A treatise of the incomparableness of God in his being, attributes, works and word…

2. He is incomparable (not only in what he hath done, but also) in what he can do. He can do what he will, nay he can do much more then he will do.

2. He is incomparable (not onely in what he hath done, but also) in what he can do. He can do what he will, nay he can do much more then he will do.

He can do what he will; His Arm is as large as his Mind, and his Hand equal to his Heart. His will and pleasure is the only boundary of his Strength and Power: Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in Heaven and Earth, and the Seas, and in all deep Places, Psal. 135.6. Psal. 115.3. Can this be said of Men or Angels? Can they do what they please? surely No. But the Lord doth what he hath a mind to do: He is of one mind, and who can turn him? and what his Soul desireth, that he doth, Job 23.13. His Heart only can limit his Hands, and his Strength is determined by nothing but his will. It was the saying of a Prince, ⟨p. 130⟩that he could bear a Circle about his Head (meaning his Crown) but he could not bear a Circle about his Feet, he would go and come at his own pleasure, and do what he thought fit; but all the Princes in the World have Fetters about their Feet, and Chains about their Hands. They cannot go whither they please, Isa. 37.33, 34. Zenacherib would needs go up to Jerusalem, and bringeth an Army against it for that end, but his Feet were fettered: Thus saith the Lord concerning the King of Assyria, He shall not come into this City; by the way that he came, by the same shall he return. Neither can they do what they please: As they go (not whither they will, but) whither God pleaseth; so they do (not what they will, but) what God pleaseth,