Page 21 - Absolute Predestination With Observations On The Divine Attributes

that man who hath thus far attained the mind that was in Christ.

(5) The comfortable belief of this doctrine has a tendency to excite and keep
alive within us that fortitude which is so ornamental to, and necessary for us

while we abide in this wilderness. For if I believe, with the apostle, that "all
things are of God" (2 Cor. 5.18), I shall be less liable to perturbation when
afflicted, and learn more easily to possess my soul in patience. This was Job's

support; he was not overcome with rage and despair when he received news that
the Sabeans had carried off his cattle and slain his servants, and that the
remainder of both were consumed with fire; that the Chaldeans had robbed him
of his camels, and that his seven sons were crushed to death by the falling of the

house where they were sitting: he resolved all these misfortunes into the agency
of God, His power and sovereignty, and even thanked Him for doing what He

would with His own (Job 1.21). If another should slander me in word, or injure
me in deed, I shall not be prone to anger, when, with David, I consider that the
Lord hath bidden him (2 Sam. 16.10).

(6) This should stir us up to fervent and incessant prayer. For, does God work
powerfully and benignly in the hearts of His elect? and is He the sole cause of
every action they do, which is truly and spiritually good? Then it should be our

prayer that He would work in us likewise both to will and to do of His good
pleasure, and if, on self-examination, we find reason to trust that some good
thing is wrought in us, it should put us upon thankfulness unfeigned, and cause
us to glory, not in ourselves, but in Him. On the other hand, does God manifest

His displeasure against the wicked by blinding, hardening and giving them up to
perpetrate iniquity with greediness? which judicial acts of God are both a

punishment for their sin and also eventual additions to it, we should, be the
more incited to deprecate these tremendous evils, and to beseech the King of
heaven that He would not thus "lead us into temptation." So much concerning

the omnipotence of God.

THE JUSTICE OF GOD.

V.—I shall now take notice of HIS JUSTICE.

POSITION 1.—God is infinitely, absolutely and unchangeably just.