Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 1 · Part 7
Now before we come to speake of the things prayed for in this petition, for the better clearing of it, some questions or obiections are further to be propounded and answered: as first it may bee said.
Obiection. 1 Gods will must needs be done, for God is omnipotent and doth whatsoeuer hee will, neither can any creature or power withstand his will. Isai. 40.18. and so confessed by Iehosaephat, 2 Chron. 20. what neede we then pray, that Gods will may be done.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus: Gods secret will, the will of his good pleasure cannot bee withstood, but must needs come to passe: but his will reuealed in his Word, may bee and many times is resisted and withstood: Mat. 23.37. Acts 7.54. euerie sinne is a breach of the law of God, and so a resisting of his will,
It will be saide againe:
Obiection. 2 Gods will, howsoeuer propounded (namely) his will reuealed in his Word, is a powerfull will and cannot bee frustrate: for if a thing being willed by God howsoeuer, should not come to passe and bee effected, it were either because God willed amisse, or wanted power to worke that hee willed; either of which were blasphemie once to thinke: therefore it seemes needlesse to pray that Gods will may be done.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; Gods will reuealed in his Word, commanding duties to be done, hath diuers ends: it serues, either for obedience, or for triall, or for conuiction: and so though it bee a powerfull will, and hauehave effect in all men; yet not in eueryevery man the same effect, nor attaines the same end in all men: in some by Gods grace it worketh obedience, in some it worketh only triall of some inward grace, and in some it worketh only conuiction: and so it is neuer frustrate, but attaines one of these ends in eueryevery man. Gen. 22.2. God bid Abraham kill his Sonne Isaac; it was not Gods will and purpose that Abraham should obey that commandement simply, and slay his Sonne, as the euent declared; but his will was by that commandement, to make triall of Abrahams affection and true feare of God. vers. 1. and vers. 12. compared together: and so Exod. 5. God bid Pharaoh let his people goe: now that commandement, was not a commandement of obedience in Gods secret purpose, but only a commandement of conuiction, to conuince Pharaoh of rebellion and hardnesse of heart.
Obiection. 3 Gods will reuealed in his Word, attaining one of these ends; either obedience, triall, or conuiction, in eueryevery man.
Quest. What neede we pray that it may be done?
Answ. As God hath determined the end, so also the meanes to come to it; we must therefore vse prayer as a speciall meanes for attaining grace,Heb. 13.21. that we may obey the will of God reuealed in his Word: for so wee are to take Gods will made knowne to vsus in his Word, commanding duties as a will to be obeyed, leauing Gods secret purpose of triall or conuiction to himselfe; and so pray that the will of God may be powerfull in vsus, as it is propounded to vsus, (namely) as a will requiring obedience in all his children.
Obiection. 4 If God sometimes in his will reuealed in his Word, command that which in his secret purpose, he hath determined shall neuer come to passe, as in that Commandement giuen to Abraham of sacrificing his Sonne Isaac: Gen. 22.2. Then Gods will reuealed is sometimes contrary to the will of his good pleasure.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; when God in his will reuealed requires obedience, which in his secret will he intends not in some men, but only their triall or conuiction: that Commandement is not contrary to his secret purpose, but rather a fit meanes of accomplishing of his purpose in those men, as in the example propounded: God in his secret counsell decreed to make triall of Abraham, whether he would for his sake, offer his Son Isaac in sacrifice or no, and to that end he gaue him that commandement, (offer thy Sonne for a burnt offering) not as a Commandement of absolute obedience, but of triall: and so was that Commandement a fit meanes of accomplishment of Gods secret purpose: and therefore though it seeme contrary to Gods secret will, yet it is not, if wee consider the scope and end of it, that being in Gods secret purpose, only the triall of Abraham.
Quest. Gods will being manifested by particular euents, good or euill, how is God free from willing euill, and from being the authour of euill?
Answ. Euill is two fold, euill of punishment,Isai. 45.7. Amos 3.6. or euill of sinne: the first of these God willeth, and is the authour of, for punishment being a worke of Iustice against sinne is good, and therefore willed and wrought by God. Touching the second sort of euill, euill of sinne; some say that God only barely permitteth, and suffereth it to be done, and no farther; as the Schoolemen say: Deus respectu reati culpae, non habet actum positivum, sed tantum negativum, non vult impedire. Which is true, but not the whole truth.
