Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

IP The expofition of the fourth Petitien. we ask either temporall. benefits concerning the body for the maintenance of this life prefent, or fpirituall bleflings in heavenly things concerning the foul for the obteining of abetter life: Of both which we have a promife 1. Tim. 4. 8. and there- fore are to pray for both. The prayer fortemporall bleffings isconteined in there words, Toy ge-ror of 7ór cfmécrov ábs htay o4.4P9v, Give us this day our daily bread. But firft let us confider the order of the petition The order. in refped both of thofe which go before and allo which follow. In refpet of the antecedents our Saviour fpeaketh, Matth. 6.3 3. Fir fl leek the king- dome of God ( which is that which we deft rein the fecond petition )and his righteoufnef ( which we defire in the third ) and then all theft things which we begge in the fourth /hall be cafl unto us. Therefore prepofterous is their care and ftudy who firft la- bour for temporali benefits,and poll off the Peeking of Gods kingdome and his righteoufneffe untill the end of their dayes, &c. And whereas this petition is let after the third, we are taught before we ask temporali benefits, to fubmit our will to the will of the Lord, faying with our Saviour, Not my will, O Father, but thine be done. As touching thofe that follow, it may be de- Why we ask manded why we are taught to ask for temporali bi ßings be. benefits before fpirituall bleflings: Is it becaufe we fore rp;ritu- are more earneftly to defire them? Nothing leffe. all. In the fpirituall bleffings which afterward we ask, namely, juftification and fanLtification, the happi- neffe ofa Chriftian man in this life doth confift: and Y 3 ,there- 325