Of Providence.- GOD,
the great Creator of all things, doth uphold, [1] direct, dispose, and
govern all creatures, actions and things, [2] from the greatest even to
the least, [3] by his most wise and holy providence, [4] according to
his infallible foreknowledge, [5] and the free and immutable counsel of
his own will, [6] to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power,
justice, goodness, and mercy. [7].
- Although,
in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause,
all things come to pass immutably and infallibly; [8] yet, by the same
providence; he ordereth them to fall out according to the nature of
second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently. [9]
- God
in his ordinary providence maketh use of means, [10] yet is free to
work without, [11] above, [12] and against them, [13] at his pleasure.
- The
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, [14] and
that not be a bare permission, [15] but such as hath joined with it a
most wise and powerful bounding, [16] and otherwise ordering and
governing of them, in a manifold dispensation, to his own holy ends;
[17] 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. [18]
- The
most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth often-times 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; [19] 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. [20]
- As
for those wicked and ungodly men, whom God as a righteous judge, for
former sins, doth blind and harden, [22] from them he not only
withholdeth his grace, whereby they might have been enlightened in
their understandings and wrought upon in their hearts;y but sometimes
also withdraweth the gifts which they had,z 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;b whereby it comes to pass, that they harden themselves,
even under those means which God useth for the softening of others.c
- 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. [28]
[28] 1Tim 4:10; Amos 9:8-9; Rom 8:28; Isa 43:3-5, 14.
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