A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 46 (Question 11 cont.)
SERMON XLVI.
[2.] THE other Part of Providence is Government. As God Created, ſo He Preſerves the Creature for ſomething: He hath ſome great Deſign in holding up the World, which may Countervail all the Col… he is a… upon it. He doth it that the Creature thus Made and Kept, may attain its End. Hence there is alſo Gubernation. The ſame Hand that Keeps it up, alſo Guides it.
Firſt, OF Government in General, take this Deſcription; It is that whereby God Directs & Leads The Creature in the Right Way, for the Attainment of its End.
FOR the clearing of this Deſcription let … obſerve theſe things:
1. THAT there is ſuch a Providence as This Directing and Ruling the Affairs of the World, … Ordering all the Actions of the ſeveral Creatures, will appear Neceſſary. For, as they could … Make, nor Preſerve, ſo neither can they Govern themſelves. There is not Wiſdom … Strength enough in the beſt Created Being, to ſtees it ſelf aright to it's Haven: Except … who Made this great Veſſel, and Upholds it, be alſo it's Pilot, it will never ſhape a Tr… Courſe, but be Loſt. He holds the Car… and Compaſs, and ſits at Helm: And though Rational Beings are called upon to Eye the Pole-ſ…, yet did not He direct theſe, they would alſo miſcarry: There are ſo many By paths in the Wilderneſs, through which they Travel, that if He did not Lead them, they would miſs their Way and be Be-wildred. God having Made a World, doth not leave it to be managed by another, as the Shipwright doth his Ship. He only knows every Nook and Corner, every Rock, and Shelve, and Quick ſand; and how to carry it Clear of all, into the Port i… is Bound for. All Beings are from Him, and for Him; and He muſt Conduct them. Th… Glory that God gains by the Creature is by i… attaining its End: Should that be miſs'd … would be a Loſer; but this He will not be, f… want of His taking Care for the bringing it abou…
2. THE work of Gubernation concerns the Actings of the Creature, or the Operations of Second beings. In Conſervation, we obſerved, that God upholds thoſe Principles whereby they are capable of acting; now in Government He directs the Acts themſelves: whatſoever is done or performed in the whole World, all the motions and Various turnings of the Creatures, theſe are they into which …nd every particular accident of which, Divine Gubernation hath an influence; He is therefore ſaid to work all things at pleaſure, Eph. 1.11.
3. THE right of Divine Government is founded in Creation, and Conſervation.
(1) IN Creation. There is nothing beſides God but is a Creature of God, and ows obedience to Him becauſe he made it: Creation gives a right of Sovereig… to the Creator over the Creature … if all the Being which the Creature hath is from Him, then it's Being is His, and at His diſpoſe: This will declare Him to be an Univerſal, Supream, and everlaſting Monarch, (Pſal. 100 beg.) thoſe are therefore put together, Rom. 11.36. For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things.
2. IN Conſervation. If you maintain any Perſons, you expect that they ſhould ſubject themſelves unto you. You will not allow him his maintenance, who denies you his ſervice. The whole World are kept at his charge, and therefore hath he reaſon to challenge the rule over them. If all eves wait on him for their meat, it is fit they ſhould ſo do for their work too. This the Pſalmiſt acknowledgeth on the account of one act of Conſervation, Pſal. 116.10. O Lord, truly … thy ſerv…nt, I am thy ſervant, thou beſt looſed my hands.
4. THAT which Divine Government employs it ſelf about is, to guide the Creature to its End. He carries on all Beings to their End, i… ſo rules them as that none miſſeth it. There is a peculiar Subordinate end, and there is an Univerſal, general and laſt end; the Creature may miſs the former, but not the latter; There in the end of the Precept, and the end of the D…cr…, Reaſonable Creatures, as will afterwards were fully appear, may loſe the former, but not the latter. God's Glory is his own laſt End, which he will always attain by every Second Being, in ſuch a way as ſhall exactly anſwer his alwiſe purpoſe about it. And from this no Creature is able to withdraw it ſelf, but when is moſt ſets it ſelf againſt it, if then ſerves to it. …n. 50.20. Ye thought evil againſt me; but God means it unto good, to bring to paſs, as it is this … to ſave much people alive. For the order of Divine Government is certain, indiſſoluble, unchangeable.
