out him, for he has said, "Without me ye can do nothing," John XV. 5. Q. 59. What should be our habitual scope, and general end, in offering up this petition, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil?" A. Our aim and end therein should be, "that our sanctification and salvation may be perfected, 2 Cor. xiii. 9; Satan trodden under feet, Rom. xvi. 20; and we fully freed from sin, temptation, and all evil for ever, 1 Thess. v. 23."* QUEST. 107. What doth the conclusion of the Lord's Prayer teach us? ANSW. The conclusion of the Lord's Prayer, (which is, For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever, Amen), teacheth us to take our encouragement in prayer from God only, and in our prayers to praise him, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory to him. And, in testimony of our desire and assurance to be heard, we say, AMEN. Q. 1. What doth the particle of Christ imputed to them, 1 Cor. [for] which ushers in the conclu-iii. 22, 23-All things are yours, sion of the Lord's prayer, teach and ye are Christ's." us? A. It "teacheth us to enforce our petitions with arguments, Rom. xv. 30."+ Q. 2. From whence are these arguments to be taken? A. "Not from any worthiness in ourselves, or in any other creature, but from God, Dan. ix. 19." Q. 3. What argument, for instance, may we fetch from God, to enforce our petitions? A. That "mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other," Psal. lxxxv. 10. Q. 4. What force is there in this argument? Q. 5. For what end should we use arguments with God in prayer? A. Not to prevail with him to grant what he does not see fit for us: but to quicken our own faith, and encourage our hope, to expect the good things of the promise which we want, in his own time and way, Dan. ix. 18. Q. 6. Why should we essay [in our prayers to praise him]? A. Because praise glorifies God, Psal. 1. 23. and engageth him to hear our prayers, Psal. lxviii. 5, 6. Q.7. What way should we praise him in our prayers? A. By [ascribing kingdom, power, and glory to him]. A. A very great force, namely, that all the perfections and excel- Q. 8. What is meant by [kinglencies of the divine nature, har-dom, power, and glory]? moniously agree, in conferring all A. "Eternal sovereignty, ompromised blessings upon sinners of nipotency, and glorious excelmankind, on account of the meri- lency," as appertaining "to God torious obedience, and satisfaction alone," 1 Chron. xxix. 10-14.§ Q. 9. What [kingdom] do we ascribe unto God as his? A. The kingdom of nature, as God Creator; and the kingdom of grace, as God Redeemer. Q. 10. What encouragement may we take in prayer, from the kingdom both of nature and grace being his? A. That we shall want nothing that is good for us, either as we are his creatures, Psal. cxlv. 16. or his children, Matt. vii. 11. Q. 11. Why do we ascribe [power] to God, as well as kingdom? A. Because without power, his sovereignty could not be maintained, or his kingdom managed, Psal. lxvi. 3, 7. Q. 12. What encouragement may we take in prayer, from the power being his? A. That no difficulty whatsoever shall hinder the accomplishment of the promise, Rom. iv. 21. Q. 13. What do we mean by ascribing [glory] to him? A. We thereby acknowledge, that he is possessed of all these excellencies, that render him glorious in the eyes of men and angels; and that the praise and honour of every thing that is great and excellent, or has a tendency to raise our esteem and admiration, is due unto him, Psal. lxxviii. 4. Q. 14. What encouragement may we take in prayer, from the glory being his? A. That the accomplishing his glorious purposes, and performing his gracious promises, will bring in a revenue of glory and praise unto him, Psal. xlv. 17. Q. 15. How long will the kingdom, power, and glory be his? A. [For ever], without intermission through eternity, Exod. xv. 18. all earthly kings and potentates whatsoever? A. Their kingdom, power, and glory is only of a short duration, Psal. lxxxii. 6, 7: whereas the God with whom we have to do changes not, but is ever the same, James i. 17. Q. 17. Why do we say [Amen] in our prayers? A. We should do it [in testimony of our desire, and assurance to be heard.] Q. 18. How may we know we say [Amen] in testimony of our desire? A. "When by faith we are emboldened to plead with God, that he would-fulfil our requests, 2 Chron. xx. 6. 11."* Q. 19. What doth the word signify, when we say it in testimony of our desire? A. In this view it properly signifies, so be it, or so let it be. Q. 20. When do we say Amen in testimony of our [assurance to be heard]? A. When "by faith we are emboldened-quietly to rely upon him that he will fulfil our requests, 2 Chron. xiv. 11." Q. 21. What doth the word signify, when we say it in testimony of our assurance to be heard? A. In this sense it denotes, so it is; or, so shall it be. Q. 22. In which of these views is the word, Amen, to be understood in the conclusion of this prayer? A. It is to be understood as signifying both; namely, as including a testimony of our desire, and likewise assurance of being heard. Q. 23. How doth this appear? A. Because there cannot be a desire of any promised blessing in faith, but there must be some measure of assurance that it will be granted in God's time and order, Psal. x. 17. Q. 16. What is the difference, in this respect, between God and * Larger Cat. Quest. 196. + Ibid. CONTENTS OF THE FIRST PART. Advertisement Of men's chief end Of the holy scriptures Of the scope of the scriptures Of the nature and perfections of God in general Infinity ib. 2. In what passed on him after his death 1. In his rising again from the dead 2. In his ascending up into heaven 3. In his sitting at the right hand of God the Father 131 |