ay find, indeed, many inferior causes,--many
peculiar reasons for such and such a way of administration,--many ends and
uses for which they serve,--for there is nothing that his majesty hath
appointed but it is for some use and reason,--yet we must rise above all
these, and ascend into the tower of his most high will and pleasure, which
is founded on a depth of wisdom; and from thence we shall behold all the
order, administration, and use of the creatures to depend. And herein is a
great difference between his majesty's purpose and ours. You know there is
still something presented under the notion of good and convenient, that
moves our will, and inclines us for its own goodness to seek after it, and
so to fall upon the means to compass it. Therefore, the end which we
propose to ourselves hath its influence upon our purposes, and pleasures
them; so that from it the motion seems to proceed first, and not so much
from within; but there is no created thing can thus determine his majesty.
Himself, his own glory, is the great end which he loves for itself, and
for which he loves other things. But among other things, though there be
many of them ordained one for another's use, yet his will and pleasure is
the original of that order. He doth not find it, but makes it. You see all
the creatures below are appointed for man, as their immediate and next
end, for his use and service. But was it man's goodness and perfection
which did move and incline his majesty to this appointment? No, indeed!
but of his own good will be makes such things serve man, that all of them
together may be for his own glory.--3d, The Lord's decree is the first rise
of all things that are, or have been, or are to come. This is the first
original of them all, to which they must be reduced as their spring and
fountain. All of you may understand that there are many things possible,
which yet actually will never be. The Lord's power and omnipotency is of a
further extent than his decree and purpose. His power is natural and
essential to his being; his decree is of choice, and voluntary. The Father
could have sent a legion of angels to have delivered his Son; the Son
could have asked them, but neither of them would do it, Matt. xxvi. 53.
The Lord could have raised up children to Abraham out of stones, but he
would not, Matt. iii. 9. His power then comprehends within its reach all
possible things which do not in their own nature and proper conception
imply a contrad