5. THE way of Divine Gubernation is by a …urſe or Co…operation of the Firſt Cauſe with … Second Cauſes, guiding them according to … natural Principles, and manner of working. Concerning this Concurſe we may take … Concluſions.
(1) THERE is an Operation of ſecond Cauſe…. For where there is no Operation of the Creature, there can be no Co-operation of God. Government reſpects the Actions of the Creatures according to their innate Principles. If a Man will do any thing with an Inſtrument, he muſt not only make it, and ſuit it, but alſo improve it: if that doth not work inſtrumentally, the Man doth not work by it. We muſt not think that God only works, at the P…e…ence of ſecond Cauſes and theſe ſtand by, and do nothing at all. That there is a formal Principle in the ſecond Cauſe, proper for its own Operations, is evident from, Gen. 1.11. God ſaid, … the Earth bring …orth, &c. Were the … Opinion a Truth, then either the Creatures have no Principles of Activity in them, or the Principles, together with the diſpoſitions they have to act, are put into them for nothing; which is inconſiſtent with the wiſdom of their Creator, who made nothing in vain. Yea ſuch a Notion will remove all goodneſs from the Creature, contrary to Gen. 1. ult. yea the difference between things; and utterly vacate the Notions of Good & Evil; render ungodly actions as laudable as the moſt holy, and ſubvert the Reaſon & Equity of the Puniſhment of wicked men. But the Scripture moſt frequently aſcribes Efficiency to ſecond Cauſes; Acts 1.23. They appointed, &c 1 Cor. 3.9. For we are labourers together with God.
(2) AS the Creature works, ſo God Co-works with it. The Firſt and Univerſal Cauſe works together, or is at work with all the actions of ſecond and particular Cauſes: Act. 17 28. In him we live, move, &c. which concurrence is ſomething diſtinct, both from Creation, and Preſervation. In Creation, the Principles by which it worketh are infuſed into it: In Conſervation they are upheld and maintained; but now, when the Creature is ſo accommodated for its work, it goes not forth to its Action without the compliance & concurrence of the Firſt Cauſe, bringing forth of theſe Principles into Operation. There is ſuch a Negative Imperfection attending upon the Creature, as that it cannot go alone, but it muſt be led; like a tool, which when it is never ſo fit for work, depends upon him who is to uſe it for its Operations: As a Child which muſt be led by the hard or elſe it will fall. Pſal. 139.10. Thy hand ſhall lead me, and thy right hand ſhall hold me. All Beings from the Firſt, depend upon the Firſt Being, not only for Entity, and Vertue, but for Operation too, Dan. 5.23. Whoſe are all thy …ays. Prov. 21.1. The kings … is in the hand of the Lord as the rivers of water: be turneth it witherſoever …e will. As he makes the Eye & Ear, ſo he makes them to ſee and hear too, Prov. 20.12. The hearing Ear and the ſeeing Eye, the Lord hath made both of them.
(3) THE Neceſſity of this Concurſe with a ſecond Cauſe will appear, from the Abſolute Dependence of the Creature upon the Creator. For if that he dependent, its Activity muſt be ſo too; and it is an Impoſſibility, that the Creature ſhould be any other than a dependant Being, and therefore muſt receive its Activity from this Concurſe.
(4) THIS Concurſe with the Creature is▪
1. LEADING to all it's Operations. The concurrence of the Firſt Cauſe, is the firſt Cauſe of the activity of the Second; for in order of Cauſes, the firſt muſt move before the ſecond can ſtir; the ſecond depends upon the firſt, and therefore muſt be acted by it, Act. 17.28. In Him we move.
2. SUPERIOUR to it. They are not co-ordinate Cauſes; drawing together, but the concurſe of the firſt is above, and directive to the ſecond. A co-ordinate Cauſe works of it ſelf, and is equal in Operation …o that which joyns with it. (As two Maſter workmen, equally undertaking a buſineſs;) ſuch are not the Creature and God▪ a ſubordinate Cauſe depends upon its ſuperiour in reſpect of Operation, which is the place of all ſecond Cauſes as they refer to the Firſt: they are therefore called God's …and, Pſal. 17.14.
