A brief Exposition of the lords Prayer, contained in Questions and Answers: Collected for the instruction of the unlearned, by john Tomkys Preacher of God's Word in the Town of Shrewesburie. 1585. Psal. 34. vers. 11. Come ye children and hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Seen and allowed according to her majesties Injunctions. AT LONDON; Printed by Robert Waldegrave, for William Ponsonbye. ¶ TO THE CHRISTIAN PARENTS, AND GODLY House-houlders in the town of Shrewesburie, grace, mercy and peace, in CHRIST JESUS be multiplied. YE have hear published in print, in Questions & Answers, (beloved in the Lord) the Sum of that exposition of the Lords prayer, which for your edifying, and the instruction of your families, I made more at large in form of Catechising, for the Evening prayer exercise upon the Sabbath days, in such sort as you then heard, and as God vouchsafed to inhable me. It may be objected, that many godly writers have handled this argument very learnedly, and published the same to the benefit of the Church in their catechisms, whose form, in respect of the matter, it might well have beseemed me to have used. All this, with reverence both of the Objectors and Writers, I acknowledge to be most true. And, if I had contented me self therewith, it would have made more with mine ease. Not to offend these Writers, but to satisfy these Objectors, the reason, which moved me in this sort to collect both the Questions and Answers, forth of learned Authors, which more at large have interpreted this Prayer, is this. In most Catechisms, the Question is brief, and the Answer is large: So that the Child, whose memory is short, and capacity weak, doth hardly at once commit so much to remembrance, and heardelier conceive what he rehearseth. To ease him in the one, and to help him in the other, I have endeavoured me self to use brevity in both. And yet, I must confess, that a dutiful care to deliver effectually and plainly the full sum and comfortable sense of every word of this most divine Prayer, hath forced me sometimes in the Answer to lay down more words, then willingly I would. But how so ever I have behaved me self in Method, since I have used truth and sincerity in matter, I trust you will accept my good will, and approve my labour. I have thought good to publish this my travel, to satisfy the godly desire of some parents well disposed, that the copies might be multiplied to the benefit of the youth. How necessary it is, that we be continually exercised in prayer, the manyfould perils both of body and of soul, wherewith we be environed, sufficiently showeth. How comfortable it is so to be occupied, Psalm 81.8 & 86.5.6.7. GOD allowing us to flee unto him by prayer, in the day of our trouble, Psalm 50.15. and promising us of his mercy to hear us, and to deliver us forth of all our distress, It may easily by the faithful be conceived, How fruitless a thing it is, to demand of GOD in our prayer, that we ought not, or in such sort as we should not, CHRIST showeth Math. 6.7 when as he condemneth such prayers by the name of BABBLING. Therefore, that our prayers may be fruitful and comfortable, CHRIST hath given us this form of prayer, within the bounds whereof, the prayers of the faithful must be conceived. Now, for so much as your duty is, (ye Christian parents) Ephes. 6.4 to bring up your children in the instruction and information of the Lord, 1 Tim 2 1.2 whereof prayer is no mean part 1. Thes. 5.17 wherein we should be exercised continually: exercise therefore, I beseech you in the LORD, your families, with such diligence, in these Questions and Answers, that they may thereby be taught reverently to talk with the LORD in their prayers. Which fruit of my simple labours, if it may please God, that I may see, it will be no small encouragement unto me, to proceed in my ministry, as I have begun. God bless you, enlarge his gifts among you, and establish you in his truth. Amen. Yours in the Lord, john Tomkys. SALOP the first of May. 1585. A brief exposition of the lords prayer, The Lord's prayer. contained in Questions and Answers. The Parent. SAy the lords Prayer. The Lord's prayer. The Child. a Mat. 6.9. Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done even in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. And lead us not into tentation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen. P. How do ye call this Prayer? C. The Lord's Prayer. P. Why so? C The preface. a Math 6.9 Luke 11.2 Because the Lord jesus taught it his disciples. P. Of how many parts consisteth this prayer? C. Three parts. Of three, 1. A Preface, 2. the petitions, 3. and a conclusion. P The preface Which is the Preface? C b Math. 6 9 Luke 11.2 Our father which art in Heaven. P How many things do we learn in the Preface? C Two things: 1. To whom we must pray: 2. with what confidence we must pray. P Unto whom must we pray? C c Exod 30 37 jeremy. 2 13 Acts 10, 26 Act 14, 14.15 Apoc. 19, 10 & 22, 8, 9 Unto God only. P With what confidence must we pray unto him? C d Math, 7, 7, & 21.22 Mark, 11, 24 Luke 11.9 iohn 14, 13 & 16.23. iames 1.5 With full assurance that he will hear us, if we pray according to his will. P Why do we call him Father, when we pray unto him? C Hereby we learn, 1. that he loveth us, and 2. e isaiah. 49 15 Luke 11, 11 12.13 john 16 23 that he will hear us. P Why do we call God our Father, when we pray unto him? C First, to assure ourselves, The petitions. a Esay 49.15 that he loveth us being his children: then to teach us b 1, joh. 1 10 12. to love one another being brethren. P Why do we mention his being in Heaven, when we pray unto him? C First to assure ourselves, c Psalm 115.3 that he can help us: then to teach us, d Math, 6.33 to ask those things, which be agreeable to his nature. P Which are the Petitions? The Petitions C e Mat 6 9 Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done even in earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtor. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. P How many things do we crave of God in general in these petitions? C Two things: First, those things, which tend to God's glory, secondly, all things, that are necessary as well for our bodies as for our souls. P How many petitions doth the lords prayer contain? The first petition. C Six. P In how many of these petitions are we taught to pray that God may be glorified? C In the three first. P Which be they? C a Mat. 6.9. 1. hallowed be thy name. 2. Thy kingdom come. 3. Thy will be done even in earth, as it is heaven. P In how many of these petitions are we taught to pray to God, that we may be helped? C In the three last. P Which be they? C b Mat. 6.11. 1. Give us this day our daily bread. 2. And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. 3. And lead us not into tentation, but deliver us from evil. P Which is the first petition? C The first petition. c Mat. 6.9. Luke. 11.2. Hallowed be thy name. P Why is this petition placed in the first place? C To teach us, d Math. 6.33. that above all things we ought to seek the glory of God. P What is meant by the Name of God? The second petition. C That whereby his a Gene. 17.1. Ex d. 3.14.15 & 6.3. & 15.3. & 34.6. Psal. 48.11. & 86.5.9.10.15. nature is described in the Scripture. P What is it to hallow or sanctify the name of God? C b Ezech. 38.16. To think reverently of him, and to yield him his due honour. P What is meant by Thy, when as we say: * Math 6.9. Luke. 11.2. hallowed be thy name? C Even this, c Deut. 6.13. & 10.20. & 13.4. The second Petition. Math 4.10. Luke. 4.8. Apoc. 19.10. & 22.9. that God only is to be honoured. P Which is the Second petition? C d Math. 6.10. Luke. 11.2. Thy kingdom come. P Why do we crave of God, that his kingdom may come, immediately after we had desired, that we might hallow his Name? C Because e john. 3.5 6. we can not hallow his name, except he reign in us by his holy spirit. P What is the kingdom of God? C f Psal. 2. & 45. & 72. Esay. 9 jerem 23. 1.13. The gracious government of his people both in heaven and earth. P When doth the kingdom of God come unto us? C When it is g Gene. 3.15. & 22.18. Math. 4.17. Mark. 1.15. 1. published by the word, h Math. 12.22 & 28.20. Mark 16.20. 2. built up by Christ, a joh. 3.5. 2. Cor. 5.5, Ephes. 1.13.14 1. Pet. 1.22.23. and 3. established by the holy ghost. The third petition. P Why do we pray, that the kingdom of God may come unto us? b Rom 6.23 Ephe 2.1 2.3. That we may be delivered from the thraldom of Satan. P Unto whom do we desire that this kingdom may come? C c Math 9.38 Even unto ourselves. P Is there any special thing signified by this word, Thy, when we say: d Math. 6.10 Luke 11.2 Thy kingdom? C Yea verily: for thereby we pray, e Acts. 4 29 that the tyranny of Antichrist may be confounded, f Acts. 4.30 and that the Kingdom of God may be enlarged. P The third petition. Which is the third Petition? C g Math. 6.10 Luke 11.2 Thy will be done even in earth as it is in heaven. P Why is this petition placed in the third place? C h john. 8: 47 Because God doth then reign in us, when we submit ourselves to his will. P What doth this word Thy, import, when we say: i Math. 6, 10 Luke 11 2 Thy will be done? C Even this much: that Gods will, and not ours be done. P Why do we pray in that manner? C Because a Psalm, 51, 2 Ephes, 1, 5 his will is good, but b Gen. 6, 5 our will is evil. P How many ways is the will of God considered in the scripture? C Two ways: c Esay 46.9 10, 11, psa, 33 11 & 115, 3 1. as it is secret, d joh. 1, 18. 