3. There is a twofold consideration of Gods will: One is called his approving, commanding, and forbidding will, 1when God reveals to us what is our obligation and duty, and what is morally ⟨p. 342⟩good, and to be done, because he commands it, and what is morally evil, and to be eschewed, because he forbids it. Now whether this good or evil shall come to pass, or never come to pass, it is all one, as to the nature of the approving will of God, for though the repenting of Cain, and saving faith of the traitor Judas never came to pass, yet it is the duty of the one and the other to repent and believe, and the Lord commands and approves their obedience as good, though he never decreed by his good pleasure, that the obedience of Cain and Judas should come to pass. But his will of pleasure, his discerning will, or his counsel, purpose, or decree, is his pleasure, and appointment of things, not as good and evil, or as agreeable unto, or repugnant, and contrary to an equal and just command of God, but of things as they come to pass, or shall never come to pass. Hence, in a permissive decree, God appointed the crucifying of the Lord of Life, the not breaking of a bone of Christ, but he did never will the crucifying of his Son, but forbids and hates it as execrable murder; as touching his approving will: in a word, his commanding will is of things lawful or unlawful, what we who are under a Law, ought to do, or not to do▪ His will of pleasure is of things fixed and resolved upon, what he purposes, good or evil, shall come to pass, or not come to pass: And by the way we may make good use of the foul sins that fall out; for holy and clean is that hand and counsel of the Lord,2 Act. 2.27, 28. which determined what Herod and Pilate should do: Yet did the Jews with wicked hands slay and crucify him, Act. 2.23. And O what beauty of wisdom and mercy do they see here, who make that foul work of the slayers of Christ the subject matter of a fair Psalm? Rev. 5.12. The thousands before the Throne, sing, worthy is the Lamb that was slain: But were they worthy who slew him? was it a worthy fact in the murderers of the Lord of Glory? No: but grudge not at the beauty of his work, who over rules all, but adore and praise. Let us not wrestle with his holy dispensation, and say, Ah!
3. There is a twofold consideration of Gods will: One is called his approving, commanding, and forbidding will, 1when God reveals to us what is our obligation and duty, and what is morally ⟨p. 342⟩good, and to be done, because he commands it, and what is morally evill, and to be eschewed, because he forbids it. Now whether this good or evill shall come to passe, or never come to passe, it is all one, as to the nature of the approving will of God, for though the repenting of Cain, and saving faith of the traitour Judas never came to passe, yet it is the duty of the one and the other to repent and beleeve, and the Lord commands and approves their obedience as good, though he never decreed by his good pleasure, that the obedience of Cain and Judas should come to passe. But his will of pleasure, his discerning will, or his counsell, purpose, or decree, is his pleasure, and appointment of things, not as good and evill, or as agreeable unto, or repugnant, and contrair to an equal and just command of God, but of things as they come to passe, or shall never come to passe. Hence, in a premissive decree, God appointed the crucifying of the Lord of Life, the not breaking of a bone of Christ, but he did never will the crucifying of his Son, but forbids and hates it as execrable murther; as touching his approving will: in a word, his commanding will is of things lawfull or unlawfull, what we who are under a Law, ought to do, or not to do▪ His will of pleasure is of things fixed and resolved upon, what he purposes, good or evill, shall come to passe, or not come to passe: And by the way we may make good use of the foul sinnes that fall out; for holy and clean is that hand and counsell of the Lord,2 Act. 2.27, 28. which determined what Herod and Pilate should do: Yet did the Jews with wicked hands slay and crucifie him, Act. 2.23. And O what beauty of wisedom and mercy do they see here, who make that foul work of the slayers of Christ the subject matter of a fair Psalm? Rev. 5.12. The thousands before the Throne, sing, worthy is the Lamb that was slain: But were they worthy who slew him? was it a worthy fact in the murtherers of the Lord of Glory? No: but grudge not at the beauty of his work, who over rules all, but adore and praise. Let us not wrestle with his holy dispensation, and say, Ah!
- 1The distinction of Gods will of approbation what is good or evil in point of our duty, whether it come to pass or not, and of his will of pleasure, what the Lord hath decreed shall come to pass, or not come to pass, whether good or evil, is of special consideration in this point.The distinction of Gods will of approbation what is good or evill in poynt of our duty, whether it come to passe or not, and of his will of pleasure, what the Lord hath decreed shall come to passe, or not come to passe, whether good or evill, is of speciall consideration in this point.
- 2We are to adore the Lord in regard of the beauty of his work▪ even when the foulest works fall out.
