Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

3. Limiting God in his way of working to our methods is another part of the contempt of his dominion. When we will prescribe him methods of acting, that he should deliver us in this or that way, we would not suffer him to be the Lord of his own favours, and have the privilege to be his own director. When we will limit him to such a time, wherein to work our deliverance, we would rob him of the power of times and seasons, which are solely in his hand. We would regulate his conduct according to our imaginations, and assume a power to give Laws to our Sovereign. Thus the Israelites limited the holy one of Israel. Psal. 78.41. They would control his absolute dominion, and of a Sovereign make him their slave. Man that is God's vassal, would set bounds to his Lord, and cease to be a servant, and commence Master, when he would give, not take directions from him. When God had given them Manna, and their fancies were weary of that delicious food, they would prescribe Heaven to rain down some other sort of food for them. When they wanted no sufficient provision in the Wilderness, they quarrelled with God for bringing them out of Egypt, and not presently giving them a place of Seed, of Figs, Vines and Pomegranates. Numb. 20.5. which is called a striving with the Lord, ver. 13. a contending with him for his Lordship. When we tempt God, and require a sign of him as a mark of his favour, we circumscribe his dominion; when we will not use the means he hath appointed, but father our laziness upon a trust in his providence, as if we expected he should work a miracle for our relief; when we censure him for what he hath done in the course of his providence; when we capitulate with him, and promise such a service, if he will do us such a good turn according to our platform, we would bring down his Sovereign pleasure to our will, we invade his Throne, and expect a submissive Obedience from him. Man that hath not wit enough to govern himself, would be governing God, and those that cannot be their own Sovereigns, affect a Sovereignty over Heaven.

3. Limiting God in his way of working to our methods is another part of the contempt of his dominion. When we will prescribe him methods of acting, that he should deliver us in this or that way, we would not suffer him to be the Lord of his own favors, and have the priviledg to be his own director. When we will limit him to such a time, wherein to work our deliverance, we would rob him of the power of times and seasons, which are solely in his hand. We would regulate his conduct according to our imaginations, and assume a power to give Laws to our Soveraign. Thus the Israelites limited the holy one of Israel.