N00557:52
Rules for the discerning of the present times. Recommended to the people of God,…
Rules for the discerning of the present times. Recommended to the people of God, in New-England. In a sermon preached on the lecture in Boston; November 27th. 1692. / By Samuel Willard. ; [Two lines from Ecclesiastes]
Boston: printed by Benjamin Harris, 1693
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.
1. That all the afflictions which befall a people at any time, are brought upon them by God. He challengeth himself to be the author of this sort of evil, whensoever it befalls any; Am. 3.6. Is there any Evil in the City, and the Lord hath not done it? Isa. 45.7. I form the Light, and create Darkness; I make Peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things. There is therefore his Wisdom, Holiness, Righteousness, concerned in it; these are acts of his special Government accommodated to the Laws of it: he doth these things as he is the Judge of the whole Earth, and cannot but do right.
2. That all mediate or second causes that are used in them, are his instruments, and altogether at his dispose. In these things God useth a mediate Providence in which he improves Creatures ⟨p. 20⟩to afflict a sinful people by; and although some of these are causes by counsel, have wills of their own, act upon deliberation in their own minds, have a meaning, and proceed upon reasons vastly different from, and contrary to Gods design in it; yet they are entirely under the Management of his Providence, as Rods and Swords; and they can do no more than fulfil his counsel, nor can they go one step farther such was the Assyrian, Isai. 10.5.7. Oh Assyrian the Rod of mine Anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation: howbeit he meaneth not so. So that the whole of these afflictions, and every circumstance in them is ordered and governed by God.
2. That all mediate or second causes that are used in them, are his instruments, and altogether at his dispose. In these things God useth a mediate Providence in which he improves Creatures ⟨p. 20⟩to afflict a sinful people by; and although some of these are causes by counsel, have wills of their own, act upon deliberation in their own minds, have a meaning, and proceed upon reasons vastly different from, and contrary to Gods design in it; yet they are entirely under the Management of his Providence, as Rods and Swords; and they can do no more than fulfil his counsell, nor can they go one step farther such was the Assyrian,