A86523:149
A brief exposition of the Lords PrayerA briefe exposition of the Lords Prayer
A brief exposition of the Lords Prayer: wherein the meaning of the word is laid open to the understanding of weak Christians, and what the carriage of their hearts ought to be in preferring each petition. / By Mr. Tho. Hooker preacher of Gods word.A briefe exposition of the Lords Prayer: wherein the meaning of the word is laid open to the understanding of weake Christians, and what the carriage of their hearts ought to be in preferring each petition. / By Mr. Tho. Hooker preacher of Gods word.
London: printed by Moses Bell for Benjamin Allen, 1645
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
The Angels came before God, and the Text saith, the Devil by force full sore against his will came also: So wicked men dare not but leave some sins, but it is perforce, they are either constrained to it by the Laws of men, or by the horror of conscience, and the like, not with ready cheerfulness and willingness. But we should have our Lamps light.
The Angels came before God, and the Text saith, the Devill by force full sore against his will came also: So wicked men dare not but leave some sinnes, but it is perforce, they are either constrain'd to it by the Lawes of men, or by the horrour of conscience, and the like, not with ready cheerfulnesse and willingnesse. But we should have our Lamps light.
Secondly, the Angels do the will of the LORD speedily, they are not delaying, but are willing and ⟨p. 33⟩pressed in the performances of Gods will. If the Lord do but beck, they are gone.1 The Angels are said to have divers wings, some to cover their face, in token of humility; some to cover their feet, to show their prestnesse and readiness to do the will of God, and with all speed and haste to do what God at any time shall enjoin and command. Thus we should do it as they do, we must shake off all lingering and stiffness of spirit when we see Gods will should be done, and that God requires it: But naturally we are marvellously lazy in our christian course. When a man comes as a Bear to the stake, is that to do the will of our heavenly Father as the Angels do? do they thus? No, nor we should not, if we do it aright: We must imitate that of David, he will praise the Lord with his best abilities, and run the ways of Gods Commandments; thus should we do, make haste and delay not.2 As when the Prophet Elisha sent his servant post-haste to the woman's son, he bade him, salute no man, make no stay by the way. This marvellous care should be in us; we should pray for our lives, and run on in a Christian course for our lives; not trifle, but go with all speed till we come to our journeys end; not sluggishly, as if a man cared not whether he did it or no, but a man should pray for his life. If profit or pleasure would be tampering with us, salute them not, we should take up our resolutions to reject them. If honour or profit would be hanging about us, fling them off; let us not regard them, but ride post-haste. When our Saviour sent his Disciples