Can God foresee any entity, and thing that hath a being in nature, or grace ⟨p. 98⟩without foresight to direct it this way or that way? he cannot, this is to make him no God. We see God hath the hearts of Kings in his power, and that is the ground of prayer for grace to them. Why should we pray for them, if they could apply their own will which way they would? Why should we give thanks for that we have liberty to do this way, or that way? It stops devotion, and petition, and thanksgiving, to say that the creature hath liberty to apply it self, and God seeing it would apply it self thus, determined so. Oh, no; we ⟨p. 99⟩must go to God, he hath set down an order & course of means, and in the use of those means desire him to guide us by his good spirit, to enlighten our understandings, to guide our wills and affections by his holy spirit, because our hearts are in his government more then our own. If it were needful to prove it, I could prove it at large: if there had been such a liberty, good Nehemiah would never have made this prayer. But God doth strangely put thoughts and guide all, even of himself: as we may see excellently in the story of Esther) I will ⟨p. 100⟩give you but that example and instance▪) what a strange thing was it that Ahasuerus could not sleep, and when he could not sleep to call for the book, and then that he should read of Mordecai; and thereupon to advance Mordecai: all this tended to the good of the Church; it was a strange thing. And so in other things. It is a strange thing that God should put little thoughts and desires into great persons, and then follow it with this circumstance, and that, & so bring things to pass: all this is from God Except we hold this, that God rules all without, ⟨p. 101⟩and especially the hearts of men, where it is his especial prerogative to set up his throne: we shall never pray heartily, or give thanks. And if we do pray and give thanks, he will put thoughts into governors minds, strange thoughts and resolutions for the good of the Church, that we could never have thought off: nor could come otherwise but from the great God of heaven and earth. We shall see a strange providence concur to the good of all. But I must leave the enlargement of these things to your own thoughts and meditations.
Can God foresee any entitie, and thing that hath a beeing in nature, or grace ⟨p. 98⟩without foresight to direct it this way or that way? he cannot, this is to make him no God. Wee see God hath the hearts of Kings in his power, and that is the ground of prayer for grace to them. Why should we pray for them, if they could apply their own will which way they would? Why should wee give thankes for that wee have liberty to doe this way, or that way? It stopps devotion, and petition, and thankesgiving, to say that the creature hath libertie to apply it selfe, and God seeing it would applie it selfe thus, determined so. Oh, no; wee ⟨p. 99⟩must goe to God, he hath set down an order & course of meanes, and in the use of those meanes desire him to guide us by his good spirit, to enlighten our understandings, to guide our wills and affections by his holy spirit, because our hearts are in his governement more then our owne. If it were needfull to prove it, I could prove it at large: if there had beene such aliberty, good Nehemiah would never have made this prayer. But God doth strangely put thoughts and guide all, even of himselfe: as we may see excellently in the storie of Hester) I will ⟨p. 100⟩give you but that example and instance▪) what a strange thing was it that Ahasueros could not sleep, and when hee could not sleepe to call for the book, and then that hee should reade of Mordecay; and therupon to advance Mordecay: all this tended to the good of the Church; it was a strange thing. And so in other things. It is a strange thing that God should put little thoughts and desires into great persons, and then follow it with this circumstance, and that, & so bring things to passe: all this is from God Except we hold this, that God rules al without, ⟨p. 101⟩and especially the hearts of men, where it is his especiall prerogative to set up his throne: we shall never pray heartily, or give thankes. And if wee doe pray and give thankes, he will put thoughts into governours mindes, strange thoughts and resolutions for the good of the Church, that we could never have thought off: nor could come otherwise but from the great God of heaven and earth. We shall see a strange providence concurre to the good of al. But I must leave the enlargement of these things to your own thoughts and meditations.
