Expositions of the Lord’s Prayer

“Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed by thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread; forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.”

Matt 6:9-13

Order of Contents

Intro
Early & Medieval 8
Shorter 16+
Longer 43+
Song 1

Introduction

Do you derive satisfaction and help from every phrase of the Lord’s Prayer? Pray this perfect pattern of prayer from our Lord with renewed fullness and greater comprehension for you and yours by delving into these expositions of the Lord’s Prayer.

For the new-born Christian and the doctrinally astute, learn theology regarding the Fatherhood of God, the Kingdom of God, God’s providence in every day affairs, the same over evil and temptation and glory in the attributes of our God and the heaven that He has prepared for us. Next, teach your children the meaning of every prayerful petition of this building block of the Christian life, and remember to never pray it without a simple, child-like spirit in faith.

Right now the collection is mainly from the Puritan era, if the Lord spares us, we will add more from other periods as well. For more expositions, see Bible commentaries on Matt 6:9-13.

The Early Church

Tertullian – ‘On the Our Father’ at Patristic Bible Commentary

Tertullian (c. 155 AD – c. 220)

Cyprian – On the Lord’s Prayer in ed. T. Herbert Bindley, St. Cyprian on the Lord’s Prayer: an English Translation with Introduction (SPCK, 1914), pp. 25-80 HTML

Cyprian (200-258) was the Bishop of Carthage and was considered the pre-eminent Latin writer of Western Christianity until Jerome and Augustine.

Gregory of Nyssa – The Lord’s Prayer ToC in The Lord’s Prayer; the Beatitudes trans. Hilda C. Graef in Ancient Christian Writers (Newman Press, 1954), pp. 21-84

Gregory (c. 335 – c. 395)

Evagrius Ponticus – ‘On the ‘Our Father” in Evagrius Ponticus trans. A.M. Casiday in The Early Church Fathers Pre (London: Routledge, 2006), pp. 150-53

Evagrius (345–399)

Chrysostom, John – ‘Homily 19 on Matt 6’ in The Homilies of Chrysostom on the Gospel of Matthew in A Library of Fathers of the Holy Catholic Church, pp. 292-300

‘Golden-mouthed’ Chrysostom (349-407) was born in Antioch and became the Archbishop of Constantinople. He has preserved homilies on most of the New Testament.

Ps-Chrysostom – The Interpretation of the Prayer, ‘Our Father’ trans. K. Papadopoulos at Academia.edu

Augustine – ‘On the Lord’s Prayer’ d. 430 14 paragraphs

Theodore Mopsuestia – Lord’s Prayer in Commentary of Theodore of Mopsuestia on the Lord’s Prayer & on the Sacraments of Baptism & the Eucharist in Woodbrooke Studies, vol. 6 (Cambridge: W. Hefer, 1933), pp. 1-16

The Medieval Church

Dionysius Syrus – An Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer in A Clear & Learned Explication of the History of our Blessed Savior Jesus Christ, Taken out of Above Thirty Greek, Syriac, and Other Oriental Authors, by Way of Catena (Dublin [1695])

Dionysius Syrus, or Jacob Bar-Salibi, was an Assyrian metropolitan bishop and the best-known and most prolific writer in the Syriac Orthodox Church of the twelfth century.

Shorter Works – 1500’s

Calvin, John – 24. ‘Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer’ in Instruction in Faith (1537) tr. Paul T. Fuhrman (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1949), pp. 59-66

Viret, Pierre

A Notable Collection of Diverse & Sundry Places of the Sacred Scriptures which make to the Declaration of the Lord’s Prayer, commonly called the Pater Noster (London, 1548)

A Christian Instruction… (London: Veale, 1573), A Familiar Exposition of the Principal Points of the Catechism, 23^rd Dialogue

Of the Form of Prayer which Christ gave to the Church, and of the parts thereof

Of the Points of the doctrine contained in the preface of the Lord’s Prayer

Of the Content of the three first requests of the Lord’s Prayer

Of the Content of the three last demands, and what things we ought to demand of God, and to what end

Bullinger, Henry – 5^th Sermon, ‘Of the Form & Manner how to Pray to God; that is, of the calling on the name of the Lord; where also the Lord’s Prayer is expounded…’ in The Decades ed. Thomas Harding (Cambridge: Parker Society, 1850), vol. 4, 5^th Decade, pp. 163-226

Lever, Thomas – A Meditation upon the Lord’s Prayer (1551) 8 pp.

Gau, John – The Pater Noster [‘Our Father’] †1553 18 pp., from his The Right Way to the Kingdom of Heaven, pp. 82-100

Gau was an early Scottish Lutheran before the Reformation of 1560.

Bradford, John – Writings, vol. 1 (d. 1555) English reformer and martyr

A Meditation of the Lord’s Prayer 21 pp.
A Paraphrase upon the Lord’s Prayer 5 pp.

Bull, Henry – Christian Prayers & Holy Meditations (d. 1557)

A Meditation upon the Lord’s Prayer pp. 9-41
Another Meditation upon the Lord’s Prayer pp. 41-44

Bull (†1577) was an English Protestant theological writer, now remembered as an ally of John Foxe (remembered for Foxe’s Book of Martyrs) in documenting the history of his times.

Becon, Thomas – The Lord’s Prayer, Called the Pater Noster (d. 1567) 5 pp. in Catechism English reformer

Finch, Henry – A Short Explication of the Lord’s Prayer (1589) 19 pp., from his The Sacred Doctrine of Divinity gathered out of the Word of God, Together with an Explication of the Lord’s Prayer

Virel, Matthew – A Learned & Excellent Treatise containing All the Principal Grounds of Christian Religion (London, 1594), bk. 2

Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer

Intro
Preface
1^st Petition
2^nd Petition
3^rd Petition
4^th Petition
5^th Petition
6^th Petition

Virel (1561-1595)

Perkins, William – pp. 1023-24 of An Advertisement to All Favorers of the Roman Religion, showing that the said Religion is against the catholic Principles & Grounds of the Catechism [Apostles’ Creed, Ten Commandments, Lord’s Prayer, Lord’s Supper] in A Reformed Catholic… ([Cambridge] 1598)

Shorter Works – 1600’s 10+

Craig, John

‘The Lord’s Prayer’ 7 pp. in A Short Sum of the Whole Catechism (d. 1600), ‘The Third Part of God’s Honor, of Prayer in General’ no page numbers

Craig (1512-1600) was a Scottish minister alongside John Knox. Craig was responsible for drawing up the National Covenant of 1581.

