But because many have too weak a faith about temporal things, let us consider how willing God is to distribute and give out these sup- plies. Several things I might mention.
1. God's respect to the bodies of his people is a mighty ground and encouragement. God is in covenant with the body as well as the soul. Jesus Christ proves the resurrection from thence, that God is ' the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob : ' Mat. xxii. 32. This argument can never be made good, but upon the supposition that God is iu covenant with Abraham's body, with the whole believer ; and there- fore the mark of circumcision was in their flesh, as the water of bap- tism is sprinkled upon our bodies. Well, then, if the bodies of the saints be in covenant with God, certainly some of the promises of the covenant do concern the body and sustentation of the present life. But that is not all, but Jesus Christ hath purchased both body and
158 AN EXPOSITION OF [MaT. VI. 11.
soul : 1 Cor. vi. 20, ' Ye are bought with a price ; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.' Not only the soul is Christ's, but the body.
You will say. That is ground of service ; but what ! can it be in- ferred that therefore God will provide for us ? It is not only a ground of our service, but of Christ's care of us. If Christ had only purchased our service, yet it were a ground of hope. If you expect work and service from a body, you will give maintenance to that body. But Christ's purchase implieth his care over that he hath purchased ; for the interest God hatli in us in redemption is a gracious interest. God had an interest in us before we were redeemed ; we could not make void his right by any rebellion of ours. But then God hath such an interest in us as engaged and solicited him to destroy us. Look, as a prince hath an interest in his subjects, if they rebel and revolt from their obedience, they cannot disannul his right, but it is such a right as binds him to pursue and chastise them until they return to their duty, so God hath a right to the fallen creature, but it was such a right as solicited vengeance. But the right Christ purchased was a gi-acious right, that God might protect and preserve us. Well, then, if Christ purchased body and soul, he hath obtained, not only that God should be gracious to our souls, but gracious to our bodies ; then the argument runs clearly for confirming the faith of the saints in expectation of temporal benefits.
2. God hath given us greater things, therefore he will not stand upon the less ; when a man hath been at great cost, he will not lose ifc. The Lord hath given us his Christ : Rom. viii. 32, ' He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things ? ' Can any man be so illogical, so ill-skilled in consequences, as not to conclude from thence, if God give us Christ, with him he will give us all things ? So Mat. vi. 33, ' Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all other things shall be added to you.'
3. These things are dispensed to inferior, yea, to the worst of his creatures : Ps. cxlvii. 9, ' He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cr}'.' Will God maintain the beasts of the field, and will he not maintain his children ? It is monstrous and unna- tural to think thus, that God will not support you, and bear you out in your work. This is Christ's own argument : Mat. vi. 34, ' Take therefore no thought for the morrow ; for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.' Daily bread is in your Father's power, and he gives it gra- ciously to all his creatures, and therefore certainly he will give it to you. Thus you may see with what confidence you may expect daily supplies.
Secondly, It informs us that we may ask temporal things, if we ask them lawfully. It is true, prayers to God for spiritual things are more acceptable. As your child pleaseth you better when it comes to you to be taught its book, rather than when it comes for an apple, so it is more pleasing to God when you come for the Mediator's bless- ing and spiritual things : Acts iii. 26, ' God hath sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.' But yet we may
Mat. VI. 11.] THE lord's PRAYER. 159
ask other things. Why ? For they are good and useful to us in the course of our service, and without them we are exposed to many temptations. And prayer easeth you of a deal of carking ahout them : Phil. iv. 6, ' Be careful for nothing ; but in everj^thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.' We may ask them, but it must be lawfully ; and that, for order, not in the first place. That is howling, when we come to God merely for corn, wine, and oil ; when we pi-efer these things before his favour and the graces of his Spirit. Then it must be lawful, too, as to the manner ; a moderate proportion, not to set God a task to maintain you at such a rate, but to ask a moderate allowance. Christ teacheth us here to pray for bread, which is a necessary allowance : Prov. XXX. 8, ' Feed me with food convenient for me.' And, 1 Tim. vi. 8, ' If we have food and raiment, let us therewith be content.' And then ask them with humility and submission to the will of God. We ought to say, as in James iv. 15, ' If the Lord will, we will go to such a place, and get gain.' And then lawfully, too, as to the end ; not for an unlawful end, for ostentation and riot, that we may live at large and at ease : James iv. 3, ' Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.' But we must ask it for a good end: Ps. cxv. 1, ' Not unto us, 0 Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.' Lord, not for our ease, or our plenty, but that thy name may be glorified, that we may be supported in service. And then again, law- fully as to the plea. We must not come and challenge it, as if it were our due ; we must not use the plea of merit, but of mercy. Our Saviour doth not say. Let this bread come to us anyhow, as he saith, ' Let thy will be done ; ' our subjection to God is due ; but, ' Give us this day our daily bread,' acknowledging the Lord's mercy.