1 Pet, 1, 10▪ 11, 12. 2. pet, 1, 20, 21. 2, Tim 3.16, 17. 2. as it is revealed. P In whether sense, is it taken in this petition? C e Eph, 4, 11, 1● In the latter sense. P In praying, that Gods will be done, what do we desire? C 1. That f iohn 6, 40 we may be saved by his Son jesus Christ, 2. that we g 1, Cor, 6, 19, 20. 1, thes, 4, 3 ephes, 1, 4, may serve him, 3 and that we h 2 Tim, 2, 1● 12. Heb. 12 Act, 14, 22 may be made like the image of his son. P In what manner do we pray, that Gods will be done upon earth? C Even in such manner i Math, 6.10 Luke. 11, 2 as it is in heaven. P And how is that? C k Dan 7, 10 Luke 15 10 Heb, 1, 7 Psal, 34, 8 In most dutiful manner, and with all obedience? P Why do we pray that Gods will be done in Earth? C l Psal, 24, 1 Because he is Lord of the earth also, where his will should be known and obeyed. The fourth petition. P The fourth Petition. Which is the Fourth petition? C a Math 6.11. Luke. 11.3. Give us this day our daily bread P Why is this petition the First of those, wherein we crave of God things necessary for our sustenance? C Because it is convenient, that we crave our finding at God's hands, b Deut. 8.3. Math. 4.4. Luke. 4.4. of whom we do only depend. P What is mente by the name of Bread? C c Gene. 3.19 john. 6.51. 1. Cor. 10 3. Math. 24.45. Luke. 12 42. 2. Cor. 4.1. What so ever is necessary for the maintenance of our life. P Why doth Christ use this word Bread, rather than any other, thereby to signify things necessary for this present life? C To admonish us d 3. Reg. 13.8. & 4. Reg. 4 8. Num. 11.31. etc. Psal. 78.30 31 to live in all sobriety. P Why do we call this bread Ours, since God giveth it us? C e 1. Cor. 1.30. Thereby we learn to acknowledge God's goodness, f Gene 3.19. Ephes. 4.28. 2. Thes. 3.11.12. and also to labour truly to get our living. P Why do we call it our Daily bread, & desire, that it may be given us Daily? C Thereby we learn g Luke. 11 3. to acknowledge our daily necessity, h Math. 6.34. and to content ourselves with that which God vouchsafeth to bestow upon us. The fifth petition. P Why do we pray that it may be given us, speaking of many? C Because we ought to pray a 1. Tim. 2.1. 1. Cor. 12.12. Ephe. 1.22 23 for others as well as for ourselves b 2. Cor. 8.13.14.15. and to help others, with that which God giveth us. P Why do we pray to God, to give us all things needful for us? C Hereby we learn 1. c job. 1.21. that of our selves we have nothing, 2. d john. 6.16. Ezech. 4.16. Math. 5.45. & 6.25. etc. Luke 12.23. 1. Pet. 5.7. that God is willing to give us, what soever he knoweth needful for us, 3. e Esay. 1.3. The fifth petition. and that we ought to use his gifts to his glory. P Which is the fifth petition? C f Math. 6.12. Luke. 11.4. And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. P Why is this petition placed next unto those that went before? C To strengthen us against Satan's temptations g G. 4.13. which layeth our sins before us, to discourage us in our prayers. P Why doth Christ teach us h Math. 6.11. Luke. 11.3 first to ask things necessary for the body, i Math. 6.12. Luke. 11.4. and then things needful for the soul? C k Math. 6.25. etc. Luke. 12.22. etc. 1. Pet. 5.7. Psal. 55.23. To assure us, that since God is careful for our bodies, he will be much more careful for our souls. P Why doth Christ teach us, a Math. 6.12. Luke. 11.4. to call our sins debts? C Because b Gene. 17.4. our obedience is due debt unto God, which when we do not perform c Rom. 5.23. his wrath is due debt unto us. P Why doth Christ teach all men to pray in this manner? C d Psal. 51.7. Rom. 3.9. etc. jam. 3.2. Because all are transgressors of God's laws, and aught to acknowledge the same. P Why doth Christ teach us to ask God forgiveness of our sins? C e Psal. 32.2. Esay. 43.25. & 44.22. Mark. 2.7. Because to forgive sins belongeth to God only, unto whom we become debtters through our transgressions. P May we receive any comfort, in that we be taught to ask God forgiveness of our sins? C Yea verily: for thereby we learn, f Psal. 101.11.12. & 130.7. Math 18.23. etc. that God is willing to forgive us our sins, if we crave it in faith. P How may it stand with God's justice freely to forgive us our offences, the desert whereof is death and damnation? C a Deut. 21.23. & 27.26. Esay. 53.42. Cor. 5.21. 