Sermons preached

2. Positively. But Time and Chance happeneth to them all. Hence are two things mentioned, which do much befriend Worldly Matters. 1. Time. 2. Chance.

1. Time, Whereby is meant Occasion and Opportunity. There is a certain Time which God hath allotted to every Purpose and Action, which if Men had the Wisdom to take hold of, their Business would better succeed: but because Man knoweth not his Time, great is his Misery upon Earth; therefore he effecteth not the things he goeth about.

2. The next Word is Chance, or Occurrence; so is the Word translated, 1 King. 5. 4. The Lord hath given me Rest, so that there is neither Adversary nor evil Occurrent; 'tis the same Word. The Success is such as the Counsel of God hath fore-ordained, yet to us it chanceth to be a mere Chance and Adventure. In short, that which God hath from all Eternity ordained, shall and must come to pass, at such a time as God hath ordained it should be; and likewise in such a manner and by such ways and means as he hath ordained, it shall be done. Things Casual to us are Counsels to him. What was Chance to others, is the Lord to Job, Chap. 1. 21. Therefore not uncertain Chance is intended, but such as is ruled and governed by God, who disposeth of all Occasions and Events according to his own good Pleasure, either in escaping out of ⟨p. 252⟩Danger, or obtaining Victory, or being supplied with Necessaries, or growing Rich, or received into Favour, it is all as God will order it. The Swift, the Wise, the Strong, though they are best prepared, disposed, and do most intend their Business, yet the Event is in God's Hand, who disposeth it according to his own Will.