VER,II. Epbefans,Chap.i. The Vfe is, firftfor our comfort : While we know that all that good which God bathwilledtous,he will worke itfor us ;'faith, repentance, perfeverance in his feare, fanétification and falvation; His will is, we fhould be raifed up at the laic day, all thefe he will effeétually workefor us.Did our gooddepend uponour owne wils, as thingsexempted from fubjeâion to his power, all our comfort were at an end : Ifthe prefer- ving me from evill, andbellowing onmegood, depend not entirely for principalefficacy on God, farewell all religion. We fee them confuted that make Gods will tend mans, and worke f Ile' 2; accordingly as thatenclineth ; which is to let the Cartbefore the Horfe, to make the fupream governeffe come after the hand-maid. We cannot go to the next towne, but we muff fay,ifGodwill, faith lames. God can have nothing with man, no faith, no converfion, but if man will, and that not as comming to him inobedience, but as able to crone him,and refill his pleafure. He doth frill worke after the counfell ofhiswill,feeing itpleafed him to yeeld fo to the liberty ofhis creature. Where learne they that God hath fufpended his omnipotency, and put the flaffe out ofhis hand [ The Scripture telleth us, that Godhath the hearts ofKings, to carry them as he will, that the power that raifed Chrift, workethfaith in us. Secondly, I fay,that did God looke to the will ofanother, as therule ofthat he will worke, he couldnot be faid to workeafter thecounfell ofhis will, though he might be faid to worke willingly : as it is with fervants andfubjeds,.who looke to the willsofothersfor theirdirelion, ofothers to whom they are inpower inferiour. Lally, let us, feeing all things are according to his will, yeeld him Yfe3; obediencein all things : It is fit children or jfervants fhould be fubjeâ to the will ofparents and maters; how muchmoreforusto fubjeâour felves tohiswill,which is ever guidedwithunfearchablewifedomee Having thus admonifhed what I deeme fit to be fpoken more gene- rally, as fitting to popular intruélion ; before Ipaffe this place, I thinke it good to deliver my judgement touchingthat queftion. 9!efi. Whether vldams voluntary fall was preordained, and in fume fort willedby God, yea or not Or whether God did onely forefee it, and decree to fuffer it, not willing, or intending, that it fhould fall out, though he law howhe could worke good out ofir. I will firfl let downe the arguments on both fides. Secondly, lay downeconclufions opening the truth. Thirdly , anfwer thearguments propounded to the crntrary. Thofe who defend the latter, reafon thus. I. That which maketh God cruel!, andmore crud then Tygers them - feb es, andunjufi', is not to begranted : But to make himwill thetrndefer_ vedfalland ruineofhis creatures doth makehimfo. 2. That whichmakethGodwill anoccaflonof 'hewing hisowne wrath,ie fe- lifhly o f cribed to God, nowt.fe manwillmake workfor himfelf toheangry at. 143 : That 125 Vie i. ObjeFi, Be:
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