The doctrine of practicall praying together with a learned exposition on the Lords prayer / by George Downam.

VI. How the name of God signifying his works is hallowed.

SIxthly, the name of God signifieth his Works whereby he is known, and that both of creation and administration. The creatures are sanctified, First, by an holy and religious meditation and men∣tioning of them, 1. To the glory of God, acknow∣ledging in them the wisdome, justice, power, and goodnesse of God, glorifying him, being known in his works, as God, Rom. 1. 21, 22. 2. To our good, when we imitate and slie such things in them as the holy Ghost hath appointed. Secondly, by a holy and sanctified use. The creature is sanctified by the word and prayer, 1. Tim. 4. 5. Col. 3. 17.

Duties in prayer. Wants to be bewailed.

1. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, the hardnesse and sense∣lesnesse of our hearts, in not seeing and acknowledging the goodnesse, wisdome, and power of God in his creatures, Mark 6. 52. 2. Our jesting at some of his works; as at the form or countenance of some man, &c. 3. Our suffering of the brute creatur•…•…s to go beyond us: as the crane and swallow, in knowing their times and seasons; the ant, in diligence; the trees and plants, in bringing forth fruit. 4. Our irr•…•…ligi∣ous use of the creatures, or abusing them to b•…•… the instruments of sinne.

Duties in our lives.

1. Holy meditation and mentioning of the works of God to his glory and our spirituall good. To his glory: for so must we meditate and speak of the creatures as that the wisdome, goodnesse, and pow∣er of God shining in them be acknowledged; that we knowing him by his works may glorifie him as God. To our good; by meditating in such things as are to be followed or eschewed in them. 2. The pure and holy use of the creature s•…•…nctified by the word and prayer, &c. Otherwise, if we knowing God by •…•…is works, shall not glorifie him, Rom. 1. 21. if we shall play the Momes in detr•…•…cting from the works of God or mocking the same; if we shall abuse his creatures to superstitious, wicked, and prof•…•…ne uses, and please our selves in so doing, we are to take heed lest in making this prayer we be found mockers of God.

Now follow the works of administration: which are his blessings or judgements towards our selves

or others. His blessings on our selves are sanctified, 1. in our hearts, when we are truly thankfull for them: 2. in our tongues, when we give thanks, Psal. 124. 6. and shew forth his benefits, Psal. 66. 16. and 71. 8, 18. 3. in our deeds, when we referre the good things received to his glory and the good of others, and when by them we are brought to repen∣tance, Rom. 2. 4.

The blessings of God on others are sanctified, when we rejoyce with them, 1. Cor. 12. 26. and glorifie God in them, Psal. 35. 27. Gal. 1. 24.

The judgements of God on our selves are sancti∣fied, when they have the like effect in us that they had in Job; that is, First, when we are humbled un∣der the hand of God, and brought to repentance, Job 1. 20. and 42. 6. Secondly, when we bear them patiently, Job 1. 21. Thirdly, when we blesse God in them and for them, v. 21.

The judgements of God on others are sanctified, when by consideration thereof we fear to sinne, when we shew forth the justice of God in the pu∣nishment of the wicked, Psal. 58. 11, 12. when we condole with the just.

Wants to be lamented.

First, unthankfulnesse: in that neither in our hearts we have the chearfull sense of Gods good∣nesse in his benefits, nor in our tongues return praise to him, nor in our deeds bring forth the fruits, nor yet by them are brought to repentance. Secondly, our not acknowledging Gods graces in others, or depraving or lessening them, or envying their good. Thirdly, our senselesnesse in affliction, Jer. 5. 3.

Fourthly, impatienc•…•…, Isai. 22. 12, 13. Fifthly, mur∣muring. Sixthly, not to be terrified by the exam∣ple of others, but rather pleasing our selves, Luke 13. 1. Seventhly, not condoling but rather rejoy∣cing in other mens evils; as, laughing at fools.

Duties in our lives.

