A Body of Practical Divinity

Answ. Though the Father only be named in the Lords prayer, yet the other two persons are not hereby excluded: The Father is mentioned because he is first in order, but the Son and Holy Ghost are included, because they are the same in Essence: As all the three persons subsist in one Godhead, so in our prayers, though we name but one ••rson, we must pray to all. To come then more closely to the first words of the Preface, [Our Father]. Princes on Earth give themselves Titles expressing their Greatness, as High and Mighty: God might have done so, and expressed himself thus, Our King of Glory, Our Judge, but he gives himself another Title, Our Father, an expression of Love and Condescension. God that he might encourage us to pray ⟨p. 426⟩to him, represents himself under this sweet notion of a Father, Our Father. Dulce nomen Patris: The Name Jehovah carries Majesty in it; the Name Father carries Mercy in it.

Answ. Though the Father only be named in the Lords prayer, yet the other two persons are not hereby excluded: The Father is mentioned because he is first in order, but the Son and Holy Ghost are included, because they are the same in Essence: As all the three persons subsist in one Godhead, so in our prayers, though we name but one ••rson, we must pray to all. To come then more closely to the first words of the Preface, [Our Father]. Princes on Earth give themselves Titles expressing their Greatness, as High and Mighty: God might have done so, and expressed himself thus, Our King of Glory, Our Iudge, but he gives himself another Title, Our Father, an expression of Love and Condescension. God that he might encourage us to pray ⟨p. 426⟩to him, represents himself under this sweet notion of a Father, Our Father. Dulce nomen Patris: The Name Iehovah carries Majesty in it; the Name Father carries Mercy in it.

Quest. 1. In what sense is God a Father?