2. The Meaning
The wants which we in this petition are to mourn for, are of two sorts: some concern our own selves, some others. That which concerns our own persons is a bondage and slavery under sin and Satan. This bondage indeed is weakened in God's servants, but none is wholly freed from it in this life. Paul complains that he is sold under sin, and cries pitifully, O miserable man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death?
Question: What difference is then between the godly and the wicked? Answer: The evil and ungodly man in the very midst of his bondage has a merry heart: sin is no trouble to him, in fact it is meat and drink to him. But the godly man is otherwise minded: who considering the power of the devil, and his craft in manifold fearful temptations; and seeing the proneness of his rebellious nature ever and anon to start away from God, is grieved and confounded in himself, and his heart bleeds within him that he does offend so merciful a father.
Many men live in this world and that many years, and yet never feel this bondage under Satan and sin. Such undoubtedly cannot tell what this prayer means: but he that would have the right use of this petition, must be acquainted with his own estate, and be touched in his conscience, that the flesh and the devil bear such sway in him. As the poor captive is always creeping to the prison door, always laboring to get off his bolts and fetters, and to escape out of prison: so must we always cry to the Lord for his Spirit to free us out of this bondage and prison of sin and corruption: and every day come nearer the prison door, looking when our blessed Savior will unbind us of all the fetters of sin and Satan, and fully erect his kingdom in us.
2. The wants which concern others are twofold. The former is the want of the good means which serve for the furthering of the kingdom of Christ, as preaching, sacraments, and discipline. When we shall see a people without knowledge, and without good guides and teachers, or when we see one stand up in the congregation not able to teach, here is matter for mourning. This petition puts us in mind to bewail these wants. Our Savior, when he saw the Jews as sheep without a shepherd, he had compassion on them: and he wept over Jerusalem, because they knew not the things which belong to their peace (Luke 9:11). Therefore when preachers want, to hold up the scepter of God before the people, and to hold out the word, which is as it were the arm of God to pull men from the bondage of the devil to the kingdom of Christ, then it is time to say, Lord let your kingdom come.
3. The third want which we are to bewail is, that there be so many impediments and hindrances of the kingdom of grace, as the devil and all his angels, their instruments, the Pope, the Turk, and all the rest of the professed wicked of the world, which by subtle enticements and tyranny, keep back and repel the means by which Christ rules as a king in his church. When the devil sees one that was sometime of his kingdom but to cast a look towards the heavenly Jerusalem, he straightway rages against him and labors quite to overthrow him. Therefore, in regard of all these impediments, we must pray, Your kingdom come.
