A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

2. It notes, that our chiefest Care and Affection should be carried out to the Glory of God, when we pray: We should rather forget our selves, than forget God. God must be remembered in the first place. There is nothing more ⟨p. 131⟩precious than God himself, therefore nothing should be more dear to us than his Glory. This is the great Difference between the Upright and the Hypocrite: The Hypocrite never seeks God, but when his Necessities do require it, not in and for himself; But when the Upright come to seek God, it is for God in the first place: their main Care is about God's Concernments, rather than their own. Tho they seek their own Happiness in him, and they are allowed so to do; yet it is mainly God's Glory which they seek, not their own Interests and Concernments. See that, Psal. 115. 1. Not unto us, not unto us, O Lord, but unto thy Name give Glory, for thy Mercy, and for thy Truth's sake. It is not a Doxology, or Form of Thanksgiving, but a Prayer; not for our Safety and Welfare, so much as thy Glory: Not to reek and satisfy our Revenge upon our Adversaries, not for the Establishment of our Interest, but for the Glory of thy Grace and Truth, that God may be known to be a God keeping Covenant; for Mercy and Truth are the two Pillars of the Covenant. It is a great dishonouring of God, when any thing is sought from him, more than himself, or not for himself. Saith Austin, it is but a carnal Affection in Prayer, when Men seek Self more than God. Self and God are the two things that come in competition. Now there are several sorts of Self; there is carnal Self, natural Self, spiritual Self, and glorified Self; above all these, God must have the Preeminence.

2. It notes, that our chiefest Care and Affection should be carried out to the Glory of God, when we pray: We should rather forget our selves, than forget God. God must be remembred in the first place. There is nothing more ⟨p. 131⟩precious than God himself, therefore nothing should be more dear to us than his Glory. This is the great Difference between the Upright and the Hypocrite: The Hypocrite never seeks God, but when his Necessities do require it, not in and for himself; But when the Upright come to seek God, it is for God in the first place: their main Care is about God's Concernments, rather than their own. Tho they seek their own Happiness in him, and they are allowed so to do; yet it is mainly God's Glory which they seek, not their own Interests and Concernments. See that,