A guide to go to GodA guide to goe to God

2. Gods honour is the main end whereat all our desires ought to aim.

2. Gods honour is the maine end whereat all our desires ought to aime.

The order of the Decalogue and the placing of the first commandment before all the rest, doth confirm the former of these instructions:¹ so doth this exhortation, First seek the kingdom of God. All priorities are comprised under that particle, First. ²Both before and above all things is that to be sought. Christ preferred his Fathers glory before his own life: yea, and before freedom from that bitter agony whereunto he was brought, being our Surety▪ For thus in his prayer he reasoneth about that point: What shall I say? Father save me from this hour. But for this cause came I unto this hour. Father glorify thy name. And then he resteth, as in that which above all he desired. This mind by the same Spirit was wrought in Saint Paul, who counted not his life dear: ³but was ready to dye for the name of the Lord.

The order of the Decalogue and the placing of the first commandement before all the rest, doth confirme the former of these instructions:¹ so doth this exhortation, First seeke the kingdome of God. All priorities are comprised vnder that particle, First. ²Both before and aboue all things is that to be sought. Christ preferred his Fathers glory before his owne life: yea, and before freedome from that bitter agony whereunto he was brought, being our Suretie▪ For thus in his prayer he reasoneth about that point: What shall I say? Father saue me from this houre. Bnt for this cause came I vnto this houre. Father glorifie thy name. And then he resteth, as in that which aboue all he desired. This mind by the same Spirit was wrought in Saint Paul, who counted not his life deare: ³but was readie to dye for the name of the Lord.

1. 1Mat. 6. 33.
2. 2Joh. 12. 27, 28.Ioh. 12. 27, 28.
3. 3Acts 20. 24.—21. 13.

Q. Is Gods honour to be preferred before our eternal salvation?

Q. Is Gods honour to be preferred before our eternall saluation?

1. 1Our salvation standeth with Gods honour.Our saluation standeth with Gods honour.

2. If they could stand in opposition,¹ then without contradiction Gods honour should be sought rather then our own salvation. On which ground Moses made this transcendent Prayer,² If not, blot me I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

2. If they could stand in opposition,¹ then without contradiction Gods honour should be sought rather then our owne saluation. On which ground Moses made this transcendent Prayer,² If not, blot me I pray thee, out of thy booke which thou hast written.

1. 1Gods glory to be preferred before our salvation.Gods glory to be preferred before our saluation.
2. 2Exod. 32. 32.

Gods glory is of all things the most excellent,¹ and precious. If a mans name be better then precious ointment,² and great riches, What is Gods? ³Now the more excellent a thing is, the more it is to be esteemed, and preferred. Besides by seeking and setting forth Gods honour, we seek and set forth our own. For as it is in it self an honourable thing to honour God, so God that can and will perform it, hath said, Them that honour me will I honour. Is there not then good reason to desire above all other things that Gods name be hallowed?⁴

Gods glorie is of all things the most excellent,¹ and pretious. If a mans name be better then pretious ointment,² and great riches, What is Gods? ³Now the more excellent a thing is, the more it is to be esteemed, and preferred. Besides by seeking and setting forth Gods honour, we seeke and set forth our owne. For as it is in it selfe an honorable thing to honor God, so God that can and will performe it, hath said, Them that honour me will I honour. Is there not then good reason to desire aboue all other things that Gods name be hallowed?⁴

1. 1Eccl. 7. 1.
2. 2Pro. 22. 1.
3. 3Hee primum fieri petionus quod maximum, ut nobis gloriae illius innotescat sanctitas illibata Bern. in Quadr. Serm. 6.Hee primum fieri petionus quod maximum, vt nobis gloriae illius innotescat sanctitas illibata Bern. in Quadr. Serm. 6.
4. 41. Sam. 2. 30.

§. 31. Of aiming at Gods honour in all things.

That Gods honour is also the main end whereat all our desires ought to aim, is evident by that pertinent exhortation of the Apostle,¹ Whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God. ²This was his rejoicing, that the Lord should be magnified in him, ³whether it were by life, ⁴or by death. God himself maketh his glory the end of all his counsels and actions.⁵ But that end which he aims at we also must set before us. As for this end, it is the highest, chiefest and best end whereunto any thing can be referred. It is the end of this first Petition, & of all the rest: for the perfection of Gods kingdom, and subjection to his will tend directly to his glory. As for the other three Petitions, though in the matter of them they concern our good, yet in the manner of seeking our good, namely of God, they make to Gods glory. For in the fourth Petition Gods providence in the things of this life is acknowledged: in the fifth his mercy in pardoning sin: in the sixth his power, in keeping safe from all assaults.

