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Human freedom.

Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks. 15. Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? Or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? As if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood?

Jer. 27. 8. And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon—that nation will I punish, saith the Lord, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.

Ez. 25. 14. And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel.

Hab 1. 6. For lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling places that are not theirs. 12. O Lord, thou hast ordained them for judgment: and, O mighty God thou hast established them for correction.

261. Are mankind free agents?

Gen. 1. 27. So God created man in his own image. Gen. 42. 21. And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us; and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.

Dt. 30. 19. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.

Jos. 24. 15. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve.

Job 32. 8. There is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. Pr. 23. 26. My son, give me thy heart.

Is. 5. 3. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and

Human freedom.

men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.

Hos. 13. 9. O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself. Mat. 13. 15. For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they

have closed.

Lk. 23. 40. Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

Jn. 5. 40. Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

Rom. 2. 15. Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing, or else excusing one another. [See 350, and 557.]

262. Do mankind act freely under the government of God?

2 Sam. 24. 1. And again, 10. And David's heart the anger of the Lord was smote him after that he kindled against Israel, and had numbered the people. he moved David against And David said unto the them to say, Go, number Lord, I have sinned greatIsrael and Judah. ly in that I have done.

Pr. 16. 9. A man's heart but the Lord directeth his deviseth his way:

Song 1. 4. Draw me, Mat. 18. 7. For it must needs be that offences come; Lk. 22. 22. And truly the Son of man goeth as it was determined:

Ph. 2. 12. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

steps.

we will run after thee.
but woe to that man by
whom the offence cometh.
but wo unto that man by
whom he is betrayed.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Human freedom.

263. Do God and mankind ever have different motives in effecting the same events?

Gen. 45. 4. And he said, | for God did send me before I am Joseph your brother, you to preserve life. For whom ye sold into Egypt. these two years hath the Now therefore be not griev- famine been in the land: ed, nor angry with your- and yet there are five years, selves, that ye sold me in the which there shall hither. neither be earing nor harvest.

Gen. 50. 19. And Joseph said unto them- as for you, ye thought evil against me;

but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. 12.

Is. 10. 5. O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. I will send him against a hypocritical nation, and a- Wherefore--when the gainst the people of my Lord hath performed his wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.

Jn. 3. 16, God so loved the Mk. 15. 9. Pilate anworld, that he gave his on-swered them, saying, Will ly begotten Son, that who-ye that I release unto you soever believeth in him, the king of the Jews? (For should not perish, but have he knew that the chief everlasting life. priests had delivered him for envy.)

Ac. 2. 23. Him, being Ye have taken, and by delivered by the determi-wicked hands have crucinate counsel and foreknow- fied and slain.

ledge of God,

Objections and objectors-Reproved.

264. Do the sacred writers state and answer any objections against God's government of the heart?

Rom. 3. 7. If the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? and not rather (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say) Let us do evil that good may come? Whose damnation is just.

Rom. 9. 19. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? for who hath resisted his will? Nay, but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?

265. Do they reprove such objectors?

Job 40. 2. Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

Is. 45. 9. Wo unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? Wo unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?

Mat. 20. 15. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil because I am good?

Lk. 19. 27. But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

Rom. 9. 20. Nay but, Oman, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor? What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that

A reason for submission-Reason for joy.

he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

266. Is the government of God a reason for submission?

3 Sam. 3. 18. It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good.

2 Sam. 16. 7. And thus said Shemei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial. 9. Then said Abishai-Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head. And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the Lord hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?-let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him.

Job 1. 15. The Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away. 21. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

Ps. 39. 9. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.

Jn. 18. 11. Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

267. Are the perfections, purposes, and government of God a proper ground of joy and rejoicing in him?

Ps. 32. 11. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.

Ps. 37. 4. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thy heart.

Ps. 97. 1. The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.

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