For Yours Is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, Forever. Amen.

In these words we have the conclusion of all, and that which gives us confidence in the requests we make to God.

First, the confirmation is taken from the excellency of God to whom we pray; where there is a declaration of what belongs to God.

Secondly, we have the duration and perpetuity, for ever.

Three things are mentioned as belonging to God; kingdom, power, and glory.

- 1. By kingdom is meant, God's right and authority over all things, by which he can dispose of them according to his own pleasure. - 2. By power is meant, his sufficiency to execute this right, and to do what he pleases, both in heaven and earth. - 3. The final cause of all, is his glory: yours is the glory; or the honor of all things in the world belongs to you. Glory is excellency discovered with praise. We desire that he may be more honored and brought into request and esteem.

Secondly, we have the obsignation, and sealing of our requests, in the word Amen; which is, Signaculum Fidei, an expression of our faith and hope: And actus desiderii, the strength of our desire. There is the Amen of faith, and the Amen of hearty desire; as by and by.

Now let us look upon this conclusion, first, as a doxology, or expression of praise to God: And the note is;

Doctrine. That in every address to God, lauding or praising of God is necessary.

For in this perfect form of prayer, Christ teaches us, not only to ask things needful for ourselves, but to ascribe to God things proper to him.

There are two words used in this case in Scripture, praise and blessing: praise relates to God's excellency; and blessing, to his benefits; (Psalm 145:10) All your works shall praise you, O Lord; and your saints shall bless you. All the works of God declare his excellency; but the saints will ever be ascribing to God, the benefits they have received from him. So they are spoken of as things, though somewhat alike, yet as distinct; (Nehemiah 9:5) Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. Our praise cannot reach the excellency of his nature; nor our blessing, express the worth of his benefits. Both may be here intended. For yours is kingdom and power, relates to his excellency; and yours is the glory, to his benefits; for God's glory is the reflex of all his works, and so expresses the benefits showed to the sons of men, especially to his people. Well then, whenever you would pray to God to bless you, you must bless God again, and praise his name; (Ephesians 1:3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. It is the echo and reflex of his grace and mercy to the creatures. God blesses us, and we bless God; as the echo returns the word, or the wall beats back the beams of the sun. Only consider, we bless God far otherwise than he blesses us: God's blessing is operative, ours declarative; his words are accompanied with power, Benedicere, is Benefacere. He does good, we speak good, when we remember the blessed effects of his grace, and tell what he has done for our souls.

The reasons why we are to mingle praises and thanksgiving with our requests, are these;

1. Because this complies more with the great end of worship; which is not so much the relief of man, as the honor of God; therefore we should not only intend the supply of our necessities, for that's but a brutish cry, howling for corn, wine, and oil, (Hosea 7:14) but we should intend also the honor of God; (Psalm 50:23) Whoever offers praise, glorifies me. A man may offer requests to God, yet not honor him, but seek himself; but he that offers praise, glorifies me: he that does affectionately, and from his heart, give God the honor of his attributes and titles in Scripture, he glorifies him; and therefore worship being for the glory of God, that should not be left out.

2. This is the most effectual spiritual oratory, or way of praying. (Psalm 67:5) Let the people praise you, O God, let all the people praise you. What then? Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. We have comforts increased, the more we praise God for what we have already received. The more vapors go up, the more showers come down; as the rivers receive, so they pour out, and all run into the sea again. There is a constant circular course and recourse from the sea, to the sea: so there is between God and us; the more we praise him, the more our blessings come down; and the more his blessings come down, the more we praise him again; so that we do not so much bless God, as bless ourselves. When the springs lie low, we pour a little water into the pump; not to enrich the fountain, but to bring up more for ourselves.

3. It's the noblest part of worship, and most excellent and acceptable service. It is a great honor to creatures, to bestow blessing upon God. In other duties, God is bestowing something on us; but in praise (according to our manner, and as creatures can) we bestow something upon God. In prayer, we come as beggars, expecting an alms: in hearing, we come as scholars and disciples, expecting instruction from God: here (according to our measure and ability) we give something to him; not because he needs it, being infinitely perfect, but because he deserves it, being infinitely gracious. This is the work of angels and glorified saints. Other duties more agree with our imperfect state, as hearing and prayer, that our wants may be supplied; but this duty agrees with our state when we are most perfect. Love is the grace of heaven, and praise the duty of heaven; we are for vials, they harps; prayer is our main work, and praise theirs.