To be thankfull to God for his benefits; To expresse our thankfulnesse, by thanksgiving, by referring them to the glory of God, by repentance; To rejoyce with others; To glori∣fie God in them; To make right use of his cha∣stisements on our selves and others. Other∣wise, if we shall be proud of those good things which we have, as though we had not received them, not giving God the glory, nor referring them to his glory and the good of others, but contrariwise abusing them to the dishonour of God and the hurt of others, as many do their learning, wit, riches, strength, &c. If we shall deprave Gods mercies in others, or envie them; If in the judgements of God upon our selves we shall harden our hearts with Pharaoh; If we shall impatiently bear them, and murmure against the severity of God; If with Bel∣teshazzar we shall not be moved with the example of others, D•…•…n. 5. 22. If we shall make a sport of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mens calamities; we are farre from that desire of sanctifying Gods name which in this prayer we pretend.

Secondly, in these words we pray that the Lord would sanctifie his name. The which petition we are the rather to make, because his glory is so little regarded amongst men. And in this sense our prayer

is the same with that of our Saviour, John 12. 28. Father, glorifie thy name; or with that of David, Psal. 57. 6, 11. Be thou exalted, Lord, above the heavens, and thy glory above all the earth; or that, Psal. 115. 1. Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, &c.

The Lord doth sanctifie his name, I. When he doth shew forth and manifest the excellencie and glory of his name, that is, of his attributes and per∣fections, as wisdome, power, &c. but especially by making manifest the glory of his mercy and justice. Of mercy; by preserving his Church, and multiplying his blessings upon the faithfull, Ezech. 36. 21. For the glory of his own name he preserved his Church amongst the heathen, and promised to reduce them into their own countrey: not for their sakes, but his holy names sake, v. 22. and then v. 23. I will sanctifie my great name, which was polluted a∣mongst the heathen (namely, because of the affliction of his people) v. 20. and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sancti∣fied in you before their eyes, &c. So 2. Thess. 1. 12. Of his justice and power; in executing his judge∣ments on transgressours and on the wicked, and overthrowing the enemies of his Church. When Nadab and Abihu had offered strange fire contrary to the commandment of God, and were destroyed by fire from heaven, he said, I will be sanctified in them that come near me; (that is, By executing judge∣ment even against those that are near to me, I will make manifest the glory of my justice) and before all the people will I be glorified, Levit. 10. 3. Isai. 5. 15, 16. By the judgements of God executed upon the

wicked it is said that man shall be humbled and brought low, but the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgement, and the holy God shall be sanctified in justice. Ezech. 28. 22. Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I come against thee, Sidon; and I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and they shall know that I am the Lor•…•…, when I shall have executed judgements in her, and shall be sanctified in her: For I will send into her pes•…•…ilence, &c. And chap. 38. 22, 23. he threatneth to rain fire and brimstone upon Gog and Magog, that is, both the open and secret enemies of the Church, &c. Thus, saith he, will I be magnified and sanctified and known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord.

II. God doth sanctifie and glorifie his name, when he doth remov•…•… the impediments of his glo∣ry, as idolatry & worshipping of false gods, supersti∣tion, ignorance, and giveth a free passage to his Gospel, when he taketh away the wicked, Psal. 104. 35.

III. By freeing it from the abuses & pollutions of men, and mainteining his own glory. When Moses and Aaron at the waters of Strife did not sanctifie the Lord by believing and acknowledging his omnipotent power, then the Lord did sanctifie his name himself, Num. 20. 12, 13. Lev. 22. 32. Neither shall ye pollute my holy name; but I will be hal∣lowed amongst the people of Israel. So when Herod would not give the glory to God, the Lord glorifi∣ed himself in his destruction. In the second place therefore we pray in zeal of Gods glory, That howsoever men pollute and profane his holy name,

yet he would glorifie it, and manifest the praise both of his mercy in blessing and preserving his Church, and also of his justice in executing his judgements upon the wicked and enemies of his Church, by removing the impediments, by freeing it from the pollution of men, and mainteining his glory.

Duties.

1. Zeal of his glory, that he may sanctifie it what∣soever become of me. 2. Fear to profane his name, seeing he will be sanctified, &c.

Notes

• Works of Creation.
• W•…•…rks of Administra∣tion.
• Dan. 5. 22.
• How God sanctifieth his name.
• 2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 3. 1.