In Earth as It Is in Heaven

1 The meaning.

Having showed the meaning of this petition, your will be done, now we are to speak of the condition, which is, in what manner we should do it. For the question may be, how we should do God's will: the answer is, his will must be done in earth as it is in heaven.

Heaven] By heaven here is meant the souls of faithful men departed, and the elect Angels. Psalms 103:20: Praise the Lord you his Angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, in obeying the voice of his word.

Earth] By earth is understood nothing but men on earth, because all other creatures in their kind obey God: only man, he is rebellious and disobedient. Then the meaning is, Let your will be done by us men on earth, as the Angels and saints departed, do your will in heaven.

Qu. Do we here desire to do the will of God in that perfection it is done by angels? Must we be as perfect as they? Ans. the words here used (in earth as it, &c.) do not signify an equality, as though our obedience should in this life be in the same degree of perfection with angels; but a similitude or the like manner of obeying. It may be said, in what manner do the Angels obey God? Answer. They do the will of God willingly, speedily, and faithfully; and this is signified, in that they are said in the Scriptures to be winged, and to stand continually beholding the face of our heavenly Father. And this is the manner in which we desire to perform God's will.

2. The wants to be bewailed.

We are here admonished to be displeased with ourselves, for our imperfect obedience to God, and for our hypocrisy, privy pride, presumption, deadness of spirit, and many other wants which break out, when we are in doing God's will. There is no servant of God, but has wants in his best works, so we must understand, Paul (Romans 7:18), he says as much, as if he could begin a good thing, but not perfect it, and go through stitch, as we say. When the godly do good works, as hear, speak God's word, pray, praise God, &c. they perform things acceptable to God: but in these actions, they find matter of mourning; namely, the imperfection of the work. Therefore, David prays (Psalms 143:2), Enter not into judgment with your servant. And here we may see, how far wide the Church of Rome is, that holds good works to be any way meritorious, that be every way imperfect. If the men of that church had grace, they might see that the corruptions of the flesh were as gyves and fetters about their legs, that when they would fain run the ways of God's commandments, they are constrained to halt downright, and to trail their loins after them.

3 Grace to be desired.

The grace here to be desired, is sincerity of heart in doing God's will, so as we may keep a good conscience before God and men. Acts 24:16: And for this cause I endeavored always to have a clear conscience towards God, and towards men. This must we hunger after, and pray for: seeing it is not sufficient to abstain from evil, but also to do good, and in doing good, strive to come to perfection.