Secondly, How we are to Hallow it. By the Name of God we are to underftand, in the first and most important fenfe of the word, his all-perfect nature. Names are imposed on things to diftinguish them from each other, by conveying to us as clear an apprehenfion as poffible of their nature. But God is a Being so infinitely tranfcendent above all other, that no one name can give us any adequate conception of him, and the whole force of words is infufficient to fet before us God in that fullness of glory which dwells effentially in him. To raise our thoughts, however, as near as poffible to the Deity, he is in Scripture set forth to us under several titles, expreffive of the feveral ways in which his `all-perfect nature difplays itself to man. Could any one word convey to us a proper notion of God's nature, that would be his name; name; but as this is impoffible, we must by his name neceffarily understand whatever perfections we know to be effential to him, whether manifefted in his works, or revealed to us in his word, under how many different titles foever. By the name of God in a fecondary sense, we are to understand whatever hath an immediate relation to him; as the times and places fet apart for his fervice, those holy writings in which are contained the revelations of his will; the perfons appointed to minister in his fervice, and the revenues allotted for their maintenance. To hallow the name of God, in which foever of these fenfes we take it, cannot fignify to confer any holiness upon it. In holinefs, as in his other adorable perfections, God is infinite; nor is it in our power power to diminish therefrom, or make any addition thereto; and thofe things which bear fome peculiar relation to God, are holy merely upon that account, and not according to the opinion which men may have, or the uses they may make of them. It is not therefore for his own fake, or any advantage, any fresh increase of glory and holiness accruing thereby to him, that God hath made the hallowing his name our duty, but for a proof of our love, gratitude, and obedience, and as a neceffary qualification to prepare us for being fubjects of his kingdom. When therefore, we entertain high and worthy notions of God's nature; when we acknowledge his infinite perfections, and act agreeably to fuch acknowledgments, viewing and adoring at a dif tance his natural attributes, approaching to and imitating his moral, when we keep our mouths from profane curfing and fwearing, fwearing, and never mention the name of the high and holy One but with awe and reverence, piety and devotion; when we make God's glory the first principle, the chief end of all our thoughts, words, and actions, and let the defire of hallowing his holy name stand foremost in our hearts, as it doth in the petitions of this prayer, then do we hallow as we ought the name of God, as it fignifies his nature. When we cfteem thofe things which bear any relation to God according to the dignity of him to whom they belong, and apply them to the purposes for which they were defigned, when we rightly confider them as appointed by God to receive part of that reverence which we owe to him, and which he looks upon as paid to himfelf, when we hallow the times and places fet apart for his fervice by a conftant at tendance tendance and devout behaviour; the Scriptures, by defending them on all occafions against the cavils and objections of infidels or evil-minded brethren, by esteeming them the word of God containing all things neceffary to falvation, by diligently and devoutly reading and meditating on them, and by giving them all honour in our converfation, forbearing to make a jest of them, which is the practice of unbelievers, or to take a jeft out of them, which is the practice of many who gratify what they call wit at the expence of decency and religion, when we hallow the perfons appointed to minister in his fervice by a proper regard of their function, a due attention to their inftructions, and a practical obfervance of them, and their revenues by a cheerful and punctual payment of them whenever they are due, we do then hallow as we ought the |
