to Adam in paradise, relating to the _seed of the woman bruising the
serpent’s head_, Gen. iii. 15. or Christ’s coming to defeat this
deep-laid design against the interest of God in the world, by giving him
a total defeat to him that was at the head thereof. Till this promise
was given, there could not be the least hope of salvation for fallen
man; whose condition was not only deplorable, but desperate, and, in all
appearance, remediless; but by this first display of divine grace, a
door of hope was opened, and Satan’s kingdom began to be broken and
demolished.
(2.) It met with a farther shock, when men began to lay hold of, and
take encouragement from this promise, and public worship was set up in
the world; and the coming of the Messiah, who was expected to appear in
our nature, and in the fulness of time, to destroy the works of the
Devil, was farther made known to the church, and clearer intimations
given of the glory of his Person, and the offices he was to execute, by
which means he was regarded as the object of their faith, who waited
for, and earnestly desired the gospel-day, when all the types and
prophesies relating thereunto, should have their accomplishment.
(3.) Satan’s kingdom met with a very great defeat, when Christ, who was
the desire of all nations, took our nature, and dwelt among us, and, in
the whole course of his ministry, discovered the way of salvation to his
people, more clearly than it had been in former ages, and finished the
work of redemption in his death, whereby he paid an infinite price for
his elect, to divine justice; and at the same time, _destroyed him that
had the power of death, that is the Devil_, Heb. ii. 14. or, as it is
expressed elsewhere, _spoiled principalities, and powers, openly
triumphing over them in his cross_, Col. ii. 17. And when he was raised
from the dead, whereby the work that he came about was brought to
perfection, Satan’s kingdom was so effectually destroyed, that he shall
not be able to maintain that dominion which he had over them, who before
were his vassals, but are now become Christ’s subjects by right of
redemption.
(4.) The success of the gospel, in the various ages since our Saviour
was here on earth; his gathering and building up his church, defeating
all the attempts of his enemies, who have threatened its ruin; so that
the gates of hell have not been able to prevail against it; and its
having been favoured with his special presence, and the means of grace
bestowed upon, and continued to it, together with the various instances
of that success that has attended them, have all had a tendency to
weaken and destroy Satan’s kingdom.
(5.) All the victories that believers are enabled to obtain over sin,
and Satan’s temptations; and all the graces that they have exercised,
and comforts that they have experienced, are a gradual weakening of
Satan’s kingdom, though the victory over him, at present, be not
complete, inasmuch as he has too great an interest in the hearts of
God’s people, through the remainders of corruption; yet they shall, at
last, be made more than conquerors over him; and the fruits and
consequences of the victory that Christ has obtained over him, shall be
perfectly applied.
2. In desiring that Christ’s kingdom may come, we pray that the gospel
may be propagated throughout the world, the Jews called, and the
fulness of the Gentiles brought in. When the gospel-dispensation,
which is Christ’s kingdom was first erected; the apostles, who were
employed in this important work, were to fulfil that commission which
he gave them, in preaching the gospel to all nations, which
accordingly they did, and, by the extraordinary hand of God that
attended it, it was spread, in a short space of time through a
considerable part of the world; many of the Jews were called, among
whom all that were ordained to eternal life, believed; and as for the
Gentiles, who, before this, were unacquainted with the way of
salvation, they had Christ preached to them, and many churches were
gathered from among them; by which means his kingdom was advanced, and
a foundation laid, for the propagation and flourishing state of the
gospel in all succeeding ages, the effects whereof are experienced at
this day. Therefore, when this petition relating to the coming of
Christ’s kingdom, was used by those who lived at this time, when our
Saviour gave this direction about it; that which was principally
intended thereby, was, that Christ might be preached to the Gentiles,
and believed on in the world; that the veil, or the face of the
covering that was spread over all nations, might be taken away, and
the way of salvation might be known by them, who, before this, sat in
the region and shadow of death: Though, when it is used by us, we
signify our desire that this invaluable blessing may be still
continued, and the promises relating to the greater success thereof,
may have a more full accomplishment. The apostles, indeed, in
executing their commission, are said to have preached the gospel to
all nations, that is, to a very considerable part of the heathen
world: However, it does not appear that every individual nation of the
world has been yet favoured with this privilege; and therefore, what
was foretold concerning the _earth’s being full of the knowledge of
the Lord, as the waters cover the sea_, Isa. xi. 9. and other
predictions to the like purpose, do not seem hitherto to have had
their full accomplishment[116]. And it is very evident, that many
nations, who once had the gospel preached to them by the apostles, are
now wholly destitute of it. And though it is true, a considerable
number of the Jews at first, believed in Christ; yet the greatest part
of that nation were cast off, and all remain, at this day, strangers
and enemies to him: Therefore we cannot but suppose, that those
prophecies which respect their conversion, in the latter day, together
with the fulness of the Gentiles being brought in, shall be more
eminently accomplished than they have hitherto been[117]. This is
therefore what we are to pray for when we say, _Thy kingdom come_;
and, in order thereto, we are to be importunate with God,
(1.) That his interest may be still maintained, and the glory may not
depart from his church; but that it may still enjoy the ordinances of
his grace, and those privileges by which it is distinguished from the
world, notwithstanding all the attempts of hell, and persecuting powers
to undermine and overthrow it. And, though it be brought to a very low
ebb at this day, that he would revive his work in the midst of the
years, till he be pleased to cause that glorious day to dawn, which his
people are now desiring, waiting and hoping for; and in order hereunto,
we are to pray,
(2.) That there may be a more plentiful effusion of the Spirit, which is
absolutely necessary to the advancement of Christ’s kingdom; a farther
reformation of the church, and a greater spread of the gospel in those
nations where it is not known at present.
(3.) We are to pray, that the church may be furnished with all
gospel-officers and ordinances that are necessary hereunto. Not that we
are to pray, that new ordinances may be instituted, which, at present,
are not known, which we have no warrant from scripture to expect; but
that God, by the good hand of his providence, would send his ordinances,
namely, the word, sacraments and prayer, which are his outward and
ordinary means of salvation, into those parts of the world, which are,
at present, strangers to them. Accordingly we are to pray,
[1.] That whereever God has a people who thirst after the word, but
enjoy not the preaching thereof, especially with that zeal and clearness
as is necessary to their spiritual advantage and edification in Christ,
that he would send faithful labourers among them, that their souls may
not pine, starve, and be in danger of perishing, for lack of knowledge.
[2.] That where the word of God has been preached with success, so that
many believe in Christ, who, nevertheless, have not the advantage of
walking together, for their mutual edification, in a church-relation,
that God would over-rule and order matters so, that they who have given
up themselves to the Lord, may encourage and strengthen the hands of one
another, by joining together in religious societies, owning Christ’s
kingly government, and worshipping him in all those ordinances which he
has given to his churches. And,
[3.] That there may be proper officers, spirited, qualified, and raised
up, in subserviency thereunto; that there may be a constant supply of
_pastors according to his heart, which shall feed with knowledge and
understanding_, Jer. iii. 15. These are necessary to the well-being of a
church; and though extraordinary gifts are not to be expected, in like
manner as God was pleased to bestow them on his apostles in the first
planting of the gospel; yet there are some gifts which Christ has
purchased, and we are to pray for, that are particularly adapted to the
furnishing them, who are called to minister as officers in his churches,
for the promoting his cause and interest therein, and thereby advancing
his spiritual kingdom.
