 
 Iohn. 1 j. 1. 
 
 Vfei. 
 
 The 'Tower, and the Cjlorie. 
 
 I 
 
 *&>/* 2. 
 
 Thirdly, Thankfgivingis a finguhr meanes 
 to keepe us from difcouragcment r if a man doe 
 only take a view of his infirmities, hee cannot 
 but be much difrnaid, and will at length thinke 
 that God cares not for him. But if he doe with- 
 all, take notice, of the Lords loving kindnerTc in 
 every thing and praife him for the fame, that 
 cannot but worke in him, an affurance of his 
 favour, and confcquently much ioy of heart, 
 and chcarfulnefTe of fpirit. 
 
 Fourthly, the practice hereof will marvelloujly 
 ft us for praytr ,i# which regard they are fo of- 
 ten ioy nedtogether,asCtf/. 4. 2. Phil.^. 6. and 
 in fundry other places : for when wee can re- 
 member, that in fuch and flich things the Lord 
 hath beene mercifull and gracious unto us, and 
 that we did magnifie his holy name therefore: 
 It muft needs addeftrengthunto our faith, and 
 life unto our prayers, as being allured, that hee 
 that hath once loved us, will ever lone us, and 
 deale gracioufly with us : Whereas hee that 
 hath not acknowledged the mercy of his<7^, 
 will bee very dull and heavie in his petitions, 
 and glad to make an end before he hath begun. 
 
 Isitfo that thankfgivingis a fpeciall part of 
 prayer 5 T hen hence are they to becondemned, 
 as carnal! perfons, whofe prayers doe confift 
 altogether ofpetitions. Butas for praifes, they 
 either medic not at all there- with,or at leaft but 
 very (lightly: under which condemnation doe 
 the Papifts come, as by their prayerbookes 
 may evidently appeare. 
 
 Againe 
 
For thine is the Kingdome^ 
 
 Againe,T^ makethforthejufi refroofe of them 
 that are fo far ye from thank fulneffe in all ellates, 
 that they are alwayes whining^ and murmuring 
 under their crofts i what doch their continuall 
 complaining imply, but that the L ordis an ill 
 governour, and that he affoords them not mat- 
 ter and occasion of praifing his name, and what 
 a blafphemie were that for any to imagine < wc 
 would take it ill at our child rens hands if they 
 mould deale fo with us ; and certainely the Lord 
 will not take it welfat out hands. Whatthough 
 wehauefundry afflictions lying upon us and 
 prefling us downe very low:' haue we not fewer 
 thenfome. fGods children haue had, or now 
 haue? atleaft haue we not fewer then our ini- 
 quities doe defcrue ? And whereas we can find 
 nothingtoipeak.*of, but crofes } croffes y doe we 
 not enjoy manifold benefits together with our 
 crofTes •fandifthe Lord ftrippe us of outward 
 things y doe theimvard confolations tf God fee me 
 ■fmalluntotu f Is it not worth thankes that wee 
 areofthe number ofthofe that are elected^ that 
 are called, that are juflified, that arc ftncJifed^ 
 and mall within a while be crowned, and that, 
 with an eternallcrowne of Glorie ? Oh ! unthank- 
 full creatures we, if wee. be not affected with 
 thefe things, and if we be notamamed that ever 
 there entred into our hearts fo much as one 
 thought of difcontentment, againft our bounti- 
 full, and gracious, and moft merciful! Father. 
 
 Thirdly, Let (his be an Inftruttion untQ ay, that 
 we be as fervent and frequent in offering unto 
 S B b God\ 
 
 185 
 
 A helpe to 
 mitigate our 
 complaints in 
 
 croffes* 
 
 lob. 
 
 Vfij. 
 
i8tf I TbeTower, andtheCjlorie. 
 
 How to attain 
 unto a thank- 
 ful! neart. 
 
 I. 
 To get par. 
 don of finnr* 
 
 PfftK JO> j- 
 
 2. 
 To get an 
 
 humble heart. 
 
 Often medi- 
 cation on all 
 fores of pro- 
 mifes. 
 
 Pfal. **♦ 
 Pfal.53.1. 
 
 gucfi. 
 Simile* 
 
 God dm praifes,asin making for our fclues need, 
 full requefts , But how may I attaine unto this, , 
 may fomefay? 
 
 Firft,we muft get afTurance of the pardon of 
 all our finnes: for no man can joyfully thanlce 
 GW for any thing till then; for^certaintieofthe 
 remifjion of our offences, is the very ground of true 
 andheartie thankefgivi&g : and therefore when 
 the Prophet D4wWftirreth up hisfouletopraife 
 the Z^for all his benefits, heplaceth this in . 
 the fore- front, Which for giveth all thine iniqui. \ 
 ties: that therefore muft be laboured for in the p 
 firft place. 
 
 Secondly, Whenever would haue a than kef u 11 
 heart, mufi get an humble heart : and then when 
 a man fees that he is worthy of nothing, he will 
 be thankefull for every thing. 
 
 Thirdly, he that would be able to praife God 
 wkh a joyfull heart and chearefull lippes, muft 
 often dndearnefily meditate on his fromifes^ both 
 for temprall and fymtuall good things : in the me- 
 ditation whereof, we muft labour to haue our 
 hearts foaffe&ed, that wee may rejoycein thc^j 
 Lord bee aufe of his word, as the Prophet did, that 
 fohavingajoyfullhcart, wee may aifohaue a 
 thankefull heart, which two indeed doe aiwayes 
 goe together. 
 
 But how can wordsrnakea man glad: ( will 
 fbmemanfay?) 
 
