08 The Lord's Prayer (choice excerpts) cont'd1
"Our Father, who is in heaven" Matthew 6:9
How may we know, that God is our Father?
By having a childlike disposition, which is seen in
His holiness stamped upon him.
Wicked men desire to be like God hereafter in glory—but do not want to be like Him here in grace. They say that God is their Father—yet have nothing of God to be seen in them. They are not only without His image, but hate it.
"Our Father, who is in heaven" Matthew 6:9
How may we know, that God is our Father?
By having a childlike disposition, which is seen in melting in tears for SIN, as a child weeps for offending his father.
It is a sign that God is our Father—when the heart of stone is taken away—and there is a
gracious thaw in the heart; and it melts into tears for sin. He who has a childlike heart, mourns for sin in a spiritual manner—as it is sin he grieves for, as it is an act of pollution.
Sin deflowers the virgin soul.
Sin defaces God’s image.
Sin turns beauty into deformity.
Sin is the plague of the heart. 1 Kings 8:38.
A child of God mourns for the defilement of sin; sin has to him a blacker aspect than hell.
He who has a childlike heart, grieves for sin, as it is an act of enmity towards God. Sin is diametrically opposed to God. It is called walking contrary to God. Sin does all it can to spite God; if God is of one mind—sin will be of another. Sin would not only unthrone God—but strike at His very being! If sin could help it—God would no longer be God!
A childlike heart grieves for this; "Oh! that I should have so much enmity in me, that my will should be no more subdued to the will of my heavenly Father!" This springs a leak of godly sorrow.
A childlike heart weeps for sin, as it is an act of ingratitude. It is an abuse of God’s love; it is taking the jewels of His mercies—and making use of them to sin. To sin against kindness, makes sin crimson. Nothing so melts a childlike heart in tears, as sins of unkindness. "Oh, that I should sin against the blood of a Savior—and the affections of a Father!" This opens a vein of godly sorrow—and makes the heart bleed afresh.
Certainly it evidences God to be our Father, when He has given us a childlike frame of heart—to weep for sin as it is sin, an act of pollution, enmity and ingratitude. A wicked man may mourn for the bitter fruit of sin—but only a child of God can grieve for the odious nature of sin!
If you would be preserved from sin—get your hearts fired with love to God. Love has great
force in it; it is "as strong as death;" it breaks the league between the heart and sin.
Meditate on the astonishing love of God to you. What a wonder of love was it—for God to give His Son out of His bosom—and lay such a jewel to pawn for our redemption! The glories of God’s beauty, and the magnitude of His love, like
I have read of four men meeting together, who asked one another what it was that kept
them from sinning. The first one said, "the fear of hell." The second said, "the joys of heaven." The third said, "the odiousness of sin." The fourth said, "that which keeps me from
sin, is love to God. Shall I sin against so loving a God? Shall I abuse His love?" Love to God is the best curbing-bit to keep from sin.
"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." John 14:15
Sin is worse than affliction. There is more evil in a drop of sin—than in a sea of affliction!
Sin brings all harmful things—it has death and hell in its womb.
Sin rots the name, consumes the estate, and wastes the body. The poets feigned that when
of God’s justice lies quietly in the scabbard—until sin draws it out and sharpens it!
Some go at a slower pace to hell—but such as run themselves into temptation, go
"Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour!" 1 Peter 5:8 There is a story of a Jew who would have poisoned Luther—but a friend sent to Luther the picture of the Jew, warning him to take heed of such a man when he saw him; by which means Luther recognized the murderer, and escaped his hands. I have taught you the subtle devices of Satan in tempting; I have shown you
Death surprised them!
Satan persuades men to delay repenting and turning to God. This temptation is the devil’s
draw-net by which he draws millions to hell; it is a dangerous temptation.
"Sin is a sweet poison." The longer poison lies in the body—the more deadly it is. Just so, by delay of repentance, sin strengthens, and the heart hardens. The longer ice freezes, the harder it is to be broken. Just so, the longer a man freezes in impenitency, the more difficult it will be to have his heart broken. When sin has settled in the heart—it is not easily driven away.
Besides, the danger of delaying repentance appears in this—that life is hazardous, and may suddenly expire. What security have you, that you shall live another day? Life is made up of a few flying minutes. Life is a candle, which is soon blown out. "What is your life? It is even a vapor." James 4:14. How dangerous therefore is it to procrastinate and put off turning to God by repentance! Many now in hell purposed to repent—but death surprised them!
