of God done among the children of men for the most part are hidden from vs and incomprehensible yet that which our good God hath openly made knowne vnto vs in his word instructeth and inableth vs with speciall profit fruit and comfort to marke and looke into the workes of God It remaineth then that wee set downe and further speake of certaine notable fruits that grow out of that which wee haue before set downe which wee will doe in the Chapter following ⸪ CHAP. X. That without contradiction it appeareth by the aforesaia order of the workes of God done among the children of men that there shall bee an after reckoning made with all the children of men in the world to come SEEING that it is euidently knowne that God the Lord is a righteous Iudge For the workes of man shall bee rendred vnto him and he will cause euery man to finde according to his wayes Iob 34. 11. and that it is alwayes found that the Lord in this world maketh no euen reckoning with the children of men when hee suffereth a godly man all his life time to liue in great trouble and aduersitie and to dye therein and sendeth great riches and ioy to an vngodly man all his life long and they haue no crosses but their strength is firme Psal 17. 14. and Psal 73. 4. And also by experience in the common course of the world it is found that many of the deare children of God are persecuted and euilly dealt withall onely because they take Gods cause in hand are iealous of God honour seeke the spreading abroad of the Gospel and the prosperitie of his people and that it oftentimes fareth so with them that they are oppressed and lose their liues therefore as it happeneth also to many other Martyrs of God and faithfull witnesses of his truth Apoc. 2. 13. wee must of necessitie therefore hence conclude That God for certaine will make an after reckoning in the world to come for it can by no meanes stand with the righteousnesse and goodnesse of our God that hee should indure or suffer his owne children and his faithfull seruants who for the fulfilling of his will did not refuse to yeeld their liues into the enemies handes and to dye and that for his cause were shamefully handled cursed abased and slaine should not be reuenged Luke 18. 7. 8. Apocal. 6. 9. 10. 11. Could a iust and an vpright Prince endure that his trustie seruants and officers should be assayled persecuted and slaine by his subiects because they seeke to mainetaine and vphold his lawfull commandements and to see them executed without taking their causes in hand reuenging their blood and punishing the offendours as they had deserued Much lesse will the Lord suffer the hard dealing with and handling of his children that are slaine and murthered in this world to goe vnreuenged Therefore if there were no other reasons then that onely for which God should make a common reckoning with the children of men at the latter day yet were this cause enough for it So the Apostle setteth downe the necessitie of the last day of iudgement to consist vpon this That the godly are here oftentimes so cruelly oppressed by the vngodly and saith to the Thessalonians that it is a manifest token of the righteous Iudgement of God that yee may be counted worthie of the kingdome of God for which yee also suffer seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you and to you who are troubled rest with vs when the Lord Iesus shall bee reuealed from heauen with his mightie Angells 2 Thess 1. 5. 6. 7. Then also it shall be made manifest though it bee neuer so much forgotten here in the world and how little regard or knowledg soeuer seemes to be taken of the godly and those that are righteous That God harkened and heard it and a booke of remembrance was layd before him for them that feared the Lord and thought vpon his name and accordingly it shall then also be knowne what difference there is betweene the righteous and the wicked betweene him that serueth the Lord and him that serueth him not Mala. 3. 16. 17. 18. Herewith the godly also must comfort themselues as the Prophet also witnesseth and take heede that they partake not with the vngodly of whom Salomon sayth Because sentence against an euill worke is not executed speedily therefore the heart of the sonnes of men is fully set in them to doe euill Eccl 8. 11. But they must rather seeing God here in this world permitteth things to passe in such manner bee thereby more certainely assured that hereafter there shall come a great day of judgement wherein all things shall be made right and set straight and euery one shall be rewarded according as hee hath done whether it be good or euill Act. 3. 21. and 2 Cor. 5. 10. And accordingly the more crossely and confusedly we see things done and executed here in this world the more must wee learne to make reckoning of the great day of Iudgement make full account thereof and prepare our selues for it holding for certaine as Salomon also in the aforesaid place witnesseth That though a sinner doe euill an hundred tymes and his dayes be prolonged yet surely I know it shall be well not with the vngodly but with them that feare God which feare before him Eccl. 8. 12. This therefore should moue all the godly to long for the last day the comming of the Lord when we shall not onely be reuenged for all their hard speeches which vngodly sinners haue spoken against him Iude 15 And all instruments that are formed against vs shall not prosper Esa 54. 17. But besides that all the partes and pieces of that great worke of the prouidence of God ouer the things of this world that here are so confusedly cast together vpon a heape shall be seene to be laid very orderly by the wise and powerfull hand of our God and from them wee shall see a most notable peece of worke to bee framed and brought forth wherein the vngodly with their wicked workes shall serue as shadowes Eccl 8. 13. to set more beautie and luster vpon the great glory of the Children of God who shall then glister like the Sunne Mat. 13. 34. As also the godly are to expect the same for this cause that howsoeuer they cannot here conceiue why this or that thing comes so to passe yet they may assure themselues when the Lord shall come to Iudgement to make all straight and to bee glorified in his Saints 2 Thess 1. 10. Hee will then bring forth so glorious a peice of worke and shew it vnto vs that wee shall alwayes reioyce therein and prayse and glorifie our God for the same world without end CHAP. XI That not all outward prosperitie is a signe that the Lord loueth that man to whom he sendeth the same SIth by all that which is said before it manifestly appeareth that God
