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what is the hope of his calling. Col. i. 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son Psalm ii. 8. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost part of the earth for thy possession. Micah, iv. 8. And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem. Jer. xxxi. 33, 34. This shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord. Matt. xxviii. 19, 20. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world. Rev. xi. 15. And the seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. xii. 10. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the king dom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. Tit. i. 2. In hope of eternal life, which God that cannot lie, promised before the world began. ii. 12, 13. The grace of

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God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearance of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

SECT. XXXVII.

Of the Third Petition-Thy will be done, &c. 1. Q. What is the third petition of this prayer? A. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 2. Q. How does God declare his will to us?

A. Chiefly two ways; by the dispensations of his providence, and by the rules which he has set us to live by; whether they be by nature implanted in us, or be revealed to us in the Gospel of Christ?

3. Q. Does this petition respect both these?

A. It does; and so teaches us to pray, that (with respect to the former of them,) we may always seriously consider the ways of his Providence, and discern what it is that he would have us either do or suffer, in obedience thereunto. That whatsoever it be that he shall thereby call us to, whether to a prosperous or unprosperous state, to receive good from him, or to suffer evil; we may, in the one, improve his blessings to the glory of his name, and the benefit of those about us; in the other may patiently submit to whatsoever he shall call us to suffer for his sake.

With relation to the latter (the rules which God has given us to walk by,) we are hereby taught to pray, that we may faithfully obey all his commandments, how contrary soever they may chance to be

to our own corrupt desires and affections; and continue his obedient and constant servants all the days of our life.

PROOFS SUBJOINED.-Job, i. 21. The Lord gave, the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. ii. 10. What? shall we receive good at the hands of the Lord, and shall we not receive evil? Matt. xxvi. 42. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. Acts, xxi. 13, 14. Then Paul answered, What, mean ye to weep and break my heart? For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, the will of the Lord be done.

a Psalm xl. 8. I delight to do thy will, O God; yea, thy law is within my heart. exliii. 10. Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God. Thy spirit is good: lead me into the land of righteousness. Matt. vii. 21. Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. John, iv. 34. Jesus saith unto them, my meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. vi. 38. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. Acts, ix. 6. And he (Saul) trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Rom. xii. 2. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. Eph. vi. 6. Not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but

as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. 1 Pet. ii. 15. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. 1 John, ii. 17. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

4. Q. Why is this circumstance added, As it is in heaven?

A. To shew us what kind of obedience we ought to pay to God's will. That as the angels in heaven not only do the will of God, but do it with all readiness, cheerfulness, constancy, and delight; so may we in like manner, if it shall please God, in some measure fulfil it too. Psalm ciii. 20, 21. Bless the Lord, ye his angels that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his that do his pleasure.

5. Q. Is it possible for us ever to attain to such a perfection of obedience in this present life?

A. It is hardly to be expected; yet we must pray for it, and endeavour to come up as near as it is possible to it and in the mean time, must learn from hence, not only how we ought to serve God now, but how we shall hereafter do his will; when we come to the blessed state, as well as place, of those holy spirits in heaven.

SECT. XXXVIII.

Of the Fourth Petition-Give us this day, &c.

1. Q. What is the first of those petitions which you said related to our own needs?

A. Give us this day our daily bread.

2. Q. What do you observe from the general composure of this part of the present prayer?

A. That as man consists of two different parts, a soul and body; and has need of several things to be given him for the good of both; so we are here directed to beg of God; first, what is necessary to our present life; and secondly, what may conduce to the everlasting happiness of our souls, in the life that is to

come.

3. Q. How does our Saviour express what is necessary to be asked by us, for the sustenance of our present life?

A. He calls it our daily bread.

4. Q. What does the word bread denote?

A. It is commonly used in Scripture for all sort of provision, as it is indeed the chiefest and most necessary; and such as may supply the defect of all other. And it is here made use of to signify all that is necessary for our support; not only meat, but drink, raiment, lodging, and the like: excluding at the same time whatsoever is superfluous, and desired rather to gratify our lusts than to preserve our life.

PROOFS SUBJOINED.-Gen. iii. 19. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread. xviii. 5, 6, 7. And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, so do, as thou hast said. And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth. And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf, tender and good, and gave it unto a young man, and he hasted to dress it. xlii. 31, 32. And he washed

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