A guide to goe to God: or, An explanation of the perfect patterne of prayer, the Lords prayer. By William Gouge, B. in D. and minister of Gods Word in Black-Friers London
Gouge, William, 1578-1653.

§. 30. Of preferring Gods honour before all other things.

Q. VVHat learne we from the precedence of this Petition?

A. 1. Gods honour ought to be preferred be∣fore all things.

2. Gods honour is the maine end whereat all our desires ought to aime.

The order of the Decalogue and the placing of the first com∣mandement before all the rest, doth confirme the former of these instructions:* so doth this exhortation, First seeke the king∣dome of God. All priorities are comprised vnder that particle, First.* Both before and aboue all things is that to be sought. Christ preferred his Fathers glory before his owne life: yea, and before freedome from that bitter agony whereunto he was brought, being our Suretie▪ For thus in his prayer he reasoneth about that point: What shall I say? Father saue me from this houre. Bnt for this cause came I vnto this houre. Father glorifie thy name. And then he resteth, as in that which aboue all he desi∣red. This mind by the same Spirit was wrought in Saint Paul, who counted not his life deare:* but was readie to dye for the name of the Lord.

Q. Is Gods honour to be preferred before our eternall saluation?

A. 1. These two cannot stand in opposition.* The more we seeke Gods honour, the more we helpe forward our saluation: and the more we seeke our saluation aright, the more wee ad∣uance Gods honour.

Page  40 2. If they could stand in opposition,* then without contra∣diction Gods honour should be sought rather then our owne saluation. On which ground Moses made this transcendent Prayer,*If not, blot me I pray thee, out of thy booke which thou hast written.

Gods glorie is of all things the most excellent,* and pretious. If a mans name be better then pretious ointment,* and great ri∣ches, What is Gods?* Now the more excellent a thing is, the more it is to be esteemed, and preferred. Besides by seeking and set∣ting forth Gods honour, we seeke and set forth our owne. For as it is in it selfe an honorable thing to honor God, so God that can and will performe it, hath said, Them that honour me will I honour. Is there not then good reason to desire aboue all other things that Gods name be hallowed?*