earth may be heard songs, even things that seem most opposite glory to the Righteous, chap. xxiv. thereunto, Isa. xliii. 20. 6. Q. 24. What are these seemingly opposite things, out of which God brings a revenue of glory to himself? A. Among others, there are persecutions and the falls of believers. Q. 25. How doth he bring a revenue of glory to himself out of persecutions? A. By over-ruling them to the furtherance of the gospel, Acts xi. 19, 20, 21. Q. 26. How doth he bring glory to himself out of the falls of believers? A. By over-ruling their falls and miscarriages, in such a manner, as that thereby they are made more humble, watchful, and circumspect, for the future, Psal. li. 3. QUEST. 102. What do we pray for in the second petition? ANSW. 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. How manifold is God's Psal. lix. 13.-" God ruleth in [kingdom] in this world? Jacob unto the ends of the A. TWOFOLD; namely, his gene-earth." ral, essential, or providential king- Q. 4. Into whose hands is the dom; and his special kingdom. management of God's special kingQ. 2. What is his general king-dom committed? dom? A. It is the absolute power and Sovereignty which he exercises over all things in heaven, earth, and hell, for the purposes of his own glory, Psal. ciii. 19.-"His kingdom ruleth over all." Q. 3. What is his special kingdom? A. Into the hands of Christ as Mediator, Psal. ii. 6. Q. 5. How is this kingdom, as committed into his hands, usually called? A. His mediatory, or donative kingdom. Q. 6. Why called his mediatory kingdom? A. Because he holds it as Mediator, Luke xxii. 29. A. It is the government and care which he exercises in and over his church and people, as a society Q. 7. Why called his donative distinct from the rest of the world, kingdom? *Larger Cat. Quest. 190. Q. 14. How may the kingdom A. Either as to outward dispensation, or inward operation. A. Because it is given him of the Father as a reward of his me-of grace in this world be viewed? ritorious obedience and suffering, Matt. xxviii. 18; and to distinguish it from his essential kingdom. Q. 8. May his essential kingdom be said to be given him? A. By no means; because it is natural to him as God equal with the Father, and can no more be given him, than his divine nature and personality can. Q.9. What are we directed to pray in this petition, with reference to God's kingdom in general? A. That it may COME: [Thy kingdom'come.] Q. 15. What is it as to outward dispensation? A. It is just the preaching of the gospel, Mark i. 14.—“ Jesus came preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God." Q. 16. What is it as to inward operation? A. It is the work of saving grace in the soul, Luke xvii. 21. "Behold, the kingdom of God is within you." Q. 17. Why called [the kingdom of grace?] A. Because the gathering of sin Q. 10. In what sense may we pray for the coming of his essen-ners into this kingdom, for their tial kingdom? salvation, is of grace, both as to A. Only in this sense, that he the means and end, Eph. ii. 8. would more and more demonstrate Q. 18. What do we pray for his supreme power and sovereign-with reference to the kingdom of ty over all things, and that the grace, when we say, Thy kingsame may be more and more ac-dom come? men, Psal. Ixxiii. 18. knowledged by the children of A. We do not pray that it may be erected as a new thing in the Q. 11. Would it be warrantable world, but that it may be [advanefor us to pray, that he would gov-ed] therein. ern the world, or actually exercise his supreme power? A. It would be no more warrantable to pray for this, than to pray that he would be an infinite Sovereign, which he cannot but be; and act agreeable to his nature, which he cannot but do. Q. 12. Whether is it the coming of God's general or special kingdom that is chiefly intended in the answer? A. It is the coming of his special kingdom of grace here, and of glory hereafter. Q. 13. Are the kingdoms of grace and glory different kingdoms? A. They are not so much different kingdoms, as different STATES in the same kingdom: according to the common maxim, Grace is glory begun, and glory is grace consummated, or in perfection. Q. 19. Why should we not pray, that Christ's kingdom of grace may be erected or set up as a new thing in the world? A. Because this would be, in effect, to deny that Christ had ever a church upon this earth; whereas, it