ments.

Ver. 112, &c. I have inclined my Heart to perform

thy Statutes, alway even unto the End.

Q. 11. How muft we know God's Will?

A. Not notionally and rationally only, but fpiritually alfo, Cor. ii. 14. They are Spiritually difcerned.

Q. 12. Why is knowing God's Will placed here before doing it, &c.

A. Because the Understanding is the leading Faculty, without which it is impoffible there should be any Obedience, Prov. xix. 2. Also that the Soul be withont Knowledge it is not good, Jer. v. 4. Therefore I faid, furely thefe are poor, they are foolish: for they know not the Way of the Lord, nor the Judgment of their God.

Q 13. Why pray we to God for this Knowledge, can we not know it of our felves?

A. No, it is the special Gift and Grace of God, Gal. i. 15, 16. But when it pleafed God, who Separated me from my Mother's Womb, and called me by his Grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Heathen, immediately I conferred not with Flesh and Blood, Eph. i. 17, 19. That the God of our Lord Jefus Chrift, the Father of Glory, may give unto you the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledge of him. And what is the exceeding greatness of his Power to us ward, who believe according to the working of his mighty power, Eph. v. 8. For ye were fometimes Darkness, but now are ye Light in the Lord.

Q. 14. Why do we pray that we may obey, can we not do it of our own free Will when we know it?

A. No; for our Wills are stubborn and rebellious against God's Commands, as well as our Minds ignorant of them, Rom. viii. 7. Because the carnal Mind is Enmity against God: for it is not fubject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be, Ezek. xxxvi. 25, 26. Then will I Sprinkle clean Water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your Filthiness, and fre all your Idols will I cleanfe you. A new Heart also will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the ftony Heart out of your Flesh, and I will give you an Heart of Fleh, Phil. ii. 13. For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good Pleasure.

Q. 15. What is meant by fubmitting to God's Will?

A. (1.)

A. (1.) Either a voluntary Subjection of Soul, and a preparedness actually to do hls Will. Or (2.) a voluntary and filent Submiffion to his Will of Providence in Affliction; but in this Particular we cannot imitate those in Heaven, because no Crofs ever befals them.

Q. 16. Why is Will added in all Things?

A. Because partial Obedience, is no Obedience; he that does not obey God in every Thing obeys him in nothing, Jam. ii. 10. For whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet offend in one Point, he is guilty of all.

Q. 17. Why do we pray that God by his Grace would work this Will in us and by us?

A Because it is Free-grace that determines it, 2 Tim. i, 9. Who bath faved us, and called us with an holy Calling, not according to our Works, but according to his own Purpoje and Grace which was given us in Chrift Jefus, before the World began. And efficacious Grace that works it in us, and enables us to do it, Eph. v. 8. For ye were fometimes Darkness, but now are ye Light in the Lord. Ver. 10. Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

Q. 18. What is the firft Inference from hence?

A. That it is Man's Glory and Felicity to be conformed to the Will of God, Prov. xii. 26. The righteous is more excellent than his Neighbour, Pfal. xix. 10, 11. More to be defired are they than Gold, yea than much fine Gold; fweeter also than Honey, and the Honey-comb. Moreover by them is thy Servant warned; and in keeping of them there is great Reward. Q. 19. What is the fecond Inference ?

A. That we muft mortify in our felves every Luft that contradicts God's Will, and renounce without our selves, every Thing that comes in Competition therewith, 1 Cor. ix. ult. But I keep under my Body, and bring it into Subjection: leaft that by any Means when I have preached to others, I myself Should be a Caft-away, Gal. vi. 14. But God forbid that I fhould glory, fave in the Crofs of our Lord Jefus Chrift, by whom the Werld is crucified unto me, and I unto the World.

Q. 20. What is the third Inference?

A. That it is in Vain, yea a Provocation to pray, if we be not obedient to God's Will, Prov. ii. 8, 9. He keepeth the Paths of Judgment, and preferveth the Way of his Saints.

Then

Then fhalt thou anderftand Righteousness, and Judgment, and Equity; yea every good Path.

Q21. What is the fourth Inference?

A. That the Law ftill hath the Authority of a Rule to Believers; because it reveals God's Will, which they muft do.

Concerning our daily Bread.

HAT do we pray for in the fourth Pe

Queft. 14. W tition?

A. In the fourth Petition, which is [Give us this Day our daily Bread] we pray, that of God's free Gift we may receive a competent Portion of the good Things of this Life; and enjoy his Bleffing with them.

Q. Why is this Petition placed after the three former? A. Becaufe thofe concern immediately and generally God's Glory, in the Advancement of his Name, Kingdom, and Will, which ought to be preferred to all our perfonal Concerns, Pfal. Ixix. 9. For the Zeal of thine Houfe hath eaten me up, Acts xxi. 13. For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerufalem for the Name of the Lord Jefus. Q2. Why is it put before the two following Petitions ? A. Not for its worth, but for its Order; for we can have no Spiritual Bleffings unless we have a natural Being in this Life.

