A86523:26
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.
A brief EXPOSITION OF THE LORDS PRAYER.A briefe EXPOSITION OF THE LORDS PRAYER.
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.
How doth this word Father help a man to call on God by Prayer?1
- 1Quest.
When we conceive of God as a Father,1 it puts us in mind of his mercy, that he will pity us as a Father. A man will be reconciled unto his son easily, and will spare his son, though he be a prodigal, yet a father will pass by and cover all. So I pray to a Father; did I pray to a Judge that will condemn me, or an enemy that would not be reconciled to me, little hope I had to speed because I have wronged him? yet I will arise and go to my Father, and say, Father I have sinned: Psal. 103.13. As a father pities his son, 2so God pitieth them that fear him: He is my child, saith God, though stubborn, and I must look to him. When a mans rebellions witness against him, and Satan vexeth him, and saith, What, dost thou think to have mercy, and art so vile? True, saith the soul, I am naught, but I go to a father. If a child do but aim at a thing, the father accepts him; if he speak but half a sentence, the Father interprets it: So this is the great encouragement of the faithful to go to God, that notwithstanding so many failings, and though so dead and so barren, yet a father bears all. The Lord interprets all, though but broken speeches, he accepts all, and regards all. We have a Father to ⟨p. 5⟩to go to, that is willing to pass by many failings.
When we conceive of God as a Father,1 it puts us in minde of his mercy, that he will pitty us as a Father. A man will be reconciled unto his sonne easily, and will spare his sonne, though he be a prodigall, yet a father will passe by and cover all. So I pray to a Father; did I pray to a Judge that will condemn me, or an enemy that would not be reconciled to me, little hope I had to speed because I have wronged him? yet I will arise and goe to my Father, and say, Father I have sinned: