me to seek and pray for that I want not. Moreover, I see my great perversity, which would not seek at thy hands for sanctification, although I see my need thereof. For the which thou wouldest not have commanded me to pray, if I seeing my want would have prayed unto thee for the same. Last of all, I see thy wonderful goodness, which wilt undoubtedly give unto me sanctification and holiness; for thou wouldest not that I should ask for that thing that thou wilt not give me. So that I have great cause to lament and rejoice. To lament, because I am so far from this desire and lamentation which thy children have: also, because of my ignorance, poverty, perversity, unthankfulness, &c. but most of all, because thy holy Name, word, and religion, is so blasphemed, both in doctrine and in living of many, especially in this realm. To rejoice I have great cause for thy exceeding goodness and mercy, which wouldest so disclose thyself by thy works, word, and gospel; which wouldest open these things thus unto me, and also give unto me and others sanctification in thy sight by faith, and in the sight of men by pureness of life and godly conversation. But, alas! I do heartily neither the one nor the other, that is, lament or rejoice, as thou, Father, which searchest my heart, dost right well know. Oh, be merciful unto me and forgive me yea, give me of thine own pity thy holy Spirit, to reveal and open to my mind effectually my miserable estate and condition, my ignorance, perversity, and my carelessness for thy true honour and dishonour, in such sort that I may heartily lament these evils, and have them pardoned and taken from me, 6 God's love.

5 Our perversity.

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Again, good Father, give me the same thy holy Spirit to reveal' to me thy Name, word, and gospel, that I may lively know thee, unfeignedly love thee, heartily obey thee, and above all things desire and labour by all means lawful, that all godliness in doctrine and conversation may be exercised both in me and in all others, for whom thou wouldest I should pray.

[Here think upon the state of religion, and the life of the professors of the gospel, that thou mayest lament some, pray for some, and give thanks for some.]

THY

Let thy kingdom come.

HY kingdom is in two sorts to be considered, universally and particularly. Universally, according to thy power', wherewith thou governest all things everywhere, in earth, heaven, hell, devils, angels, men, beasts, fowls, fishes, and all other creatures. Of this kingdom spake David, when he said, Thy kingdom ruleth over all. Particularly thy kingdom is to be considered according to thy grace, wherewith thou reignest only in thy church and elect people, ruling and governing all and every member of thy church to thy glory and their eternal comfort: not that out of this church I exclude thy power, (for as therewith thou defendest thy people, so thou punishest thy enemies,) but because thy grace is specially considered, being, as it were, the very keeper that keepeth and guideth thy people. The time will

1 God's kingdom in respect of his power.

2 Ps. ciii.

3 God's kingdom in respect of his grace.

be when this kingdom of grace and power, now being as distinct, shall be united and made one kingdom of glory; which will be, when Christ shall give up his kingdom into thine hands, that is, in the resurrection, when death the last enemy shall be subdued, and thou shalt be all in all. In the mean season, this kingdom of grace is miraculously and mightily propagated, enlarged and governed by the true ministry of thy word and sacraments through the working of thy holy Spirit. And this is the mean and way whereby, as thou didst first plant, so dost thou enlarge, amplify, and the same.

preserve

This kingdom of grace, begun, continued, and enlarged by the true preaching of thy gospel and ministration of thy sacraments, is the thing which Christ teacheth here thy children to pray for, that it might come; that is to say, that thy gospel might so mightily, purely, and plenteously be preached, (maugre the head of all thine enemies,) that the number of thine elect might be brought in, and so the kingdom of thy glory might appear. So that as I see thy children desire, pray, and labour, that thy gospel might be truly preached, heard, and lived in themselves, and in others; so they lament the not preaching and refusing, the not living and unbelieving thy gospel; yea, they lament the lingering of the coming of thy Christ; for in his coming they know they shall be like unto Him, and having this hope, they purify themselves as He is pure.

By reason hereof, I see first that I am far

4 God's kingdom in respect of his glory.

5 How God's kingdom here is conserved and enlarged.

:

from this desire and lamenting which thy children have I see my ignorance of thy kingdom and power everywhere', of thy grace only in thy church, and of thy glory, when all the enemies of thy grace shall be cast down, and thy glory and power shall embrace each other. I see my ignorance how acceptable a service to thee is the true preaching and the hearing of thy gospel; for else thou hadst not needed to have placed this petition next to the petition of the sanctifying of thy Name. Again, I see here my unableness to enter into thy kingdom, and to attain to it2; for else what need should I have to pray for that to come from thee, which otherwise may be achieved? Thirdly, I see my perversity and contempt of thy kingdom and grace; for although I see my want, yet I would not desire thy kingdom to come, if thou didst not command me so to pray: and if I would have prayed for it, thou wouldest not have commanded me. Last of all, I see thy goodness which wilt bring thy kingdom*; and that as generally by sending forth ministers to preach truly, so particularly by regenerating me more and more, and by giving me as grace here, so glory elsewhere; for thou wouldest not I should pray for that which thou wilt deny.

So that I have great cause to lament and rejoice. To lament, because of my miserable estate and condition; because of my sin, ignorance, rebellion, perversity, Satan's power, contempt of thy grace, thy gospel, and ministry, here or elsewhere. To rejoice, because of thy goodness and great mercy, which hast brought me into thy church,

1 Our ignorance.
3 Our perversity.

2 Our need.
4 God's goodness.

keepest me in it, and wilt do so still: also, because of the ministry of thy word and sacraments, by which the Holy Ghost is and will be effectual; and finally, because of the great glory whereunto thou hast called me, and now wilt give unto me, asking the same.

But, alas! how unthankful I am and sorrowless, Lord, thou knowest; for my heart is not hid from thee. Oh, be merciful unto me and forgive me, good Father, and grant me the Spirit of thy children, to reveal unto me my ignorance of thy kingdom, my poverty and perversity, that I may lament the same, and daily labour for thy help and thy holy Spirit, to suppress the kingdom of sin in myself and in others. Again, grant me that same thy holy Spirit, to reveal to me thy kingdom of power, grace, and glory, to kindle mine affections, to regenerate me more and more, to reign in me as in a piece of thy kingdom, to give to me to desire, to pray, and to labour for thy kingdom, both to myself and to others, effectually to thy glory, and to assure my conscience of thy goodness, that thou wilt give me grace and glory, &c. [Here call to mind the state of the ministry

and ministers, the light and life of gospellers, the errors and heresies which men be entangled withal.]

Thy will be done.

S thy power is infinite, so is thy wisdom accordingly. Whereby, as we may perceive that nothing is or can be done against thy power, or otherwise than by it; so is there not nor can

5 God's omnipotent will unknown and unrevealed.