Thirdly, Let not the devout Petitioner doubt, but what he shall receive that which he asketh for; feeing he prayeth unto the most indulgent and merciful, and the common Father of all. According to the Scripture, (Luke vi. 36.) Be ye, therefore, merciful, as your Father, which is in Heaven, is merciful. Who not only doth not deny us, but even doth himself stir us up to ask of him, and teacheth us how; and with infinite Mercy accepts our Prayers, provided only they be offered up with Humility and Sincerity: For he well knows wherefore we afk. And the Scripture fays, (Matt. vi. 8.) Your Father knoweth whereof ye have Need, before ye afk him. And in another Place, (Matt. vii. 11.) If ye then, being evil, know how to give good Gifts to your Children, how much more shall your Father, which is in Heaven, give good Things to them that afk him.

Fourthly, This Introduction, or Invocation, teacheth us, that as GoD is the Father of us all, in like Manner, we, who are of the Faithful, fhould be unto each other as Brothers; and not only pray to God for ourselves, but also for our Brethren; interceding for each other. According to the Scripture, (James v. 16.) Pray one for another, that ye may be healed. Namely, to God, who is our common Father; as Chrift himself teacheth us, (Matt. xxiii. 9.) Call no Man your Father upon the Earth, for one is your Father which is in Heaven. And when he beholds this our brotherly Love, (which he fo frequently recom

mends

mends to us in his holy Gofpel) he is both pleafed with it, as a Father, and, also, more induced thereby to hear us when we pray, and to grant our Petitions.

Fifthly, By thefe Words, which art in Heaven, we are taught, that when we pray, we should raife our Minds and Thoughts wholly above all earthly and worldly Things, and fix them entirely on Heaven, and Things incorruptible. Nevertheless, GOD our Father, is not only in Heaven, but he is prefent in all Places, and filleth all Things: But whereas his Grace and Glory more abundantly are manifeft in Heaven, it is, therefore, faid to be his Throne. According to that of the Prophet, where he faith, (Pfal. xi. 4.) The Lord's Seat is in Heaven. And alfo, (Pfal. ciii. 19.) The Lord hath prepared his Seat in Heaven, and his Kingdom ruleth over all.

QUEST. XI.

How many Petitions are contained in the fecond Part of this Prayer of our Lord?

Seven.

ANSWER.

QUEST. XII.

What is the first Petition in the Lords Prayer?

ANSWER.

Hallowed be thy Name.

QUEST. XIII.

What is contained in this Petition?

ANSWER.

First, We pray unto God that we may lead a Life adorned with Virtue and good Works, that

R 3

Men

Men may be excited to glorify the Name of God by the Purity and Holiness of our Lives: According to that of St. Matthew, (chap. v. 16.) Let your Light fo fhine before Men, that they may fee your good Works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven. Secondly, We afk that, not only our whole Lives may be to the Glory of God; but, alfo, that all those who do not know the true God, nor believe in him, may repent, and come to the Knowledge of him; that the Name of God be glorified, both in them, and by them. We, alfo, befeech the Lord our God, in this Petition, for those who bear indeed the Name of Christians, but who live ungodly and scandalous Lives; whereby our holy Religion, and God himself is blafphemed. Of whom the Apostle faith, (2 Tim. iii. 5.) Having a Form of Godliness, but denying the Power thereof. And elsewhere, (Rom. ii. 24.) The Name of God is blafphemed among the Gentiles, through you. For the Sake of these, it is that, in this Petition, God is befought; that fuch may turn from their Wickedness, and bring forth good Fruits, leading, for the future, a sober and godly Life; and fo the Name of God, by thefe Means, alfo, may be hallowed. Moreover, we are to understand, that although the Name of God is in itself most holy, without our Glorification, yet it is faid to be hallowed by us, and in us, when by Piety and Holinefs of Life, we fanctify ourselves to the Glory of God's Name, QUEST. XIV.

What is the Second Petition?

ANSWER.

ANSWER.

Thy Kingdom come.

QUEST. XV.

What is contained in this Petition?

ANSWER.

Herein we pray to God, that by his Grace and Juftice, and Mercy, he would reign in us altogether, especially in our Hearts; and not fuffer Sin to have any Dominion over us. As it is written, (Rom. vi. 12.) Let not Sin, therefore, reign in your mortal Body, that ye fhould obey it in the Lufts thereof.

Secondly, This Petition expreffes, that a Man who is in the State of Grace with God, and feels the heavenly Joy in his Mind, careth not for this World; but is only follicitous and wishful to become an Inhabitant in the heavenly Kingdom: As the Apostle, fpeaking of himself, faith, (Philip. i. 23.) I defire to depart, and to be with Chrift.

Thirdly, We beg of God, that he would please to haften his second Coming, wherein the Son of Man fhall appear in his Glory. (Matt.xxv. 31 And the Refurrection of the Dead, and the Day of Judgment. By which the Kingdom of this World, and the Enemy of our Souls may be taken away. and the Kingdom of Heaven come, that God may be all in all; as the Apostle speaks in the 1 Corinthians, xv 28.

QUEST. XVI.
What is the third Petition?

ANSWER.

Thy Will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven.

QUEST.

QUEST. XVII.

What is contained in this third Petition?
ANSWER.

First, We befeech God, that he would not fuffer us to live in this World after our own Wills, but that he would guide, and govern, us by his Will and Pleasure.

Secondly, We pray, that neither we nor others might refift or dislike the Will of God; but that, as the Angels in Heaven submit unto, and obey the divine Will in all Things, without any Delay or Denial, fo, likewise, on Earth, that all Men may be obedient unto God without Murmuring, and with all Readiness and Thanksgiving.

Thirdly, In this Petition we express our Belief that nothing can affect us, God's Elect, without the divine Will and Permiffion; whether it be in relation to the Holinefs and Innocence with which we ought to pass our Lives, or to Perfecutions and Temptations of the Enemy. Infomuch that the Lord not only taketh Care of our Perfons, but of even the very Hairs of our Head: According to the Scripture, (Luke xii. 7.) Even the Hairs of your Head are all numbered. And again, (Luke xxi. 18.) There fhall not an Hair of your Head perish. QUEST. XVIII.

What is the fourth Petition?

ANSWER.

Give us this Day our daily Bread.

QUEST. XIX.

What is contained in this Petition?

AN