S a C T. X. 0f the Stony Heart, ànd Heart of: fief!). g61 judgement, as he pleafeth. Now the better to clear this truth, we will am_ plific this Soveraigh Dominion ofGod over mens hearts , in three particu- Gods lars: T. /Pin the Way of his general Ï rovidence. a. In the Way of his 7u,flice onover mens 3. In the Way of his Grace And in all theft threeparticulars God isadmiíable. heart is fern, In the Way of his Providence, his power over hear is manifeflcd: Fitft, In afnddainchanging and railing up of their hearts by hss migghly Work, for flab imployments that they Were no Ways able for before: That which I. all the men in the world could not give; That which all the, Angels in la the wayo: heaven could not, that God doth immediately. Thus Saul; when he was hisprovidcnc appointed to be King over Ifrael, he was ofthe meaneft Tribe, the mean= eft Family in the Tribe, an ordinary man and yet it is raid God gave him another heart and when he had that, with what courage and boldnefs did he take the Government upon him : That other fpirit , was hot a fpiricof Grace and Godlinels, as the eA'rminians would have it, hut ofGóvernmenr, and Political Abilities; in token whereof, Savnr:el at the Sacrifice, gave him a!boulder of it ; to Phew the Government upon his ¡boulders, and how he muftbear the people And as this was wonderful for God to make fuch a change inhim, fo on the people alto to receive him for their King: Allchafe followedhim, whole hearts God had touched, faith the Text, t Sam. fo.a6. God did buttouch their hearts, as the Muficiandoth the firings of his Maramen , and they found what he would-have them: Such a fpirit of Government; thofe feventy Elders had, that were toAft Motes ; God took of Mofes his fpirit, and beftowed on them : Thus the Judges that God raifed up in Ifrael, when they were in fo many entrentìties, efpecially yo/hua, whom fome fay, was the Heathens Hercules: Theft all felt the mighty workof God upon their hearts. Secondly, Gods power over mens hearts im&general way, is feen, In th ä, abating andaffmaging tholefierce affecilions, and angry reföluiions that men have oneagainft another: God inamônientcan command thofe waves and winds to be (till. Wehave two famous examples for this; the former, inEfau and °acob; what refolved malitious intentionswere in Efau; after the mourningfor his father was over tokill yacob ? and now there was a full opportunity put into his hand ; 7acob had no_power to withftand him, and of a fndden Efaur affeftions are wholly changed tohim, Gen.;3.2o. Howcometh this black cloud toblow away fo immediately? was it not becaufe God wrought, and moved upon his heart. The latter initance, is ofLaban and7acab, he goeth out Ilk: in a great furyagainft facob ; but -What faith God to him ? See thou doëft not fpeakany Word to Sacob, Gen. 31. 24. and this prefently foftned his heart:. We might adde to this, the meltings of Sap& heart towards David forne- times, when otherways he was full of poyfonand venom Thusalto lofep/e foundfavor in theeyes of Pharaoh: And a notable indance there is, aClron. a8. 3r. where the Army of the Syrians furprizing lehofbapha , and thinking to deftroy him, he cryed out, and God helped him; But how? the Text faith, God moved them to departfromhim. So thatwe fee, all ourapplications fhould be to God. Men havenot their hearts in their ownpower ;; men can- not think hurt to thee, yea, they cannot but think and purpofe good to thee; wherefore God moves the hearts of men thereto:: Thus he faith to theft waves, Hitherto thou (halt go, and no further; he binder up thefeclouds in the air. Thirdly, Gods Providential Working on mens hearts, isfeen in the inclination t, and determination of them (when they are indifferent in themfelves) to firth ways, aswhereby he will bring honor and glory to himfelf: In nothing under the heavens is Gods Soveraignity fo much feen, as here: For the hearts of men, arethofe great inftruments by which hheproduceth fomany notable Cf- felts in the world: Nebuchadnezzar is remarkable herein; the Prophet de- T t t a fcribetb 1
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