Obrazy na stronie
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IV. The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and in finite goodness of God, fo far manifest themselves in his providence, that it extendethitself even to the first fall, and all other fins of angels and men, and that not by a bare permiffion P, but fuch as hath joined with it a most wife and powerful boundboundings, and otherwise ordering and governing of them, in a manifold dispensation, to his own holy ends; yet fo as the finfulness thereof proceedeth only from the creature, and not from God; who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or approver of fin*.

shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither, and the iron did fwim. Dan. iii. 27. And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counfellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head finged, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

IV. Rom. xi. 32. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. V. 33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! V. 34. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath been his counsellor? 2 Sam. xxiv. 1. And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Ifrael, and he moved David against them to fay, Go, number Ifrael and Judah. With Chron. xxi. 1. And Satan stood up against Ifrael, and provoked David to number Israel. z Kings xxii. 22. And the Lord faid unto him, Wherewith? And he fid, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he faid, Thou shalt perfuade him, and prevai alfo: go forth, and do fo.

V.23. Now, therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy pro phets, and the Lord hath spoken

evil concerning thee. I Chron. x. 4. Then faid Saul to his armour-bearer, Draw thy fword, and thrust me through therewith; left these uncircumcifed come and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not, for he was fore afraid. So Saul took a fword, and fell upon it. V. 13. So Saul died for his tranfgreffion which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; V. 14. And enquired not of the Lord: therefore he flew him, and turned the kingdom unto David, the fon of Jesse. 2 Sam. xvi. 10. And the king faid, What have I to do with you, ye fons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the Lord hath faid unto him, Curse David. Whoshall then say, Wherefore haft thou done fo? Acts ii. 23. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and flain. Acts. iv. 27. For of a truth against thy holy child Jefus, whom thou haft anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Ifrael, were gathered together, V. 28. For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

P Acts xiv. 16. Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

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V. The most wife, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave for a feason his own children to manifold temptations, and the corruption of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former fins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled; and to raise them to a more close and conftant

Pfal. Ixxvi. ro. Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou reftrain. 2 Kings xix. 28. Becaufe thy rage againft me, and thy tumult, is come up into mine ears; therefore I will put my hook in thy nofe, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thon camest.

Gen. 1. 20. But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Ifaiah x. 6. I will fend him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the fpoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. V. 7. Howbeit he meaneth not fo, neither doth his heart think fo; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. V. 12. Wherefore it shall come to pafs, that, when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion, and on Jerufalem, I will. punish the fruit of the ftout heart of the king of Affyria, and the glory of his high looks..

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James i. 13. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be

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tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: V. 14. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own luft, and enticed. V. 17. Every good gift, and every perfect gift, is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither thadow of turning. I John ii. 16. For all that is in the world, the luft of the flesh, and the luft of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. Pfalm 1. 21. "These things haft thou done, and I kept filence:: thou thoughtest that I was altogether fuch an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and fet them in order before thine eyes.

V.

2 Chron. xxxii. 25. But Hezekiah rendered not again, according to the benefit done unto him for his heart was lifted úp; therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerufalem. V. 26. Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, (both he and the inhabitants of Jerufalem,) fo that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah. V. 31. Howbeit, in thẻ business of the ambaffadors of the princes of Babylon, who fent unto

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constant dependance for their support upon himself, and to make them more watchful against all future occafions of fin, and for fundry other just and holy ends v.

VI. As for those wicked and ungodly men, whom God as a righteous judge, for former sins, doth blind and harden", from them he not only with-holdeth his grace, whereby they might have been enlightened in their understandings, and wrought upon in their hearts; but fometimes also withdraweth the gifts which they had, and exposeth them to fuch objects as their corruption makes occafion of fin ; and withal, gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan: whereby it comes to pass, that they harden themselves, even under those means which God ufeth for the softening of others.

him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. 2 Sam. xxiv. 1. And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Ifrael, and he moved David again't them to say, Go, number Ifrael and Judah.

