[2.] Thine is the power. This also is an argument of confidence, that God hath not only a kingdom, but power to back it. Titles without power make authority ridiculous, and beget scorn, not rever- ence and respect. But now God's kingdom is accompanied with power and all-sufiiciency. He hath right to command all, and no
Mat. VL 13.] the lord's pkayer. 249
creature can be too hard for him. Earthly kings, when they have authority and power, yet it is limited : 2 Kings vi. 27, When the woman came to the king of Israel, 'Help, my lord, 0 king. And he said, If the Lord do not help thee, whence shall I help thee ? ' But God's is an unlimited power: an absolute right and an unlimited power, they meet fitly in God ; therefore this is an encouragement to go to him. Christians, that power of God which educed all things out of nothing, which established the heavens, which fixed the earth ; that power of God, it is the ground of our confidence : Ps. cxxi. 2, ' My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.' This power should we depend upon.
We can ask nothing but what God is able to give, yea, above our asking : Eph. iii, 20, ' Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.' Our thoughts are vast, and our desires very craving, and yet beyond all that we can ask or think, 'According to the mighty power that worketh in us.' We cannot empty the ocean with a nut- shell, nor comprehend the infinite God, and raise our thoughts to the vast extent of his power, only we must go to some instances of God's power ; that power which made the world out of nothing, and that power which wrought in you, where there is such infinite resistance. We may go to God and say. Mat. %dii. 2, ' Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.' You need not trouble yourselves about his will ; he is so good and gracious, prone and ready to do good ; so inclinable : he is your heavenly Father. But that which is most questioned is the sufficiency of God ; can you believe his power ? Now determine but that, Lord, thou canst, and that is a great relief to the soul. Our wants are not so many but God is able to supply them ; our enemies and corruptions not so strong but God is able to subdue them : surely your heavenly Father will do what is in the power of his hand. A beggar, when he seeth an ordinary man coming, lets him pass without much importunity ; but when he seeth a man well habited, well attended, and with rich accoutrements, he runs close to him, and will not let him alone, but follows him with his clamour, knows it is in his power to help him. So this should encourage us to go to the mighty God, which made heaven and earth, and all things out of nothing.
The third argument which Christ propounds, ' Thine is the glory.' The honour and glory of all will redound to God, as the comfort accrueth to us ; it is for God's honour to show forth his power in our relief, and to be as good as his word. Now this is a ground of con- fidence, that he hath joined his glory and our good together ; and that God's praise wjdteth, while our deliverance waiteth : Ps. Ixv. 1, ' Praise waiteth for thee, 0 God, in Zion.' You think your comfort stays, and all this while God's honour waits. So Ps. cxii, 1, ' Praise ye the Lord ; blessed is the man that feareth the Lord.' It is the Lord's praise that his servants are the only and blessed people in the world ; and this is a wonderful ground of confidence. Think, surely God's glory he will be chary and tender of ; he will provide for the glory of his great name. There is nothing God stands upon more than upon the glory of his name ; nothing prevaileth with God more than that. If God were a loser by your comforts, if he could not save or bless
250 AN EXPOSITION OF [Mat. VI. 13.
thee without wrong done to himself, w^e might be discouraged. But when you come and plead with him, as Abigail, It will be no grief of heart unto my lord to forgive thy servant ;' so it will be no loss to God if he show mercy and pity to such ])ooy creatures as we are ; you then may pray more freely and boldly. If thy comforts were inconsistent with his glory, or were not so greatly exalted by it, then it were another matter ; but all makes for the glory of his name. If our good and happiness were only concerned in it, there might be some suspi- cion ; but the glory of God is concerned, which is more worth than all the world. We are unworthy to be heard and accepted, but God is worthy to be honoured. It is for the honour of God to chocse base, mean, and contemptible things, and to show forth the riches, good- ness, power, and treasure of his glory. Much of our trouble and distrust comes only from reflecting upon our own good in the mercies that we ask, as if God were not concerned in them, whereas the Lord is concerned as well as you. As the ivy wrapped about the tree cannot be hurt, except you do hurt to the tree, so the Lord hath twisted our concernment about his own honour and glory. Thus the saints plead God's glory as an argument : Jer. xiv. 7, ' 0 Lord, though our iniqui- ties testify against us, do thou it for thy name's sake.' They do not tell him what he shall do, but do thou that which shall be for thy glory. So Ezek. xxxvi. 22, ' Thus saith the Lord God, I do not this for your sakes, 0 house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake ; ' so Isa. xlviii. 9, ' For my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.'