Meditations upon the Lord’s Prayer (d. 1600) 32 paragraphs in The Mother & the Child, A Short Catechism… With short, very comfortable & fruitful meditations on the Lord’s Prayer

Horne, Robert – ‘A Short Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer, in Questions and Answers’ (1617) 10 pp. in Points of Instruction for the Ignorant as also, an Exposition on the Ten Commandments & the Lord’s Prayer by questions & answers…

Mayer, John – ‘Concerning Prayer’ 1623 79 pp. in The English Catechism Explained, pp. 412-91

Mayer was English and reformed. He was perhaps best known for his commentary on the entire Bible.

Boys, John – The Pater Noster (1629) 3 pp. in Works, pp. 2-4

Twisse, William – Catechism concerning the Lord’s Prayer (1632) 10 pp. in A Brief Catechetical Exposition of Christian Doctrine Divided into four catechisms

Scudder, Henry – A Key of Heaven, The Lord’s Prayer Opened & so Applied that a Christian may Learn how to Pray, & to Procure all Things which may make for the Glory of God, & the good of himself & of his neighbor… (1633)

Palmer, Herbert – Questions & Answers tending to Explain the Lord’s Prayer (1644) 6 pp. in An Endeavor of making the Principles of Christian Religion, namely the Creed, the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer & the Sacraments, Plain & Easy, pp. 32-38

Leigh, Edward – ch. 6. Of the Lord’s Prayer in A System or Body of Divinity… (London, A.M., 1654), bk. 8, pp. 637-55

Baxter, Richard

A Brief Explication of the Method of the Lord’s Prayer (1673) 2 pp. in A Christian Directory…

A Shorter Prayer for the Morning, in the Method of the Lord’s Prayer, being but an Exposition of it (1674) 4 pp. in the appendix to The Poor Man’s Family Book

Wilson, Grindal – A Plain Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer, & a Prayer according to the Exposition (1684)

Bralesford, Humphrey – ‘The Lord’s Prayer Expounded in a Prayer’ (1689) 4 pp. in The Poor Man’s Help, being, I. An Abridgement of Bishop Pearson on the Creed; II. A short exposition of the Lord’s Prayer, III. The Ten Commandments Explained

Shorter Works – 1700’s

Henry, Matthew – Questions 99-107 in Scripture Catechism, The Catechism of the Westminster Assembly of Divines with Scriptural Questions and Answers (d. 1714), pp. 105-14

Chandler, Samuel – A Short & Plain Catechism. Being an Explication of the Creed, the Ten Commandments & the Lord’s Prayer (1752) 30 pp.

De Ronde, Lambertus – ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ (1763) 6 pp. in A System Containing the Principles of the Christian Religion, suitable to the Heidelberg Catechism, pp. 168-74

Longer Works – 1500’s 8

Erasmus, Desiderius – A Devout Treatise upon the ‘Pater Noster’ (1526) 43 pp.

[Preface &] 1st Petition

6th Petition [‘Lead us not…’] & 7th Petition [‘But deliver us…’]

Calvin, John

9. ‘Of Prayer, where the Prayer of our Lord is Explained’ in Institutes of the Christian Religion: 1541 French Edition tr. Elsie A. McKee (1541; Eerdmans, 2009), pp. 458-95

‘A Perfect Form of Invocation, or an Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer‘ (d. 1564) 23 pp. in Institutes, Book 3, Chapter 20, Sections 34-50, pp. 502-25

Latimer, Hugh – 7 Sermons on the Lord’s Prayer in Sermons (d. 1555)

Cranmer, Thomas – An Instruction of Prayer d. 1566 53 pp. in A Short Instruction into Christian Religion, pp. 128-81 English reformer

Becon, Thomas – ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ (d. 1567) 55 pp. in The Catechism of Thomas Becon, pp. 143-98

Becon (1511-1567) was a reformer of the English Church.

Knewstub, John – Lectures of John Knewstub, upon the Twentieth Chapter of Exodus, & Certain other places of Scripture ([London] 1577), pp. 291-355

Lecture 15 [Preface, Petitions 1-3]
Lecture 16 [Petition 4]
Lecture 17 [Petitions 5-6, Conclusion]

Knewstub was a moderate puritan, presbyterian, a follower of Thomas Cartwright and was proposed to succeed William Whitaker.

Babington, Gervase – A Profitable Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer, by way of questions and answers for most plaines together with many fruitful applications to the life and soul, as well for the terror of the dull and dead, as for the sweet comfort of the tender hearted (1588) 582 pp. Index

To the Petitions Themselves [Intro, Preface, 1st Petition]

2nd Petition
. Of Reading the Word [& Preaching]

3rd Petition

4th Petition
. ‘Bread’
5th Petition

6th Petition
. 2nd Temptation, concerning the Ministers
. 3rd Temptation, concerning Communicants
. 4th Temptation, concerning Compulsion to Good

Ursinus, Zacharias – ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ in Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism (1591) pp. 624-60

Of Prayer, 4. What is the form of prayer by Christ prescribed [with exposition of ‘Our Father’]
First Petition [‘Hallowed by the Name’]

