infallible certaintyofthe End, incouraging to the ule of rneanes C.Xll. well deferve the confìderatibn of themwhohave nothing elfe todo; for my 28 part I have other imployment. That which we affirme concerning the Words öfGod byhis Angell; tó Pahl; 4.45 is That that they were fuch a Promife as could not but infallibly be ac- complifhed, according to the tenour öf what is in thofe words expreft, nor in refpe&of the Fa;thfulneffeofGod could it otherwife be, but that it mull: fo fall out and cometo paffe as was appointed,although the accomplifhment ofit was tobe brought about by the eminent Bleffing ofGod, upon the means that were to be ufed by them towhom, and cdneerning whom it was given. Forfirft, the Promife Was hot only concerning the Marinersand the reft in the fhip,for the prefervation ofwhom the means formerly mentioned were ufed , but ofPaul's apearance before Cefar,a great and eminent worke whereuntohewas defigned Ads9.15. Fear not Paul thou mgbe brought before Ctefar;Looke thenwhat infallibility in refpeer ofthe Event therewas, as to Paul's appearance before Cefar, the fame there was in the prefervation of the lives of the reft with him;NowAlthough theflayingoftheMariners from going out ofthe fhip, was a meanes that Paul was kept a live to be brought beforeCafar,yet can any one be foforfaken ofcommon fence as to fay, that it was the Condition ofthe purpófeof God concerning the fulfillingofthat Te- ftimony, which according to his appointment Paul was tb make at Rome, with all the mighty and fuccefsfull travel! for the propagationoftheGofpell; which he after this was ingaged ins VVas it all now caft uponthe fall ofanun- certaine condition not at all determined ofGod as to its accomplifhment ? Doth the infinitely wife God delight toput the purpofes ofhis heart, and thofeoffogreat concernement to the Kingdome ofhis Sonne and hisovine Glory in the everlafting wellfare of innumerable foules to fuch uncertaine hazards , which by various wayes obvious and naked before his eyes,he could have pretended. Secondly, It ispart ofthe predi&ion of Paul from thepròmife he had ceived, (and therewith a Revelation thereof) that they fhould be call upon a certaine Ifland, God havingfome worke for him there to do; Now was this part ofthePromifeConditional! or no ? If it beaid that it was, Let the Con= ditiononwhich it depended be affigned. Nothingcan be imagined unlefhe it be that theWind fate in fuch orfuch a quarter; 'Tis then fuppofed that God promifed Paul and his company fhould be caft on an ifland for their prefer- vation,provided the Wind ferved for that endor purpofe: But who I pray commands theVV inds andSeas? Doth the Wind fo blowwhere it lifteth, as not to be at the commandof itsMaker ? Is it not enough that we cart offhis yoake and foveraignty from men, but mull the refdueofthe Creation be forced fo topay their homage toour freewills As to be exempted thereby fromGods difpofallc!fthis part ofthe Promife were infallible and Abfolute; As to the certainty of its accomplifhment, why not the other part ofit al °, fo ? Thirdly, Paul makes confeffìon ofhis Faith to his Company, concerning theAccotnplifhment of this Promife. I believe God(faith he) hi xis 'tw xK ' 4. 47, cv Tejvov )<ET4Nxkt µoí. It {hall fo come to paffe in the fame manner as it was told rye; clearely ingagingthe Truth and Faithfulneffe ofthat Godwhich he wor- fhipped (forhis Teftimony to whofeTruthhe was then in bonds) for the ac- complifhment ofwhat he had fpoken to them: viz.t?at not one of them fGould be lofl:Now fuppofing that any oneperfon had by any accident fallen out of the (hip, Mr Goodwin tells you there had been no opportunity or poffìbilitÿ left untoGod to have fulfilled his Promife;trtie;for it had bin wholly fruflrá- ted,
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