I came across this statement by Jonathan Edwards in my morning devotional reading today. It fits well with part of my message this coming Sunday morning on Eph. 5:17-18 — understanding what the will of the Lord is:
Don’t perplex your mind with the secret decrees of God and particularly about the eternal decrees of God with respect to yourself prying into those secrets which are hidden from men and angels, labouring to unseal that book which is sealed with seven seals and which no man in Heaven or Earth is worthy or able to open or to look thereon.
When men get into a way of perplexing their minds with such things they are in a very unhappy way the devil has them in a dismal snare. Therefore diligently avoid such a snare and let the revealed will of God be enough for you. Mind what God commands you, what counsels and direction he gives. Let your whole heart be intent upon those things. This is the way for you to prosper but if you entangle your mind and teaze your mind and spend you with thoughts about the secret eternal counsels of God you will be out of the way of your duty and in the way to your own mischief and will expose your self to ruin. [The Jonathan Edwards Center at Yale University.]
Words of Grace 