A plaine and familiar exposition on the Lords prayer first preached in divers sermons, the substance whereof, is now published for the benefit of the church / by I.D. ...

Our Father, &c.

THIS word [Our] implyeth what af∣fection wee must beare towards men; namely, that when we bring our sacrifi∣ces of prayer and prayse before the Lord, wee should be so farre in loue and charitie with men, that we should wish them as well as our selues, and pray and prayse God for them, as well as for our selues: So that hence we learne;

That when we are to call upon the name of the Lord, we must so deale for our selues and our owne [Observat. 2] matters, as that we be also mindfull of others.

All Christians should haue such a fellow-fee∣ling each of others necessities, as that they should make others case to be their owne, and become

sutors for them, and with thankefulnesse ac∣knowledge their graces before their heavenly Father, who requireth this dutie at their hands. As we see, where the Apostle exhorteth Timo∣thie,* 1.1 That first of all supplications, prayers, and gi∣ving of thankes bee made for all men. And so in Iames, acknowledge your faults one to another, and* 1.2 pray one for another. Yea, not onely so; but we are enjoyned that which doth more crosse our wicked flesh, viz. to pray for our enemies. Now* 1.3 if it be a dutie to pray for them, that doe hate, maligne, hurt and persecute us, and that when there is little or no appearance of grace and re∣ligion in them; Then how much more are we tyed to become Petitioners for those that are friends to us, to Gods Church, and faithfull ser∣vants unto the Lord himselfe? And as this is commanded, so was it practised, as by other of the holy men of God, so especially, by the Apostle Paul, who did without ceasing night and day remember in his prayers the Churches* 1.4 which he himselfe and others had planted: as al∣so divers particular persons, which were of spe∣ciall* 1.5 note and imployment in the Churches, and in establishing and propagating the Gospel* 1.6 of Christ: yea, he did not onely make continu∣all mention of them in his prayers, but he was also mindfull of them in his thankesgivings. As he sayth, I thanke my God (sayth he) having you* 1.7 in perfect memorie, because of the fellowship which you haue in the Gospel from the first day untill now. And the like is done by the converted Iewes (as

we may read in the Actes) to whom when Pe∣ter had rendred a reason why he preached unto and conversed with the Gentiles, and shewed them that hee had speciall warrant by a vision from heaven so to doe: It is said, When they had heard these things, they held their peace and* 1.8 glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. And so the Churches of Iudea, when they heard of Paules conversion, that he that had persecuted them in times past, now preached the faith, which be∣fore* 1.9 he destroyed, They glorified God for him, for whom no doubt, they had oftentimes be∣fore instantly prayed unto the Lord.

And it is meete that all the Saints of God, [Reason.] while they are in their pilgrimage should per∣forme this dutie, mutually one for another, be∣cause, they are members of the same head, branches of the same vine, Temples of the same Spirit, chil∣dren of the same Father, and heires of the same Kingdome. In which regard, as they are neere∣ly linked together, so should they haue their hearts as firmely knit together in one; And then it cannot be but there must needs proceede thence, many holy and heavenly requestes, and praises for one another, which will ascend as in∣cense into the nostrels of the Lord of hoastes, and be more pleasing unto him, then the most costly and precious perfumes can be unto us.

With earthly Princes, the fewer petitions we* 1.10 preferre, and the fewer persons we make suite for, the better (commonly) we speed; but it

is otherwise, with the King of Kings, the more* 1.11 in number our supplications are, and the more the persons are for whom we supplicate, the better shall our successe be: And the more wee urge for others, with the greater blessing and peace shall we goe away our selues, according* 1.12 to that in the psalme, Pray for the peace of Ierusa∣lem, let them prosper that loue thee.

Seeing then that the truth of this Doctrine is so cleere, it serveth;

First, to convince divers, and those of Gods own [Ʋse 1] Children to bee very faultie, who notwithstan∣ding they make many prayers, and multiply their petitions before the Lord, yet they are so possessed with selfe-loue, and selfe-respect, that they are wholy taken up with their owne mat∣ters, and are utterly forgetfull of others, either to pray for them, or to praise God in their be∣halfe. If any one haue offended them, he shall haue many ill words, but few good prayers from them. If any one be converted, or bette∣red, they seldome or never fall on their knees, to blesse the name of God for his mercie and goodnesse towards him: this is an evident to∣ken that they haue little loue unto their bre∣thren, or ze••le of Gods glory: He that is a true brother, must shew his brotherly affection by bro∣therly* 1.13 actions. And they that can not afford o∣thers a part and portion in their prayers, can haue little expectation of comfort and benefit from the prayers of others, when they stand in greatest need of them. And further, when the

Lord bestowes a blessing upon any of his peo∣ple, they shall be so farre from being stirred up to joy and thankesgiving therefore, that they will be readie rather to envie and maligne them for the same.

Againe, this is for singular comfort for all such [Ʋse 2] as doe in their hearts feare the Lord: For there is never a Christian throughout the world, that prayeth for himselfe, but he doth more or lesse pray for them, and glorifie God for them, which is an especiall part of the communion of Saints. What then though we be dull and heavie-hear∣ted, so that we cannot powre out our soules be∣fore the Lord as we ought to doe? Was there* 1.14 not a time, when we could (through Gods grace) haue prayed, and did pray, and that earnestly, not onely for our selues, but likewise for others? If our consciences witnesse thus much for us; let us not be dismayed, as if we should be utter∣ly destitute of good things, because we cannot aske them in that manner as wee would: for doubtlesse, at that very time when wee feele greatest inabilitie unto this holy exercise, there are many thousand Christians in the world, on their knees offering up strong cryes unto God, which we haue as good interest in, as them∣selues.

The consideration whereof, should sustaine us, and hold our hearts in hope and expectati∣on of favour from God, when we find our selues most unapt and unfit for this spirituall worke of prayer. When Peter was fast bound in prison,* 1.15

and sleeping betwixt two Souldiers, bound with two chaines, the prayers of the Saints were still ascending for him, which did so peirce the hea∣vens, that they caused the chaines to fall off from his hands, and made the prison doores and the iron Gate, to open unto him of their owne accord, to the great comfort of the Church, and astonishment of their adversaries. And of no lesse force may and shall the suites and requests of Gods servants be for us, when we are fast bound and fettered by sinne and Sa∣than, and haue lesse power to free our selues from their bondage, then Peter had to escape out of the hands of Herod, and of the Souldiers and keepers that watched him with all care and diligence. For it is a true saying and worthy of all men to be remembred, That the prayers of* 1.16 the righteous availe much, if they be fervent. Thus much concerning that point, how wee must stand affected toward men, now it followes to be considered, how we must be perswaded of God in these words.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1 Tim. 2. 1.
• * 1.2

  Iam. 5. 16.
• * 1.3

  Mat. 5. 44.
• * 1.4

  Rom. 1. 9 10. 1 Cor. 1. 4.
• * 1.5

  2 Tim. 1. 3.
• * 1.6

  Philemon 4.
• * 1.7

  Phil. 1. 3. 5.
• * 1.8

  Acts 11. 18.
• * 1.9

  Gal. 1. 22.
• * 1.10

  Note.
• * 1.11

  A rule of prayer.
• * 1.12

  Psal. 122 6.
• * 1.13

  Note.
• * 1.14

  A comfort a∣gainst discou∣ragement in Prayer.
• * 1.15

  Acts 12. 5, 6, 7
• * 1.16

  Iam. 5. 16.