Chap. 3 t. An Expofition upon the Booth of J o a. Verf. 3 3. ág9 things in fuch a way,I had never beenentangled,rnuch is ffe over- come by ttais or that temptation. The Apoftle in that place gives warning to all, that they make no fuch vaine Apologyes, nor goe about to eafe themfeives,when they have finned, be offing their finupon God, or by accutinghis providence, as the taufe ofit; 'yet this warning bath not prevented the doing of it. One ofthe iY.°s<hri q:10. Ancients ob'erved and reproved this practice as a commonerror n °ria71 :c? Ï. in his time ; Many (faith he) when they aredetelfed in an;fn, fay r e=' d`'',d' - rr, prefently, God bath willed this , er he wouldhave things tb A ee ar gxirf what have I done ? where is myfault ? this thing could rot have :;o been, unlefe it had been the will of God; for all things fall out at- ciare eedwe,f:s1 cording to his will, that is, he might hinder and flop them if he üM1 "9 would, or he might put them into another comic if he pleated ; if be worke nonecan let, ifhe let none canwer/¿e. Thus men, prefumptuous men are not afraid to charge God himfelfe with their fins, that they may difcharge thenalelves. 1 (hall give you two reafons why they doe fo. Firft Man hath a naturali defire to Juftifie himfelfe,and that defire is fo ftrong,that he cares not much whom he befpattererh, or whom he burdens, fo he may but cafe and acquit himfelfe, nor cares he whom he wrongs, fo he may makehis owne wases ap peare upright. Secondly , in is fuch an ugly monfter that no man will owne it,if he can chufe,but had rather lay this childof darkneffe at any mans doore, yea at Gods doore then father it himfelfe. And though there are but few who will fay this plainely, yet many fpeake it in parables, or by confequences and inferences. I fhail therefore cleare what I meane and ayme at by giving a few in- fiances. Fsrft , Saith one, it is my ill fortune, or my fate, that I have done this eviti ; fuch Heathen language is often heard from their mouthes, who profeffe Chriftianity. Now, what is this deftiny, chance, fortune, or fate, which they bable about ? what doe all thefe uncouth words import, but that order intowhichGod bath put all things, or that iffue unto which his infinite wifdomebath difpofed all actionsand events in this world ? There is no other chance nor fate, but that which is indeed the counfell and difpen- fation ofGod ; and therefore when any cryout , this was our ill fortune, this was our ill hap , what doe they accule but the holy T ttt court-
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