A eatechiftical Expojition A. The Proponion ofir, .d.r it is in Heaven. <l: But is it not impo.ffible to do the Will of God in Earth as it is done in fleav where the Holy Angels doperfcUly perform ir? ' en, A. It is as eo the Equality of PerfeCtion, bur nor as to the Sirnilirude and Proper· on of our Endeavours afrer ir. ~or we are commanded to be Holy, as God isHoly,a~~ Perfea, as our Heavenly Father IS Perfea: Manh. 5· 48. B< ye therefore Perje{f c · ru your Father whi.cb is in Heaven is Perfefl: Which Command we obey when :.Vevfe~ rioufly endeavour n. Q How then i.r t he Will of God done in Heaven? J!. Firft, Thine Obedience i~ abfolutely Perfea, both as to Parts and Degrees; that is to fay, they obeyed all Gods Wil l enJomed them, and rh at with all their Might. and after th!s PeJfe£l:ion we ought to ftrive, and in this Pethion pray for a greate; Meafure of rr. Secondly, Their Obedience is chearful, not extorted by Fears or Sufferings. Thirdly, They do the Will ofGod with Zeal and Ardency. Pfal. r 04. 4 . Who 111 ,. ketb his Jingelt Spirits, bu l~ini{iers a}laming Fire. Fourthly, They do it with Celerity and ready Difpatch ; and therefore the Angels are ofren in Scripture defcribed to have Wings. Fifibl y, The Will of God is done in Heaven with all poflible Prol!ration and Reverence. Rev. 4· 10. The Four andTwenty Elder.r fall down before bim that fat on tlu Throne, and worjhip him that liveth for ever andever, al$d cafi their Crowm before the Throne, Jaying. / Sixthly, The Will of God is done in 'Heaven with Conllancy and Perfeverance. Rev. 7· 1 5· Therefore are they before the Throne ofGod, andferve him Day and Night in his Temple; and he th11t }ittetb on the Throne fhal! dwell among them. And rh us we ought to pray and endeavour that we may do the Will of God on Earth. Q What learn you from this? .A. That we ought not to fatisfie our felves in comparing our Obedience with other Mens as the boafting Pharifee did; but to take the Examples for our Holinefs fiom Heav~n, and to endeavour to imitate the Purity of Angels, and the God of Angels: For St. Paul himfelf, when he prefcribes.his Life as an Example for Chriftians, dorb it only as he followed the Pattern ofC~nll, 1 Cor. Jt. 1. BeyeFollowcrsofme,evm ,u I a!fo •m of Chrijt. • Q We have already conjidered the Three Firfi Petitions, which immediately related to God's Gloty, it remains now to treat #fthoje which immediately conurn our OUJn Good' Which u the jirjt of them? 11. That wherein we beg the good Things of this prefenr Life, in thefe Words, Give u.r this Day our daily Bread. ' Q Whot is hen meant by Bread? A. All Temporal and Earthly Bleflings that contribute either to our Being or Well·being: For Bread being the moft ufual and ufeful Support of Life, it is often in Scripture put for all kind of Provifion nece{fary for namra l Life. Gtn. 3· 19. In tbc Sweat of thy Face /halt thou eat Bread, till thou return into the Ground, for out of it waji thou taken; for Duft thou art, and unto Dufr jhalt tbou rerunt. Q, What learn we h~nce? . 11. That it is not below a Spitimal Chriflian to pray fot Temporal Mercies, both becaufe they are needful for us. Matrh. 6. 3'· (For ajter allthefeTbings do the Gtn· tiles Jerk,) for your lieavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all theje Thing" And God bath promifed to beftow them. Phi/. 4· 19. But my Godjhallf•pply allyour Need, according to bis Riches in Glory, by CErij/ :Jifus. Q liow aught we to prayfor them? 11. Only conditionally; ifir may confill with God's good Pleafure to bellow them, otherwifc we do not pray, but invade; and if j[ may confift whh our Good to receive them, otherwife we ask a Curfe inftead of a Blelfing, Q What/earn you from the Word Give? ' •• 11. That God is the Giver of every Temporal Mercy. Q. How i.r GodJaid to giv~ u.r our daily Bread? . 4. Firll, By producing ir, and bringing it ro us; for though the Cha111 of natural Caufes be never fa long, yet God holds the firft Link of it in his own Hand; Hofea 2. 21, 22. And it jha/1 com<ru piftilrtbat Day I will bur, faitb the L,d, J .,/!
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=