A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

Doct. That in every Address to God, lauding or praising of God is necessary.

For in this perfect Form of Prayer, Christ teaches us, not only to ask things needful for our selves, but to ascribe to God things proper to him.

There are two words used in this Case in Scripture, Praise and Blessing: Praise, relateth to God's Excellency; and Blessing, to his Benefits; Psalm 145. 10. All thy Works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy Saints shall bless thee. All the Works of God declare his Excellency; but the Saints will ever be ascribing to God, the Benefits they have received from him. So they are spoken of as Things, though somewhat alike, yet as distinct; Nehem. 9. 5. Blessed be thy glorious Name, which is exalted above all Blessing and Praise. Our Praise cannot reach the Excellency of his Nature; nor our Blessing, express the Worth of his Benefits. Both may be here intended. For thine is Kingdom and Power, relateth to his Excellency; and ⟨p. 502⟩thine is the Glory, to his Benefits; for God's Glory is the Reflex of all his Works, and so expresseth the Benefits showed to the Sons of Men, especially to his People. Well then, when-ever you would pray to God to bless you, you must bless God again, and praise his Name; Ephes. 1. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual Blessings in Heavenly Places in Christ. 'Tis the Echo and Reflex of his Grace and Mercy to the Creatures. God blesseth us, and we bless God; as the Echo returneth the Word, or the Wall beateth back the Beams of the Sun. Only consider, We bless God far otherwise than he blesseth us: God's Blessing is operative, ours declarative; His words are accompanied with Power, Benedicere, is Benefacere. He doth good, we speak good, when we remember the blessed Effects of his Grace, and tell what he hath done for our Souls.