God of Israel ruled and gouerned the world and teacheth vs further that he suffereth it so to bee thereby the more to aduance his honour when hee once begins so to rise vp that his enemies are driuen backe and that he lifteth vp againe the heads of his people which before were deiected and cast downe Thus he witnesseth that for the same cause he suffereth his people of Israell to be humbled that afterward he might aduance them and that so all the world might see that it was neither their policie wisedome nor power but his blessings that had releiued and raysed them vp Deut 8. 9. Here what the Lord to this end sayth by the Prophet The earth mourneth and languisheth Lebanon is ashamed and hewen downe Sharon is like a wildernesse and Basan and Carmell shake off their fruits now will I rise sayth the Lord seeing my people are so much confounded and euery man thinketh that they are wholy ouerthrowne now will I be exalted now will I lift vp my selfe Esa 33. 9. 10. I haue a long time houlden my peace sayth he I haue beene still and refrayned my selfe now will I cry like a trauelling woman I will destroy and deuoure at once Esa 42. 14. the enemies of my people This is Gods purpose when he suffereth his people for a time to be ouer-run and mastred by their enemies which if we consider well we will no longer bee abashed thereat nor stumble at Gods workes though things goe neuer so crosse for a time with Gods owne people and that the enemies of the Gospell thereby seeme to growe strong When we reade of the prosperitie of Hammon the cruell and sworne enemy of Gods people and vnderstand that he proceeded so farre that all the people of Israell were iudged to die and that hee being their greatest and bitterest enemie had the execution thereof committed to him would not men therby conclude looking vpon the outward vntoward proceedings that the Lord had abandoned and forsaken his people of Israell yet we know in the end that the higher that Hammon the enemie of Gods people did clime the neerer the destruction of the Children of Israell seemed to be and the more the enemies of Gods people being disappointed of their purposes were confounded the more honor the Lord did then reap vnto himselfe by the deliuerance of his people So wonderfull is God the Lord in his workes wherby it appeareth that euen then when he suffereth the cause of his people in a manner to fall vnto the ground he still houldeth the rudder in his hand and hath an eye on them and a care that they shall not altogether be ouerthrowne And so all the mis-vnderstanding wrong iudging mis-construing stumblings at Gods workes consists herein that we onely looke vpon exterior things and neuer remember to goe into the Sanctuary of God to looke into the end of his wayes and what his secret meaning is therein Marke what I say Queene Ester that was a great friend to the people of God and sought what meanes she could to deliuer the people of Israell from that danger and to bring Hammon to confusion what course did shee take Shee inuited the King and Hammon with him to be her guests shee receiued and intertained him friendly and Hammon could perceiue no other but that he was very welcome to the Queene and boasted thereof to his friends And yet that was not enough Hester bad him to be her guest the second time and shewed him a fayre countenance from time to time Now what might the Iewes that knew not Queene Hesters meaning haue conceiued and iudged hereof might not they haue thought that Hester also consented with Hammon to helpe to root out and confound the Iewes But the meaning was cleane contrary shee sought to bring Hammon to confusion and to deliuer the Iewes from death the issue thereof sheweth it plainely Hest 5. 7. Thus the Lord our God many times worketh with the enemies of his people hee seemeth for a while to draw them on and to leaue his owne people to make them the more confounded and ashamed when vnexpectedly hee ouerthroweth them and deliuereth his people from them Touching these wayes of God therefore wee must attend Gods pleasure and in the meane time patiently expect his leisure And this God declareth vnto vs in his Word touching his strange workings aforesayd which to men seeme so offensiue yea which is more our good God sheweth vs yet more speciall and waightier causes wherefore at sometimes he suffereth his owne people to be oppressed by their enemies and letteth them fall into great miseries and troubles whereof some conceiue the enemies of Gods people others Gods people themselues Touching his owne people somtimes he suffereth them to fall into the hands of their enemies and by that meanes ladeth them with a heauie yoake because they did not endeuour themselues wisely and as it became them to beare his Fatherly yoake on their necks Heare what the Lord to that end sayth to his people Because that thou seruest not the Lord thy God with ioyfulnesse and with gladnesse of heart for the aboundance of all things therefore shalt thou serue thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee in hunger and in thirst and in nakednesse and in want of all things and he shall put a yoake of iron vpon thy necke and all this the Lord doth as hee himselfe also witnesseth that his people might know what difference there is betweene seruing of him and seruing the Kingdomes of his enemies 2 Chro. 12. 