There is nothing too hard for the Lord, If he will work, who shall let it? Isa. 43.13. No creature can supersedeat or stay the works of God, God can supersedeat all creatures; when creatures are in their full career, he can let them: The power of God is as large as his will; yea he can do more then he wills. If the power of men were as large as their wills, what work would they quickly make in the world? If infinite strength were not managed by infinite wisdom, what a woeful condition were we in? Both these are joined in God. Therefore we can fear no hurt from his power: he can do what he will, but he will do nothing which is hurtful to his people; he will not wrong any creature, much less his servants. The Lord (if I may so speak) is only weak about those things, which proceed from weakness. There are some things which he hath no strength to do, because to do them argues a want of strength: he cannot deny himself, he cannot lie, he cannot do any evil, he cannot sin. These things ⟨p. 159⟩import impotency, therefore the Lord cannot do them. But whatsoever is for the good of his people, for the glory of his name, for the executing of his justice, for the fulfilling of his counsels, whatsoever is for the making good of his promises, for all these the Lord is mighty in strength.1 Never fear either a defect of power in God, or a defect in managing that power. Sometimes power overthrows it self by it's own bulk and greatness; but mighty strength ordered with equal wisdom, is dreadful to enemies, and comfortable to friends. A rude rout, an undigested Chaos of men, though very great, never did any great thing. But suppose a very numerous army of men, and every man in that army having as much wisdom as would fit a General to lead and command them all, what could stand before them? Thus it is with God (and how admirable is the union and marriage of these two together!) he hath all power and all wisdom. Every degree of power in God is acted with a suitable degree of wisdom; therefore there can be no miscarriage.
There is nothing too hard for the Lord, If he will work, who shall let it? Isa. 43.13. No creature can supersedeat or stay the works of God, God can supersedeat all creatures; when creatures are in their full carreer, he can let them: The power of God is as large as his will; yea he can doe more then he wils. If the power of men were as large as their wils, what work would they quickly make in the world? If infinite strength were not mannaged by infinite wisdome, what a wofull condition were we in? Both these are joyned in God. Therefore we can fear no hurt from his power: he can doe what he will, but he will doe nothing which is hurtfull to his people; he will not wrong any creature, much lesse his servants. The Lord (if I may so speak) is only weak about those things, which proceed from weaknesse. There are some things which he hath no strength to doe, because to doe them argues a want of strength: he cannot deny himself, he cannot lie, he cannot doe any evil, he cannot sinne. These things ⟨p. 159⟩import impotency, therefore the Lord cannot doe them. But whatsoever is for the good of his people, for the glory of his name, for the executing of his justice, for the fulfilling of his counsels, whatsoever is for the making good of his promises, for all these the Lord is mighty in strength.1 Never fear either a defect of power in God, or a defect in mannaging that power. Sometimes power overthrows it self by it's own bulk and greatnesse; but mighty strength ordered with equall wisdome, is dreadfull to enemies, and comfortable to friends. A rude rout, an undigested Chaos of men, though very great, never did any great thing. But suppose a very numerous army of men, and every man in that army having as much wisdome as would fit a Generall to lead and command them all, what could stand before them? Thus it is with God (and how admirable is the union and marriage of these two together!) he hath all power and all wisdome. Every degree of power in God is acted with a sutable degree of wisdome; therefore there can be no miscarriage.
- 1Vis confilij expers mole ruit sua.
