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.

I. Petition.

FIrst, of the first petition: Wherein we are to learn the meaning of the words, and then to consider the uses which arise from thence. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Hallowed be thy name. The name of God signifieth both God himself, and his attributes, which •…•…re himself, and also that whereby he is named. In the former sense the word name is often used to si∣gnifie the persons named: as Acts 1. 15. and 4. 12. Revel. 3. 4. and 11. 13. So the name of God is put for God himself, Joel 2. 23. Deut. 28. 58. Hereupon the Hebrews use to say, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, His name is himself, and he is his name. And hereunto belong those places in which the name of God signi∣fieth

his attributes, which are nothing but himself: For the justice of God is the just God, the wisdome of God is the wise God; the mercy of God is the merci∣full God, &c. And these also are the name of God, as appeareth Exod. 33. 19. and 34. 5, 6, 7. For this is the name which he proclaimeth, The Lord, the Lord, strong, mercifull, and gracious, slow to anger, and abun∣dant in goodnesse and truth, &c.

Secondly, the name of God signifieth that whereby God is named; whereby he is either renowned or known. The name of renown is his glory, which is (as it were) his good name: For so in great persons their good name is their glory and renown; and therefore they are said in the Scriptures to be men of name, Gen. 6. 4. In this sense the word name is used Gen. 11. 4. That we may get us a name: Gen. 12. 2. I will make thy name great: Jer. 13. 11. name, praise, and glory, Deut. 26. 19. The name of God therefore signi∣fieth that whereby he is renowned and acknowled∣ged to be glorious, that is, his glory: So Exod. 9. 16. Psal. 8. 1.

Again, the name of God signifieth that whereby he is known; to wit, not onely his Titles, which more properly are called his name, and by which he is known, but also the Means whereby he is known. The titles are the names of the Godhead, of the at∣tributes, and of the Persons. Of the Godhead; as Jehovah, Lord, God, &c. Exod. 3. 15. This is my name: Exod. 6. 3. Psal. 83. 18. Attributes, as Wis∣dome, Mercy, Justice, Majesty, &c. Persons, as Father, Christ, Jesus, Saviour, holy Ghost, &c.

The means whereby God is known are either pe∣culiar

to the Church, or common unto all. Of the first sort are his word and religion therein prescri∣bed. The word of God is called his name, as Acts 9. 15. to carry my name, &c. and 21. 13. 1. Tim. 6. 1. with Tit. 2. 5. Rom. 2. 24. Psal. 22. 22. Heb. 2. 12. So is the doctrine of religion and worship of God, Mich. 4. 5. We will walk in the name of our God. 1. Kings 5. 3, 5. to build a house unto the name of God. The common means are the works of God: The works of Creation, Psal. 19. 1. Rom. 1. 19, 20. In respect whereof he is called the Creatour of heaven and earth. As also of Administration, as his bles∣sings and judgements. In respect whereof he is cal∣led the Governour and Judge of the world, Exod. 34. 7. All these doth the name of God signifie.

To sanctifie signifieth either to make holy, or to ac∣knowledge & declare holy. In the first sense things are said to be sanctified and (in themselves being not holy) to be made holy, which are set apart to holy uses; as the Sabbath, the Temple, Priests, Christi∣ans consecrated and set apart to the worship and ser∣vice of God. In which sense the name of God, which is most holy, Psal. 111. 9. cannot be said to be sanctified.

2. To sanctifie is to acknowledge & declare holy: as wisdome in the like phrase of speech is said to be justified, Luke 7. 35. and God to be magnified and glo∣rified: And thus the name of God is sanctified either by us or by God himself, Num. 20. 12, 13. By us (I mean our selves and others, for whom also we pray) when, as the name of God is most holy and reve∣rend, so we in our hearts acknowledge and that effe∣ctually,

in our tongues professe, in our deeds use it as most holy & reverend. By God himself his name is sanctified, when either he manifesteth the glory of his mercy and justice, or else freeth it from the pol∣lutions of men, especially when men neglect it, and removeth the impediments, Num. 20. 12, 13:

First, we pray that Gods name may be sanctified of us; that is, That God would vouchsafe unto us his grace, that we may give unto the Lord the honour due unto his name, Psal. 29. 2. that as his name is most ex∣cellent, holy, glorious, and reverend, so his prayse may be unto the ends of the earth, Psal. 48. 11.

We sanctifie the name of God, which is most ho∣ly, and reverend, and glorious, Deut. 28. 58. when∣as in our hearts, words, and deeds we do use it holi∣ly and reverently.

But to speak more especially, according to the significations of the name of God: The names of God first signifie himself and his attributes, which are himself, which we desire in this prayer that we may sanctifie in our hearts, tongues, and lives. In our hearts we sanctifie God, as Peter exhorteth, 1. Epist. 3. 15. when as 1. we do acknowledge, and that effectually, That there is a God; That this God is such an one as he hath revealed himself in his word, most wise, most just, most mercifull, infinite in power, essence, and continuance, &c. 2. When in our minds we think and conceive nothing of God but that which beseemeth his glorious majestie; that is, when we alwayes think and conceive of God most holily and reverently.

In our mouthes; 1. When we confesse and ac∣knowledge

and professe God and his attributes, &c. Rom. 10. 10. 2. When we speak of God and his attributes holily and reverently.

In our lives; when the knowledge of God and his attributes is effectuall to bring forth in us a con∣versation answerable thereunto. Knowest thou there is a God? worship him. That he is a Spirit? worship him in spirit and truth. That he is just? fear him. That he is mercifull? love him. That he is omnipresent? behave thy self as in his presence. That he is omnisufficient? repose thy trust in him. That he is omniscient and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a searcher of the heart? approve thine heart to him, &c.

Thus then we desire that the name of God in the first sense may be sanctified by us.

The uses. 1. Concerning prayer.

THat we may pray fervently, we must have a feel∣ing of our want; as, our ignorance of God (here we pray for knowledge of God, without which we cannot acknowledge him) the vanity of our minds, thinking amisse of God, Job 1. 5. our irreverent speech of God, our not sanctifying of God in our lives (a fault incident to the best) Num. 20. 12. For who can say that he hath loved and feared God, &c. as he ought, and behaved himself alwayes as in Gods presence?

2. Concerning our lives.

The use concerning our lives: That as in our prayers we desire, so in our lives we endeavour thus to sanctifie God: For if we our selves will not en∣deavour thus to do, it sheweth that we have no true

desire hereof, but pray in hypocrisie with feigned lips. Their hypocrisie therefore here is detected, who desiring with their mouth that they may san∣ctifie God, will think that there is no God, Psal. 14. 1. will think basely of him, Psal. 50. 21. or deny his providence, mercy, and justice, Psal. 10. 11. who use to speak unreverently of God and his attributes, to murmure against his justice, &c. Psal. 78. 19. who live as if there were no God, Tit. 1. 16. that say he is a Spirit, but desire not to worship him in spirit; that he is just, and yet desire not to fear him, &c.

Notes

• What is si∣gnified by Gods name.
• What is meant by sanctified or hallowed.