3. We need uprightness and sincerity, that we may mind the glory of God. This is not a work of nature, but grace : Phil. ii. 21, ' All men seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.' There is the fruit and effect of nature, it puts men upon seeking their own things, worldly ease, profit, and pleasure. Every creature natu- rally seeks its own welfare ; but to make the glory of God our great aim and pursuit, it is grace puts upon that. Water ascends no higher than it descends, so nature cannot rise beyond itself. The stream cannot rise above the fountain, and above the principle. A man that hath nothing but nature, he cannot unfeignedly seek the things which are of God. The old man with the deceitful lusts, that is the natural man. The U]iright heart, that unfeignedly seeks God, needs grace from above. Without influence from God, our actions cannot have a tendency to God. We shall prefer our interest before God's glory, if we have no higher principle than what our hearts furnish us with.
4. We must go to God for submission. Now there is_ a double submission required, which if we have not, we shall find it marvel- lously difficult to glorify God. One, as to the choice of instruments ; another, as to tl>8 way and means by which God will bring about his own glory.
Mat. VI. 9.] the loiid's prayer. 77
[1.] As to the choice of instruments. There is in us an envy, and wicked emulation. Oh, how hard a matter is it to rejoice in the gifts, and graces, and services of others, and be content with the dispensa- tion, when God will cast us by as unworthy, and use others for the glorifying of his name ! Therefore that we may refer the choice of instruments to God, we need go to him and say. Lord, ' hallowed be thy name ;' do it which way, and by whom thou pleascst. We are troubled, if others glorify God, and not we, or more than we ; if they be more holy, more useful, or more serious, self will not yield to this. Now by putting up this prayer to God, we refer it to him to choose the instrument whom he will employ. It was a commendable modesty and self-denial in John Baptist, which is described, John iii. 13, ' He must increase, I must decrease.' When we are contented to be abased and obscured, provided Christ may be honoured and exalted ; and be content with such a dispensation, though with our loss and decrease. Many are of a private station, and straitened in gifts, and can have no public instrumentality for God ; now these need to pray, ' Hallowed be thy name,' that they may rejoice when God useth others whom he hath furnished with greater abilities.
[2.] A submission for the way ; that we may submit to those im- pleasing means and circumstances of his providence, that God will take up and make use of, for the glorifying of his holy name. Many times we must be content, not only to be active instiuments, but pas- sive objects of God's glory. And therefore if God will glorify himself by our poverty, or our disgrace, our pain and sickness, we must be content. Therefore we need to deal with God seriously about this matter, that we may submit to the Lord's will, as Jesus Christ did : John xii. 27, 28, ' Save me from this hour ; but for this cause came I unto this hour : Father, glorify thy name. And there was a voice from heaven that said, I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.' Put me to shame, suffering, to endure the cross, the curse, so thou mayest be glorified. This was the humble submission of Christ Jesus, and such a submission should be in us. The martyrs were contented to be bound to the stake, if that way God will use them to his glory. Phil. i. 20, saith Paul, ' So Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death :' if my body be taken to heaven in glory, or whether it be exercised or worn out with ministerial labour. We need to deal with God that we may have the end, and leave the means to his own choosing ; that God may be glorified in our condition, whatever it be. If he will have us rich and full, that he might be glorified in our bounty ; if he will have us poor and low, that he may be glorified in our patience ; if he will have us healthy, that he may be glorified in our labour ; if he will have us sick, that he may be glorified in our pain ; if he will have us live, that he may be glorified in our lives ; if he will have us die, that he may be glori- fied in our deaths : and therefore, ' Whether we live or die, we are the Lord's :' Kom. xiv. 9. A Christian is to be like a die in the*hand of providence, content whether he be cast high or low, and not to grudge at it, whether he will continue us longer or take us out of the world. As a servant employed beyond the seas, if his master will have him tarry, there he tarries ; if he would have him come home,