8. Therefore for that his people by the subtiltie of Sathan the temptations of the world imbecilitie and carelesnesse sometimes esteeme not of the sweete yoake of Christ and calme running water of Shilo as they should doe the Lord layeth a heauie yoake vpon them and bringeth them into deepe and many waters of oppression wherein what strange thing doth the Lord What doth he I say that should moue men in any manner to dislike When we vse to do the same and thinke and perswade our selues that we doe wisely with our owne Children that sometimes wee put to hard Schoole-maisters and cruell teachers for a tyme that they might learne and know how easie a yoake they beare on their shoulders in their Fathers houses which yet when we doe it is out of meere loue and for the good and profit of our Children On the other side touching the enemies of Gods people although then they seeme specially to bee happie and blessed when in that manner they get the vpper hand of Gods people and deuoure them like bread yet the truth is that no greater plague can happen vnto them then when they are permitted to oppresse and wrong the people of God and to wash their hands in their bloud which the Lord in his great wrath sometimes permitteth to be done when hee determineth to suffer them to fill vp the measure of their wickednesse and to hasten their Iudgement and vtter destruction
Euen then when they ouercome and spoyle the people of God and lead them Captiues away with them as a prey They doe nothing els but in a manner heap vp a great deale of wood stubble and straw with coles of fire vnder them which at the last burnes them all vp For so the Lord himselfe witnesseth saying In that day will I make the wildernesse of Iudah like a harth of fire among the wood and like a torch of fire in a bundle of straw Zach. 12. 6. And againe And in that day will I make Ierusalem a burthensom stone for all people all that burthen themselues with it shall bee cut in peeces though all the people of the earth bee gathered together against it Zach. 12. 3. Hearken what the Lord in this respect againe and againe commaundeth and oftentimes willeth his Prophets to shew to the world Thou Son of man sayth he Prophesie to the mountaines of Israell and say Ye Mountaines of Israell heare the word of the Lord Thus sayth the Lord Because the enemie had sayd against you Aha euen the auncient high places are ours in possession Therefore prophesie and say Thus sayth the Lord God Because they haue made you desolate and swallowed you vp on euery side that you might be a possession vnto the residue of the Heathen and yee are taken vp in the lips of talkers and are an infamie of the people Therefore yee Mountaines of Israell heare the word of the Lord God Thus sayth the Lord God to the mountaines and to the hills to the riuers and to the valleyes to the desolate wasts and to the Citties that are forsaken which are become a prey and derision to the residue of the Heathen that are round about Therefore thus sayth the Lord surely in the zeale of my ielousie I haue spoken against the residue of the heathen and against all Idumea which haue appoynted my Land into their possessions with the ioy of all their heart with dispitefull minds to cast it out for a prey Prophesie therefore concerning the Land of Israell and say vnto the mountaines and to the hils and to the riuers and to the valleyes Thus sayth the Lord God Behold I haue spoken in my ielousie and in my fury because you haue borne the shame of the heathen therefore thus sayth the Lord God I haue lifted vp mine hand surely the heathen that are about you they shall beare their shame But yee O Mountaines of Israell you shall shoot forth your branches and yeeld your fruit to my people of Israell for they are at hand to come Ezech. 36. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. And for that the Lord intendeth to deale in this manner with his owne people and with their enemies when they ouercome and oppresse them he pronounceth a woe vnto Assyria by the Prophet Esay that for this cause because they were to ouer-run and oppresse the people of Israell for a tyme like durt in the streete saying O Assyrians the rod of mine anger and the staffe in their hand is mine indignation I will send him against an hypocriticall Nation and against the people of my wrath where hee vnderstandeth his owne people that because of their sinnes had a long tyme sore offended him I will giue him a charge to take the spoyle and to take the prey and to tread them downe like the mire in the streets Esa 10. 5. 6. To this end also the Lord witnesseth that hee delayed to take reuenge for the bloud of his Children vntill more of them were slaine for his truth sake that at one time he might visite the enemies of his truth in their owne houses make a iust reckoning with them Apo. 6. 9 10. 11. Wherby it is manifestly to be seene That the Lord suffereth the enemies of the truth somtimes to haue the vpper hand because that alreadie by reason of their great sinnes and offences committed against him they haue in such manner offended him that in his wrath he thinketh it fit to slacke the bridle vnto them and to suffer them to proceed from bad actions to worse for their heauier iudgement and condemnation This also must be vnderstood and conceiued in matters of lesse moment wherein the Children of the world without reason and lawfull ground get the vpper hand ouer the Children of God as when they meete together in battaile in the field or in any towne or in prayer or at a marriage or such like and there are slaine murthered or spoyled in all other such like occurrents And thus the Lord findeth occasion both in regard of his owne people and of their enemies now and then to make his people the foote and not the head that he suffreth them to lie vnder feete and the enemies of the truth to tread vpon them which whosoeuer well waigheth and considereth with an vnderstanding heart hee shall soone perceiue see that there is no cause of doubt to be