Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

8. His Sovereignty is manifest in the times and seasons of dispensing his Goods. He is Lord of the times when, as well as of the Goods which he doth dispose of to any person; these the Father hath put in his own power. Acts. 1.7. As it was his Sovereign pleasure, to restore the Kingdom to Israel, so he would pitch upon the time, when to do it, and would not have his right invaded, so much as by a question out of curiosity. This disposing of opportunities, in many things come be referred to nothing else but his Sovereign pleasure. Why should Christ come at the twilight and evening of the World, at the fullness, and not at the beginning of time? Why he should be from the infancy of the world, so long wrapped up in a promise, and not appear in the flesh till the last times and grey hairs of the world, when so many persons in all Nations had been hurried out of the world without any notice of such a Redeemer? What was this but his Sovereign will? Why the Gentiles should be left so long in the Devils chains, wallowing in the sink of their abominable superstitions, since God had declared his intention by the Prophets, to call multitudes of them, and reject the Jews? Why he should defer it so long, can be referred to nothing but the same cause? What is the reason the veil continues so long upon the heart of the Jews, that is promised, one time or other, to be taken off? Why doth God delay the accomplishment of those glorious predictions of the happiness and interest of that people, is it because of the sin of their Ancestors, a reason that cannot bear much weight. If we cast it upon that account, their conversion can never be expected, can never be effected; if for the sins of their Ancestors, is it not also for their own sins? Do their sins grow less in number, or less venomous, or provoking in quality by this delay? Is not their Blasphemy of Christ as malicious, their hatred of him as strong, and rooted, as ever? Do they not as much approve of the bloody act of their Ancestors, since so many ages are past, as their Ancestors did applaud it at the time of the Execution? Have they not the same disposition and will, discovered sufficiently by the scorn of Christ, and of those that profess his Name, to act the same thing over again, were Christ now in the same state in the world, and they invested with the same power of Government?

8. His Soveraignty is manifest in the times and seasons of dispensing his Goods. He is Lord of the times when, as well as of the Goods which he doth dispose of to any person; these the Father hath put in his own power.