written in their hearts, they received a command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evilk; which while they kept, they were happy in their communion with God, and had dominion over the creatures.'

G

CHAP. V. Of Providence.
OD, the great Creator of all things, doth uphold, a di-

reet, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least, by his most

k Gen. ïi. 17. But of the tree of the er, when he had by himself purged our knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt sins, sat down on the right hand of not eat of it ; for in the day that thou the Majesty on high. eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. b Dan. iv. 34. And, at the end of Gen. iii. 8. And they heard the voice the days, I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up of the Lord God walking in the gar- mine eyes unto heaven, and mine unden in the cool of the day: and Adam derstanding returned unto me, and I and his wife hid themselves from the blessed the most High, and I praised presence of the Lord God amongst and honoured him that liveth for ever, the trees of the garden. Ver. 9. And whose dominion is an everlasting dothe Lord God called unto Adam, and minion, and his kingdom is from ge. said unto him, Where art thou? Ver. neration to generation. V. 35. And 10. And he said, I heard thy voice in all the inhabitants of the earth are rethe garden ; and I was afraid, because puted as nothing: and he doeth acI was naked ; and I hid myself. V. cording to his will in the army of hea. 11. And he said, Who told thee that ven, and among the inhabitants of the thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of earth ; and none can stay his hand, or the tree, whereof b commanded thee say unto him, What doest thou ? Psal. that thou shouldest not eat? Ver. 23. cxxxv. 6. Whatsoever the Lord pleaTherefore the Lord God sent him sed, that did he in heaven, and in forth from the garden of Eden, to till earth, in the seas, and all deep places. the ground from whence he was taken. Acts xvii. 25. Neither is worshipped

I Gen. i. 26. And God said, Let us with men's hands, as though he needed make man in our image, after our like. any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, ness: and let them have dominion over and breath, and all things. Ver. 26. the fish of the sea, and over the fowl And hath made of one blood all naof the air, and over the cattle, and tions of men, for to dwell on all the over all the earth, and over every face of the earth, and hath determincreeping thing that creepeth upon the ed the times before appointed, and the earth. Ver. 28. And God blessed bounds of their habitation. V. 28. For them; and God said unto them, Be in him we live, and move, and have fruitful, and multiply, and replenish our being; as certain also of your own the earth, and subdue it; and have poets have said, For we are also his dominion over the fish of the sea, and offspring: Job, Chapters xxxviii, over the fowl of the air, and over eve. xxxix, xl, xli. ry living thing that moveth upon the

c Matth. x. 29. Are not two spar. earth.

rows sold for a farthing? and one of I. a Heb. i. 3. Who being the them shall not fall on the ground withbrightness of his glory, and the ex- out your Father. V.30. But the very

press image of his person, and uphold. hairs of your head are all numbered. ning all things by the word of his pow. V. 31. Fear ye not therefore, ye are

h

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.5

II. Although, in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly; h yet, by the same providence, he ordereth them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently. of more value than many sparrows. scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even

d Prov. xv. 3. The eyes of the Lord for this same purpose have I raised are in every place, beholding the evil thee up, that I might shew my power and the good. Psal. civ. 24. O Lord, in thee, and that my name might be how manifold are thy works! in wis. declared throughout all the earth. dom hast thou made them all: the Gen. xlv. 7. And God sent me before earth is full of thy riches. Psal. cxlv. you, to preserve you a posterity in 17. "The Lord is righteous in all his the earth, and to save your lives by a ways, and holy in all his works. great deliverance. Psal.cxlv. 7. They

é Acts xv. 18. Known unto God are shall abundantly utter the memory of all his works from the beginning of thy great goodness, and shall sing of the world. Psal. xciv. 8. Understand, thy righteousness. ye brutish among the people: and, ye II. b Acts ii 23. Him, being delivefools, when will ye be wise? Ver. 9. red by the determinate counsel and He that planted the ear, sball he not foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, hear? he that formed the eye, shall and by wicked hands have crucified he not see? Ver. 10. He that and sbain. chastiseth the heathen, shall not he i Gen. viii. 22. While the earth re. correct? he that teacheth man know- maineth, seed-time and harvest, and ledge, shall not he know? Ver 11. cold and heat, and summer and winter, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of and day and night, shall not cease. man, that they are vanity.

