God's will

 We owe perfect obedience to God's will.—Namely, subjection to his commands, and submission to his providence.

(1.) Subjection to his commands.—As he is the first cause, so he is the supreme Lord: he that gave us life, must give us law. God hath an absolute title to our service as Creator. This made the Psalmist desire the knowledge of God's commandments in order to his obedience: "Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments." (Psalm 119:73.) We may learn this from the universal obedience of all creatures: those which are without reason, sense, or life, inviolably observe his commands: "Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them they stand up together," as prepared to execute his commands. (Isai. 48:13.) The insensible parts of the world are so compliant with his will, as to contradict their proper natures to serve his glory: fire descends from heaven at his command; the fluid sea stands up as a solid wall in obedience to him. This upbraids our degeneration and apostasy,—that we, who are most indebted to the goodness of our Creator, should prove disloyal and rebellious, when the inferior creatures with one consent serve and glorify him.

(2.) We owe submission to the will of his providence.—There is no shadow of exception can be formed against his sovereignty. He may do by right whatever he can do by power; therefore we should acquiesce in his dispensations. This consideration silenced David: "I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it." (Psalm 39:9.) As the presence of a grave person in authority quiets a disordered multitude; so the apprehension of God's supremacy composes our riotous thoughts and passions. Unquietness of spirit in troubles springs from the ignorance of God and of ourselves. By impatience we cite God before our tribunal, and do, as it were, usurp his throne; we set up an anti-providence, as if his wisdom should be taught by our folly: and sometimes in afflictions we eye the next cause, but do not look upward to the Sovereign Disposer of all things; like Balaam, who struck the ass, but did not see the angel who opposed him. (Num. 22:23.) Thus from a brutish imagination we regard the visible instrument of our trouble, but consider not the providence of God in all. From hence it is that our spirits are full of unquiet agitations: we live continually upon self-created racks. Now the humble acknowledgment of God's hand, and the submitting of ourselves to his will, as it glorifies God, so it gives ease to us: as there is the greatest equity, so policy, in our willing stooping to him: "As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." (Rom. 14:11.) He engages his life and honour for this. If there is not a voluntary, there must be a violent, subjection to him. The wilful man never wants woe; the spring of our daily misery, as well as our sins, is opposition to God's will; but the cheerful resignation to his providence,—what a blessed pill of rest is this to the soul! what a sabbath from all those sinful and penal disturbances which discompose our spirits! It is a lower heaven; for as in the state of glory there is an unchangeable agreement between the will of the Creator and the creature, so, according to the same measure and degree wherein we conform our wills to God's, we proportionably enjoy the holiness and blessedness of that state.