Second Petition

1. What the kingdom of God is
2. How manifold the kingdom of God is
3. Who is king in God’s kingdom
4. Who are the Citizens or Subjects of God’s kingdom
5. What are the Lawes of this kingdom
6. What benefits are bestowed on the subjects of this kingdom
7. Who are the enemies and foes of this kingdom
8. Jn what place this kingdom is administered
9. What is the time of the durance and continuance of this kingdom
10. How this kingdom comes
11. Why we are to desire that the kingdom of God come

Third Petition

1. What we here desire
2. Wherefore we desire, that God’s will be done
3. Of whom God’s will is done in Heaven

Fourth Petition

1. Why we are to desire corporal blessings
2. How corporal blessings are to be desired
3. Why Christ comprised corporal blessings under the name of Bread
4. Wherefore Christ calls it our Bread
5. Wherefore Christ calls it Daily Bread
6. Why Christ adds, ‘This day’
7. Whether it be lawful to desire riches
8. Whether it be lawful to put up anything for hereafter

Fifth Petition

1. What Christ here Calls debts
2. What is remission of sins
3. Why we are to desire remission of sins
4. How our sins are remitted unto us

Sixth Petition

1. What temptation is
2. What is, To lead into temptation
3. What is, To deliver us from evil
4. Why this petition is necessary

Conclusion: ‘For thine is the kingdom…’

Beza, Theodore, Anthony Faius & Students – Propositions & Principles of Divinity Propounded & Disputed in the University of Geneva by Certain Students of Divinity there, under Mr. Theodore Beza & Mr. Anthony Faius… (Edinburgh: Waldegrave, 1591)

64. ‘Upon the Preface of the Lord’s Prayer’ 197
65. ‘Touching the Petitions of the Lord’s Prayer in General, & Particularly touching the First of Them’ 202
66. ‘Of the Second Petition’ 205
67. ‘Of the Third Petition’ 208
68. ‘Of the Fourth Petition’ 212
69. ‘Of the Fifth Petition’ 216
70. ‘Of the Sixth Petition’ 219
71. ‘Upon the Conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer’ 222

Perkins, William – An Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer in the Way of Catechism (1593) 120 pp.

’Our Father which art, etc.’
’Father’
’Our Father’
’Which art in Heaven’
’Hallowed be thy Name’
’Name’
’Hallowed’
’Thy kingdom come’
’Thy will be done’
’In earth as it is in heaven’
’Give us this day our daily bread’
’Forgive us our debts’
’As we forgive our debts’
’Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil’
’For thine is the kingdom, the power and glory, forever’
’Amen’

Of the Use of the Lord’s Prayer

Longer Works – 1600’s 25+

Clapham, Henoch – An Explication of the Lord’s Prayer (1602) 22 pp. in A Tract of Prayer

Clapham (1585-1614) was a puritan.

Broughton, Hugh – An Exposition upon the Lord’s Prayer, compared with the Decalogue, as it was preached in a Sermon, with a Postscript, to Advertise of an Error in all those that Leave out the Conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer (1603) 34 pp.

Dent, Arthur – A Learned & Fruitful Exposition upon the Lord’s Prayer (d. 1607) 78 pp.

Of Prayer & What it is

Thy will be done, etc.

Will

In Earth, as it is in Heaven

Give us this day our daily bread

Forgive us our trespasses

Forgive

Lead us not into Temptation

For thine is the Kingdom

Smith, John – An Exposition on the Lord’s Prayer 142 pp. It comes after p. 147 in Essex Dove, Presenting the World with a Few of her Olive Branches: or, A Taste of the Works of Mr. John Smith, Delivered in Three Several Treatises: 1. His grounds of religion, 2. An exposition on the Lord’s Prayer, 3. A treatise of repentance (d. 1616)

Smith (d. 1616) was an English minister in Essex.

Burton, William – An Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer made in divers lectures, and now drawn into questions and answers for the greater benefit of the simpler sort: whereunto is prefixed a brief treatise of prayer for all men (1616) 215 pp.

Intro [Including how far it is lawful to pray for all men: and whether it be lawful to pray for the salvation of a reprobate or no]

Of Prayer in general

Of the diverse sorts of Prayer

Of the place of Prayer

Of the Conditions of true prayer

. In earth as it is in heaven

4th Petition
. Daily
. Give
. Us
. This day

5th Petition
. Forgiue.
. As we forgive them that trespass against us

6th Petition
. Temptation
. Of Satan’s Tempting
. But deliver us from evil
For thine is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen

Gouge, William – A Guide to Go to God: or, An Explanation of the Perfect Pattern of Prayer, the Lord’s Prayer (1626) 340 pp. Index