is most certain, that ever since the first promise, he has always had a church therein, and will have it unto the end of time, Isa. lix. 21. Q 20. But is it not our duty to pray, that the kingdom of grace may be set up in these parts of the world where it is not at present? A. To be sure it is: for we should pray, "That the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified," 2 Thess. iii. 1; and that the earth may be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea," Isa. xi. 9; which is the same with praying, That the kingdom of grace may be advanced. Q. 21. What should we pray for as pre-requisite to the advancing of the kingdom of grace? A. In order hereunto, we should pray, [That Satan's kingdom may be destroyed]. Q. 22. What is the meaning of the name SATAN? A. It is an Hebrew word, signifying an adversary; as indeed the devil is an implacable adversary, burning with hatred and enmity, both against God, and therefore called his enemy, Matt. xiii. 25. and against man, 1 Pet. v. 8. "Your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour." Q. 23. What do you understand by [Satan's kingdom]? A. That power and dominion which he usurps over mankind sinners, who are by nature lawful captives, Isa. xlix. 24, 25. Q. 24. If sinners of mankind are by nature lawful captives, how can Satan's dominion over them be said to be usurped? A. That it [may be destroyed]. Q. 29. Why should we pray for the destruction of this kingdom? A. Because the work of grace cannot take place, nor succeed in the soul, but upon the ruins of Satan's interest in it, Luke xi. 21, 22. Q. 30. How then is Satan's kingdom destroyed in the world? A. By the advancement of the kingdom of grace therein. Q. 31. When may the kingdom of grace be said to be [advanced]2 A. When [ourselves and others are brought into it and kept in it]. Q. 32. How are we and others [brought] into this kingdom? A. By the gracious influences of the Spirit of God, accompanying the dispensation of the gospel with irresistible power, Psal. cx. 2, 3. Q. 33. How are we and others [kept in it]? A. By continued emanations of grace out of the fulness of Christ, whereby the principle of grace is quickened, strengthened, and preserved, Hos. xiv. 5. Q. 34. What should we pray for, A. Though they be justly deli-as the means of bringing into this vered into his hands, as a jailor, kingdom? yet he has no right to rule over them as a prince. Q. 25. Do they not voluntarily subject themselves to his domi nion? A. Yes; and this is both their sin and their judgment; John viii. 44. Q. 26. What is the principal seat of Satan's kingdom? A. The HEART of every man and woman by nature, Eph. ii. 2. Q. 27. What is the foundation and bulwark of this kingdom? A. SIN, both original and actual, Eph. ii. 3. Q. 28. What should we pray for, with reference to this kingdom of Satan? A. We should pray, " that the gospel may be propagated throughout the world, the Jews called, the fulness of the Gentiles brought in; that the ordinances of Christ may be purely dispensed, and made effectual to the converting of those that are yet in their sins.' Q.35. What should we pray for as means of being kept in it? A. That the same ordinances may be effectual to the "confirming, comforting, and building up of these that are already converted."t Q. 36. Can any subject of this kingdom ever apostatize from it? A. No: they are kept by the A. Because perseverance, being a promised privilege, should, on that account, be prayed for, Psal. cxix. 28.-"Strengthen thou me according to thy word." Q. 38. What security have the saints that they shall be kept in this kingdom? Q. 41. When will the kingdom of glory come in the full manifestation thereof? A. At the second coming of Christ to judgment, Matt. xxv. 31. 34. Q. 42. What are we to pray for with reference to this kingdom? A. That it [may be hastened]. Q. 43. When we pray that it may be [hastened], do we mean, that the set time for the second coming of Christ may be anticipated or come sooner than the moment fixed for it in infinite wisdom? A. They have the stability of the promise, Jer. xxxii. 40; the efficacy of Christ's obedience to the death in their stead, Eph. v. 22. 