THat Gods honour is also the maine end whereat all our desires ought to aime, is euident by that pertinent exhortation of the Apostle,¹ Whatsoeuer you do, do all to the glorie of God. ²This was his reioycing, that the Lord should be magnified in him, ³whether it were by life, ⁴or by death. God himselfe maketh his glorie the end of all his counsels and actions.⁵ But that end which he aimes at we also must set before vs. As for this end, it is the highest, chiefest and best end whereunto any thing can be referred. It is the end of this first Petition, & of all the rest: for the perfection of Gods kingdome, and subiection to his will tende directly to his glorie. As for the other three Petitions, though in the matter of them they concern our good, yet in the manner of seeking our good, namely of God, they make to Gods glorie. For in the fourth Petition Gods prouidence in the things of this life is acknowledged: in the fift his mercie in pardoning sinne: in the sixt his power, in keeping safe from all assaults.

1. 11. Cor. 10. 31.
2. 2Phil. 1. 20.
3. 3Rom. 9. 22, 23.
4. 4Eph. 1. 6.
5. 5Pro. 16. 4.

This may serve as a touch-stone to try the soundness of a Religion.¹ In opposition betwixt diverse religions, mark which cometh nearest to this mark, nnd most tendeth to this end. If the religions of Protestants and of Papists be well touched with this touch-stone, and equally poised in these balances, it will ⟨p. 41⟩easily be found that the reformed Religion is much more sound then the other. For one main difference betwixt us and them in all our controversies, is this, that we take away from man all manner of glorying in himself, and give the glory of all to God. But they rob God to give to man matter of trusting unto himself, and unto others like himself, and of boasting in himself and others. Instance the controversies we have with them about the authority of the Church above the Scriptures, The power of Popes and Priests, Adoration and Invocation of Angels and Saints, Their intercession, The inherent virtue of Sacraments, Mans free-will to good, Works of satisfaction and supererogation, Merit of works, Indulgences, Pilgrimages, and many other like these.

This may serue as a touch-stone to trie the soundnesse of a Religion.¹ In opposition betwixt diuerse religions, marke which cometh nearest to this marke, nnd most tendeth to this end. If the religions of Protestants and of Papists be well touched with this touch-stone, and equally poised in these ballances, it will ⟨p. 41⟩easily be found that the reformed Religion is much more sound then the other. For one maine difference betwixt vs and them in all our controuersies, is this, that we take away from man all manner of glorying in himselfe, and giue the glorie of all to God. But they rob God to giue to man matter of trusting vnto himselfe, and vnto others like himselfe, and of boasting in himselfe and others. Instance the controuersies we haue with them about the authoritie of the Church aboue the Scriptures, The power of Popes and Priests, Adoration and Inuocation of Angels and Saints, Their intercession, The inherent vertue of Sacramtes, Mans free-will to good, Workes of satisfaction and supererogation, Merit of workes, Indulgences, Pilgrimages, and many other like these.

1. 1Our religion giveth more glory to God then popery.Our religion giueth more glorie to God then poperie.

This also may serve as a touch-stone to try particular actions. The more they aim at this end the better they be. Though a work seem otherwise never so good, yet if Gods glory be not the end of it, it only seemeth to be good, as that which seemeth to be what it is not. To give alms, to pray, to fast, are works in the general matter and substance of them good, yet in these Christ censured the Pharisees,¹ and warned his Disciples not to be like them: and that because they missed of this end. Let us therefore in all things aim especially at Gods glory.

This also may serue as a touch-stone to try particular actions. The more they aime at this end the better they be. Though a worke seeme otherwise neuer so good, yet if Gods glorie be not the end of it, it onely seemeth to be good, as that which seemeth to be what it is not. To giue almes, to pray, to fast, are workes in the generall matter and substance of them good, yet in these Christ censured the Pharises,¹ and warned his Disciples not to be like them: and that because they missed of this end. Let vs therefore in all things aime especially at Gods glorie.

1. 1Math. 6. 1. &c.

§. 31. Of the particulars to be prayed for under the first Petition.

§. 31. Of the particulars to be prayed for vnder the first Petition.

Q. Unto how many heads may those particulars which in the first Petition we are taught to pray for, be referred?

Q. VNto how many heads may those particulars which in the first Petition we are taught to pray for, be referred?

A. Unto three especially. For we are taught there to desire:

A. Vnto three especially. For we are taught there to desire:

1. Such graces in our selves as may enable us to hallow the name of God.

1. Such graces in our selues as may enable vs to hallow the name of God.

2. Such graces in others as may enable them thereto.

3. Such an over-ruling providence in God, as may direct every thing thereto.¹

3. Such an ouer-ruling prouidence in God, as may direct euery thing thereto.¹

1. 1Particulars prayed for in regard of our selves.Particulars prayed for in regard of our selues.