on the Lord's Prayer. i!. 1 • . Fir!\, In rhatthere are many Thi ngs which God wills by his Will of rurpofe, that he bath not willed by his Will of P"cept. For God commands nothing but what is Holy, yer he: purpoierb to permit many Things lhlt are Evil. . • 2. Secondly, In rhat we may effeElually tefi!l his Will of Precept, fo ~s to hinder the Accomplilhment of ir, as we do wbenfoever we fio ; hut we cannot refift the Will ·of God~s Purpofe, though may times ro endeavour it is our indifpenfable Dury. Q O•g/Jr norrb~ Will of r/Je Creature robe conformed to the Will ef God in alf Things? il. Yes. to the Will of his Precept, for that alone is the Rule of our Obedience' But in alt Things tO confOr.m to t~te Will of his Purp~fe may involve us in the greateO: Guilt. Aas 2. :23. Bemg deltveredby the dcttnnmateCounfd and Foreknowledge of God, ye IMve taken, and by ~icked Hands have crucified and fl(lin. Q Is there noi then a mamjejl Repugnance between God's Wdl of Purpofe and of Precept? il. No: For the ObjeElof G9.d's Will of Porpofe is Event; but of his Will of Pre· cepr D1.uy; and iris no Contr2di8:ion for God to will or permit rbat w be which he bath willed or commanded us not to do. Q Which of tbrfr da u>e pray may he done? . .d. VVc efpecially and abfolutely pray that the VVill of God's Precept may be done in Earrh as it is in Heaven. Q TJ''bat Confidtrations may exciu us re b( earmfi in rbi.r Rcqut/i? .d. Firft, Becaufe there is a great Reluflancy 1n our corrupt Nature againft_ rh~ Holy VVill ofGod, therefore we ought earneftly to pray that he by his Grace would fubdue k Secondly, Becaufe the Glory of God is deeply concern'd in doing his VVill, for by this we own his Sovereignty, and our SubjeEHcn to his Laws and Kingdom. Thirdly, BecaufC our own lntereft is deeply concern'd in it; for it is only by doing his VVill we can inherit the Promifes. Rev. 22. 14. Blt:ffid are rbey that do his Commandments. . Q Ought o:e nor abfolutely to pray that God't Will of Purpofe m•y be done? il. No: And that becaufe many Things are brought to pafs by this Will which we ought to pray again!\, as Temporal Evils, and the Permiflion of Sin. Q. How thtn do tlJe Saints in Scripture prOy for tht ilccomplijhment of this Will o/ God? As in 1 Sam. 3· tS. And S1titud told hitn every whir, and hid norhi.ng from him : And be fa id, lt is the Lord, let him do what feemeth him good. 2 Sam. 15, 26. But if he thus fay , I hwe no Delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do r9 me as feemetb good unto him. AOs 2 I. r4; And when he would not be perfwaded, Weceafed, faying ) theVVill of the Lord be done. And our SJviour, Luke 22. 4z. Saying, Father if thou be willing remove this Cup from me; neverthelefs, not my VVill, bur thine be done. A. Thefe are not fo much Prayers as Declarations of their Submiflion unto, and Pa• tience under, ihcHand ofGocl. Q May we not prtty at all that God's Will of Purpofe may be done? .A. Yes, it is {Or Temporal, or Spiritual, or Eternal,Bleffings on our felves or others~ Q Wbat !<Ora doth the Particle tliy carry in it. when we pray thy VVill be done? Ji. It may be taken either emphatically, or exdufively. L Firft, [t fignifies tba.t God's VVill ought to be preferred above and before all others. Ails 4· 19. But Peter andJobn aitfwered and faid unto them, whether. it be right in the Sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God judge ye. B'otl:t becaUfe it is moft Sovereign, and becaufe it is mofi Holy and Perfe8:; fo that we a8: mo!llikc Men when we at\ mo!llike Chri!lians. 2. Secondly, It fignifiesexclufively that God's VVill, and not our own; may be done i for ours being carnal and corrupt we pray for the fubduing ir to his. Q What mean you by praying that God's Will be done in Earth?, il. Firft , [ pray thar it may be done by my felf. and all other~ livjng on rhe Earth. Pfal. 67. 2. That tb] Way may be kRown upon Eartb, thy javing ilealtb •mong all Na- , tzons. Secondly, VVe pray that we may improve the few Days of this Mortal Life in the Service ot God f<W' there is no Device nor Operation in the Giave. <1 Hsvjng given this ~ccount of the Pnirion in the Marter of it, mbat is next obferv!lblt? A. The
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