Satan labors to keep us from serious meditation. He will let men profess, or pray and hear in a formal manner—which does him no hurt and them no good.
Satan will thrust in worldly business—something or other to keep men off from holy meditation.
"The devil has come down unto you, having great wrath." Revelation 12:12
Satan is a malicious revengeful spirit!
Satan envies man’s happiness. To see a clod of dust so near to God; and himself, once a glorious angel, cast out of the heavenly paradise—makes him pursue mankind with inveterate hatred. If there is anything this infernal spirit can delight in—it is to ruin souls, and to bring them into the same damnation as himself! He is enraged, and lays his snares and shoots his darts against us!
This malice of Satan in tempting, must needs be great, if we consider that Satan, though full of torment, should tempt others. One would think that he would scarcely have a thought but of his own misery; and yet such is his rage and malice that, while God is punishing him—he is tempting others!
His malice is great, because though knowing his tempting men to sin will increase his own torment in hell—he will not leave it off! Every temptation makes his chain heavier and his fire hotter—and yet he will tempt!
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How shall we know that our sins are pardoned?
Christ’s blood quenches the flames of hell. The pardoned sinner is a great weeper. The sense of God’s love melts his heart. "That free grace should ever look upon me—that such crimson sins as mine should be washed away in Christ’s blood—makes my heart melt and my eyes drop with tears!"
Never did any man read his pardon with dry eyes. "She stood at his feet weeping." Luke 7:38. Mary’s tears were more precious to Christ than her ointment; her eyes, which before sparkled with lust, now became a fountain, and washed Christ’s feet with her tears! She was a true penitent, and had her pardon. "Therefore, I say, her sins, which are many, are forgiven;" Luke 7:47. Pardon of sin, will make the hardest heart soften, and cause the stony heart to bleed. Is it thus with us? Have we been dissolved into tears for sin? God seals His pardons upon melting hearts.
When God shows a man how near he was falling into hell, how that gulf is passed, and all his sins are pardoned, he is amazed, and cries out, "Who is a God like You, who pardons my iniquity! That God should pardon me and pass by others—that I should be taken and others
left—fills my soul with
It should make us cheerfully submit to God’s will, to consider that in every afflictive path of providence, we may see His footstep of kindness. There is kindness in affliction,
There is kindness in affliction—in that God deals with us as His children. "If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons." Hebrews 12:7. God has one Son without sin—but no son without stripes! Affliction is a badge of adoption. Shall not we then say, "Lord, there is kindness in the cross, you treat us as your children. The rod of discipline is to fit us for the
inheritance. May Your will be done."
"May Your will be done." Matthew 6:10
We pray that we may have grace to submit to God’s will patiently, in whatever He inflicts.
A Christian may be deeply sensible of affliction, and yet patiently submit to God’s will. We ought not to be Stoics, insensible and unconcerned with God’s dealings; as if we were begotten of a stone. Christ was sensible when He sweat great drops of blood—but there was submission to God’s will. "Nevertheless, not as I will—but as you will." We are bid to humble ourselves under God’s hand, which we cannot do unless we are sensible of it.
A Christian may weep under an affliction, and yet patiently submit to God’s will. God allows tears. Grace makes the heart tender; weeping gives vent to sorrow; grief is poured out in tears.
A Christian may complain in his affliction, and yet be submissive to God’s will. "I cry out to the Lord; I plead for the Lord’s mercy. I pour out my complaints before Him and tell Him all my troubles." Psalms 142:1-2. We may, when under affliction, tell God how it is with us. Shall not the child complain to his father when he is afflicted?
"May Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10
We do God’s will as it is done in heaven, when we
We do God’s will as it is done in heaven by the angels—when we do it regularly, without
wavering.
We do God’s will as it is done in heaven by the angels—when we do it entirely—when we do all God’s will.
We do God’s will as it is done in heaven by the angels—when we do it sincerely, and without pretense.
We do God’s will as it is done in heaven by the angels—when we do it willingly, and without complaint. Though we cannot serve God perfectly, we serve Him willingly.
We do God’s will as it is done in heaven by the angels—when we do it fervently, and without slackness.
We do God’s will as it is done in heaven by the angels—when we give God the best in every
service.
We do God’s will as it is done in heaven by the angels—when we do it readily and swiftly.
We do God’s will as it is done in heaven by the angels—when we do it constantly.
