Come out from among them, and be ye separate; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2 Cor. vi, 17, 18. In the spirit of the Prodigal Son, (mentioned Luke xv, 18) arise, and go to your Heavenly Father, and say unto him,-Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son; and you will be welcomed, even as he was; for Christ hath told us, I ascend unto my Father and your Father; and to my God and your God. John xx, 17. Why are you taught to address God as Our Father? To point out to us the duty of loving all mankind, and of praying for others as well as for ourselves. True Christians should endeavour to cultivate a spirit of love, even to their enemies, much more, therefore, to those who belong to the family of God. Pray for them that despitefully use you, that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven. Mat. v, 41, 45. There is one God and Father of all. Eph. iv, 1-6. Praying always with all prayer, for all saints. Eph. vi, 18. Love as brethren, not rendering evil for evil, but contrariwise, blessing. 1 Pet. iii, 8, 9. Why are you taught to address God as Our Father, which art in heaven? Is he not every where present? Yes: he fills both heaven and earth with his presence, but his throne is in heaven, where his glory is more especially manifested, and his blessings communicated to the holy angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect. Being in heaven, he has all power, and is able to do exceeding abundantly for those who call upon him, above all they can ask or think: but when we consider the majesty of our heavenly Father, we must approach him with the utmost reverence and humility. Behold now I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes. Gen. xviii, 27. I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me. Lev. x, 3, Behold, the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee. 2 Chron. vi, 18. The Lord's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eye-lids try, the children of men. Ps. xi, 4, Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou, that dwellest in the heavens. Ps. cxxiii, 1. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or, whither shall I flee from thy presence? &c. Ps. cxxxix, 7-10. Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God; and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools. For God is in heaven, and thou upon earth. Eccles. v, 1, 2. I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit. Isa. Ivii, 15. We have a great High priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God. Heb. iv, 14. Locking unto Jesus, who is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb. xii, 2. Wherefore let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Heb. xii, 28. Many of the prayers recorded in the scriptures, begin with the mention of God's glorious attributes, as those of Solomon, 1 Kings viii, 23.-Hezekiah,2 Kings xix,15.-Jehoshaphat, 2 Chron. xx, 6.-Nehemiah, Nehem. i, 5-Jeremiah, Jer. xxxii, 17.-Daniel, Dan. ix, 4.-Our Lord, Matt. xi, 25.-Peter and John, Acts iv, 24. When we enter into the presence of the King of kings, to offer him our petitions, may we always have a sense of his majesty on our minds. Collect for Christmas Day.—Grant that we, being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit. On the Lord's Prayer. No. 3. ON THE FIRST PETITION. How many petitions are contained in the Lord's Prayer? Six. The three first respect the glory of God, and the three last have a reference to our own benefit, and that of the whole human race. "I desire my Lord God, our heavenly Father, who is the giver of all goodness, to send his grace unto me, and to all people, that we may worship him, serve him, and obey him, as we ought to do.” What is the first petition? Hallowed be thy name. What do you mean by the name of God? God himself, and all his perfections. See pages 125 and 129. The Lord proclaimed the name of the Lord, The Lord God merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, &c. Exod. xxxiv, 5-7. How excellent is thy name in all the earth. Ps. viii, 1, 9. They that know thy name, will put their trust in thee. Ps. ix, 10. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day. Ps. lxxxix, 16. Let them praise thy great and terrible name, for it is holy. Ps. xcix, 3. Holy and reverend is his name. Ps. cxi, 9. His name alone is excellent. Ps. cxlviii, 13. The name of the Lord is a strong tower. Prov. xviii, 10. The Lord of hosts is his name, Jer. x, 16. (Christ says) I have manifested thy name unto the men which thon gavest me out of the world. John xvii, 6. What do you mean by the word Hallowed? Sanctified or reverenced.-To hallow any thing, is to consider it as holy, and to treat it as such. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name. Ps. xcvi, 7, 8. What is the substance of this petition? We ask that God's name, and all that concerns his service, may be universally known and reverenced. God is to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. Ps. Ixxxix, 7. We are to prefer the glory of God before all other considerations. Not that we can add any thing to it by our poor and imperfect services, but that we should feel desirous to see it displayed in all actions and events, and be willing to be made the instruments in the hand of God of effecting it. Glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Cor. vi, 20. In this petition we beg of God to bestow upon us such graces as are needful, to enable us to glorify him in the world. We have great cause to be fervent in the petition of our Saviour, (John xii, 27, 28.) Father, glorify thy name; when we consider how many blaspheme his name, set at defiance all his threatenings against them, and despise all the offers of mercy made to them. The Jews were not allowed to mention the name of God, but in devotion, or in taking an oath. Whilst you pray thus, you should be careful to show by your actions, that you sincerely desire what you ask for. You should hallow God's name, by trusting in his mercy in Christ Jesus, and by living to his service and glory. Collect, 2d Sunday after Trinity.—Make us to have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. On the Lord's Prayer. No. 4. ON THE SECOND PETITION. What is the second petition? Thy kingdom come. What do you understand by the kingdom of God? 1. The kingdom of his grace here, or his reign over the hearts of his children. This is called the Church militant, which implies the opposition which the people of God meet with, and the continual warfare they are engaged in, with the world, the flesh, and the devil. 2. The kingdom of his glory hereafter, of which his children are in expectation, and which will commence when all enemies are subdued. Then the saints of the Most High shall have uninterrupted peace, and praise shall be their employment for ever. It is therefore called the Church triumphant. The kingdom of Christ is erected to destroy the kingdom of Satan, who yet rules in the hearts of the children of disobedience; being led captive by him at his will. What, then, are you taught to pray for, when you say, Thy kingdom come? 1. That God would enlarge his kingdom of grace on earth, by spreading the knowledge of his gospel; and bringing all the kingdoms of the world to be the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ. More especially we are to intreat him to turn the hearts of men unto him, and make them not only nominal, but real Christians, That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Ps. Ixvii, 2. Pray, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified. 2 Thess. iii, 1. What promises have we that this shall be the case? I shall give thee the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Ps. ii, 8. He shall have dominion from sea to sea; all nations shall serve him. Ps. Ixxii, 8--17. The mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains; and all nations shall flow unto it. Isa. ii, 2, 3; Micah. iv, 1-5. The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Isa. xi, 9. The desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. Isa. xxxv, 1-10. His kingdom shall not be destroyed, and his dominlon shall be even unto the end. Dan. vi, 26. His dominion shall be even to the ends of the earth. Zech. ix, 10. The Lord shall be King over all the earth. Zech. xiv, 9. This Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world. Matt. xxiv, 14. The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ. Rev. xi, 15. How fervently should we implore a blessing on the efforts of Bible and Missionary Societies, that through their means God may extend the knowledge of the only way of salvation; and what anxiety should we feel to promote real religion in the world by every means in our power. 2. We should pray, that he would set up and perfect his kingdom in our own hearts, that the Lord may reign over our wills and affections, and that all our corruptions may be totally subdued. That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life. Rom. v, 21. That Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith. Eph. iii, 16-19. We should remember that Christ's kingdom is not of this world, (John xviii, 36.) and that it does not consist in zeal for our own party and opinions, but that, The kingdom of God is righteousness, and peace, and joy, in the Holy Ghost. Rom. xiv, 17. 3. We should pray, that he would fulfil the expectations of those who long for the appearance of his kingdom of glory, described in the following passages. |