Thus, then, it is a mighty advantage. If we did take up God in this notion, to look upon him as a father, it would increase our con- fidence and dependence upon him. This is a sweet relation : the
48 AX EXPOSITION OF [Mat. VI. 9.
reality is more in God than can be in an earthly father ; for he is a father according to his essence, knowing onr necessities, pardoning our sins, supplying our wants, forming and feshioning our manners, providing able guardians for us, and laying up a blessed inheritance for us in heaven.
Secondly, As it encourageth us to pray, so it furthereth our duty in prayer, that we may behave ourselves with reverence, love, and grati- tude.
[1.] With a child-like reverence and affection in prayer : J\Ial. i. 6, ' If, then, I be a father, where is mine honour ? And if I be a master, where is my fear ? ' If we expect the supplies of children, we must perform the duty of children. God will be owned as a father, not with a fellow-like familiarity, but humbly, and with an awe of his majesty.
[2.] With love. Now, our love to God is mainly seen by subjection and obedience to his laws. Thus Christ would have us take up God in prayer under such a relation, that we might mind our duty to him : 1 Pet. i. 17, ' And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.' We never pray aright but when we pray resolving to cast off all sin. How can we call him Father, whom we care not continually to displease from day to day ? So the Lord treats his people : Jer. iii. 5, 6, ' Thou hast said. Thou art my father. Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest.' God takes it to be a contumely and reproach to himself when we do evil, yet come and call him Father. He takes it ill that men should come complimentally and flatter him with lying lips, and do not walk as children in holy obedience. Therefore, it is an engagement to serve God with holiness.
[3.] With gratitude. When we come to pray, we must remember not only what we want, but what we have received, acknowledging we have all from him ; he is our father : Deut. xxxii. 6, ' Do ye thus requite the Lord, 0 foolish people, and unwise ? Is not he thy father that hath bought thee ? Hath he not made thee and estab- lished thee ? ' We must acknowledge the good we have, as well as that we expect to come from him. Therefore, if we would have a praying frame, and be eased of our solicitude, and that anxious care which is a disparagement to providence, it is good to take up God under the notion of a father, which makes us rest upon him for all things : Mat. vi. 25, ' Take no thought for your lite, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink ; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.' Why ? ' For your heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of all these things.' You that are able fathers would think yourselves disparaged if that your children should filch and steal for their living, and beg and be solicitous, and go up and down from door to door for their maintenance and support, and not trust to your care and pro- vision. A believer wliich knoweth he hath a heavenly Father will not be negligent in his calling, but be active and industrious in his way, and use those lawful means which, by the providence of God, he hath been brought up in ; and then, ' be careful for nothing,' as the apostle s advice is, Phil. iv. 6. and ' in everything, by prayer and sup-
Mat. YI. 9.] the lord's trayer. 49
plication, make your request known unto God.' Oli, could we turn carking into prayer, and run to our Father, it would be happy for us. Care, and diligence, and necessary provision, that is our work and labour : but, for the success and event of things, leave it to God. When we are carking in the world with such anxiousness, and troubled Avith restless thoughts, how we should be provided for in old age, and wdiat will become of us and ours, we take God's work out of his hands. This is a disparagement to our heavenly Father, and a reproach to his providence and fatherly care. Well, then, certainly this is of great advantage in prayer.
APPLICATION.
Use. If it be a great advantage in prayer to take up God under the notion and relation of a father, then those that would pray aright, let this instruct and quicken them above all things. Clear up your adoption, that you may be able to call God Father, for otherwise, when you come to pray, it is a very lie to God. As Acts v. 4, when Ananias spake false to the apostle, saith Peter to him : ' Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.' Why ? Because he knows all that is done in the world. But much more do they lie unto God here ; this is a very disgrace and blasphemy, a contumely, rather than a prayer and supplication, when you will come and make God to father the devil's brats. When you that live in sin, and have no reverence and awe of God upon your hearts, shall come and pray to him, this is a lie which is told to the very face of God.