|
| Chapter 5 - Of Divine
Providence |
| . |
Back to table
of contents
1. God the good Creator of
all things, in his infinite power and wisdom doth uphold, direct, dispose,
and govern all creatures and things, from the greatest even to the least,
by his most wise and holy providence, to the end for the which they were
created, according unto his infallible foreknowledge, and the free and
immutable counsel of his own will; to the praise of the glory of his wisdom,
power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy.
Hebrews 1:3; Job 38:11; Isaiah 46:10,
11; Psalms 135:6; Matthew 10:29-31; Ephesians 1:11
2. Although in relation to
the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to
pass immutably and infallibly; so that there is not anything befalls any
by chance, or without his providence; yet by the same providence he ordereth
them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily,
freely, or contingently.
Acts 2:23; Proverbs 16:33; Genesis
8:22
3. God, in his ordinary providence
maketh use of means, yet is free to work without, above, and against them
at his pleasure.
Acts 27:31, 44; Isaiah 55:10, 11;
Hosea 1:7; Romans 4:19-21; Daniel 3:27
4. The almighty power, unsearchable
wisdom, and infinite goodness of God, so far manifest themselves in his
providence, that his determinate counsel extendeth itself even to the first
fall, and all other sinful actions both of angels and men; and that not
by a bare permission, which also he most wisely and powerfully boundeth,
and otherwise ordereth and governeth, in a manifold dispensation to his
most holy ends; yet so, as the sinfulness of their acts proceedeth only
from the creatures, and not from God, who, being most holy and righteous,
neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin.
Romans 11:32-34; 2 Samuel 24:1, 1
Chronicles 21:1; 2 Kings 19:28; Psalms 76;10; Genesis 1:20; Isaiah 10:6,
7, 12; Psalms 1:21; 1 John 2:16
5. The most wise, righteous,
and gracious God doth oftentimes leave for a season his own children to
manifold temptations and the corruptions 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 other just and holy ends. So that whatsoever befalls any
of his elect is by his appointment, for his glory, and their good.
2 Chronicles 32:25, 26, 31; 2 Corinthians
12:7-9; Romans 8:28
6. As for those wicked and
ungodly men whom God, as the righteous judge, for former sin doth blind
and harden; from them he not only withholdeth his grace, whereby they might
have been enlightened in their understanding, and wrought upon their hearts;
but sometimes also withdraweth the gifts which they had, and exposeth them
to such objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin; 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, under
those means which God useth for the softening of others.
Romans 1:24-26, 28; Romans 11:7,
8; Deuteronomy 29:4; Matthew 13:12; Deuteronomy 2:30; 2 Kings 8:12, 13;
Psalms 81:11, 12; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; Exodus 8:15, 32; Isaiah 6:9,
10; 1 Peter 2:7, 8
7. As the providence of God
doth in general reach to all creatures, so after a more special manner
it taketh care of his church, and disposeth of all things to the good thereof.
1 Timothy 4:10; Amos 9:8, 9; Isaiah
43:3-5 |