Use. To reprove us, that we are altogether for the supply of our necessities, but little think of giving God the honor due to his name. Either we meddle not with it at all, or do it in a very slight fashion. In this perfect form, the glory of God is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending of this short prayer; the first petition, it is for God's glory, and the final conclusion also. And therefore it is verily a fault, that God is no more praised. In our addresses to him (Psalm 22:3) it's said, O you that inhabit the praises of Israel; the meaning is, dwells in Israel, where he is praised of them, because it is the great work they are about.

Surely our assemblies should more resound with the praises of God. In church worship, there should be a mixture of harps, which are instruments of praise, as well as vials full of odors, which are the prayers of the saints (Revelation 5:8). But usually we thrust gratulation, thanksgiving, and praise, into a narrow room, and are scanty therein, but can be large and copious in expressing our wants, and begging a supply. This duty is made too great a stranger in your dealings with God. What are the reasons of this defect?

1. Self-love. We are eager to have blessings, but we forget to return, to give God the glory: prayer is a work of necessity, but praise a work of duty, and homage. Self-love puts us upon prayer, but the love of God upon praise. Now because we are so full of self-love, therefore are we so backward to this duty.

2. A second cause is, our stupid negligence; we do not gather up matter of thanksgiving, and observe God's gracious dealing with us, that we may have with what to enlarge ourselves in giving glory to his name (Colossians 4:2). Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving. We should continually observe God's answers and visits of love; and what attributes he makes good to us in the course of his providence. But out of spiritual laziness, we do not take notice of these things, therefore no wonder if we are backward to speak good of his name, but are always whining, murmuring, and complaining.

Secondly, it is not only a doxology, but a full one, and very expressive of the excellency of God. From where note;

Doctrine. The saints are not niggardly and sparing in praising of God; kingdom, power, and glory, and all that is excellent, they ascribe to him.

A gracious heart has such a sense of God's worth and excellency, that he thinks he can never speak honorably enough of it. See how David enlarges himself very suitably to what is spoken here (1 Chronicles 29:10-13). And David said, Blessed be you, Lord God, for ever and ever: yours, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Now therefore, our God, we thank you, and praise your glorious name. O, when once a child of God falls upon speaking of God, he cannot tell how to come out of the meditation; he sees so much is due to God, that he heaps words upon words. So (1 Timothy 1:17), Now to the King Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory, for ever and ever. Amen. And in many other places of Scripture. Now this copiousness in praising of God, is, partly, because of the excellency of the object (Nehemiah 9:5). Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. When they have done what they can to bless God, remember his benefits, or praise God, and recount his excellencies, still they come too far short: therefore when we cannot do all, we should do much. And partly, it is from the greatness and largeness of their affection, they think never to have done enough for God, whom they love so much. David says, I will praise him yet more and more. They cannot satisfy themselves, by taking up the excellency of God in one notion only; therefore majesty, greatness, glory, wisdom, and power, they mention all things which are honorable and glorious.

Use. The use is again, to reprove us for being so cold and sparing this way. It argues a want of a due sense of God's excellency, and straitness of spiritual affection. Therefore we should study God more, and observe his manifold excellencies. Get a greater esteem of him in your hearts; for out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth will speak. We should be calling upon ourselves, as David (Psalm 103:1), Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Thirdly, I observe again; it is brought in with a "For," as relating to the foregoing petitions; Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for yours is the kingdom, etc.

What respect has this doxology to the foregoing requests?

- First, It serves to increase our confidence in prayer. - Secondly, Our reverence and affection. - Thirdly, To regulate and direct our prayers.

- 1. As to the person to whom we pray. - 2. As to the manner of asking. - 3. As to the persons praying.

Let us see all these requests.

First, the great end, is to increase our confidence. Observe,

Doctrine. It is a great relief to a soul, in praying to God, to consider, that his is the kingdom, power, and glory; and all these for ever.

His is the kingdom.

God has the sovereign government of all things. And then his right to govern, is backed with all-sufficient power and strength; and so he can dispose of his sovereignty for the bringing to pass what we expect from him.

Authority is one thing, and power another, but they both meet in God; he has all power and authority.

And then, his is the glory: he is concerned as well as we; indeed more, his interest is greater than ours, for the glory of all belongs to him. And all this, not for a time, but for ever. These are the encouragements to raise our confidence, that our prayers shall be heard, and granted, when we ask any thing according to his will.

