I answer, to set up blind fortune, and chance, yea or the wit and policy of man, as governing the world, is to set up other Gods in the world; if chance and fortune, or the wit of man, govern any part of the world, then they had a part in making the world. If you divide one power, you divide the other. For those invisible things of God, his eternal power and God-head, are as much or as evidently seen, in the things which are done, as in the things which are made. 'Tis true indeed God useth many hands in governing, ordering, and disposing the things of this world. The Princes of this world, are eminently his hand, but God doth ⟨p. 584⟩not use any power in governing this world,1 to diminish his own, nor doth he withdraw his own power, what power soever he useth; 'tis his power that acts effectually, and gives success in the acting of all power. It was said to that King who prided himself in what he had done in the world; Shall the Axe boast it self against him that heweth therewith, or shall the saw magnify it self against him that shaketh it? (Isa: 10.15.) As if the Lord had said to that proud Assyrian Prince, Dost thou look upon thy self, as if thou didst all, and governedst all? thou art no more in the governing the world (though the chief earthly Governor of all the world) then an Axe is in the hand of him that useth it; And though the artificer cannot do his work without an Axe, though he cannot divide his Timber without a saw, yet I the Lord am able to do my work without thee. At best and most, men are but instruments in the hand of God; and he serves his own turn by men, not to signify that he cannot work without them, nor that his work is done either with more ease to himself, or more success as to it self by their help (he is not so weak as to need help, nor is at all strengthened by the help he useth) but only to show that as he hath the command of, so he hath a use for every creature (Isa: 7.18.) The Lord shall hiss for the fly; if God do but hiss to the fly, or any creature on earth, yea to the devils in hell, they are at his call, and do his will, though they intend it not. Further; though God can do all himself, yet he useth various instruments, that he may endear man to man, or that no man may say, he hath no need of another. Thus the Apostle argues (1 Cor: 12.21.)
I answer, to set up blind fortune, and chance, yea or the wit and policy of man, as governing the world, is to set up other Gods in the world; if chance and fortune, or the wit of man, governe any part of the world, then they had a part in making the world. If you divide one power, you divide the other. For those invisible things of God, his eternal power and God-head, are as much or as evidently seene, in the things which are done, as in the things which are made. 'Tis true indeed God useth many hands in governing, ordering, and disposing the things of this world. The Princes of this world, are eminently his hand, but God doth ⟨p. 584⟩not use any power in governing this world,1 to diminish his owne, nor doth he withdraw his owne power, what power soever he useth; 'tis his power that acts effectually, and gives successe in the acting of all power. It was sayd to that King who prided himselfe in what he had done in the world; Shall the Axe boast it selfe against him that heweth therewith, or shall the saw magnifie it selfe against him that shaketh it? (Isa: 10.15.) As if the Lord had sayd to that proud Assyrian Prince, Dost thou looke upon thy selfe, as if thou didst all, and governedst all? thou art no more in the governing the world (though the chiefe earthly Governour of all the world) then an Axe is in the hand of him that useth it; And though the artificer cannot doe his worke without an Axe, though he cannot divide his Timber without a saw, yet I the Lord am able to doe my worke without thee. At best and most, men are but instruments in the hand of God; and he serves his owne turne by men, not to signifie that he cannot worke without them, nor that his worke is done either with more ease to himselfe, or more successe as to it selfe by their helpe (he is not so weake as to need helpe, nor is at all strengthned by the helpe he useth) but only to shew that as he hath the command of, so he hath a use for every creature (Isa: 7.18.) The Lord shall hisse for the fly; if God doe but hisse to the fly, or any creature on earth, yea to the devills in hell, they are at his call, and doe his will, though they intend it not. Further; though God can doe all himselfe, yet he useth various instruments, that he may indear man to man, or that no man may say, he hath no need of another. Thus the Apostle argues (1 Cor: 12.21.)
- 1Non eget alienis adjutorijs ad regendum mundum qui non eguit ad fatiendum. Greg: Lib: 24. Moral: ca. 26.
