Deut. 19. 4, 5.
Gen. 45. 5.
Prov. 16. 33.
Prov. 16. 4.
Rom. 9. 22, 23.
Rom. 8. 28, 30.
Psal. 115. 3.
Rom. 9. 15, 18.
Job 34. 13.
3. The parts of this definition are thus proved. 1. That the providence of God is his counsel and decree, appeareth most plainly from these Scriptures: Peter in his Sermon to the Jews upon the day of Pentecost saith: Him (that was Jesus) being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God (τῇ ὡρισμένῃ βουλῇ καὶ προγνώσει Θεοῦ) ye have taken, and by wicked hand have crucified and slain. And again the Church at Jerusalem in their prayers say thus: Of a truth against thy holy Child Jesus whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and people of Israel were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined (ἡ χείρ σου καὶ ἡ βουλή σου προώρισε γενέσθα) before to be done. 2. That all things created (nay also those things which do seem to happen fortuitously, or to be by permission, as sinful actions) are governed and ordered by the providence of God, as these Scriptures will sufficiently demonstrate. Christ Jesus the son of God, doth uphold (or sustain) all things by the word of his power. And doth not our Saviour tell us: Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing, and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your father? But the very hairs of your heads are all numbred. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. That place concerning the Cities of refuge, and the fleeing of the ignorant man-slayer thither is most remarkable, and is this. And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in times past, as when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroak with the ax to cut down the tree, and the head slipeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour that he die, he shall flee unto one of those Cities, and live. And was not the action of Josephs brethren, sin and sinful in selling of him to the Ismaelites, and yet he acknowledgeth, that God sent him before them to preserve life. So that God brought good forth of evil, and doth order even the sins of the wicked to just and good ends by his Divine Providence. Again: The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. So when the Men in the Ship with Jonah did cast lots, by the Lords disposing the lot fell upon Jonah who was justly guilty, and so by providence pointed out. 3. That God doth govern all things to his own glory is manifest by these Texts: The Lord hath made all things for himself; yea even the wicked for the day of evil. And, what if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory? And that he governeth all things for the Salvation of his elect, is plain: And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. So that if God be for the Elect, who can be against them? 4. That God doth govern all things most freely is clear, because he is omnipotent and supream, and there is no power that can either impede, or constrain him, For he hath done whatsoever he would, both in Heaven and Earth. And the Apostle saith; I will have mercy upon whom I will have mercy. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. For who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?