Gods Three Arrows, Section 21
§. 21. Of uſing meanes.
VII. *Sec §. 9.APproved meanes are to be uſed for attaining our deſired ends. The parables which our Lord uſeth about providing that which may be ſufficient for an intended building, and about caſting how to meet an enemy that is comming againſt him, (Luke 14. 28, &c.) give good evidence to the truth of this point. Wherefore ſuch Saints as have beene guided by the Spirit of God, even in thoſe wars whereabout God himſelfe hath ſent them, and to which he hath given aſſurance of victory, have been carefull to uſe meanes. For this end bIoſ. 1. 12, &c.Ioſhua required all the men of warre that were of the Reubenites, Gadites, and halfe the Tribe of Manaſſeh, that quietly enjoyed their poſſeſſions on the other ſide of Iordan, to go over before the reſt of the Iſraelites, armed to helpe them. On the contrary cIudg 5. 23.Meroz is curſed for not affording aid to helpe the Lord againſt the mighty. The meanes *§. 12.before noted for keeping out enemies tend to the point in hand.
Of ſuch uſe are means, as if they be wanting, God will not do the thing that is expected to be done. Though dActs 27. 24, 31God had given to Paul all that ſailed with him, yet when the mariners (who are ordinary meanes to adviſe, and helpe in dangers on the ſea) were about to leave the ſhip, Paul ſaid, except theſe abide ye cannot be ſafe. So as ordinarily there is a kind of neceſſity that meanes be uſed. Yea we oft read of meanes uſed in extraordinary matters. eExo. 8. 17.The duſt of the earth was ſtrucke, that out of it lice might ariſe to plague Pharaoh. f—9. 8, 10.Aſhes of the fornace were ſprinkled into the aire to cauſe boiles to breake forth upon man and beaſt in Egypt. g—17. 6.The rocke was ſtruck with a ſtaffe to make water flow out of it. h2 King 4. 41.Meale was caſt into the pot, to make the pottage wholſome.
The uſe of meanes makes much to the manifeſtationGods glory in the uſe of meanes.
1. Of Gods providence, in affording meet means.
2. Of his wiſdome, in ordering means fitly.
3. Of his goodneſſe, in bleſſing means.
And thus more occaſion is given of calling upon God for his bleſſing on the means which are uſed: and of praiſing him when we ſee the fruit and benefit of means: yea and of humiliation when we obſerve means to be wanting, or to be ineffectuall.
1. Ob. i1 Sam. 14. 6.There is no reſtraint to the Lord to ſave by many or by few, and k2 Chro. 14, 11 Meanes have reſpect to Gods will.by them that have no power.
Anſw. 1. In ſpeaking of meanes no queſtion is made of Gods power. For he that without any means made all things, can do what els pleaſeth him without means. But the queſtion is of his will; whether he that hath ſanctified ſuch and ſuch means, for ſuch and ſuch purpoſes, will effect matters without the means which he hath appointed for effecting them.
2. The queſtion is of Gods ordinary manner of working. Now Gods ordinary providence in ordinary matters is the ground of our faith, rather then his extraordinary power.
2. Ob. lIudg. 7. 2, 4.God reſtrained Gideon in uſing the means that in his caſe were ordinarily uſed.
Anſw. The Lord tieth not himſelfe to ordinary courſes, God not tied to meanes.as he hath tied his creatures, who can not go beyond the bounds which he hath appointed to them. So as herein lieth a difference betwixt the Creatour and creatures. For the manifeſtation of this difference it pleaſed God ſomtimes to do great matters with ſmall meanes, (yea and mExo. 17. 28.with no meanes at all,) and to cauſe thoſe particulars to be recorded, that all ages might know what of himſelfe he is able to do.
3. Ob. Means uſe to draw mens minds from God: and Abuſe of means.to make them dote too much on means.
Anſw. That is the abuſe of means. Means are by ſuch conſidered onelyonly in themſelves, and not in the principall agent who makes them effectuall. Such were the Iſraelites, to whom the Prophet thus, nIſa. 31. 1.Woe to them that go downe to Egypt for helpe, and ſtay on horſes, and truſt in chariots becauſe they are many, and in horſemen becauſe they are very ſtrong: but they looke not unto the holy one of Iſrael, neither ſeeke the Lord. Thus they ſevered things, which were to be joyned together, God and means: means being the hand of the divine providence whereby he worketh ſuch and ſuch things. Quamvis credamus in Deum, faciamus tamen quae facienda ſunt ab hominibus in praeſidium ſalutis, ne praetermittentes ea Deum tentare videamur. Aug. Quaeſt ſuper Gen l 1. c. 102.Means therefore (in the right uſe of them) give occaſion of beholding God, of calling on him, and praiſing him. Daily food, apparell, ſleepe, works of our calling, and other like meanes wherby we are ſuſtained, work ſuch effects in thoſe that are piouſly minded. Wherefore though we believe in God, yet let us do thoſe things that are to be done by man for our ſafety, leſt letting ſlip ſuch means we may ſeeme to tempt God.
It will therefore be our wiſdome in every thing that we take in hand,
1. To obſerve what means are warranted for the effecting Rules for uſing means.thereof. Out of Gods Word we may have ſufficient direction in this caſe.
2. To be diligent in uſing thoſe means. Many promiſes Pro. 10 4.—12. 11.are made to the diligent, eſpecially in Salomons Proverbs.
3. *Sec §. 27. Pſal. 127. 1.To call on God for his bleſſing on our endeavors. Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vaine. To neglect means is an extreme in the defect, implying too great ſecurity. To relie only on means is an extreme in the exceſſe, implying too much inſolency. God is tempted both waies. The middle therefore is the beſt and ſafeſt courſe, which is, in the uſe of meanes to relie on God for his bleſſing.