USE II. It is matter of Lamentation that the Blessed Will of GOD is no more Complied with by Men on the Earth. Alas! For the greatest part of Men on the Earth, who instead of doing the Will of God, have been doing the Will of Satan all their Days: They are in the Snare of the Devil, taken Captive by him at his Will, 2 Tim. 2.26. They are the Slaves of Hell, & (which is strange) they are willing Slaves, have no mind to come out of their Slavery; but they Live so, they Die so. It is yet sadder, when this ⟨p. 32⟩shall be true of those who pretend to be the Children of God; as it was with the Jews, Joh. 8.41. They said, We have one Father, even God. Whereas in Ver. 44. Christ says to them, You are of your Father the Devil; and the Lusts of your Father you will do. Is it not a sad thought, that the greatest part of the Children of men, are Ignorant of the Will of God concerning the Way to Salvation? They are shut up in a dark Dungeon of Unbelief: 2 Cor. 4.4. The god of this world has blinded the Eyes of them that Believe not. And many there are, who notwithstanding they know the Will of God, they do it not. They know that they should Confess their Sins and Forsake them, yet they do it not. They know that they should Give themselves to Christ, but they will not do it, tho' they Perish Eternally for not doing it. They know that they should Pray in their Families, & in their Closets, but they will not do it. Such Sinners have a double Guilt upon them; and will fall under a double Condemnation: Luk. 12.47. ⟨p. 33⟩That Servant which knew his Lord's Will, & prepared not himself, neither did according to his Will, shall be beaten with many Stripes. But then as to a Submission and Resignation to the Providential Will of God in Bereavements, and Afflictive Dispensations, how many are there that do it not? God must do nothing but what they would have him: And if he does not do what they would have in the time they would have, they will not humbly wait his Time. Like that wicked Prince, who when there had been a terrible Famine, said, This evil is of the Lord; what should I wait on the Lord any longer? 2 King. 6.33. It seems the Prophet Elisha, had put him in hopes that relief would come; but when it did not come just when he would have it, he would wait on the Lord no longer. And how apt are men to be discontented & find fault with the Providence of God?
USE II. It is matter of Lamentation that the Blessed Will of GOD is no more Complied with by Men on the Earth. Alas! For the greatest part of Men on the Earth, who instead of doing the Will of God, have been doing the Will of Satan all their Days: They are in the Snare of the Devil, taken Captive by him at his Will, 2 Tim. 2.26. They are the Slaves of Hell, & (which is strange) they are willing Slaves, have no mind to come out of their Slavery; but they Live so, they Die so. It is yet sadder, when this ⟨p. 32⟩shall be true of those who pretend to be the Children of God; as it was with the Iews, Joh. 8.41. They said, We have one Father, even God. Whereas in Ver. 44. Christ says to them, You are of your Father the Devil; and the Lusts of your Father you will do. Is it not a sad tho't, that the greatest part of the Children of men, are Ignorant of the Will of God concerning the Way to Salvation? They are shut up in a dark Dungeon of Unbelief: 2 Cor. 4.4. The god of this world has blinded the Eyes of them that Believe not. And many there are, who notwithstanding they know the Will of God, they do it not. They know that they should Confess their Sins and Forsake them, yet they do it not. They know that they should Give themselves to Christ, but they will not do it, tho' they Perish Eternally for not doing it. They know that they should Pray in their Families, & in their Closets, but they will not do it. Such Sinners have a double Guilt upon them; and will fall under a double Condemnation: Luk. 12.47. ⟨p. 33⟩That Servant which knew his Lord's Will, & prepared not himself, neither did according to his Will, shall be beaten with many Stripes. But then as to a Submission and Resignation to the Providential Will of God in Bereavements, and Afflictive Dispensations, how many are there that do it not? God must do nothing but what they would have him: And if he does not do what they would have in the time they would have, they will not humbly wait his Time. Like that wicked Prince, who when there had been a terrible Famine, said, This evil is of the Lord; what should I wait on the Lord any longer? 2 King. 6.33. It seems the Prophet Elisha, had put him in hopes that relief would come; but when it did not come just when he would have it, he would wait on the Lord no longer. And how apt are men to be discontented & find fault with the Providence of God?
