that we may guide our felves in Prayer, both for Matter and Manner thereby, and not utter to God Words without Knowledge.

Q. 12. What is the laft Inference from hence?

A. That thofe who neglect all Prayer, and thofe that satisfy themselves with a Form of Prayer, which they utter without Knowledge or Affection, do greatly fin against God. And that it is the Duty of all Chriftians, from a Senfe of their own Sins, Wants and Mercies to be often with God in Prayer, guiding themselves in that fpiritual Duty, by fuch inward and outward Helps as his Word and Spirit are able to furnish them with.

Of the Preface to the Lord's Prayer.

Queft. 100

HAT doth the Preface of the Lord's

W Prayer teach us?

A. The Preface of the Lord's Prayer [which is, Our Father, which art in Heaven] teacheth us to draw near to God with all holy Reverence, and Confidence, as Children to a Father ready to help us, and that we fhould pray with and for

others.

Q. 1. What doth the Word Father import in this Preface?

A. It imports the Spirit of Adoption to be the Principle of all acceptable Prayers, Gal. 4. 6. And because ye are Sons, God hath given forth the Spirit of his Son into our Hearts: crying; Abba, Father.

Q. 2. What is the firft Benefit or Help we have in Prayer from the Spirit of Adoption?

A. He excites our Spirits to feek God in Prayer, Pfal. 27. 8. when thou faideft, Seek ye my Face, my Heart faid unto thee, thy Face, Lord, will I feck.

er?

Q. 3. What is the fecond Affiftance he gives us in Pray

A. He indites and fuggefts fuitable and acceptable Matter to us in Prayer. Rom. 8. 26. Likewife the Spirit also belpeth our Infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit it felf maketh Interceffion for

us, &c.

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Q4. What is the third Benefit we have by him in Prayer? A. He fills our Souls with fpiritual and Holy Affections in Prayer, and helps us to act his Graces in our Duties, Rom. viii. 26. Likewife the Spirit alfo helpeth our Infirmities: for we know not what we should ask as we ought: but the Spirit it felf maketh Interceffion for us, with Groanings, which cannot be uttered.

Q5. What elfe doth this Word Father import.

A. It imports that Holy Confidence which Believers may and ought to draw near to God with all, as Children to a Father, Eph. iii. 12. In whom we have boldness and accefs, with Confidence by the Faith of him. Q. 6. Doth it only Signify our Relation and Confi

dence?

A. No, it alfo fignifies the reverential Fear of God, which ought at all times to be on our Hearts, especially in Prayer. Mal. i. 6. A Son bonoureth his Father, and a Servant his Mafler: If then I be a Father, where is my Honour? and if I be a Mafter, where is my Fear? Q. 7. What is further imported in this Word Father? A. It imports God's willingness and readiness to grant the best Mercies to his People, that feek them duly at his Hand, Matth. vii. 11. If ye then being evil, know how to give good Gifts unto your Children how much more shall your Father which is in Heaven give good Things to them that ask him.

Q. 8. Why is he here called our Father?

A. To fignify to us that it is not only our Duty to pray fecretly by and for our felves, but alfo with and for others, Eph. vi. 18. Praying always with all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all Perfeverance, and Supplication for all Saints.

Q. 9. Why is God faid here to be in Heaven?

A. It is to note his Sovereign Power and Dominion over all, as a Ground work of Faith in Prayer.

Q. 10. What else doth it import?

A. The great Distance between God and us, which should fill our Hearts with an holy Awe of him, Ecclef. v. z.-God is in Heaven, and thou upon Earth; therefore let thy Words be ferv. R

11. What is the firft Inference from hence? →

A. It fhews us what a fad Cafe all thofe are in, that have no fpecial Intereft in God as a Father.

Q12. What is the fecond Inference?

A. It fhews us what a glorious Privilege the Lord Jefus Chrift hath purchased for and fettled on his People, Heb. iv. 15, 16. For we have not an High Prieft, which cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities: but was in all Points tempted like as we are, yet without Sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in Time of Need.

Q. 13. What is the last Inference from hence?

A. That the feeing Believers have a Father in Heaven, they should never fear Wants whilft they live, nor be afraid to die, fince Death brings them to Heaven, their Father's House.

Queft. 101.

Of Sanctifying God's Name.

WHAT do we pray for in the first Peti

A. In the first Petition [which is hallowed be thy Name] we pray that God would enable us and others, to glorify him in all that, whereby he maketh himself known, and that he would difpofe all Things to his own Glory.

Q. 1. Is there any Word full enough perfectly to express what God is ?

A. No; his Name is fecret, Judg. xiii. 18. And the Angel of the Lord said unto him, why ajkeft thou thus after my Name, feeing it is fecret? A Name which none can tell, Prov. Xxx. 4.-what is his Name, and what is his Son's Name, if thou canst tell? A Name above every Name, Phil. ii. 9. Wherefore God alfo bath highly exalted him, and given him a Name, which is above every Name. But the Name by which he more especially manifefts himself, is the Name I am. Exod. iii. 14. And God faid unto Mofes, I am that I am. And he faid, thus fhalt thou fay unto the Children of Ifrael, I am bath fent me unto you.