Quest. How may that appeare?
Answ. Thus: if God permit sinne, hee doth it either willingly or against his will: if willingly, then it is not by bare permission, by a powerfull working permission, if against his will, then is he not omnipotent to let & hinder that thing he willeth not, and that is blasphemie to thinke.
Quest. How then are wee to conceiue of Gods willing of the euill of sinne?
Answ. Concerning that, we are to learne two distinctions.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This: there be two things in sinne, the subiect or matter of sin, which is either a motion, a qualitie, or an action: or the forme of sinne, that which maketh the motion, qualitie or action, to be a sinne, and that is transgression of the law of God properly called by some, deformitie of the motion, qualitie or action.
Quest. What is the second distinction we are to learne?
Answ. This; there is difference betweene sin it selfe simplie considered in it selfe & by it selfe, and the euent of sin, or the comming to passe of sin, for sinne it selfe is euill, but the comming to passe of sinne is good, in respect of the end to which it is by God disposed (namely) his glory in the manifestation of his Iustice and Mercy.
Quest. These two distinctions learned, how then are we to conceiue of Gods willing of the euill of sinne?
Answ. Thus: God willeth the motion, qualitie or action, which is the subiect or matter of sin,Act. 17.28. for he is the first mouer or efficient in eueryevery motion and action, as it is a motion or action: but he willeth not the deformitie, prauitie or euillnesse of the motion or action. For example, in the act of Theft and taking away of another mans goods, the action of mouing the body, of stirring the seuerall ioynts, and reaching out of the hand, whereby the goods are taken hold of, are willed and wrought by God.
But the applying of those actions to this end, that our Neighbour may thereby be depriued of his goods, and we by them inriched: this is the deformitie of those actions, & not willed nor effected by God.
Againe, God willeth not sin simply considered in it selfe as it is sin, and against his Commandement, but only willeth the euent, or comming to passe of sinne.
Quest. How doth God will the euent, or comming to passe of sinne?
Answ. Thus; not by effecting it, but by with holding his grace from his creature, and not hindering it when he might, if hee would, and so only by consequent God willeth the euent of sinne, be not hindering it, hee willingly permits it to be done for a good end, (namely) the glory of his name in the execution of his Iustice, or the manifestation of his merciemercy. God often punisheth one sinne with another, now all sinne is eu ll if wee respect it selfe, but as it is a punishment of some former euill, in that respect it is not euill, but iust and a good thing, and so the euent or comming of it to passe is willed by God. Thus we are to vnderstand that God willed the hardening of Pharaohs heart. Exodus 9.12. the deceiuing of Ahab with a Lie.2 Thess. 2.11. 2 Chron. 18.22. And thus hee willeth the delusion of such as are deceiued by the deceiuable working of Antichrist, the Pope of Rome and his Emissaries, the shaueling Locusts, Jesuites and Priests.
Quest. What are the things we pray for in this Petition. Thy will be done in Earth, as it is in Heauen?
Answ. Either things generall, or things more speciall.
Question. What are the generall things we pray for in this Petition?
Answ. Two things especially.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; deniall of our selues and of our owne wills;Luk. 9.23. Gen. 6.5. Gen. 8.21. that God would make vsus renounce our owne wills, which are naturally in bondage to Satan, and are auerse and contrary to all spirituall goodnesse, and of themselues are prone to will, and doe actually will nothing but that which is euill, and against Gods holy will, and would make our wills pliable to his holy will, and able to will and wish that which his holy will alloweth.
Obiection Our wills are naturally auerse and contrary to all spirituall good, and of themselues prone to will, and doe actually will nothing but that which is euill, but being renewed by grace, and in the state of grace.
Quest: HaueHave they not then power in then to will that which is truly and spiritually good?
A. Of themselues, & by thems…lues, our wills hauehave no such power though they be renewed & in the state of grace, they are then able not of themselues, or by themselues, but only by grace,1 Cor. 15.10. 2 Cor. 3.5. 1 Cor. 13.9. freely to will spirituall good, and to will euill, and that only in part, not perfectly in the time of this life.
Quest. What is the second generall thing we pray for, in this petition?
