N01435:45
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.
Reas. 1. Absolute Sovereignty and Almighty Power belongs to God. Since he is an Absolute Sovereign, He may Command what he Pleases; and it is ⟨p. 24⟩for his Creatures not to Dispute his Commandments, but to Obey them. His Will is Reason sufficient: Wherefore he said to Joshua, Have not I Commanded thee? Josh. 1.9. That's ground enough for thee to Obey. And because of his Absolute Sovereignty, he may bring upon men what Afflictions he shall please, and their Duty and Wisdom is not to find fault with his Providences; but to say, Let the Will of the Lord be done. When Patient Job, after long and sore Trials made some Complaints of hard Measure, Elihu Silenced him by putting him in mind of the Uncontrollable Sovereignty of God: Job 33.12, 13. God is greater than Man. Why dost thou strive against him? For he giveth not account of any of his matters. God, if he sees meet, may bring upon thee the sorest Afflictions, and not tell thee why: He is not bound to give an account of his proceedings to thee, or to any man: It is enough that a Sovereign God will have it be so: And therefore hold thou thy Peace. Has not the Potter power over ⟨p. 25⟩the Clay, to do what he will with it? God has a greater power over thee his Creature, than the Potter has over the Clay. And because of his Almighty Power, it is a vain (as well as a wicked) thing to Contend with him. The greatest Emperor in the world was made to Confess it. Nebuchadnezzar makes an humble Acknowledgement, & has Proclaimed it to all Nations on the Earth, That the High God, does according to his Will in the Army of Heaven, and among the Inhabitants of the Earth; and none can stay his Hand, or say unto him what dost thou? Dan. 4.35. Wherefore they that will Contend with him, will but bring Woe & Misery upon themselves. Is any Creature a fit Match for him? Isa. 45.9. Woe unto him that strives with his Maker. Let the Potsherd strive with the Potsherds of the Earth. Men are but Potsherds of the Earth: Let them strive with their Fellow-Creatures if they will, but let them not think to Contend with their Almighty Creator. The Will of Providence cannot be disappointed,