 What, not Gods words t If we mould haue 
 but the royall word of the King, promifihg us 
 inourdiftreffesthat hee would difcharge our 
 
 debts, 
 
For thine is the K^ngdome^ i 187 
 
 debts, rclicueour wants, and provide plenti- 
 fully for us and ours, would we not fee matter 
 of rejoycing therein i How much more rhen(if 
 we had the eyes of our mindes truely enlight- 
 ncd)mould wefeecaufe of rejoycing inthe roy~ 
 all promifes of the King of heaven, whofe 
 words are all pure words, who is mt #s mart, that 
 he jhould lie, or as thefonnes of men, that hejhould 
 alter and change, butwill certaincly fulfill in. 
 deed whatfoever good things he hath promifed. 
 in his word, whofe promifes areas goodin win- 
 ter as in fummerrwherj all the world doth ma- 
 ligneus,as when wcehaue all men to ftandfor 
 us. 
 
 And as we muft often exercife our thoughts 
 upon the promifes of God, fo muftwealfo up- 
 on his mercies pafl, prefect, and to come, we muft 
 confider what great favour and loue hee hath 
 bornetowards us before we were borne, againe 
 fince we were borne, efpecially fince we were 
 borneagaine. Neithermuftwe ftay here, but 
 muftraife our hearts aboue the earth, and feri- 
 oufly ponder upon that blefled eftatc, which we 
 fhal 1 at length come unto .-when we haue put off 
 the image of thefirfi Adam, and haueputon the 
 image of the fecon0Jdam ; when wee ft all lay 
 downethefeourearthly Tabernacles, that wee 
 may be made like unto the Sonne of God in glo- 
 rie, which being duely thought of,willfo affect 
 our hearts with joy, that though we mould liue 
 in all manner of miferies, and that from the 
 day of our birth, unto the houre of our death, 
 B b 2 they 
 
 Pfal. -19. 
 
 Numb, 
 
 To meditate 
 on mercies 
 paft s prefenr, 
 and to come. 
 
i88 1 Tbe Tower^ and the Qlorie^ 
 
 Obfcrva* 
 
 iChron/29. 
 
 Bfi*f> !• 
 
 ASstSi 15. 
 
 trfey would all feeme very light in comparifon 
 of our future happinefle and bleflednefle:fo that 
 wefhould be able with much chearefuIneflTe to 
 praife the Lord, even in the midftofthemali. 
 
 Thus much of thefe words in gencrall r now 
 more particularly of them as they lie in order. 
 
 For y thine is the Kjngdome^ &>c. 
 
 Hence arifeth this obfervation for our in- 
 ftrudHon. That 5 
 
 God is the onely abfolute and S 'over aigne Kingo* 
 ver all the whole world, 
 
 This David acknowledged ufing the very 
 words that our Saviour ufeth in this phcejhine 
 is theKingdome Lord } and thou excelleft as head' 
 over all. And the like doth Nebuchadnezer ,,after 
 that Damelhad told him his dreame and the in- 
 terpretation thereof, Tour God( faith he) is the 
 God of Godsend the Lord of Kings : and it ftands 
 with good reafon that the abfolute foveraigntie 
 ouer all the Potentates on the earth mould bee 
 afcribed unto him* 
 
 Fir ft, becaufe he is the attikor of their being, 
 and of the being of their fubjec'ts, as alfo of all 
 the meanes whereby they and their Kingdomes 
 are upheld and maintained^ For, he made of &ne 
 bloud all mankind to dwell on the face of the earth, 
 and in him they Hue and moue and haue their be- 
 ing : and as he beftowed life uponthem,fb doth 
 I he 
 
For thine is the Kingdom* 
 
 189 
 
 heftilloweunto them breath, and all things 
 whereby Kfc muft be continued. No earthly 
 Monarch can giue a being unto any one of his 
 fubic<5ts, nor keepe the breath in his noftrels 
 when the Z*"/calIeth for it, nay it is not the 
 moft mighty andpuiftant Prince in the world, 
 thatcan(by his oncly command) make one 
 hate white that was before blacke, or blacke 
 that wasbefo re white, the moft that they, can 
 doe istoperfbrmethe office of nurfing Fathers 
 to bring up fuch as are committed to their 
 charge: as for life and breath,meanes and main- 
 tenance, and fuch like, they are all the proper 
 and peculiar gifts of God. - - 
 
 Secondly, as he is the author of all theie, Jo 
 he is the owner of them : and therefore hath good 
 riohttobeftowthemathis pleafure. The earth- 
 irthe Lords ( faith the Prophet ) and the frlnefle 
 thereof: no earthly King hath any thing of his 
 owne,buthi£ veryfouleand body are the Z"*, 
 andthereforeall other things muft needes be 
 his they are but his Under-officers and Uice- 
 oerents, even tenants at will, hepulleth downe 
 oneandfettcth up another. 
 
 Thirdly, heisthedifpoferof allthmgs that 
 areintended or effected by them: Then hearts 
 vein his hands, and he frameth them as ; hee, 
 tbi ikes beft: all their aftions are ordered by 
 him,thoughthe finfulnelTe of ^ ^e from 
 themfeluelAndlaftly,thefuccefreoftheiraai. 
 
 on is difpofed of by his providence Theh»fi 
 * prepared agamfi the day of battell, l&y*Jjj 
 
 Rtaf.Z, 
 
 Pro. 21. t* 
 
 E?ek« 1/20, 
 
ipo . The Tower, and the (jlorie* 
 
 I Pro. ii. j i. 
 
 Ifa.jojj. 
 
 Vfe I. 
 
