A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

First; If you consider our Danger by Sin.

1. There is a Creditor to whom the Debt is due, and that is God. Luke 7. 41. when he would set out God's Mercy, he saith, There was a certain Creditor, which had two Debtors, &c. God is there set forth under the Notion and Similitude of a Creditor. God is a Creditor, partly as our Creator, and partly as a Lawgiver, and partly as a Judg. As our Creator and Benefactor, from whom we have received all that we have. It was the Lord that gave to every Man his Talents to trade withal, to some more, to some less, Mat. 25. Thus God hath trusted us with Life, and all other Blessings. But then as a Law-giver: If God had given us Life, Strength, Parts, Wealth, that we should do with them what we would; tho the Gift would oblige us, in point of Gratitude, to serve our Benefactor, yet we had not been so responsible for our Defaults: But we are under a Law to serve him, and honour him that made us, and gave us what we have. God did not dispossess himself of an Interest in them: He did not give ⟨p. 345⟩them to us as Owners and Proprietors, to do with them what we would; but he gave them to us as Stewards; our Life and Employment here is a Stewardship. Nay, God is not only a Law-giver, but also a Judg; he will call us to an Account. He doth oblige us, as a Creator; but imposeth a Necessity upon us of obeying and serving him, as a Law-giver; and not only makes a Law, but will take an Account of Men, how they observe the Law of their Creation. There will a Time come, when the Lord of those Servants will come and reckon with them, and require his own with Usury. Luke 19. 23. He will require this Debt and Service at our Hands, else we must endure the Penalty. Well, this is the Connection: He that abuseth God's Mercy, as a Creator, offends him, as as Law-giver; and is justly punished by him, as a Judg. There are many never think of this, therefore are not sensible of these great Relations, nor that they shall answer for all their Talents, Strength, and Time, and Advantages they have in the World. Thus there's a Creditor.