There are two things that give us confidence in any that we sue to, if he be able and willing. Now God is able to grant our requests, and very prone and willing also. We are taught it sufficiently in this prayer; for we begin with him as Father, and we end with him as a glorious and powerful King: his fatherly affection (on the one hand) shows, that he is willing; and his royal power (on the other) that he is able. So that if we ask any thing according to his will, we need not doubt. We may gather his power and will out of this very clause: his power; for his is the kingdom, and power, or a right and authority, backed with absolute all-sufficiency. Then his will, yours is the glory; it is his glory to grant our petitions, not only matter of happiness to us, but of glory to God, therefore we need not doubt.

But more particularly:

(1.) There is confidence established by that, that his is the kingdom. God's kingdom is either universal, over all men or things; or particular and special, which notes his relation to the saints, to those which have given up themselves to his government, to be guided by him to everlasting glory: and both these are grounds of confidence.

1. His Universal Kingdom over all persons and things in the world. This kingdom is an absolute monarchy, with a plenary dominion and propriety grounded upon his creation of them. There is a two-fold dominion, Dominium Iurisdictionis, and Dominium Proprietatis: the one is such as a king has over his subjects; the other, such as a king has in his goods and lands: the latter is greater than the former. A king has a dominion of jurisdiction over his subjects, to command and govern them; but he has not such an absolute propriety in their persons, as he has in his own goods and lands; he may dispose of them absolutely at his own pleasure, but his jurisdiction is limited. In short, we must distinguish of his dominion, as a ruler, and as an owner. But both these, they concur in God, and that in the highest degree, for God is owner as well as ruler; he made all things out of nothing, therefore has a more absolute dominion over us, than any potentate or king can have, not only over his subjects, but his goods; and can govern all things, men, angels, and devils, according to his pleasure. It is more absolute, than any superiority in the world, and more universal, as comprising all persons and things; God has right to be King, because he gave being to all things, which no [reconstructed: earthly potentate] can. Therefore the author must be owner; all other kings are liable to be called to account and reckoning by this great King, for their administration; but God is absolute and supreme.

Now this is a great encouragement to us, that we go to a God that has an absolute right, for which he is responsible to none. We go not to a servant, or a subordinate agent, who may be controlled by a higher power, and whose act may be annulled; but to an absolute Lord, to whom none can say, What do you do? (Job 9:12). Here is the comfort of a believer, that he goes immediately to the fountain, and owner of all things; the absolute Lord of all the world, is his Father; the sovereign and free disposing of all things, is in his hand. If we expect any thing from subordinate instruments, God's leave must first be asked, or they can do nothing for us; but he can do what he pleases, it is his own; (Matthew 20:15) Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? None can call him to an account.

2. His relation to the saints. It is the duty of a king to defend his subjects, and provide for their welfare: so God being King, will see, that it be well with those that are under his government. It concerns you much to get an interest to be under this King, than to mention it in prayer: (Psalm 44:4) You are my King, O God, command deliverances for Jacob. If you want any thing for yourselves, or the Church, put God in mind of his relation to you, You are my King. Let not this interest lie neglected or unpleaded. All the benefit which subjects can expect from a potent king, you may expect from God.

Again, the word Command is notable, and expresses the case to the full; command deliverances; all things are at God's command and beck; if he does but speak the word, or give out order to second causes, it is all done instantly. So, (Psalm 5:2) Hearken to the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for to you will I pray, to you, and to none other. Why should we go to servants, when we may go to the King himself? So, (Psalm 74:12) For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. God will defend his kingdom, and right his injured subjects. Therefore if we would have any blessing to be accomplished for ourselves, or for the public, let us go to God, Yours is the Kingdom. And more especially, if we would have any good thing to be done, by those in authority, and subordinate power over us, do not so much treat with them, as with God. Let us beseech God to persuade and incline their hearts, for his is the kingdom; he can move them to do what shall be for the glory of his name, and the comfort and benefit of his afflicted people. Let us go to God, who is the sovereign King, he can give you to live a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty, (1 Timothy 2:2). Or, he can give you favor, dispose of their hearts to do good to his people. (Nehemiah 1:11) Prosper, I pray you, your servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cup-bearer. The sovereign disposal of all things, is in the hand of God.

