Yes; for though the Prophet had foretold what Paul should suffer, yet we know of no Command they had to the contrary. All Desires against God's secret Will are not unlawful, when we afterwards submit to his revealed Will. 1 Kin. 8. 18. And the Lord said to David my Father, Whereas it was in thine Heart to build an House unto my Name, thou didst well, that it was in thy Heart. And yet that was against God's secret Will; it was in his Heart to build God's House, and it was no Sin, for there was no Command to the contrary. So here, they were to desire the Preservation of so precious an Instrument as Paul was; yet Satan might have a hand in it, from their Persuasion to weaken his Resolution. Satan often laboureth to take us off from our Duty by the persuasion ⟨p. 273⟩of our loving Friends, who mean us well in what they say to us. Mat. 16. 22, 23. When Christ had told of his Sufferings at Jerusalem, Peter said, Be it far from thee, Lord, this shall not be unto thee. Our Saviour replied, Get thee behind me Satan. Who would have thought, that Christ's Disciple should have been Satan's Instrument, and then when speaking in Love to his Master? Therefore we must not measure their Counsel by their good Meaning, but by God's Word; and be deaf to all Relations, that we may discharge our Duty to God. See Deut. 13. 6, 7. In our Affections to eminent Instruments to God's Glory, there may be much of carnal Infirmity.
Yes; for though the Prophet had foretold what Paul should suffer, yet we know of no Command they had to the contrary. All Desires against God's secret Will are not unlawful, when we afterwards submit to his revealed Will. 1 Kin. 8. 18. And the Lord said to David my Father, Whereas it was in thine Heart to build an House unto my Name, thou didst well, that it was in thy Heart. And yet that was against God's secret Will; it was in his Heart to build God's House, and it was no Sin, for there was no Command to the contrary. So here, they were to desire the Preservation of so precious an Instrument as Paul was; yet Satan might have a hand in it, from their Perswasion to weaken his Resolution. Satan often laboureth to take us off from our Duty by the perswasion ⟨p. 273⟩of our loving Friends, who mean us well in what they say to us. Mat. 16. 22, 23. When Christ had told of his Sufferings at Ierusalem, Peter said, Be it far from thee, Lord, this shall not be unto thee. Our Saviour replied, Get thee behind me Satan. Who would have thought, that Christ's Disciple should have been Satan's Instrument, and then when speaking in Love to his Master? Therefore we must not measure their Counsel by their good Meaning, but by God's Word; and be deaf to all Relations, that we may discharge our Duty to God. See Deut. 13. 6, 7. In our Affections to eminent Instruments to God's Glory, there may be much of carnal Infirmity.
