A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

1. The Grant of a Pardon, That God would accept the Satisfaction of Christ for our Sins, and look upon us as righteous in him. Jesus Christ himself was to sue out the Fruits of his Purchase; Psal. 2. 8. Ask of me, and I will give thee the Heathen for thine Inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the Earth for thy Possession. Though he had a Right to be received into Heaven, to sit down at the Right-hand of God, and administer the Kingdom for the Comfort of his Elect Ones; yet, ask of me. And so we are to sue out our Right; Psal. 32. 5. ⟨p. 362⟩I said, I will confess my Transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the Iniquity of my Sin: What then? For this cause shall every one that is godly pray unto thee. Though God be so ready to forgive; as soon as we conceive a purpose, he gives out a Pardon, yet we are to call upon God. God will have us to sue out the Grant of a Pardon; why? because he would deal with us as a Sovereign, therefore doth he require the Submission of our Faith. It was of Grace that he would appoint a Satisfaction for us, which he did not for the fallen Angels; and it was much more Grace that he would give that Satisfaction, give that Price out of his own Treasury. Christ was not a Mediator of our choosing, but God's; and therefore though Justice be fully satisfied, yet the Debt is humbly to be acknowledged by the Creature, and we are to sue out Terms of Grace. And again, the Application to us is merely Grace, when so many thousands perish in their Sins; therefore we are to beg, to sue out this Grace, that we may have the benefit of Christ's Death. God doth it, that in begging we may acknowledge our own Misery, and how unable we are to make Satisfaction; Psal. 143. 2. In thy sight no Flesh can be justified: And, Psal. 130. 3, 4. If thou shouldst mark Iniquities; O Lord, who shall stand? But there is Forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. Before God will give us an Interest in this Forgiveness, we are to come and confess our selves utterly to be insolvent, and also to own Jesus Christ as the means, that we may solemnly and explicitly own our Redeemer, who was appointed by God, and procured this benefit for us;