An exposition of the Lords Prayer made in diuers lectures, and now drawne into questions and answers for the greater benefite of the simpler sort: whereunto is prefixed a briefe treatise of prayer for all men. Published at the request of diuers godly and well disposed: by W. B. minister of the Word at Reading in Barkshire.

VVhich art in heauen.

Q. Why are these words added?

A. In the former words wee are taught what the Lord is concerning vs, viz. a louing father.

In these words wee learne what he is in himselfe, viz. a God of all maiestie, power and dominion.

The 1. sheweth his willingnes to help vs.

The 2. sheweth his abilitie to helpe vs.

Q. Why doth the Lord Iesus speake of his willingnes and abilitie?

A. To shew that of those two we must be perswaded in prayer, or els we cannot pray aright. Some came to Christ doubt∣ing of his willingnes, as the leper, Master, if thou wilt thou canst make mee cleane. Some doubting of his power, as the man whose sonne had a dumbe spirit: If thou canst doe any thing for vs, helpe vs, &c. But here we are taught not to be like either of them.

Q. God is euery where, why then is he sayd to be in heauen?

A. Because he is euery where, therfore he must needes be in heauen.

Q. But why is hee sayd to haue his dwelling in heauen, rather then in any place of the world, or in all the world?

A. For two causes.

• 1. Because his glorie is most apparant there.
• 2. Because we see from thence most e∣uident signes of his properties, and attri∣butes, more then in other places, as of his

• omnipotencie, wisedome, goodnesse, iu∣stice, mercie, &c.

Q. What vse may we make of these words?

A. Wee may make vse of them many wayes:

• 1. They teach vs that God hath power ouer all, and can performe that which he promiseth.

Q. How doe you gather that?

A. I gather it thus: As the heauen is hier then the elementall world, so he that sits▪ in the heauen, must needes haue all things in subiection vnder him. And as wee cannot see any thing aboue heauen, so we are not to imagine any thing aboue him. See Psal. 2. 4. Psal. 24. 3. Psal. 113. 4,

Q. What els may wee gather from them?

A. They teach vs that God is no earth∣ly father, but heauenly and immortall, therefore not subiect to alteration in na∣ture, nor change in his purpose, as men be. And this makes much for the certaintie of the election of Gods children, seeing it dependeth vpon such a father. See the places quoted.

Q. What els doe wee learne from them?

A. They serue to breede a reuerence in vs when we pray, because wee bee but dust and ashes, and wee speake vnto that God that (as the Psalmist sayth) hath de∣uouring fire going before him, and migh∣tie tempests are stirred vp about him, &c.

Q. Declare your meaning more ful∣lie.

A. I meane that seeing in prayer wee speake vnto the immortall king of hea∣uen and earth, we should not clappe our selues downe so vnreuerently, (as vsually many doe) thinking of any thing rather then of the mightie Maiestie of him to whom wee pray: but with a reuerende trembling and affection of all our parts: and (to vse the very words of a reuerend father) leisurely, carefully, and heartely, considering the puissance, glorie, and im∣periall Maiestie of him to whome wee speake.

Q. What els doe they affoord vs?

A. Lastly, they teach vs, That not onely our mindes ought to be sequestred from other, but in all our conuersation to be∣haue

our selues as becommeth the chil∣dren of such a heauenly father.

Notes

• Matth. 8. 2.
• Mark. 9. 22.
• Psalm. 2. 4.
• Psalm. 24. 3.
• Psalm. 113. 4.
• 1. Sam. 15. 2••.
• Rom. 3. 19.
• Iam. 1. 17.
• Reuel. 3. 6.
• Doctrine.
• Psalm. 50.
• Psal. 60. 4. 8. 17
• Doctrine.