Sermons preached

REASONS.

I. The best Instruments fail out of their Ignorance. Oblivion, and Inadvertency, from which Man cannot altogether free himself in this Life, not only in Matters Spiritual, but Secular: whether Economical; in the disposing of our selves and Relations, or Family-Interests and Concernments. Wise ⟨p. 255⟩Men have their Errors. Jam. 3. 2. In many things we offend all of us. This Ignorance showeth it self sometimes in a Mistake of Instruments whose Hearts we know not; or if we know them for the present, we are not sure of Futurity, how they may change, or be alienated and drawn off from us. Sometimes about Time and Opportunity, for the beginning, setting on foot, or carrying on any good Works. Man knoweth not his Time. Sometimes in the manner of doing there is some Error; for some things we know speculatively, we do not know practically; and what we know in the general is to be done, we do not always know in particular Cases, but are blinded by our Affections; what we know habitually we do not know actually, we do not consider of it for the Time. In short, no Man knoweth all the Secrets and Circuits of Human Affairs. God only is Omnipotent and Omniscient, hath all Creatures in his Power, and can foresee all Events. But it is much for us to understand our Duty, we cannot know Events; for things are carried strangely beyond Mens expectation, and their likeliest Projects crossed.

I. The best Instruments fail out of their Ignorance. Oblivion, and Inadvertency, from which Man cannot altogether free himself in this Life, not only in Matters Spiritual, but Secular: whether Occonomical; in the disposing of our selves and Relations, or Family-Interests and Concernments. Wise ⟨p. 255⟩Men have their Errors. Iam. 3. 2. In many things we offend all of us. This Ignorance sheweth it self sometimes in a Mistake of Instruments whose Hearts we know not; or if we know them for the present, we are not sure of Futurity, how they may change, or be alienated and drawn off from us. Sometimes about Time and Opportunity, for the beginning, setting on foot, or carrying on any good Works. Man knoweth not his Time. Sometimes in the manner of doing there is some Error; for some things we know speculatively, we do not know practically; and what we know in the general is to be done, we do not always know in particular Cases, but are blinded by our Affections; what we know habitually we do not know actually, we do not consider of it for the Time. In short, no Man knoweth all the Secrets and Circuits of Human Affairs. God only is Omnipotent and Omniscient, hath all Creatures in his Power, and can foresee all Events. But it is much for us to understand our Duty, we cannot know Events; for things are carried strangely beyond Mens expectation, and their likeliest Projects crossed.