A62054:164
A treatise of the incomparableness of God in his being, attributes, works and word…
A treatise of the incomparableness of God in his being, attributes, works and word opened and applied / by Geo. Swinnocke ...A treatise of the incomparableness of God in his being, attributes, works and word opened and applyed / by Geo. Swinnocke ...
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1672
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Treatise › Chapter 11: God incomparable in his Works, Creation and Providence.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
He governeth the highest, even the Governors themselves on Earth, that seem to be above all Government: Kings and Princes seem to be absolute, and wholly at their own disposal; Who may say to a King, What dost thou? Many will tell us, That their Hands are their own, to do what they please; but more will acknowledge, that their Hearts are their own, to think as they please. But alas, they cannot command their Hands to do what they will, their Hands are ruled & overruled by him, Act. 4.28. Herod and Pontius Pilate were gathered together, to do what thy Hand determined to be done. In like manner, their Hearts are not in their own Hands, to think as they will, but in God's ⟨p. 116⟩Hand, to think what he will: The Heart of the King is in the Hand of the Lord, and he turneth it as the Rivers of Water, which way he pleaseth, Prov. 21.1. As the Husbandman turneth the Sluices into his Ground, this way, or that way, into this Channel or that Channel, as he thinks best for his own advantage; so God turneth the Hearts of Kings this way or that way, which way he seeth most for his Glory: Prov. 16.9. A mans heart deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his steps. No man is Master of himself, so much as of his Thoughts; that Heart that deviseth its way, is directed in those devices by God. The Sun is higher then an earthly Prince, and seems to be his own guide; he acteth naturally, and so necessarily: But if he speak to the Sun, it riseth not; and he sealeth up the Stars, Job 9.9. He hath a Negative Voice upon the motions of all Beings.
He governeth the highest, even the Governors themselves on Earth, that seem to be above all Government: Kings and Princes seem to be absolute, and wholly at their own disposal; Who may say to a King, What dost thou? Many will tell us, That their Hands are their own, to do what they please; but more will acknowledge, that their Hearts are their own, to think as they please. But alas, they cannot command their Hands to do what they will, their Hands are ruled & overruled by him,