made or scandall to be found in these workes of the Lord. CHAP. IX Further Iustification of the aforesaid Doctrine which the Lord sheweth vs out of his word touching his proceedings with the Children of men against the people of God in our age THat wee may further Iustifie this poynt touching Gods proceeding with his people and their enemies and discusse the difficulties and troubles which in these times are in diuers places brought vpon Gods people by their enemies we must after the like manner with due respect speak generally both of the proceedings of the people of God and of their enemies That the light of the Gospell hath long tyme shone most clearly in this age as those that know any thing as they ought to doe can tell and that the same hath beene sleightly regarded both by friendes and foes all those plainely see it that haue receiued any light at all from the Lord our God Many both great and small both mightie Potentates and meane men long since and oftentimes with all their mights haue strouen against the same and sought vtterly to dam and smother it vp by all the meanes they could esteeming that to be a false light which is only able to lead and guide them to the way of saluation Others that in some sort had a liking thereunto haue made no great account nor estimation thereof but haue suffered it in such sort to shine and so serued their turnes therewith that they were content to liue where it was and sometimes to come where it shoane without making any reckoning to accept or to make profession thereof And amongst those that proceeded so farre that they haue accepted thereof as a rule of their faith and an order of liuing well there are many found that haue no care orderly and as they ought to doe to walke in the light thereof so that on this side also many lamentable offences haue beene ministred and doubts beene raised to cause controuersies and errours This the Lord God the Father of lights hath seene and
beheld from the highest heauens the place of his holy habitation and it grieued him much to see and perceiue such great vnthankfulnesse and ingratitude for so excellent a gift then the which next vnto saluation it selfe no better hath beene giuen by God vnto the children of men For which cause hee hath suffered the vnthankefull world and that would not accept the loue of the truth to fall into strong delusions and great doubts whereby they tooke occasion to cleaue vnto and beleeue lies So that in this our age wee haue seene in the reformed countries of the world many great and very dangerous disputations to arise and controuersies to grow touching religion whereby many men that looke no further then vpon the outward shew and face thereof were so much amazed and abashed thereat that they began more and more to dislike it and to leaue it These are deepe wayes of God which therefore ought to haue mooued all Christian hearts to search into the intent and meaning of God and withall to take occasion to shake off the aforesaid vnsauoury ingratitude and to bend their mindes vnto a more wholesome course of obedience But this hath beene practised by very few and at this day is yet too much neglected For which cause the wrath of God hath beene more and more kindled and his out stretched arme hath not holden backe but in his anger he is gone foorth and hath suffered the vngodly world that hardeneth it selfe to fall into more hardnesse and delusion as euery man knoweth how much the blind world now hardneth and imboldneth it selfe each one in his errours vpon occasion of the present troubles that daily happen to the people of God in these dayes for the enemies of the Gospel thereby take occasion to thinke and perswade themselues that they haue done great and good seruices vnto God and yet doe when they persecute and seeke to roote out the protectours and professours of the truth and those that haue halted betweene both thinke themselues happie that they as many others haue not throwen their lot into the lap of those whose chance they thought might alter and change Thus the Lord as he hath threatned letteth it raigne snares fire and brimstone and a horrible tempest vpon the vngodly Psal 11. 6. wherein they shal be taken spoyle themselues For in all these things those wretched men doe not once remember that when to fulfill their owne pleasures they doe so they iudge vniustly of Gods truth and thereby offend against the generation of his Children Psalm 73. 15. How oftentimes was Israel troubled and vexed with contentions and warres amongst themselues yea and ouer-runne also by the Philistines and other enemies whereas notwithstanding the Israelites were the onely people of God and onely had the light of saluation among them What inuasions and incursions haue the cruell Heathen diuers times made vpon the Christians and yet wee know that the Christians and not the Heathens haue the truth on their side But these things the Lord sometimes suffereth to fall vpon and come against his owne people to cleanse them to try their faiths to the end that those that remaine obstinate might haue that which they haue deserued 1. Corinth 11. 19. Matth. 18. 7. And thus it falleth out that such miserable men that glorie and take most delight to behold the troubles persecutions of Gods people that boast off and perseuer in their enmitie and peruerse proceedings are those certainely that are most plagued thereby for that by such meanes they are hardened in their errors and delusions which lead them into perdition Can greater plagues then these bee any wayes bee thought on and all this also is iust and righteous with God that those that receiued not the loue of the truth that they might be saued might fall into strong delusions and beleeue lies 2. Thes 2. 10. 11. And that those that are the causes of reuolting and doubts raised and sometimes strongly mainetaine them should haue the same measure mett vnto them and thereby fall into perdition Thus it fares with them by the wonderfull prouidence of God as the Psalmist saith As they loued cursing for they delighted in errour so let it come vnto them Psalm 109. 