A

SERMON

On MATT. vi. 10.

Thy Will be done on Earth, as it is in

Heaven.

HESE words are the laft of thofeS ERM.
three Petitions, in the Prayer which XXI.
was given us by our bleffed Saviour, w

that are to be confidered not only as
Petitions, but likewife as Acts of

Worship. In the first we acknow

ledge, that the Name of God is worthy to be praised and had in Honour. In the fecond we profefs our fincere Belief, that his Glory can no way be fo effectually promoted, as by the Coming of his Kingdom, i. e. by the Increase of true Chriftian Knowledge, till it is fpread over the Face of the Earth. In the third, which is the Subject of my Discourse at prefent, we declare, that it is our duty to promote God's Glory by our Actions, as well as by our Faith; that the Coming of Chrift's Kingdom, or true Christian Knowledge, is intended to produce Obedience, forasmuck as it is the duty of all reasonable Creatures to conform to God's Will in all things: and therefore we pray, that we may be able to do this in the moft accept

SERM. acceptable and perfect Manner, or, in the words of XXI. my Text, that his Will may be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven.

In difcourfing on which words, I fhall confine myfelf at present to a brief Expofition of the words themselves, with a practical Application of them.

I. An Expofition of the words themselves. And here, among the Multitude of Divifions that are given us, by which the Will of God is variously explained, and confidered in many different Views, I fhall only take notice of the Distinction which is made between the Will of his Precept, as it is sometimes called, and the Will of his Counsel or Decree. By the Will of his Coun fel, or which is the fame thing, of his Decree, is generally understood his eternal Purpose, by which he has pre-ordained the Events of things from the beginning to the end of Time; infomuch that the Counfels and Defigns of Men, however freely they act, do finally concur to the Execution of his Will, and to the Performance of his most gracious Purposes. In this Senfe the Will of God does always take effect; it is always done both in Earth and Heaven, nor can it ever be defeated by any human Means, however we may oppose our Wills to his, or labour to disappoint his Counfels. There are many devices in the heart of man, faid one, who understood it well; nevertheless the counfel of the Lord, that fall ftand. Accordingly we find God himself declaring, I will work, and who fball let it? The Lord of Hofts hath purposed, and who fhall difannul it? And his Hand is ftretched out, and who fhall turn it back? I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, faying, my counsel fhall fand, and I will do all my pleasure. This

is what is meant by the Will of God's Counfel; in SERM. complying with which we are merely paffive; we XXI. have nothing to do, but to submit to his Pleasure: to believe that the Iffues and Events of things, being under his Government and Direction, are all ordered with the most perfect Wisdom; and that though we are not able to difcover his Defigns, yet we ought to be fatisfied with his Difpenfations to us, as well knowing, that his Judgments are unfearchable, and his Ways paft finding out,

But to the Will of his Precept, or which is the fame thing, of his Commands, an active Obedience is required. This is that Will, which he has any way revealed, as the Measure of our Obedience to him. Whatever we discover by the Light of Nature to be agreeable to the Will of God, whatever the holy Scriptures have taught us further, concerning the Manner in which it ought to be performed, is the Will of God's Precept or Command. And to this we are bound to conform our Wills, and to regulate our Actions by it. This being the reafon for which it was revealed by him, who gives us Power to perform it. Which of these Senfes is here to be underftood, is the Question that now lies before us. It is certain, that the words, Thy Will be done, do moft naturally import the former, that being the Senfe in which they are understood in the Prayer, which was offered by our Lord himself before his bitter Sufferings upon the Crofs; faying, O my Father, if this Cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy Will be done: In which words it is plain our Saviour does not pray, to be endued with Strength to perform God's Will by an active Obedience to it, but declares himself willing and content to fuffer whatever should be inflicted on him. Agreeable to this

Senfe

SERM. Sense have been the Expofitions, which fome have XXI. given, of the Petition in my Text; fuppofing it was w defigned as an acknowledgment or confeffion, that

we fubmit and acquiefce in God's Dealings with us, being content to suffer whatever Mifery and Hardship fhall in the course of his Providence befall us. But to this it may anfwered, that this Sense of the words does not well agree with the words which follow, On Earth as it is in Heaven, where the Example of the holy Angels is understood to be proposed as a Pattern for our obedience here: and because it is agreed, that those bleffed Spirits are too happy in the Enjoyment of their great Creator, to be acquainted with any Mifery or Sorrow, they cannot properly be propofed as Examples of Patience, but rather of an active Obedience to God's Laws, in all Inftances of Duty that may arife. Others therefore have explained the Petition in my Text, as a request to God, to difpofe us by his Grace to comply with his Precepts and Commands in like manner as the holy Angels, that encompass his Throne, are ready at all times to receive his Orders, and to execute his Will and Pleafure. And indeed it must be allowed, that as Obedience to God's Laws is a much more general and comprehenfive Duty, than Submiffion to his Judgments only, it is more likely to be the meaning of the Prayer. But withal it must obferved, that as Patience and Submiffion to the difpenfations of God's Providence to us, is included in the number of thofe precepts or commands which God has given us to be a Rule of Duty, it must confequently be included in the Prayer. By the Will of God therefore, we are here to understand his Will in both Senfes of the Word: not only that Will, which he requires us to perform, but that also which he executes upon us; not only that Will which

:

is

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is a Rule to us, but that also which in fome fort is a SERM, Rule to him. That Will which determines him to XXI. deal with us, as he does, and to which we must ascribe, as the first cause of all, whatever happens to us in the whole courfe of our Lives. The former of thefe it is our duty to obey; and to be content and well fatisfied with the latter; and to comply with God's Will in both these refpects, is fully to perform what we ask of God, when we fay, Thy Will be done.

But because the Performance of God's Will in Heaven, is proposed in the next words as an example upon Earth, the next Queftion therefore that arifes from my Text, is, In what manner it is done in Heaven? One expofition that has been given of these words is, that the example of obedience which is here fetch'd from Heaven, is taken from the Motion of the Stars, which ever fince they were fix'd in the Firmament of Heaven, have continued in the fame place that was at firft affigned them, without quitting their Stations, or disturbing that Beauty and Harmony of Order, which was established by their great Creator. But fure, among the multitude of intellectual Beings that inhabit those bright Abodes, we need not have recourse to any lifeless Creature, as an Example to our Virtue here. How much better Patterns are thofe = glorious Spirits, that are continually employed in Epraifing God; thofe Angels of his that fulfil his Commandments, and hearken unto the voice of his Words! Thefe, doubtlefs, are the Examples which Christ proposes, as moft worthy of our notice and regard. And fince he proposes them, it muft needs be worth while to enquire, in what manner they perform his Will, and in what Senfe they are Examples

to us.

It