6. Submission to the all-wise and holy Will of God. This is the great benefit of a Saint's communion with the spirit, that he maketh intercession for them according to the Will of God.1 When promised mercies are revealed in more absolute terms; the sanctified Will concenters with the Will of God. When we pray for holiness, there's a concurrence with the Divine Will.2 For this is the Will of God, even your sanctification. When we pray that our bodies may be presented a living sacrifice acceptable to God: we then prove what is that good, acceptable and perfect Will of God. But I speak here as to outward mercies and enjoyments, and the gradualities or degrees of graces, and spiritual mercies. But as to substance of spiritual mercies, the promises in such cases run freely, as if in any place there seem to lye any limitations or conditions, those very conditions are otherwhere graciously promised to be wrought in us. In the Covenant of grace, God does his part and ours too. As when God commands us to pray in one place: he promises in another place(a) to pour out upon us a Spirit of grace and supplication. God commands us to repent and(b) turn unto him. In another place,(c) Turn thou me and I shall be turned, for thou art the Lord my God; and again, turn thou us unto thee O Lord, and we shall be turned, (d)make you a new heart and a new spirit: otherwhere(e) A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you, &c. and cause you to walk in my statutes, that (f)ye might walk unto all pleasing, says Paul, for this cause I cease not to pray for you, &c. that he would(g) work in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight. Work out your salvation, (h)for it is God that worketh in you to will and to do of his good pleasure. Precepts, promises and prayer are connext like so many golden links to excite, encourage and assist the soul in spiritual duties. But in other cases as to temporal and temporary mercies, let all thy desires in prayer be formed with submission, guided by his counsel, and prostrate at his feet, and acted by a faith suitable to the promises of outward blessings, and then it shall be unto thee(i) even as thou wilt. He said well, cardo desideriorum sit voluntas Dei, exaudiat pete cardinem. Let all thy desires as to temporals turn upon the hinge of the divine good pleasure. That man shall have his own Will that resolves to make God's Will his.
6. Submission to the allwise and holy Will of God. This is the great benefit of a Saint's communion with the spirit, that he maketh intercession for them according to the Will of God.1 When promised mercies are revealed in more absolute terms; the sanctified Will concenters with the Will of God. When vve pray for holiness, there's a concurrence with the Divine Will.2 For this is the Will of God, even your sanctification. When we pray that our bodies may be presented a living sacrifice acceptable to God: vve then prove vvhat is that good, acceptable and perfect Will of God. But I speak here as to outward mercies and enjoyments, and the gradualities or degrees of graces, and spiritual mercies. But as to substance of spiritual mercies, the pomises in such cases run freely, as if in any place there seem to lye any limitations or conditions, those very conditions are otherwhere graciously promised to be vvrought in us. In the Covenant of grace, God does his part and ours too. As when God commands us to pray in one place: he promises in another place(a) to pour out upon us a Spirit of grace and supplication. God commands us to repent and(b) turn unto him. In another place,(c) Turn thou me and I shall be turned, for thou art the Lord my God; and again, turn thou us unto thee O Lord, and we shall be turned, (d)make you a new heart and a new spirit: otherwhere(e) A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you, &c. and cause you to walk in my statutes, that (f)ye might walk unto all pleasing, says Paul, for this cause I cease not to pray for you, &c. that he would(g) work in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight. Work out your salvation, (h)for it is God that worketh in you to will and to do of his good pleasure. Precepts, promises and prayer are connext like so many golden links to excite, encourage and assist the soul in spiritual duties. But in other cases as to temporal and temporary mercies, let all thy desires in prayer be formed with submission, guided by his counsel, and prostrate at his feet, and acted by a faith suitable to the promises of outward blessings, and then it shall be unto thee
- 1Rom. 8.27.
- 21 Thess. 4.3. Rom. 12.1, 2.
- (a)Zec. 20.10.
- (b)Ezek 14.6.
- (c)Lam. 5.21. Jer. 31.18.
- (d)Ezr. 18.31
- (e)Ezek. 36.26, 27.
- (f)Col. 1.9, 10.
- (g)Heb. 11.21.
- (h)Phil. 2.12, 13.
- (i)Mat. 15 28. Gerson T. 2.