17. Besides all the curses that yet hang ouer their heads for the oppression shame disgrace and wrongs by them done vnto the children of God in their troubles and aduersities for it is most true and certaine that although the Lord God suffer his people for a while to bee oppressed by their enemies when he hath once finished all his workes vpon Mount Sion and sufficiently punished his people he will goe to visite their enemies in their owne houses and cast the rodde of his anger into the fire Esa 10. 12. Behold how excellently the Psalmist setteth this forth saying When God heard this that is that his children many times rebelled against him hee was wrath and greatly abhorred Israel so that he forsooke the Tabernacle of Shiloh the tent that he had placed among men and deliuered his strength into captiuitie and his glory into the enemies hand he gaue his people ouer also vnto the sword and was wrath with his inheritance The fire consumed their young men and their maidens was not giuen to marriage their Priests fell by the sword and their widdowes made no lamentation Thus farre it went on Gods enemies side as we read 1. Sam. 4. but marke what followeth Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleepe and like a mightie man that shooteth by reason of wine and he smote the enemies in the hinder parts hee put them to a perpetuall reproch Psalme 75. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. which also wee read in the first of Samuel the fifth This is the heritage of the seruants of the Lord and their righteousnesse is of mee sayth the Lord Esa 54. 17. That the Lord God in his time shall recompence tribulation to those that trouble them and giue rest to those that are troubled 2. Thess 1. 67. euen in the time of need Heb. 4 16. And thus it appeareth alwayes that although the Lord seemeth to haue forsaken his people for a while and to hold with their enemies yet in truth and certaintie this standes firmely That God will not cast away righteous man neither will hee helpe the euill doers Iob 8. 20. how much soeuer he seemeth to stand against his owne people and to strengthen the hand of the vngodly These are the wonderfull wayes of our God and this is the certaintie of his workes done among the children of men which mooued the Psalmist that had a spirituall eie in some measure to looke into the waies of God and to set downe the truth thereof to breake out into this speech and say O Lord how great are thy workes and thy thoughts are verie deepe a brutish man knoweth not neither doth a foole vnderstand this Psalm 92. 5. 6. Thus wee may see that although the workes
many times sendeth great wealth and prosperitie to the vngodly it is euident and not to be contradicted that not all wealth prosperitie is a signe or token that God fauoureth that man to whom he giueth it for the Lord our wonderfull God giueth in his wrath and anger to some men that which they wish and desire as he gaue Quailes to the Children of Israell at their desire but they dyed while they were eating of them Numb 11. Many a man hath earnestly desired and also obtained that which in the end was his ouerthrow So that it is most certaine that the wealth and prosperitie of the vngodly is nothing else but as it were a pasturing of Beastes for the day of slaughter This God taught Ieremie when touching the prosperitie of the vngodly hee looked into and searched the wayes of God Righteous art thou O Lord when I plead with thee yet let me talke with thee of thy Iudgements Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper Wherefore are all they happie that deale very trecherously Thou hast planted them yea they haue taken roote they grow yea they bring forth fruit thou art neere in their mouth and farre from their reines But thou O Lord knowest me thou hast seene me and tryed mine heart towardes thee Put them out like sheepe for the slaughter and prepare them for the day of slaughter Iere. 12. 1. 2. 3. This is the cause why those that prosper in this world reioyce though they are vngodly they glory in themselues because all things goe well with them and are perswaded that it shall alwaies be so with them yea and that God fauoureth and liketh them which notwithstanding is not so The Lord often times in this life giueth great wealth and prosperitie and whatsoeuer they wish or desire vnto those to whom after this life he will giue hell and vtter damnation for their reward Gods wayes in these thinges are not like the wayes of men to those that men hate and cannot abide they wish no good no not so much as may continue the twinckling of an eye But it is not so with our God hee endureth the vessels of wrath with great patience beares long with the vngodly to see if they will once repent and turne from their wicked waies and feare that good God from whom they haue receiued so many good things which if they doe not but â—â—â—ll continue in their wickednes Then vndoubtedly such is the case of the vngodly that the more wealth and prosperitie they haue in this world the more hated and accursed of God they are For this is most certaine that there can come no greater plague in the world then this to the Children of men when doing euill it falleth out well as they imagine with them for thereby they imbolden themselues in their wicked wayes and take such a course that they shun no wickednesse and then that draweth more vnto them which the Psalmist sayth When the wicked spring like the grasse and when all the workers of iniquitie flourish it is that they shall be destroyed for euer Psal 92. 7. Therefore the Prophet cryeth out against the Children of this world in this manner saying O that they were wise that they vnderstood this that they would consider their latter end Deut. 32. 