Page images
PDF
EPUB

S. MATT. vi. 9.

After this manner, therefore, pray ye, Our Father, &c.

A

FTER this manner pray ye.
Queft. Whether this be a Form?

Anfw. 1. Our Saviour did not intend this for their only Prayer.

2. He defign'd it as a Platform for all our Prayers.

3. And as a Form itfelf, to be us'd totidem verbis.

As appears,

1. From the Word Tws, after this manner, S. Luk. xix. 31, 34. Numb. vi. 23. M.

2. From exεe, pray ye. Not order your Prayers only according to that Form or Pattern. 3. From the Occasion of his enjoining it, S.Luk. xi. 1, 2.

4. From the Precept there, aiyete.

5. From S. Matt. vi. 14, 15. where our Saviour explains the most harsh thing in it, by itself, viz. our forgiving other Men their Trefpaffes against us, as we expect and defire Forgiveness of our Trefpaffes from God.

Object. The Apostles never us'd it.

Anfw. 1. It does not follow, that the Apoftles did not ufe it, because we do not find it inferted among their Prayers in the Scriptures, as Act. i. 24. and iv. 24, 25, &c. for all the Prayers of the Apostles that are recorded, are only occafional, but this a fet daily Prayer.

2. We may judge of the Apoftolical, by the Frimitive Practice, who did always ufe this Form

in

in their Publick Prayers, and thought themselves under Obligation fo to do.

Sic docuit Apoftolos fuos, ut quotidie in Corporis illius facrificio credentes audeant loqui, Pater nofter, &c.

Pramifsâ legitimd & ordinarid precatione quafi fundamento. Tertull.

Mia Sénois xoivý. Ignat.

USES.

1. How highly are they to blame who neglect or flight it?

2. Let it be the Platform of all our Prayers, learn from this Prayer the Method and Matter. 1. To direct your Prayers to God.

2. To pray in a known Tongue.

3. That our Prayers are to be answerable to God's Commands, this Prayer having two Tables. And therefore,

1. Those things that concern God's Glory, are to be ask'd in the first Place, S. Matt. vi. 33.

2. With the most Earneftnefs, S. Joh. xii. 27, 28.

3. Temporal Comforts to be ask'd only fo far as neceffary, Prov. xxx. 8. That we should pray daily, S.Luk. xi. 3. 5. For others as well as ourselves, intimated in the Word, uv, Our.

4.

3. Ufe this as a Form, S. Matt. xxviii. 19. For which end, confider, that it is

1. The moft Full.

2. The moft Methodical.

3. Moft Divine.

4. Most Perfect.

5. Moft Acceptable.

6. The only commanded Prayer.

S. MATT.

I.

S. MATT. vi. 9.

Our Father, which art in Heaven.

UR Father.

Ο 1

Father?

1. Who is it, that is here call'd Our

GOD, who is,

1. A Being, Exod. iii. 14.
2. Infinite, Pfal. cxlvii. 5.
3. Eternal, Rev. i. 8.

4. Subfifting of Himself.

5. In whom all things else subsist, Act.xvii.28. 2. Why is he call'd Father?

1. Because he is the Father of Christ, S. Joh. V. 26.

2. And in Him, our Father, S. Joh. xx. 17. So as we have thereby,

1. The Privilege, S. Joh. i. 12.

2. The Spirit of Sans, Gal, iv. 6.

3. Why are we to pray to God as our Father?

That we may pray,

1. With more Reverence, Mal. i. 6.

2. With more Confidence, Pfal. ciii. 13. and Boldness of Accefs, Hebr. iv. 16.

3. With more Affurance of Obtaining, 1 S. Joh. V. 14, 15.

4. Why our Father, not my Father?

Not but that we may fay my Father, S Matt. xxvi. 39, 42. But,

1. To teftify our Belief, that all Believers are his Children.

2. That we may pray for all Believers, as well as ourselves, S. Jam. v. 16.

"

USE.

USE.

Hence learn,

1. That all Chriftians have Liberty to call God, Father.

2. The Happiness of Chriftians or Believers, S. Job. i. 12.

For they are,

1. Free from all Evil.

1. Slavery of Sin, Rom. vi. 14.

2. Condemnation, Rom. viii. 1.

3. From the Terrors of Conscience, Rom. viii. 15.

4. From the Wrath of God.

5. From the Course of the Law, Gal. v. 1. 2. They have the best of Fathers.

1. Most Wife, 1 Tim. i. 17.

2. Most Present, Pfal. xlvi. 1.

3. Most Powerful.

4. Moft Gracious and Tender, Ifa. xlix.15. 5. Moft Lafting.

3. They have free Accefs to God, Gal. iv. 6. 4. An Intereft in His fpecial Providence, 2 Cor. vi. 18.

5. True Joy, 1 Pet. i. 8, 9.

Therefore,

3. Carry yourselves as his Children; By,

1. Honouring Him, Mal. i. 6.

2. Depending upon Him, 1 Tim. vi. 17.
3. Fearing to offend Him, Jer. v. 21.
4. Longing to go to Him, Pfal. xlii. 1, 2.
5. Obeying Him.

6. Submitting to Him, S. Luk, xv. 21, 22.
7. Always Praying to Him, as to a Fa-

ther.

II. Which

II. Which art in Heaven.

1. Why is God faid to be in Heaven?

[ocr errors]

1. Negatively.

1. Not that he is there only, Pfal. cxxxix. 7,8. 1 King. viii. 27. Jer. xxiii. 24.

2. Nor that he is there more than elfewhere.

2. Pofitively. But,

1. Because he manifefts himself more in the Creatures there, Pfal. xix. 1. As,

1. His Wifdom, Pfal. civ. 24.

2. His Power, Pfal. viii. 3, 4.

3. His Mercy in Saints glorified, 2 Theff.

i. 10.

2. Because he discovers himself more to the Creatures there; by,

1. His Prudence in managing the World, and the Affairs of it, Rev. vii. 12. 2. His Faithfulness to his Promifes, S. Matt. xxiv. 35..

[ocr errors]

3. His Grace in Saving fome, Ephef. ii. 5. 4. His Juftice in Condemning others, Rev.

XV. 3.

5. His Goodness to All, Pfal. cxlv. 9. 3. Because he communicates more of himself and his Perfections to the Creatures there.

1. His Knowledge, 1 Cor. xiii. 12.

2. His Love.

3. His Goodness, Hebr. xii. 23.
4. His Happiness, Pfal. xvi. 11.
5. His Immortality.

2. Why are we to pray to him, as in Heaven ?

1. That we may have high, not mean and fleshly Thoughts of him, when we pray, Ifa.lvii. 15. 2. That we may pray with Reverence, Ecclef.

V. I.

3. With

« PreviousContinue »