 Pro. 
 
 lomon ) but fa Iv at ion c emmet h of the Lord, 
 
 Fourthly, he will call all the Kings of the earth 
 to a reckoning 7 forthat which they doe in their 
 bodies whether good or evil For they are more 
 ftri&lytyedtobec accountable unto the Lord, 
 for all their thoughts, words, and workes, then 
 the meaneftfubjec^ in the dominion is bound to 
 beanfwerableunto them for any thing that is 
 committed unto his charge : Tophet is prepared 
 for great men, as well as for the bafeftvaflfall 
 thatis, if they be impious and prophane: In all 
 theferefpefts may the Lordbej\iMy termed the 
 abfolute King of the whole world, which point 
 may be ufef ull fundry wayes. As, 
 
 Firft of all, to teach us to make him our fear e And 
 dread^ and to ftand in greater awe of him, then 
 ofany earthly governour whatfbeverhe be, as 
 he faith. Feare not themt hat can kill the bodice , 
 ( lay th our Saviour) but feare him that is able to 
 cafl both body andfouk into hdi fire for ever. And 
 mew forth this your feare, by efchewingall 
 manner of finnes y whereby the eyes of his glo- 
 ry may be provoked. Good fubje&s will be af- 
 fraid to commit fuch evils as will procure the 
 difpleafure of their Soveraigne, becaufe* the 
 ICings anger is a meffenger of death : how much 
 more fearefuli mould we be of offending the 
 MajefKe of the King of Kings, whofe anger is 
 aconfumingfire, that burnetii to the very bot- 
 tome of hell: whofe hand can reach us whither- 
 foever we flee : and whofe glory it is, to be the 
 ZWofHoafts, and to haue the command off 
 
 all 
 
For thine is the f\ingdome> I 19 1 
 
 all the creatures, to purfue-us unto our utter I 
 confufion, and eternall definition, if weeper-^ 
 fift in our rebellion againft him. 
 
 Secondly, is God the King of Kings ? then 
 if wee meane to bee great men indeede, and 
 toafcend unto the higheit. promotion, Let us 
 ■prefer re his fervice before any other ^ For heere 
 thecommonproverbholderhmoft true. There 
 is no fervice to the fervice of this King : for hee 
 knoweth all his fervants by name, and taketh 
 fpeciall notice of every one of them, and of e- 
 very good fervice that they performe ( be it ne- 
 ver fofecret and hidden from the eyes of men) 
 j and hee doth no fooner fee it, but hee is ready 
 to reward them in due feafon : neither will hee 
 beflow upon them thofe promotions only, nor 
 chiefly, which concerne their bodies, but thole 
 efpecially, that concerne their foule*. And 
 that not onely in this life, but principally in 
 that which is to come . Neither mall one of his 
 fubjefts fbreftall another, but though many 
 hundred thoufands haue fped exceeding well 
 before us, wee fhall fare never the worfe, but 
 according to our workes fhall our reward be: 
 nay, there is not the rneaneft of his fubjefts,. 
 but he fhall be made a King, yea a farre better 
 Kingthen any worldly Potentatthatisa meere 
 naturall man, that ever hath beene, is, or fhall 
 bee, to the end of the world ; For the pooreft 
 Chriftian that is, doth raigne and beare rule o- 
 ver the rTefh,the world and the divell in this-pre- 
 fentlife,andis heireapparant unto the crowne 
 
 of 
 
 W 3. 
 
191 
 
 The hotter, and the (jlorie, ! 
 
 Vfe 3 , 
 
 Vfe + 
 
 Din, 
 
 of glory prepared for him in the heauens. 
 Would wethen fame get true honour and pro- 
 motion^oh, then let us feeke his favour and his 
 face evermore, who is the King of Kings and 
 Lord of Lords and can make us in all refpects 
 truly honourable both in his owne fight and in 
 the eyes of men and Angels. 
 
 Thirdly, fith God is the abfolute Governor 
 of all the whole world, and all other Princes are 
 but his fubftitutes , if we would haue good 
 things erTe&ed by any that are in authoritie, let 
 us befeech the Lord^ to perfwade and incline 
 the hearts of his officers thereunto, to ftirrc 
 them up to the performance of thofe ferviccs, 
 which may make m oft for the glory of his 
 Name, and forthe comfort and benefit of his 
 afflided people,andtheniffuch Magiftrats be- 
 long vnto the Lord^ he will with draw them 
 from evill, and incline them unto good by his 
 holy Spirit: If they be not his, he will doe it 
 by his providence, for their comfort and refre- 
 fhing that call upon him, and waite for his Mer- 
 cie. 
 
 Fourthly; fithenceall Authoritieis in Gods 
 hand, let us obey the?n that arefet over us, be they 
 never fo meane, as farre as they command things 
 that are lawfull and warrantable : otherwife, be 
 they never fo great in excellencie,letus doe as 
 the three Children did,rather fubmitour felves 
 to any punifhment, then yeeld unto the lufts of 
 our commanders : for info doing wee fhall not 
 obey their commiffion, but their corruption. 
 - Laftly 
 
For thine is the Fsingdome^ 
 
 Laftly, herds an ufe for Governor s y t\\zx. feeing 
 they hold their places, from and for the Lori.^ 
 
 I thereforethey mould ufe their Authoricie well, 
 
 j even to thofe very ends, for which the Lord 
 hath appointed them,for the Xm/ will call them 
 to a reckning for their Steward-fhippe, as well 
 as the moft abject perfon that are under their 
 Dominion^ The confederation hereof wasit, 
 that made lob fo gooda Ruler, that hee would 
 not wrong the bafeft that was under him, for 
 hee knew that hee had a mafter in heaven , to 
 whom hee muit yeeldup his accountes, and 
 before whom heemuft anfwerforallhis deal- 
 ings ; if I did contemne the judgment ofmyfer. 
 vant{fMthhee)andofmjfnaide^ when they did 
 contend with ?nee> what then Jliall 1 doe when 
 God (tandeth up, and when heejhatt vtft mec f 
 what jhall 1 anfwer ? hee that made mee in the 
 wombe, hath hee not made him, hath not hee alone 
 fafhionedusinthe wombef Hereby did lob (hew, 
 that hee beleeved that all his preheminence, 
 and fiiperioritk was from the Lord: in that hee 
 carried himfelfe equally and moderatiy to- 
 wards thofe that were under his government, 
 whereas thofe that ufe their authoritietotyran- 
 nieand oppreffe their inferiors, howfoeyer in' 
 word they fay, Thine is the Kingdorne yet they 
 
 ] mew in deede, that it is but from the teeth out- 
 wardly,that they acknowledge fo much: for if 
 they did ftedfaftly beleeue it, they would ufe 
 their athoritie fo, as God might hane moft glory 
 and men moft comfort. 
 