29. Reioyce not then you Children of the world because you flourish and prosper here for behold and see that it standeth thus with you as long as you feare not the Lord for you can finde nothing to make for you out of any place in the word of God but that Gods intent and meaning is to feed you in this fatt pasture for the day of slaughter Ier. 12. 3. And that in this world hee will bring that vpon you which you deserue as it hapned to Absolon Hammon and others This is most certaine you stand vpon slipperie ground and God that iudgeth you is strong and in the twinckling of an eye can throw you downe God I say whom you feare not and therefore is against you comes to Iudgement as a theefe in the night Therefore looke before hand that you stand vpon your gard turne speedily vnto him and repent least with the couetous rich man for a short and transicorie worldly life you bee soone carried away from hence into euerlasting paine and damnation CHAP. XII That all worldly crosses and tribulations are not a shew or signe that God will refuse that man to whom he sendeth them SEeing that by the reasons and proofes aforesaid it is cleare and euident that God also suffereth crosses and tribulations to fall vpon the most godly men that are here in this world it appeareth thereby also without contradiction that all tribulations and troubles are not a crosse of God neither an argument that God will ouerthrow and at once consume vs when he layeth tribulations vpon vs but on the contrary God sometimes suffereth his owne louing and dearest children whom he liketh well and approueth of to fall into great miseries and calamities sometimes So wonderfull is God in his workes to mankind those that he loueth and most certainely determineth to giue vnto them the kingdome of heauen and euerlasting ioy yet them giueth hee oft into their enemies hands Ier. 12. 7. For so hee witnesseth vnto vs in his word And he is wont to Chasten as many as he loueth Apo 3. 19. For whom the Lordloueth hee chasteneth and scourgeth euery sonne whom he receiueth Heb 12. 6. Yea because hee loueth them and because hee liketh them therefore he instructeth and chastneth them the more hearken what he sayth to that purpose to the Children of Israell his darlings You onely haue I knowne of all the families of the earth therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities Amos 3. 2. He will come to visite you at home to make you better that you may not perish with the wicked world 1 Cor. 11. 32. This might abashe those that are so plagued and yet are happie who otherwise in their weaknesse many times when crosses fall vpon them are wont to say as Sion sayd in her griefe The Lord hath for saken me and my God hath forgotten me Esa 49. 14. But what sayth Gods answer Can a woman forget her sucking Child that she should not haue compassion on the sonne of her wombe though they may forget yet will I not forget thee Behold I haue grauen thee vpon the palmes of my hands thy walles are continually before me thy Children shall make hast thy destroyers and they that make thee wast shall goe forth of thee I i ft vp thy eyes round about and behold all these gather themselues together and come to thee as I liue sayth the Lord thou shalt surely cloth thee with them all as with a raiment and biâ—â— them on thee as a bride doth for thy wast and thy desolate places and the land of thy destruction shall euen now be too narrow by reason of the Inhabitants and they that
Sit still my daughter vntill thou know how the matter will fall out for the Lord will not be at rest vntill he haue brought it to a good end Ruth 3. 18. And we must learne with all patience and quietnesse of minde to commend all our affayres to God as we see that the Lord Iesus Christ did who in the greatest dangers and those that seemed to be most preiudiciall to Gods cause was still and quiet and committed the matter vnto God that iudgeth righteously as when he was tolde that Herod the King had cut of the head of Iohn his forerunner a cruell deed and such a one as seemeed to be very preiudiciall to Gods cause he put it vp peaceably suffered it to goe on tooke care for himselfe and his Disciples and the better to secure them to get out of cruell Herods handes went apart into another place but proceeded still in his vocation and the worke which his heauenly Father had appoynted him to doe And thus beeing holpen by the consideration aforesayde and the experience which thereby wee haue reaped to the comfort and consolation of our heartes in all troubles and oppressions wee may alwayes bee assured of this that all the troubles that be fall the children of God is vnto them as the trouble of Ioseph as the holy Scripture calleth it that is such manner of trouble as whereby great ioy prosperitie and great promotion is layd vp in store for them For wee knowe all right well that all the miseries and troubles that fell vpon Ioseph all the misfortunes and tribulations that for a time hapned vnto him the hatred of his brethren against him their selling of him his bondage his false accusation of adultery by Potiphers wife imposed on him and his wrongfull imprisonment that followed there upon that all these things did altogether worke for and procure Iosephs good Rom. 8. 28. and did altogether strengthen him and was a great furtherance of his promotion and aduancement as wee may reade in Gen. 37. 39 40. 41. 42. And of the like nature are all the troubles and mis fortunes which Gods people and his Church indure for a time which in the end therefore shall turne to their good and are nothing meane while but as a preparatiue to their future aduancement And therefore are the troubles of Gods Church and children their cruell persecutions their great ouerthrowes the death of Martyrs and what soeuer else seemeth most of all to crosse them by the Prophet termed in a speciall manner the troubles of Ioseph Amos 6. 