A. That God is the Father of all men. He is the Father of the wicked, by creation and providence; but especially of the godly, by regeneration and adoption.

Q. Is it proper, in our secret prayers to say, "Our Father?"

A. It is. For so we find: Dan. ix. 17. Now, therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.

Q. What learn we, by styling God, "our Father ?”

A. First, to esteem one another as brethren; since all partake of the same common nature; much more as we partake of the same especial grace: to interest one another in our prayers, and thereby maintain the Communion of Saints.

Q. But, since God is every where present, why hath our Saviour taught us to direct our prayers to our Father in Heaven?

A. 1. Because heaven is the most glorious place of God's residence; and therefore God is represented to us in heaven, to affect us with his glory and majesty.

2. Because God no where hears our prayers with acceptation, but only in heaven: for there only are they re-presented by Christ's intercession, which he makes in both natures.

Q. What learn ye, from our being commanded to direct our prayers to God in Heaven?

A. That we should so pray, as to pierce heaven; which cannot be done, by the strength and intention of our voice, but of our zeal and affection.

Q. Is the voice necessary in prayer?

A. It is, only upon Three accounts.

1. As that, which God requires should be employed in his service.

2. When, in secret, it may be a help to raise our affections; still keeping it within the bounds of decency and secrecy.

3. In our joining with others, it is a help likewise, to raise and quicken their affections.

Q. What is the FIRST PETITION of the Lord's Prayer?

A. "Hallowed be thy Name."

Q. What is here meant by the Name of God?

VOL. I.

A. 1. God's Name is himself: Ps. xx. 1. The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble: the name of the God of Jacob defend thee and many other places.

2. The Name of God is any perfection ascribed unto him, whereby he hath made himself known unto us.

Q. What are the names of God?
A. His Titles and his Attributes.
Q. What are his Titles?

A. They are many: as Jehovah, which signifies being, and giving being; Creator, denoting his infinite power; Lord and King, denoting his authority and dominion; Father, signifying his care and goodness towards his creatures; Redeemer, noting his mercy and grace, in delivering them from temporal evils, and especially from eternal death.

Q. What are the Attributes of God?

A. They are of two sorts, either incommunicable or cammunicable.

Q. Which are his Incommunicable Attributes?

A. Such as are so proper to the Divine Essence, that they cannot, in any measure or resemblance, be ascribed to the creatures: such are Eternity, Immensity, Simplicity, and Immutability. Q. What are his Communicable Attributes?

A. They are such as may, in some analogy and resemblance, be found in the creatures: as Holiness, Justice, Mercy, Truth, Wisdom, and Power.

Q. Since they are to be found in the creatures, how are they then the proper Names of God?

A. They are the proper Names of God, when they are applied to him free from all those imperfections, that attend them in the creatures.

Q. What are these Imperfections?

A. They are Three.

1. That all the perfections of the creatures, are not originally from themselves, but derivatively from God.

2. They are not infinite, but limited.

3. They are not unchangeable, but mutable.

Q. How then do these become the Names of God?

A. When we ascribe them unto God, as originally from himself, and infinitely and unchangeably in himself.

Q. What is it to Hallow this name of God?

A. It signifies to make his Name Holy.

Q. How can God or his Name be made Holy?

A. Neither by dedication to holy uses, nor by infusion of holy habits; both which are frequently in Scripture called hallowing or sanctifying: but only by declaration of his glory and holiness. Q. How do we hallow the Name of God by Declaration?

A. When, in our most reverent thoughts, we observe and admire the expressions of his attributes, and endeavour to set them forth to others, both in words and actions.

Q. What pray you for in this petition, "Hallowed be thy Name?" A. For Three things in the general.

1. We beg such graces for ourselves, as may enable us to sanctify the Name of God.

Q. What are they especially?

A. Knowledge and understanding of his nature, will, and works: thankfulness for every mercy: patience under every affliction: faith in his word and promises; for, to believe God's Word gives glory to his Name: Rom. iv. 20. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God: a holy and exemplary life, whereby we especially glorify God, and induce others to do so too: Mat. v. 16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven: and, lastly, savoury and well ordered speech; that we may not prophane the Name of God by oaths, or curses, or vain using it, but speak of him with all holy fear and reverence.