Answ. This: that the rule of our liues may bee Gods reuealed will,Deut. 19.29. Psal. 129.105. his will reuealed in his Word: that we may make not Gods secret and hidden will, but the reuealed will of God, his will made known in his Word, which is the law or only rule of things to be done, the rule of our liues, and of all our thoughts, words and actions. Colos. 3.16.Coloss. 3.16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you plenteously in all wisedome, so as wee rightly vnderstand it, and rightly applie it to our particular actions and occasions.
Obiection. 1 Iohn. 2.27. Gods elect true beleeuers are taught all things of the spirit of God; and therefore it seemes we may depend on the teaching of the spirit, and on reuelations from Heauen, and not on Gods will reuealed in his Word, nor make that the rule of our liues.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus: First, the meaning of Saint Iohn is, that Gods elect and true beleeuers, hauing receiued the Spirit, they are inwardly taught of the spirit, and hauehave their minds inlightened, and their iudgement cleare, and need not that any man should teach them to discerne the truth taught, from errour and deceite, as appeares vers. 26.
Againe, Secondly, the Word of God and the Spirit, euer goeth together, the Spirit shineth in the Word and is powerfull by the Spirit, and we must be taught of God; but it must bee by his Word, the Lord puts them together. Isa. 59.21. And the Apostle calls his preaching, the ministration of the Spirit. 2 Cor. 3.8.
Quest. What are the more speciall things we pray for in this petition: Thy will be done, &c.
Answ. Either such things as concerne obedience to Gods will, commanding duties to bee done, or such as concerne submission to his will in things to bee suffered of vsus, or by vsus.
Quest. What are the things wee pray for in this petition, that concerne obedience to Gods will, commanding duties to bee done?
Answ. Three things especially.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. Knowledge of Gods will reuealed in his Word, commanding good duties, that we may come to the knowledge of Gods will made knowne to vsus in his Word, touching the good duties he requires of vsus; either as we are Christians in our particular places and callings, states and conditions of life: for how should we doe the will of God, vnlesse we know it: as how can a Seruant doe things pleasing to his Master, when hee knowes not what his Master would hauehave him to doe. Isa. 8.19.20. the Lord sends them to the Law and to the Testimonie, if they speak not according to this Word; it is because there is no light in them.
Quest. How may we come to the knowledge of Gods will reuealed in his Word, commanding good duties?
Answ. By vsing the meanes that serue to that purpose,Deut. 4.1. Psal. 1.2. Psal. 119.97. Pro. 2.1. to. 6. Psal. 119.18.33.34. diligently, and carefully: as by hearing & reading the Word, by meditating in it, & by conferring on it, and by seeking to God in prayer, for the right vnderstanding & knowledg of it.
Quest. How much knowledge of Gods will reuealed in his Word, commanding good duties must we come to, that wee may obey that will of God?
Answ. So much knowledge as may direct vsus in the doing well, & may guid vsus in eueryevery good action:Pro. 4.5.7. Pro. 19.2. Ma. 22.29. we must distinctly know the will of God made knowne in his Word, so far as it may direct vsus in eueryevery good action; for eueryevery good action, yea eueryevery good motion of the mind, will and affections, must be guided by the rule of goodnesse, the Word of God, & that rule must be distinctly knowne of vsus, or else it cannot bee a rule to vsus. Mat. 22.29. Yee erre (saith our Sauiour Christ) not knowing the Scriptures; not only in iudgement but in practise.
Quest. What is the second speciall thing we pray for in this petition, that concernes obedience to Gods will, commanding duties to be done?
Psal. 119.32.36 Tit. 3.8. 1 Pet. 1.14.15. 2 Pet. 1.5.Answ. Strength of grace, care and endeauour to doe the will of God reuealed in his Word, both in our generall and particular callings: and that as the will of God ought to bee obeyed: for it is but hypocrisie to vse this petition, Thy will be done in Earth, as it is in Heauen, and yet neuer care nor endeauour to obey the will of God: and therefore if we vse this petition aright, we desire that the will of God may be done.
Quest. How is the will of God reuealed in his Word, obeyed as the will of God ought to be obeyed?
1 Tim 1.5. Mat. 6.1.2.5. Luk. 18.11.12Answ. Thu…; when the obedience that is yeelded to it, comes from a sanctified soule, and is performed in louelove to God, and in conscience towards God, because God commands it; and with a desire to please him, and with a due respect to his glory.
