1Hath God left the government of the whole world in the hands of Christ, and trusted him over all, then do ye also leave all your particular concerns in the hands of Christ too, and know that the infinite wisdom and love which rules the world, manages every thing that relates to you. It is in a good hand, and infinitely better than if it were in your own.2 I remember when Melanchthon was under some despondencies of spirit about the estate of Gods people in Germany; Luther chides him thus for it, desinat▪ Philippus, esse rector mundi, let Philip cease to rule the world. It's none of our work to steer the course of providence, or direct its motions; but to submit quietly to him that doth. There is an Itch in men, yea, in the best of men, to be disputing with God Let me talk with thee of thy Judgements, saith Jeremiah, Jer. 32.1, 2. Yea, how apt are we to regret at providences, as if it ⟨p. 217⟩had no conducency at all to the glory of God, or to our good. Exod. 5.22. Yea, to limit providence, to our way and time: thus the Israelites tempted God, and limited the Holy One, Psal. 78.20, 41. How often also do we unbelievingly distrust providence, as though it could never accomplish what we profess to expect and believe? Ezek. 37.11. Our bones are dry, our hope is lost; we are cut off for our part. So Gen. 18.13, 14. Isai. 40.27. There are but few Abrahams among believers, who against hope, believed in hope; giving glory to God. Rom. 4.20. And it is but too common for good men to repine and fret at providence, when their wills, lusts, or humours are crossed by it. This was the great sin of Jonah. Brethren, these things ought not to be so. Did you but seriously consider, either the design of providence, which is to bring about the gracious designs, and purposes of God upon you, which were laid before this world was. Eph. 1.11. or that it is a lifting up of thy wisdom, against his; as if thou couldst better order thine affairs, if thou hadst the conduct and management of them. Or that you have to do herein with a great and dreadful God, in whose hands you are as the clay in the Potters hand, that may do what he will with you, and all that is yours, without giving you an account of any of his matters. Job 33.13. Or whether providence hath cast others, as good by nature as your selves; tumbled them down from the top of health, wealth, honours and pleasures to the bottom of Hell.
1Hath God left the government of the whole world in the hands of Christ, and trusted him over all, then do ye also leave all your particular concerns in the hands of Christ too, and know that the infinite wisdom and love which rules the world, manages every thing that relates to you. It is in a good hand, and infinitely better than if it were in your own.2 I remember when Melanchthon was under some despondencies of spirit about the estate of Gods people in Germany; Luther chides him thus for it, desinat▪ Philippus, esse rector mundi, let Philip cease to rule the world. It's none of our work to steer the course of providence, or direct its motions; but to submit quietly to him that doth. There is an Itch in men, yea, in the best of men, to be disputing with God Let me talk with thee of thy Iudgements, saith Jeremy, Jer. 32.1, 2. Yea, how apt are we to regret at providences, as if it ⟨p. 217⟩had no conducency at all to the glory of God, or to our good. Exod. 5.22. Yea, to limit providence, to our way and time: thus the Israelites tempted God, and limited the Holy One, Psal. 78.20, 41. How often also do we unbelievingly distrust providence, as though it could never accomplish what we profess to expect and believe? Ezek. 37.11. Our bones are dry, our hope is lost; we are cut off for our part. So Gen. 18.13, 14. Isai. 40.27. There are but few Abrahams among believers, who against hope, believed in hope; giving glory to God. Rom. 4.20. And it is but too common for good men to repine and fret at providence, when their wills, lusts, or humours are crossed by it. This was the great sin of Ionah. Brethren, these things ought not to be so. Did you but seriously consider, either the design of providence, which is to bring about the gratious designs, and purposes of God upon you, which were laid before this world was.
- 1Infer. 2.
- 2Monendus est Philippus ut definat esse rector mundi. Melch. Adams.
