A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

4. We beg leave to use them. It is good Manners in Religion, to ask God's leave in all things. It is Robbery to make use of a Man's Goods, and to waste and consume them without his leave. We must ask God leave upon this account, because, tho God gives these good things to Men, yet he still reserves the Property in himself; for by distributing Blessings to the Creature, he never intended to devest himself of the Right. As a Husbandman, by scattering his Corn in the Field did not dispossess himself, but still keeps a Right, and means to have the Increase. So when the ⟨p. 310⟩Lord scattereth his Blessings, we only receive them as Stewards, not as Owners and Proprietors; God still is the Supreme Lord, and only hath the Property and Dominion. In Life it is clear, Man is not Dominus Vits, but Custos, not Lord of his Life, but only the Steward and Guardian of it; he cannot live or die at his own Pleasure: if a Man kills himself, he runs the danger of God's Law. What is said of Life, is true also of his Estate, he is not an Owner so much as a Steward, that's the Notion of our Possession; we are Stewards, and must render an account to God: Hosea 2. 9. I will return and take away my Corn in the time thereof, and my Wine in the season thereof, and will recover my Wool and my Flax. Though God hath communicated these things to the Children of Men, yet he hath reserved the Dominion in his own Hands: So Hag. 2. 8. The Silver is mine, and the Gold is mine, saith the Lord of Hosts. He never disposed any thing so into the Creatures Hands, but still he hath reserved a Right and Interest in it; and therefore it is, Gen. 14. 19. that the Lord is not only called the Creator of Heaven and Earth, but Possessor of Heaven and Earth. He is not only the Possessor of Heaven where he dwells, which he hath reserved to his own use; but he is Possessor of Earth, which he hath committed to the use of Men. And God will have his Right acknowledged from day to day.

4. We beg leave to use them. It is good Manners in Religion, to ask God's leave in all things. It is Robbery to make use of a Man's Goods, and to waste and consume them without his leave. We must ask God leave upon this account, because, tho God gives these good things to Men, yet he still reserves the Property in himself; for by distributing Blessings to the Creature, he never intended to devest himself of the Right. As a Husbandman, by scattering his Corn in the Field did not dispossess himself, but still keeps a Right, and means to have the Increase. So when the