Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]

And that the creatures have at times deviated from their first rules and settlement, is no derogation from the doctrine of God's sovereignty, but rather an illustration of it; as shewing, that the creatures are still in his hand, as clay in the potter's. Hence we find their innate propensities to be sometimes suspended; at other times overacted; and attimes, again, quite contrary to the law of nature: and this, not casually, nor by the force of created powers, nor yet for any private or self-concern, but to serve some special and superior end, which their Lord had to be done. stance a few; and,

To in

1. Of the creatures without life: As the windows of heaven opening, and the fountains of the great deep breaking up, notwithstanding the firmament above and the bounds beneath, to drown the world of ungodly men, Gen. 7:11. The Red Sea's dividing, and standing up as a wall, to make way for his people's escape, Exod. 14: 22. The sun and moon's standing still till they were avenged of their ene mies, Josh. 10:13. The stars to the same end fighting against Sisera, Judges 5:20. The sun's going back in Ahaz's dial, to help Hezekiah's faith, 2 Kings 20: 11. The fiery furnace devouring those at a distance, who cast in the holy confessors, and not so much as touching them that were cast into it, Dan. 3: 2, 27. The winds and seas, which are such impetuous, and, one would think, even lawless, creatures, stir not, nor breathe, but to fulfil his word, Psal. 148: 8. Mark 4: 30, 42.

2. Of living creatures, that have not the use of reason. How readily went they by pairs into Noah's ark, at God's appointment! Gen. 7: 8, 9. The frogs, lice, locusts, &c. with what supernatural boldness did they assault and perplex the Egyptians! so that the magicians themselves confessed that the finger of God was in it, Exod. 8:19. and as strangely withdrew when their work was done, verse 13. Witnessed also by the dumb ass's reproving the prophet's madness, 2. Pet. 2: 16. The lion's killing the seduced prophet for breaking God's command, yet not eating the carcass, nor tearing his ass, 1 Kings 13: 26, 28. A ravenous bird bringing Elijah food in his solitary condition, 1 Kings 17: 6. The whale's receiving Jonah, and, at God's command, casting him on dry land, without harm, Jonah 1: 17, with chap. 2: 10. The lions' also not hurting Daniel

in their den, yet greedily devouring his accusers, Dan. 6: 22. 24. It must needs be a sovereign power, which thus superintends, restrains, and inverts the course of nature at his will.

Thirdly. Another ensign, asserting God's supremacy, and rightful dominion, is the general vote and subscription of men, especially the most knowing, and such as best understand him. 1. They own it in their practice or actions. Abel offers the firstlings of his flock to God, Gen. 4: 4. Abraham leaves his native country at God's command, to go " he knew not whither," Gen. 12: 4. He also offers his only and innocent son Isaac, in whose life and "posterity all nations were to be blessed," Gen. 22: 2. 10. Job, when stripped of all, falls down and worships, Job 1: 21. When Aaron's two sons were destroyed by fire from heaven, he held his peace, Levit. 10: 2, 3. Eli, when the tingling sentence was denounced against his house, said, "It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good, 1 Sam. 3: 18. David, when driven from God's sanctuary, and his throne was usurped by Absalom, said, “Behold, here I am, let him do to me as seemeth good to him," 2 Sam. 15: 26. The men of Nineveh, their destruction being pronounced positively, of which they had no promise of remission, and consequently no visible ground of hope; yet believed God, fasted, "lay in sackcloth, and turned from their evil way,' Jonah 3: 5. 8. 2. They likewise own it in their confessions and attestations. Melchizedek and Abraham do both style him "The Most High God, possessor of heaven and earth," Gen. 14: 19. 22. Job professeth, that though he were righteous, yet if God will contend with him," he will not contend with him, but make supplication to his Judge," Job 9: 15. "The Lord hath made all things for himself," Prov. 16: 4. "For his pleasure they are and were created," Rev. 4: 11. "We are the clay, and thou our potter," Isa. 64: 8. "He worketh all things after the counsel of his own will," Eph. 1:11. "He giveth not account of any of his matters," Job 33: 3.

[ocr errors]

"In his hand is

the soul of every living thing," Job 12: 10.

