nefs of Sara's womb. v. 20. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was ftrong in faith, giving glory to God: v. 21. And being fully perfuaded, that what he had promifed, he was abie alfo to perform. pleasure n. IV. The almighty power, unfearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God, fo far manifeft themfelves in his providence, that it extendeth itfelf even to the first fall, and all other fins of Angels and men o, and that not by a bare permiffion p, but fuch as hath joined with it a moft wife and powerful bounding q, and otherall thefe thy prophets, and the Lord hath fpoken evil concerning thee, I Chr. x. 4. Then faid Saul to his ar mour-bearer, Draw thy fword, and thruft me through therewith; left thefe uncircumcifed come, and abufe me, But his armour-bearer would not, for he was fore afraid. So Saul took a fword, and fell upon it. v. 13. So Saul died, for his tranfgreffion which he committed against the Lord, even against the word ofthe Lord, which he kept not,and alfo for afking counsel of one that had a familiar fpirit, to enquire of it; v. 14, And enquired not of the Lord: therefore he flew him, and turned the kingdom into David the fon of Jeffe. 2 Sam. xvi. 10. And the king faid, What have I to do with you, ye fons of Zeruiah? fo let him curfe, because the Lord hath faid unto him, Curfe David. Who fhall then fay, Wherefore haft thou done fo? Acts ii. 23. Him, being delivered by the determinate counfel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and flain. Acts iv. 27. For of a truth, against thy holy child Jefus, whom thou haft anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Ifrael were gathered toge. ther, v. 28. For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counfel determined before to be done. n 2 Kings vi. 6. And the man of God faid, Where fell it? And he fhewed him the place. And he cut down a ftick, and caft it in thither, and the iron did fwim. Dan. iii. 27. And the princes, governors and captains, and the king's counfellors being gathered together, faw these men, upon whofe bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head finged, neither were their coats changed, nor the fmell of fire had paffed on them. IV. 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 wifdom and knowledge of God! how unfearchable are his judgments, and his ways paft finding out! v. 34. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath been his counfeller? 2 Sam. xxiv. 1. And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Ifrael, and he moved David against them, to fay, Go number Ifrael and Judah. With 1 Chr. xxi. 1. And Satan ftood up against Ifrael, and provoked David to number Ifrael. I Kings xxii. 22. And the Lord faid unto him, Wherewith? And he faid, I will go forth, and I will be a lying fpirit in the mouth of all bis prophets. And he faid, Thou shalt perfuade him, and prevail alfo: go forth, and do fo. v. 23. Now therefore behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of I p Acts xiv. 16. Who in times paft fuffered all nations to walk in their own ways. q Pfalm lxxvi, 10. Surely the wrath of man fhall praise thee: the remainder of wrath fhalt thou reftrain. 2 Kings otherwise ordering, and governing of them, in a manifold difpenfation, to his own holy ends r: yet fo, 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 f V. The molt wife, righteous and gracions God doth oftentimes leave for a feafon his own children to manifold temptations, and the corruption of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former fins, or to difcover unto them the hidden ftrength of corruption, and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled t; and to raise them to a more clofe and conftant 2 Kings xix. 28. Becaufe thy rage against me, and thy tumult is come up into mine mine ears, therefore I will put my hook in thy nofe, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou cameft. r Gen. 1. 20. But as for you, ye thought evil againft me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pafs, as it is this day, to fave much people alive. Ifaiah x. 6. I will fend him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge to take the fpoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. v. 7. Howbeit, he meaneth not fo, neither doth his heart think fo, but it is in his heart to deftroy, and cut off nations not a few. v. 12. Wherefore it fhall come to pafs, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion, and on Jerufalem, I will punish the fruit of the ftout heart of the king of Affyria, and the glory of his high looks. James i. 13. Let no man fay when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot he tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man. v. 14. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own luft, and enticed. v. 17. Every good gift, and every perfect gift, is from above, and de cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither fhadow of turning. I John ii. 16. For all that is in the world, the luft 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. Thefe things haft thou done, and I kept filence: thou thoughteft that I was altogether fuch an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and fet 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) fo that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah. v. 31. Howbeit, in the bufinefs of the ambaffadors of the princes of Babylon, who fent 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 againft Ifrael, and he moved David against them to fay, Go number Ifrael and Judah. v 2 Cor. Chap. V. dependence for their fupport upon himself, and to make them more watchful against all future occafions of fin, and for fundry other juft and holy ends v. VI. As for thofe wicked and ungodly men, whom God as a righteous judge, for former fins, doth blind and harden w, from them he not only withholdeth his grace, whereby they might have been enlightned in their understandings, and wrought upon in their hearts x; but fometimes alfo withdraweth the gifts which they had y, and expofeth them to fuch objects as their corruption v 2 Cor. xii. 7. And left I fhould be exalted above meafure, through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the meffenger of Satan to buffet me, left I fhould be exalted above measure. v.8. For this thing I befought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. v. 9. And he faid unto me, My grace is fufficient for thee: for my ftrength is made perfect in weakness. Moft gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Chrift may reft upon me. Pfal. lxxiii. throughout. Pfalm lxxvii. 1. I cried unto God with my voice: even unto God with my voice, and he gave ear unto me. v. Io. And I faid, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the moft High. v. 12. I will meditate alfo of all thy works, and talk of thy doings. (Read the intermediate verfes in the Bible.) Mark xiv. from the 66. v. to the end, with John xxi. 15. So when they had dined, Jefus faith to Simon Peter, Simon fon of Jonas, loveft thou me more than thefe? 