(4.) We are to pray, that the church may be purged from those
corruptions that tend to defile, and are a great reproach to it, and
very unbecoming the relation that it stands in to Christ. It is not,
indeed, to be supposed, that any church in the world, is so pure that
there are no corruptions in it, which appear to the eye of the
heart-searching God: But some are visible to the world, being notorious
and inconsistent, not only with the purity, but, if allowed of, with the
very being of a church of Christ; which are matter of lamentation to the
godly, and a reproach to those who are chargeable therewith; and, as the
apostle styles them, _a root of bitterness springing up and troubling_
them, whereby many are _defiled_, Heb. xii. 15. These corruptions are
either such as respect the faith, or conversation of professors.
[1.] As to what respects corruption in matters of faith. These consist
in the denying the most important doctrines, which are necessary to be
known and believed, in order to our salvation; and with respect
hereunto, we are to pray, that Christians may not depart from the faith,
which was once delivered to the saints, being _carried about with divers
and strange doctrines_, chap. xiii. 9. or, as it is said elsewhere,
_soon removed from him that called them into the grace of Christ unto
another gospel_, Gal. i. 6. We are also to pray, that he would root out
those errors and heresies which are inconsistent with the church’s
purity; and have a greater tendency to bring about its ruin than all the
persecutions it can meet with from its most enraged enemies.
[2.] There are other corruptions that more especially respect the
conversation of those who are called Christians, that walk not as
becomes the gospel of Christ, by which means there is no visible
difference between the church and the world: Thus the apostle tells the
church at Corinth, 1 Cor. iii. 3. that some of them were _carnal and
walked as men_; that is, notwithstanding the profession of religion that
they made, in their conversation they differed little from the men of
the world: And he also speaks of others who _profess that they know God,
but in works deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unto every
good work reprobate_, Tit. i. 16. Now, with respect to these, we are to
pray, that their profession may be adorned by a holy life; that none may
cast a stumbling-block in the way of these who watch for their haltings,
and are glad to take all opportunities to improve the falls and
miscarriages of Christians against them; and that God, by his
providence, or rather, by his Spirit, poured out from on high, would
refine and purify his church, _purge away the dross, and take away all
the tin_, as the prophet expresses it, Isa. i. 25.
(5.) We are farther to pray, that the ordinances of Christ may be purely
administered, without any mixture of human inventions, which tend to
debase, and are far from adding any beauty or glory to them. It is
natural, indeed, for man to be fond of, and pleased with, those
ordinances, which take their rise from himself; but God, who is jealous
for the purity of his own worship, can in no wise approve of them, and
they are so far from advancing Christ’s kingdom, that God reckons it no
other than _setting our threshold by his thresholds_, and _our post by
his_, which he calls _a defiling his holy name, by the abominations
which they_ herein _commit_, which will be the ground and reason of his
_consuming them in his anger_, Ezek. xliii. 8. Therefore, we are to
pray, that whatever intrudes itself into any branch of the worship of
God, as not receiving any warrant or sanction from himself, may be
removed out of the way, that hereby his church may be reformed, and its
destruction prevented.
(6.) We are to pray, that the church may be encouraged by civil
magistrates, that their government may be subservient to Christ’s
spiritual kingdom; that, according to God’s promise, _kings may be_ its
_nursing fathers, and their queens_ its _nursing mothers_, Isa. xlix.
23. that, by this means, it may have peace and safety, and not be
exposed, as it has often been, to the rage and fury of persecuting
powers; and also, that magistrates may be guardians, not only of the
civil, but religious liberties of their subjects, which is necessary to
complete the happiness of a nation, and bring down many blessings from
God upon it. We are also to pray, that God would not only incline them
to advance religion, by rendering the administration of civil
government, subservient thereunto, but that, by a steady adherence to it
themselves, they may strengthen the hands of the faithful, and encourage
many others to embrace it: And if, on the other hand, they are disposed
to exercise their power, in such a way, as tends to the discountenancing
religion, and weakening the hands of those who profess it; we are to
pray, that God would over-rule their counsels, and incline them to deal
favourably with those who desire stedfastly to adhere to it.