 1 C c The 
 
 Vje. 5, 
 
 £.om. rj. 
 
 lob 
 
 14. 
 
lp+ 
 
 Obfervat. 
 
 Pfal.6*. iz. 
 
 iChron. 2p. 
 
 Reafeu I. 
 Gen. i» 
 
 Pfal. 33. 
 
 The Tower, andtbe(jlorie. 
 
 "The Tower. 
 
 Herein doth the Lord differ from earthly 
 Kings: who haue fometimes authoritie, but 
 want power, fo that they cannot bring their 
 fubje&sto doe that which they would haue 
 them, as the cafe flood with David: but God as | 
 he hath-all authoritie in his hand, fo hath he all ] 
 power likewife. Whence we lea rne. T hats 
 
 There is no power But in God, and for God. 
 
 Whatfoever ftrength is found in any creature 
 in heaven or inearth, it is derived from him,and 
 limited by him, in this refpedHt is laid" by the 
 Prophet David,That power be/ongeth unto God. 
 K^ingeis are called Powers, but all the power 
 that they haue, they received from d\eLord,and 
 muftufeit not for thcmfelues, but for him, and 
 for the performance of thofe workes which he 
 enjoy neth them? fo in another place the fame 
 Prophet magnifieth the Name of God, faying 
 Thine Lord is greatneffc and power, &c. This 
 will evidently appeare if we confider thefe rea- 
 fons- 
 
 7M, the wonderful/ workes of the Creation, in 
 that God by- his word alone could make the hea~ 
 vens'^nd the earth, and all the creatures in them 
 both: which muftneedes argue an infinite po- 
 wer in him*. 
 
 Secondly, 
 
For thine is the Kingdome^ 
 
 Secondly, the worke ofprefervation-witttefki- 
 fic as much : for unlefle there were an unfpeak- 
 able and unconceivcable power of God to up. 
 hold the world, and to feed and relieue the 
 creatures that liue on the earth,and in the waters 
 all things would quickly bediffolved, and fall 
 to an utter decay and ruine, and therefore heis 
 faid, to uphold all things by his mightie word. 
 
 Thirdly ,thi$ is evident, in that bereflrainetb 
 the ftronge (I creatures, viz. the Devi 11 and his ) 
 
 Angels, fo that albeit they be full of maliceand 
 outrage, yet he curbeth them in fuch fort, that 
 they can doe nothing but that which maketh 
 for -his glory. And the like may. be faid of all 
 S 'at bans instruments •, howfoever they bemighty 
 and withall very boifterous, yet doth he fo or- 
 der and fway boththem and their actions, that 
 all their rage doth turne to his praife, and to 
 the benefit and comfort of feis people. Which 
 ferveth; 
 
 Firft, foi the reproof e ofthofe, that when they 
 baue great meanesa/idhelpes^ think e they bau<t_j> 
 great Ctabilitie and firmeneffe : Even as the rich 
 man in the Gofpel, who feeing that riches did 
 plentifully flow in upon him,faid unto his foule, 
 Soule,thou baft much goods laid up for many years, 
 and what ot that ? therefore, Hue At eafc, eatP^. 
 drinke^and take thy paftme; h a ving ab o u'n da nee 
 of wealth, he imagined thattherc was fuch pow- 
 er therin,that he might well promife unto him - 
 felfe fafetie, and fecuritie from all manner of e- 
 vils: bu:thatwashisfo!lie,.forin truths all po- 
 C c 2 wer 
 
 195 
 
 Kcb, 
 
 Vfi I. 
 
 Luke iz, !j. 
 
 [ 
 
ig6 \ ^be^oyper^andtbeCjlorie, 
 
 Pfal. jo.& 
 
 rfi 
 
 e &> 
 
 wer belongs tints God, and from him atone it is 
 that we hue, and that we Hue comfortably and 
 happily. Yet was this jD^/W.ferrouralfo, (al- 
 beit otherwise an holy and faithful! fervant of 
 God ) who in his profperitie faid, / [ball 'never he 
 c/ifi doivne : but the Lord made him know, that 
 all power is his, for when he turned away his 
 face and favour from him, hee was fore trou- 
 bled. 
 
