Q. Why is the word hallowed or sanctified made use of, rather than glorified?

A. Because God's glory doth shine most in his holiness, and God's holiness doth beautify all his other attributes, Isa. vi. 3. and xii. 6. Exod. xv. 11.

Q. Is there not a vast difference between God's sanctifying of us, and our sanctifying of God?

A. Yes: for God's sanctifying of us, is by infusing holiness into us, which we had not before; but our sanctifying God, is only to manifest and acknowledge that holiness of God, which he eternally had, and will have.

Q. Why is the petition set down in the third person, Hallowed by thy name?

A. To include all persons and things that are capable of doing it; as, 1. Let us who pray be fit, or make us fit, to hallow thy name. 2. Let all our fellow-creatures be fitted and employed to hallow thy name. 3. Because creatures are insufficient to do it, Lord let thy name he hallowed by thy self, who only canst do it to purpose.

Q. Are we not taught by this petition to acknowledge that we are incapable of ourselves to do any thing for God's glory? A. Yes; and therefore Christ will have us to ask grace from God to fit us, and put us in the most useful circumstances for the glorifying of his name.

Q. How is it that we by grace may hallow and glorify God's name?

A. By adoring his excellencies; owning our dependence on him; trusting and believing in him; reverencing his name, his word and ordinances; praising him, and calling upon him; confessing and forsaking our sins; magnifying God in his works; justifying him in his judgments; fruitfulness in good works; ascribing the honour of all we do to him; standing up for his glory; espousing the cause of truth and holiness; suffering for them; witnessing against error, sin, and every thing that dishonours him; and commending the way and service of God to others, both by our lips and lives.

Q. Doth Christ also teach us in this petition, that it should be our joy and endeavour to have the name of God hallowed and glorified by others, as well as by ourselves?

A. Yes.

Q. What must we pray for, that others in the world may also glorify his name?

A. That the nations, and these who know not God, may be converted to him; that they may glorify his name, in the same manner that we are endeavouring to do it; and that

they may "come and declare his righteousness to a people that shall be born," Psal. xlvii. 2, 3. and xxii. 27, 31.

Q. Should we not join our endeavours with our prayers,. in order to engage others to gloryfy God?

A. Yes, according to our stations.

Q. What direction hath Christ given to persons of all stations for that end?

A. That in Matth. v. 16. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which in heaven."

Q. Seeing we come so far short of our duty in this respect, ought we not to pray that God may glorify his own name ? A. Yes, we have Christ teaching us this by his own example, John xii. 28. Father glorify thy name. And we have God's promise that he will do it, Ezek. xxxviii. 23. and xxxvj. 23. Q. How is it that God doth glory his own name?

A. By pouring out his Spirit on the church, and disposing all things in the world to his own glory.

Q. How doth God dispose of the affairs of the world to his own glory?

A. By overruling the occurrences in it, to such events and issues as may best promote and advance the glory of his name; as when he restrains or punishes his enemies, and vindicates his name from the reproaches of the wicked; when he relieves his church from oppression, removes her grievances, establishes pure worship and ordinances, opens a door for reformation, restores her judges as at the first, and her counsellors as at the beginning, Ezek. xxviii. 24, 25, 26. and xxxvi. 23, 24, 37, 38. and xx. 40, 41. Isa. i. 26. Psalm Ixxvi. 9, 10.

Q. Doth not Christ teach us in this pétition to pray against every thing whereby God's name is dishonoured? A. Yes. Q. What are these evils whereby God's name is dishonoured? A. They are many, such as atheism, idolatry, unbelief, contempt of God and his worship, swearing, sabbath-breaking, uncleanness, &c.

Q. If any such profane persons say the Lord's prayer, doth not their practice contradict their prayers? A. Yes. Q. Is it not a cutting affliction to a gracious soul to see or hear God's name dishonoured? A. Yes, Psal. xlii. 10. Q. Will not God pour contempt upon these who dishonour his name?

A. Yes, their name and memory shall rot here; and they shall rise to shame and everlasting contempt hereafter, Prov. x. 7. Dan. xii. 5.

Q. What shall be done to these who honour and glorify God's name?

A. They shall lose nothing by it, 1 Sam. ii. 3. Them that honour me, I will honour.

Q: How will God honour these who honour him?

A. He will put honour upon their persons, upon their names, their souls, and their bodies: he will honour them at death by sending angels for them, and after death by puting robes of immortality and crowns of righteousness upon

them.

Quest. 102. What do we pray for in the Second Petition?

Ans. In the Second Petition (which is, Thy Kingdom come) we pray, That Satan's kingdom may be destroyed, and that the kingdom of grace may be advanced, ourselves and others brought into it and kept in it, and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened.

Q. Why doth this petition follow the former ?

A. Because we cannot hallow or glorify God's name aright till his kingdom come in our souls.

Q. What is signified by the kingdom of God here?

A. Three things; 1st, The preaching of the gospel is called his kingdom, Mat. xiii. 47. 2dly, A work of saving grace in men's souls is so called, Luke xvii. 21. 3dly, The state of glory in heaven is also called the kingdom of God, 1 Cor. xv. 50. The two first are called the kingdom of grace in the answer, and the third is called the kingdom of glory.

Q. Why are these called the kingdom of grace?

A. Because it is by the dispensation of the gospel that a work of grace is begun and carried on in the souls of the elect. Q. Who is king in this kingdom?

