A Man drew a Bow at a venture, and flew 'Abab, 1 Reg. xxii. 34. yet it was from the Lord, as Michaiah the Prophet faw, ver. 17. 28.

So if a Man kill another by Chance-medley, it is of the Lord, Exod. xxi. 13. Deut. xix. 4. 5.

4. All voluntary Things too, even fuch as are done by the Choice and Consent, and Freewill of Men, is ftill governed by God who inclines and bends our Hearts as he fees good, tho' ftill fo that we act freely of our felves too, Prov. xxi. 1. Pfal. cxix. 36. 1 Reg. viii. 58. Acts xvi. 14. 2 Sam. xvii. 14.

USE.

1. Acknowledge God in every Thing that happens in the World, Jac. iv. 13, 14. Proverbs iii. 6.

2. Pray to him alone for all true Grace and Virtue, as to the only Fountain of it; and depend upon him alone for it.

Queft. If God thus governs the World, how comes it to pass that there is fo much Sin and Wickedness in it?

1. God, if he would, could have fo ordered it, that no Sin fhould ever have been committed; for he could have prevented it at firft, or can ftill do it, or annihilate all Sinners, that they fhall never fin more.

2. Though he permits Sin, he is not the Caufe or Author of it, Fac. i. 13, 14. That is Blafphemy, yea, a Contradiction.

3. Though

3. Though God permits Sin, yet he fo governs and orders it, that he produceth Good out

of it.

1. By permitting one Sin, he fometimes punifheth another, Rom. i. 21, 22, 23, 25. 2. He over-rules the Sins of wicked Men, fo as that they fhall turn to the Good of the Righteous, Gen. xlv. 7, 8. Acts ii. 23. cap. iv. 28.

3.

He makes all Sin redound to his own Glory; either the Glory,

1. Of his Mercy in pardoning, Rom. ix. 23. 2. Or of his Juftice in punishing of it, Prov. xvi. 4. 2 Thef. i. 7, 8, 9.

IV. He orders and difpofeth of all Things, gig them to whomfoever he pleaseth.

1. Wealth and Riches, Deut. viii. 18. Genefis xxxii. 9. 1 Tim. vi. 17. Job i. 21. Ecclef. v, 18, 19. cap. vi. 1, 2.

2. Honour and Preferments, 1 Chron. xxix. 12; Pfal. lxxv. 6, 7. 2 Sam. xii. 8. 1 Reg. iii. 13. 1 Sam. ii. 7, 8. Pfal. cxiii. 7.

3. Love and Favours, Gen. xxxix. 21. Dan.i. 9. Exod. xii. 36. cap. iii. 21.

4. Health and Strength of Body, 2 Sam. xii. 16.

Naaman was cured, and Gehazi made a Leper, by God, 2 Reg. v. 27. A&ts xvii. 25. 2 Chron. xvi. 12.

5. Gifts and Parts of the Mind, 1 Reg. iii. 9,
12. Exod. XXXV. 30, 31. cap. xxxvi. 1, 2.
Exod. xxxi. 1, 2, 3, 6, Jac. i. 5.

6. All true Grace and Virtue whatfoever.
Faith is the Gift of God, Eph. ii. 8.

So is Repentance, Acts xi. 18. 2 Tim. ii. 25.

Vol, I,

And fo all other Graces, fac. i. 17, 18. i Cor. iv. 7.

7. Heaven it felf and eternal Life, Romans vi. 23.

All these the Works of God, his Prefervation, Infpection, Government, and Disposition of all Things, are done;

1. With infinite Power: For he doth all Things without Trouble, only with his Word, and none can refift him, 2 Chron. xx. 6. Job ix. 12.

2. With infinite Wifdom; fo that he directs all Things to the beft End, his own Glory, Pfal. civ. 24. Rom. xi. 33.

3. With infinite Juftice and Righteoufriefs; fo that he wrongs none, nor is unjust or unrighteous to any, Pfal. cxlv. 17.

4. With infinite Goodness and Mercy; which clearly appear in all and every Thing he doth, Pfal. cxlv. 9.

USE.

1. Hence we should learn to think, that nothing comes by Chance or Fortune, but acknowledge God and his Providence in every Thing that comes upon us, Prov. iii. 6. Exod. viii. 19.

2. To fear nothing but God; forasmuch as no Good can be with-holden from us, no Evil can fall upon us, without him, Matt. x. 28, 29, 30.

3. That although we may and ought to make Ufe of Means, yet we must put our whole

2.

Truft

Truft and Confidence only on God, without whom the best Means will be unsuccessful, the leaft by him will prove effectual, Pfal. xxxvii.

3, 4, 7.

Live always upon Providence, 2 Chron. XX. 12.

4. To fubmit to his Will and Pleasure, and acquiefce in all his Providences, as the Products of infinite Wisdom, Power, and Goodness, 1 Sam. iii. 18. Pfal. xxxix. 9. Ifa. xxxix. 8. 2 Sam. xvi. 9, 10, II.

5. To give God Thanks for every Thing that happens to you, for all the Mercies you enjoy, and for all the Miferies you do not feel, Lamentations iii. 22.

Still praife him, Job i. 21. Rom. xi. 33, 36.

JUDE 6.

And the Angels which kept not their firft Eftate.

SOME

I. ME of the Angels kept their first Estate that is, retained the fame Integrity and Perfection wherein they were created; concerning which we may observe,

1. Their Names,

Cherubim, Ezek. x. 1, 4, 5.

Seraphim, Burning, or flaming Spirits, Ifa. vi. 2.
Sons of God, Job i. 6. c. xxxviii. 7.
Thrones, Dominions, &c. Col. i. 16.
There be Archangels, 1 Thef. iv. 16.
Such a one is Michael, Jude v. 9. SNJID
So perhaps Gabriel, Dan. viii. 16.

2. Their Nature. They are spiritual Subftances, of great Knowledge, and Power spiritual, Pfal. civ. 4. Heb. i. 14.

Of great Knowledge, 2 Sam. xiv. 17.
Natural.

Revealed, 1 Pet. i. 12.
Experimental.

They communicate themselves to one another by their Will.

And Power, Pfal. ciii. 20. 2 Thef. i. 7. 2 Reg. xix. 35:

3. What is their Duty and Employment? That we can tell only by reading of what they have done. We find,

1. They praise God, Ifa. vi. 3. Apoc. iv. 8.

c. vii. II, 12.

They