Preface

1. Of the excellency of the Lord’s Prayer

2. Of the several branches of the Lord’s Prayer

3. Of preparation to Prayer

4. Of the means to prepare us to Prayer

5. Of praying to God alone

6. Of God’s goodness and greatness jointly considered together

Our Father, which art in Heaven

7. Of this title ‘Father’ applied to God

8. Of the instructions which the title ‘Father’, applied to God, import

9. Of the prerogative of God’s children to speak unto Him face to face

10. Of their duty who have free access to God

11. Of the parties comprised under this particle ‘Our’

12. Of applying God’s Fatherhood to ourselves

13. Of God’s impartial respect to all his children: and sufficiency of blessing for all

14. Of their mutual duties which say ‘Our Father’

15. Of the saints’ participation of one another’s prayers

16. Of God’s being in heaven

17. Of the direction which God’s being in heaven gives us for the manner of praying

18. Of the direction which God’s being in heaven gives us for the matter of prayer

19. Of the manner of handling every petition

1st Petition

20. Of the name of God, and the things comprised under it

21. Of God’s making known himself

22. Of Hallowing

23. Of the creatures hallowing the Creator

24. Of the excellency of Holiness

25. Of the extent of mans desire to have God’s name hallowed

26. Of man’s disability to hallow God’s Name

27. Of the force of this word ‘Thy’ in the first petition

28. Of man’s honoring God, because God honors him

29. Of saints’ honoring God, because they are sons

30. Of preferring God’s honor before all other things

31. Of aiming at God’s honor in all things

31. Of the particulars to be prayed for under the first petition

32. Of the particulars for which thanks is to be given under the first petition

33. Of the duties required by reason of the first petition

34. Of the things to be bewailed in regard of the first petition

2nd Petition

35. Of God’s kingdom: what it is, and what be the kinds of it

36. Of God’s reigning over rebels

37. Of the kingdom of Grace and Glory

38. Of the difference betwixt the kingdom of Grace. Glory

39. Of the Church’s Government

40. Of the increase of the Church

41. Of the Church’s imperfection

42. Of man’s inability to come unto God

43. Of the force of this word ‘Thy’ in the second petition

44. Of God’s power to make his Kingdom come

45. Of the best means, and fittest persons to hallow God’s Name

46. Of the spiritual blessings to be craved for the whole militant Church

47. Of praying for the outward temporal estate of the Church

48. Of the extent of our prayer for the good of the Church after our time

49. Of praying against evils which annoy the Church

50. Of the things to be craved for particular Churches which we know

51. Of praying for the Churches whereof in particular we are members

52. Of the things to be desired for the Church triumphant

53. Of the things for which thanks is to be given by reason of the second petition

54. Of the duties required under the second petition

55. Of the things to be bewailed under the second petition

3rd Petition

56. Of the will of God here meant, and doing it

57. Of the extent of our desire to have God’s will done

58. Of the rule of our obedience, God’s will

59. Of practising God’s will

60. Of man’s disability to do God’s will

61. Of the force of this word ‘Thy’ in the third petition

62. Of preferring God’s will before all others

63. Of praying only for men in earth

64. Of the meaning of this phrase, ‘in Heaven’

65. Of the manner of following a perfect pattern

66. Of the matter of patience which the inhabitants of heaven have

67. Of well doing good

68. Of propounding a perfect pattern before us

69. Of aiming at more than we can attain to

70. Of the order of the third petition

71. Of the honor done to God by doing his will

72. Of showing ourselves to be God’s subjects by doing his will

73. Of the particulars which we are taught to pray for in the third petition

74. Of the things to be prayed for in the direction of the third petition

75. Of the distinct heads of the manner of doing God’s will in heaven

76. Of the things for which thanks is to be given in the third petition and in the direction annexed to it

77. Of the duties to be observed by reason of the third petition

78. Of sins against God’s will revealed by his Word

79. Of sins against God’s will manifested by events

80. Of sins against the manner of doing good

4th Petition

81. Of the meaning of this word ‘Bread’

82. Of the arguments alleged for spiritual food to be meant by ‘bread’, answered

83. Of praying for temporal blessings

84. Of men’s right to the things of this world

85. Of sundry lessons arising from this particle ‘ours’

86. Of the meaning of this word, ‘daily’

87. Of desiring no more than is needful

88. Of covetousness, ambition and voluptuousness

89. Of God’s giving temporal blessings. That He giues them. How He gives them

90. Of the instructions taught us by asking bread of God

91. Of God’s free-giving the things of this world

92. Of praying both for ourselves and for others

93. Of praying for others’ outward welfare

94. Of resting contented with our present estate

95. Of seeking the things which concern our own good, as well as the glory of God

96. Of the principal end of this life

97. Of placing the petition for temporal blessings before those for spiritual

98. Of rising from temporal to spiritual blessings

99. Of sundry particulars comprised under the general words of the fourth petition

100. Of the extent of our prayers for the temporal good of others

101. Of the things for which by virtue of the fourth petition we ought to give thanks

102. Of the duties required by virtue of the fourth petition

103. Of the sins whereof the fourth petition shows men to be guilty

104. Of neglecting the welfare of others

104. Of sundry branches of improvidence

105. Of carking too much for this world

5th Petition

106. Of sins, styled, ‘debts’, and of the kinds of those debts

107. Of Christ’s active righteousness imputed to us

108. Of man’s subjection to sin

109. Of falling into sin daily

110. Of the difference betwixt God’s absolution and man’s apprehension thereof

111. Of Popish indulgences for sins to come, and shriving in Lent

112. Of neglecting to seek discharge of sin till Easter: or till a day of visitation or death

113. Of the woefulness of the debt of sin

114. Of every sin being mortal, yet not equal

115. Of the distinction of venial and mortal sins

116. Of duties to be observed because every sin is mortal

117. Of the many debts wherein we stand bound to God’s justice

118. Of the appropriation of sin to ourselves

119. Of God’s free and full discharge of man’s debt

120. Of the concurrence of God’s mercy and justice in the discharge of man’s debt

121. Of man’s disability to discharge his debt

122. Of Popish satisfaction

123. Of humiliation and abnegation

124. Of the remissibleness of sin

125. Of God’s prerogative in forgiving sin

126. Of Papists’ blasphemy in giving to men power to forgive sin

127. Of confession of sin to God and Man

128. Of confessing sin to God, and seeking pardon of Him

129. Of going to God for pardon

130. Of God’s free and full discharge of sin

131. Of merit of congruity

132. Of Popish satisfactions for sins remitted

133. Of the comfort that arises from God’s free and full discharge

134. Of praying for the pardon of our own sins especially

135. Of praying for pardon of others’ sins

136. Of man’s forgiving another

137. Of speedy forgiveness

138. Of constant forgiving

139. Of dealing with man, as we desire God should deal with us