 Secondly, for thejuftreprehenflonof fuch, 
 as if they want the outward meanes ofhelpe and re- 
 lief > areprefently difmayed y and conclude with 
 | them flues , t hat in this cafe the world muft n 'cedes 
 goevery hard with them. Herein they marvei- 
 loufly diihonour the Lord, in that they doe not 
 giueunto him the praife of his power. For this 
 was CMofes juftly rebuked, who hearing the 
 XWpromifc that hee would feed fix hundred 
 thousand men, befides women and children, [ 
 with flefh, even in the wildernefle > and that for 
 awholemoneth together, would not beleeue 
 thatitfliouldcome to patter as if the Lordhad 
 forgotten Jhimfelfe when hee made fuch a pro- 
 mise. But what faith Godunto him/* Is the Lords 
 Nimb. ji»2 ^ handfaortned? thou Jhalt fe-e now whether my word ! 
 will come to faff unto theeor mK The like cor- 
 ruption is reproved and punifhedinthe Prince 
 of Samaria, who when Elijha the Prophet fore- 
 told from the mouth of the Lord, thatnotwith- 
 jjjtandingthe extreame famine that was now a- 
 mong them, by to morrow that time, there 
 fhould be great plentie and abundance of corne 
 i and 
 
F or thine is the KJMgdome^ l 197 
 
 and allneedfull provifion:heanfwered theraan 
 of God and faid, Though the Lord fhottld makes 
 windowes in the heaven ( as he did in the dayes 
 ofNoah ) could this thing come to pa(Je?But what 
 faith the Prophet f Thou Jhalt fee n with t hints 
 eyes, butfialt net eate thereof: as indeed, the next 
 day it came topafTe, for the pee fie trode upon him 
 in the gate and he dyed, 
 
 Hercalfoare ( thofe to be condemned, that 
 when the times are hard, and worldly powers 
 are againft. them, beginne to be out of heart, as 
 J if there were no comfort any longer to bee ex- I 
 peeked. Butwhatunbeliefeis this, to be more | 
 afraid of the creature, then of the Creator < 
 What if all the Potentates in the earth mould 
 oppofe themfelues againft us ? are we any whk 
 the Ieflefafe? no ftirefy,for all that might which 
 they haue is ordered by the Lord, and although 
 wicked men will doe us what mifchiefe they 
 can, yet can they not doe what they would: 
 thoughtheir malice be great, yet theirpoweris 
 none at a 1L 
 
 Therefore it is that the Lord faith unto his 
 
 people, 1, even I am he that comfort you j who art 
 
 thou that thou fhoulde ft fear e a mortal! man ,and the 
 
 Jonneof man-, which /halt I be made as graffe : and 
 
 forget tejl the Lord thy maker , that hath jp read out 
 
 the heavens and lay dthe foundations of the earth. 
 
 In which place the Z^findeth fault with them 
 
 and fharpely checketh them, for thatnotwith- 
 
 j {tending ail his comfortable promifesmadeun- 
 
 I to thenvhey were ftill heaviehearted,dull ) and 
 
 \ C c 3 dif- 
 
 z King* 74 1, 
 
 Vcrf. id. 
 
 2. 
 
 Ifay, 
 
 11 m m n ■ 
 
198 The Towery and the (jlorie. 
 
 difcouraged, becaufethey fawthearme of flem 
 againft them: the caufe of which fcare and di- 
 ftruft is noted to be twofold, viz. becaufethey 
 neither knew what men were, nor what God was j 
 forif they had rightly underftood, and wifely 
 confidered, that men are mortall and fading, e- 
 venasthegraiTe, and that the Lord is infinite in 
 power and ma jeftie( which appeareth as in o- 
 ther things, fo efpecially in the wonderfull 
 worke of Creation ) they would never haue 
 beene afraid of the frowning lookes, and bigge 
 words of oppreflbrs and periecutors, as know- 
 ing that the Lord was fufficiently able to protect 
 and defend them, from all their outrages, and 
 tofulfil his gracious promifes unto them though 
 their enemies fhould feeke never fo much to 
 hinder the performance of the fame. Here then 
 isthisimmoderatefeareof men tobecondem- 
 ned> efpecially, when it caufeth men to faile of 
 their duty, either wholy or in part, that dare 
 not be fo forward in Religion as they would 
 be,forfeareofthedifpleafureof fuch andfuch 
 greatones; thatis a grievous finne, and it cau- 
 feth them in whom it raigneth, to be rancked in 
 the very fore- front of that hellim rabble men- 
 tioned Revelation 21. 8.. where the holy Ghofi 
 fpeaketh thus ; The fear e foil and ' unbeleever -s ,and 
 abominable \ and murtherers, and whoremongers, 
 fljallhaue their part in the Lake that bur nes with 
 fire andbrimjlone, which ts the fecond death. 
 
 And as they are to be blamed,that are to much 
 j afraid ofmen.fo are they alfo that are too feare- 
 1 full 
 
Far thine is the E^ngdome^ I 199 
 
 full of Sathan,for though he be a power, and! 
 principalitie, yet is he limited, and retrained , 
 by the Lords hand, andisasitwereaftrongly- 
 on in a mightie chaine,fo that he can goe no fur- 
 ther then Godwili permit him. Hee could not 
 touch lob, nor any thing of his, untillhe had re- 
 ceived his com million from heaven: nay, hee 
 could not enter into the heard of fwine, untill 
 Chrijl had granted him libertie fo to doe: And 
 therefore there is no caufe why Gods children 
 fhould bee immoderately afraid of him. And 
 thus much of the ufes of reproofe. 
 
 In the fecond place, this maketh for onr in- 
 ftruchon. Is it fo that all power is the Lords* 
 Then if wee receiuc helpe and comfort from 
 any creature, let us acknowledge the Lords 
 hand therin .• for without his fpeciall provi- 
 j dence, our mcate and drinke could not nouriiTi 
 ! us. Our apparell could not affborde us warmth, 
 j our freinds could haue no abilitie to doe us 
 I good 5 Andtherforein all thefe, and the like 
 rhings,.let us with thankf ulnes, take knowledge 
 of his loue,that doth fo many and fiindry wayes 
 I convay his power and uertueunto us. 
 Againe, fincc all power is from the Lord,ther- 
 foreifwe would get ability to ferue God in our 
 I oallings,and efpecially,to performerhe vvorkes 
 j of Religion, let us beg the fame At his hwds.Yo>i 
 as touching ordinary labour in the workesof 
 our Vocation, the holy Ghojl fpeaketh thus, un- 
 to the ifraelites. It uthe Lord which gineth thee 
 yower to get fubftance . And concerning duties i 
 
 3ft 
 
 I 
 
 Iudc 6. 
 
 lob 
 
 it 
 
 Math. 
 
 r/c2. 
 
 t. 
 