(7.) We are taught, in this petition, to pray, that the means of grace
may be made effectual to the converting of sinners, and to the
confirming, comforting, and building up of believers; that a great and
effectual door may be opened for the success of the gospel, and that it
may _come not in word only, but also in power_, 1 Thess. i. 3. so that,
by this means, the Lord would be pleased to add to the church daily,
such as shall be saved, that hereby Christ’s government, or spiritual
kingdom, may be promoted in the hearts of his people, and they enabled
to testify a ready and willing subjection to his authority, and yield
obedience to him, with all the powers and faculties of their souls.
(8.) We are to pray for the advancement of Christ’s kingdom, at his
second and glorious coming; when the work of grace shall be brought to
its utmost perfection; and all the elect, who shall have lived from the
beginning to the end of time, shall be gathered together, and brought
into Christ’s kingdom of glory, as they have formerly been into his
kingdom of grace, when the highest honours shall be conferred upon them,
and they shall reign with him for ever and ever. As the church, under
the Old Testament-dispensation, prayed that Christ’s kingdom of grace
might come, _viz._ be administered, as it has been, and now is, under
the gospel-dispensation, and, as it is expressed, that he would _be like
a roe, or like a young hart upon the mountains of Bether_, Cant. ii. 17.
or, that the desire of all nations would fill his house with glory: So
the New Testament-church is represented as praying, that Christ would
_come quickly_, according to his promise, Rev. xxii. 20. and put a final
period to every thing that has had a tendency to detract from the glory
of his kingdom, or the happiness of his subjects; and, in order
hereunto, we must pray, that the elect, who are Christ’s mystical body,
may be gathered, and brought in to him; and then we may be sure that he
will hasten his coming. And, till this is done, we are to wait
patiently, as the _husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the
earth_, in the desired harvest, James v. 7. and, in the mean time, we
are to pray, that he would be pleased to exert his power, and make the
dispensations of his providence in the world, conducive to answer these
ends, and more particularly, with respect to ourselves; that hereby we
may have, not only an habitual, but an actual meetness for the heavenly
kingdom; that when our Lord shall come, we may not be like those virgins
mentioned in the parable, who _all slumbered and slept_, Matt. xxv. 5.
but, upon the first alarm, may go out to meet him with joy and triumph;
and, as an evidence hereof, that we may be enabled to walk as _strangers
and pilgrims on the earth_, or, as those who _desire a better country,
that is, an heavenly_, Heb. xi. 13, 16. and that we may keep up an
intercourse with Christ, that we may be ready to entertain him with
delight and pleasure, whenever he comes; that when he, who is our Life,
our Hope, and Saviour, as well as our King, shall appear, we may appear
with him in glory. Thus concerning the administration of Christ’s Kingly
government, as the subject-matter of this petition: And, that we may be
farther assisted in directing our prayers to God agreeable thereunto, we
may consider his children as addressing themselves to him to this
purpose: “We adore and magnify thee, O God our Saviour, as the Governor
of the world; who dost according to thy will in the armies of heaven,
and amongst the inhabitants of the earth. Thy power is irresistible, and
thy works wonderful: But it is matter of the highest astonishment, that
thou should exercise that gracious government, in which thou
condescendest to be called the King of saints. What is man, that thou
shouldst thus magnify him, and set thine heart upon him; that they, whom
thou mightest have dealt with as traitors, and enemies to thy
government, and, as such, have ruled them with a rod of iron, and broken
them in pieces, like a potter’s vessel, should be admitted to partake of
the privileges which thou art pleased to bestow on thy servants and
subjects! Thou hast often invited us, by holding forth thy sceptre of
grace, to come and acknowledge thee to be our Lord and Sovereign; but
our hearts have been filled with rebellion against thee. We have served
divers lusts and pleasures, and been in confederacy with hell and death,
yielding ourselves slaves to Satan, thine avowed enemy: But now, we
desire to cast ourselves down before thy foot-stool; and, while we stand
amazed at thy clemency, we accept of the overture of a pardon which thou
hast made in the gospel, with the greatest thankfulness, accounting it
our highest privilege, as well as our indispensable duty, to be thy
subjects. Write thy law, we beseech thee, in our hearts; bring down
every high thought and imagination, which sets itself against thine
interest, and make us entirely willing to be thy servants, devoted to
thy fear. We also beg, that thou wouldst take to thyself thy great power
and reign. Let Satan’s kingdom be destroyed, thy gospel propagated
throughout the world. May thine ancient people, the Jews, who now refuse
that thou shouldst reign over them, be called and inclined to own thee
as their King; and may the dark parts of the earth see thy salvation.