3. IMMEDIATE: And that not only by Reaſon of vertual Influence, but alſo of infinite Omnipreſence, which toucheth all Beings, and reacheth all their Actions, (as hath been already obſerved under the Conſideration of Efficency in general.)
4. DETERMINING the Action in reſpect of the Event. And hence it is ſaid to guide, and direct the Being. The Eternal Decree of God, having fixt & determined concerning what ſhall be acted and all the ſeveral circumſtanc…s of th… Creatures Operations, (as hath formerly been evidenced;) hence by His Active Providence▪ He muſt determine them. Natural Agents are blind, and ſee nothing before them, but act as they are acted, and therefore are neceſſarily determined by Divine Providence Job 35.11. Who reacheth us more than the beaſts of the earth. That Rational Agents are alſo thus determined appears, becauſe elſe there would not be an Abſolute … of the Second Cauſe to the Firſt, and ſo God muſt be fruſtrated by the Creature in reſpect of his Decree: He therefore makes them to do what they do not mean, Iſal. 10.…7. I ſend him: He meaneth not ſo. They fulfill his determinate counſel Act. 4.27, 28. Against thy holy child Jeſus, — Herod, Pou…ius Pilate, with the Gentiles and people of Iſrael were gathered together, to do whatſoever thy counſel hath determined.
5. THIS Co-operation of God is according to the Creatures Principles, and its manner of Operation, It is according to its Principles: God having in Creation given, and in Conſervation upholding of theſe Principles; ſuch as of burning in fire, &c. He co-operates with them, and keeps them working in their own kind. And according to their manner of working. There are ſome Natural Cauſes, and ſome, Free Cauſes▪ He doth not make meerly Natural Cauſes to act freely, or by counſel; nor yet doth He ſay any compulſion or conſtraint upon free Agents; but all ſecond Cau…es work like themſelves. The Sun ſhineth Naturally, and yet He makes it to ſhine, (Matt. 5.45.) Reaſonable Beings act …eely, and according to their Voluntary Choiſe and yet He alſo works with them, Joſh. 11.20. For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, and that they ſhould come againſt Iſrael in hatte…, that he might deſtroy them utterly — God turns no ſecond Cauſe, ordinarily, out of its own Bias, except it be in Miracles. As when Balaam's Aſs reproved the Madneſs of the Prophet, and ſuch like; and in Monſtrous Productions, in which alſo he hath a glorious deſign.
6. IF God at any time ſuſpend this Co-operation of His the Creatures operation ceaſeth upon it: It ſtands ſtill and moves not during this ſuſpenſion. And this is the very way in which many miraculous things have come to paſs. Thu… Jordan ſtood ſtill and flowed not, to give Iſrael a Paſſage: thus the Sun ſtood ſtill in the Heavens, and went not in its race for at leaſt twelve Hours, to give God's Peop…e an Opportunity to deſtroy their enemies. This the Fire did not exert its heat to deſtroy the Three Worthies, who were caſt into it: But theſe things have been particular exceptions …rom the common Rule of Providence, & ſe…v…, as to prove the neceſſity of this Concurſe, ſo the arbitrary Government of God in the management of it: and that there is an Extraordinary, as well as an Ordinary Providence.
USE. LET me draw a few Inferences from hence.
