A godly and learned treatise of prayer which both conteineth in it the doctrine of prayer, and also sheweth the practice of it in the exposition of the Lords prayer: by that faithfull and painfull servant of God George Downame, Doctr of Divinity, and late L. Bishop of Dery in the realm of Ireland.

Vses concerning our lives.

SEeing we have all one and the same Father,* 1.1 Matth. 23. 9. therefore we ought to embrace one another with brotherly love, Ephes. 4. 3, 4, 6. For if God be the Father of us all, then are we all brethren. Which word of love ought to tie us with the bond of love, and break off all dissension, Gen. 13. 8. Acts 7. 26. Mal. 2. 10. And surely if we love not our brethren, the love of God is not in us: For he which lo∣veth him that begetteth, loveth also those that are begot∣ten, 1. Joh. 5. 1. And, Whosoever saith that he loveth God and hateth his brother, he is a liar, 1. John 4. 19, 20. Therefore where is not brotherly love there is not the love of God; where is not the love of God there is no faith; and who hath not faith is not the sonne of God. Therefore the Apostle saith, 1. John 3. 10. In this the children of God are known and the children of the devil; Whosoever doeth not righteous∣nesse is not of God, nor he that loveth not his brother. For if those that be the sonnes of God, as all the faithfull are (and we are to hope well of the most when we speak of particulars) be not our brethren,

and so we esteem them, then are not we the sonnes of God. For if he be our Father, then his children are our brethren; If the sonnes of God be not brethren to us, then are not we his children. If therefore we shall hate the children of God, how can we call up∣on him as our Father?

Secondly, whereas all, as well poore as rich, are* 1.2 commanded to call God Father, this ought to teach the rich, & comfort the poore. The rich ought from hence to learn humility and not to despise the poor∣est Christian, seing they are our brethren by the law of nature, and of the same bloud, Acts 17. the same flesh, Isai. 58. and also by our redemption by Christ they are our brethren in him, sonnes of the same Fa∣ther, and have as good part in Christ, if they be∣lieve, as the best, for God is a Father that respecteth no•…•… persons, Acts 10. 34, 35. 1. Pet. 1. 17. And in Christ there is no difference of rich and poore, bond or free; but we are all one in him, Gal. 3. 28. To which purpose Paul exhorteth Philemon to receive his ser∣vant Onesimus, being now converted, as a brother, v. 17. Let therefore the rich follow the advise, Rom. 12. 16. Example, Job 31. 13, 14, 15. that of the wife 1. Pet. 3. 7. which is to be extended to all Chri∣stians, viz. that they be coheirs. Which doctrine doth not favour the Anabaptists; for although in respect of our spirituall estate there ought to be no respect of persons, Jam. 2. 1. neither is there difference of bond and free in Christ, yet in respect of our out∣ward estate the Lord hath ordained superiours and inferiours, &c. and hath established orders and de∣grees in the outward politie.

The poore also are to comfort themselves with this consideration, that howsoever they be contemn∣ed in the world, yet they are dear in Gods sight. God is their Father as well, or rather of them then of the rich, Psal. 68. 6. and Christ their brother: yea, they are members of Christ, to whom what is done Christ esteemeth as done to himself, Matth. 25. The which is to be understood of the godly poore; for otherwise, as their estate is miserable now, so a thousand times more miserable shall it be in the world to come.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Brotherly love required of all that pray.
• * 1.2

  2. To teach the rich, and comfort the poore.