"He is the

God of the spirits of all flesh," Num. 16:22. "All nations before him are less than nothing and vanity," Isa. 40: 17. "He stills the tumult of the people," Psal. 15: 7. "If it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it," Acts 5: 39. "The coun

sel of the Lord, it shall stand," Prov. 19:21. Psal. 38: 11. "The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord," Prov. 16: 33. "The kingdom is the Lord's, and he is Governor among the nations," Psal. 22:28. Nebuchadnezzar, that proud and potent monarch, whose "greatness reached unto the heaven, and his dominion to the end of the earth, Dan. 4: 22. all nations trembled before him: whom he would he slew, and whom he would he kept alive, Dan. 5: 19. who said in his heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God, I will be like the most High: and who is that God that shall deliver out of my hand?" Dan. 3:15. Yet even he, this child of pride, is made to confess One higher than himself, and to bow before him; proclaiming to the world, that "the most High doth according to his will, in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? and those that walk in pride he is able to abase," Dan. 4: 37. "For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will also sit upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." Isa. 14:13, 14. It might further be instanced in Cain, Pharaoh, Balaam, and other wicked men, how they were even constrained to acknowledge the sovereignty of God; as appears by comparing Exod. 5: 2. with 9:27, 28. and Num. 22: 18. Darius, also, in Dan. 6: 26-28.

Fourthly. Another evidence, or witness, we have from the angels, who are "great in power;" notwithstanding which, they do perfectly own and submit to the sovereignty of God. Where subjects are numerous, wise, and magnanimous, and withal perfectly submit to the will of their Lord, it argues their Lord is an absolute sovereign: and such subjects are the angels. 1. The elect or good angels: these show it by their ready submission to any service their Lord is pleased to appoint them. They are his intelligencers in this lower world. "And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth. The black horses which are therein, go forth into the north country, and the white go forth after them;

and the grisled go forth toward the south country. And the bay went forth, and sought to go, that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get ye hence; walk ye to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.” Zech. 6: 5, 6,7. "There was

a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord." Job 2: 1. Not that he needs their advice, but to show a little of the majesty of his kingdom. They are also his messengers: he sends them on bis errands, to negotiate his affairs among men, and to reveal his purposes, both concerning his church and the world. Dan. 2: 19. and 8:13, 16. chap. 1: 21. chap. 11: Ezek. 1:4. They are his chariots, Psal. 68: 17. His reapers, Matt. 13: 39, 49. The executioners of his judgments, 2 Sam. 24: 16. 2 Kings 19: 35. And Christ's attendants at his coming, Matt. 25: 31.

2. The apostate angels, or wicked spirits. Though the testimony we have from these is not from love or good will, yet it is as great an evidence of God's sovereignty as the other; in that, being enemies to God, proud and imperious, they are yet overawed, and compelled to submit. And hence it was, that the devil dared not to answer again, when that fatal sentence was pronounced upon him for seducing our first parents, Gen. 3: 15. We have him also presenting himself before the Lord, to give account of his actions; and to touch Job, or any thing he had, he durst not, without leave from God, nor vary a jot from the rule prescribed him. "There was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them, to present himself before the Lord. Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but Anu the save his life." Job 2:1, 6. In the Evangelists are many instances of Christ's commanding them forth with authority; yea a whole legion at once, Luke 8: 30, 33. Nor could they so much as enter into the swine without his leave, Mark 5: 12. And, which is more, they were subjected to the apostles, who had but a delegated, or second-hand power over them, Luke 10: 17.

Fifthly. We have the Lord himself asserting his sovereign prerogative. In how lofty a style, and with what imperial authority, doth he utter himself to Pharaoh!" And in very deed, for this cause have I raised thee up, for to show my power on thee," Exod. 9: 16. The apostle

quotes the place to prove, that God may raise up men, and appoint them to what use and service he will: "For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth," Rom. 9:17. "Who hath made the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? Exod. 4: 6, 11. "I kill and I make alive," Deut. 32: 39. "I will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy," Exod. 33: 19. "I am the first and I am the last, and besides me there is no God: and who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order before me? since I appointed the ancient people, and the things that are coming, and shall come," Isa. 44: 6,7. “My counsel shall stand; I will do all my pleasure," Isa. 46: 10. "My word shall accomplish all that which I please; it shall prosper in the thing whereto I send it," Isa. 55: 11. "And if the prophet be deceived, I the Lord have deceived that prophet, and I will destroy him," Ezek. 14: 9. A remarkable story is that of the lying spirit, and the effectual commission he had from God, to persuade, and also to prevail: "And the Lord said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead? And one said on this manner, and another on that manner. And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord and said, I will persuade him. And the Lord said, wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth and do so." 1 Kings 22: 20, 21, 22. How should we tremble before God, at the hearing of such a word! But yet, I do not reckon the last two as acts of pure sovereignty, but rather of his justice; as punishing one sin, by leaving to another; according to that in Rom. 1: 21. 28. "Because that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, nor liked to retain him in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind." And yet there is here an impression of sovereignty, in that he deals not so with all who are alike obnoxious to it.

Sixthly. Another ensign of sovereignty is formed of those several acts and institutes, which cannot be derived (at least not so immediately) from any other attribute than that of sovereignty. I shall instance a few, namely, The put

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »