"In this prayer ("Lord's Prayer") there are three parts observable:-
1. The preface.
2. The petitions themselves.
3. The conclusion
In the preface we have a description of God, as always we should begin prayer with awful thoughts of God. God is described partly from his goodness and mercy -Our Father; and partly from his greatness and majesty -which art in heaven.
I. His goodness and mercy: Our Father; where is set forth:-
1. The relation wherein God standeth to his people, in the word Father.
2. Their propriety and interest in that relation, wherein, not the particular interest of a single believer is asserted, My Father, but the general interest of all the elect in Christ, Our Father.
II. What advantage have we in prayer by taking up God under this notion and relation, when we can come to him and say, ‘ Our Father’?
1. It conduceth to our confidence in prayer.
2. It furthereth our duty
How will God perform the parts of a father?
l. In allowing them full leave to come to him in all their necessities.
2. In supplying all our wants.
3. Pitying our miseries.
Own God in the humbling way. Learn the policy of the prodigal: Luke xv 18, 19, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.’ This is the policy and art of a humble faith, to call God Father.
We now come to speak of the possessive particle—Our Father. The word is used for a double reason:
1. To comfort us in the sense of our interest in God.
2. To mind us of the common interest of all the saints in the same God. It is not my or thy Father only, but our Father.
That all the saints have a common interest in the same God; therefore Christ taught us to say, ‘Our Father. They have one Father, as well as one Spirit—one Christ, one hope, and one heaven: Eph. iv. 6."
Thomas Manton (1620-1677)
1. The preface.
2. The petitions themselves.
3. The conclusion
In the preface we have a description of God, as always we should begin prayer with awful thoughts of God. God is described partly from his goodness and mercy -Our Father; and partly from his greatness and majesty -which art in heaven.
I. His goodness and mercy: Our Father; where is set forth:-
1. The relation wherein God standeth to his people, in the word Father.
2. Their propriety and interest in that relation, wherein, not the particular interest of a single believer is asserted, My Father, but the general interest of all the elect in Christ, Our Father.
II. What advantage have we in prayer by taking up God under this notion and relation, when we can come to him and say, ‘ Our Father’?
1. It conduceth to our confidence in prayer.
2. It furthereth our duty
How will God perform the parts of a father?
l. In allowing them full leave to come to him in all their necessities.
2. In supplying all our wants.
3. Pitying our miseries.
Own God in the humbling way. Learn the policy of the prodigal: Luke xv 18, 19, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.’ This is the policy and art of a humble faith, to call God Father.
We now come to speak of the possessive particle—Our Father. The word is used for a double reason:
1. To comfort us in the sense of our interest in God.
2. To mind us of the common interest of all the saints in the same God. It is not my or thy Father only, but our Father.
That all the saints have a common interest in the same God; therefore Christ taught us to say, ‘Our Father. They have one Father, as well as one Spirit—one Christ, one hope, and one heaven: Eph. iv. 6."
Thomas Manton (1620-1677)