140. Of the several kinds of debts whereby we become debters to man

142. Of making satisfaction for wrongs done to man

142. Of departing from our right

143. Of forgiving all sorts of debtors

144. Of forgiving our own debtors

145. Of the force of this particle, ‘as’, in the condition annexed to the fifth petition

146. Of true and unfeigned forgiving one another

147. Of forgiving one another freely

148. Of a full forgiving one another

149. Of requiring proper debts

150. Of going to law

151. Of magistrates punishing wrong

152. Of imitating God in forgiving wrongs

153. Of praying without revenge: and of praying for revenge

154. Of the assurance which our forgiving gives of God’s forgiving us

155. Of the revenge which revengeful persons bring upon themselves

156. Of deprecation against evil

157. Of taking care for our spiritual welfare

158. Of doubling our care for the good of our souls

159. Of the blessings which pardon of sin brings

160. Of the precedence of justification before sanctification

161. Of graces to be prayed for in regard of the pardon of our own sins

162. Of graces to be prayed for in regard of the pardon of others sins

163. Of the graces which are to be prayed for by reason of the condition annexed to the fifth petition

164. Of the things for which thanks is to be given by virtue of the fifth petition

165. Of the things for which thanks is to be given by virtue of the condition annexed to the fifth petition

166. Of duties required in regard of desire of pardon of our own and others’ sins

167. Of duties required by reason of our profession to forgive others

168. Of that matter of humiliation which the fifth petition affords

6th Petition

169. Of the sum and several parts of the sixth petition

170. Of temptation and tempters

171. Of the kind of temptation here meant

172. Of man’s subjection to temptation

173. Of leading into

174. Of being in the power of temptation

175. Of God’s leading into temptation

176. Of freeing God from being the Author of sin

177. Of man’s disability to resist temptation

178. Of God’s over-ruling power in temptations

179. Of the restraint of the power of tempters

180. Of the extent of our desires for others’ freedom from temptation

181. Of that subjection wherein saints are to temptations

182. Of the freeness of man’s will in sin

183. Of the extent of this word, ‘Evil’

184. Of evil, the only thing to be prayed against

185. Of the respects wherein Satan is styled ‘the evil One’

186. Of the many ways of delivering from evil

187. Of that hope of recovery which remains to them that fall

188. Of God the only Deliverer

189. Of Sanctification accompanying justification

190. Of men’s proneness to sin after forgiveness

191. Of man’s answering God’s mercy by duty

192. Of avoiding temptations

193. Of calling on God for all things
194. Of the general points for which we are taught to pray in the last petition

195. Of the particulars for which we are to pray by virtue of the first part of the last petition

196. Of the particulars for which we are to pry by virtue of the second part of the last petition

197. Of the things for which we ought to give thanks in the last petition

198. Of the particulars for which thanks is to be given by virtue of the first part of the last petition

199. Of the particulars for which thanks is to be given by virtue of the last part of the last petition

200. Of duties required in the last petition

201. Of duties required in the last petition in regard of others

202. Of the matter of humiliation gathered out of the last petition

Conclusion

203. Of pressing prayer with weighty reasons

204. Of taking grounds for faith in prayer from God Himself

205. Of appropriating God’s attributes to Himself

206. Of God’s having all things at his command

207. Of the absolute supremacy of God’s sovereignty

208. Of God being King only

209. Of the duties due to God by reason of his kingdom and comfort thence arising

210. Of God’s power. What it is. How far it extends

211. Of the difference betwixt God’s absolute and actual power

212. How power is proper to God

213. Of the duties due to God by reason of his power

214. Of the comfort arising from God’s power

215. Of God’s glory. What it is

216. Of the incomprehensibleness of God’s glory

217. Of the means of manifesting God’s glory

218. How glory is proper to God

219. Of Man’s giving glory to God, and taking glory from God

220. Of the duties due to God by reason of his glory

221. Of the ways whereby others are brought to glorify God

222. Of those who are to set forth God’s glory

223. Of the chiefest enemies of God’s glory

224. Of eternity. To what things it is applied

225. Of the duties which arise from God’s eternity

226. Of immutability: to what things it may be applied

227. Of the difference betwixt the immutability of the Creator and creatures

228. Of the duties which arise from God’s immutability

229. Of God’s kingdom. How it works confidence in prayer

230. Of God’s power. How it strengthens faith in prayer

231. Of God’s glory. How it settles the soul for obtaining her desire

232. Of God’s unchangeable eternity. How it makes us rest on God for obtaining our desires

233. Of the special relation which the several petitions have to the Kingdom of God

234. Of the special relation which the several petitions have to God’s power

235. Of the special relation which the several petitions have to God’s glory

236. Of the special relation which the several petitions have to God’s unchangeable eternity

237. Of the necessary use of this clause, ‘Thine is the Kingdome, and the power and the glory for ever’

238. Of adding praise to petition

239. Of praising God. How it is done

240. Of the things for which God is to be praised

Amen

241. Of the meaning and use of ‘Amen’ being prefixed before a speech

242. Of the use of ‘Amen’ being added to a speech

243. Of the duties which Amen added to a speech implies

244. Of the grounds of faith, whereby we may expect the obtaining of what we pray for

245. Of setting Amen in the last place

Andrewes, Lancelot d. 1626

The Lord’s Prayer Analyzed in Holy Devotions, with Directions to Pray also, a Brief Exposition upon the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, the Ten Commandments… (d. 1626; London, 1663), pp. 85-137

Scala Cœli: Nineteen Sermons concerning Prayer. The First Six Guiding to the True Door, the Residue Teaching how so to Knock thereat that we may enter. The former part containing a preparation to Prayer, the Latter an Exposition upon the Several Petitions of the Lord’s Prayer (1611)

5th Sermon Intro
6th Sermon Intro
7th Sermon Our Father
8th Sermon which art in Heaven
9th Sermon Hallowed be thy name
10th Sermon Thy kingdom come
11th Sermon Thy will be done
12th Sermon In earth as it is in Heaven
13th Sermon Give us this day our daily bread
14th Sermon And forgive us our debts
15th Sermon As we forgive them that trespass against us
16th Sermon And lead us not into temptation
17th Sermon But deliver us from evil
18th Sermon For thine is the kingdom, power and glory for ever and ever
19th Sermon Amen

Ball, John

‘An Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer’ in A Short Treatise containing all the Principal Grounds of Christian Religion, by Way of Questions & Answers (1631), pp. 169-191

bk. 6, ‘An Exposition upon the Lord’s Prayer’ in The Power of Godliness, both doctrinally & practically handled… (d. 1640; London, 1657), pp. 390-506

Preface

1. Preface. The things therein to be considered. Who is meant by ‘Father’, and who are allowed to call God Father. Of the Prayers of unregenerate men, and how God hears them.