2.14. Because Christ our mediator hath made satisfaction to God for us. P How doth God freely forgive us our sins, seeing he doth many ways punish us for them? C He punisheth us for them in deed b 1. Cor. 11.32. 1. Pet 4 17. not thereby to purge us from them, but to chastise us, lest we should delight in them. P Is there not a condition added to this petition? C Yea, even this: c Math. 6.12. Luke. 11.4. as we also forgive our debtor. P Do we deserve forgiveness at God's hands, if we forgive them that trespass against us? C No, for than it could not be truly said, d Math. 18.27 Ephes. 1.6. that God doth freely forgive us. P Why then is this condition added? C Both to teach us e Math. 18.22.35. Rom. 8.14. that we ought to forgive other, f Math. 6.14.15. and also to assure us, that, (if we find ourselves charitably minded towards other) God will forgive us. P May not the Magistrate punish malefactors, notwithstanding, that we forgive them the offences which they commit against us? C The sixth petition. Yes, why not? a Rom. 13.1. etc. For punishment lawfully inflicted by the Magistrate, is not contrary to private charity here taught. P The sixth petition. Which is the sixth petition? C b Math. 6.13. Luke. 11.4. And lead us not into tentation, but deliver us from evil. P Why is this petition placed in the last place? C Because we can not enjoy God's gifts, which we have prayed for, except he vouchsafe c Rom. 6.16. to deliver us from the assaults of Satan. P What is meant by tentation, in this petition? C d Math. 4.1. etc. Luke. 4.1. etc. 2. Cor. 11.14. 1. Pet. 5.8. The crafty guiles and subtle assaults of Satan, whereby he allureth us continually to break God's laws. P What do we desire of God, when we beseech him, that he will not lead us into these temptations? C Herein we pray him, e Rom. 7.23. that he will not deliver us up to our own lusts, f Ephes. 2.2. nor to the tyranny of the Devil. P Why doth Christ teach us to pray to God to deliver us from tentation? C Thereby he teacheth us g Ephes. 6.10. etc. to flee to God's protection in all temptations, & h Ephes. 6.18. to crave spiritual aid of him in the same. The Conclusion. P What is that Evil, from the which we desire God to deliver us? C a Math. 4.1. etc. Luke. 4.1. etc. The Conclusion. The Devil himself, Sin, the Flesh, the vanities of the world, and whatsoever. Satan useth as an instrument to draw us from obedience to God. P. Which is the Conclusion of the Lords prayer? C b Math. 6.13. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, & the glory for ever. Amen. P What doth this conclusion contain? C c Apoc 7.12. The praise due unto God, whereby we profess our faith in him. P In acknowledging that the kingdom is Gods, what do we? C Thereby we profess, that it belongeth to God only, to give us those things which we have asked, d Psal. 22.19. & 103.19. because he only ruleth in heaven and earth. P And what do we, when we confess, that the Power is his also? C Thereby we acknowledge, that he only is able to give us all those things, which we have prayed for, e Psal. 115.3. Esay. 14.27. because he only is omnipotent. P And what do we in acknowledging that the Glory is his in like manner? C Hereby we acknowledge, that he only is to be worshipped, prayed unto and praised, a Psal. 115.1. because unto him only belongeth glory and majesty. P What is meant by this Addition: b Math. 6.13. for ever. C Hereby our faith is confirmed, and God is glorified, when we do confess, c Psal. 102.13. &. 145.13. Apoc. 7.12. that his kingdom, his power, and his glory last, not for time, but for everlasting. P Why do we shut up this prayer with d Math. 6.13. Amen. C Thereby we do profess e Nehe. 8.7. 1. Cor. 14.16. that we pray heartily, and that God will grant what so ever we ask according to his commandment. A Prayer to be used as well in private houses, as in the Congregation before the exercise of Catechising. O Most gracious God and merciful Father, we beseech thee for thy son our saviour Christ's sake, so to bless the meditations of our hearts, the words of our mouths, and the attendance of our ears, that what so ever shall be conceived, spoken, and heard, may turn to thy glory and our edifying. Amen. FINIS.