Obiection. 1 God doth approue good duties done, though it be by vnbeleeuers; as the obedience of Children to their Parents, though those Children be vnbeleeuers, yet their obedience is pleasing to God: Colos. 3.20. therefore it seemes not needfull that obedience to Gods will reuealed in his Word, should alwaies come from a sanctified soule, that it may bee such as it ought to be.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Rom. 8.8.Answ. Thus; good duties done by vnbeleeuers, are approued of God, as they are considered in the abstract in themselues, and by themselues; for so they are things commanded of God, & simply good in themselues but in concreto, in the concrete, as they come f…om vnbeleeuers and are their personall actions: they are not approued of God.
Obiection. 2 God doth sometimes reward the good actions of vnbeleeuers, and therefore it seemes they a…e pleasing to God.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; God doth sometimes giuegive outward blessings euen to the ciuill obedience and outward good carriage of hypocrites and vnbeleeuers; not because it pleaseth him as it is their personall obedience, but only of his meere rich goodnesse, and abundant merciemercy. 2 King. 10.30. Because Jehu diligently executed the Lords will in des…roying the house of Ahab, the Lord promised him that his sonnes should sit vponupon the Throne of Israel, to the fourth generation: yet was he but a carnall man, vers. 31.
Quest. What is the third speciall thing that we pray for in this petition, Thy will be done, &c. that concernes obedience to Gods will commanding duties to be done?
Answ. Perseuerance and continuance in obeying Gods wil reuealed in his Word,Galat. 6.9.53. Philip. 3.13.14 2 Thess. 2.17. 2 Thess. 3.13. Apoc. 2.10. Mat. 5.48. 1 Cor. 11.1. Ephes. 5.1. Obiection. both in our generall and particular callings, and in eueryevery state and condition of life: that God would make vsus able to continue constant in our obedience to his will made knowne to vsus in his Word, without fainting or falling backe; and that we may set before vsus the best examples for our imitation and may ayme at perfection.
Gods Children cannot faint nor fall backe from their obedience to Gods will; they are kept by grace from falling away from God, and from goodnesse. Therefore it seemes needl…sse for them to pray for perseuerance and continuance in their obe…ience.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; spirituall fainting is twofold, either a faintaing and falling b…cke altogether, and a falling cleane away from an holy course: and this cannot befall Gods Children. Jer. 32.40. Or, a fainting in part (that it) a slacking, and remit…ing somthing of an holy course: and this may and doth befall Gods Children: Reuel. 1.4. and therefore they hauehave neede to pray for perseuerance and continuance in their obedience.
Obiection. Perfection of Obedience in degree, cannot be attained in this life: therefore it seemes a vaine thing to ayme at it.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; though we cannot attaine to perfection of obedience in degree in this life: yet it is our duty to striue towards it, as those that are willing to obey God, and to doe his will to the vttermost of their power; and in time we shall come to it if wee faint not: Gala. 6.9. Once man could obey Gods will perfectly, and he shall againe obey it perfectly in Heauen: and therefore it is not a vaine thing to ayme at it.
Quest. What are the speciall things we pray for in this petition that concerne submission to Gods will, in things to bee suffered of vsus, or by vsus?
Answ. Two things especially.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; strength to beare afflictions as they ought to be borne before we be in a affliction: that we may be prouided aforehand of strength to beare afflictions, and may hauehave it readie to vse,Coloss. 1.11. Ephes. 6.15. Heb. 10.36. and to put in practice when time shall serue. Luke. 21 19. It must be ours not by vsurpation, or by lawfull vse and occupation, as a thing borrowed for the present, but by iust title and right of possession.
Quest. What is the second thing we pray for in this petition, that concernes submission to Gods will, in things to be suffered of vsus, or by vsus?
Rom. 5.3. 2 Cor. 6.4. Coloss. 1.11. Iam. 1.2. Reuel. 13.10.Answ. This; strength and patience in the time of affliction and triall, that God would giuegive vsus in all euills, trialls and afflictions we endure, though they bee great and continued long on vsus, to make his will our will, and to beare them patiently and ioyfully; and vnderunder them to blesse the name of the Lord as Iob did. Job. 1.21.