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<p>We are here taught to give to God the glory,</p>
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<p class="tab-1">I. Of his common providence towards all the children of men. Though he has endued man with understanding and freedom of will, yet he reserves to himself the government of him, and even of those very faculties by which he is qualified to govern himself. 1. The children of men are all under his eye, even their hearts are so; and all the motions and operations of their souls, which none know but they themselves, he knows better than they themselves, <a class="bibleref" title="Ps.33.13,Ps.33.14" href="/passage/?search=Ps.33.13,Ps.33.14"><span class="bibleref" title="Ps.33.13">Ps. 33:13</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Ps.33.14">14</span></a>. Though the residence of God’s glory is in the highest heavens, yet thence he not only has a prospect of all the earth, but a particular inspection of all the inhabitants of the earth. He not only beholds them, but he <i>looks upon them</i>; he looks narrowly upon them (so the word here used is sometimes rendered), so narrowly that not the least thought can escape his observation. Atheists think that, because he dwells above in heaven, he cannot, or will not, take notice of what is done here in this lower world; but thence, high as it is, he sees us all, and all persons and thing are naked and open before him. 2. Their hearts, as well as their times, are all in his hand: <i>He fashions their hearts</i>. He made them at first, formed the spirit of each man within him, then when he brought him into being. Hence he is called <i>the Father of spirits</i>: and this is a good argument to prove that he perfectly knows them. The artist that made the clock, can account for the motions of every wheel. David uses this argument with application to himself, <a class="bibleref" title="Ps.139.1,Ps.139.14" href="/passage/?search=Ps.139.1,Ps.139.14"><span class="bibleref" title="Ps.139.1">Ps. 139:1</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Ps.139.14">14</span></a>. He still moulds the hearts of men, turns them as the rivers of water, which way soever he pleases, to serve his own purposes, darkens or enlightens men’s understandings, stiffens or bows their wills, according as he is pleased to make use of them. He that fashions men’s hearts fashions them alike. It is in hearts as in faces, though there is a great difference, and such a variety as that no two faces are exactly of the same features, nor any two hearts exactly of the same temper, yet there is such a similitude that, in some things, all faces and all hearts agree, <i>as in water face answers to face</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Prov.27.19" href="/passage/?search=Prov.27.19">Prov. 27:19</a>. He <i>fashions them together</i> (so some read it); as the wheels of a watch, though of different shapes, sizes, and motions, are yet all put together, to serve one and the same purpose, so the hearts of men and their dispositions, however varying from each other and seeming to contradict one another, are yet all overruled to serve the divine purpose, which is one. 3. They, and all they do, are obnoxious to his judgment; <i>for he considers all their works</i>, not only knows them, but weighs them, that he may render to every man according to his works, in the day, in the world, of retribution, in the judgment, and to eternity. 4. All the powers of the creature have a dependence upon him, and are of no account, of no avail at all, without him, <a class="bibleref" title="Ps.33.16,Ps.33.17" href="/passage/?search=Ps.33.16,Ps.33.17"><span class="bibleref" title="Ps.33.16">Ps. 33:16</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Ps.33.17">17</span></a>. It is much for the honour of God that not only no force can prevail in opposition to him, but that no force can act but in dependence on him and by a power derived from him. (1.) The strength of a king is nothing without God. No king is sacred by his royal prerogatives, or the authority with which he is invested; for the powers that are, of that kind, are ordained of God, and are what he makes them, and no more. David was a king, and a man of war from his youth, and yet acknowledged God to be h
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<p class="tab-1">II. We are to give God the glory of his special grace. In the midst of his acknowledgments of God’s providence he pronounces those blessed that have Jehovah for their God, who governs the world, and has wherewithal to help them in every time of need, while those were miserable who had this and the other Baal for their god, which was so far from being able to hear and help them that is was itself senseless and helpless (<a class="bibleref" title="Ps.33.12" href="/passage/?search=Ps.33.12">Ps. 33:12</a>): <i>Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord</i>, even Israel, who had the knowledge of the true God and were taken into covenant with him, and all others who own God for theirs and are owned by him; for they also, whatever nation they are of, are of the spiritual seed of Abraham. 1. It is their wisdom that they take the Lord for their God, that they direct their homage and adoration there where it is due and where the payment of it will not be in vain. 2. It is their happiness that they are the people whom God has chosen for his own inheritance, whom he is pleased with, and honoured in, and whom he protects and takes care of, whom he cultivates and improves as a man does his inheritance, <a class="bibleref" title="Deut.32.9" href="/passage/?search=Deut.32.9">Deut. 32:9</a>. Now let us observe here, to the honour of divine grace, (1.) The regard which God has to his people, <a class="bibleref" title="Ps.33.18,Ps.33.19" href="/passage/?search=Ps.33.18,Ps.33.19"><span class="bibleref" title="Ps.33.18">Ps. 33:18</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Ps.33.19">19</span></a>. God beholds all the sons of men with an eye of observation, but his eye of favour and complacency is upon those that fear him. He looks upon them with delight, as the father on his children, as the bridegroom on his spouse, <a class="bibleref" title="Isa.62.5" href="/passage/?search=Isa.62.5">Isa. 62:5</a>. While those that depend on arms and armies, on chariots and horses, perish in the disappointment of their expectations, God’s people, under his protection, are safe, for he shall deliver their soul from death when there seems to be but a step between them and it. If he do not deliver the body from temporal death, yet he will deliver the soul from spiritual and eternal death. Their souls, whatever happens, shall live and praise him, either in this world or in a better. From his bounty they shall be supplied with all necessaries. he shall <i>keep them alive in famine</i>; when others die for want, they shall live, which shall make it a distinguishing mercy. When visible means fail, God will find out some way or other to supply them. He does not say that he will give them abundance (they have no reason either to desire it or to expect it), but he will keep them alive; they shall not starve; and, when destroying judgments are abroad, it ought to be reckoned a great favour, for it is a very striking one, and lays us under peculiar obligations, to have our lives given us for a prey. Those that have the Lord for their God shall find him their help and their shield, <a class="bibleref" title="Ps.33.20" href="/passage/?search=Ps.33.20">Ps. 33:20</a>. In their difficulties he will assist them; they shall be helped over them, helped through them. In their dangers he will secure them; they shall be helped over them, helped through them. In their dangers he will secure them, so that they shall not receive any real damage. (2.) The regard which God’s people have to him and which we ought to have in consideration of this. [1.] We must wait for God. We must attend the motions of his providence, and accommodate ourselves to them, and patiently accommodate ourselves to them, and patiently expect the issue of them. Our souls must wait for him, <a class="bibleref" title="Ps.33.20" href="/passage/?search=Ps.33.20">Ps. 33:20</a>. We must not only in word and tongue profess a believing regard to God, but it must be inward and sincere, a secret and silent attendance on him. [2.] We must rely on God, <i>hope in his mercy</i>, in the goodness of his na
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