I. GOD

CHAP. V.-Of Providence.

OD, the great Creator of all things, doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least, by his most wise and holy providence, according to his infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of his own will, to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy.

II. Although, in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God,

I. Heb. i. 3. Who, being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.

b Dan. iv. 34. And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation. Ver. 35. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? Ps. CXXXV. 6. Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. Acts xvii. 25. Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; Ver. 26. And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation: Ver 28. For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Job, Chapters xxxviii, xxxix, xl, xli.

Matt. x. 29. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. Ver 30. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Ver. 31. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Prov. xv. 3. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. Pa civ 24, O Lord, how

manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. Ps. cxlv. 17. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

• Acts xv. 18. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Ps. xciv. 8. Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? Ver. 9. He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? Ver. 10. He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know? Ver. 11. The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.

Eph. i. 11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. Ps. xxxiii. 10. The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. Ver. 11. The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

Isa. Ixiii. 14. As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the Lord caused him to rest; so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name. Eph. iii. 10. To the intent that now, unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places, might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God. Rom. ix. 17. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Gen. xlv. 7. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. Ps. cxlv. 7. They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.

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the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly;1 yet, by the same providence, he ordereth them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently.1 III. God in his ordinary providence maketh use of means, yet is free to work without, above, and against them," at his pleasure. IV. The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodII. Actsii. 23. Him, being delivered lv. 10. For as the rain cometh down, by the determinate counsel and fore- and the snow from heaven, and reknowledge of God, ye have taken, and turneth not thither, but watereth the by wicked hands have crucified and earth, and maketh it bring forth and slain. bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater; Ver. 11. So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void; but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Hos. ii. 21. And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the Lord: I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; Ver. 22. And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel.

Hos. i. 7. But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the Lord their God, and will

nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen. Matt. iv. 4. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Job xxxiv. 10. Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

i Gen. viii. 22. While the earth remaineth, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, shall not cease. Jer. xxxi. 35. Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The Lord of hosts is his name. Exod. xxi. 13. And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee. With Deut. xix. 5. As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew not save them by bow, nor by sword, wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live. 1 Kings xxii. 28. And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, the Lord hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you. Ver. 34. And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and m Rom. iv. 19. And being not weak in smote the king of Israel between the faith, he considered not his own body joints of the harness: wherefore he now dead, when he was about an hunsaid unto the driver of his chariot, dred years old, neither yet the deadTurn thine hand, and carry me out of ness of Sarah's womb: Ver. 20. He the host; for I am wounded. Isa. x. 6. staggered not at the promise of God I will send him against an hypocriti- through unbelief; but was strong in cal nation, and against the people of faith, giving glory to God; Ver. 21. my wrath will I give him a charge, And being fully persuaded, that what to take the spoil, and to take the he had promised, he was able also to prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. Ver. 7. How- n 2 Kings vi. 6. And the man of God beit he meaneth not so, neither doth said, Where fell it? And he shewed his heart think so; but it is in his him the place. And he cut down a heart to destroy and cut off nations stick, and cast it in thither; and the not a few. iron did swim. Dan. iii. 27. And the III. Acts xxvii. 31. Paul said to the princes, governors, and captains, and centurion and to the soldiers, Except the king's counsellors, being gathered these abide in the ship, ye cannot be together, saw these men, upon whose saved. Ver. 44. And the rest, some bodies the fire had no power, nor was on boards, and some on broken pieces an hair of their head singed, neither of the ship. And so it came to pass, were their coats changed, nor the smell that they escaped all safe to land. Isa. of fire had passed on them.

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ness of God, so far manifest themselves in his providence, that it extendeth itself even to the first fall, and all other sins of angels and men," , and that not by a bare permission, but such as hath joined with it a most wise and powerful bounding, and otherwise ordering and governing of them, in a manifold dispensation, to his own holy ends; yet so as the sinfulness 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 sin."

slain. Acts iv. 27. For of a truth, against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, Ver. 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.

a Ps. lxxvi. 10. Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee; the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain. 2 Kings xix. 28. Because thy rage against me and thy tumult is come up into mine ears, therefore I will put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.