"May Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10
A hypocrite may be able to do some right things—yet he has no delight in duty; he does it rather out of fear of hell than love to God. When he does God’s will it is against his own will. Cain brought his sacrifice—but grudgingly; his worship was rather a task than an offering, rather penance than a sacrifice; he did God’s will—but against his own will.
We must be carried upon the wings of delight in every duty. We must read and hear the Word with delight. "Your Words were found, and I ate them, and Your Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart." Jeremiah 15:16. A pious soul goes to the Word as to a feast, or as one would go with delight to hear music.
Not that a truly regenerate person is always in the same cheerful temper of obedience; he may sometimes find an indisposition and weariness of soul—but his weariness is his burden;
To do God’s will acceptably, is to do it willingly. Delight in duty is better than duty itself. The musician is not commended for playing long—but well; it is not how much we do—but how much we love. "O, how I love Your law!" Psalms 119:97. Love perfumes obedience, and makes it go up to heaven as a sweet incense.
"May Your kingdom come." Matthew 6:10
We are compassed with a body of sin—should we not long to shake off this viper? We are in a valley of tears—is it not better to be in a glorious kingdom? Here we are combating with Satan—should we not desire to be called out of the bloody field, where the bullets of temptation fly so fast, that we may receive a victorious crown? O, breathe after the heavenly
kingdom! We should anxiously desire to be always sunning ourselves in the light of God’s countenance.
Think what it will be—to be forever with the Lord! Are there any sweeter smiles or embraces than His! Is there any bed so soft as Christ’s bosom! Is there any such joy as to have the golden banner of Christ’s love displayed over us! Is there any such honor as to sit upon the throne with Christ! O, then, long for the celestial kingdom!
God will be a deep sea of blessedness, and the glorified saints shall forever bathe themselves in this ocean! "And they will reign forever and ever!" Revelation 22:5. Heaven will make amends for all.
O let this be our support under all the calamities and sufferings in this life. What a vast difference is there between a believer’s sufferings, and his reward! "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Romans 8:18. For a few tears—we shall receive
"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom!" Luke 12:32
If you hope to shortly enter the glorious kingdom of heaven—be content though you have but a little of the world!
Contentment is a rare thing, it is
Were you to take an estimate of a man’s estate, how would you value it? By what he has in his house, or by his land? Perhaps he has little money or jewels in his house—but he owns vast lands—there lies his worth.
A believer has but a little oil in the cruse, and meal in the barrel—but he has a title to the glorious kingdom of heaven—and may not this satisfy him?
If a man who lived here in England, had a great estate beyond the seas, and perhaps had no more money at present but just to pay for his voyage, he is content; he knows when he comes to his estate he shall have money enough. Just so, you who are a believer have a kingdom befallen you; though you have but little in your purse—yet if you have enough for your voyage to heaven, it is sufficient. God has given you grace, which is the fore-crop, and will give you glory, which is the after-crop; and may not this make you content?
"If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead!" Luke 16:31
If the Word preached does not work upon men, nothing will; not judgment, nor miracles; no, not though one should rise from the dead!
If you would get to heaven—attend to the Word preached. It was by the ear—by our first parents listening to the serpent, that we lost paradise. And it is by the ear—by hearing of the
Word, that we get to heaven. "Hear, and your soul shall live." God sometimes in the preaching of the Word—
If you intend to get to heaven, be swift to hear: for "faith comes by hearing." Peter let down the net of his ministry, and at one draught caught three thousand souls! If you would have heaven’s door opened to you—wait at the posts of wisdom’s door.
Every member of the body is infected with sin, as every branch of wormwood is bitter; but "
heavenly kingdom, beware of giving way to unbridled passions. Some say, "words are but wind;" but they are such a wind as may blow them to hell!
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"You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand." Psalms 16:11
Nothing is lacking in heaven, which may complete the saints’ happiness; for, wherein does happiness consist?
Is it in knowledge? We "shall know as we are known."
Is it in royal fare? We shall be at the "marriage supper of the Lamb."
Is it in rich apparel? We shall be "clothed in long white robes."
Is it in exquisite music? We shall hear the choir of angels singing.
Is it in dominion? We shall reign as kings, and judge angels.
Is it in pleasure? We shall enter into the joy of our Lord!
Would God give us a vision of heaven for a moment, as he did Stephen, who saw "the heavens opened" (Acts 7:56), we would be overwhelmed!