Reform thy churches; let them be constantly supplied with those who
shall go in and out before them, and shall feed them with knowledge and
understanding. May they be purged from those corruptions which are a
reproach to thy government; let not the commandments of men be received,
instead of thine holy institutions; may thine ordinances be purely
dispensed, that thy people may have ground to hope for thy presence
therein; and may they be made effectual for the converting of sinners,
and establishing thy saints in their holy faith. And let all the
dispensations of thy providence in the world, have a tendency to advance
thy kingdom of grace, that, as thou hast, in all ages, appeared in the
behalf of thy church and people; so it may be preserved and carried
through all the difficulties that it meets with, and be secured from the
attempts of thine enemies against it, till they who rejoice in thy
government here, shall be received into thy heavenly kingdom hereafter.”
Footnote 115:
_See Vol. II Quest. XLV. page 353._
Footnote 116:
_See Vol. II. page 376._
Footnote 117:
_See Vol. II. page 376, &c._
Quest. CXCII.
QUEST. CXCII. _What do we pray for in the third petition?_
ANSW. In the third petition, [which is, _Thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven_] acknowledging that, by nature, we, and all men,
are not only utterly unable and unwilling to know and do the will of
God, but prone to rebel against his word, to repine and murmur
against his providence, and wholly inclined to do the will of the
flesh, and of the Devil: We pray, that God would by his Spirit, take
away from ourselves and others, all blindness, weakness,
indisposedness, and perverseness of heart, and by his grace make us
able and willing to know, do, and submit to his will in all things,
with the like humility, cheerfulness, faithfulness, diligence, zeal,
sincerity, and constancy, as the angels do in heaven.
For the understanding of this petition, we must enquire,
I. What is meant by the will of God, and how it is said to be done by
us. We have, under a foregoing answer, considered[118], that this is
distinguished into his secret and revealed will, and shewn that as the
former of these is the reason of his own actings, and determines the
event of things; the latter is what we are more especially concerned
about, as it is a rule of duty to us. It is also farther distinguished
into his perceptive and providential will; the former of which we are to
obey; the latter, to admire, submit to, and be well pleased with:
Accordingly, when we pray, _Thy will be done_, we desire, that his laws
might be obeyed, and thereby his universal dominion, and right to govern
the world, practically acknowledged; and that, by this means, sin might
be prevented, and this earth might not become so much like hell as it
would be, in this method, which God has taken to direct our actions, and
give a check to our corruptions, were wholly disregarded by us. When we
consider God as the Creator of man, the next idea we have of him is,
that he exercises his dominion and sovereignty in giving laws to him;
which he is under a natural obligation to obey; otherwise he disowns
himself to be a creature, or a subject, which is the highest affront
that can be offered to the divine Majesty, and exposes him to that
punishment which is due to those who are found in open rebellion against
him: This is what we are to pray against in this petition, in which
there is something supposed, namely,[119]
1. That his will must be known by us, otherwise it cannot be obeyed. And
this supposes the law to be promulgated; which has been already done;
particularly as it was written by God on the heart of man at first, in
such legible characters, that our apostacy from him has not wholly
erased it. But besides this, there must be an internal impression made
on the minds and consciences of men, whereby they may be brought to see
the excellency and glory thereof, and their indispensable obligation to
yield obedience thereunto.