 Lcvie. 8. 18. 
 
200 
 
 Cant, i, 
 Rotn. 7. 
 
 
 Rom. ii* 25- 
 
 Rorm 14.4. 
 
 The T* outer y and the Qlorie^ 
 
 of Religion, wee haue no power to repent, to 
 beleeue, to pray, or to doe any other fervice, 
 but Godnmfl draw us before wee can rnnne after 
 him. And hce it is that muft workein us, both 
 to will and to performe, of his o wne good plea- 
 fure; For in us^ that is, in ottrjlefl)^ there divel- 
 leth no good thing ^the consideration, and expe- 
 rience whereof,fnould bee a forcible motiue,to 
 draw us neerer unto the Lord^ and to make us 
 frame our hearts to acknowledge that power is 
 his, and therefore earneftly tofue unto him for 
 the obtaining of greater Grace, and Strength, 
 both to doe thofe duties which he injoyneth 
 us, and tobeare thofe crofTes which hee inflict- 
 ethuponus. 
 
 Againe, this mould teach us, not to defpaire of 
 any one though his cafe bee very hard, for God 
 is almightie^and the things that are impofliblc 
 unto men are very ealle unto him. Therefore 
 was it, that the Apoftle Paul did not defpaire of 
 the conversion ofthe Iewes y notwithstanding 
 their exceeding great obftinacie,and unbeleefe : 
 For God{ faith he ) Is able to graft them in againe. 
 And from this ground he diffwadeth men from 
 defpiilng thofe that are weaker then themfelues, 
 as if they mould alwaycs bee fo nay ( faith he ) 
 thinkenotfo,fuch (hall bee eftabliflied: For God 
 u able to make them ft 'and; he can eftablifli the 
 weaker!:, as well as the ftrongeft: and the mod 
 unconftant, as well as the moft refolute: And 
 therefore there is no juft caufe why the moft 
 feeble and impotent Chriftianthatis, Should be 
 
 con- 
 
For thine is the E^ingdome^ \ %qi 
 
 contemned and fee at naught, 
 
 Laftly, Here is a ufe of fingnlar conflation un- 
 to G oris fcrv ants: (ith that ail power is the Lords , 
 therroreit cannot be-that anyone of themlhould 
 perifh no, nor meetewith any thing that mall 
 prooue hurtfull unto them,for God is perfectly 
 able to deliver them, and to faue them from all 
 their finnes, and enemies 5 and from all hurtfull 
 crofTes andmiferies whatfoever. He is a father 
 unto them, not in name alone, ( as many ftep- 
 fathers are ) but in nature alio, being full of all 
 tender companion towards them, and hee 
 I knowes every one of their wants, and is bound 
 by Promife and Covenant^ and Oath> to doe that 
 which hee feethto bee for their greateft good 
 and comfort. I know my fieepe, ( faith our Sa- 
 viour ) And I gtue unto them et email life ^ and they 
 fhall ne-ver per/JJ), neither flail any plucke them 
 them out of my hand. 
 
 Oh but there are many, and mighty ene- 
 mies (will fome fay ) that oppofe themfelucs 
 againft +hz Jheepe of Chrift^ and feeke by all 
 meanes to make a pray of them. 
 
 What of that i My I ather which gaue them 
 me ( faith Chrifl^ is greater, then all, and none is a- 
 hle to take them out of my Fathers hand. So that, 
 albeit, Sathan thePrince of darknes,with all his 
 malicious iaftruments , doe band.themfclues 
 againft the Saints, and feeke their utter over- 
 t\\xo\*JjfQX.the Lord will tread them all under foot e: , 
 And by his almightie power , preferue thofe that 
 are his Elecl, unto everlafting glory, and hap- 
 
 Vfe 3, 
 
 Iohn. io» 17. 
 
 Objdi. 
 
 Anfiv. 
 
 Roaa, 16 20. 
 
 Dd 
 
 pine fie 
 
20Z 
 
 a Pet* i, j. 
 
 Obferva*. 
 
 Reaf. i~. 
 
 
 Smile; 
 
 Thelfoyperi andtheCjrlorie. 
 
 pineflein the heavens. So-much- forthis point. 
 Itfolloweth. 
 
 <zAnd the glork 
 
 This is the effect of both the former, for if 
 theZw*fbe the onely Soveraigne King, and 
 hath dominion overall, if he haue all power in 
 himfelfe,and no creature anyatali,rurther then 
 it is derived from him ? and limitted byhirmthen 
 in all equitie and right, all glory muft be afcri- 
 bed unto him. Whence we mayobierues 
 
 That all honor and glorie doth of right belong 
 unto the Lord* 
 
 This both men and Angels doe giue unto him 
 as his due, as might bee proved by many testi- 
 monies of Scripture, as Luke 2. 14. Revel. 5. 
 13. but we will briefly come unto the reafons 
 of the point ^Whereof, 
 
 Oneis Rom. 11.3.6. where it is fuid, For of 
 him,andthororvhim, and for him are all things, 
 to him bee glory for ever : The fence of which - 
 placeis, that he made all creatures, they are of 
 him; Thenagainc, hee upholds all the whole 
 world, and all things confifts through him, no 
 creature helpeshinuokeepe the world in repa- 
 ration: but as he created all, fohefuftainesaud 
 maintaines all things being created. If a man 
 build a goodly houfe,others doe commonly re- 
 
 paire 
 
 Kiw mi i m 1 Hi" ' 
 
