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mercies to his people that seek them duly at his hand; Mat. 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 secretly by and for ourselves, but also with and for others; Eph. vi. 18. Praying always, with all prayer and fupplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perfeverance, and fupplication for all faints.

Q. Why is God faid here to be in heaven ?

A. It is to note his fovereign 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. 2. - - God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

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

A. It shews us, what a fad cafe all those are in, that have no special interest in God as a Father.

Q. 12. What is the second inference from hence?

A. It shews us, what a glorious privilege the Lord Jesus Christ 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 fin. 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 feeing believers have a Father in heaven, they should never fear wants while they live, nor be afraid to die, fince death brings them to heaven, their Father's house.

Quest, 101.

Of fanctifying God's Name.

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HAT do we pray for in the first petition;

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 dispose all things to his own glory.

Q. i. Is there any word full enough, perfectly to express what

God is?

A No, his name is secret; Judges xiii 18. And the angel of the Lord faid unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing 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 hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name. But the name by VOL. VI. No. 53.

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which he more especially manifests himself, is the name I AM; Exod, iii. 14. And God faid unto Mofes, I AM THAT I AM: And he faid, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Ifrael, I AM hath sent 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 fantastic things; 1 Cor. viii. 4. -We know that an idol is nothing in the world, &c. God is not only the most perfect Being, but the root of all other beings.

Q. 3. What else doth this name I AM import?

A. It imports both the perfection and eternity of God's being. IAM 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, nor fucceffion with God, whose name is I AM.

Q. 4. But what are we here to understand by the name of God? A. All those things are here intended, by which he manifefts himself to the creature; as his words, works, and ordinances, but efpe✔cially his glorious attributes, Exod. xxxiv. 5, 6. -The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-fuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.

Q. 5. What is it to hallow, or sanctify his name? A. Not to infuse any holiness into him, which he had not before; so he sanctifies us; but to manifeft and acknowledge the holiness of God; Ifa. xxix. 23. But when he seeth his children, the work of my hands in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and fanctify the holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Ifrael.

Q. 6. Why hallowed or fanctified, rather than glorified? Why that word, rather than this?

A. Because his holiness is the beauty and lustre of his other attri butes. 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 faid, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, &c. And so do men also, as it is the cause why they should glorify him; Exod. XV. 11. Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, &c.

Q. 7. What is the first thing we are to intend in this petition? A. 'The meaning is, that God would so dispose and order all things in the world, as may best promote and advance the glory of his name; on which account we may pray for the defeat of God's enemies; Pfalm lxxxiii. 16, 17, 18. Fill their faces with thame, that they may seek thy name, O Lord. Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, 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; Pfalm lxx'x. 9. Help us, O God, of our salvation, for the glory of thy name; and deliver us, and purge away our fins for thy name's fake.

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 serviceable capacity for the glorifying of his name; Pfalm lxvii. 1, 2, 3. God be merciful unto us, and bless us, and cause his face to shine upon us: That thy way may be known upon earth, thy faving health among all nations. Let the people praise 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 use us to glorify it, but that it should be our endeavour and joy to have it glorified by others all the world over; Pfalm cxlv. 4, 5, 6. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts; and I will declare thy greatness.

Q. 10. Why must our hearts be so 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 priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath 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 must needs be a cutting affliction to a gracious foul; Pfalm xlii. 10. As with a fword in my bones my enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

Q. 12. What is the second inference from hence?

A. That it is a dreadful infatuation, and spiritual judgment upon those men that think they glorify God in doing those things which his foul hateth; Ifa. lxvi. 5. Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word: Your brethren that hated you, that caft you out for my name's fake, faid, Let the Lord be glorified: But he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. And John xvi. 2. They Thall put you out of the synagogues: Yea, the time cometh, that whofoever killeth you, he will think that he doth God service.

Q.13. What is the third inference from hence ?

A. That it should be indifferent to a Christian what condition God puts him into, so that he may but be useful to sanctify and exalt the name of God therein? Phil. i. 20.- As always, so now also Chrift shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death. Q.14. What is the last inference hence ?

A. That it is an high and dreadful provocation of God to pro phane and abuse his worship, whereon his name is called, and wherein it is to be sanctified; Lev. x. 1, 2, 3. And Nadab and Abihu, the fons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said unto Aaron, this is that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people will I be glorified,

Queft. 102.

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Of God's Kingdom.

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HAT do we pray for in the second petition? A. In the Second petition, which is, [Thy kingdom come, we pray that Satan's kingdom may be destroyed, and that the kingdom of grace may be advanced, ourselves and others brought into it, and kept in it, and that the kingdom of glory may be haftened.

Q.1. What is the first thing fignified by the kingdom of God here?

A The gofpel is here intended by the kingdom of God, Matth. xiii. 47. - Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto à net that was caft into the fea, and gathered of every kind.

Q2 What is the thing fignified by the coming of this kingdom of God?

A. It fignifies the removal of all impediments, that hinder its pro pagation in the world; 2 Theff. iii. i Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you.

Q.3. Who, and what hinders the propagation of it?

A. Antichrift, that man of fin, hinders it externally; 2 Theff. ii. 4 Who oppofeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God fitteth in the temple of God, shew. ing himself that he is God. The devil and men's lufts internally;

Theff. ii 18. Wherefore we would have come unto you (even I Paul) once and again; but Satan hindered us. Luke xix. 14. But his citizens hated him, and fent a messenger after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

Q. 4. What then is the defire of all good men, with respect to the coming of the gospel-kingdom?

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A That all nations may be brought to Christ by the preaching of it, and so Christ's kingdom be greatly exalted and enlarged; Ifa. ii. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and Thall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow into it. Q. 5. What is the fecond thing here meant by the kingdom of God?

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A. It fignifies and intends the work of faving grace wrought in

men's fouls; Luke xvii. 21. Behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Q. 6. Why is this work of grace called the kingdom of God ? A. Because wherever saving-grace comes, it fubdues the foul to Christ's fceptre; 2 Cor. x. 5. Cafting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringeth into captivity every thought to the obedience of Chrift.

Q. 7. Wherein consists the kingdom of grace ?

A. It confifts not in external rites and obfervances, but in righte ousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost; Rom. xiv. 17. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Q. 8. What do we ask of God in this petition, with respect to this kingdom of grace ?

A. Herein we defire not only our own perfonal progreffive fanctification, but the sanctification of others all the world over; Acts xxvi. 29. And Paul faid, I would to God that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether fuch as I am, except these bonds.

Q. 9. What is the third thing here meant by the kingdom of God? A. By it is here meant the future state of glory and blettedness; 1 Cor. xv. 50. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, &c.

Q. 10. Why is the heavenly state called the kingdom of God? A. This is called the kingdom of God, because in that state God reigns over his people gloriously, there being no rebellion in them in the leaft degree; Luke xx. 36.-For they are equal unto the angels, and are the children of God, being the children of the refurrection. And they reign with Christ; Rev. iii. 21. To him that overcometh, will I grant to fit with me in my throne, &c.

Q. 11. What do we defire in prayer for the coming of this kingdom?

A. We defire not only our prefervation in our passage to that state of glory; 1 Pet. v. 10. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have fuffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. But the haftening of it to ourselves and others; Rev. xxii. 20.-Amen, even fo come Lord Jesus.

Q. 12. What is the first instruction hence?

A. That the gospel is an invaluable mercy, as it is the instrument of bringing us into Christ's gracious and glorious kingdom; Acts xxvi. 18. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of fins, and inheritance among them which are fanétified by faith that is in me.

Q.13. What is the second inference from hence ?