Q. What else do we beg of God in this petition?

A. 2. We beg that others also may receive grace, to enable them to sa ctify his Name. And, 3, we beg that God would so overrule all things, that his glory may be promoted by them.

Q. What learn you from Christ's making this the first petition of his prayer?

A. 1. That the glory of God is to be preferred by us, before all other things whatsoever: John xii. 27, 28. Now is my soul troubled: and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

name.

2. That, in the beginning of our prayers, we ought to beg assistance from God, to present them, that his Name may be hallowed.

Q. What is the SECOND PETITION of the Lord's Prayer?

A. "Thy kingdom come."

Q. How manifold is the Kingdom of God?

A. It is twofold; either Universal, or else his Peculiar Kingdom.

Q. What is God's Universal Kingdom?

A. The whole world; both heaven and earth, and hell itself, and all things in them: Ps. ciii. 19. The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

Q. How doth God exercise his dominion over this kingdom? A. By the power of his Providence; disposing of all his creatures and all their actions, according to his will.

Q. But since wicked men are rebels against God, how doth he maintain his dominion over them?

A. Three ways.

1. In that they cannot sin without his permission. 2. In that he restrains them when he pleaseth.

3. In that he justly punisheth them for their sins; sometimes in this life, always in the next.

Q. What is God's Peculiar Kingdom?

A. His Kingdom of Grace, which is the Church; and that, either militant here on earth, or else triumphant in heaven. Q. How is the Church Militant to be considered?

A. As it is either Visible or Invisible.

Q. What is the Visible Church of God here on earth?

A. It is a company of people, openly professing the truths that are necessary to salvation, and celebrating the ordinances appointed by Jesus Christ.

Q. What is the Universal Kingdom or Church of God?

A. It is a company of true believers, who have internal and invisible communion with God, by his Spirit and their faith. Q. What observe you of both?

A. Its mixture and imperfection: for in the Visible Church, there is a great mixture of persons, the bad with the good: in the Invisible, there is a great mixture in persons, of evil with good, and sin with grace.

Q. You have formerly told us that the Church of Christ, in its progress, is the Church Militant, either Visible or Invisible, and that the Church of Christ, in its consummation, is the Church Triumphant. What is this Church Triumphant ?

A. The general assembly of such glorious Angels, as never fell; and such glorified Saints, as are raised from their fall.

Q. What is that kingdom, which in this petition we pray may come?

A. Not the Universal Kingdom of God, which is the world; for his dominion therein is always the same: but only the Peculiar Kingdom, which is his Church; and more especially that part of it, which is militant on earth.

Q. In what respects may God's kingdom be said to come ?
A. In Three.

1. In respect of the means of grace and salvation; which are the Word and Sacraments: for where these are dispensed, there God's kingdom is erected.

2. In respect of the efficacy of this means in the conversion of sinners; whereby they are brought into the invisible kingdom of Christ.

3. In respect of the perfection of this kingdom: for then God's kingdom comes, when the saints' graces are increased; when their souls are received into heaven; and when both souls and bodies are consummated in glory.

Q. What do we pray for, when we say, " Thy kingdom come?"

A. 1. That God would plant his Church where it is not that all the kingdoms of the earth may become the kingdoms of the Lord, and of his Christ.

2. That his ordinances may be purely and powerfully administered; his word truly preached, which is the law of his kingdom ; and his sacraments duly dispensed, which are the seals of it.

3. That God would send into his Church able and faithful Ministers, to be faithful stewards of the mysteries of the Gospel. 4. That the Ministry of the Word may be successful to the conversion of those that hear it.

5. That all the Churches of Christ may be kept from error, schism, superstition, and idolatry; and that true doctrine and due discipline may be continued in them, to the end of the world. Q. But may we not pray also for the Church Triumphant_in heaven?