A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 47 (Question 11 cont.)
SERMON XLVII.
WE have been conſidering of God's Governing Providence in general: It will not be amiſs.
Secondly, TO take a more diſtinct account of the Kinds of it. Eſpecially ſince ſo much of the Catechiſm is taken up about one of them. Now theſe Kinds of Government are Two, viz. Common & Special: the next Queſtion introduceth the latter of theſe; we may therefore look upon the former under this. The Scripture gives us light for this Diſtribution: As the whole World is God…s Kingdom, ſo there are ſome common Laws reſpecting the Realm in General, and others which are particular to ſome Corporations. The Reaſon of the Diſtribution is this; there are two ſorts of Creatures ſome are Irrational, others Rational: Among Second Cauſes, there are ſome that work by Nature, others by Counſel: both theſe being made for God…s Glory, muſt ſerve to this End; and ſo muſt have a Rule to guide them thereunto: And a Government exerciſed over them that they may ſo be. Hence a Double Gubernation, the one leading of Natural, the other Rational Agents to their Ends.
I. THE firſt of theſe to be treated of is Common Government, becauſe it is more General▪ and of it we may take up this Deſcription, Common Government is that whereby Natural Agents are by ſuitable Rules guided to their Ends. I ſhall endeavour to clear up this Deſcription in the following Propoſitions.
1. THAT all the Actions of Natural Agents are deſigned by God to ſerve to ſome End. God doth nothing in vain: There is no Second Being but was made for ſomething: accordingly there is no Action of any Being, but doth in ſome reſpect tend to the great End which the Wiſe Artificer, who framed it for Operation, aims at by the Creature The Sun ſhines not, the Fire burns not, the Creature ſtirs not to no purpoſe: the ſtamp or impreſſion of Divine Goodneſs left upon things, in the Creation, declares that they were made for ſomething; and the conſideration of the Infinite Wiſdom of Him who hath made and guides them, will aſſure us, that they are in all their Motions going home-ward; how elſe can it be that He ſhould not lo…e His Glory by them, and they fall ſhort of the goodneſs that was put into them?
2. HENCE it follows that all the Natural Actions of all theſe Creatures are guided by ſome Rule of Government. Or, that there is a Rule according to which they are to be managed. An End appointed, ſuppoſeth a Rule preſcribed, becauſe it is a neceſſary Medium to the right attainment of that End, and not miſſing of it. It is by its regular moving that the Creature h…s the mark, and doth not fall beſides it: Its End is the proper Bu… to which all theſe Arrows are directed, and if they reach it, they muſt fly right, and therefore they muſt be ſhot right, which requires a Rule, unleſs we ſhould ſay that all things attain their End by a meer caſual or fortuitous Event, which is a reproach to the Providence of God, and a groundleſs conjecture in reſpect of the Creature.
3. HENCE alſo they are of Neceſſity guided and governed by God for the attainment of this End. There is the Eye of Wiſdom fixed upon the End, and the Hand of Power conducting them to it: The neceſſity of this appears,
(1) BECAUSE their End to which they attain is to them unknown. It is above them; they ſerve to it, but they can tell nothing of it; and it is a moſt noble End, viz. The Glory of God: They muſt therefore be guided, by an Omnipreſent, Omnipotent, Alwiſe Agent, who can be no other but God himſelf, elſe they would certainly fail ſhort. Natural Agents have but a paſſive impreſſion of their Rule upon them, imprinted in Creation, on the Kind, and ſtamped, in its production, on every Individual; they neither diſcern their Rule nor their End, for only Rational Agents can do ſo; and yet they exactly attend the Rules they cannot Analyſe, and reach the End they have no acquaintance withal. There muſt therefore be One, who hath the Idea or Platform of this in his breaſt, wiſely and ſteadily to ſteer the whole courſe of this Creature accordingly.
(2) FROM the Reaſon and Order, which there is to be ſeen in the carrying on of the whole Affair of the World of Natural Agents. The Creature is Irrational, but all the Actions of it are Rational; i. e. Conſentany to the Rule of right Reaſon, (Prov. 30.24 to 29.) which they would not be, if they were not under the guidance of a moſt Rational Agent. By the regular motion of the Ship, we infer that there is a Wiſe Skilful Pilot at Helm.
(3) FROM the Natural Inclination in all Natural Agents, to promote the common good of the Univerſe. That there is ſuch a diſpoſition rooted in the ſeveral Creatures, is to be obſerved; that they are more engaged to preſerve the Univerſe, than for their own preſervation; ſo that they will act contrary to their own Natures, rather than the whole ſhould ſuffer: Thus the Fire will deſcend, the Earth aſcend to prevent Vacuity: and whence can this be, but from the Care of the Univerſal Governour?
