Gospel-worship, or, The right manner of sanctifying the name of God in general. And…

Secondly, If they be wishing what should be, then I answer, that those that were endued with such a prophetical spirit, they did know who were the implacable enemies of God, and who were not, as David prayed against Judas, so many hundred years before he was borne; by a prophetical spirit, he knew that he was the child of perdition; indeed if we could certainly know a man that were to be a cast-away eternally from God, it were another matter: as the Church in the time of Julian, because of his Apostasy being so abominable, it was determined almost generally by them that he had committed the sin against the holy Ghost, and upon that they curst him. Now I say, those that had an extraordinary spirit that did know who these were, they might do it; but this is no example ⟨p. 280⟩for us in an ordinary way to wish evil and curses upon others. But thus far we may do with the enemies of the Church.

Secondly, If they be wishing what should be, then I answer, that those that were indued with such a prophetical spirit, they did know who were the implacable enemies of God, and who were not, as David prayed against Judas, so many hundred years before he was borne; by a prophetical spirit, he knew that he was the childe of perdition; indeed if we could certainly know a man that were to be a cast-away eternally from God, it were another matter: as the Church in the time of Julian, because of his Apostasie being so abominable, it was determined almost generally by them that he had committed the sin against the holy Ghost, and upon that they curst him. Now I say, those that had an extraordinary spirit that did know who these were, they might do it; but this is no example ⟨p. 280⟩for us in an ordinary way to wish evill and curses upon others. But thus far wee may doe with the enemies of the Church.

First, we may curse them disjunctively, Lord, either take them out of the way, or keep them that they may not do such mischief in the Church: or thus, conditionally, if thou seest Lord that they be implacable, thou knowest them, if so, let thy wrath and curse pursue them; Lord thou seest what evil they are set upon, and therefore rather than they should attain their mischievous designs, let thy wrath and curse pursue them; so we may do it, but not absolutely to curse any, though they should do us never so much wrong, we are called to blessing; but now in zeal to God, take heed that we be not carried on in our own passion. But being sure it is in a zeal to God, we may wish the curses of God to pursue those that God knows to be implacable; this is but an appealing to God, and not at all fastening it upon any particular persons that we know, but leaving it unto God for the execution of it, and so in a zeal to the glory of God, we may do it, and we are warranted so to do by the second Petition, Thy Kingdom come: for that petition that requires us to pray for the coming of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, doth also require that we should pray against all means that hinder the coming of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, so that every time that the Church prays thy Kingdom come or any prays thy Kingdom come, they do as much as say, O Lord, do thou set thy self against all the enemies of thy Kingdom; if they belong to thy election, Lord convert them, but otherwise Lord confound them. Now thus we see how we are to sanctify the Name of God in Prayer, in regard of the matter of the prayer: but now for the manner of prayer. The most things I confess are there.