■ ■ " ■ *" — " 1 I ■ ■■■ 
 
 For thine is the Kjngdome* 
 
 zo$ 
 
 paire the fame, and Co they haue the praife of 
 the reparation, the builder onely of the making 
 thcreor: butitisothcrwifein this goodiy buil- 
 ding of the world : for, as the Lord made alt by 
 -Ins f ewer full word , fo he upholds all by his migh- 
 tie hand. And, the reafon why he ufeth <J\lagi- 
 ft rates and Mini fters ,md other officers under him 
 •is not becaufe hee needes them, but becaufe heede- \ 
 lights to doe them good in imploying them in his \ 
 fcvicc. And chat good which they doe, they ' 
 <ioeitby his ftrength, nor by their owne. In 
 which regard, ail the glory remainethftill due 
 unto him : and therefore the Apo'ftle in the 
 ■place laft alleadged, doth conclude thus, of 
 inm, and through him are aft things, ( and with- 
 all)for him, that is^for his honour, and there- 
 fore heeinferreth, to him beeglorie for ever, A* 
 men. 
 
 A fecond reafon is, becaufe there is in God the R**f.t. 
 perfection of good things, Hee is holy in all his pft j 
 wayes ,yea holineffeit felfe, good unto all his crea- 
 tures, yea goodneffe it fclfe, &c. and whatsoever p[ * 1 ** 6 ' 6 * 
 goodnelle or holineifeis in men, or Angels pro- 
 ceedethfromhim: therefore in regard of the 
 infinite excellencieof his nature, all glory be* 
 longeth unto him. 
 
 Which ferveth, firfr, for the reproof of fuch pfc'i. 
 >#s are proud of any priveledge or gifl, that they 
 arc endued with all: they doe not beleeue that 
 all power, dominion,and excellencic is of God. 
 and that therefore all glory pertaineth unto 
 him. For if they did, they would never take 
 D d 2 vainc- 
 
zo± The Tower y and the (jlorie, j 
 
 vaine-glory rothemfelues, yet that is the folly 
 of tnany,efpecially fuch as haue Sycophants 
 at their elbowes, to magnifie them in ail that 
 theyfpeakc, or doe. Which was Herods mad- 
 neffe, when he heard a companie of fooles to 
 flatter and extoll him, as if he hadfpoken like a 
 God, and not like a man , he was content to take 
 their commendation : but if hee had had the 
 grace to confider, that though be were more e- 
 loquent then his neighbours, it was not from 
 himfelfe, but from the Lord : then would not 
 he haue fet up himfelfe aboueGW in pride, a- 
 boue God in glory 5 and Co might he haue esca- 
 ped the fearefull judgement that fell upon him. 
 W c 2 * Secondly, For Infirucilon^ that wee mould 
 
 ufe all GW.r gifts- and benefits for the greateft 
 advantage of his glory and honor,which fhould 
 be the end of all our life, of all our thoughts, 
 words, and workes, that wee might procure 
 praife unto our Creator and Preferver, accor- 
 ding to that, i Cor. to. 31. Whatsoever 'jet doe, 
 doe all ta the glory ofGed. 
 Vfe 1 .... This is for the comfort of all Gods fervants, 
 
 doth all glorie belong unto God, thenfurely the 
 godlicftmen fhallhauemoft honor,for God will 
 honour them that honour him. Indeed, if wic- 
 ked men, or devils had the difpo/ing of glory, 
 then fanners fhould carrie it away, but feeing 
 that none haue iptsreft therein, but they on 
 whom the Lord beftowcth it, affuredly, they 
 that are the godliefl men, fhall Jbe the honoura- 
 bleft-men, and that even in tliislife : forthefpi- 
 
 rit 
 
For ever and eysr. 
 
 B 
 
 205 
 
 
 1 Pet. 4. 14. 
 
 ritof gloric refteth upon them, and they are 
 
 ftilltrauflatedfromglortetoglorie, 2 Cor. 3.18. 
 
 And as for the life to come, they mall be then • Dan lZt 
 
 crowned with evcrlafling glorie. Therefore let 1 
 
 usnot be afraid of the difgraces of the world, 
 
 that which they giuc us, they may take from us, j 
 
 butthatwbich(Wgiucs they cannot; Godbt- j 
 
 ft owes it where he fees fit, and where it mall a- j 
 
 bide. The wife fi b all inherit egUrie, though they F">. $ 3 ?• 
 
 beabafcd ; and finners'lhame, though they bee j 
 
 exalted- 
 
 For ever and ever. 
 
 The meaning hereof is, thatwhatfoever in 
 the words before is attributed unto God, doth 
 aiwayes belong unto him, his Kingdome is an 
 ever U fling Kingdome^ Ban, 3 . 33 . Then for his 
 power, he was full of power before the world 
 was, and hath mewed it in making and prefer- j 
 vingof thefame, and will mew it at the laft j 
 day in the duTolution thereof, and in railing up j 
 the dead out of their graues, in bringing his e- 1 
 lecl to perfect happinefte, and the reprobate to 
 endleffeand unfpeakable torments. So alfo for 
 his Glorie^ hehaditfromalletcrnitie, he made j 
 and preferverh all things for his own glory,and ! 
 he mail haue all honor for evermore. In that all 
 thefeareeverlafting, hence wee may obferucj 
 Thar, 
 
 <JaII things in God are eternalL 
 ______ D d 3 ______ This 
 
 Iohn. i7»f. 
 Rea. 4?i . 
 
 Obfervat. 
 
io6 
 
 For ever and ever. 
 
 ;i 
 
 Ifa. 54, §• 
 
 Ephe. 1.9. 
 Iohn. 15. 
 
