One Hundred and Ninety Sermons on Psalm 119

To back these thoughts let me propound a few Considerations. Consider,

1. God can command what he will, he is absolute, his will is the supreme reason of all things. It is notable, that God backs his Laws with the consideration of his Sovereignty, you shall do thus and thus, why? I am the Lord, that's all his reason, Lev. 18. 4, 5. it is repeated in that and many places in the next Chapter. The Papists speak much of blind obedience, obeying ⟨p. 26⟩their superiors without enquiring into the reason of it. Surely we owe God blind obedience, as Abraham obeyed God not knowing whither he went, Heb. 11. 8. John Cassian makes mention of one who willingly fetched water near two miles every day for a whole year together to pour it upon a dead dry stick at the command of his superior, when no reason else could be given for it. And I have read of another who professed that if he were enjoined by his superior to put forth to sea in a Ship that had neither Mast, Tackling, nor any other Furniture, he would do it; and when he was asked how he could do this without hazard of his discretion? he answered, The wisdom must be in him that hath power to command, not in him that hath power to obey. Thus do they place merit in this blind obedience, in giving up their wills absolutely to the power of their superior. Certainly in Gods commands his Sovereignty is enough, the uttermost latitude of this blind obedience is due to him; if he hath said it is his will, how contrary soever it be to our reason, lusts, interests, it must be done. It is enough for us to know that we are commanded. To command is Gods part, and to obey that's ours, whatever shall be declared to be his will and pleasure.

1. God can command what he will, he is absolute, his will is the supreme reason of all things. It is notable, that God backs his Laws with the consideration of his Soveraignty, you shall do thus and thus, why? I am the Lord, that's all his reason,