4. IN the Way and Manner of God's Governing the Natural Agent, we are to conſider,
(1) THE Law of Nature; which is nothing elſe but the Impreſſion of the Will of God upon the Creatures Nature, from the beginning; by vertue of that Creating Word, let it be ſo: It is that ſtamp of Divine Wiſdom the footſteps whereof are to be found in its Natural Conſtitution. Job 38.12. Haſt thou commanded the morning ſince thy days; and cauſed the day-ſpring to know his place? And v. 33. Knoweſt thou the ordinances of heaven? canſt thou ſet the dominion thereof in the earth? Ordinances, i. e. Statute-Laws imprinted on them, according to which they act. So, Jer. 33.20 Thus ſaith the Lord, If you can break my covenant of the day end my covenant of the night, and that there ſhould not be day and night in their ſeaſon. Covenant, i. e. The Character which God hath given them, according to which they are to be governed.
(2) AN inclination or promptitude natural in the Creature to act in conformity to this Law. And this is a Principle or Natural Power which is twiſted in the Nature of the Creature, and in the ordinary courſe inſeparable from it: and this is ſomething diſtinct from the Law it ſelf; for as that diſpoſeth it, ſo this impowers it, to yield Obedience to the Law: it gives it an Aptitude and Readineſs to comply with theſe Rules. So, Job 5.7. Yet man is born unto trouble, as the ſparks flie upward. Pſal. 104.19. The ſun knoweth his going down.
(3) A Natural Inſtinct which is left upon Animals, or Creatures endowed with ſenſe. By vertue of this they are inſtigated to …t forth thoſe noble Acts, which carry in them I very great reſemblance, as if they had, … active principle of Reaſon in them; as if they underſtood the Reaſon and Tendency of their own Actions; which yet it is certain they do not. The Scripture therefore Metaphorically aſcribes to them Wiſdom & Diſcretion, Prov. 30.24. And ſends fooliſh Men to School in them, Prov. 6.6, 7, 8. Go to the Ant, thou …lagg…, conſider her ways, and be wiſe, &c. And upbraids man with them, Jer. 8 7. Yea, the ſtork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times, and the tittle, and the crane, and the ſwallow obſerve the time of their coming, but my people know not in judgment of the Lord.
(4) AN Obediential Power in the Creature rendring it capable of ſubjection, or paſſive Obedience to the will of the Creator. And all Creatures ſtand in this ſtate of ſubjection, being at all times capable and ready to receive the irreſiſtable impreſſions of God's Power, to be and to do whatſoever His Pleaſure is to uſe them in and for: Job 38.31, 32. Canſt thou … the ſweet influences of Pl…i…des, or looſe the … of Orion? Canſt thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his ſeaſon, or canſt thou guide Arcturus with his ſons? Pſal. 148.8. Fire and hail, ſnow and … pour, ſtormy wind fulfilling his word. Mat. 29. The ſtar went before them, &c.
5. THIS common Government of God is exerciſed upon the Creature, by a Sovereign Predetermination of all the …ctions of it. Rational Agents as well as Natural, come under this predetermination, but becauſe it is common to all, I therefore mention it under common Government. And here we are to obſerve, that God doth not only predetermine the Event, but alſo the Actions themſelves in order thereunto. In which obſerve,
(1) THAT there is a previous Motion or Divine Influence exciting the Creature to its Action, ſo far as concerns the bringing it forth into act. It is certain that the ſame Power and Goodneſs that Created the Sun, muſt alſo give Being to the motions of it: All Creatures muſt lye ſtill, if God ſtirs them not; they are meer Pictures which let out no Vertue or Efficacy till he excites it. And therefore the inſenſible …eſſation of the Influence of the Firſt Cauſe, gives a full ſtop to the Operation of the … God not only gives to, and maintains in the Creature a vertual Power, but he alſo draws it forth, ( … 17.28.) ſo that his Pleaſure fore-determines whether it ſhall Act or no.
(2) THIS Pre-determination applies all the Actions of the Creature unto the proper Objects, about which they are to be employed. 2 Sam. 16.10. So let him curſe, becauſe the Lord hath ſaid unto him, Curſe David. It is true, He uſeth them in their natural way, but he fixeth all their particular Actions to the determinate and individual Object, according to His own Purpoſe. The Creature's Nature, tho' it hath it's ſpecifical inclination, yet it hath an indifferency with reſpect to Individuals. The Bear is naturally a Beaſt of Prey; but that Two of them ſhould come in the way of thoſe Children who mocked the Prophet, and deſtroy Forty-two of them; or a Lion in the way of that Prophet who diſobeyed the command of God, and Kill him, & not the Aſs on which he rode, not devour either of them, theſe things were determined by God's Sovereign-Influence.
