fins of angels and men o, and that not by a bare permiffion p but such as hath joined with it a most wife and powerful bounding q, and otherwise ordering, and governing of them, in a manifold difpenfation, to his own holy ends r; yet so, as the finfulness thereof proceedeth only from the creature, and not from God, who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or approver of fin/. IV. o Rom. xi. 32. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. V 33. O the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! V. 34. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath been his counsellor? 2 Sam. xxiv. 1. And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Ifrael, and he moved David against them, to say, Go number Ifrael and Judah. With 1 Chr. xxi. 1. And Satan stood up against Ifrael, and provoked David to number Ifrael. 1 Kings xxii. 22. And the Lord faid unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he faid, Thou shalt perfuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do fo. Y. 23. Now therefore behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee 1 Chr. x. 4. Then said Saul to his armour-bearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; left these uncircumcised come, and abuse me. But his armour-bearer would not, for he was fore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. v. 13. So Saul died, for his tranfgreffion which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and alfo for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; v. 14. And enquired not of the Lord: therefore he flew the him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jeffe. 2 Sam. xvi. 10. And the king faid, What have I to do with you ye fons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the Lord hath faid unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore haft thou done so? Acts ii. 23. Him, being delivered, by the determinate counsel and fore-knowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and flain, Acts iv. 27. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Ifrael were gathered together, v. 28. For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. p Acts xiv. 16. Who in times paft suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. q Pfalm lxxvi. 10. Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain. 2 Kings xix. 28. Because thy rage against me, and thy tumult is come up into mine ears, therefore I will put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest. r Gen. 1. 20. But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pafs, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Ifaiah x. 6. I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge to take the spoil and to take the prey, and to tread V. The most wife, righteous and gracious God doth oftentimes leave for a feason his own children to manifold temptations, and the corruption of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former fins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption, and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled t; and to raise them to a more close and conftant dependence for their fupport upon himself, and to make them more watchful against all future occafions of fin, and for fundry other just and holy ends v. tread them down like the mire of the freets. v. 7. Howbeit, he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so, but it is in his heart to destroy, and cut off nations not a few. V. 12. Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion, and on Jerufalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Afsyria, and the glory of his high looks. / James i. 13. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man. v. 14. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. v. 17. Every good gift, and every perfect gift, is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither fhadow of turning. 1 John ii. 16. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the luft of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. Pfalm 1. 21. These things haft thou done, and I kept filence: thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: bu I will VI. As reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes. V. t 2 Chr. xxxii. 25. But Hezekiah rendred not again, according to the benefit done unto him: for his heart was lifted up; therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerufalem. v. 26. Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart (both he and the inhabitants of Jerufalem) so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah. v. 31. Howbeit, in the business of the ambaffadors. of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. 2 Sam. xxiv. 1. And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Ifrael, and he moved David against them to say, Go number Ifrael and Judah... v 2 Cor. xii. 7. And left I should be exalted above measure, through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, left I should be exalted above measure. v. 8. For this thing I befought the Lord thrice, that it might depart VI. As for those wicked and ungodly men, whom God as a righteous judge, for former fins, doth blind and harden w, from them he not only with-holdeth his grace, whereby they might have been enlightened in their understandings, and wrought upon in their hearts x; but sometimes also with-draweth the gifts which they had y, and exposeth them to fuch objects as their corruption makes occafion of fin z; and withal, gives Chap. V. them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan a: whereby it comes to pass, that they harden themselves, even under those means which God ufeth for the foftning of others b. depart from me. v. 9. And he faid unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Pfalm Ixxiii. throughout. + Pfalm Ixxvii. 1. I cried unto God with my voice: even unto God with my voice, and he gave ear unto me. v. 10. And I faid, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. v. 12. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. (Read the intermediate verses in the Bible.) Mark xiv. from the 66 verse, to the end, with John xxi. 15. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, fon of Jonas, loveft thou me more than these? He faith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He faith unto him, Feed my lambs. v. 16. He faith to him again the second time, Simon fon of Jonas, lovest thou me? He faith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He faith unto him, Feed my sheep. v. 17. He faith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved, because he faid unto him the third time, lovest thou me? And he faid unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knoweft that I love thee. Jesus faith unto him, Feed my sheep. them VI. w Rom. i. 24. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, through the luft of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bos dies between themselves: v. 26. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: For even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: v. 28. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gavé them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient. Rom. xi. 7. What then? Ifrael hath not obtained that which he feeketh for, but the election hath obtained it,and the rest were blinded. v. 8. According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of flumber, eyes that they should not fee, and ears that they should not hear, unto this day. x Deut. xxix. 4. Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to per ceive, and eyes to fee, and ears to hear, unto this day. y Matth. xiii. 12. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away, even that he hath, Mat. xxv. 29. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he fhall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away, even that which he hath. z Deut. ii. 30. But Sihon king of Hefabon would not let us pass by him: for the Lord thy God hardned his fpirit, fpirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day. 2 Kings viii. 12. And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Ifrael : their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou flay with the fword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child. v. 13. And Hazael faid, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, the Lord hath shewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria. a Pfal. lxxxi. 11. But my people would not hearken to my voice: and Ifrael would none of me. v. 12. So I gave them up unto their own hearts lust, and they walked in their own counsels. 2 Theff. ii. ro. And with all deceivableness of unrighteoufness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth; that they might be saved. V. 11. And for this cause God shall fend them strong delusion, that they fhould believe a lie. v. 12. That they all might be damned, who believed not the truth, but had pleafure in unrighteousness. b Exod. vii. 3. And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my figns and my wonders in the land of Egypt. With Exod. viii. 15. But when Pharaoh faw that there was refpite, he hardned his heart, and hearkned not unto them; as the Lord had faid. v. 32. And Pharaoh hardned his heart at this time VII. As also, neither would he let the people go. 2 Cor. ii. 15. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish. v. 16. To the one we are the favour of death unto death; and to the other, the favour of life unto life and who is sufficient for there things? Ifa. viii. 14. And he shall be for a fanctuary; but for a ftone of stumbling, and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Ifrael, for a gin, and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. I Pet. ii. 7. Unto you therefore which believe, he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the fame is made the head of the corner v. 8. And a ftone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient, whereunto also they were appointed. Ifa. vi. 9. And he said, Go and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. v. 10. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes: left they fee with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. With Acts xxviii. 26. Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand: and feeing ye shall fee, and not perceive. v. 27. For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; left they should fee with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with The Confeffion of Faith. VII. As the providence of God doth, in general, reach to all creatures; fo, after a most special manner, it taketh care of his church, and disposeth all things to the good thereof c. CHAP. VI. Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof. UR first parents being feduced by the fubtilty and temptation of Satan, finned in eating the forbidden fruit a. This their fin, God was pleased, according to his wife and holy counsel, to permit, having purposed to order it to his own glory b. II. By this fin they fell from their original righteouf ness, and communion with God c, and fo became dead in fin d their heart, and should be converted, not for I am with thee, I will bring and I should heal them. VII. c 1 Tim. iv. 10. For there fore we both labour, and fuffer reproach, because we trust in the liv ing God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. Amos ix. 8. Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are upon the finful kingdom, and I will destroy it front off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, faith the Lord. v. 9. For lo, I will command, and I will fift the house of Ifrael among all nations, like as corn is fifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth. Rom. viii. 28. And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Ifa. xliii. 3. For I am the Lord thy God, the holy one of Ifrael, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Sheba for thee. v. 4. Since thou was precious in my fight, thou haft been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. v. 5. Fear thy feed from the east, and gather thee from the west. V. 14. Thus faith the Lord, your Redeemer, the holy One of Ifrael, for your fake I have fent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships, I. a Gen. iii. 13. And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman faid, The ferpent beguiled me, and I did eat. 2 Cor. xi. 3. But I fear least by any means, as the ferpent beguiled Eve through his fubtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the fimplicity that is in Chrift. b Rom. xi. 32. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. II. c Gen. iii. 6. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be defired to make one wife; she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did |