N02384:1217
A complete body of divinity in two hundred and fifty expository lectures on the…A compleat body of divinity in two hundred and fifty expository lectures on the…
A complete body of divinity in two hundred and fifty expository lectures on the Assembly's Shorter catechism wherein the doctrines of the Christian religion are unfolded, their truth confirmed, their excellence displayed, their usefulness improved; contrary errors & vices refuted & exposed, objections answered, controversies settled, cases of conscience resolved; and a great light thereby reflected on the present age. / By the Reverend & learned Samuel Willard, M.A. late Pastor of the South Church in Boston, and vice-president of Harvard College in Cambridge, in New-England. ; Prefaced by the pastors of the same church. ; [Six lines of Scripture texts]A compleat body of divinity in two hundred and fifty expository lectures on the Assembly's Shorter catechism wherein the doctrines of the Christian religion are unfolded, their truth confirm'd, their excellence display'd, their usefulness improv'd; contrary errors & vices refuted & expos'd, objections answer'd, controversies settled, cases of conscience resolv'd; and a great light thereby reflected on the present age. / By the Reverend & learned Samuel Willard, M.A. late Pastor of the South Church in Boston, and vice-president of Harvard College in Cambridge, in New-England. ; Prefac'd by the pastors of the same church. ; [Six lines of Scripture texts]
printed by B. Green and S. Kneeland for B. Eliot and D. Henchman, 1726
AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY's SHORTER CATECHISM: IN Two Hundred a… › Sermon 44 (Question 11 cont.)
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.
USE 1. THIS tells us, That we cannot Depend upon the Ordinary Providence of God, but in the use of Means. Hence that Prescription, Gen. 3.19. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread. If we will Live in this World, we must so lean upon the Hand of God, as to be employed in seeking our Livelihood; whence we may conclude it necessary, that every one have a Particular Calling, and use Diligence in it. There is no Contradiction between Trusting in God for our Supply, Maintenance, Defence, and using all regular Endeavours for the obtaining of them. They that pretend to Trust God's Providence, in a neglect of regular Endeavours, do not indeed Trust it, but Mock it. God indeed would not have our Secular Employments hinder our Religious Duties, in their Season; but he would have us Diligent in our Place. He could Give us all without our striking one stroke; but He hath appointed another way, and our Faith and Obedience must go together; the Diligent Hand makes Rich, but Sloth, and Poverty, and Rags, and Shame must be expected to go together.
USE 2. LEARN hence, That our ordinary Supply and Livelihood, is not in our Hands, but depends on the Providence of God. It is He who Orders and disposeth of Second Causes in their Subordinate Station, according to His own Pleasure; so that when we have done all that we can do, laid out our best Prudence and utmost Diligence for the advancing of our Designs we must ultimately resolve all into His Providence The Husbandman Ploughs his Ground, and Sows his ⟨p. 138⟩Seed; he hath gone as far as he can at the present, but the Seed may Rot in the Ground, &c. The Merchant wisely considers and Adventures his Estate, and hopes for a good Return, but how many Casualties are there out of his Hands? All that we have now to do is to Commend it to God, believing in the Promise, that He will Provide for us in the way of our Duty, and according to His Sovereign Wisdom. If we fear Him, He hath said that we shall not Want; and He hath the Ordering of all Second Causes in His Power, and is able to Command His Blessing upon us, by helping them to Work suitably, and preventing such Casualties as they are in their own Nature liable unto. Whether therefore we succeed, or be disappointed, we must acknowledge it to Him, and not po too much upon Second Causes.