2. Showing, what the word ‘our’ imports; That a Christian may in Prayer say ‘My God’, and Pray specially for himself or certain others, yet so as that he must be mindful of all that belong to the election of Grace. How God is said to be in Heaven, and what is thereby signified.

1st Petition

3. The rules to be observed in the exposition of the several petitions in this prayer, and how they are to be distinguished. Of the first petition, wherein is showed what is meant by ‘Name’, and by ‘hallowed’. The ground of this petition, what we desire of God therein; And how God is glorified of us in spirit, word, and works.

4. Wherein is showed what we ask for others in this petition, what the evils are that we pray against, and the wants that we bewail, with directions how we may devotionally make this petition; and what the especial blessings are for which we must give thanks according to this petition, and the practicall conclusions that are to be drawn from thence.

2nd Petition

5. Of the Second Petition, what the word ‘kingdom’ does signify, and in what sense it is to be taken in this petition, concerning the King, the subjects, the laws, and the degrees of this kingdom; Why we are to pray for the coming of God’s kingdom; The ground of this petition, with the particular things that we therein desire

6. The evils that we are to pray against, the wants that are to be bewailed, the special blessings for which we are to give thanks, with sundry useful conclusions that are to be drawn from this petition

3rd Petition

7. Of the third petition, The things therein to be noted, what is meant by the ‘will’ of God, by ‘In earth’, and ‘As it is in heaven’. The ground of this petition, with the particular things therein desired, and reasons to show the necessity thereof. The benefits of obedience, with the sin and misery of disobedience

8. The things that we bewail, the evils that we pray against, the special things for which we are to give thanks, with the several useful inferences that may be drawn from this petition

4th Petition

9. Of the fourth petition, showing the signification of the Word ‘give’. And what is meant by ‘bread’, and ‘daily bread’. Why this petition for temporal, is put before others for spiritual things

10. The reasons why this petition is to be made. Who must pray, ‘give us’. How earthly blessings are to be desired, whether absolutely, or with condition. In what sense ‘bread’ is said to be ‘ours’. The difference betwixt the wicked and the godly in possessing outward blessings. That it is both lawful and necessary for a Christian to lay up for time to come

11. Showing what we desire of God in this petition; The ground thereof. The particular things we are taught to ask under the name of ‘bread’, and ‘daily bread’. And how we may lawfully pray for riches. The evils we pray against. The wants we are to bewail. The special blessing for which we are to give thanks in this petition

12. Several practical conclusions that may be drawn from this petition, with directions to know a lawful from an unlawful desire

5th Petition

13. Showing what is meant by ‘forgiveness’ and by ‘debts’. That God does not forgive without satisfaction. How many ways forgiveness of sin may be considered. And how He is to be qualified that would make this petition. The ground thereof. And what we desire of God therein

14. The wants that are to be bewailed. The evils that we pray against. The special blessings for which we ought to be thankful; and the useful conclusions that may be drawn from this petition

15. Showing the meaning of these words, ‘As we forgive them that trespass against us’. Who our debtors are, and what it is to forgive them. Several objections answered, many necessary conclusions deducted, with diverse reasons to persuade us to forgive the injuries that we receive from others

6th Petition

16. Of the Sixth Petition. What temptation is, with the several kinds thereof. How God is said to tempt his servants, and for what end He does it. How man tempts God, and how Satan, the World and the flesh tempt man

17. Descovering what the temptations are that we pray against in this petition: what it is to lead into temptation, and how God may be said to do it

18. Discovering what the blessings are that we pray for in this petition, the evils that we pray against, the wants that we are to bewail, and the mercies for which we must be thankful

19. Discovering the several inference, or conclusions that may be drawn from this petition

20. Of the second clause of this petition, viz. ‘But deliver us from evil’; discovering what it is to deliver, and what is meant by evil. What it is we desire of God in these words; with the conclusions that may be drawn from thence.

Conclusion

21. Of the confirmation, viz. ‘Thine is the kingdom, etc.’ The meaning of these words; and the conclusions that may be drawn from thence

22. Of the conclusion, viz. ‘Amen’. The inferences that may be drawn from thence. The principal use of the Lord’s Prayer; and why we are neither to refuse, nor confine ourselves to this form

.
Dod, John – A Plain & Familiar Exposition on the Lord’s Prayer (London: Pakeman, 1634) 212 pp.

Our Father, etc.

Father, which art in Heaven

Division of Petitions

Hallowed be thy Name

Thy Kingdom come, pt. 1, 2, 3

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven

Thy will be done

As it is in heaven

Give us this day our daily bread

And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors

As we forgive them that trespass against us

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil

But deliver us from evil

For thine is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever, Amen

For, thine is the Kingdom, etc., pt. 1, 2

Downame, George – The Doctrine of Practical Praying together with a Learned Exposition on the Lord’s Prayer (d. 1634; London, 1656) 431 pp.

Preface

Our Father
. Our
. Which art in heaven

Division of Petitions

1st Petition.

II. How Gods name signifying his glory is hallowed by us

III. The name of God signifying his titles, how it is hallowed
IV. How the name of God, as it signifies his Word, is sanctified
V. How the name of God is sanctified as it signifies the doctrine of religion
VI. How the name of God signifying his works is hallowed

.
Thy kingdome come. What God’s kingdome is

What this word come signifies

The means are to be prayed for of the coming of Christs kingdom

The impediments of Gods kingdome to be prayed against

The outward enemies of Gods kingdome

Of the coming of the kingdome of glory which we here desire

.
3rd Petition
. The order
. Of the matter of obedience

.
4th Petition

The meaning of the words

Two sorts of temptations.