A. God; but he governs it by Jesus Christ his viceroy, whom he hath sent to reign in it, and hence called king of Zion, Psal. ii. 6.

Q. Why is Christ's gracious work in his people's souls called a kingdom?

A. Because, where ever grace comes, it subdues mutinous lusts, rules in the will and affections, and brings the whole man in subjection to Christ and his righteous sceptre, 2 Cor. x. 5.

Q. Whether is it the coming of the kingdom of grace or of glory that we pray for in the second petition?

A. We pray for the coming of them both, and that because the last is nothing but the perfection of the first, and the glory of God is more fully displayed in it.

Q. What is meant by the coming or advancement of the kingdom of grace, which we are here taught to pray for?

A. It includes the spreading and success of the gospel through the world, and the removing of the impediments thereof. Also we pray therein, that the churches of Christ every where may have faithful ministers, pure doctrine, ordinances, and discipline, with much of the presence and power of God's Spirit concurring with the same: that the kingdom of God may be set up in our souls, and in the souls of others, and a work of grace may be carried on therein to perfection.

"

Q. What are these impediments of the coming of this kingdom, that we must pray God to take out of the way

A. There is in general the kingdom of Satan, which includes the dominion and tyranny of sin, of antichrist, and all the enemies of the church: the overspreading of false religions; the prevailing of error, idolatry, superstition, scandals, divisions, or a corrupt ministry in the church all these we must pray against.

Q. How doth it appear that Satan hath a kingdom in the world? A In regard Satan is stiled the god and prince of this world; and the wicked are his children and subjects, in and over whom h rules, 2 Cor. iv. 4. John xiv. 30. and viii. 44. Eph. ii. 2. 2 Tim. ii. 26.

Q. Is Satan's kingdom very large?

A. Yes, it is much further spread than the kingdom of Christ. Q. How comes Satan to have a large kingdom?

A. By our first parents revolting from their rightful sovereign. Q. Why doth God permit Satan to rule over the world in such a manner?

A. God permits it as a righteous act of vengeance against man for revolting from the sweet government of his Lord and Maker: and also to glorify his name, by recovering the elect from Satan's dominion.

Q. Has Satan any right to govern the wicked?

A. No; he is an usurper, though they are become his willing slaves.

Q. Ought we not to pray that Satan's kingdom may be destroy

ed ?

A. Yes; for, while it stands it hinders the coming of Christ's kingdom, and the precious souls he rules over, are under a cruel government.

Q. What is the meaning of the word Satan?

A. It signifies an adversary; and well he may be called so, for he is the adversary that goes about as a roaring lion seeking to devour precious souls, Pet. v. 8.

Q. What is meant by our praying to destroy Satan's kingdom? A. We mean, that Christ may bruise the old serpent's head, and deliver poor souls from his tyranny; that Jews, Turks, heathens, and wicked men, may be brought to the knowledge and obedience of Christ.

Q. How may we know if we be delivered from the kingdom of Satan, and brought into the kingdom of Christ?

A. We may know it by our hearkening to the Gospel call, by our closing with Christ in all his offices, by our surrendering our hearts to be his throne, our loving his laws, and fighting against his enemies.

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Q. Ought these to pray, Thy kingdom come, in whose souls the kingdom of grace is come already?

A. Yes; for, it being in a weak condition, they must still pray that it may come with more power into them; that sin may be more weakened, and grace more strengthened and increased; and that persevere in grace to the end.

they may ned ver the remarkable coming of the kingdom of grace

produce blessed effects in the world?

>

A. Yes: for then godliness would be in esteem, truth would prevail against error, iniquity would stop its mouth, Jerusalem would be a praise, her walls would be repaired, her grievences redressed, and her breaches healed; then should her ministers be clothed with righteousness, and her saints shout for joy; then should sinners fly together as a cloud, like doves to their windows: then should the lion lie down with the lamb, the weak should be as David, and David as the angel of God,

Q. What do we pray for in this petition with respect to the kingdom of glory?

A. That it may be hastened.

Q. What is meant by the kingdom of glory?

A. That glorious state of the church triumphant in heaven, when they shall be free from all evil and enjoy all good, and reign with Christ for ever.

Q. Why is the heavenly state called the kingdom of God?

A. Because in that state God reigns over his people gloriously, there not being any mutinous lust or rebellious thought to be found among them. And they themselves shall be made kings, and shall sit with Christ in his throne, and reign with him for ever, Rev. iii. 21. and xxii. 5.

Q. Who are these that are entitled to that kingdom of glory ?

A. These who receive Christ as their King now, who strive to subdue their lusts, who live as pilgrims here, who keep up a correspondence with that kingdom, and study to be made meet for it.

Q. Is there not a time fixed for the coming of this kingdom? how then should we pray to hasten it?

A. Though the time be fixed, yet God makes it our duty to be longing and breathing out our desires for the coming of it, according to Christ's promise, Cant. viii. 14. Rev. xxii. 20.

Q. How is this longing disposition of the saints expressed?

A. It is called a 'looking for and hasting unto the coming of the 'day of God,' 2 Pet. iii. 12.

Q. Why are saints of this longing disposition use

A. Because the new nature inclines them to desire perfect freedom from sin, and full communion with God.

Quest. 103. What do we pray for in the third petition?

Ans. In the third petition (which is, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven) we pray that God by his grace would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to his will in all things, as the angels do in heaven.

Q. Why doth this fention follow upon the former ?

A. To teach us, that the dong of God's will is the way to promote the coming of his gingdom.