But we cannot resist the Will of God's Purpose, so as to hinder the Execution of it; although sometimes to endeavour it, may be so far from Sin, as to be our necessary and indispensable Duty: For though it may be the Will of God to bring us into Poverty or into Prison, or to lay sore Diseases upon us; yet it is not only lawful for us, but we are obliged as far as lies in us, to hinder these Evils of Punishment from befalling us, and to preserve our Estates, our Liberty, our Health, and all our outward Comforts, by all lawful and ⟨p. 51⟩allowed ways and means: Much more, if God should will to permit a Sin in others, or in our selves, are we bound to hinder the Commission of it; for, for us to be willing to permit, because God is, though it be a conformity of our Wills to God's Will of Purpose, yet this is not our Rule to walk by: And it is a wretched Rebellion against his Will of Precept, which alone we are to respect in all our Actions, and endeavour to conform our selves unto. Doubtless it was God's Will of Purpose, that Christ the Lord of Life and Glory should be Crucified; but yet the Jews conforming themselves according to this Will, were guilty of the most horrid Wickedness that ever was committed in the World; for both these we have confirmed to us, Acts 2.23. Him being delivered by the determinate Counsel and Fore-knowledge of God, ye have taken, and by Wicked Hands have crucified and slain. Although it was by the determinate Counsel and Will of God, that Christ should be taken and slain; yet nevertheless they were wicked Hands that were imbrued in that precious and inestimable Blood. And thus I have shown how the Will of God's Purpose and Precept do differ. But yet,
But we cannot resist the Will of God's Purpose, so as to hinder the Execution of it; although sometimes to endeavour it, may be so far from Sin, as to be our necessary and indispensible Duty: For though it may be the Will of God to bring us into Poverty or into Prison, or to lay sore Diseases upon us; yet it is not only lawful for us, but we are obliged as far as lies in us, to hinder these Evils of Punishment from befalling us, and to preserve our Estates, our Liberty, our Health, and all our outward Comforts, by all lawful and ⟨p. 51⟩allowed ways and means: Much more, if God should will to permit a Sin in others, or in our selves, are we bound to hinder the Commission of it; for, for us to be willing to permit, because God is, though it be a conformity of our Wills to God's Will of Purpose, yet this is not our Rule to walk by: And it is a wretched Rebellion against his Will of Precept, which alone we are to respect in all our Actions, and endeavour to conform our selves unto. Doubtless it was God's Will of Purpose, that Christ the Lord of Life and Glory should be Crucified; but yet the Jews conforming themselves according to this Will, were guilty of the most horrid Wickedness that ever was committed in the World; for both these we have confirmed to us, Acts 2.23. Him being delivered by the determinate Counsel and Fore-knowledge of God, ye have taken, and by Wicked Hands have crucified and slain. Although it was by the determinate Counsel and Will of God, that Christ should be taken and slain; yet nevertheless they were wicked Hands that were imbrued in that precious and inestimable Blood. And thus I have shown how the Will of God's Purpose and Precept do differ. But yet,
