Bridges on Proverbs 16:4
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 16:4
 
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4.  The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
 
Every workman has some end for his work. God has the highest end. As the Apostle reasons concerning the oath of God — “because he could sware by no greater, he sware by himself” (Ib. 6:13); so here — because he could propose no higher end, he proposed himself. Indeed it is his exclusive prerogative, that, as he has been “the Beginning” (Colossians 1:18. Revelation 3:14), so he should be the end of all his works.† The LORD hath created all things — all the works of the creation — all the events of nations — all the dispensations of Providence — for himself; not to fill up a vacuum (for what vacuum could there be to the fountain of sufficiency?); but for the manifestation of his glory to his intelligent creatures. (Isaiah 43:21; 60:21.) Nor indeed can it be doubted, but that from his immense power and wisdom, from his benevolent and diffusive goodness he displayed, an infinite weight of glory is reflected upon the great source of all these perfections. “The LORD rejoices in his works” (Psalm 104:31) with inexpressible delight and satisfaction. And thus all things return to that boundless ocean, from whence they sprung. Even the wicked, whose existence might seem scarcely reconcilable to the Divine perfections, he includes in the grand purpose of setting out his Name. ‘It is the greatest praise of his wisdom, that he can turn the evil of men to his own glory!’† He hath made even the wicked for the day of evil. — Wicked they are of themselves. He made them not so.† He compels them not to be so.† He abhors their wickedness. But he foresaw their evil. He permitted it; and though “he hath no pleasure in their death,”† he will be glorified in them in the day of evil;† and when they sin by their own free-will, he ordains them to punishment, as the monuments of his power, his justice, and his long-suffering.†
Clearly God is not he Author of sin. He cannot impart what he has not — what is contrary to his nature. Infinite perfection cannot impart imperfection. Absolute holiness cannot be the cause of sin; though, like the law,† it may be the innocent occasion or excitement of it. If he foreknows — ‘infinite foreknowledge’ — as Edwards profoundly observes — ‘proves the necessity of the event foreknown; yet it may not be the thing, which causes the necessity.’† He can decree nothing but good. If he permits evil, so far as not to hinder it, he hates it as evil, and permits it only for the greater good — the greatest of all good — the more full manifestation of his own glory in it, and out of it. He will be glorified in, or on, all his creatures. “All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD!” (Psalm 145:10.) His retributive justice, no less than the riches of his grace, sets out his glory. (Romans 9:22, 23.) It would seem as if the redeemed are permitted to see this, and to participate with Divine satisfaction. The flames of hell excite the reverential praises of heaven. — “And again they said — Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.”†
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hebrews 6:13
13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
 
 
Colossians 1:18
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. {in...: or, among all}
 
Revelation 3:14
14 ¶ And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; {of the Laodiceans: or, in Laodicea}
 
 
Footnote:
Isaiah 43:7; 48:11, 12. Romans 11:36. Revelation 4:10, 11. See President Edwards’ profound and interesting reasoning, — ‘God's chief end in Creation.’ Chapter i. Works, i. Could there be a clearer demonstration of the Divinity of Christ, than the representation of him as the great end of creation — “All things were made by Him, and for Him”? Colossians 1:16.
 
 
Isaiah 43:7
7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
 
Isaiah 48:11, 12
11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another. 12 Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.
 
Romans 11:36
36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. {whom: Gr. him}
 
Revelation 4:10, 11
10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
 
Colossians 1:16
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Isaiah 43:21
21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.
 
Isaiah 60:21
21 Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.
 
 
Psalm 104:31
31 ¶ The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works. {endure: Heb. be}
 
 
Footnote:
Bishop Hall. Compare Exodus 14:17.
 
 
Exodus 14:17
17 And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
 
 
Footnote:
Genesis 1:27. Ecclesiastes 7:29.
 
 
Genesis 1:27
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
 
Ecclesiastes 7:29
29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
 
 
Footnote:
John 3:19.
 
 
John 3:19
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
 
 
Footnote:
Ezekiel 33:11.
 
 
Ezekiel 33:11
11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
 
 
Footnote:
Job 21:30. 2 Peter 2:9.
 
 
Job 21:30
30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath. {wrath: Heb. wraths}
 
2 Peter 2:9
9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
 
 
Footnote:
Romans 9:17, 22.
 
 
Romans 9:17, 22
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: {fitted: or, made up}
 
 
Footnote:
Ib. 7:5, 8, 11-13. 1 Corinthians 15:56.
 
 
Romans 7:5, 8, 11-13
5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. {motions: Gr. passions} 8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
 
1 Corinthians 15:56
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
 
 
Footnote:
Treatise on Will, Part ii. Section 12. See also Doddridge's valuable note on Luke 22:22.
 
 
Luke 22:22
22 And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!
 
 
Psalm 145:10
10 ¶ All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.
 
 
Romans 9:22, 23
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: {fitted: or, made up} 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
 
 
Footnote:
Revelation 19:3. “God made man neither to save nor damn him, but for his own glory. And it is secured, whether in his salvation or damnation. (See 2 Corinthians 2:15.) Nor did, nor does, God make man wicked. He made man upright. Man makes himself wicked; and being so, God may justly appoint him to damnation for his wickedness; in doing which he glorifies his justice.” Gill in loco. ‘Those two great acts of his most secret and unsearchable counsel, than the one whereof there is not any one act more secret and unsearchable counsel, than the one whereof there is not any one act more gracious — the destination of those that persevere in faith and godliness to eternal happiness; nor any one act more full of terror and astonishment than the other — the designation of such as live and die in sin to eternal destruction; the Scriptures in the last resolution refer them wholly to his glory, as the last end. The glory of his rich mercy being most resplendent in the one, and the glory of his just severity in the other.’ — Bishop Sanderson's Sermon on Romans 15:6.
 
 
Revelation 19:3
3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
 
2 Corinthians 2:15
15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
 
Romans 15:6
6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.