6. This wee must seriously thinke vpon and with long suffering and patience bend our selues and abide and in all our aduersities assure our selues that when the Lord hath done all his workes vpon Mount Sion and among his people hee will then rise vp and lift vp his peoples heads againe in the fit time of their neede as he did with Ioseph when the time of his aduancemeÌ„t was come and strike their enemies in the hinder partes and lay a perpetuall shame vpon them Furthermore this may teach and instruct vs that what troubles soeuer fall vpon the people of God we must not doubt of their good cause and religion nor abandon a good matter and withdraw our handes from it because it proceedeth not well at the first but remembring that the Lord our Lord hath not eyes of flesh nor seeth as men doe Iob 10. 4. wee must thereupon conclude that the Lord suffereth such troubles to fall vppon vs thereby to proue vs and to see whether wee will cleaue vnto him and holde with his people not onely when they are in wealth and prosperitie but then also when they are in trouble and aduersitie and withall part with and impart to them of our meanes as much as conueniently we may for the easing and helping of the poore oppressed Saints and seruants of God and such as haue no meanes to doe it must earnestly endeuour by their prayers vnto God beseeching him to ayde his people and to fight for them when they are in distresse praying in the Spirit as Gods people doe when they haue no other meanes and saying to the Lord with them Remember this that the enemies haue reproched thee O Lord and that the foolish people haue blasphemed thy name O deliuer not the soule of thy turtle Doue vnto the multitude of the wicked forget not the congregation of thy poore for euer haue respect to the Couenant for the darke places of the earth are full of the inhabitations of crueltie O let not the oppressed returne ashamed let the poore and needie prayse thy name arise O God plead thy owne cause remember how the foolish man reprocheth thee daily forget not the voyce of thy enemies the tumult of those that rise vp against thee encreaseth continually Psal 74. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. But those that haue better meanes must employ all their meanes to that end as those godly Princes OBEDIAH and NEHEMIAH and as all the Iudges of ISRAELL did who tooke the cause of GODS people in hand when it was in greatest distresse and by GODS blessing brought it to a happie ende to their owne prayse and the peoples comfort for which their names also shall be blessed to the worldes ende Whereas on the contrary a fearefull threatning is denounced against EDOM Israels brother euen that he should bee rooted out For his violence against his brother Iacob And obserue I pray you what this his violence was at such tyme sayth the Lord as thou stoodest on the other side in the day that the strangers carried away captiue his Forces and forreners entred into his gates and cast Bolts vpon Ierusalem euen thou wast as one of them And let euery man marke this last sentence concerning the manner of his ruine and rooting out and thinke well thereupon Therefore shall shame couer thee and thou shalt bee cut off for euer Obadiah verses 10. and 11. And no marvell For Meros was curst not because it holpe the enemies of GOD but onely because it did not ayde GODS people Curse yee Meros sayth the Angell of the Lord Curse yee bitterly the enhabitants thereof because they came not to the helpe of the Lord to the helpe of the Lord against the mightie Iudges the 5. Chapter and the 23. verse Ruben also thâ— eldest of the Children of Iacob from whom most helpe was expected was gently admonished and that for with-drawing himselfe saying Why abodest thou among the Sheepe-foulds to heare the bleatings of the Flockes for the divisions of RVBEN there were great thoughts of heart Iudges the 5. Chapter and verse 14. To conclude Let all godly hearted men therefore in the neede and necessitie of Gods people thinke seriously vpon the Commaundement of the LORD which hee giueth when his people are in trouble saying The Inhabitants of the Land of TEMAN brought water to him that was thirstie they prevented with Bread him that fled For they fled from the sword from the drawne sword and from the bent Bow and from the grieuousnesse of warre ESAY 21. 14. 15. And hauing ripely waighed and considered all thinges follow MOSES the Prince of ISRAELL Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of GOD then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season Esteeming the reproch of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egypt Hebr. 11. 25. 26. Yea this will all those doe that haue the eye of Fayth with MOSES For he had respect vnto the recompence of the reward which by Grace is prepared for all those that following GODS counsell come to helpe his people in their neede and rightly judge of their afflictions For so it is written Blessed is hee that considereth the poore the Lord will deliuer him in the time of trouble Psal 41. 1. ⸪ FINIS a Pro. 25. 11. b Falsum niâ—â—â— dicere licet at veri aliquid tacere aliquando est utile Aug. ad Gal. c. 2. de bonâ— persever 16. in Psal 5. Ambr epist 23. ex â—â—â— 16. 12. c Ezech. 13. 19 22. d Esa. 22. 12 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sophocl Muâ—ca in luctu intempestiva narratio Sirac 22. 6. Et Sophod Oedip Tyra 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apud Plut. de ethic viâ—â— Sympos 〈◊〉 l. 1. c. 5. e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greg. Naz. ad Eunom l. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Menand Bonum malum â—it tempore haud datum â—â— Erasâ— tempestiva aliqua volupta nisit nocet H. Stâ—ph 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isocr ad Dâ—mon Et data non apto tempore vina nocem Ovid. remed l. 1. f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greg. Naz. 〈◊〉 lâ—m l. 1. Nehem 8. 9. Luk. 15. 31. g Mat. 9. 15. Maâ— 2. 19. 20. h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pind. Pyth. ode 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Man Palâ—â—ol ad fil praecept 6. i Lament 3. 37 38. Esa 45. 7. Amos 3. 6. 2 Sam. 12. 11. And 16. 10. Iud. 3. 8 12. And 4. 2. 1 King 11. 14 23. k Et magis placandus Deus est in adversis minus laedendus in secundis placari quippe debeâ— cum irascitur laedi non debet cum placatur Adversa enim nobis per iracundiam Dei veniunt secunda per gratiam Salâ—ian de Provid l. 6.
