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his father is a madman? or shall he wait the event, in which he shall see and enjoy an elegant and comfortable dwelling?

one.

government of things; but on the other hand, it may, yea must be attended with great conveniency and advantage to the general system. That the variIt is not easy for the child to see ous spheres should be moved and dithe propriety of his father's putting the rected by God is a most desirable conknife to the throat of the darling lamb, sideration; without his government, or demolishing his old habitation, what jars, and confusion might be exthough it be to make way for a new pected among them? The same may We should remember that we be said of the empires and states of the are less, compared with God, than the world, together with all the other soleast child in comparison with the cieties, and individual persons in it. It greatest philosopher. As it becomes is desirable that he should manage the the child to trust in the wisdom and great deep with all its inhabitants, toprudence of his father, and to commitgether with the savage tribes of the wilhimself to his father's care, so it be- derness.-That he should direct the comes us to confide in the living God, to make him our eyes to see for us, our wisdom, our strength, our guide, and our God.

seasons of the year, the alternate shinings and showers of the heavens; that he should attend on vegetation in all its variety;-that he should preside, III. From what has been offered the God of armies to determine their concerning the character of God, may movements, and on which side and by we not infer, that it is desirable that what means victory should declare in he should employ his perfection to the day of battle. These things are of the utmost in conducting, disposing of, too much consequence to be left to the and managing every thing, however management of any, except a being of minute, at all times? If there were infinite wisdom, who knows all the vaa number of insignificant objects in the rious connections, dependences, and universe, to manage which, would cost tendencies of things, and can, and will the great God much pain and perplexi- fix every part in its proper place.ty, it must be confessed, friendship to There is scarce any thing, the imporhim would not burthen him with the tance of which, in itself, its connectask: But since he can exert all his tions and consequences, is not impowers to the utmost, continually, and mensely great. Who would have imwith perfect, unalloyed ease; since it agined before hand, how big Joseph's is as easy for him to do so, as to neg- dream was with importance? On this lect it; yea, since it is as easy for him to hung all the future state of the Jews; conduct the whole universe, not in a and on their state hung infinite things. general way only, but in the most par- In the natural world every atom has ticular, descending to the very minu- its importance. Whence come the test particles, so as to give them all mighty rivers but from single drops of the variety of their modes, motions, water; each of which is composed of properties and relations of every kind; parts invisibly small? Of what are friendship can have no objection in this mountains composed but of particles, view. Nor can it hesitate on account which, when separated, elude the most of any supposed dishonor it would piercing eye of mortal men; Are not be to God, thus to condescend to small the trees of the wood and the herbage things; since he willingly condescend-of the field, composed of particles as ed to form them at first; and since minute as these? Now which of all they may be made to subserve impor- these particles shall be neglected? tant purposes in the scheme of his Why not one as well as another? And governinent. On the whole, there if any, why not all;-all material nacan no inconvenience occur to God ture? Who, but the omniscient God, from this universal and particular knows what particles from the differ

ent elements to call for, in what pro-a Cyrus, an Alexander, bring on an inportion, and numbers, and through flammation which may spread to the what channels to order them to con- other; produce a mortification, first of spire in the production of the rose, the those parts, and then of the whole bolily, or any other individual, among dy. Should this be the case with the the numberless variety of vegetable Commander in Chief* of the present production? Especially, to call a just|| American forces, what dreadful conseproportion of each sort to every indi-quences might not follow. Our strength vidual instance of vegetation? These might give way; our country be subthings require infinite skill, power, pres-dued; our religious privileges be wrestence and patience. Who but the Goded from us; superstition and idolatry of nature can manage all this? The be introduced, and, by and by, spread same may be said of the particles of from us throughout this continent; and which our bodies are composed.- then spread over the other quarters of One of these misplaced may ruin the world, in an heavier cloud than they the whole fabric; even a particle now lie under. And are not here imfar too small for the dissecting sur- portant consequences extending far, geon to notice, though his sight have far beyond this world? Is it not desithe best assistance from glasses. We rable then, that every mote which plays can discover importance in the great on the sun beams, should be particuevents of nature; but the greatest e-larly attended to, and conducted in all vents are effected through the concur- its motions, by the unerring eye, and rence of a countless number and vari-almighty hand of God? If the floating ety of the veriest trifles. What spreads atom be of such consequence, what the field with carnage, and gives a dread-shall we say of all the natural good ful triumph in the day of battle? What and evil in the world? Who besides but particles of human flesh together God can make a proper distribution of with those of brutal nature; having for these? their auxiliaries, particles of the mineral and vegetable productions of the earth; all led on by the foolish, fickle, cruel soul of man? And is it a desira. ble thing to leave the whole to man? Poor, blind, perverse man? O no, "Let God preside," is the language of rea-a moral nature? if the most minute things of a material kind, are connectObserve the sun beams that shooted with such consequences, as call for by stealth into a darkened room. There the vigilance, goodness and power of you see myriads of playing motes; can the infinite God; what shall we say of there be any importance in these? In-moral actions, which at once discover deed there can: Indeed there is: Too much for any except God to manage. One of these may overthro-v an empire, give the world a shock, and extend its influence into eternity. This we may conclude from the perfection of their author, who aims every thing at eternity. One of these motes may fall on some part of the human lungs, bring on a consumption, and death in consequence. It may fall on the lungs of some monarch, and occasion great revolutions in his dominions. It may * This sermon was preached during the light on the eye of a David, a Solomon, revolutionary war.

son.

