A Platform for the Proof of Gods Providence, Part 1
That Chriſt the Sonne of God doth gouerne all things as well, as God the Father, is proued by reaſon, example, and aucthoritie.
BY reaſon, if God by his wiſdome made the worlde: that is, if that the Eternall wiſdome of God, which is his worde, the euerlaſting Sonne of God, was preſent with God, when he made the worlde: he is alſo with him in gouerning the worlde: but he was with God …hen made the worlde, therefore he is …ith him in gouerning of it.
The equity of the firſt propoſition is grounded vponupon moſt ſtrong reaſon:
For as God created the worlde by his wiſdome, ſo it is not to be beleeued, that God gouerneth the worlde without his wiſdome, otherwiſe he ſhould gouerne by chance.
The ſecond propoſition is proued by the teſtimony of the Apoſtle Hebr. 1. by whom alſo he made the worldes.
By example, Gen. 48. verſe 13. 14. 15. Then tooke Ioſeph them both, Ephraim in his right hand towards Iſraels left hand, and Manaſſeh in his left hande towarde Iſraels right hand, ſo he brought them vntounto him.
But Iſraell ſtretched out his right hand, and laid it on Ephraims head, which was the yonger, and his left hand vponupon Manaſſehs head (directing his handes on purpoſe) for Manaſſeh was the elder.
Alſo he bleſſed Ioſeph, and ſaid, the God before whom my fathers Abrahā, & Izack did walk, the God which hath fed me all my life longe vntounto this day.
In which wordes Iacob acknowledgeth Gods prouidence to ſtretch to particuler men, euen to himſelfe.
Then it followeth as verſ: 5. 16. The Angell which hath deliuered me from all euill, bleſſe the children, and let my name be named vponupon them, and the name of my fathers Abraham, and Izack, that they may growe as fiſh, into a multitude in middes of the earth. In theſe wordes, the holy Patriarke Iacob giueth that particular prouidence to the Angell, which in the former verſe hee had giuen to God: And that by the name of Angell he vnderſtandeth no …reature, is hereby proued, in that he affirmeth, that this Angell had power to bleſſe: ſaying to him, Bleſſe the children: Hee then is the Angell, whome Iacob was wont to call, the Angell of the Lord, that is the Sonne of God.
Therefore in this place Iacob attributeth a prouidence ouer all things and perſones, to the Angell: that is the Sonne of God, as well as to God the Father.
By authoritie Iohn. 5. verſe 17. My Father worketh and I worke: This worke that Chriſte ſpeaketh of, is not to be vnderſtood of the creation onelyonly, but alſo of ye gouerning of al things created.
For this particle (hitherto) ſheweth that he ment not onelyonly that firſt worke of his in creating all things with his Father, but alſo another worke, which he dayly excerciſeth, which cannot be vnderſtood of any other, then of gouerning all things with his Father.
But here wee muſt obſerue this rule, that the workes of the Trinitie are vndeuided.
Therefore that which is the Fathers worke, is the worke alſo of the Sonne, and of the holy Ghoſt.
That the Sonne of God doeth the ſame workes that the Father doeth, is alreadie proued: the ſame is to be affirmed alſo of the holy Ghoſt, by the warrant of Gods worde, as by that I reade in the 139. Pſalme Whether ſhall I goe from the Spirit? or whether ſhall I flie from thy preſence? If I aſcende into Heauen, thou art there: If I lie downe in Hell thou art there: let me take the winges of the morning, and dwel in the vttermoſt partes of the Sea, yet thether ſhall thine hand leade me, and thy right hand holde me: Thus is the firſt point breifly proued, that Chriſt the Sonne of God, and the holy Ghoſt, doe gouerne all things as well as God the Father.