A32726:130
A treatise of divine providence I. In general, II. In particular, as relating to…
A treatise of divine providence I. In general, II. In particular, as relating to the church of God in the world / by ... Mr. Steph. Charnocke ...
London: printed for Tho. Cockeril, 1680
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. Sins. *God doth often effect his just Will by our weakness, neither thereby justifying our infirmities, nor blemishing his own action: Jacob gets the blessing by unlawful means, telling no less then two lies to attain it; [I am Esau, and this is venison] But hereby God brings about the performance of his promise, which Isaac's natural affection to Esau would have hindered Jacob of.
2. Sins. *God doth often effect his just Will by our weakness, neither thereby justifying our infirmities, nor blemishing his own action: Jacob gets the blessing by unlawful means, telling no less then two lies to attain it; [I am Esau, and this is venison] But hereby God brings about the performance of his promise, which Isaac's natural affection to Esau would have hindred Jacob of.
- *Hall contempl. book 3. p. 806, 807.
The breach of the first Covenant was an occasion of introducing a better. Mans sinning away his first stock, was an occasion to God to enrich him with a surer. The loss of his original righteousness made way for a clearer and more durable. The folly of man made way for the evidence of Gods wisdom, and the sin of man for the manifestation of his grace; and by the wise disposal of God, opens a way for the honour of those attributes, which would not else have been experimentally known by the Sons of men.
3. Casual means. The Viper which leapt upon Pauls hand out of the bundle of sticks, was a casual act, but designed by the providence of God for the propagation of the Gospel. Pharaoh's Daughter comes casually to wash her self in the river, but indeed conducted by the secret influence of God upon her, to rescue Moses exposed to a forlorn condition, and breed him up in the Egyptian learning, that he might be the fitter to be his kindreds deliverer. Saul had been hunting David, and at last had lodged him in a place whence he could not well escape, and being ready to seize upon him in that very instant of time, a Post comes to Saul and brings the news that the Philistines had invaded the Land, which cut out other work for him, and David for that time escapes.