2. This Doctrine will teach us Patience under such Providences as declare his unchangeable Will. The rectitude of our Wills consists in conformity to the Divine, as discovered in his Words and manifested in his Providence, which are the effluxes of his immutable Will. The time of trial is appointed by his immutable Will*; 'tis not in the Power of the Sufferer's Will to shorten it, nor in the Power of the Enemies Will to lengthen it. Whatsoever doth happen, hath been decreed by God, (Eccles. 6.10. That which hath been is named already) therefore to murmur or be discontented, is to contend with God, who is mightier than we to maintain his own purposes. God doth act all things conveniently for that immutable end intended by himself, and according to the reason of his own Divine Will, in the true point of time most proper for it and for us, not too soon or too slow, because he is unchangeable in ⟨p. 238⟩Knowledge and Wisdom. God doth not act any thing barely by an immutable Will, but by an immutable Wisdom, and an unchangeable Rule of Goodness; and therefore we should not only acquiesce in what he works, but have a complacency in it; and by having our Wills thus knitting themselves with the immutable Will of God, we attain some degree of likeness to him in his own Unchangeableness; When therefore God hath manifested his Will in opening his Decree to the world by his work of Providence, we must cease all disputes against it, and with Aaron hold our peace, though the affliction be very smart,* All Flesh must be silent before God*; For whatsoever is his Counsel, shall stand and cannot be recalled; all struggling against it, is like a brittle Glass contending with a Rock; For if he cut off and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him? Job. 11.10. Nothing can help us, if he hath determined to afflict us; as nothing can hurt us, if he hath determined to secure us. The more clearly God hath evidenced this or that to be his Will, the more sinful is our struggling against it. Pharaoh's sin was the greater in keeping Israel, by how much the more Gods Miracles had been Demonstrations of his settled Will to deliver them. Let nothing snatch our hearts to a contradiction to him, but let us fear and give Glory to him, when the hour of Judgment which he hath appointed is come*;
2. This Doctrin will teach us Patience under such Providences as declare his unchangeable Will. The rectitude of our Wills consists in conformity to the Divine, as discovered in his Words and manifested in his Providence, which are the effluxes of his immutable Will. The time of tryal is appointed by his immutable Will*; 'tis not in the Power of the Sufferer's Will to shorten it, nor in the Power of the Enemies Will to lengthen it. Whatsoever doth happen, hath been decreed by God, (Eccles. 6.10. That which hath been is named already) therefore to murmur or be discontented, is to contend with God, who is mightier than we to maintain his own purposes. God doth act all things conveniently for that immutable end intended by himself, and according to the reason of his own Divine Will, in the true point of time most proper for it and for us, not too soon or too slow, because he is unchangeable in ⟨p. 238⟩Knowledge and Wisdom. God doth not act any thing barely by an immutable Will, but by an immutable Wisdom, and an unchangeable Rule of Goodness; and therefore we should not only acquiesce in what he works, but have a complacency in it; and by having our Wills thus knitting themselves with the immutable Will of God, we attain some degree of likeness to him in his own Unchangeableness; When therefore God hath manifested his Will in opening his Decree to the world by his work of Providence, we must cease all disputes against it, and with Aaron hold our peace, though the affliction be very smart,* All Flesh must be silent before God*; For whatsoever is his Counsel, shall stand and cannot be recall'd; all struggling against it, is like a brittle Glass contending with a Rock; For if he cut off and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him? Job. 11.10. Nothing can help us, if he hath determined to afflict us; as nothing can hurt us, if he hath determined to secure us. The more clearly God hath evidenced this or that to be his Will, the more sinful is our struggling against it. Pharaoh's sin was the greater in keeping Israel, by how much the more Gods Miracles had been Demonstrations of his setled Will to deliver them. Let nothing snatch our hearts to a contradiction to him, but let us fear and give Glory to him, when the hour of Judgment which he hath appointed is come*
- *Dan. 1
- *Rev. 10.3.
- *Zach. 2.13.
- *Revel. 14.7.