(2.) Yours is the Power. This also is an argument of confidence, that God has not only a kingdom, but power to back it. Titles without power, make authority ridiculous, and beget [reconstructed: scorn], not reverence and respect. But now, his kingdom is accompanied with power and [illegible]. He has right to command all, and no creature can be too hard for him. [reconstructed: Earthly kings], when they have authority and power, it is limited. (2 Kings 6:27) When the woman came to the king of Israel; Help my Lord, O King. And he said, If the Lord does not help [illegible], shall I help you? 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 drew out all things from nothing, which established the heavens, which fixed the earth; that power of God, it is the ground of our confidence, (Psalm 121:2) My help comes 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, indeed, above our asking (Ephesians 3:20). Now to 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 works in us. We cannot empty the ocean with a nutshell, 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 (Matthew 8:2), Lord, if you will you can make me clean. You need not trouble yourselves about his will, he is so good and gracious, prone and ready to do good, so inclineable, 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 you can, and that's 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 sees an ordinary man coming, lets him pass without much importunity; but when he sees 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 clamor, 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; Yours is the glory: The honor and glory of all will redound to God, as the comfort accrues to us; it is for God's honor to show forth his power in our relief, and to be as good as his word. Now this is a ground of confidence, that he has joined his glory and our good together: And that God's praise waits, while our deliverance waits. (Psalm 65:1) Praise waits for you, O God, in Zion. You think your comfort stays, and all this while God's honor waits. So (Psalm 112:1), Praise you the Lord; Blessed is the man that fears 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 prevails with God more than that. If God were a loser by your comforts; if he could not save or bless you without wrong done to himself, we might be discouraged: But when you can come and plead with him, as Abigail, It will be no grief of heart to my Lord to forgive your servant: So, it will be no loss to God if he shows mercy and pity to such poor creatures as we are; you then may pray more freely and boldly. If your 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 suspicion; 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 honored. It is for the honor of God, to choose base, mean, and contemptible things, and to show forth the riches, goodness, 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 has twisted our concernment about his own honor and glory. Thus the saints plead God's glory as an argument (Jeremiah 14:7), O Lord, though our iniquities testify against us, do you it for your name's sake. They do not tell him what he shall do, but do you that which shall be for your glory. So (Ezekiel 36:22), Thus says the Lord God, I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for my holy name's sake. So (Isaiah 48:9), For my name's sake will I defer my anger, and for my praise will I refrain for you; that I [illegible]

(4.) The Duration, Forever; all excellencies which are in God, they are eternally in God. God is an infinite, simple, independent Being, the cause of all things, but caused by none; therefore he was from everlasting, and will be to everlasting: (Psalm 90:2) Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world: even from everlasting, to everlasting, you are God. If there were a time when God was not, then there was a time when nothing was; and then there would never have been anything, unless nothing could make all things: therefore God is eternally glorious, for whatever is in God, is originally in himself, and absolutely without dependence on any other, to everlasting. How loosely do honors sit upon men? Every disease shakes them out of their kingdom, power, and glory; and within a little while the state, show, and all the command of earthly kings will fade away, and come to nothing. Governors and government may die, principalities grow old and infirm, and sicken and die, as well as princes; kingdoms expire, like kings, and they like us. (Psalm 82:6-7) I have said, you are gods, and all of you are children of the most High: But you shall die like men. But your throne, O God, is forever and ever (Psalm 45:6). His kingdom, and power, and glory, they are without beginning, and without end. Now this is also a ground of confidence and dependence upon God. Earthly kings when they perish, their favorites are counted offenders. (1 Kings 1:21) When my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders. When other governors are set up, they and their children will be found offenders. But our King lives forever, therefore this should encourage us to be oftener in attendance upon God, performing it with all diligence and seriousness, rather than court the humors and lusts of earthly potentates, who die like one of the people, and leave us exposed to the rage and wrath of others that do succeed them: but God is the same that ever he was, to all those that ever called upon his name. God is where he was at first; I AM, is his name; there is no wrinkle upon the brow of eternity. His arm is not short, that it cannot save; or his ear heavy, that it cannot hear (Isaiah 59:1). Whatever he has been to his people that have called upon him in former ages, he is the same still. So, (Isaiah 51:9) Awake, awake, put on strength, O Arm of the Lord; awake as in the ancient days, in the generations of old: Are you not it that [reconstructed: cut the sea], and wounded the Dragon? God has done great things for his people, he smote Rahab, and killed the Dragon (meaning Pharaoh); and God is the same God still, his kingdom, power, and glory are forever; and God will be your God too forevermore. Look, as this does increase the terror of the damned in Hell, that they fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31), God lives forever to see vengeance executed upon his enemies: so it is a comfort to have an interest in the living God, that can and will keep you, and bring you to Heaven, where you shall be with him forevermore: that will ever live to see his friends rewarded.

