Important lessons drawn from the decrees of God
1. Has God
decreed all
things that
come to pass
? Then there
is nothing
that falls
out by
chance, nor
are we to
ascribe what
we meet with
either to
good or ill
luck and
fortune.
There are
many events
in the world
which men
look upon as
mere
accidents,
yet all
these come
by the
counsel and
appointment
of Heaven.
Solomon
tells us, Prov. xvi.
33. that
"the lot is
cast into
the lap, but
the whole
disposing
thereof is
from the
Lord."
However
casual and
fortuitous
things may
be with
respect to
us, yet they
are all
determined
and directed
by the Lord.
When that
man drew a
bow at a
venture, 1
Kings xxii.
34. it was
merely
accidental
with respect
to him, yet
it was God
that guided
the motion
of the arrow
so as to
smite the
king of
Israel
rather than
any other
man. Nothing
then comes
to pass,
however
casual and
uncertain it
may seem to
be, but what
was decreed
by God.
2. Hence we
see God's
certain
knowledge of
all things
that happen
in the
world,
seeing his
knowledge is
founded on
his decree.
As he sees
all things
possible in
the glass of
his own
power, so he
sees all
things to
come in the
glass of his
own will ;
of his
effecting
will, if he
hath decreed
to produce
them ; and
of his
permitting
will, if he
hath decreed
to suffer
them. Hence
his
declaration
of things to
come is
founded on
his
appointing
them, Isa.
xliv. 7. `
Who, as I,
shall call,
and shall
declare it,
and set it
in order for
me, since I
appointed
the ancient
people ? and
the things
that are
coming and
shall come ?
let them
show unto
them,' He
foreknows
the most
necessary
things
according to
the course
of nature,
because he
decreed that
such effects
should
proceed
front and
necessarily
follow such
and such
causes : and
he knows all
future
contingents,
all things
which shall
fall out by
chance, and
the most
free actions
of rational
creatures,
because he
decreed that
such things
should cone
to pass
contingently
or freely,
according to
the nature
of second
causes. So
that what is
casual or
contingent
with respect
to us, is
certain and
necessary in
regard of
God.
3. Whoever
be the
instruments
of any good
to us, of
whatever
sort, we
must look
above them,
and eye the
hand and
counsel of
God in it,
which is the
first
spring, and
be duly
thankful to
God for it.
And whatever
evil of
crosses or
afflictions
befal us, we
must look
above the
instruments
of it to
God.
Affliction
doth not
rise out of
the dust, or
come to men
by chance ;
but it is
the Lord
that sends
it, and we
should own
and
reverence
his hand in
it. So did
David in the
day of his
extreme
distress ; 2
Sam. xvi.
11. ' Let
him alone,
and let him
curse ; for
the Lord
hath bidden
him.' We
should be
patient
under
whatever
distress
befals us,
considering
that God is
our party,
Job ii. 10.
' Shall we
receive good
at the hand
of God, and
shall we not
receive
evil?' This
would be a
happy means
to still our
quarrelings
at adverse
dispensations.
Hence David
says, ` I
was dumb, I
opened not
my mouth,
because thou
didst it,'
Psal. xxxix.
9.
4. See here
the evil of
murmuring
and
complaining
at our lot
in the
world. How
apt are ye
to quarrel
with God, as
if he were
in the wrong
to you, when
his dealings
with you are
not
according to
your own
desires and
wishes ? You
demand a
reason, and
call God to
an account,
Why and I
thus ? Why
so much
afflicted
and
distressed ?
Why so long
afflicted ?
And why such
an
affliction
rather than
another ?
Why am I so
poor and
another so
rich ? Thus
your hearts
rise up
against God.
But you
should
remember,
that this is
to defame
the counsels
of infinite
wisdom, as
if God had
not ordered
your affairs
wisely
enough in
his eternal
counsel. We
find the
Lord
reproving
Job for
this, chap.
xl. 2. `
Shall he
that
contendeth
with the
Lord
instruct him
?' When ye
murmur and
repine under
cross and
afflictive
dispensations,
this is a
presuming to
instruct God
how to deal
with you,
and to
reprove him
as if he
were in the
wrong. Yea,
there is a
kind of
implicit
blasphemy in
it, as if
you had more
wisdom and
justice to
dispose of
your lot,
and to carve
out your own
portion in
the world.
This is upon
the matter
the language
of such a
disposition,
Had I been
on God's
counsel, I
had ordered
this matter
better ;
things had
not been
with me as
now they
are. 0
presume not
to correct
the infinite
wisdom of
God, seeing
he has
decreed all
things most
wisely and
judiciously.
5. There is
no reason
for people
to excuse
their sins
and falls,
from the
doctrine of
the divine
decrees.
Wicked men,
when they
commit some
villany or
attrocious
crime, are
apt to plead
thus for
their
excuse, Who
can help it
? God would
have it so ;
it was
appointed
for me
before I was
born, so
that I could
not avoid
it. This is
a horrid
abuse of the
divine
decrees, as
if they did
constrain
men to sin:
Whereas the
decree is an
immanent act
of God, and
so can have
no
influence,
physical or
moral, upon
the wills of
men, but
leaves them
to the
liberty and
free choice
of their own
hearts ; and
what sinners
do, they do
most freely
and of
choice. It
is a horrid
and
detestable
wickedness
to cast the
blame of
your sin
upon God's
decree. This
is to charge
your villany
upon him, as
if he were
the author
of it. It is
great folly
to cast your
sins upon
Satan who
tempted you,
or upon your
neighbour
who provoked
you : but it
is a far
greater sin,
nay, horrid
blasphemy,
to cast it
upon God
Himself'. A
greater
affront than
this cannot
be offered
to the
infinite
holiness of
God.
6. Let the
people of
God comfort
themselves
in all cases
by this
doctrine of
the divine
decrees ;
and, amidst
whatever
befals them,
rest quietly
and
submissively
in the bosom
of God,
considering
that
whatever
comes or can
come to
pass,
proceeds
from the
decree of
their
gracious
friend and
reconciled
Father, who
knows what
is best for
them, and
will make
all things
work
together for
their good.
0 what a
sweet and
pleasant
life would
ye have
under the
heaviest
pressures of
affliction,
and what
heavenly
serenity and
tranquillity
of mind
would you
enjoy, would
you
cheerfully
acquiesce in
the good
will and
pleasure of
God, and
embrace
every
dispensation,
how sharp
soever it
may be,
because it
is
determined
and
appointed
for you by
the eternal
counsel of
his will !
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