Gods Providence, Title page – Dedication
Gods Providence, A SERMON Preached before the Honourable House of COMMONS, at their late solemne Fast, Decemb. 28. Anno 1642, in S. Margaret's Church at Westminster.
By ED. CORBETT, fellow of MERTON Colledge in Oxford.
Published by Order of the said House.
LONDON, Printed by Tho: Badger, for Robert Bostock, dwelling in Pa… Churchyard, at the signe of the King's head, 1642.
To the Honourable House of COMMONS, now assembled In PARLIAMENT.
THe same reason which first moved me to undertake this work, makes me now such as it is to publish it, Obedience to this Honourable House: which did then answer those discouraging arguments of my great imperfections, the want of my study, my little acquaintance in practicall Divinity, And doth still excuse me in any thing else but Sin. For I have taught my eyes to read much Divinity in Mans command, I can deny my selfe to serve my Superiors; Indeed the voyce of God makes me deaf to Humane Institutions: And when Heaven speaks, I do not understand the language of the World: Disobedience in such a case is Devotion, and the greatest Rebell, the best Christian. If no other motive could subdue my thoughts to this beleefe, S. Paul is plain and positive in my Text, shewing the vanity & deceiptfulnesse of all the Creature's excellency: the power, weaknesse; the riches, poverty; the wisdom, folly: That God alone is power, and riches, and wisdom, and all things. And surely this argument deserves the severest study, the most holy Meditations of every child of Adam, and therefore cannot be unwelcome to a great Councel of wise Senators, who have received a large measure, a full cup of Divine Providence, and inspight of Rome continue succesfull. In which discourse I proceed as much as my memory would give leave by example, and matter of fact, which brings the Conclusion to our bosomes, and is more working than speculation. The unskilfulnes of the pen I hope will not take off from the power of the subject, the rude clothing cannot more offend the eye than the pretious body may affect the heart. In which assurance I remaine
Your unworthy servant EDW. CORBEETT.
Gods Providence. A Sermon preached at the late Fast, before the Honourable House of Commons.
1. Cor. 1.27.
—God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.—
HAD we no other light but that of Nature, and no other writings but the book of the world we might read a God and see his Providence: But to find a Saviour, to know a Gospell, to understand the mysteries of Salvation,Math. 16.17. & Ioh: 3.4. 1. Cor. 2.10. Joh 5.39. Math. 11.25 is above the Art of humane learning, the spirit of God must be our Tutor therein, and the Holy Scriptures only can teach and give us such a lesson: For God hath hid those secrets from the Scribes and great Philosophers of the earth, he hath cast away the understanding of the Prudent as the Apostle speaks.1. Cor. 1.19. And hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.
My text is of that Nature as will not easily admit a Division. I shall therefore insist upon three Propositions, which I conceive do naturally arise, and which I hope will give the full sense and scope of the words.
First foreign hath chosen: Imports Gods eternall choice, the Councell of his will, his Providence by which he rules and governs all things, and therefore thence I shall take this for my 1. Proposition.
PROP. 1. Gods will hath an effectuall Influence upon all the Creatures.
Secondly, foreign the foolishnesse of the world: that which in the Iudgement of worldly men is vaine and foolish by Gods power is of great value and vertue: whence I raise this 2. Proposition.
PROP. 2. Foolish things in the Judgement of the world, are in great esteeme with our wise God.
Thirdly, foreign to confound or make ashamed: That which is weak, and foolish and nothing regarded by carnall Eyes, confounds many times the greatest power and wisdom; and by the hand of Providence brings ruine and shame upon that which wordly-men most glory and confide in: whence I shall infer my 3. Proposition.
PROP. 3. God can effect great and glorious designes by weak and improbable meanes.
Every proposition would afford abundant matter for a distinct Sermon. I can therefore only point at some generall heads, and as it were give you a little map of this great Country, taking my propositions in that order which I have mentioned.