Jer. xxxi. 35. Thus saith the Lord, f Eph. i. 11. In whom also we have which giveth the sun for a light by obtained an inheritance, being predes- day, and the ordinances of the moon tinated according to the purpose of and of the stars for a light by night; him who worketh all things after the which divideth the sea, when the counsel of his own will. Psal. xxxiji. waves thereof roar; the Lord of hosts 10. The Lord bringeth the counsel of 'is his name. Exod. xxi. 13. And if a the heathen to nought : he maketh man lie not in wait, but God deliver the devices of the people of none ef. him into his hand ; then I will appoint fect. V. 11. The counsel of the Lord thee a place whither he shall flee. standerh for ever, the thoughts of his With Deut. xix. 5. As when a man heart to all generations.

goeih into the wood with his neigh& Isa. Ixiii. 14. As a beast goeth bour to hew wood, and his hand fetchdown into the valley, the Spirit of the eth a stroke with the axe to cut down Lord caused him to rest; so didst the tree, and the head slippeth from thou lead thy people, to make thyself the helve, and lighteth upon his neigha glorious name. Eph. iii. 10. To the bour, that he die ; he shall flee unto intent, that now unto the principalities one of those cities, and live. 1 Kings and powers in heavenly places might xxii 28. And Micaiah said, If thou be known by the church the manifold return at all in peace, the Lord hath wisdom of God. Rom. ix. 17. For the not spoken by me. And he said,

k

n

III. God in his ordinary providence maketh use of

yet is free to work without,' above, and against them," at his pleasure.

IV. T'he almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness 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 perHearken, 0 people, every one of you will not save them by bow, nor by Ver. 34. And a certain man drew a sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by bow at a venture, and smote the king horsemen. Mat. iv. 4. But he answer. of Israel between the joints of the har- ed and said, It is written, Man shall ness: wherefore he said unto the dri- not live by bread alone, but by every ver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, word that proceedeth out of the mouth and carry me out of the host, for I am of God Job xxxiv. 10. Therefore wounded. Isa. x. 6. I will send him a- hearken unto me, ye men of undergainst an hypocritical nation ; and a. standing : Far be it from God, that he gainst the people of my wrath will I should do wickedness, and from the give him a charge, to take the spoil, Almighty, that he should commit iniand to take the prey, and to tread quity them down like the mire of the streets. m Rom. iv. 19. And being not weak Ver. 7. Howbeit, he meaneth not so, in faith, he considered not his own neither doth his heart think so; but it body now dead, when he was about an is in his heart to destroy, and cut off hundred years old, neither yet the nations not a few.

deadness of Sara's womb. Ver. 20. III. k Acis xxvii. 31. Paul said to He staggered not at the promise of the centurion, and to the soldiers, Ex. God through unbelief; but was strong cept these abide in the ship, ye can- in faith, giving glory to God: Ver. not be saved. Ver. 44. And the rest, 21. And being fully persuaded, that some on boards, and some on broken what he had promised he was able pieces of the ship; and so it came to also to perform pass that they escaped all safe to land. n 2 Kings vi. 6. Aud the man of Isa. Iv. 10. For as the rain cometh God said, Where fell it? And he down, and the snow, from heaven, shewed him the place. And he cut and returneth not thither, but water- down a stick, and cast it in thither, eth the earth, and maketh it bring and the iron did swim. Dan. iii. 27. forth and bud, that it may give seed And the princez, governors, and capto the sower, and bread to the eater: tains, and the king's counsellors, beVer. 11. So shall my word be that go. ing gathered together, saw these me

h forth out of my mouth: it shall upon whose bodies the fire had no not return unto me void, but it shall power, nor was an hair of their head accomplish that which I please, and singed, neither were their coats changit shall prosper in the thing whereto ed, nor the smell of fire had passed on I sent it Hos. ii. 21. And it shall them. come to pass in that day, I will hear, IV. Rom. xi. 32. For God hath saith the Lord; I will hear the hea. concluded them all in unbelief, that he vens, and they shall hear the earth. might have mercy upon all. V. 33. O Ver. 22. And the earth sliall hear the the depth of the riches both of the wis. corn, and the wine, and the oil, and dom and knowledge of God! how unthey shall hear Jezreel.

searchable are his judgments, and his i Hos. i. 7. But I will have mercy ways past finding out? Ver. 34. For upon the house of Judah, and will who hath known the mind of the save them by the Lord their God, and Lord, or who hath been his counsel

:

mission, but such as hath joined with it a most wise and powerful bounding, 9 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.

:

lor! 2 Sam. xxiv. 1. And again the gainst thy holy child Jesus, whom thou anger of the Lord was kindled against hast anointed, bo:h Herod and PonIsrael, and he moved David against tius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the them to say, Go, number Israel and people of Israel, were gathered toge. Judah. With 1 Chron. xxi. 1. And Sa. ther, Ver. 28. For to do whatsoever tan stood up against Israel, and pro- thy hand and thy counsel determined voked David to number Israel. 1 before to be done. Kings xxii. 22. And the Lord said p Acts xiv. 16. Who in times past unto him, Wherewith? And he said, suffered all nations to walk in their I will go forth, and I will be a lying own ways. spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. 9 Psal. Ixxvi. 10. Surely the wrath And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, of man shall praise thee: the remainand prevail also : go forth, and do so. der of wrath shalt thou restrain. 2 Ver. 23. Now, therefore, behold, the Kings xix, 28. Because thy rage aLord hath put'a lying spirit in the gainst me, and thy tumult, is come mouth of all these ihy prophets, and up into mine ears, therefore I will put the Lord'hath spoken evil concerning my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in theè. 1 Chron. x. 4. Then said Saul thy lips, and I will turn thee back by to his armour-bearer, Draw thy sword, the way by which thou camest. and thrust me through therewith ; lest