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 fecond time, Simon, fon of Jonas, loveft thou me? He faith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knoweft that I love thee. He faith unto him, Feed my fheep. v. 17. He faith unto him the third time, Simon, fon of Jonas, loveft thoù me? Peter was grieved, becaufe he faid unto him the third time, Lov eft thou me? And he faid unto him, Lord, thou knoweft all things; thou knoweft that I love thee. Jefus faith unto him, Feed my fheep. VI. w Rom. i. 24. Wherefore God alfo them gave up to uncleanness, through the lufts of their own hearts, to difhonour their own bodies between themselves: v. 26. For this caufe God gave them up unto vile affections: For even their women did change the natural ufe into that which is against nature: v. 28. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do thofe 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 reft were blinded. v. 8. According as it is writ ten, God hath given them the fpirit of flumber, eyes that they should not fee, and ears that they fhould not hear unto this day. x Deut. xxix. 4. Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to fee, and ears to hear, unto this day. y Matth. xiii. 12. For whosoever hath, to him faall be given, and he thall have more abundance: but whofoever hath not, from him fhall be taken a way, even that he hath. Mat, xxv. 29, For ruption makes occafion of fin z; and withal, gives them over to their own luft, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan a: whereby it comes to pafs, that they harden themfelves, even under thofe means which God ufeth for the foftening of others b. VII. As For unto every one that hath fhall be given, and he fhall have abundance: but from him that hath not fhall be taken away even that which he hath. z Deut. ii. 30. But Sihon king of Hefbon would not let us pafs by him: for the Lord thy God hardned his fpirit, and made his heart obftinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day. 2 Kings viii. 12. And Hazael faid, Why weepeth my lord? And he anfwered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Ifrael: their ftrong holds wilt thou fet 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 fervant a dog, that he fhould do this great thing? And Elifha anfwered, the Lord hath fhewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria. u 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 luft: and they walked in their own counfels. 2. Theff. ii. 10. And with all deceiveableness of unrighteoufnefs in them that perifh; bceaufe they received not the love of the truth; that they might be faved. v. 11. And for this caufe God fhall fend them ftrong delufion, that they fhould believe a lie. v. 12. That they all might be damned, who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteoufnels. 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 hearkped not unto them; as the Lord had faid. v. 32. And Pharaoh hardned his heart at this time alfo, neither would he let the people go. 2 Cor. ii. 15. For we are unto God a fweet favour of Chrift, in them that are faved, 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 fufficient for these things? Ifa. viii. 14. And he fhall be for a fanctuary; but for a ftone of ftumbling, and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Ifrael, for a gin, and for a fnare to the inhabitants of Jerufalem. 1 Pet. ii. 7. Unto you therefore which believe, he is precious: but unto them which be difobedient, the ftone which the builders difallowed, the fame is made the head of the corner, v. 8. And a ftone of ftumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which ftumble at the word, being difobedient, whereunto alfo they were appointed. Ifa. vi. 9. And he faid, Go and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and fee ye indeed, but perceive not, v. 10. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and fhut 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 fay, Hearing ye shall hear, and fhall not understand; and feeing ye shall fee, and not perceive. v. 27. For the heart of this people is waxed grofs, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they clofed; left they fhould fee with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and VII. As the providence of God doth, in general, reach to all creatures; fo, after a moft fpecial manner, it taketh care of his church, and difpofeth all things to the good thereof c. CHAP. VI. Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof. OUR JR firft parents, being feduced by the fubtilty and temp.: tation of Satan, finned in eating the forbidden fruit a. This their fin, God was pleafed, according to his wife and holy coun fel, to permit, having purpofed to order it to his own glory b. II. By this fin they fell from their original righteouf nefs and communion with God c, and fo became dead in fin, and should be converted, and I should Ifrael, for your fake I have fent to Baheal them. bylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whofe cry is in the fhips. VII. c 1 Tim. iv. 10. For therefore we both labour, and fuffer reproach, because we truft in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, fpecially of thofe that believe. Amos ix. 8. Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are upon the finful kingdom, and I will deftroy it from off the face of the earth; faving that I will not utterly deftroy the houfe of Jacob, faith the Lord. v. 9. For lo, I will command, and I will fift the houfe of Ifrael among all na tions, like as corn is fifted in a five, yet fhall not the leaft 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 purpofe. Ifa. xliii. 3. For I am the Lord thy God, the holy One of Ifrael, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ranfom, Ethiopia and Sheba for thee. v. 4. Since thou waft 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 not, for I am with thee: I will bring thy feed from the eaft, and gather thee from the welt. v. 14. Thus faith the Lord your Redeemer, the holy One of I. a Gen. iii. 13. And the Lord God' faid unto the woman, What is this that thou haft done? And the woman faid, The ferpent beguiled me, and I did eat, 2 Cor. xi. 3. But I fear left by any means, as the ferpent beguiled Eve through his fubtilty, fo your minds fhould 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 wo man faw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleafant to the eyes, and a tree to be defired to make one wife; fhe took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave alfo unto her hufband with her, and he did eat. v. 7.. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked: and they fewed fig-leaves toge ther, and made themselves aprons. v. 8. And, they heard the voice of the Lord God, walking in the garden, in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themfelves from the prefence of |