Secondly, it directs and regulates our prayers.

1. It directs us as to the object of prayer; to whom should we pray but to him that is absolute, and above control? To God, and God alone, not to angels and saints. To whom should we go in our necessities, but to him that has dominion over all things, and power to dispose of them for his own glory? Will you think it a boldness to go immediately to God? It were so, indeed if we had not a Mediator: for a fallen creature can never have the impudence; and wicked men that have not got an interest in Christ, cannot expect relief from God; but it is no impudence to come with a Mediator. (Hebrews 4:16) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

2. It directs us how to conceive of God in prayer; right thoughts of God in prayer are very necessary, and very difficult: no one thing troubles the saints so much as this, how to fix their thoughts in the apprehensions of God, when they pray to him. Now here is a direction how we should look upon God: look upon him as the eternal Being, and first cause, to whom belong kingdom, power, and glory. We cannot see God's essence, and therefore we must conceive of him according to his praises in the Word. Now take but the preface, and the conclusion, and then you have a full description of God. Look upon him as an eternal Being, whose is the kingdom, absolute right to dispose of all things in the world, backed with all sufficiency and strength: and look upon him as your Father that is in Heaven; for, Our Father who is in Heaven, relates to Christ, that is in the heavenly sanctuary, appearing before God for us. This will help you in your conceptions of God, that you may not be puzzled nor entangled in prayer.

3. It directs us, as to the manner of praying; with reverence, with self-abhorrence, and with submission.

(1.) With reverence: for he is a great, powerful and glorious King: yours is the kingdom, power, and glory. O shall we serve God then in a slight and careless fashion! (Malachi 1:8) If you offer the blind, the lame and sick for sacrifice, is it not evil? Offer it now to your governor, will he be pleased with you, or accept your person? says the Lord of Hosts. Go to an earthly king, would you come to him with rude addresses, not thinking what to say, tumbling out words without sense and understanding. And compare this with verse 14: says God, when they brought him a sickly offering, I am a great King; implying, it is a lessening of his majesty. You do as it were dethrone God, you put him besides his kingdom, you do not treat him as he does deserve, if you do not come into his presence with a holy trembling.

(2.) With self-abhorrency, and a sense of your own nothingness. I observe this, because all the arguments in prayer are not taken from us, but from what is in God, from his attributes; Yours is the Kingdom, Power, and Glory. It is a blessed thing to have God's attributes on our side; to take an argument from God, when we can take none from ourselves. Christ teaches us to come with self-denial. The two first words, Kingdom and Power, show that all things come from God, as the first cause; and the last word, Yours is the Glory, shows all must be referred to God, as the last end: so that self must be cast out. So that all the reasons of audience and acceptance are without us, not from within us. (Daniel 9:8-9) To us belongs confusion of face; to the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses. Therefore thus it directs us to place all our confidence in God's fatherly affection, in his power, goodness, and glory, and in his absolute authority; nothing to move God from ourselves.

(3.) To come with submission. Yours is the Kingdom; that is, he has an absolute power to dispose of all blessings, therefore it is lawful for him to do with his own as he pleases. We must come, not murmuring or prescribing to God, but expecting the fulfilling of our desires, as it shall seem good to the Lord, according to his wisdom and power, by which he exercises his kingdom over all things, as may be for the glory of his name. (Psalm 115:1) Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for your mercy, and for your truth's sake. Not to satisfy our revenge, not to gratify our private interest and passions; but, Lord, for your name's sake, as may be for manifesting your mercy and truth, so do it: not too passionate for our own ends, but confident that God, who has the kingdom and government of the world in his own hands, will administer and carry on all things for his own glory.

4. It directs us again, what are the duties of the persons praying.

(1.) Freely to resign up ourselves to God's service. Otherwise we mock God, when we acknowledge his dominion over all the world, and we ourselves will not be made subject to God. Therefore certainly a man that uses this prayer, Yours is the Kingdom, Power, and Glory, will also say, I am yours, save me. (Psalm 119:94) Let us freely resign up ourselves for him to reign over us. Can you say with any face to God, Yours is the Kingdom, yet cherish rebellious lusts in your own hearts? It is the most unsuitable thing that can be. Yours is the Power; he is able to bear you out in his work, however the world rage. And therefore we should not think scorn of his service, for his is the glory: the service of such a King will put honor upon you.

