An End of Doctrinal Controversies, Chapter 4
CHAP. 4. How to conceive of the Diversity of God's Operations, seeing he is immutable, and intimately near to every Patient.
§. 1. IT is certain, That no Change wrought by God, signifieth any Change in God; and that no diversity of Effects signifieth any real Multiplicity or Diversity in God: But all Diversity …loweth from Unity, and Change from Immut…bil…ty.
§. 2. It is certain, That God is intimately present in Essence with every Creature, and every Effect, and so all his Effects are immediatione proxim…tatis immediately from God, he being as near the Effect, when he useth second Causes, and having as much Causality in producing what is done, as when he useth none.
§. 3. Yet it is certain, That God useth second Causes, and therefore that all Effects are not so …mmediately from him, as to be sine med…is: and the highest usually work on the lower.
§. 4. Therefore it seemeth plain, that Energy, …r utmost transient Operations go not as far as his Essential Presence; nor are equal to his Omnipotency: He doth not all that in primo instan… he can do; but suspendeth freely such Acts.
§. 5. Therefore God may so far suspend some Operations on inferior Patients, as to confine them to the Capacity or Aptitude of the superior created Causes, as he doth in the ordinary Course of Nature: He shineth not by the Moon so much as by the Sun; nor in a cloudy day so much as in a clear; nor in the night as in the day; and nourisheth us not by every sort of Food alike, nor cureth alike by all Medicines.
§. 6. As God doth thus in Naturals, so may he do in Morals, or spiritual Changes: As he is the God of Kingdoms and People, he may use its Mercies and Judgments by Kings and Magistrates, and according to their good or bad Dispositions, as he did in the Death of Christ. He doth not use to govern Nations as happily by wicked, tyrannical, in…i…el Rulers, as by the good and faithful: Pagan Rome was more unhappy under Nero, Domitian, Commodus, He…iogabulus, &c. than under N…rva, Trajan, Adrian, Antonine, Alexander Severus: And the Empire was delivered by the fall of seven Tyrants, by a Constantine.
§. 7. So God usually prospereth or afflicteth Churches and particular Souls, working his Grace according to the qualifications of the Pastors and Teachers; and fitting them to be meet Instruments of the intended Good, though he do not always so confine his Operations. This is evide… in the different successes of Ministers that are skilful or unskilful, wise or ignorant, good or bad▪ concordant, or schismatical: And it is notoriou… in the success of the Education of Youth, in Schools Universities, and Families.
§. 8. According to this Method, we may judge also of God's working according to variety of Company-helps, Temptations, and Hinderances, and how much of God's Work of Grace is thus sapientially and mediately exercised; though as to the internal manner of the Agency of his Spirit, we are told by Christ, That every one that is born of the Spirit, is as the Wind bloweth where it listeth, and we hear the sound, but know not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth. It is much herein to know a little.
§. 9. It greatly darkeneth us in judging of God's Providences on Earth, as to the Welfare or Misery of Nations and Souls, Believers and Insidels, Peace and War, &c. that we know not how much God doth here by Spirits good and bad; and how far such Spirits are left to their Free-will, as Adam was, in their Ministration and Executions here below. God gave Satan power over Iob, and power on the Sabeans that robbed him, and power on the Fire that fell from Heaven on his Estate. Christ said, This is their Day, and of the Power of Darkness. What Laws the superiour Worlds are under, as to us, and one another, is much unknown to us; yea, what power for our sins Satan may have against (not only the wicked, but) even those that fear God, both on their Bodies by Diseases, and on their minds by troubling and seducing Temptations Sad experience …elleth us, that yielding to former Temptations, giveth him advantage for easier access to our imaginations, and to more dangerous fresh Assaults.
§. 10. But yet we may be sure, that all God's Promises shall be fulfilled, and that he will never give Satan power to break them, nor suspend his Operations so much on any second Causes, as to violate any word of safety, and hope that he hath given us to trust to; which Assurance may serve to keep us in Faith, and Hope; and Comfort.