Of Sanctifying God's Name
A. It is to note his sovereign power and dominion over all, as a ground-work of faith in prayer.
Q. 10. What else doth it import?
A. The great distance between God and us, which should fill our hearts with an holy awe of him; Eccl. 5:2.——God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
Q. 11. What is the first inference from hence?
A. It shews us, what a sad case all those are in, that have no special interest in God as a Father.
Q. 12. What is the second inference from hence?
A. It shews us, what a glorious privilege the Lord Jesus Christ hath purchased for, and settled on his people? Heb. 4:15, 16. For we have not an high-priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Q. 13. What is the last inference from hence?
A. That seeing believers have a Father in heaven, they should never fear wants while they live, nor be afraid to die, since death brings them to heaven their Father's house.
Of Sanctifying God's Name Quest. 101. WHAT do we pray for in the first petition?
A. In the first petition, which is, [Hallowed be thy name,] we pray, that God would enable us and others, to glorify him in all that
whereby he maketh himself known, and that he would dispose all things to his own glory.
Q. 1. Is there any word full enough, perfectly to express what God is?
A. No, his name is secret; Judges 13:18. And the angel of the Lord said unto him. Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret? A name which none can tell; Prov. 30:4.——What is his name, and what is his Son's name, if thou canst tell? A name above every name; Phil. 2:9. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name. But the name by which he more especially manifests himself, is the name I AM; Exod. 3:14.
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: And he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
Q. 2. What doth the name of God, I AM, signify to us?
A. It signifies to us, first, The reality of his being, in opposition to idols, which are but imaginary and fantastic things; 1 Cor. 8:4.——
We know that an idol is nothing in the world, &c. God is not only the most perfect Being, but the root of all other beings.
Q. 3. What else doth this name I AM import?
A. It imports both the perfection and eternity of God's being. I AM implies, he hath not that now, which he had not formerly; and that he shall not afterwards have, what he hath not now; and that there is neither beginning, end, nor succession with God, whose name is I AM.
Q. 4. But what are we here to understand by the name of God?
A. All those things are here intended, by which he manifests himself to the creature; as his words, works, and ordinances, but especially his glorious attributes; Exod. 34:5, 6.——The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.
Q. 5. What is it to hallow, or sanctify his name?
A. Not to infuse any holiness into him, which he had not before; so he sanctifies us; but to manifest and acknowledge the holiness of God; Isa. 29:23. But when he seeth his children, the work of my hands in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the holy one of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.
Q. 6. Why hallowed or sanctified, rather than glorified? Why that word, rather than this?
A. Because his holiness is the beauty and lustre of his other attributes. His greatness appears in his holiness; Isa. 12:6.—Great is the holy One of Israel in the midst of thee. So doth his power; Luke
1:49. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things, and holy is his name. And therefore his holiness is that attribute, which angels single out especially to celebrate; Isa. 6:3. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, &c. And so did men also, as it is the cause why they should glorify him; Exod.
15:11.——Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, &c.
Q. 7. What is the first thing we are to intend in this petition?
A. The meaning is, that God would so dispose and order all things in the world, as may best promote and advance the glory of his name; on which account we may pray for the defeat of God's enemies; Psal.
83:16, 17, 18. Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek thy name, O Lord. Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish; that men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most High over all the earth.
And the deliverance of his church and people; Psalm 79:9. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name; and deliver us, and purge away our sins for thy name's sake.
Q. 8. What is the second thing we are to intend in it?
A. That God would fit us for, and use us in the most serviceable capacity for the glorifying of his name; Psal. 67:1, 2, 3. God be merciful unto us, and bless us, and cause his face to shine upon us:
That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise thee, O God, let all the people praise thee.
Q. 9. What is the third thing intended in this petition?
A. That God may not only glorify his own name, and use us to glorify it, but that it should be our endeavour and joy to have it glorified by others all the world over; Psalm 145:4, 5, 6. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts; and I will declare thy greatness.
Q. 10. Why must our hearts be so intently set upon the sanctification of God's name?
A. Because this is the ultimate end of our own, and every other being; Rom. 11:36. For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things; to whom be glory for ever, Amen. And the particular end of God in our effectual calling; 1 Pet. 2:9 but ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
Q. 11. What is the first inference from hence?
A. That the dishonour of God's name must needs be a cutting affliction to a gracious soul; Psalm 42:10. As with a sword in my bones my enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
Q. 12. What is the second inference hence?
A. That it is a dreadful infatuation, and spiritual judgment upon those men that think they glorify God in doing those things which his soul hateth; Isa. 66:5. Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word: Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: But he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. And John 16:2. They shall put you out of the synagogues: Yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you, he will think that he doth God service.
Q. 13. What is the third inference from hence?
A. That it should be indifferent to a Christian what condition God puts him into, so that he may but be useful to sanctify and exalt the name of God therein; Phil. 1:20.—As always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death.
Q. 14. What is the last inference hence?
A. That it is an high and dreadful provocation of God to profane and abuse his worship, whereon his name is called, and wherein it is to be sanctified; Lev. 10:1, 2, 3. And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the, Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said unto
Aaron, this is that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people will I be glorified.
Of God's Kingdom Quest. 102. WHAT do we pray for in the second petition?
A. 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. 1. What is the first thing signified by the kingdom of God here?
A. The gospel is here intended by the kingdom of God, Matth. 13:47.
——Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind.
Q. 2. What is the thing signified by the coming of this kingdom of God?
A. It signifies the removal of all impediments, that hinder its propagation in the world; 2 Thess. 3:1. Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you.
Q. 3. Who, and what hinders the propagation of it?
A. Antichrist, that man of sin, hinders it externally; 2 Thess. 2:4.
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. The devil and men's lusts internally;
1 Thess. 2:18. Wherefore we would have come unto you (even I Paul) once and again; but Satan hindered us. Luke 19:14. But his citizens hated him, and sent a messenger after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
Q. 4. What then is the desire of all good men, with respect to the coming of the gospel-kingdom?
A. That all nations may be brought to Christ by the preaching of it, and so Christ's kingdom be greatly exalted and enlarged; Isa. 2:2.
And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow into it.
Q. 5. What is the second thing here meant by the kingdom of God?
A. It signifies and intends the work of saving grace wrought in men's souls; Luke 17:21.——Behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Q. 6. Why is this work of grace called the kingdom of God?
A. Because wherever saving-grace comes, it subdues the soul to Christ's sceptre; 2 Cor. 10:5. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringeth into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ?
Q. 7. Wherein consists the kingdom of grace?
A. It consists not in external rites and observances, but in righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost; Rom. 14:17. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Q. 8. What do we ask of God in this petition, with respect to this kingdom of grace?
A. Herein we desire not only our own personal progressive sanctification, but the sanctification of others all the world over; Acts
26:29. And Paul said, I would to God that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
Q. 9. What is the third thing here meant by the kingdom of God?
A. By it is here meant the future state of glory and blessedness; 1 Cor.
15:50. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, &c.
Q. 10. Why is the heavenly state called the kingdom of God?
A. This is called the kingdom of God, because in that state God reigns over his people gloriously, there being no rebellion in them in the least degree; Luke 20:36.—For they are equal unto the angels, and