(2.) Another duty of him that is to pray, is to depend upon God's all-sufficiency. Shall we speak thus of God, and say, Lord, Yours is the Power, and yet not rely upon him? He that cannot rely upon him for this life and the other, does but reproach God, when he says, Yours is the Power; Yours is the Power, yet I will not trust you, but fly to base shifts, as if the creature had power, and man had power, as if they could better provide for us than God. Therefore we are to live upon him, and cast ourselves into the arms of his all-sufficiency.

(3.) Another duty of them that would pray this prayer, is, sincerely to aim at and seek the Lord's glory in all things; why? For the glory is yours. Will you say, Yours is the Glory, and yet give and take the glory which is due to God, to yourself? All is due to him, from whom we have received all things. But he that prides himself in gifts and graces, cannot be in good earnest. Will you rob God of the honor, and wear it yourself? Did [reconstructed: men] believe all glory belongs to God, they would not take vain-glory to themselves. [reconstructed: Herod] was eloquent, and the people cried out, The voice of a God, and not of a man: he did but receive this applause, and usurped the glory due to God, and God blasted him. Therefore when we pride ourselves in our sufficiencies, and abuse our comforts to our own lusts, we cannot with a good conscience say, Yours is the Glory.

Forever. Amen.

Forever. Amen.

All this is sealed up to us in the last word, [Amen.] Which may signify, either, so be it, so let it be, or so it shall be.

The word Amen, sometimes is taken nominally, (Revelation 3:14) Thus says the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the beginning of the creation of God. Sometimes it is taken adverbially, and so it signifies Verily, and Truly; and so either it may express a great asseveration, or an affectionate desire. Sometimes it expresses a great and vehement asseveration, (John 6:47) Amen, Amen, Verily, Verily, I say to you. In other places it is put for an affectionate desire; (Jeremiah 28:6) When the false prophets prophesied peace, and Jeremiah pronounced war, Amen! the Lord do so, the Lord perform your words which you have prophesied. Amen, it is not an asseveration, as confirming the truth of their prophecy, but expressing his own hearty wish and desire, if God saw it good.

Two things are required in prayer; a fervent desire, and faith. A fervent desire; therefore it is said, (James 5:16) The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. And then, faith, (James 1:6) But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. What is that faith required in prayer? A persuasion that those things we ask regularly according to God's will, that God will grant them for Christ's sake. Now both these Amen signifies: our hearty desire that it may be so; and our faith (that is) our [reconstructed: acquiescence] in the mercy and power, and wisdom of God concerning the event.

Christ would have us bind up this prayer, and conclude it thus, Amen, so let it be, so it shall be. Observe hence,

That it is good to conclude holy exercises with some vigor and warmth.

Natural motion is swifter in the end and close: so should our spiritual affections, as we draw to a conclusion, put forth the efficacy of faith and holy desires, and recollect as it were all the foregoing affections; that we may go out of the presence of God with a sweet savor and relish, and a renewed confidence in his mercy and power.

Again, this Amen relates to all the foregoing petitions, not to one only. Many when they hear, Lord, Give us this day our daily bread, will say Amen; but when they come to the petition, Your Will be done on earth, as it is in heaven, they are cold there, and have not hearty desires and earnest affections. Many beg pardon of sin; but to be kept from evil, to bridle and restrain their souls from sin, they do not say Amen to that. Many would have defense, maintenance, and victory over their enemies; but not with respect to God's glory: they forget that petition, Hallowed be your name, but this should be subordinated to his glory. In fact, we must say Amen to all the clauses of this prayer. Many say, Lord, Forgive us our debts, but do not like that, as we forgive our debtors; they are loath to forgive their enemies, but carry a rancorous mind to them which have done them wrong. But now we must say Amen to all that is specified in this prayer. Then,

Mark, this Amen is put in the close of the doxology. Observe hence,

There must be a hearty Amen to our praises, as well as our prayers; that we may show zeal for God's glory, as well as affection to our profit.

Your allelujahs should sound as loud as your supplications, and not only say Amen when you come with prayers and requests, things you stand in need of; but Amen, when you are praising God.