Q. 2. What doth the Name of God I am fignify to us?

A. It fignifies to us, first, the Reality of his being in Oppofition to Idols, which are but imaginary and phantaftick Things, 1 Cor. viii. 4.-We know that an Idol is nothing in

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the World, &c. God is not only the most perfect Being, but the Root of all other Beings.

Q. 3. What elfe doth this Name I am import?

A. It imports both the Perfection and Eternity of God's Being, I am implies he hath not that now which he had not formerly; and that he shall not afterwards have what he hath not now: And that there is neither Beginning, End, or Succeffion with God, whofe Name is I am.

Q4. But what are we here to understand by the Name of God?

A. All thofe Things are here intended, by which he manifefts himself to the Creature; as his Word, Works, and Ordinances, but especially his glorious Attributes, Exod. xxxiv. 5, 6.-The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longJuffering, and abundant in Goodness and Truth.

Q. What is it to Hallow or Sanctify his Name?

A. Not to infufe any Holinefs into him, which he had hot before, fo he fanctifies us; but to manifest and acknowledge the Holiness of God, Ifa. xxix. 23. But when he feeeth his Children, the Work of my Hands in the midst of him, hey fhall fan&tify my Name, and fanctify the holy One of Jacob, and fhall fear the God of Ifrael.

Q. 6. Why Hallowed or Sanctified rather than Glorified? Why that Word rather than this?

A. Eecaufe his Holinefs is the Beauty and Luftre of his other Attributes. His Greatness appears in his Holiness, Ifa. xii. 6-great is the holy One of Ifrael in the midst of thee. So doth his Power, Luke i. 49. For he that is mighty hath done to me great Things, and holy is his Name. And therefore his Holiness is that Attribute, which Angels fingle out especially to celebrate, Ifa. vi. 3. And one cried unto another, and said, kdy, bely, bely, is the Lord of Hofs, &c. And fo do Men alfo, as it is the Caufe why they fhould glorify him, Exod. XV. 11.—Who is like thee, glorious in Holiness, &c.

Q7. What is the first Thing we are to intend in this Petition?

A. The Meaning is, that God would fo difpofe and order all Things in the World, as may belt promote and alvance the Glory of his Name; on which Account we may pray for the Defeat of God's Enemies, Pfal. Ixxxiii. 16, 17, 18. Fill their Faces with Shame: that they may feekthy Name, O

Lord,

Lord, Let them be confounded and troubled for ever ; yea, let them be put to fame and perish: That Men may know that thou, whose Name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the Earth. And the Deliverance of his Church and People, Pfal. lxxix. 9. Help us, O God of our Salvation, for the Glory of thy Name: and deliver us, and purge away our Sins for thy Name Lake.

Q. 8. What is the second Thing we are to intend in it ?

A. That God would fit us for, and use us in the most ferviceable Capacity for the glorifying of his Name, Pfal. Ixvii. 1, 2, 3. God be merciful unto us, and bless us, and cause his Face to fhine upon us. That thy Way may be known upon Earth, thy faving Health among all Nations. Let the People praife thee, O God, let all the People praise thee.

Q. 9. What is the third Thing intended in this Petition ? A. That God may not only glorify his own Name, and ufe us to glorify it, but that it fhould be our Endeavour and Joy to have it glorified by others all the World over, Pfal. cxlv. 4, 5, 6. One Generation shall praise thy Works to another, and fhall declare thy mighty Acts. I will speak of the glorious Honour of thy Majefty; and of thy wondrous Works. And Men fball Speak of the Might of thy terrible Acts: and I will declare thy greatness.

Q. 10. Why muft our Hearts be fo intently fet upon the Sanctification of God's Name?

A. Because this is the ultimate End of our own, and every other Being, Rom. xi. 36. for of him, and through him, and to him, are all Things; to whom be Glory for ever, Amen. And the particular End of God in our Effectual Calling, 1 Pet. ii. 9. But ye are a chofen Generation, a Royal Priefbood, an boly Nation, a peculiar People, that ye should sherw forth the Praifes of him, who bath called you out of Darkness into his marvellous Light.

Q. 11. What is the first Inference from hence ?

A. That the Dishonour of God's Name muft needs be a cutting Affliction to a gracious-Soul, Pfal. xlii. 10. As with e Sword in my Bones my Enemies reproach me ; while they say daily unto me, where is their God?

Q. 12. What is the fecond Inference from hence? A. That it is a dreadful Infatuation and spiritual Judgment upon those Men, that think they glorify God in doing

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