Divine Providence
1._____ God the good Creator of all things, in his infinite power
and wisdom doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures
and things, from the greatest even to the least, by his most wise
and holy providence, to the end for the which they were created,
according unto his infallible foreknowledge, and the free and
immutable counsel of his own will; to the praise of the glory of his
wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy.
(
Hebrews 1:3;
Job 38:11;
Isaiah 46:10, 11;
Psalms 135:6;
Matthew 10:29-31;
Ephesians 1:11
)
2._____ Although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of
God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and
infallibly; so that there is not anything befalls any by chance, or
without his providence; yet by the same providence he ordereth them
to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either
necessarily, freely, or contingently.
(
Acts 2:23;
Proverbs 16:33;
Genesis 8:22
)
3._____ God, in his ordinary providence maketh use of means, yet
is free to work without, above, and against them at his pleasure.
(
Acts 27:31, 44;
Isaiah 55:10, 11;
Hosea 1:7;
Romans 4:19-21;
Daniel 3:27 )
4._____ The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite
goodness of God, so far manifest themselves in his providence, that
his determinate counsel extendeth itself even to the first fall, and
all other sinful actions both of angels and men; and that not by a
bare permission, which also he most wisely and powerfully boundeth,
and otherwise ordereth and governeth, in a manifold dispensation to
his most holy ends; yet so, as the sinfulness of their acts
proceedeth only from the creatures, and not from God, who, being
most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or
approver of sin.
(
Romans 11:32-34;
2 Samuel 24:1,
1 Chronicles 21:1;
2 Kings 19:28;
Psalms 76;10;
Genesis 1:20;
Isaiah 10:6, 7, 12;
Psalms 1:21;
1 John 2:16 )
5._____ The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth
oftentimes leave for a season his own children to manifold
temptations and the corruptions of their own hearts, to chastise
them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden
strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they
may be humbled; and to raise them to a more close and constant
dependence for their support upon himself; and to make them more
watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for other just and
holy ends. So that whatsoever befalls any of his elect is by his
appointment, for his glory, and their good.
(
2 Chronicles 32:25, 26, 31;
2 Corinthians 12:7-9;
Romans 8:28 )
6._____ As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as the
righteous judge, for former sin doth blind and harden; from them he
not only withholdeth his grace, whereby they might have been
enlightened in their understanding, and wrought upon their hearts;
but sometimes also withdraweth the gifts which they had, and
exposeth them to such objects as their corruption makes occasion of
sin; and withal, gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations
of the world, and the power of Satan, whereby it comes to pass that
they harden themselves, under those means which God useth for the
softening of others.
(
Romans 1:24-26, 28;
Romans 11:7, 8;
Deuteronomy 29:4;
Matthew 13:12;
Deuteronomy 2:30;
2 Kings 8:12, 13;
Psalms 81:11, 12;
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12;
Exodus 8:15, 32;
Isaiah 6:9, 10;
1 Peter 2:7, 8
)
7._____ As the providence of God doth in general reach to all
creatures, so after a more special manner it taketh care of his
church, and disposeth of all things to the good thereof.
(
1 Timothy 4:10;
Amos 9:8, 9;
Isaiah 43:3-5
)
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