(3) THIS Pre-determination, overules, orders and diſpoſeth of all the Actions of ſecond Cauſes … pleaſure. This will be evident if we conſider, 1. THAT when God pleaſeth, He controls and countermands their Actions, ſo as they do not put forth their natural Activity: This withdrawing binds the Creature under an utter impotence of putting forth it's natural Actions; but this was obſerved before under the general Deſcription of Government, when we diſcourſed of the Divine Concurſe. 2. WHEN the Creatures do Act, they Act … His Command. They are not at their own uncon…lable Liberty, but do all in Subordination to Him, Pſal. 78.26. He cauſed an eaſt-wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he bro't in the ſouth wind. Now this is done by a Divine Impulſion terminated on the Creatures, from whence God is called the Father of all the Actions done by them; Job 38.28, 29. Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of the dew? Out of whoſe womb came the Ice? and the boary froſt of heaven, who hath gendred it! And tho' Job can neither ſet the Creature on work, nor control it in it, yet He doth both, Ver. 31, 32. and 34, 35. Canſt thou lift up thy … to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? Canſt thou ſend lightnings, that they may go, and ſay unto thee, Here we are? Theſe Interrogations are to ſhew the difference between God's Power▪ & his … and this is a certain truth, that juſt ſo many drops of Rain, Hail, & Snow, as fall, juſt ſo many puffs of Wind as blow, are … and commanded by Him; hence, Prov. 30 4. Who hath aſcended up into heaven, or deſcended? who hath gathered the wind in his fiſts? who …th bound the waters in …? who hath eſtabliſhed all the ends of the …? what is his name, and what is his ſ…s name, if them canſt tell? 3. H… ſe…s Bounds to all the Actions which the natural Agent doth perform. It goes juſt as far as His Influence carrys it, and no further. Though they have a natural tendency to progreſs▪ yet this influence is as a chain and bar, which ti… them up, and keeps them in. With what an impetuous rage would the ſwelling Sea, eſpecially when raiſed by Tempeſts, overflow the dry Land? But he keeps it within Limits by his powerfull word of Command, Job 38.8, 9, 10, 11. Who ſ… up the ſea with doors, when it br…ke forth as if it had iſſued out of the womb? When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and which darkneſs … hand for it, And brake up for it my decreed place, and ſet bars and doors▪ And ſaid, H…ert… ſhal… th… come, but no …urther: and here ſhall thy … moves he ſtayed. 4. HE determines the Time of the Creatures co…n…ing in Action. He hath laid out for it, how many turns it ſhall take upon the Stage, and when it ſhall withdraw again. All the Creatures times are in His hands, He is the Maſter of this enterlude; at his bidding they come, and at his bidding they retire, Pſal. 104.29▪ 30. Thou hideſt thy face, they are troubled; thou takeſt away their breath, they die, and return to their duſt. Thou ſendeſt forth thy ſpirit, they are created: & thou ren…weſt the face of … earth, And they cannot go beyond theſe limits, for ſo much as one moment. 5. HE brings about His own Ends of glorifying His Name out of all the Actions of the Creature. Every thing that the Irrational Creature doth, it doth it Blindfold, it is led it knows not whither. It doth not, it cannot reflect and ask it ſelf, to what purpoſe it is and acts; yet as a natural Stream, it keeps to its own Channel, and deviates not, till it hath paid it ſelf a due Tribute to the Ocean of God's Glory, Pſal. 19, begin.
(4) THIS pre-determining influence inſinuates it ſelf into all the Actions of the Creatures of all kinds. We are here ſpeaking only of Natural Agents; and it were an endleſs task to examine all the Actions of all Creatures in particular: In General be it obſerved; 1. THE ſmallest Things do not eſcape it. God counts it not below Him, or any diſparagement to His lofty Majeſty to look after, and curiouſ…y to manage the leaſt and moſt inconſiderable things: a Sparrow dies not, one Hair of our head falls not off, but at his Order, Math. 10.29, 30. There is not a Gourd grows, nor Worm that eats it, but at his Command, Jonah 4.6.7. A poor Bird cannot build a Neſt to lay her Young in, till He gives Order about it, Pſal. 104 16, 17. 2. THE greateſt Things are not above it. The mighty Wheels of the World are managed by Him: This Government is the Spirit which is in the Wheels turning them which way it hath a mind: This makes the Sun to ariſe, and go down; this makes all the Celeſtial Bodies to keep th…r … Time in all their Motions as …, as if they knew it. 3. THE moſt Fort … Things do not eſcape it. In the greateſt Caſualties He is an abſolute & determining Agent: Thoſe things that are … without any counſel of the Creature, do without fail accompliſh His counſel. As Anew ſhot at random is carried and guided by His Providence, to accompliſh His threatning in … ruine 1 King. 23.34.
IN S…m, that there are ſo many diver… ed and unaccountable events of Second Cauſes is hither to be aſſigned. If a Reaſon be ask'd. Why this Creature doth but look into the World, and then retire back to its firſt Principles, when another is allowed a long continuance of Action upon the ſtage. Why this day is clear & ſerene, to morrow ſtormy & tempeſtuous, why it Rains upon this piece of gro…nd & that on which it Rains not withers; why this Year bringeth forth handfuls, the next is barren; why this Figtree bloſſoms, and bringeth forth ripe Figs, that bloſſoms not, or is blaſted, or the fruit falls off untimely; why Locuſts, Caterpillars, and Palmer worms come at this time, and not at another; why bread and water at one time afford nouriſhment, at another time none; (and many ſuch things as theſe are:) though a Moral reaſon of theſe things may be rendred yet a ſatisfying Phyſical reaſon none can, but all muſt iſſue and reſolve into this Arbitrary Government of God, who acts as a great Monarch, who give, not an account of His matters to the Children of Men, but holds the Creature in a …ull Subordination to His … pleaſure.
USE, …. LEARN hence, that our only … good by the Creature, is to be faithful in Serving God. The Creature is not to be truſted in by us, for it is not at its own diſpoſe, it cannot help and do for us at its own pleaſure; the exertion of the Vertue that is in it for our good is from God: He is the Ruler of all; we muſt therefore go to Him for all we want, Iſai. 45.11. — Concerning the work of my hands command ye me. If He be againſt us, Second Cauſes cannot be for us, for they all obey His word of command: if He will, He Seals them up; He gives them, or witholds them at pleaſure; nor can out Induſtry foreſtall his Providence; and He hath promiſed them only to thoſe that ſerve Him uprightly, and threatens to take them away from ſuch as diſobey Him, Deut. 1….13 to 18. Let us not think to proſ…et by Evil doing.
USE, 2. SEE here what great Reaſon we have to ſerve the Lord with Fear and Trembling. How ought we to ſerve Him, whom all the Creatures do ſerve? And there are two Arguments may be drawn from the Preſent Doctrine, which loudly call upon us to the practice of this Duty, viz.
1. IF Unreaſonable Creatures do fulfil His Word, how much more then ſhould we? We upon whom God hath laid more and ſtronger bonds, whom He hath given Reaſon and Underſtanding unto, whereby we may know His Will, & read His Mind. Sin therefore makes us worſe than irrational Creatures, Jer, 8.7. Job 35.9, 10. We may go to all the Creatures, and learn leſſons of Obedience from every one of them; none of them eve… ro…e … againſt their Sovereign. And when we ſee all in order but our ſelves, may it not ſhame us?
2. IF we rebel againſt God, and forſake His Service, all Creatures are ready to excute His revenge upon us. They do but wait for His Word: They are His Armies, and you can look upon no Creature but it may make you afraid; for if God ſpeak it, the moſt contemp…ble may diſpatch you; He can …end a Fly to Summe… the greareſt Emperour in the World before His Tribunal, and it ſhall do it.
USE, 3. IT calls us to ſee God of work in all the Actings of the Creatures. And let us follow God in all, and ſee how wiſe a Steers-man He is who fits at the Helm, who ſo ſees to the great Affairs of the World, as not to … the leaſt, and ſo looks after the leaſt, as withal to be careful of the greateſt, who … all the drops of Rain, and blaſts of Wind; who ca…ſeth all their Motion, and cauſeth … Motion to run down into His Praiſe: Let Him then have the acknowledgment of all, eve… then when Natural Cauſes miſcarry in reſpect of our Expectation; when we ſee them th… riſe early, to eat the bread of ſorrow, him that is admirably wiſe, to want bread; him that ſows much to re…p little; ſee God in all, H…b. 2.13.
USE, 4. LET it teach the Children of … Truſt in him at all Times, and to believe that it ſhall go well with them, which way ſoever Second Cauſes ſeem to be carried; and … to ſay as he, Hab. 3.17, 18. Although the … tree ſhall not bloſſom, neither ſhall fruit be … vines, the labour of the olive ſhall … fields ſhall yield no meat, the fl…k ſhall … from the fold, and there ſhall be no b…d is the ſtalls: Yet I will rejoyce in the LORD, I … joy in the God of my ſalvation. Suppoſe the Heavens ſhould be broken into thouſands of Pieces, and the Earth be diſſolved into … ſhould all things ſeem to run into a Ch…s yet remember, it is your God that Rules; the World, and is doing all for His Glory, and He cannot forget, or neglect to take care for thoſe who are the Apple of His Eye, and Signet on His Hand. Think, in greateſt ſeeming confuſions, all Second Cauſes are as God employs them, and all ſhall work together for good to them that love God.
OCTOBER, 6. 1691.