N01435:33
A sermon concerning obedience & resignation to the will of God in every thing.…
A sermon concerning obedience & resignation to the will of God in every thing. Occasioned by the death of that pious gentlewoman, Mrs. Mariah Mather, late consort of Increase Mather, D.D. Who entered into her everlasting rest, on the Lords Day, April.4. 1714. : [Seven lines of Scripture texts]A sermon concerning obedience & resignation to the will of God in every thing. Occasion'd by the death of that pious gentlewoman, Mrs. Mariah Mather, late consort of Increase Mather, D.D. Who entered into her everlasting rest, on the Lords Day, April.4. 1714. : [Seven lines of Scripture texts]
Boston: printed by T. Green, 1714
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.
3. It is the Will of God Revealed in the Gospel that men should be Holy: 1 Thes. 4.3. This is the Will of God even your Sanctification. Not only does the Law Command Holiness, but the Gospel wherever it comes, confirms that Commandment. We do not by Preaching Faith make Void the Law, but Confirm it: Wherefore the Gospel is called the Holy Commandment, 2 Pet. 2.21. The Grace of God which brings Salvation, i. e. ⟨p. 11⟩the Gospel which is a Doctrine of Grace, teacheth men to deny Ungodliness and worldly Lusts; that they should live Soberly, Righteously, & Godlily in this present world, Tit. 2.11.12. It teacheth men Sobriety in respect of themselves, Righteousness in their dealings with men, & Piety towards God. It is the Will of God that men should have Holy Hearts, that they should love the things which God loves, and hate the things which God hates; then will they have Hearts after his own Heart, and shall fulfil his Will, Act. 13.22. It is the Will of God that men should be Holy in their Lives and Conversations: 1 Pet. 1.15. Be ye Holy in all manner of Conversation. Thus we see that the Word of God declares his Will.
(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,