A51845:565
A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer
A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer by ... Thomas Manton.
London: printed by J.D., 1684
AN EXPOSITION OF THE Lord's-Prayer. › Thy Will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Let me first open these Passages, then observe somewhat.
I. The Substance of the Petition, Thy Will be done; and there,⟨p. 244⟩ 1. The Matter about which it is conversant, the Will of God. 2. The Request about it, Thy Will be done.
First; The Matter of the Request, Thy Will. God's Name was under consideration in the first Petition; his Kingdom, in the second; and now his Will. And then here's a Note of Appropriation, Thy Will, in contradistinction to all others.
God's Will, it signifieth two things; either his Decree concerning future Events, or else that which God hath revealed concerning our Duty; his intended or commanded Will. The first is spoken of, Rom. 9. 19. Who hath resisted his Will? that is, his Decree, and his Purpose. And the second, his revealed Pleasure concerning our Duty, is spoken of, 1 Thess. 4. 3. This is the Will of God, even your Sanctification: The Will not of his Purpose, but it is his Law, his revealed Pleasure. Now it is not meant here of God's Decree, or secret Will. Why? God's secret Will, that is not known, therefore how can it be done upon Earth? To that all are subject, Reprobates, Devils. But here this Petition speaks of a Will, which is to be done in conformity to the good Angels. Again, we may (without Sin) will that, which God wills not by his secret Will; as the Life of a sick Parent, which God purposeth to take away. Nay, a Man may fulfil this secret Will, and yet perish for ever, as Judas, and many which break his Commandments, and yet fulfil his Decrees; that do that which God had determined before to be done in his secret Purpose, as it is said,