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28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

Rom. 2: 15 (Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing, or else excusing one another.)

Ph. 2: 12 Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling: 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. [See 128, 329, 573, 556, 600-1.] 272. Objections against God's providential government.

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Ezk. 33: 20 Yet ye say, The way of the LORD is not equal. ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.

Mat. 25: 24 Then he which had received the one talent came, and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

Rom. 3:7 If the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? 8 And not rather (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say) Let us do evil, that good may come ? whose damnation is just.-9: 19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? for who hath resisted his will? 20 Nay, but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor? [See 373, 695, 706.]

273. Objectors against Providence reproved.

Job 40: 2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

Is. 45: 9 Wo unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? 10 Wo unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?

Mat. 20: 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil because I am good?

Lk. 19: 27 Those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. Rom. 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why

Wonderful; and incomprehensible.

hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?

274. The works and ways of Providence wonderful.

Ex. 15: 11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

Dt. 4: 32 Ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it? 33 Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live? 34 Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched-out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?

Job 5: 8 I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause: 9 Which doeth great things and unsearchable, marvellous things without number.

Ps. 77: 11 I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. 12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. 13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God! Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.

14

Dan. 4: 3 How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.

275. The Providence of God incomprehensible.

Ps. 36: 6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast. 77: 19 Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known. 97: 2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.

Pr. 25: 2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.

Ec. 3: 11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. Rom. 11: 33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom

His Revelations make men know Him.

and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36 For of him, and through him, and to him are all things: to whom be glory for ever. [See 214, 222.]

276. Revelations and wonders of Providence make men know the Lord. Ex. 8: 22 I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth. - 9: 16 In very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.

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Dt. 4: 34 Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out-arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? 35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God: there is none else beside him. 36 Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire. 37 And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt; 38 To drive out nations from before thee, greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day. 39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath there is none else.

Jos. 4: 23 The LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over: 24 That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty, that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.

1 K. 18: 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.

Will glorify him—is desirable, etc.

Ezk. 25: 7 Behold, therefore I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and will deliver thee for a spoil to the heathen; and I will cut thee off from the people, and I will cause thee to perish out of the countries: I will destroy thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.

Dan. 4: 25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. [See 4, 207, 570.]

277. God will be glorified by all his works-Satan defeated.

Num. 14: 20 The LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word: 21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.

Ps. 46: 10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.86: 9 All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O LORD; and shall glorify thy name. 104:31 The

glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works. -145: 10 All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee. 11 They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; 12 To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.

Lk. 10: 18 He said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

1 Jn. 3: 8 For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

[See 209, 268, 587.]

278. The providential government of God desirable, and a foundation for hope, joy, and submission.

1 S. 3: 18 It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good. 2 S. 16:10 The king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? 11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.

Job 1: 15 The Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 21 The LORD gave,

God the rightful Lawgiver.

and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. 22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. Ps. 39: 9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it. - 97: 1 The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.

Is. 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

Jn. 18: 11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? [See 296-9.]

279. The wisdom of studying and exhibiting the perfections, purposes, and providential government of God.

Dt. 32: 2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: 3 Because I will publish the name of the LORD.

Ps. 36: 9 With thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

Jn. 17: 25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. 26 And I have declared unto them thy name,

and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me, may be in them, and I in them.

2 Cor. 3: 18 We all, with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

[See 48, 51, 433, 458.]

LAW OF GOD.

280. God the supreme and rightful Lawgiver and Governor.

Ps. 22: 28 The kingdom is the LORD's: and he is the governor among the nations. - 47: 2 The LORD Most High is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth. 7 For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. 8 God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. - 89: 18 The Lord is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our King.-99: 1 The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims, let the earth be moved. - 103: 19 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. 146: 10 The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.

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