27; the prevalency of his in- A. No; we wish it no sooner; tercession, John xvii. 24; and the but only to express our ardent inhabitation of his Spirit, Rom." desire to depart, and to be with viii. 11. for their security in this Christ, which is far better" than to be here alway, Phil. i. 23. matter. Q. 39. What is [the kingdom of | glory]? A. It is that state of inconceivable happiness and bliss into which the saints shall be brought after death, John xiv. 2, 3. Q. 40. Wherein will the [glory] of this kingdom consist? Q. 44. Why do the saints so earnestly desire to be with Christ in glory? Å. That an eternal period may be put to all their sinning, and to every thing that has a tendency to detract from the glory of his kingdom, and the happiness of his A. In a perfect conformity unto, subjects: wherefore, as he saith, and the immediate and uninter-"Surely, I come quickly;" so rupted vision and fruition of God they pray, "Amen, even so, come, through all eternity, 1 John iii. 2. Lord Jesus," Rev. xxii. 20. QUEST. 103. 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), we pray, That God, by his grace, would make us both able and willing to know, obey, and submit to his will in all things, as the angels do in heaven. Q. 1. How manifold is the [will], termination of the event of things, of God? Isa. xlvi. 10-"My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure." A. TWOFOLD; his will of purpose, or disposing will, and his will of precept, or revealed will. دو Q. 3. How is this will common Q. 2. What is his will of pur-ly called? pose, or disposing will? A. It is called his will of provi A. It is what he himself pro-dence, because he infallibly brings poses to be done, as the final de-it about, or accomplishes it, in the course of his adorable providence, I would [make us able and willing] to Psal. cxxxv. 6. Q. 4. What is God's will of precept, or his revealed will? A. It is the rule of our duty, prescribing what he would have us to do, or not to do, Matt, xxvi. 39.-"O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." know and obey his revealed will? A. Because, "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,-and wholly inclined to do the will of the fesh, and of the devil."* Q. 11. Why do we pray that God would make us able and will Q. 5. Whether is it God's willing [by his grace?] of purpose or precept that is meant in this petition? A. Both are included, but chiefly his will of precept. A. Because it is wholly of his free love and sovereign grace, that he worketh in us either to will or to do, Phil. ii. 13. It is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Q. 6. When we say "Thy will be done," what do we pray for with reference to God's will of purpose? Q. 12. What do we pray for A. We pray, [that God by his when we pray that God would grace, would make us able and will make us able and willing to [know] ing to submit] thereto, and acqui-his revealed will? esce therein, so soon as it is dis- A. We pray, that, by his Spirit, covered or made known unto us, he would take away our natural Acts xx. 14. "And when he would blindness, and open our undernot be persuaded, we ceased, say-standing, that we may understand ing, The will of the Lord be done." the scriptures, Luke xxiv. 45. Q. 7. What doth our praying for submission to God's will of purpose or providence, necessarily imply in it? "by Q. 8. When do we submit to afflicting dispensations? Q. 13. What do we pray for, when we pray that God would make us able and willing to [obey] his will? A. It implies that we are A. We pray, that he would renature-prone to repine and mur-move the weakness, indisposedmur against his providence,"* es-ness, and perverseness of our pecially in afflicting dispensations, hearts; and, by his grace, incline Num. xiv. 2. us to set about, and keep up the practice of every commanded duty, in the strength of that furniture which is secured in the promise, Ezek. xxxvi. 27. "I will cause you to walk in my statutes;" 2 Cor. xii. 9. "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness." A. When we justify God in them, Dan. ix. 7; and acknowledge that he "hath punished us less than our iniquities deserve," Ezra ix. 13. Q. 9. What do we pray for, when we pray that God's will of precept may be done? A. We pray that God by his grace, would make us able and willing [to know and obey] the same. Q. 14. Why is knowing the will of God mentioned before the obeying of it? A. Because there can be no true acceptable obedience, but what Q. 10. Why do we pray that God | flows from that saving know* Larger Cat. Quest. 192. |