108 AX EXPOSITION OF [Mat. VI. 10.
[1.] Because of tlie offence, scandal, and mischief done to the church by his fall ; and to make amends, he prayeth the more earnestly, let not Zion fare the worse for my sake. From thence observe, that the sins of particular persons oft bring a mischief upon the whole com- munity. David had made a breach in the walls of God's protection, and left them naked, and more in danger of judgment : ' Therefore do good,' &c.
[2.] David was not only a private member, but a prince, and their sins have a more universal influence. The sins of magistrates draw down judgments on their people, all smart for their miscarriages. Hezekiah's pride cost Israel dear : 2 Chron. xxxii. 25, ' Wrath was upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.' It did not stay upon his person. As a great oak cannot fall but all the shrubs about it suffer loss. But,
[3.] David having some comfortable assurance of the pardon of his sins, doth now seek mercy for the church. From thence observe, that we are never fit to pray for the public, lill we have made our peace with God ; as the priests under the law offered sacrifice, ' first for their own sins, and then for the people's : ' Heb. vii. 27.
[4.] Because being brought by such a solemn but sad occasion into God's presence, he could not but have some thoughts of Zion. And from thence observe, that we should never come to God upon any private occasion but we should remember the public. We are to pray in love as well as faith. Christ hath not taught us to say, ' My Father,' but, * Our Father,' to show that we should take in the interests and concernments of the whole body, that there may be a spirit of com- munion breathing in our prayers. David doth not only say, ' Have mercy upon me according to thy loving-kindness,' but, ' Do good unto Zion in thy good pleasure.' Every living member will be careful for the body. Members should be careful one for another, much more for the whole. Is any member pained or grieved ? — all suffer. If the toe be trod upon, the tongue complaiueth, you have hurt me ; but now much more when all is concerned. Therefore we should not altogether seek our own things, but wrestle with God for the public.
I. This reproveth divers sorts of people. Some are enemies to the public welfare, as vipers eat out the dam's belly, — especially enemies to Zion : ' Down with it, down with it, even to the ground ! ' What monsters hath this age brought forth ! Others are indifferent and careless which goeth up, Christ or Antichrist ; they only mind the matters of their own interest and concernment : ' All seek their own things.' As to the public interest of the church, let all go how it will. Let me tell you, to be selfi.sh is a sort of self-excommunication ; you cast yourselves out of the bundle of life. And to be senseless, it is an implicit renouncing the body. Others there are that are gracious, but full of discontent at some passages of providence, and these seem to have lost their ])ublic affections. It is a sad symptom when a praying people are discouraged from praying for public welfare. God is very tender of the prayers of his people ; he is loth they should be lost, and sorry they cannot be granted. We may sin in ceasing to pray. It is a sad judgment when the hearts of God's people are taken off from praying. Again, those that pray too coldly for the public,
Mat. VI. 10.] the lord's prayer. 109
not as those that avouIcI do their work. There is a great decay of the spirit of ]n-ayer, which is also a sad presage. But now to show you : — II. What we should pray for for Zion.
1. The dilatation or enlargeroent of it throughout the world. The more ample God's heritage is, the more is his glory known : Prov. xiv. 28, ' In the multitude of the people is the king's honour ; ' and the glory of a shepherd lieth in the number of his flock. So Christ "s king- dom, the more it is enlarged, the more honour God hath : Ps. Ixvii. 2, ' That thy way may be known among the heathen, and thy saving- health among all nations.' Especially when the fulness of the Gen- tiles is brought in, Ps. liv. 2 ; and when the Jews are brought in, Hosea iii. 5. To be instrumental to enlarge Christ's kingdom, it is an honour to us to draw on Christ's triumphant chariot, — let us be sure to have a hand in it. These prayers, if sincere, are never in vain ; if they profit not others, they promote the kingdom of God in ourselves.
2. The preservation and defence of the churches already planted, frustrating the plots and power of the enemies : That God would be ' a wall of fire round about them,' Zech. ii. 5. Qui communis arceat et eminus terreat. When at the weakest, God can protect them, bridling by his secret j)Ower the rage of adversaries, or defeating their attempts.