» Gen. iv, 5—7. 1 Kings xxii. 19 — 21. 2 Kings v. 18, 19. Psal. Ixxvi. 10. Eccles. vii. 26. Isa. vi. 9 — 11, &c.
» Deus non operatur in mails, quod eidisplicet; sed operatur per eos quod ei placet, recipientur vero non pro eo, quod Deus bene usus est ipsorum operibuj Ktalis, sed pro eo, quod ipsi male abusi sunt Dei oporibus bonis. Fulgent, ad Monim
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that unchangeable method, in which he hath laid them down from all eternity.
(2.) Let us look peculiarly upon the purposes according to which the dispensations of the gospel, both in sending and withholding it, do proceed.
[1.] For the not sending of the means of grace unto any people, whereby they hear not the joyful sound of the gospel, but have in all ages followed dumb idols, as many do unto this day.
In this chapter of which we treat, the gospel is forbid- den to be preached in Asia and Bithynia ; which restraint, the Lord by his providence, as yet continues to many parts of the world, Now the purpose from whence this proceed- eth, and whereby it is regulated, you have Rom. ix. 22. ' What if God willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long suffering the vessels of his wrath fitted to destruction:' compared with Matt. xi. 25, 26. ' Thou hast hid these things from the prudent and wise, even so, O Father, for so it seemed good before thee;' and with Acts xiv. 16. He suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.'^ Now God's not sending the truth, hath the same design and aim with his sending the efficacy of error, viz. ' That they all may be damned,' who have it not : ' there being no other name under heaven, whereby they may be saved,' but only that which is not revealed unto them ; God in the meantime, being no more the cause" of their sins, for which they incur damnation, than the sun is the cause of cold and darkness, which follow the absence thereof: or he is the cause of a man's imprisonment for debt, who will not pay his debt for him, though he be no way obliged so to do. So then the not sending of the gospel to any people, is an act regulated by that eternal purpose of God, whereby he deterraineth to advance the glory of his justice, by permitting some men to sin, to continue in their sin, and for sin to send them to their own place : as a king's not sending a pardon to condemned malefactors, is an issue of his purpose, that they shall die
" 2 Thess. ii. Acts. iv. * Libcratur pars liomiiium, parte pereunte. ScH cur horum miscrlus sit Dciis, iiloriini lion misertus, qua3 scientia coinpreliendcre jiotesf ? Latet di^crelioiiis ratio, sed non latet ipsa discrctio. Proi-p. dc Vocat. Gen.
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for their faults. When you see the gospel strangely, and through wonderful varieties, and unexpected providences, carried away from a people, know that the spirit which moves in those wheels, is that purpose of God which we have recounted.
[2.] To some people, to some nations, the gospel is sent : God calls them to repentance and acknowledgment of the truth, as in my text, Macedonia : and England, the day wherein we breathe. Now there is in this a twofold aim : 1. Peculiar, towards some in their conversion. 2. Ge- neral, towards all for conviction. And therefore it is acted according to a twofold purpose, which carries it alono-, and is fulfilled thereby.
1st. His purpose of saving'' some in and by Jesus Christ, effectually to bring them unto himself, for the praise of his glorious grace. Upon whomsoever the seal of the Lord is stamped, that God knows them, and owns them as his, to them he will cause his gospel to be revealed. Acts xviii. 10. Paul is commanded to abide at Corinth, and to preach there, because God had much people in that city : though the devil had them in present possession,'' yet thev were God's in his eternal counsel. And such as these they were, for whose sake the man of Macedonia is sent on his mes- sage. Have you never seen the gospel hover about a na- tion, now and then about to settle, and anon scared and upon wing again; yet working through difficulties, making plains of mountains, and filling valleys, overthrowing armies, putting aliens to flight, and at length taking firm root like the cedars of God ? Truly if you have not, you are stran- gers to the place wherein you live. Now what is all this, but the working of the purpose of God to attain its proposed end of gathering his saints to himself? In effectual work- ing of grace also for conversion and salvation, whence do you think it takes its rule and determination, in respect of particular objects, that it should be directed to John, not Judas ; Simon Peter, not Simon Magus ? Why only from this discriminating*^ counsel of God from eternity, to bring
» Rom. viii. 28, 29. Ephes. i. 4. 2 Tim. ii. 19. b Ephes. ii. 1. 11.
<= Non ob aliud dicit, non vos me elegistis, sed ego vos elegi, nisi quia non elegerunt eura, ut eligereteos; sed ut eligerent eum, elegit eos. Non quia prs- scivit eos credituros, sed quia facturns ipse fuerit credenles. Electi sunt itaque VOL. XV. (■