.
Conclusion

What ‘kingdom’ here signifies

‘thine is the power’

‘thine is the glory’

‘Amen’

.
Baker, Richard – Meditations & Disquisitions upon the Lord’s Prayer (1638) 450 pp. no ToC EEBO

Fenner, William – ‘Of the Lord’s Prayer’ in The Spiritual Man’s Directory, Guiding a Christian in the Path that leads to True Blessedness in his Three Main Duties towards God: How to Believe, to Obey & to Pray; Unfolding the Creed, the Ten Commandments & the Lord’s Prayer (d. 1640), pp. 65-106

137. Whether are we bound to pray the Lord’s Prayer? use those very words and no other…

Preface

138. Why does our Saviour teach us to call God ‘father’ in our prayers?

139. Why ‘our Father’, not ‘my Father’?

140. What is the meaning of ‘Heaven’ in prayer?

1st Petition

141. ‘Hallowed be thy Name’; what is the meaning of ‘name’ here?

142. Why ‘hallowed’ or sanctified, rather [than] ‘glorified’; why is that word used rather than this?

2nd Petition

143. ‘Thy Kingdome come’, what say you of that?

3rd Petition

144. ‘Thy will be done’, what say you of that; why is God’s will set next to his Kingdom?

145. Has God such a will in Him as He calls a conditional will? as for example, to will all men’s salvation if they repent?

146. What say you of God’s simple and positive will?

147. What say you of God’s secret will?

148. What use do you make of God’s secret will?

149. What pray we for in this petition, ‘thy will be done’?

150. What say you of the will of God’s Word or command; is it the Lords will that men shall do it or else woe is unto them?

151. What motives are there to persuade us to do the Lord’s will?

4th Petition

152. ‘Give us this day our daily bread’; what is meant by ‘bread’ here?

153. What does this teach us, that our Savior bids us pray for bread, and not for dainties and abundance?

154. Why must we pray for temporal things, or for the creatures of God?

155. The text says, ‘our bread’; it speaks of a title we have to the creatures: what say you of that?

156. It seems then that the Anabaptistcal conceit is most false, that all things are common; and yet we cannot say this is ours and that is yours

157. Why pray you not for weekly or yearly bread, but ‘give us this day our daily bread’?

158. If our daily bread be ours, why do we beg it, and if we beg it, how is it ours?

5th Petition

159. Forgive us our debts; why are sins called debts?

160. What is sin?

161. Are any sins so small that they are venial, and do not deserve hell?

162. How comes sin to be said to be ours?

163. Forgiveness of sin being there by a synecdoche, the part for the whole, the whole being justification, tell me what is justification?

164. Who is the author of forgiveness of sin?

165. Who are the proper subjects of forgiveness of sin, meaning who are they that this article belongs to?

166. Who is the meritorious cause of forgiveness of sin?

167. What are the comforts of forgiveness of sin?

168. Seing God says, ‘It is abominable to justify the wicked’, Prov. 17:15, What is the meaning then of the apostle, who says that God justifies the ungodly, Rom. 4:5? Will God do that which is abominable to Him?

169. Seeing the Lord Jesus teaches us to pray plurally, ‘forgive us our sins’, must we not pray that God would forgive others?

170. Whereas our Savior teaches us to say, ‘As we forgive them that trespass against us’, What is it to forgive one another?

171. Seeing a soldier may kill his enemy in a lawful war, and yet love him, as far as the law binds in such a case; so may a man go to law with his brother, without breach of charity or of the duty of forgiving, when his ends are right: Tell me then what these ends be that may stand with love?

172. What is the meaning of ‘as’; ‘as we forgive them their trespass against us’?

6th Petition

173. Why does our Savior teach us to pray, ‘lead us not into temptation,’ immediately after praying for the forgivnesses of our sins?

174. What is temptation, and how many fold?

175. What is a temptation to sin?

178. What use do you make of this, that temptations are so dangerous?

179. Is a man naturally under the power of temptation?

180. Is it any excuse to say we were tempted?

181. Why does God permit men to be tempted?

182. How shall we know whether a temptation flow from ourselves or from Satan?

183. Whether do these two clauses, ‘Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from all evil’, make but one petition?

184. Because this last clause shows that we are naturally under the power of evil, whereof the Devil is the captain, show me then how that natural men are under the power of the Devil?

185. Are there no more evils that we have need to be delivered from?

186. It appears then God is the only deliverer?

Conclusion

187. What do you learn from these words, ‘For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory’?

.
Hooker, Thomas – A Brief Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer (1645) 90 pp.

Ussher, James – ch. 35, ‘Of the Lord’s Prayer in Particular’ in A Body of Divinity, or the Sum & Substance of the Christian Religion new ed., reduced by Hastings Robinson (1645; London: Seeley, 1841), pp. 421-59

Leigh, Edward – ‘Of the Lord’s Prayer’ 1654 17 pp., being the 8th Book, Ch. 6 of his A System or Body of Divinity, pp. 637-654

Ames, William – ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ in The Substance of Christian Religion: Or, A Plain & Easy Draught of the Christian Catechism in 52 Lectures (1659), 46th Lord’s Day, pp. 270-307

Wither, George – Meditations upon the Lord’s Prayer with a Preparatory Preamble to the Right Understanding, and true use of this Pattern 1665 190 pp.

Annand, William – Pater Noster, ‘Our Father’, or, The Lord’s Prayer Explained, the sense thereof and duties therein from Scripture, History, and Fathers, methodically cleared and succinctly opened 1670 477 pp.

Annand (1633-1689) was a reformed Anglican.

Lye, Thomas – ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ 1674 in The Assembly’s Shorter Catechism Drawn out into Distinct Propositions, and proved by plain and pertinent texts of Scripture at large with short rules of direction for masters of families… Buy

Alleine, Joseph – Questions 97-105 in A Most Familiar Explanation of the Assembly’s Shorter Catechism wherein their Larger Answers are Broken into Lesser Parcels… (1674), pp. 146-59

Manton, Thomas – A Practical Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer d. 1677 525 pp.