Q. 3. What kind of Bread is here meant?

A. Not Spiritual Bread, or our Lord Chrift, (as fome) but Corporal and Temporal.

Q4. What is included in this Word Bread?

A. Not that only which we call ftrictly Bread, but all the good Things of this prefent Life.

Q5. Do we hereby beg pure Neceffities only?

A. No, we pray for Conveniences for our Comfort, as well as Neceffaries for our Life.

Q. 6. Do we herein pray only for perfonal good Things for our Being?

A. No, we pray for civil good Things for our Condition, that according to our Degree in the World in which God hath placed us, we may have a convenient Allowance.

V

Q. 7. Do we pray here for ourselves only ?

A. No, but alfo for our Charge, Children and Family; that under and with us they may have the good Things of this Life.

Q. 8. Why do we pray to God for thefe good Things, can we not get them ourselves, or our Fellow Creatures give them to us?

A. Not without God: Whatever we have of these Things they are from God; whoever be the fecond Caufe or Inftrument; if ourselves, God gives us Ability and Succefs to get them; if others, God inclined their Hearts, and opened their Hands to beftow them, Deut. viii. 17, 18. And thou fay in thine Heart, my Power and the Might of my Hand bath gotten me this Wealth. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God; for it is he that giveth thee Power to get Wealth. Q. 9. Why do we pray to God to give us Bread?

A. Because the least Crumb of Bread is a free Gift, and never can be merited by all we can do or fuffer, Luke xvii. 10. So likewife ye, when ye shall have done all these Things which are commanded you, fay, we are unprofitable Servants.

Q. 10. Why are all thefe good Things couched under the Expreffion Bread?.

A. (1.) Becaufe Bread is one of the most neceffary and ufeful Things to preferve Life. (2.) Because we must not afk Delicacies and Dainties of God.

Q. 11. What is meant by Day in the Petition?

A. Either (1.) a Natural Day of twenty four Hours: Or (2.) the Day of our whole Life.

Q. 12. Why do we pray for daily Bread?

A. Becaufe God muft give us the Mercies and good Things of every Day, or elfe we cannot have them.

Q. 13. Why fhould we not pray for weekly, or monthly, or yearly Bread, as well as daily?

A. (1.) Because it is fit we should be ftill fenfible of our Dependence upon God. (2.) Because we do frequently pray to God, and fo exert our Graces, and maintain communion him, and daily render Thanks for daily Favour, ·Pfal. Iv. 17. Evening and Morning, and at Noon will I pray, end сту aloud; and ye shall bear Voice.

my

Q. 14. What need we to pray for daily Bread when we may have Stores laid up for Years?

A. They

A. They that have the good Things of this Life need to pray this Petition, as well as they that have them not. Not that they may have Bread; but that it may be Bread to them; for except God give his Bleffing upon it, Bread would be Afhes and not fullaneous; neither could all the Comforts of this Life do us any good, Ifa. iii. 1. For behold, the Lord, the Lord of Hofts doth take away from Jerufalem, and from Juda, the whole Stay of Bread, and the whole Stay of Water, Mal. ii. 1, 2. And now O ye Priefts, this Commandment is for you. If you will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to Heart, to give Glory unto my Name, faith the Lord of Hofts, I will even fend a Curfe upon you, and I will curfe your Bleffings; yea I bave curfed them already, because you do not lay it to Heart.

Q. 15. Why do we pray only for daily Bread, or a Competency, may we not pray for Abundance and Riches?

A. No, because Riches are a great Snare and Temptation, Matth. xix. 23, 24. Then faid Jefus unto his Difciples, Verily, I say unto you, that a rich Man fhall hardly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. And again I jay unto you, it is easier for a Camel to go through the Eye of a Needle, than for a rich Man to enter into the Kingdom of Ged, Prov. xxx. 8,9. Remove far from me Vanity and lies, give me neither Poverty nor Riches, feed me with Food convenient for me; left I be full and deny thee, and fay, who is the Lord? Or left I be poor and freal, and take the Name of my God in vain.

Q. 16. What fhall we then do with Riches if Providence caft them upon us, fhall we caft them away?

A. No, for fome of the beft of Men, and greatest of God's Favorites, have lived and died rich. But (1.) We must wean our Hearts from them, Pfal. lxii. 10. Trust not in Oppreffion, and become not vain in Robbery: if Riches increafe fet not your Heart upon them. (2.) Be thankful for them, and (3.) Fruitful with them in Acts of Piety and Charity, 1 Tim. vi. 17, 19. Charge them that are rich in this World, that they be not high minded, nor truft in uncertain Riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all Things to enjoy. Laying up in Store for themselves a good Foundation against the Time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal Life. Q. 17. Wherefore is the Bread called our Bread? A. Not because we are it, for fo it is God's only,

abfolute Lords and Poffeffors of Pfal. xxiv. 1, 2. The Earth is V 2

the