1. IT tells us that there is an Order in the World. We are ready to cry out of Confuſion and Diſorder, and it may be a great truth, in reſpect of the Actions of the Creature compared with the Law of the Creator, or the Moral Law; the Creature may greatly ſwer…e from that: but we muſt diſtinguiſh between the order of the Decree, & the order of the Command. and if we refer unto the Decree of God, all things fall our according to the Ordination of that; and thus the Wiſdom of the Firſt … ſhines forth in the very folly of the Second If God rules & guides all the Actions of aſſ… ings to His own holy Ends, they cannot but he guided according to an unerring Rule of …oo…, which, his Providence Eyes in all the … ſh…es of the Creatures; and the Eye of … ſees beauty in all, even there where humane Reaſon …dgeth there is nothing but confuſion. Man was not of the counſel with God when he eſtabliſhed His Decrees; and hence in this life he ca…or follow Him in the ſeveral peſſages of His Execution thereof, but is forced to acknowledge His paths to be in the deep. Rom. 11.33, 34. O the depth of the riches both of the wiſdom & knowledge of God! …ow unſearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord, or … hath been his counſeller? The way of God's Government is a profound Sea, we cannot trace or find it out. Eccl. 8.17. Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out r… work that is done under the ſun: becauſe though a … labour to ſeek it out, yet he ſhall not find it you …rther, though'd wiſe man think to know it▪ you ſhall be not be able to find it. But ſtill this we muſt ever conclude, that if God ſets at he…m, He is an exact Steers-Man.
2. SEE here a Reaſon why … …ings attain … laſt End. As well Rational as Irrational …e ſo directed & managed as they ſerve to the …vancement of the Glory of God: It is becauſe …e guides them, and over-rules their Actions, …v his active Co-operating Government; all …eings elſe would fall wofully ſhort. When we …e a World going right, & blind Creatures acting diſcreetly, and keeping of their way, we may …ence be pointed to obſerve, who is the orderer of them; they ſee not nor know their mark, but yet they hir it; it is becauſe He that guides them ſees and knows what He would have them ſerve unto: That then the Creature attains its End is to be acknowledged to His Efficiency.
3. HENCE we are to acknowledge God in all our Actions. In Prov. 20.12. it is ſaid, not only the Eye & Ear, but the ſeeing Eye, &c. i. e. the Faculty with the Operation, as well as the Organ. That we have Eyes, Ears, and all the Organs of Senſe and Reaſon, we owe it to God, and not only ſo, but that theſe perform their Functions, and execute their Offices, He deſerves the acknowledgment of this alſo. There are who have Eyes, and ſee not, if God but withdraws his Concurſe. (2. King. 6.18, 19, 20.) There are many Naturals born: You muſt not ſuppoſe that your Eyes and Ears, and Tongues are your own, as if you could ſee, &c. when you pleaſe.
4. IT tells us whom we muſt go to, to work all our works in us and for us, viz. to God: we muſt ask His direction, and beg of Him his guidance. When the Apoſtle calls us to work, he tells us who muſt co-work with us, Phil. 2.12, 13. Work out your own ſalvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do—. In every buſineſs, whether Civil or Religious, that God calls us unto, it concerns … to look to Him for his Aſſiſtance; for if He lead not, what can we do, Pſal. 127.1. Except the Lord build the Houſe, they labour in vain that build i…. And this alſo gives us a ſufficient Reaſon, why we are not to undertake any thing, but with a ſubordination of it to Him, according to Jam. 4.15. Ye ought to ſay, if the Lord will, we ſhall Live; and do this, or that.
5. LEARN hence a Reaſon for our being Contented with the Adminiſtration of the Affairs of the World. God ſits King, and rules over all, and therefore let us be quiet; let us not find fault with God, or go about to pick an hole, either in His Wiſdom, ſo as to Queſtion the Prudence of his Adminiſtration; (when we ſo do, it is either for want of Inſight into the depths of Divine Counſels, not knowing what deſigns are in the womb of Providence ready to be brought forth; or want of Eying the right End, not conſidering that what croſſeth the Creatures deſign may ſerve to Gods glorious End, which is alſo the Creatures laſt end …) or in his Juſtice, remembring that He is righteous in all; and if the Reaſon of the Equity of ſome of his ways appears not to us the Error is in our Judgment, and not in His Government. Give Him the Glory of His Providence; and when the Creature acts amiſs, with reſpect to the Law, going contrary to the Command, yet let us ſee the overruling Hand of God in this alſo, and remember that what He hath Determined ſhall come to paſs, and He will without ſail have His Glory out of it, and let that ſatisfy us; let Reaſon ſubject it ſelf to Faith, and we ſhall never ſuſpect God's Government
[SEPTEMBER 8. 1691.]