The Soul's Conflict with Itself

But we must know, Gods manner ⟨p. 274⟩of guiding things is without prejudice of the proper working of the things themselves; he guideth them sweetly according to the instincts he hath put into them; for,

But wee must know, Gods manner ⟨p. 274⟩of guiding things is without prejudice of the proper working of the things themselves; hee guideth them sweetly according to the instincts hee hath put into them; for,

1. He furnishes creatures with a virtue and power to work, and likewise ¹with a manner of working suitable to their own nature, as it is proper for a man (when he works) to work with freedom, and other creatures by natural instinct, &c. 2. God maintaineth both the power and manner of working, ²and perfecteth and accomplisheth the same by acting of it, being nearer to us in all we do, then we are to ³our selves. 3. He applies and stirs up our abilities and actions, to this or that ⁴particular as he seeth best. 4. He suspends or removes the hinderances of ⁵all actions, and so powerfully, wisely, and sweetly orders them to his own ends. When any evil is intended, God either puts bars and lets to the execution of it, or else limiteth and boundeth the same both in regard of time and measure, so that our enemies either ⟨p. 275⟩