A51845:625
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.
1. There must be some solemn Time of resigning and giving up thy Will to him. Naturally we are averse: Now whosoever is brought unto God, he comes and lays down the Weapons of his Defiance at God's feet. God hath a Right to us, and he will have this Right confirmed by our Grant and Consent. Rom. 12. 1. I beseech you by the Mercies of God, that ye present your Bodies a living Sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God. There cannot be a more acceptable Sacrifice to God, than the Resignation of our own Will to him. See how Paul comes, and layeth down the Buckler, when God had him under; Acts 9. 6. And he trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? There will be a time, when you will solemnly give up the Keys of your own Hearts to God, and bid him come and enter. Paul, that now did nothing but threaten, and breath out Terror to the Children of God, when God had humbled him, then he lies at God's Feet. When you are truly humbled, you will desire God to come and take possession of your Hearts, and resolve to come under his Yoke. Mat. 11. 28. Take my Yoke upon you, and you shall find Rest for your Souls. Christ will force it upon none. In the Matrimonial Contract, Consent is not to be forced. Take my Yo•e▪
2. When you give up your selves to God, it must be without Bounds and Reservations: That ye may stand perfect and complete in the VVill of God, Col. 4. 12. That was his Prayer for them. And, Acts 13. 22. I have found David, the Son of Jesse, a Man after my own Heart; he shall fulfil all my VVill. We should so perfectly obey, as if we had no Will of our own, not reserving a Property in any thing. Our Thoughts are not our own to dispose, nor our Desires, nor Delights, but as God will. The least Sin reserved, is a Pledge of the Devils Interest and Right in us. And therefore give up all to God, resign up your selves wholly to him, as remembering that every Motion, every Thought, every Affection is under a Rule; and in every Action we should say, Will God have this to be done, yea, or no?