Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A62092
|
Submission to the will of God in times of affliction asserted, in a sermon from I Sam. 3. 18 / by a Reverend Divine.
|
Sylvester, Matthew, 1636 or 7-1708.
|
1683
(1683)
|
Wing S6332A; ESTC R41
|
15,126
|
41
|
Meekness under the Reproof of Samuel whom he had brought up from a Child Eli was a very old Man Samuel but a Youth in effect yet when he was the Messenger of these sad Tydings to him he replieth It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good Few Men love their Reprovers or Messengers of Evil Tydings but so did Eli. So did David he was not angry with Nathan but relented towards the Lord 2 Sam. 12.13 And David said unto Nathan I have sinned against the Lord. The Wicked when they are admonished and rebuked for their sins they despise the Threatning and hate the Reprover But so do not God's People they receive the Rebuke with meekness and confess their Sins against God and humbly submit to his Chastisements Doct. That God's People have attained a good degree of Grace when they can absolutely resign themselves to the Will of God Let me shew you I. What is this Resignation to the Will of God II. What an excellent and commendable thing it is I. What is this Resignation to the Will of God I Answer The Will of God may be considered two ways 1. As certain and known to us 2. As not yet known neither in the Word or Providence 1. As certainly known to us either by Threatnings or Executions of God's Sentence 1. By Threatnings and special Messages as here in the Case of Eli He doth not slight God's Wrath but reverenceth his Word So Hezekiah is an Instance also Isa 39.8 Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah Good is the Word of the Lord which thou hast spoken It is a terrible and sad Word that his Treasures and Childrens Children should be carried to Babylon The only good that was in it That the Evil should not come in his time Yet that was not the main Consideration for 't is added He said moreover For there shall be Peace and Truth in my Days No but he had other Considerations the Pleasure and Soveraign Will of God 2. When the Evil is not only threatned but inflicted yet then God's People shew they have absolutely given up their Wills to God Instances we have of that in Job 1.21 The Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken away Blessed be the Name of the Lord. Psal 119.137 Righteous art thou O Lord and upright are thy Judgments Acts 21.14 And they ceased saying the Will of the Lord be done The sight of God's Will must silence all our Disputes 2. In things uncertain and unknown to us as yet we must refer it to God's Wisdom Power and Goodness to determine all Events as shall seem good in his Eyes He is so able that he can accomplish what we desire so good that we have no reason to trouble our selves about his Will but submit to it without Hesitancy So wise that he will choose that which is for the best We have an Instance in David 2 Sam. 15.25 26. And the King said unto Zadock Carry back the Ark of God into the City If I shall find Favour in the Eyes of the Lord he will bring me again and shew me both it and his Habitation But if he thus say I have no delight in thee Behold here am I let him do to me as seemeth Good unto him See how sweetly and meekly he submitteth to God's Pleasure wholly denying himself and his own Will And resigneth up Person Life Crown and Estate into God's Hands to be cast as a Dye high or low as it should seem good to God So Esther referreth her case to God If I perish I perish Esther 4.16 I might produce the Example of our Lord Jesus Christ tho the Event was known to him as Mediator yet when he speaketh as Man hear his Words John 12.27 28. Now is my Soul troubled what shall I say Father save me from this Hour but for this cause came I unto this hour Father glorify thy Name We learn of Christ when we are in great Perplexity and know not the Event That we should absolutely submit all things to his Will with respect to his Glory For surely God will determine and cast Matters so as it may be for his own Honour and our Good Christ consulted not with his own Case but the Glory of God he respected not the innocent Inclination of his humane Nature but the Glory of his Father So should we be content that God be glorified tho with our Loss and bitter Cost As natural Things will act against their particular Inclination for a general Good Air will descend and Water ascend to avoid a Vacuity or to preserve a Continuity in the World Now of this Resignation shall I speak for 't is not fit that Man should have the disposal of himself or his Condition and Affairs or that he should accommodate his Providence to their carnal Interest and Will or else he cannot bear it or think well of it No God's Will must always precede and ours follow Alas we have a corrupt Will guided by a dark Understanding and if the Blind lead the Lame what can be expected but Disorder and Ruine Therefore our Wills must not lead and make the first choice but God's And to bring our Hearts throughly to yield to this argueth a good degree of Grace II. How excellent and commendable this is will appear if you consider 1. The Grounds or Objective Reasons it goeth upon 2. The several Causes of it or Subjective Graces it floweth from 3. The Fruits and Effects or what Excellent Advantages we have thereby 1. The Grounds of this Resignation are the three grand Attributes of God his Wisdom Power and Goodness 1. God is infinitely Wise and knoweth what is best for us therefore his Divine Choices must be preferred before our foolish Fancies Isa 30.18 The Lord is a God of Judgment blessed are they that wait for him All his Dealings with his Children are full of Wisdom And therefore it is fit that he should choose our Condition and not we our selves We would choose Life but God chooses Death knowing thereby how to bring most Honour to himself and eternal Advantage to our selves as we suffer the loss thereof for being Faithful to his Interest in a Wicked World You would choose Riches when God knows Poverty is best for you to keep you holy and humble We should soon undoe our selves if we our selves had our own Will If God did not often deny us what we have a mind to as a Child would ruine his Health if you gave him all the Fruit his longing Appetite craveth no that must be left to the Parents Discretion or a Man in a Fever would hazard his Life if you should give him all that he calleth for that must be left to the Physicians Skill But now on the other hand nothing can be done amiss by God for Infinite Wisdom cannot err Deut. 32.4 As for God his work is perfect Some things may fall out cross to our Opinions and Desires but our Desires are not the measure of his Dispensations nor