r Gen. 1. 20. But as for you, ye these uncircumcised come and abuse thought evil against me ; but God me. But his armour-bearer would meant it unto good, to bring to pass, not, for he was sore afraid. So as it is this day, to save much people Saul took a sword, and fell upon alive. Isa. x. 6. I will send him ait. Ver. 13. So Saul died for his gainst an hypocritical nation, and atransgression which he committed gainst the people of my wrath will I against the Lord, even against the give him a charge, to take the spoil, word of the Lord, which he kept and to take the prey, and to tread them not, and also for asking counsel of one down like the mire of the streets. that had a farniliar spirit, to enquire Ver. 7. Howbeit he meaneth not so, of it; Ver. 14. And enquired not of neither adth his heart think so; but it the Lord : therefore he slew him, and is in his heart to destroy and cut off turned the kingdom untó David, the nations not a few. Ver. 12. Where. son of Jesse. 2 Sam. xvi. 10. And the fore it shall come to pass, that, when king said, What have I to do with the Lord hath performed his whole you, ye sons of Zeruiah ? so let him work upon, mount Zion, and on Jerucurse, because the Lord hath said un- salem, I will punish the fruit of the to him, Curse David. Who shall then stout heart of the king of Assyria, and say, Wherefore hast thou done so ! the glory of his high looks. Acis ii. 23. Him, being delivered by s James i. 13. Let no man says the determinate counsel and fore. when he is tempted, I am tempted of knowledge of God, ye have taken, and God : for God cannot be tempted with by wicked hands have crucified and evil, neither tempteth he any man: slain. Acts iv. 27. For of a truth a. Ver. 14. But every man is tempted,

measure

- 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 dependance 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." when he is drawn away of his own there was given to me a thorn in the Just, and enticed. Ver. 17. Every good flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet gift, and every perfect gift, is from me, lest I should be exalted above above, and cometh down from the Fa

Ver. 8. For this thing I ther of lights, with whom is no varia. besought the Lord thrice, that it might bleness, neither shadow of turning. depart from me. Ver. 9. And he said 1 John ii. 16. For all that is in the unto me, My grace is sufficient for world, the lust of the flesh, and the thee : for my strength is made perfect lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, in weakness. Most gladly therefore is not of the Father, but is of the will I rather glory in my infirmities, world. Psalm l. 21. These things hast that the power of Christ may rest upthou done, and I kept silence: thou on me. Psal. Ixxiii. tbroughout. . Psal. thoughtest that I was altogether such lxxvii. 1. I cried unto God with my an one as thyself: but I will reprove voice, even unto God with my voice ; thee, and set them in order before and he gave ear unto me. Ver 10.

And I said, This is my infirmity : but V. t 2 Chron. xxxii. 25. But He. I will remember the years of the right zekiah rendered not again, according hand of the most High. Ver. 12. to the benefit done unto him; for his I will meditate also of all thy work, heart was lifted up; therefore there and talk of thy doings. (Read the interwas wrath upon him, and upon Judah mediate Verses in the Bible.] Mark and Jerusalem. Ver. 26. Notwith. xiv. from the 66th verse to the end, with standing Hezekiah humbled himself John xxi. 15. So when they had di. for the pride of his heart, (both he ned, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem,) so son of Jonas, lovest thou me more that the wrath of the Lord came not than these? He saith unto him, Yea, upon them in the days of Hezekiah. Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. V. 31. Howbéit, in the business of Hesaith unto him, Feed my lambs.Ver. the ambassadors of the princes of Ba. 16. He saith to him again the second bylon, who sent unto him to enquire time, Simon, son of Jonas. lovest thou of the wonder that was done in the me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord ; land, God left him, to try him, that thou knowest that I love thee. He he might know all that was in his saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Ver. heart. 2 Sam. xxiv. 1. And again 17. He saith unto him the third time, the anger of the Lord was kindled Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? against Israel, and he moved David Peter was grieved, because he said against them to say, Go, number Israel unto him the third time, Lovest thou and Judah.

me? And he said unto him, Lord, u 2 Cor. xii. 7. And lest I should thou knowest all things; thou know. be exalted above measure, through est that I love thee. Jesus saith anthe abundance of the revelations, to him, Feed my sheep.

thine eyes.