網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版
[ocr errors]

this emphatic language; "Because thy rage against "me, and thy tumult is come up into mine ears, "therefore will I put my hook in thy nofe, and "my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back 'by the way that thou cameft." Formerly he was reprefented as a mean inftrument in the hand of the Almighty. Now, because of his refractorinefs, he appears as a wild beaft, bridled and muzzled by his owner, and driven whitherfoever he will.

[ocr errors]

In a word, the punishment of those who have enjoyed the gofpel, feems, in a peculiar manner, to turn on this hinge. The enemies of the King are thofe "who would not that he fhould reign over them "." All, indeed, who refuse to obey the law, or to fubmit to the gofpel, in whatever way, are the enemies of Chrift. But thofe efpecially deferve this character, who deny the fovereignty of his will. For the right of difpenfing his gifts to whom, and in what manner he pleases, of doing according to his will in heaven and in earth, is that branch of his prerogative which eminently entitles him to the defignation of" King "of kings, and Lord of lords."

From what has been obferved on this fubject, we are taught the reasonableness of fubmitting to the divine will. God is the Supreme Potter, and has an undoubted right to do with the clay as he pleases. Whatever he does, he does it with his

own.

We

e Luke xix. 27.

a Ifa. xxxvii, 29.

We may also perceive the wisdom of this fubmiffion. For "who hath refifted his will." He "worketh, and no one can let him." A finner may spurn and toss at divine fovereignty; but it is only as "a wild bull in a net." It is impoffible that he can "flee out of his hand." The preceding illuftrations affure us, that the impotent creature must eventually fubmit. Like the king of Babylon, he may find it neceffary to confess this attribute, from that conviction which is the fruit of better experience. For God" will do all "his pleasure."

A due attention to divine fovereignty affords confolation under the greateft adverfities. The Chriftian has ftill reafon to rejoice, that nothing happens to him by chance, or merely by the will of man. He may have reafon to blame himself, or to blame others, as fecondary causes. But he knows that he must not reft here, left he should feem to reflect on the Firft Caufe. How much foever he may regret any adverse event, he difcerns the propriety of fubmiffion. For he knows that he might as well think of plucking the fun out of the firmament, as of counteracting any of the determinations of that God whofe "coun“sel shall stand." The tidings delivered by Samuel to Eli muft have been afflicting beyond conception. Yet this is all his anfwer; "It is the "LORD, let him do what feemeth him good f." When Paul declared his intention of going up to Jerufalem, Agabus, by the fpirit of prophecy, af fured

1 Sam. iii. 18,

66

[ocr errors]

fured him, that in this cafe he should be delivered bound into the hands of the Gentiles. On this prediction, the difciples befought him with tears, that he would relinquish his defign. But when they found that he perfifted in it, they " ceased; faying, The will of the Lord be done s." They perceived by his firmnefs, as connected with the prophetical warning of Agabus, that his mind was under a fuperior influence. Above all, it affords confolation to the Chriftian, that this irrefiftible will is that of a Father, who can do him no injury, who will affuredly make all things work together for his good. Thus, when we pray that his "will may be done," we are commanded to view him as "our Father."

We fee the difpenfation, Good reason

This doctrine gives us an affecting view of our own meanness in the fight of God. Supreme Agent, in his fovereign treating men as "duft and ashes." have we therefore to abase ourselves at his footftool, to entertain the most humiliating thoughts. of all that we are and poffefs, and to join in the confeffion of Nebuchadnezzar: "All the inhabi"tants of the earth are reputed as nothing." Whence proceeded this language, fo different from what he once held? Merely from a view of divine fovereignty as wonderfully exemplified on himself.

We alfo learn the neceffity of humble adora tion. "With God is terrible majefty:" and it

VOL. II.

g Acts xxi. 10.-14.

R

eminently

[ocr errors]

eminently appears in this, that "he giveth not "account of any of his matters."

In fine, we might fafely conclude, that the fovereignty of God could not but fignally appear in the work of our redemption, even although it were lefs exprefsly revealed, We perceive this character indelibly impreffed on the works of nature. It is the turning hinge of the whole work of Providence. What is this, but a continued execution of the fovereign and immutable will of JEHOVAH? Is not the whole history of mankind a commentary on this perfection? Can we fuppofe, then, that there is a thick veil thrown over it, in the greatest of all the works of God? The kingdoms of this world have only been monumental pillars for recording its glory. Many of them lie in ruins. But the legend is perfectly diftinct. As it was written in their elevation, it is equally written in their fall. This divine character eminently appears in the typical kingdom of Ifrael; in its formation, and in its adminiftration. And is it loft in the antitype? Is that kingdom which fhall never have an end, and which fhall break down every thing that oppofes it, the only one in which this unalienable attribute of its Sovereign is not difcernible? Thofe who entertain this idea, have a very different view of matters from that illuftrious minifter of this kingdom, the apostle Paul: "It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that fheweth mercy." Their ideas of this kingdom run directly counter to thofe of the glorious

[ocr errors]

glorious Sovereign, who thus addreffes the Father: "Thou haft hid these things from the wife "and prudent, and haft revealed them to babes. "Even fo, Father; for fo it feemed good in thy "fight."

SECTION IX.

Of Divine Providence.-General Obfervations.A Particular Providence proved, from the Means employed by God-from the Concatenation of Circumftances the Seafon of Operation;-the Difcovery of Secret Sin ;-the Refemblance between Sin and Punishment ;-the Choice of Inftruments for punishing Iniquity;-the Circumftances of Punishment ;—Events of a Contingent Nature.

We have already feen, that the facred volume contains an hiftory of Providence. This includes fo great a variety of particulars, that, in fo fhort a sketch as that defigned in this work, I can fearcely enter on it. But as the fubject is of the greateft importance, it may not be improper to take notice of a few things with refpect to the doctrine of Providence in general; and also briefly to fhew, that this providential operation is of a moft particular nature.

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]
« 上一頁繼續 »