Paragraph 5.3

God in his ordinary Providence maketh use of means; yet is free^a to work, without,^b above, and^c against them at his pleasure.^d

1. a. Acts 27:31, 44; Isaiah 55:10–11

   Acts 27:31; Acts 27:44

   ^27:31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. ^27:44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.

   ^27:31 But Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men remain with the ship, you cannot be saved." ^27:44 The rest were to follow on planks and various parts of the ship. In this way everyone was brought safely to land.

   Isaiah 55:10–11

   ^55:10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: ^55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

   ^55:10 For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, ^55:11 so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

2. b. Hosea 1:7

   Hosea 1:7

   ^1:7 But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the Lord their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.

   ^1:7 Yet I will have compassion on the house of Judah, and I will save them-not by bow or sword or war, not by horses and cavalry, but by the LORD their God."

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

3. c. Romans 4:19–21

   Romans 4:19–21

   ^4:19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: ^4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; ^4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

   ^4:19 Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah's womb. ^4:20 Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, ^4:21 being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

4. d. Daniel 3:27

   Daniel 3:27

   ^3:27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

   ^3:27 and when the satraps, prefects, governors, and royal advisers had gathered around, they saw that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men. Not a hair of their heads was singed, their robes were unaffected, and there was no smell of fire on them.

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible