ctually apply the creatures to his
work, and not wait in suspense on their determination. If he have
appointed such an end to be attained by such means,--if he have a work to
do by such instruments,--then, without all doubt, he will apply the
instruments when his time comes, and will not wait on their concurrence.
You see now strange things done, you wonder at them how we are brought
down from our excellency,--how our land is laid desolate by strangers,--how
many instruments of the Lord's work are laid aside, how he lifts up a rod
of indignation against us, and is like to overturn even the foundations of
our land,--all(145) were not in our mind before, but they were in his mind
from eternity, and therefore he is now working it. Believe, then, that
there is not a circumstance of all this business, not one point or jot of
it, but is even as it was framed and carved out of old. His present works
are according to an ancient pattern which he carries in his mind. All the
measures and decrees of your affliction--all the ounces and grain weights
of your cup, were all weighed in the scales of his eternal counsel, the
instruments, the time, the manner, all that is in it. If he change
instruments, that was in his mind, if he change dispensations that was in
his mind also, and seeing ye know by the scriptures that a blessed end is
appointed for the godly, that all things work for their good, that all is
subservient to the church's welfare, seeing, I say, you know his purpose
is such as the scripture speaks, then believe his performance shall be
exact accordingly, nothing deficient, no joint, no sinew in all his work
of providence, no line in all his book and volume of the creature, but it
was written in that ancient book of his eternal counsel, and first
fashioned in that, Psal. cxxxix. 16.

Then, lastly, His will is irresistible, his counsel shall stand, who can
turn him from his purpose and who can hinder him from performance?
Therefore he attains his end in the highest and most superlative degree of
certainty and infallibility. Himself will not change his own purpose, for
why should he do it? If he change to the better, then it reflects on his
wisdom, if he change to the worse, it reflects both on his wisdom and
goodness. Certainly he can see no cause why he should change it. But as
himself cannot change, so none can hinder his performance, for what power,
think you, shall it be, that may attempt that? Is it the power of men, of