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"They set their heart on their iniquity." Hosea 4:8
A man may forsake his open sins—and yet come short of heaven. He may forsake gross sins, and yet have no reluctance to heart sins—such as pride, unbelief, malice and lust. Though he dams up the stream—he lets alone the fountain! Though he lops and prunes the branches
—he does not strike at the root of it!
Though he leaves sin for fear of hell, or because it brings shame or poverty—yet
It is but a partial forsaking of sin; though he leaves one sin—he lives in some other. Herod reformed very much. "He did many things;" but he lived in incest. Mark 6:20. Some leave drunkenness, and live in covetousness. Some forbear swearing—and live in slandering. It is but a partial reformation, and so they miss of the kingdom of glory.
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"Their mind is on earthly things." Php 3:19
The world is the great Diana which the ungodly cry up; as if they would fetch happiness out of the earth which God has cursed; they labor for honor and riches. Like Korah’s household, "
Oh, what is there in the world that we should so idolize it; and Christ and heaven are to be disregarded as worthless? What has Christ done for you? Died for your sins! What will the world do for you? Can it pacify an angry conscience? Can it procure God’s favor? Can it purchase for you a place in the kingdom of heaven? Oh, how are men bewitched with worldly profits and honors—that for these things they will forfeit paradise! It was a good prayer of Bernard, "Let us so possess temporal things, that we do not lose eternal things."
See the folly of those who, for vain pleasures and profits, will lose such a glorious kingdom!
Lysimachus, for a draught of water, lost his empire; just so, for a draught of sinful pleasure,
lose his kingdom—for a feather! Such are those who let heaven go—for a song. This will make the devil insult at the last day, to think how he has befooled men, and made them lose their souls and their happiness for "lying vanities." If Satan could make good his brag, in giving all the glory and kingdoms of the world, it could not countervail the loss of the celestial kingdom. All the tears in hell are not sufficient to lament the loss of heaven!
"Neither can they die any more." Luke 20:36
This kingdom of heaven excels all others in healthfulness. Death is
The kingdom of heaven excels all other kingdoms in magnitude; it is of vast dimensions! Though the gate of the kingdom is narrow, and we must pass into it through the narrow gate of mortification—yet, when once we are in it, it is very large. Though there are an innumerable company of saints and angels—yet there is room enough for them all.
You who are now
"I live by faith in the Son of God." Galatians 2:20.
The kingdom of grace flourishes in the heart, when a Christian has learned to live by faith.
For a Christian to live on the promises, as a bee on the flower, and suck out the sweetness
of them; to trust in God’s heart—where we cannot trace His hand; to believe His love through a frown; to persuade ourselves, when He has the face of an enemy—that He has the heart of a Father; when we are arrived at this, the kingdom of grace is flourishing in our souls.
If there is either justice in heaven, or fire in hell
"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap!"
Galatians 6:7
"Heirs of the promise." Hebrews 6:17.
A wicked man can lay claim to nothing in the Bible, but the curses! The promises are
"Our Father in heaven." Matthew 6:9
Wherein lies the happiness, of having God for our Father?
"I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit." Isaiah 48:17
If God is our Father—He will teach us. What father will refuse to counsel his son? Does God command parents to instruct their children—and will not He instruct His children? "O God, you have taught me from my youth." Psalms 71:17. If God is our Father, He will give us the teachings of His Spirit.
"The natural man receives not the things of God, neither can he know them." 1 Corinthians 2:14. The natural man may have excellent notions in theology—but God must teach us to know the mysteries of the gospel after a spiritual manner. A man may see the figures upon a dial, but he cannot tell the time of day, unless the sun shines. Just so, we may read many truths in
the Bible—but we cannot know them savingly—until God by his Spirit shines upon our soul. God teaches not only our ear—but our heart! He not only informs our mind—but inclines our will. We never learn anything—until God teaches us!
"Our Father, who is in heaven" Matthew 6:9
How may we know, that God is our Father?
"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9
If God is our Father, we are of peaceable spirits. Grace infuses a sweet, amicable disposition.
gentleness. Those who have God to be their Father, follow peace as well as holiness. God the Father is the God of peace, Hebrews 13:20: God the Son, is the Prince of peace, Isaiah 9:6: God the Spirit, is the Spirit of peace; Ephesians 4:3.
The more peaceable, the more like God. God is not the Father of those who are fierce and
cruel—as if they had sucked the milk of a wolf! "The way of peace have they not known."
These furies may not call God their Father, though they may call the devil their father!
Prayer is