An humble inquiry into the rules of the Word of God, concerning the qualifications…

ANSW. Tho' we are to eye the Providence of God, and not disregard his Works, yet to interpret them to a Sense or apply them to a Use inconsistent with the Scope of the Word of God, is a Misconstruction and Misapplication of them. God has not given us his Providence, but his Word to be our governing Rule. God is sovereign in his Dispensations of Providence; he bestowed the Blessing on Jacob, even when he had a Lie in his Mouth; he was pleased to meet with Solomon, and make known himself to him, and bless him in an extraordinary Manner, while he was worshipping in an high Place; he met with Saul, when in a Course of violent Opposition to him, and out of the Way of his Duty to the highest Degree, going to Damascus to persecute Christ; and even then bestowed the greatest Blessing upon him, that perhaps ever was bestowed on a mere Man. The Conduct of divine Providence, with it's Reasons, is too little understood by us, to be improved as our Rule. God has his Way in the Sea, his Path in the mighty Waters, and his Footsteps are not known: And he gives none Account of any of his Matters. But God has given us his Word to this very End that it might be our Rule; and therefore has fitted it to be so; has so ordered it that it may be understood by us. And strictly speaking, this is our only Rule. If we join any Thing else to it, as making it our Rule, we do that which we have no Warrant for, yea, that which God himself has forbidden. See Deut. iv. 2. Prov. xxx.6. And with Regard to God's blessing and succeeding of Ministers, have ⟨p. 132⟩not some had remarkable Experience of it in the Way which I plead for, as well as some who have been for the Way I oppose? However, we can't conclude, that God sees nothing at all amiss in Ministers, because he blesses them. In general, he may see those Things in them which are very right and excellent; these he approves and regards, while he over looks and pardons their Mistakes in Opinion or Practice, and notwithstanding these is pleased to cro•n their Labours with his Blessing.

ANSW. Tho' we are to eye the Providence of God, and not disregard his Works, yet to interpret them to a Sense or apply them to a Use inconsistent with the Scope of the Word of God, is a Misconstruction and Misapplication of them. God has not given us his Providence, but his Word to be our governing Rule. God is sovereign in his Dispensations of Providence; he bestowed the Blessing on Jacob, even when he had a Lie in his Mouth; he was pleased to meet with Solomon, and make known himself to him, and bless him in an extraordinary Manner, while he was worshipping in an high Place; he met with Saul, when in a Course of violent Opposition to him, and out of the Way of his Duty to the highest Degree, going to Damascus to persecute Christ; and even then bestowed the greatest Blessing upon him, that perhaps ever was bestowed on a meer Man. The Conduct of divine Providence, with it's Reasons, is too little understood by us, to be improved as our Rule. God has his Way in the Sea, his Path in the mighty Waters, and his Footsteps are not known: And he gives none Account of any of his Matters. But God has given us his Word to this very End that it might be our Rule; and therefore has fitted it to be so; has so ordered it that it may be understood by us. And strictly speaking, this is our only Rule. If we join any Thing else to it, as making it our Rule, we do that which we have no Warrant for, yea, that which God himself has forbidden. See