only to gratify their sensual appetite: " the ravens cry for food," Ps. cxlvii. 9. To pray for (mtwar<l things only to satisfy nature, is to cry rather like ravens tlian Cliristians. We must have an higher end in our pray- ers, we must aim at heaven, while we are praying for earth. And must we pray for temporal things for spiritual ends, that we may be fitter to serve God? Then, how wicked are they, who beg temporal mercies tliat they may be more enabled to sin a- gainst God ? Janies iv. 3., " Ye ask that ye may consume it upon your lusts." One man is sick, and he prays fi)r health that he may be among his cups and harlots ; an- other prays for an estate, — he would not only have his belly filled, but his barns. And why would he be rich ? that he may raise his name, or that, having more power in his hand, he may now take a fuller re- venge on his enemies. This is impiety joined with impudence; to pray to God to give us temporal things, that we may be the better enabled to serve the devil.
Uss. If we are to pray for temporal good things, then how much more for spiritual ? if we are to pi-ay for bread, then, liow much more for the bread of life ? if for oil, then, how much more for the oil of gladness '^ If we pray to have our hunger satisfied, much more should we pray to have our souls saved Alas ! what if God should hear our prayers, and grant us these temporal things, and no more, what were we the better ? W^hat is it to liave food, and want grace ? What is it to liave the back clothed and the soul naked ? to have a south land, and want the living springs in Christ's blood ? What com- fort could that be ? O therefore let us be earnest for spiritual mercies ! Lord do not only \'cQi\ me, but sanctify me ; rather an heart full of grace, than an house full of gold ; if we are to pray for daily bread, the things of this life, mucli more for the things of the life that is to come.
3. From this Avord give, I note, that they whom God hath given a large measure of outward things to, yet must pray, " Give us daily bread." And this may answer a question.
Quest. Some may say, we have an estate already, and ichat need we pray, * Give us daily bread ?'
516
OF THE FOURTH PETITION IN THE LORD'S PRAYER.
Ans. Supposing- we Lave a ])lentiful estate, vet we need make this petition, " Give us tlaily bi-eatl," and that upon a double ac- count.
(1.) That we may have a blessing upon our food, and all that we enjoy, Ps. cxxxii. 15., " I will abundantly bless hei* provision. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word which proceedeth out of God's mouth," Mat. iv. 4. What is that but a word of blessing ? Though the bread is in our hand, yet the blessing is in God's hand, and it must be fetched out of his hand by prayer. Well therefore may rich men pray, " Give us our bread," let it be seasoned with a blessing. If God should withhold a blessing, nothing we have would do us good; our clothes would not warm us, our food would not nourish us: Ps. cvi. 15., " lie gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul," — that is, they pined away, and their meat did not nourish them. If God should withhold a blessing, what we eat would turn to bad humours, and hasten death. If God do not bless our riches, they will do us more hurt than good, Eccl. V. 13., " Riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt." So that, granting we have plentiful estates, yet we had need pray, " Give us our bread ;" let us Lave a blessing with what we have.
(2.) Though we have estates, yet we had need pray, give, that we may hereby engage God to continue these comforts to us. How many casualities may fall out ? How many have liad corn in their barn, and a fii'e hath come on a sudden and consumed all ? How many have had losses at sea, and great es- tates boiled away to nothing? Ruth i. 21., *' I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty." Therefore, though we have estates, yet we had need pray, " give us," Lord, give a continuance of these comforts, that they may not, before ■we are aware, take wings and fly from us. So much for this first word in the petition,
give.
Secondly, us. " Give us."
Quest. Whtj do we pray here in the plural? IJ'Tiy ^ give usf Why is it not said, ' give me?'
Ans. To show that we are to have pub- c spirits in prayer ; we must not only pray
for ourselves, but others ; both the law of God, and the law of love bind us to this, " we must love our neighbour as ourselves;" therefore we must pray for them as well as ourselves. Every good Christian hath a fellow-feeling of the wants and miseries of others, and he prays God would extend his bounty to them, especially, he prays for the saints, Eph. vi. 18., " Praying always for all saints." These are children of the fa- mily.