2 Cor. xii. 7. And lest I should be exalted above measure, through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. V. 8. For this thing I befought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. V. 9. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Chrift may rest upon me. Pfalm lxxiii. throughout. * Psalm Ixxvii. 1. I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. V. 10. And I faid, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. V. 12. I will meditate alfo of all thy works, andtalk of thy doings, [Read the intermediate Verses in the Bible.] Mark xiv. fresi both verse to the end, with John xxi. 15. So when they had dined, Jefus faith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He faith

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unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He faith uns to him, Feed my lambs. V. 16. H. faith to him again the second time, Simon, fon of Jonas, lovest thou me? He faith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He faith unto him, Feed my sheep. V. 17. He faith unto him the third time, Simon, fon of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved, because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he faid unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus faith unto him, Feed my sheep.

VI. Rom. i. 24. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, through the lufts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves. V. 26. For this caufe God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature. V. 28. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient. Rom. xi. 7. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for, but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. V. 8. According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not fee, and ears that they should not hear, unto this day.

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* Deut. xxix. 4. Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to fee, and ears to hear, unto this day.

Mat. xiii. 12. For whosoever hath, to him shall begiven, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Mat. xxv. 29. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, shall be taken away even that which he hath.

2 Deut. ii. 30. But Sihon king of Heihbon would not let us pass by him; for the Lord thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appear eth this day. 2 Kings viii. 12. And Hazael faid, Why weepeth my lord? And he anfwered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of If rael: their ftrong holds wilt thou fet on fire, and their young men wilt thou flay with the fword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child. V. 13. And Hazael faid, But what! is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha anfwered, The Lord hath shewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria.

Píal. Ixxxi. 11. But my people would not hearken to my voice, and Ifrael would none of me:

V. 12. So I gave them up unto

VII. As

their own hearts' luft; and they walked in their own counfels. 2 Theff. ii. 10. And with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness in them that perifh; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be faved. V. FL. And for this caufe God shall fend them ftrong delufion, that they should believe a lye: V. 12. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteoufness.

b Exod. vii. 3. And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. With Exod. viii. 15. But when Pharaoh faw that there was refpite he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had faid. V. 32. And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time alfo, neither would he let the people go. 2 Cor. ii. 15. For we are unto God a tweet lavour of Chrift, in them that are faved, and in them that perifh. V. 16. To the one we are the favour of death unto death, and to the other the favour of life unto life; and who is sufficient for these things? Ifa. viii. 14. And he shail be for a fanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of offence, to both the houses of Ifracl; for a gin, and for a snare, to the inhabitants of Jerufalem. I Pet. ii. 7. Unto you, therefore, which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the

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VII. As the providence of God doth, in general, reach to all creatures; so, after a most special manner, it taketh care of his church, and disposeth all things to the good thereof..

CHAP. VI. Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof.

OUR first parents, being feduced by the fubtilety and

temptation Satan, finned in eating the forbidden

fruit. This their sm God was pleafed, according to his

stone which the builders disallow ed, the fame is made the head of the corner. V. 8. And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient; whereunto also they were appointed. Ifa. vi. 9. And he said, Go and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. V. io. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shat their eyes; lest they fee with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. With Acts xxviii. 26. Saying, Go unto this people, and fay, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall fee, and not perceive. V. 27. For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; left they should fee with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

VII.1 Tim. iv. 10. For there, fore we both labour, and fuffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of these that believe. Amos ix. 8. Behold the

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eyes of the Lord God are, upon the finful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, faith the Lord. V. 9. For, lo, I will command, and I will fift the house of Ifrael among all nations, like as corn is fifted in a fieve, yet fhall not the least grain fall upon the earth. Rom. viii. 28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Ifa. xliii. 3. For I am the Lord thy God, the holy One of Ifrael, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. V. 4. Since thou wast precious in my fight thou haft been honourable, and I have loved thee; therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. V. 5. Fear not, for I am with thee: I will bring thy feed from the east, and gather thee from the west. V. 14. Thus faith the Lord, your Redeemer, the holy One of Ifrael, For your fake I have fent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships..

I. Gen. iii. 13. And the Lord God faid unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the

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