Vincent, Thomas – ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ being questions 99-107 in Commentary on the Shorter Catechism (d. 1678), pp. 260-70

Nicholson, William – ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ 1678 20 pp., from his A Plain, but Full Exposition of the Catechism of the Church of England, pp. 142-162

Nicholson was a reformed Anglican.

Leighton, Robert – ‘An Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer’ in Expositions on the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer & the Ten Commandments (d. 1684), pp. 49-138

Watson, Thomas – ‘Of the Lord’s Prayer’ in Body of Divinity (d. 1686), pp. 381-605

Flavel, John – ‘Of Direction in Prayer’ being questions 99-107 in An Exposition of the Assembly’s Catechism, with practical inferences (1688), pp. 202-32

Hopkins, Ezekiel – An Exposition on the Lord’s Prayer (1690) 329 pp.

Longer Works – 1700’s 10

à Brakel, Wilhelmus – ‘The Lord’s Prayer, Explained & Applied’ in The Christian’s Reasonable Service, vol. 3 (1700), pp. 483-505

Doolittle, Thomas – ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ in A Complete Body of Practical Divinity; being a New Improvement of the Assembly’s Catechism Buy (1707)

Witsius, Herman – Sacred Dissertations on the Lord’s Prayer (1708) 420 pp.

Beveridge, William – ‘After this manner, therefore, pray ye…’ in Thesaurus of Theology: A Complete System of Divinity Summed up in Brief Notes upon Select Places of the Old and New Testament (d. 1708), vol. 2, pp. 37-70

Beveridge was a reformed, bishop in the Church of England (this is not the same Beveridge that translated Calvin’s Institutes).

Willard, Samuel – ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ being sermons 245-46 in A Complete Body of Divinity in 250 Expository Lectures on the assembly’s Shorter Catechism (d. 1707), pp. 898-914

Willard was a New England puritan.

Edwards, John – ‘A Treatise upon the Lord’s Prayer’ in Theologia Reformata, or the Body & Substance of the Christian Religion, comprised in distinct discourses or treatises upon The Apostles’ Creed, The Lord’s Prayer & the Ten Commandments (d. 1716), vol. 2, pp. 105-272

John Edwards (1637–1716) was a reformed Anglican, the son of Thomas Edwards, who wrote the famed book ‘Gangraena’ in the 1640’s.

Vanderkemp, John – ‘The Address of Prayer’ in The Christian Entirely the Property of Christ in Life & Death; Exhibited in Fifty-Three Sermons on the Heidelberg Catechism (1718), vol. 2, pp. 413-517

Boston, Thomas – ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ in A Complete Body of Divinity upon the Shorter Catechism (d. 1732; Edinburgh, 1796), vol. 3, pp. 384-487

Boston was a minister in the Church of Scotland.

Ridgley, Thomas –‘The Lord’s Prayer’ in A Body of Divinity (d. 1734), vol. 2, pp. 590-666

These were sermons preached through the Larger Catechism. Ridgley was a reformed Anglican.

Brown, John, of Haddington – ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ in An Essay Towards an Easy, Plain, Practical & Extensive Explication of the Assembly’s Shorter Catechism (d. 1787), pp. 350-68

Brown was a minister of the Secession Church of Scotland.

Longer Works – 1800’s 2

Winslow, Octavius – The Lord’s Prayer: Its Spirit & Teaching (1866) 394 pp.

Saphir, Adolph – The Lord’s Prayer: Lectures (1872) 430 pp.

Saphir was of the Free Church of Scotland.

“Fervent messages which expound the text and edify the reader. Frequent digressions into matters of theological importance make fascinating reading.” – Cyril J. Barber

The Lord’s Prayer in Song

Anonymous, A Divine Descant Full of Consolation fitting a Soul Plunged in Desolation (1620)

“No fitter Fountain for my soul to bathe her,

Than in those drops of grace from God—Our Father;

Nor sweeter solace to her can be given

Than thoughts lift up to Thee—Which art in Heaven,

Such heavenly comforts do my heart inflame

And cause my tongue sing—Hallowed be thy Name.

The wicked love the world, earth is their sum,

But we do long until—Thy Kingdom come.

For then though earth and earthly things be gone,

Yet sure we are to see—Thy will be done,

Which we poor creatures by our sinful birth,

Are all unable to fulfill—In earth,

Oh Lord lift up our hearts, lumpish as leaven,

To do Thee homage here,—As it is in Heaven.

And then we will confess, as well we may,

That ’tis thy goodness to—Give us this day

The air to breathe in, earth whereon to tread,

Cloth for our backs, nay more,—Our daily bread.

Since in our bodies Thou doest thus relieve us,

Favor our souls (Lord) pardon—And forgive us.

Most hapless else, yea, hopeless were our cases,

If Thou in Christ forgive not—Our trespasses,

But thy Son’s merits do us this hope give,

That Thou wilt pardon us—As we forgive

Corrupt we are and yet Thou not disdain’st us,

So make us pardon—Them that trespass against us.

Oh that our paths were made direct, to tread us

The way to life, Lord be our guide—And lead us

Into all heavenly contemplation

And peace of mind, but—Not into temptation,

Let not despair, nor yet presumption ever

Bar up heaven-gate against us,—But deliver

Yea, as our Captain, shield us from the devil,

So shalt Thou keep and save—us from all evil.

No strength at all, no fortitude doth come

But from Thee all,—For thine is the Kingdom,

Protect Thou us therefore, each day, each hour,

From dangers here, for Thou hast—The power.

Man’s life is but a blast, a bloom, a story,

Lord give us heaven’s joy,—And the glory,

Let neither life, nor death, nor any cross dissever

Us from thy presence, Lord,—For ever and ever.

To Thee, for these, and to no saint, nor men,

We come, Lord grant them. So be it.—Amen.”

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