(2.) His Will is Revealed by his Works of Providence. Providence is the Execution of the Will of his Decree. There is as the Will of his Precept, so the Will of his Providence, which we must in all things submit unto, & comply with. The Providential Will of God ⟨p. 12⟩is many times very contrary to our Natural Wills; but then we must subject, and humbly resign our Wills to the Divine Will, as the Caesarian Christians did: They were very unwilling that the Apostle Paul should go to Jerusalem, because they knew that if he did, the Jews would put him in Bonds, and deliver him to the Gentiles; the holy Apostle was satisfied that he had a Call from God to go to Jerusalem, so that there was no dissuading him from it: And when he would not be persuaded they ceased from using any further dissuasives, saying, The Will of the Lord be done, Act. 21.14. If his holy Providence shall disappoint us in any of our Designs or Expectations, we must say, The Will of the Lord be done. When a great Emperor was defeated in a Battle with his Infidel Enemy, it has been reported to his Honour, that returning with Confusion; as he went he kept saying, Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven! Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven! If God shall with-hold from us those ⟨p. 13⟩things which our hearts are most set upon, we must humbly submit to his Holy Providence. So did David, when he knew not whether he should ever see the Ark of God again, which he much desired. With what Resignation to the Will of God does he express himself? 2 Sam. 15.25, 26. If I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his Habitation: but if he thus say, I have no delight in thee, behold here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him. If the Lord will take away his Blessings from us; if he will make Breaches in our Families, and deprive us of our dearest Enjoyments, Husbands, Wives, Children, it is for us to acquiesce in the Will of God. When Aaron had Two of his Sons taken from him after an awful manner, 'tis said, Aaron held his Peace, Lev. 10.3. Notwithstanding his Brother Moses, told him that the awful Death of his Sons was a just Judgment of God upon them for their Sin, he was Silent; he did not Murmur against God, nor ⟨p. 14⟩against his Brother: He considered that the Honour of God ought to be dearer to him, than either the Honour, or the Life of his Sons.
(2.) His Will is Revealed by his Works of Providence. Providence is the Execution of the Will of his Decree. There is as the Will of his Precept, so the Will of his Providence, which we must in all things submit unto, & comply with. The Providential Will of God ⟨p. 12⟩is many times very contrary to our Natural Wills; but then we must subject, and humbly resign our Wills to the Divine Will, as the Caesarian Christians did: They were very unwilling that the Apostle Paul should go to Jerusalem, because they knew that if he did, the Jews would put him in Bonds, and deliver him to the Gentiles; the holy Apostle was satisfied that he had a Call from God to go to Jerusalem, so that there was no disswading him from it: And when he would not be perswaded they ceased from using any further disswasives, saying, The Will of the Lord be done, Act. 21.14. If his holy Providence shall disappoint us in any of our Designs or Expectations, we must say, The Will of the Lord be done. When a great Emperor was defeated in a Battle with his Infidel Enemy, it has been reported to his Honour, that returning with Confusion; as he went he kept saying, Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven! Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven! If God shall with-hold from us those ⟨p. 13⟩things which our hearts are most set upon, we must humbly submit to his Holy Providence. So did David, when he knew not whether he should ever see the Ark of God again, which he much desired. With what Resignation to the Will of God does he express himself? 2 Sam. 15.25, 26. If I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his Habitation: but if he thus say, I have no delight in thee, behold here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him. If the Lord will take away his Blessings from us; if he will make Breaches in our Families, and deprive us of our dearest Enjoyments, Husbands, Wives, Children, it is for us to acquiesce in the Will of God. When Aaron had Two of his Sons taken from him after an awful manner, 'tis said, Aaron held his Peace, Lev. 10.3. Notwithstanding his Brother Moses, told him that the awful Death of his Sons was a just Judgment of God upon them for their Sin, he was Silent; he did not Murmur against God, nor ⟨p. 14⟩against his Brother: He considered that the Honour of God ought to be dearer to him, than either the Honour, or the Life of his Sons.
