8. Q. Wherefore are we taught to say, Our Father?

A. Not as if God were not the Father of every one of us in particular, as well as of us all in general; or that we might not each of us truly and properly say, My Father: but to enlarge our affections, to correct our pride, and increase our charity, and to teach us that there is no man so mean but what has as good a right to call God his Father, as the greatest among us; nor any, therefore, who ought not to be looked upon as a brother by us, and to be treated, and loved, and prayed for by us accordingly.

SECT. XXXV.

Of the First Petition, Hallowed be thy name. 1. Q. How many petitions are there in this prayer? A. Six: three with respect to the honour and glory of God; which may be accounted pious wishes, rather than formal petitions: and three with relation to our own needs.

2. Q. What is the first of these? A. Hallowed be thy name.

3. Q. Wherefore did Christ begin his prayer with this petition or desire?

A. To shew us that we ought to make God's glory the first thing in our prayers, as well as the chief end of all our actions, 1 Cor. x. 31. Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

PROOFS SUBJOINED.---Psalm viii. 1. O Lord, our God, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. cxlviii. 13. Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. Isaiah, vi. 3. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory. xii. 4. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.

4. Q. What is here meant by the name of God? A. The same as in the third commandment: viz. God himself; and whatsoever does in any wise relate to him. Exod. vi. 3. And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name Jehovah was I not known unto them. xxxiv. 5, 6. And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.

PROOFS SUBJOINED.-1 Kings, v. 5. And, behold, 1 purpose to build an house unto the name of the Lord my God. Psalm xx. 1. The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee. xl. 2. I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. lxxx. 18. So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name. 1 Chron. xxii. 8. The word of the Lord came to me saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight. 1 John, v. 13. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life; and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

5. Q. What is meant by hallowing?

A. It signifies the separation of any thing to an holy use; and the treating and respecting of it accordingly.

PROOFS SUBJOINED.- Exod. xx. 11. Wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day, and hallowed it. xxix. 1. And this is the thing that thou shalt do unto them to hallow them to minister unto me in the priest's office: take one young bullock, and two rams without blemish, &c. Lev. x. 3. This is that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. 1 Kings, ix. 3. And the Lord said unto him, I have hallowed this house which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever: and mine cyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. Isaiah, viii. 13. Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

6. Q. What then do you look upon to be the full import of this petition?

A. That it would please God to make himself known to, and to be adored and glorified by the whole world. That he would so dispose ours, and all other men's hearts, that we may never mention his name, but with a religious reverence. That whatsoever has any relation to him, his word, his sacraments, his ministers, his houses of prayer, may all be treated by us with a regard suitable to the majesty of him to whom they belong: and that neither we ourselves, nor any others, may ever entertain any opinions, or commit any sins, whereby either God the Father, or his Son Jesus Christ; the glory of the one, or the Gospel of the other, may be vilified or profaned.

PROOFS SUBJOINED. - Psalm lxxii. 17. His name

shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun : and men shall be blessed in him : all nations shall call him blessed. lxxxvi. 9, 12. All nations, whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord, and shall glorify thy name.-І will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart; and I will glorify thy name, evermore. cxiii. 2, 3. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth for evermore. From the rising up of the sun unto the going down of the same, the Lord's name is to be praised. Matt. v. 16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father, which is in heaven. John, xv. 8. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. Acts, xiii. 48. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord. Rom. xv. 6. That we may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. vi. 20. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. x. 31. Whether, therefore, ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever yé do, do all to the glory of God. 2 Thess. i. 10, 12. When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe, (because our testimony among you was believed,) in that day. - That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Pet. iii. 15. Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. iv. 11. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified, through Jesus

Christ.

SECT. XXXVI.

Of the second Petition; Thy kingdom come.

1. Q. What is the second petition of this prayer? A. Thy kingdom come.

2. Q. In how many respects is God a king?

A. Chiefly in these three: first, with respect to all the world, which he created by his power; and rules and governs, as well as supports by his providence. Secondly, with relation to his church and people, which he governs and conducts by his word and Holy Spirit. And thirdly, with respect to his heavenly kingdom, where he reigns with glory, and majesty, over his angels now, and will rule over all his saints hereafter to all eternity.

C

* Psalm xcv. 3, 4, 5. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry ground. xcvii. 1. The Lord reigneth: let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. ciii. 19. The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. cxlv. 11, 13. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth through all ages. Matt. xxi. 43. Therefore say I unto you, the kingdom of heaven shall be taken from you, and given to a nation, bringing forth the fruits thereof. xxiv. 14. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world