eclipsed, — here I must rather suffer in my estate, than God's glory should suffer, Heb. X. 34. ^th. We must prefer God's glory before our life. Rev. xii. 11., " They loved not their own lives to the death." Igna- tius called his fetters his spiritual jewels, he wore them as a chain of pearl. Gordius the martyr said, " It is to my loss, if you bate me any thing of my sufferings." This argues grace crescent, and elevatetl in an high degree. Who but a soul inflamed in love to God, can set God highest on the throne, and prefer him above all private concerns ?
II. The second thing in the petition, is the matter of it. " Give us this day our daily bread." The sum of this petition is, that God would give us such a competency in these outward things, as he sees most excellent for us. It is much like that prayer of Agur, Prov. xxx. 8., " Feed me with food convenient for me ;" give me a viati- cmn, a bait by the way, enough to bear my charges till I come to heaven, and it suflSc- eth. Let me explain the words, " Give us this day our daily bread." [Give] Hence note, that the good things of this life are the gifts of God : he is the donor of all our blessings. " Give us :" not only faith, but food is the gift of God ; not only daily grace is from God, but " daily bread ;" e- very good thing comes from God, James i. 17., " every good gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights." Wisdom is the gift of God, Is. xxviii. 26., " His God doth instruct him to discretion." Riches are the gift of God, 2 Chron. i. 12., " I will give thee riches." Peace is the gift of God, Ps. cxlvii. 14., " He makelh j)eace in thy borders." Health, Avhich is the cream of life, is the gift of God, Jer. xxx. 17., " I will restore health to thee." Rain is the gift of God, Job v. 10., " Who "iveth rain on the earth." All comes from God ; he makes the corn to grow, and the herbs to flourish.
Use \st. See our own poverty and indi- gence : we live all upon alms, and upon free-gifts, " give us this day." All we have is from the hand of God's royal bounty; we have nothing but what God gives us out of his store-house ; we cannot have one bit of bread but from God. The devil per-
OF THE FOURTH FETITlON IN THE LORD'S PRAYER.
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Buaded our first parents, that by disoljeyino: God, they should " be as gods," Gen. iii. 5., but we may now see wliat goodly gods we are, that we have not a bit of bread to put in our moutlis, unh'ss God <;ivc it us : liere is an huniblinc;' consideration.
2d. Is all a gift? Then we are to seek every mercy from God by prayer, " (iive us this <lay." The tree of mercy will not drop its fruit, unless shaken by the hand of prayer. Whatever we have, if it do not come in the way of prayer, it doth not come in the way of love; it is given, as Israel's quails, in anger. If every thing be a gift, we do not deserve it, we are not fit for it, uidess we ask for this alms. And must we go to God for every mercy ? How wicked are they, wlio instead of going to God for food when they want, they go to the devil ; they make a compact with him; and if lie will help them to a livelihood, they will give him their souls. Better "tarve, than go to the devil for provender. I wish there be none in our age guilty of this, who, when they are in want, use in- direct means for a, livelihood ; they consult with witches, who are the devil's oracles ; the end of these will be fearful, as that of Saul was, whom the Lord is said to have killed, because he asked counsel at a fami- liar spirit.
2d. If all be a gift, then it is not a debt, we cannot say to God, as that creditor said. Mat. xviii. 28., " Pay me that thou owest." Who can make God a debtor, or do any act that is obliging and meritorious ? What- ever we receive from God is a gift ; we can give nothing to God but what he hath gi- ven to us, 1 Chron. xxix 14., " All tilings come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee." David and his people offered to the building of God's house gold and silver, but they offered nothing but what God had given them, " of thine own have we given thee." If we love God, God it is that hath given us an heart to love him ; if we praise him, he both gives us the or- gan of the tongue, and puts it in tune ; if we give alms to others, God hath given alms to us fiist, so that we may say, " we offer, O Lord, of thine own to thee.' Is all <tf gilt, how absurd then is the doctrine of merit ^ That was a proud speech of the
friar, that said, Rcdde mild vifam etetnnm quam dehas, — 'give me. Lord, eternal life, which thou owest me.' A\'e cannot deserve a bit of bread, much, less a crown of glory. If all be a gift, then merit is exploded, and slint out of doors.