IV. Rom. xi. 32. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. Ver. 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! Ver. 34. For who hath known the mind of the Lord or who hath been his coun. sellor? 2 Sam. xxiv. 1. And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah. With 1 Chron. xxi. 1. And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. 1 Kings xxii. 22. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and Gen. 1. 20. But as for you, ye prevail also: go forth, and do so. Ver. thought evil against me; but God 23. Now therefore, behold, the Lord meant it unto good, to bring to pass, hath put a lying spirit in the mouth as it is this day, to save much people of all these thy prophets, and the Lord alive. Isa. x. 6. I will send him hath spoken evil concerning thee. 1 against an hypocritical nation, and Chrou. x. 4. Then said Saul to his against the people of my wrath will armour-bearer, Draw thy sword, and I give him a charge, to take the spoil, thrust me through therewith, lest and to take the prey, and to tread these uncircumcised come and abuse them down like the mire of the streets. me. But his armour-bearer would not; Ver. 7. Howbeit he meaneth not so, for he was sore afraid. So Saul took neither doth his heart think so; but a sword, and fell upon it. Ver. 13. So it is in his heart to destroy and cut Saul died for his transgression which off nations not a few. Ver. 12. Wherehe committed against the Lord, even fore it shall come to pass, that, when against the word of the Lord, which the Lord hath performed his whole he kept not, and also for asking coun- work upon mount Zion and on Jerusel of one that had a familiar spirit, to salem, I will punish the fruit of the enquire of it; Ver. 14. And enquired stout heart of the king of Assyria, not of the Lord: therefore he slew and the glory of his high looks. him, and turned the kingdom unto James i. 13. Let no man say, when David the son of Jesse. 2 Sam. xvi. 10. he is tempted, I am tempted of God: And the king said, What have I to do for God cannot be tempted with evil, with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let neither tempteth he any man: Ver. him curse, because the Lord hath said 14. But every man is tempted, when unto him, Curse David. Who shall he is drawn away of his own lust, then say, Wherefore hast thou done and enticed. Ver. 17. Every good so? Acts ii. 23. Him, being delivered gift and every perfect gift is from by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and

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above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

V. The most wise, righteous, and gracious God, doth oftentimes leave for a season his own children to manifold temptations, and the corruption of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, 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 constant dependence for their support upon himself, and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for sundry other just and holy ends."

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 withholdeth his grace, whereby they might have been enlightened

1 John ii. 16. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. Ps. 1. 21. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

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voice, even unto God with my voice; and he give ear unto me. Ver. 10. And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. Ver. 12. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. [Read the intermediate verses in the Bible.] Mark xiv. from the 66th verse to the end, with John xxi. 15. So, when they had dined, V. 2 Chr. xxxii. 25. But Hezekiah Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, rendered not again according to the son of Jonas, lovest thou me more benefit done unto him; for his heart than these? He saith unto him, Yea, was lifted up: therefore there was Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. wrath upon him, and upon Judah and He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. Jerusalem. Ver. 26. Notwithstand- Ver. 16. He saith to him again the ing Hezekiah humbled himself for second time, Simon, son of Jonas, the pride of his heart, (both he and lovest thou me He saith unto him, the inhabitants of Jerusalem,) so that Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah. Ver. 31. Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto 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 Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

ú 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. Ver. 8. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. Ver. 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 Christ may rest upon me. Ps. lxxiii. throughout. *Ps. lxxvii. 1. I cried unto God with my

thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Ver. 17. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved be cause he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

VI. Rom. 24. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves. Ver. 26. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature. Ver. 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, Ver. 8. (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that

in their understandings, and wrought upon in their hearts; but sometimes also withdraweth the gifts which they had, and exposeth them to such objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin ;a 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 useth for the softening of others. VII. As the providence of God doth, in general, reach to all crea

they should not see, and ears that they should not hear) unto this day. Deut. xxix. 4. Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.

Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. With Exod. viii. 15. But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said. Matt. xiii. 12. For whosoever hath, Ver. 32. And Pharaoh hardened his to him shall be given, and he shall heart at this time also, neither would have more abundance: but whosoever he let the people go. 2 Cor. ii. 15. hath not, from him shall be taken For we are unto God a sweet savour away even that he hath. Matt. xxv. of Christ, in them that are saved, and 29. For unto every one that hath shall in them that perish. Ver. 16. To the be given, and he shall have abundance: one we are the savour of death unto but from him that hath not, shall be death; and to the other the savour of taken away even that which he hath. life unto life: and who sufficient Deut. i. 30. But Sihon king of for these things? Isa. viii. 14. And Heshbon would not let us pass by him: he shall be for a sanctuary; but for for the Lord thy God hardened his a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day. 2 Kings viii. 12. And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child. Ver. 13. And Hazael said, But what! is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The Lord hath shewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria.

Ps. lxxxi. 11. But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. Ver. 12. So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lusts: and they walked in their own counsels. 2 Thess. ii. 10. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. Ver. 11. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; Ver. 12. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Exod. vii. 3. And I will harden

offence, to both the houses of Israel; for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 1 Pet. ii. 7. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, Ver. 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. Isa. vi. 9. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Ver. 10. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. With Aets xxviii. 26. Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: Ver. 27. For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.