On the contrary, they questionless were well instructed in this all-ruling, and over-ruling Providence of God, who in all their purposes had ever a reservation to God, as he that said, eIf it be of the Lord let us send abroad, &c. and he also that said, fI will come to you shortly if the Lord will. And ⟨p. 388⟩again, gI will return to you again, if God will. St. James where he taxed the fore-mentioned profane and overperemptory speeches, giveth this direction for submitting our purposes to the divine Providence, Ye ought to say, if the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that. This is not to be taken, as if we should to every sentence that we utter add this clause, If God will, but that we should be so well instructed in the divine Providence, as to know nothing can be done without the will of God, and thereupon ever to have in our minds that reservation, If the Lord will. Thus by submitting our wills to Gods will, we shall be sure both to have our wills effected, yea also that to be effected, which is the best. Gods will, will we, nill we, shall be accomplished. If then we will nothing, but that which may stand with Gods will, in the effecting of Gods will, our will must needs be effected. And because Gods will ordereth and disposeth all things to the best, on the same ground, that which we will must needs fall out to the best. But suppose our will should wish any thing that God would not have: what skilleth it? We may know what we would have: but God knoweth what we should, and shall have. It is therefore much better that our purpose and desire be crossed, if at least it be contrary to Gods, then effected. If Gods counsel and determination be accomplished (as accomplished it shall be) it is enough. My will therefore shall take the pattern of our Saviours for her guide, and in all cases say as he did in a most extreme case, O my Father, not as I will, but as thou wilt, Mat. 26. 39.
On the contrary, they questionlesse were well instructed in this all-ruling, and over-ruling Providence of God, who in all their purposes had ever a reservation to God, as he that said, eIf it be of the Lord let us send abroad, &c. and he also that said, fI will come to you shortly if the Lord will. And ⟨p. 388⟩againe, gI will returne to you againe, if God will. St. Iames where he taxed the fore-mentioned profane and overperemptory speeches, giveth this direction for submitting our purposes to the divine Providence, Ye ought to say, if the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that. This is not to be taken, as if we should to every sentence that we utter adde this clause, If God will, but that we should be so well instructed in the divine Providence, as to know nothing can be done without the will of God, and thereupon ever to have in our minds that reservation, If the Lord will. Thus by submitting our wills to Gods will, we shalbe sure both to have our wills effected, yea also that to be effected, which is the best. Gods will, will we, nill we, shalbe accomplished. If then we will nothing, but that which may stand with Gods will, in the effecting of Gods will, our will must needs be effected. And because Gods will ordereth and disposeth all things to the best, on the same ground, that which we will must needs fall out to the best. But suppose our will should wish any thing that God would not have: what skilleth it? We may know what we would have: but God knoweth what we should, and shall have. It is therefore much better that our purpose and desire be crossed, if at least it be contrary to Gods, then effected. If Gods counsell and determination be accomplished (as accomplished it shalbe) it is enough. My will therefore shall take the pattern of our Saviours for her guide, and in all cases say as he did in a most extreme case, O my Father, not as I will, but as thou wilt, Mat. 26. 39.
- e1 Chro 13. 2.
- f1 Cor. 4. 19.
- gAct. 18. 21.