 Reaf. 1 . 
 
 iloh.4.8. 
 
 Reafon. 2. 
 
 lam. 1. 17. 
 
 I Reafon* 3 * 
 
 Thisis proved, Deut. 33. 27. The eternal/ God \ 
 is thy refuge from aboae^ and underneath are the e- \ 
 vtrlafling armes, &c. Whence it is piaine, that 
 ■God is eternal! in himfelfe, and an eternal! Pro- 
 tector of his Church: either hee will caft out 
 their enemies h-imfelfe, or cKe ( as it is in the 
 fame place ) he will fay., deflroy them. That is ; 
 will giue them ftrength to doQ it, for this very 
 bidding of them is enough. More particularly, 
 hismereieiseverlafting, fo faith the Prophet, 
 For a moment in mine anger I hide my face from 
 thee, for a little feafon, hut with ever lading mer- ' 
 ciehaue I had companion on thee^ fayth the Lord 
 thy Redeemer. The like may be (aid of his electi- 
 on, that he hath chofenus before the foundati- 
 on of theworld, which election is a fruit ofhis 
 louc which is eternall. In a word,the fame holds 
 true in all his attributes, his goodneffe, wife 'dome, 
 juftice, ejrc they are ail eternall. And this muft 
 need es be; 
 
 Bccaufe, the Attributes of God be not qualities 
 in him, but his nature ; Life, is not in him , but he 
 is Z//f it felfe, Power it felfe, Wifedome it fclfe. 
 Thefe are his very effence. When we loue, wee 
 loue with a quallitie, but GWloues with his na- 
 ture, and therefore it is fay.d, that God is Loue. 
 All things in him are unchangeable, With 
 him ismvariablenefft, nor fludow by turning. 
 
 Thirdly, his. rewards are everlafling, both 
 to the wicked and godly. For to the wicked it 
 fhallbefaid, Goe from mee yee cur fed into ever- 
 lafling fire, &c. If then GWdoe alwayes punim 
 
 repro- 
 
For ever and ever. 
 
 207 
 
 Math, 2 j. 
 
 Vfe 1 
 
 reprobates, and mew the fruites of his Power, 
 and Iuftice, and Truth eternally ylt muft needs 
 necerfarily follow, that his Power, luftice, and 
 Truth are eternal!. Thelikemay befaidofthe 
 riches of his mcrcie towards his Ele&, who 
 (lull at the laft day enjoy an inheritance immor- 1 Pct x 
 tall and nndef led, that fadeth not ^ referved for 
 them in the heavens-, which is elfe- where termed 
 eternall life. W hich fervcth , 
 
 Firft, For rhe confutation, of rhatfoolim o- 
 pinion of wicked perfons, that imagine, though 
 they hauefpedill in their /inftill practices here- 
 tofore, yet they mall haue better fucceffe here- 
 after. As for inftance, fome haue beene bitter 
 and violent againft. Chriftians, and haue gone 
 by the worft, yet doe they hope to haue a day 
 'againft them at Jaft, if not at one time, yet at an- 
 other. But let fuch know that Gods power, and 
 juftice, againft them, and his loue and kindnes 
 towards hisfervants, arealwayesthefamc> And 
 hee hath faid^Thatthey that hate Sion fiall perifi. 
 So it is for his glory, to bring downcall wicked- 
 enemies, to take thecraftiein their craftinefle, 
 and to caufe them to fall into the fame pit, 
 which they haue digged for others. Therefore 
 I haue they no caufe tolooke for abetter day, 
 but rather for a worfe, even for the manifefta- 
 tion of his fierie wrath againft them to the ut- 
 moft. 
 
 Others there are, that will filch and ft tale- 
 doe deale falfly , and ' injur oujly with the fe that put 
 them intruft) and being taken with the manner $ 
 
 rtey 
 
 1 n ' "H..J1 ■!» ■ . ■ 
 
 Vfe 2, 
 
208 
 
 Vfel, 
 
 i Pet. 
 
 Vfe. 3, 
 
 For ever and ever. 
 
 — r 
 
 they are not much troubled, nordifcouraged 
 from their lewd conrfes: but goe on rlill in 
 hope, that they mall jfpeed better then others 5 
 but how can they thinke foe' Oh, they haue. 
 learned more wit now, they will carry their 
 matters more clofelyarcd fecretly, andkeepe 
 their plots from being difcoveredrbiit is not God 
 eternal! : doth not he fee their rinne as much as 
 before < And is not hee as able to bring them to 
 rhame and punifhment, as hee did before.? yei 
 certainly, and the r fore they that hauefped fo ill 
 heretofore^ maylooke to fpeed worfe hereaf- 
 ter. Becaufe they haue made no better ufe of 
 Gods former punifriments. 
 
 Secondly, Her sis an horrible terror for wicked 
 -men i Is God eternali in his juflice^ and in the 
 effects thcrof, oh ! then, where mall they ap- 
 pears that are finfull, and ungodly : and that 
 •iiue and die in their wicked couries, neuer be- 
 wailing them nor truly repenting for them i 
 They mall come before fuch a ludgeas lilies for 
 ever,to power out the vialls of his wra'hupon them 
 and to torment , them in fire and brim 'jl ops for e- 
 vtrmon. As his loue, is everkfting towards 
 thofethatfearehimrfois his di fpleafure againft 
 thofe, that provoke him, and his indignation 
 being kindled, will be like a river of Brimftonc, 
 which ilia lib urne for ever, through the brearih. 
 of hisnoftrels. 
 
 ^Thirdly, is it fo, that Godls eternali in his 
 
 \o\$$£fot /there is matter offtngular confoUtrtn for 
 
 j I thevE-lo& Q&Godz for nothing mall hinder their 
 
 I falvation,