If things of the natural world, which are made for the moral, tend to it, terminate in it, and therefore derive all their weight from it, be of such moment, what must be the importance of those things which are themselves of

everlasting consequences, of infinite importance, to be immediately connected with them? Never was there an act of holiness exerted, nor an act of sin committed, without ensuring such consequences. Every act of holiness gives sensible joy to al! heaven, and spreads pain throughout hell, because it reflects honer on God. Every act of sin will either be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence

of the Lord, and the glory of his pow-to foreordain all things, of every kind, er; or, being forgiven through the a-as he is in time, to superintend, govern, tonement of Christ, will be matter of influence and direct them. We have everlasting praise and thanksgiving to seen, that God is fit to manage the God. Are not these, then, of incon-whole universe in every respect, and ceivably too great importance to be in all its parts; and, that it is desirable, entrusted in the hands of any other greatly desirabic that he should do so. than an infinitely wise, holy, and pow-Now, the same things which constitute erful God? Is it best that chanee, or his fitness for this infinitely important fate, or imperfect, ignorant, partial government, constitute an equal fitness creatures, should determine in what in to propose and establish, from the bestances, with what circumstances, ag-ginning, his whole scheme of operation, gravations, and to what degree sin shall from the beginning, to continue forevtake place? Shall a thing of so vile aer. He was, from everlasting, possesnature, and so big with awful conse-sed of the same wisdom to direct, quences be left with any of these? goodness to choose, and power to exWho would not be shocked at the ecute the most glorious scheme, as he thought, that his moral character was is this day, or as he ever will be. We, to be formed under the absolute di-short-sighted, impotent, changeable, inrection of any being besides an holy consistent mortals are not able to plan God? Dare we trust the affair in our any design which will ensure success, own hands? He that trusteth in his orbe free from errors: But, with God, own heart is a fool. Surely if there the case is infinitely different. He was, be any case on earth which calls for at the beginning, able to determine an exertion of every divine perfection, wherein the best good consisted, and it must be this; for on this, immedi- by what means it might infallibly be ately, hang eternal things; involving brought about, in a manner the most in them our eternal condition, and not perfectly advantageous. It was perours only, but also the condition of ev-fectly easy for him to foresee every ery intelligent being; for it must ever consequence, and every needful, or adbe remembered that no act of holiness vantageous means, even to the smallnor sin ever existed, but what bears a est atom; together with all its properpart in fixing the condition of all ra-ties, relations, connections, dependentional beings, because all of them will ces, &c. Nothing in the course of be, somehow or other, affected by all things has occurred whereby God has such actions. Now, if God employs been instructed. He has gained neihis perfection about these, bringing ther knowledge or goodnes, by any of just such actions, just so circumstan- the things which have been; nor will ced into existence as he seeth best,||he, by any of those that shall be herewithout suffering any more to be, we after. He was as well acquainted with may rest assured, by his perfection, his own powers from everlasting, as he that all the wrath of man which has will be after having exercised them for an existence, shall, in some way or oth- myriads of ages. So that he was in no er, infallibly praise God; or, in other danger of proposing such a scheme, as words, conspire to that perfection of might prove too unwieldy for his abilthe works of God in which his gloryities. God was, therefore, as fit to foreappears. Were we, then, persuaded of o: dain all things, as he is, or will be to the universality of the government of manage the world he has made. He an infinitely powerful, knowing, and was as fit, from eternity, to foreordain good God; we should stand confident what my state, character and relative in him, without anxiety, amidst the circumstances should be at this present most horrible uproar, both of the nat-time, and what alteration shall happen ural and moral world. in the next moment, as he is at present. He was ahvays as fit to determine ev

IV. God was just as fit from eternity,

ery thing, from the revolutions of ble disadvantage to the universe. worlds and states, down to the motion V. To a candid mind, it will appear of the motes that play on the sun- desirable, that God should have deterbeams, as he is now to conduct them.mined every thing from everlasting.— Yea, he was as fit to determine from The truly benevolent mind can never everlasting, what my state shall be at want any thing, besides sufficient evithe day of judgment, and what sen-dence, that infinite benevolence, assisttence shall then be pronounced upon ed by infinite knowledge, has predeme, as he will be at that day. Neither termined every event, in order to his his goodness, mercy, or knowledge, rejoicing in this doctrine. It is to be will be greater then, than they have al-greatly desired that such perfection ways been; and we may with the same should choose, and fix the final state of propriety, object against his disposing things; and not leave them to the deof us, according to his own judgment, termination of any other cause; and it as against his foreordaining, from eter- is equally desirable, that those means nity, the manner of that disposition.- which are effectually, and best suited He will know no more of us then, no- to bring about that end, should be also thing more in our favor than he ever determined ;-that nothing should be did; nor will our distress, though we introduced into the system in vain, should be condemned, be more clear- nor worse than in vain ;—that there ly visible, or affecting to him than it should as irrefragable a necessity atalways was. He was in as good a ca- tend the best course of things, as atpacity to determine, before he began tends the being of the unchangeable the works of creation, what kind of God. A possibility that things may creatures, and how many, he would not conspire to the best good; or that speak into being, and what their res- the best good may not take place— pective properties, both natural and would be a melancholy idea. It is moral should be; which of them should therefore desirable that the greatest perish in the using-which shall be general good, and the best adapted consumed at the general conflagration means to bring it about, should ante-which shall exist forever, and among cedently be rendered as necessary, as those, which shall be happy and which they can be rendered by the most unmiserable, as he has been at any par- conditional decree that can be imaginticular period, and as he will be at any ed. It is desirable, that they should which is still future. be rendered as certain before hand, as their being itself would render them.

