Observe the tenor of this Proposition, God is not the subject of predication, but the predicate. The action is not predicated of God; as it would in this form of words, God hath wrought us, &c. but God is predicated of this agent, q. d. This is the work of a Deity; none ⟨p. 377⟩but God could be the Author of such desires. That a Soul should be acted towards glory by the alone power of an Almighty hand! here needs a Divine Patience to sustain it, and make it strong, and able to endure such a motion; where there is Divine Power to act and move it forward. The Frame could not hold it else, it must dissolve. The Apostle therefore praying for the Thessalonians, 1That God would direct their hearts into the love of himself (which could not but inflame their souls with a desire of a perfect vision, and enjoyment) presently adds, and into the patient waiting for of Christ. Where we cannot by the way but reflect upon the admirable constitution, and equal temper of the new Creature, as to the principles, that are ingredient into the composition of it, fervent desire; allayed with meek submission, mighty love, with strong patience. If we consider it in actu signato, or in its abstract, Idea, this is its temperament; and of these there is a gradual participation, where ever you find it actually existing. God had otherwise formed a creature (the prime of his creatures) so as by its most intrinsical constituent principles to be a torment to it self.
Observe the tenour of this Proposition, God is not the subject of predication, but the predicate. The action is not predicated of God; as it would in this form of words, God hath wrought us, &c. but God is predicated of this agent, q. d. This is the work of a Deity; none ⟨p. 377⟩but God could be the Author of such desires. That a Soul should be acted towards glory by the alone power of an Almighty hand! here needs a Divine Patience to sustain it, and make it strong, and able to endure such a motion; where there is Divine Power to act and move it forward. The Frame could not hold it else, it must desolve. The Apostle therefore praying for the Thessalonians, 1That God would direct their hearts into the love of himself (which could not but enflame their souls with a desire of a perfect vision, and injoyment) presently adds, and into the patient waiting for of Christ. Where we cannot by the way but reflect upon the admirable constitution, and equal temper of the new Creature, as to the principles, that are ingredient into the composition of it, fervent desire; allayed with meek submission, mighty love, with strong patience. If we consider it in actu signato, or in its abstract, Idea, this is its temperament; and of these there is a gradual participation, where ever you find it actually existing. God had otherwise formed a creature (the prime of his creatures) so as by its most intrinsecal constituent principles to be a torment to it self.
- 12 Thes. 3. 5.
