A81199:1396
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the twenty-second, twenty-third, twenty-fourth, twenty-fifth, and twenty-sixth…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the twenty-second, twenty-third, twenty-fourth, twenty-fifth, and twenty-sixth…
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the twenty-second, twenty-third, twenty-fourth, twenty-fifth, and twenty-sixth chapters of the book of Job being the sum of thirty-seven lectures, delivered at Magnus near London Bridge. By Joseph Caryl, preacher of the Word, and pastor of the congregation there.An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the twenty-second, twenty-third, twenty-fourth, twenty-fifth, and twenty-sixth chapters of the book of Job being the summe of thirty-seven lectures, delivered at Magnus near London Bridge. By Joseph Caryl, preacher of the Word, and pastour of the congregation there.
London: printed by M. Simmons, 1655
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Quaest: But is not that external declaration, the mind of God also?
Quaest: But is not that externall declaration, the minde of God also?
Answ: I answer; These denounced sentences or declarations are the mind of God, yet they are not the same with the counsels and purposes of God, but serve for the fulfilling and bringing ⟨p. 428⟩of them about; for by the change which the sentence revealed worketh in man, the counsel of God not revealed is effected. The frustrating of the one, fulfils the other; And the Lords design in such declarations of his mind, is to bring about or accomplish his purposes and counsels. God did purposely declare or pronounce a sentence of death against Hezekiah by the Prophet Isaiah, to the intent that his counsel concerning the continuance of Hezekiahs life might be fulfilled. And he sent the Prophet Jonah to publish a sentence of utter destruction against Nineveh, purposely that his counsel concerning the preservation of Nineveh might be accomplished. The Lords counsel and purpose was that Hezekiah should live, and recover out of that disease. But how did he fulfil this? even by sending him a message of death, which caused him to weep sore, and pray and cry earnestly to the Lord for life. Thus saith the Lord, set thine house in order, for thou shalt die and not live. Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying, &c. But then it may be questioned, was that word of the Lord true which he sent to Hezekiah by the Prophet, saying, thou shalt dye. The sentence published was true, and would certainly have come to pass according to the order and working of second causes, for looking to them, Hezekiah must die, his sickness was unto death; In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. Doubtless his Physicians and all that were about him gave him over for a dead man. Only God could restore him, and the way wherein he would restore him was by prayer. So for Nineveh, if we consider the desert of their sin, the sentence was true, Nineveh shall be destroyed. But the Lord sent his Prophet to tell them of their approaching destruction, that they might fast and turn from their evil ways, and so his purpose for their preservation might be accomplished. Thus the outward sentence is changed, but the mind of God is not changed. And these changeable sentences were decreed by God, to bring about his unchangeable decree.