107 / 504
Abfolttenefle
ofGods Purpofes
proved
from
Pf
23.9,
&c,C
A
P.11 L4
t8.
Purpofed
it,
and
i
will
alfo
doe
it. The standing, or
Fixedneffe
and
Linehan-
51
geableneffe
of
his Counfell
he
manifefts
by the accomplifhment
of
the
things,
which
therein he had,
determined: Neither
is
there
any
Salve
for
his
Immu-
tability
in
his
Counfell, fhould
it
otherwife
fall
out.
And
if
we may
take
his
owne Teftimony
of
himfelfe,
what he
Purpofeth;
that
he
cloth:
And in
the
Attuall
fulfilling,
and
the
bringing
about
of
things thernfelves
Pur-
poled , and
as
Purpofed,
without
any poffibility
of
diverfion from
the
re-
all and
intended,
is
their
Stability,, and Unchangeableneffe in them
manife-
fted.
An Imaginary Immutability in
God's Purpofes,
which
may
confift
and
be
preferved under
their
utter
Frufiration,
as
to the
fulfilling
of
the things
themfelves,
under
which
they
are,
the
Scripture knowes
not,
neither can
Keafon conceive.
Now
this
Vnchangeableneffe
of
his
Purpofes,
the Lord
brings
as
one
Demonftration
of
his Deity,
and thofe who
inake
them
Iya-
ble
to
Alteration
upon
any
Account,
or
fuppofition
whatfoever,doe depreffe
him
what
in
them
lyes,
into
the number
of
filch Dungehill
Gods,
as
he
threa-
tens
tofamifh,
and
deftroy.
Pfa.33.9,Io,11.
Hefpakeand
it
Was
done,
he
commanded
and
it
flood
fall.,
g,
The
Lord bringeth the
Counfell
of
the Heathen
to
nought,
he
maketh the
devices
of
the
People
of
none efeEd. The
c
of
the
Lord
fandr
for
ever, the
thoughts
of
his
Heart
to
all
Generations.
The
Production and Eftablifhinent
of
all
things,
in that order
wherein
they
are, are by
the
Pfdlmifl
afcribed
to
the
Will,
and
power
of
God:
By
his
Word,
and Command, they
not
only
are,but
Stand
faft;being
fixt
in
that
Order
by
him
appointed: both
the
Making,
Fixing,and
Neb.
Su.flaining
of
all things,is
by
the
Word
o
f
his
Power. As
the
firft
relates
to their
Reve1.4.
rr.
Being,
which
they have
from Creation,
fo
the other
to the
order
in fubfiftence ñá.2
z3
a.
and
Operation,which
with
to
his
Attuall Providence. Herein they Stand
4.28.
fa
td.
Thernfelves
their
feverall and
refpeaive
relations
,
dependen-
32,1.
cies ,
influences
,
circumftances;
fuited to that
Nature
,
and
Being
,
which
was
bellowed on them by
his
Word
in
their Creation
,
are fet-
led
in
an
exa&
correfpondency
to
his
Purpofes
( of
which
afterwards) not
to.
be
(haken
or
removed.
Men
have
their
Devices
and
Coúnfells,alfo,they
are free
Agents,andworke by Counfell,and Advice; and
therfore God hath not
fet
all things
fo,
fafl,
as
to
overturne
and overbeare
them,
in
their Imaginati-
ons, and undertakings. Saith
the
Pfalmifl,
they
Imagine
and vevife indeed,
but their
Counfell
is
of
nought,
and their
Deices
are ofnone often
;
but
the
Counfell,
of
the
Lord
&c.The
Counfell,&
Purpofes
of
the Lord,
are fet
in
op-
pofition
to the
Caunfell,and
Purpofes
of
men,
as
to
Alteration, Change,
and
Fru.i`tration
in
refpeec
ofthe
Actuall Accomplifbment
ofthe
things
about
which they are.
Their
Counfells
are
fo,
and fo: But
the
Counfell
of
the
Lord
fall
.fland;he
that
_ball
raft
v.'
i.
into
the ro: and
fay
The Counfell
of
the
Lord
that
comes to
nought,
and
the thoughts
of
his heart, are
of
none
effetl,
let him
make what pretences he
will,
or
flowrifhes
that
he can,
or
difplay what fup-
pofalls and conditions he pleafeth, he will fcarcely
be
able
to
keepe
the
field
againft him, who
will
contend with him
about
his
Prerogative
and Glory.
And
this
Antithefis
between
the
.Coun
fells
of
men, and
the
Purpofes
ofGod
upon
the
Account
of
Vnch.
angeableneffe,is
againe confirmed
Prov,
i
9.2
i.
7h
ere
are many devices
in
a mans
heart,
nevertheleffe
the
Coun
fell
of
the
Lord
that
_Mall
fand,
Herein
is
the
difference
betweene
the
Devices
of
men,
and
the Councelll$.9,io.
of
God;
men
have
many
Devices
totry
what they
can
doe:
If
one way
take
.
not,they will
attempt
an
other
(hâc
non
fucceffit,alil
aggrediemier
viii) and
are
Iob.8.9.
alwayes
difappointed,
but
only
in
that,
wherein they
fall in
with theWill
of
Iob.1i.
God.The
Shallowneffe
of
their
Vnderf
anding,
the
Shortne(fe
of
their
Fore
fight,
the
Weakeneffeof
their
Power,the'
Changealeneff"e
of
their
Minds,
the
Ecciees.y:
H
d
certainty 9'12'