one glance of his eye, can never find any cause to recede from what he has once determin'd. Nothing can fall out befides his expectation. For 48.15.8. known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

God indeed is faid in fcripture to repent Gen.6.6. 1 Sam.15.11. which is not fo to be understood, as if God acted like men, who fall upon new methods, when they are defeated, and baffled in their old ones. But as when men repent of their former errors, they ufually take another course, and act in a different way from what they did before; fo when God changes the external manner, and method of his operations, the scripture condefcending to our appre henfions, calls it repentance, which yet does not denote any alteration at all in the counfel of his will, but only in the works of his hands. All the great viciffitudes, and revolutions of the world are the products of one, fteddy, conftant, uniform, and unchangeable Counfel. He has different ends in the fame action, and can make contrary actions confpire to the fame end. No wonder therefore, if we at any time behold a fignal mutation in his works, without any revocation of his decree. And as Aquinas de termines, when he willeth a change, he ne ver changes his will. He remains unfhaken, and immoveable, amidst all the agitations

and

and disturbances of the world. He changeth times, and feafons, without any variation in himself. And all the alterations that happen fucceffively in the outward appearances of things, flow from the eternal, and immutable purpose of him, who worketh all things according to the Eph.1.11. Counfel of his own will.

If therefore God be of that infinite knowledge, as to be always prefent to our most retired thoughts, and clofeft purposes, if he has an exact prefcience of all future contingents, and beholds at one view, what will be the Event, and Iffue of all the actions of the world, if he faw diftinctly from all Eternity every occurrence, that could prevent, further, ftop, or hinder his defigns, we may then rest affured, that God will maintain his authority over the world, against all the devices, and combinations of men. For E.31. 2. be alfois wife, and there is no wisdom, nor un- Prov. 21. derstanding, nor Counsel against the Lord.

The fecond perfection in God effectually conducing to the ftability of his government, is an Almighty,Irrefiftible,and Uncontrolable power. Which tho' the Scripture did not afcribe to God, and that in an infinite degree, yet the many mighty works, which he has from time to time done in the world, will amount to an undeniable demonftration of it. 'Twas he that created the heaven, and the earth,and then we may

well

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well make the Prophet Jeremies conclufion Jer. 32. from it, that nothing is too hard for him. He, that witha word made this great fabrick of the world, may furely with the turn of his hand manage every thing in it, so as to be fubfervient to his will. And this is the argument, which God himself in the Prophets often inakes use of to filence the doubts, that might arife, concerning the execution of his purpofe. Thus Elay 40. 22. It is he that fitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grafhoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and fpreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in. and c. 14 26. This is the purpofe, that is purpofed upon the whole earth, and this is the hand, that is stretched out upon all nations, for the Lord of hofts hath purposed, and who sball difannul it, his hand is ftretched out, and who fball turn it back. For what oppofition can we be fuppofed to make, who have no ftrength to arme our felves against him, but what we have derived from him? Or what cannot he do with us, who cammot only destroy us by letting loofe the influence of one contrary against another, but even turn us into nothing, meerly by the with-holding of his own?

And here first, the exercife of his Almighty power, for the establishing of his government, is fingularly observable in his reftraints, and inHow fluences

fluences upon the hearts and fpirits of men. When Balaam the Sorcerer, who loved the ways of unrighteoufnefs, came ready prepared to Curfe the children of Ifrael, it was not in his power to utter one word but what the Lord had spoke unto him. Num. 22. 35. Nay fays he v. 18. If Balak,would give me his house full of filver, and gold, I cannot goe beyond the word of the Lord to fay lefs, or more. We read Ex. 34. 23. Three times in the year, shall all your men children appear before the Lord God, the God of Ifrael. Now the Jews lived in the midft of their enemies, who in all probability would not let flip fuch an inviting opportunity, when all the men were gone up to Jerufalem, to invade their country, and deftroy all, that they had left behind them. Notwithstanding God Almighty is very peremptory in his injunction, tis again repeated Deut. 16. 16. and to take off the objection that might arife from their leaving their Country naked and defencelefs, he affures them that when they thus went to appear before the Lord, no man fhould de fire their land. This is a certain proof, that God effectually orders, and governs the hearts and fpirits, and the voluntary actions of men. Or elfe how could he infallibly affure them (when men had all those temptations, advantages, and encouragements) not only that no man fhould invade or conquer,

but that no man fhould defire their land. I fhall give but one inftance more, and that is, the fucceffes of Cyrus, in which are contained so many special inftances of a remarkable,and overrulIfai. 48. ing power. What was it elfe but the finger of God, who commands all the hearts of the Sons of men, Dr Jack that brought in fo many Confederate Forces to

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his affiftance, and fome of them natural fubjects to the Babylonian, without whofe concurrence the whole enterprize had mifcarried. This is not to be imputed either to Cyrus his manageIfai. 40 ment,or their own. But he, to whom all nations are as the drop of a bucket, who faid of Cyrus, I have girded thee,though thou hast not known me, had long before ordered all things to his hand, and in the language of the Prophet Jeremy on Jer this occafion fet up a standard, blew the trumpet, and prepared the nations: that every purpofe of the Lord, might be performed against Babylon, to leave the land of Babylon, a defolation without an inhabitant.

27, 29.

But fecondly, this power of God is further vifible, in curbing, and keeping under the paffions PS.65. 7. and unruly appetites of men. He that filleth the raging of the fea, and the noife of its waves, is alone able to quiet and fubdue the rage, and madness of the people. Whence are wars and fightings among you? faith St. James, Come they not hence, even from lufts? fo violent are the defires