terable scheme of infinite knowledge and goodness: but how can he act according to such a scheme, if he has not projected it? It is plain, he must act from some design, if he acts according to knowledge and goodness.

Such is the perfection of God, that he could not foreordain any event in It is to be desired that God should any other than the best manner con- conduct every thing to the most valuceivable; even by the infinite mind it-able end, according to a certain, unalself: And on supposition, there is some particular supposable scheme of things, which has, in itself, a superiority to all others; and that God has foreordained any one universal scheme, we may be assured it is that which has the superiority. For, from eternity, as well First, he must aim at the most valuas in time, his knowledge would per-able end, and that in every part of his ceive the best, and his goodness would administration. Hence he can do choose it. Hence it appears, that no nothing, either from an evil end, or for reasonable objection can be made a- no end, for neither of these is an obgainst such a predetermination, on ac- ject of wisdom. Then, this great end count of any supposable impropriety must guide him in every step. But in in it, as it respects the character of order to this, he must see through the God; nor on account of any supposa- whole train of causes and effcets, ante:

cedents and consequences; relations, || the general detriment of intelligent nadependences and connexions of every || ture, or, at best, not for the advancement of the common good?

kind; which he never could, without having the whole in view; and then For the same general reason, that determining that things, in the several has been mentioned, it is desirable that stages of time, should be conformed to those which are called the peculiar this grand pattern. So that, if it be doctrines of the gospel should be true; desirable, God should thus govern the such as the doctrine of particular elecworld; it is equally desirable, that he tion, the sovereignty of divine grace in should do it according to some de- the regeneration, sanctification and saltermined scheme of infinite wisdom vation of sinners, &c. The scope of and goodness. It is best all things these doctrines is to lodge the whole should be, and be done, accord-management of the universe, and all ing to an unchangeable scheme of wis-things in it, the souls and the salvation dom and goodness; and that nothing|| of men not excepted, in the hands of should be left to chance, fortune, or infinite wisdom, power and goodness, after change. It is therefore desira- everlastingly, and indissolubly connecble, that nothing in nature; neither in ted in the one living and true God ;heaven, earth, nor hell, should be left than which, the devils themselves must unbound by the irresistible decree of acknowledge, no consideration can be God; because, by such a decree, it more agreeable, either in itself, or to becomes certain, beforehand, that all the holy inhabitants of heaven, who things shall be conducted, and dispos- are constantly expressing their exalted ed of in the best manner possible; satisfaction therein, by crying, “Thou while, on any other supposition, there art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, is a contingency, and the die may fall,|| and honor, and power; for thou hast for the worse, but never for the better. created all things, and for thy pleasure We are always best satisfied in the they are, and were created." condition of our temporal, personal interests, when they are most secure.Now, had we as great a regard to the collective interest of universal being, as we have for our own; should we not be affected by its condition in the same manner, as by the condition of our own; resting satisfied in proportion to its security? And where can it be so thoroughly secure, as when bound up in the irrefragable decree of infinite, and unchangeable knowledge, power and goodness? These attributes must for ever aim at the highest interest or Objection 1. These doctrines tend, good of the universe; and, conspiring to discourage us from the use of means. together, are incapable of being frus- If I am elected I shall be saved; if I trated. It is, therefore, a desirable | am not, I shall not be saved; so that thing, that God should decree, that ev-my doings can have no influence; nor ery thing should come to pass, which be of any advantage. would contribute, in any way, to the Answer. This objection intimates a general good; and that nothing else mistake in the objector. We must reshould take place within his universal member, that the doctrine of decrees dominion. Is not this a much more a- doth not suppose any end to be degreeable consideration, than that things creed, without the means necessary to should be left in such a contingent, un-its accomplishment. If the end is to certain state, that they might turn to be produced immediately by the pow

For the same reason, as well as for others, it also appears to be desirable, that those doctrines, if true, should be clearly published and urged home on every conscience. It is not best that such doctrines, if true, should be kept back, because they are disagreeable to the human heart.

But it is very pos

sible some may object, even before they have listened to what might be said on this subject, and therefore I shall here attend to two or three probable objections.

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