2._____ Although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God,
the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly; so that
there is not anything befalls any by chance, or without his providence;
yet by the same providence he ordereth them to fall out according to the
nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently.
(
Acts
2:23; Proverbs
16:33; Genesis
8:22 )
3._____ God, in his ordinary providence maketh use of means, yet is
free to work without, above, and against them at his pleasure.
(
Acts
27:31, 44; Isaiah
55:10, 11; Hosea
1:7; Romans
4:19-21; Daniel
3:27 )
4._____ The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness
of God, so far manifest themselves in his providence, that his determinate
counsel extendeth itself even to the first fall, and all other sinful actions
both of angels and men; and that not by a bare permission, which also he
most wisely and powerfully boundeth, and otherwise ordereth and governeth,
in a manifold dispensation to his most holy ends; yet so, as the sinfulness
of their acts proceedeth only from the creatures, and not from God, who,
being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or approver
of sin.
(
Romans
11:32-34; 2
Samuel 24:1, 1
Chronicles 21:1; 2
Kings 19:28; Psalms
76;10; Genesis
1:20; Isaiah
10:6, 7, 12; Psalms
1:21; 1
John 2:16 )
5._____ The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave
for a season his own children to manifold temptations and the corruptions
of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover
unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their
hearts, that they may be humbled; and to raise them to a more close and
constant dependence for their support upon himself; and to make them more
watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for other just and holy
ends. So that whatsoever befalls any of his elect is by his appointment,
for his glory, and their good.
(
2
Chronicles 32:25, 26, 31; 2
Corinthians 12:7-9; Romans
8:28 )
6._____ As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as the righteous
judge, for former sin doth blind and harden; from them he not only withholdeth
his grace, whereby they might have been enlightened in their understanding,
and wrought upon their hearts; but sometimes also withdraweth the gifts
which they had, and exposeth them to such objects as their corruption makes
occasion of sin; and withal, gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations
of the world, and the power of Satan, whereby it comes to pass that they
harden themselves, under those means which God useth for the softening
of others.
(
Romans
1:24-26, 28; Romans
11:7, 8; Deuteronomy
29:4; Matthew
13:12; Deuteronomy
2:30; 2
Kings 8:12, 13; Psalms
81:11, 12; 2
Thessalonians 2:10-12; Exodus
8:15, 32; Isaiah
6:9, 10; 1
Peter 2:7, 8 )
7._____ As the providence of God doth in general reach to all creatures,
so after a more special manner it taketh care of his church, and disposeth
of all things to the good thereof.
(
1
Timothy 4:10; Amos
9:8, 9; Isaiah
43:3-5 )