In praying that God, or his name may be hallowed or glorified, we pray that he may be known, such as he is, by all that are capable thereof, by all intelligent beings, and with affections suitable to that knowledge: that he maybe duly honoured and feared and loved by all in heaven above and in the earth beneath; by all angels and men, whom for that end he has made capable of knowing and loving him to eternity.
8. Thy kingdom come. This has a close connexion with the preceding petition. In order that the name of God might be hallowed we pray that his kingdom, the kingdom of Christ may come. This kingdom then comes to a particular person, when he repents and believes the gospel: when he is taught of God, not only to know himself, but to know Jesus Christ and him crucified. As this is life eternal, to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent, so it is the kingdom of God begun below, set up in the believer’s heart: the Lord God omnipotent then reigneth, when he is known through Christ Jesus. He taketh unto himself his mighty power; that he may subdue all things unto himself. He goeth on in the soul conquering and to conquer, ’till he hath put all things under his feet, ’till every thought is brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
When therefore God shall give his Son the Heathen for his inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for his possession; when all kingdoms shall bow before him, and all nations shall do him service; when the mountain of the Lord’s house, the church of Christ shall be established in the top of the mountains; when the fullness of theGentiles shall come in, and all Israel shall be saved: then shall it be seen, that the Lord is King and hath put on glorious apparel, appearing to every soul of man, as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. And it is meet for all those who love his appearing, to pray that he would hasten the time: that this his kingdom, the kingdom of grace may come quickly, and swallow up all the kingdoms of the earth; that all mankind receiving him for their king, truly believing in his name, may be filled with righteousness and peace and joy, with holiness and happiness, ’till they are removed hence into his heavenly kingdom, there to reign with him for ever and ever.
For this also we pray in those words, Thy kingdom come: we pray for the coming of his everlasting kingdom, the kingdom of glory in heaven, which is the continuation and perfection of the kingdom of grace an earth. Consequently this, as well as the preceding petition, is offered up for the whole intelligent creation, who are all interested in this grand event, the final renovation of all things, by God’s putting an end to misery and sin, to infirmity and death, taking all things into his own hands, and setting up the kingdom which endureth throughout all ages.
Exactly answerable to this, are those awful words, in the prayer, at the burial of the dead; “Beseeching thee, that it may please thee of thy gracious goodness, shortly to accomplish thenumber of thine elect, and to hasten thy kingdom: that we with all those that are departed, in the true faith of thy holy name, may have our perfect consummation and bliss, both in body and soul, in thy everlasting glory.”
9. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. This is the necessary and immediate consequence, wherever the kingdom of God is come: wherever God dwells in the soul by faith, and Christ reigns in the heart by love.
It is probable, many, perhaps the generality of men, at the first view of these words, are apt to imagine, they are only an expression of, or petition for resignation; for a readiness to suffer the will of God, whatsoever it be concerning us. And this is unquestionably a divine and excellent temper, a most precious gift of God. But this is not what we pray for in this petition, at least not in the chief and primary sense of it. We pray, not so much for a passive, as for an active conformity to the will of God, in saying, Thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.
*How is it done by the angels of God in heaven? Those who now circle his throne rejoicing? They do it willingly; they love his commandments, and gladly hearken to his words. It is their meat and drink to do his will; it is their highest glory and joy. They do it continually; there is no interruption in their willing service. They rest not day nor night, but employevery hour (speaking after the manner of men; otherwise our measures of duration, days and nights and hours, have no place in eternity) in fulfilling his commands, in executing his designs, in performing the council of his will. And they do it perfectly. No sin, no defect belongs to angelick minds. It is true, the stars are not pure in his sight, even the morning-stars that sing together before him. In his sight, that is in comparison of him, the very angels are not pure. But this does not imply, that they are not pure in themselves. Doubtless they are; they are without spot and blameless. They are altogether devoted to his will, and perfectly obedient in all things.
*If we view this in another light, we may observe, the angels of God in heaven, do all the will of God. And they do nothing else, nothing but what they are absolutely assured is his will. Again, they do all the will of God, as he willeth, in the manner which pleases him, and no other. Yea, and they do this, only because it is his will; for this end and no other reason.
10. When therefore we pray, that the will of God may be done on earth as it is in heaven, the meaning is, that all the inhabitants of the earth, even the whole race of mankind, may do the will of their Father which is in heaven, as willingly as the holy angels: that these may do it continually even as they, without any interruption of their willing service: yea, andthat they may do it perfectly; that the God of peace, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, may make them perfect in every good work to do his will, and work in them all which is well-pleasing in his sight.