THE BALLANCE OF THE SANCTVARIE SHEWING HOVV VVE MVST BEHAVE OVR SELVES When wee see and behold the people of God in miserie and oppression vnder the tyranny of their ENEMIES WRITTEN By WILLIAM TEELINCK Minister of the Word of GOD at MIDLEBROVGH in ZEALAND IEREMY 9. 12. Who is the wise man that may vnderstand this and who is he to whom the mouth of the Lord hath spoken that hee may declare for what the Land perisheth and is brent vp like a Wildernesse that no man passeth through LONDON Printed by I. D. for WILLIAM SHEFFARD and are to be sold at the signe of the Starre vnder S t Peters Church in Corne-hill and in Popes-head Alley 1621. ⧠To the Christian Reader GOod Reader as well the worth of this Worke as the respect that I deseruedly beare to the Author thereof both for his singular pietie and other good parts hath encouraged mee to commend it to thy careful view as that whereby thou maist reape no small spirituall profit if the fault be not thine owne The Doctrine contained in it is both sound and seasonable being as any judicious eye will easily discerne exceedingly wel fitted to the present times And a word saith Salomon spoken in due time is as apples of gold with pictures of siluer both precious and pleasant True it is that some truth indeede is neuer out of season though more seasonable at some times then at other But yet as true it is that some truth also is at some times altogither unseasonable To propound Gods mercy to an obstinate sinner or to aggravate his wrath to a poore dejected penitent were with those false Prophets who deliuered yet nothing it may be but truth mis-applied and mis-placed to make sad the heart of the humbled whom God would haue cheared and to strengthen the hand of the wicked who ought rather to haue beene humbled to slay the soules of such as should not die and to giue life to such as should not liue Matter of mirth and delight though good and honest otherwise yet is as fish or flesh out of season neither wholesome nor wel-relished when God calleth for mourning by judgements either incumbent or imminent As also on the other side mourning is no lesse unsauoury because unseasonable when it pleaseth God to giue just occasion of mirth The Children of the bride-chamber saith our Sauiour caâ—â—â—t fast so long as the bride-groome is with them But the time shall come when the bride-groome shall be taken away from them and then in those dayes shall they fast Each thing therefore is mostpoo pleasant and most profitable when it commeth in his due season and good things doe then most good when they are seasonably administred Now if wee shall but slightly cast our eyes on the ruefull and lamentable face of Gods Church in most parts at this present wee may soone see how seasonably this Discourse commeth abroad Wherein the Author thereof very learnedly and religiously enstructeth us how to judge aright of Gods Iudgements either on our selues or others how to be affected with them and what use to make of them ministring comfort unto and confirming the hearts of the afflicted and distressed urging to compassion with them and commiseration of them those that be yet free and endeuouring by a due consideration of Gods handy-Worke in all those events that befall both eyther for good or euil to bring benefit unto both as being prouoked to a greater measure of sincere thankfulnesse by the one and pressed to a more serious renewing of their repentance and reformation of life and courses by the other But I feare to doe thee wrong by detaining thee too long from that which thou shalt here finde far more fully and â—ffectually discussed and discoursed oâ— then I can easily relate unto thee Much race onely I doubt the Treatise may haue lost by change of its owne natiue weede Few translations haue the happinesse to match their Originals And each Language hath its peculiar formes and phrases which in other Tongues can hardly be so fitly or so pregnantly expressed But what may this way be wanting the matter as I hope it is faithfully expressed may sufficiently countervaile Which respecting I shall entreate thee to pardon and passe by the defects that may be in the Translation wherein what Work-mans hand was used I know not and so to reade this religious Worke intended for thy good that thou maist not misse of the benefit by the Author therein intended Which the Lord grant both to thee and to all others that shall meete with it for his mercies sake Amen Thine in Christ Iesus THO GATAKER The Contents of the seuerall Chapters handled in this Treatise Chapter 1. AN Introduction to the Discourse of the ` Doctrine handled in the Treatise Page 1. Chapter 2. That the outward and externall events of this life happen and fall out almost and in a manner alike both vnto the godly and vngodly Page 4. Chapter 3. That Gods proceedings with and towards the Children of men cannot by man be comprehended Page 6. Chapter 4. Why God so ordereth his workes as we thinke here in this world that in a manner they follow of necessitie and ruleth in such sort that it is commonly ordinarily found that man by his owne wisdome or power can neither adde thereunto nor diminish any thing from them Page 11. Chapter 5. That notwithstanding that Gods workes done and wrought among the Children of men are so wonderfull and vncomprehensible yet we may learne and finde out many speciall things and reape much benefit by his said workes so wrought and done among them Page 15. Chapter 6. Shewing diuers seuerall things which the Lord hath opened vnto vs in his word touching his good pleasure and dealings with the Children of men here on earth necessary to put out of our mindes all doubts concerning the workes of God and to strengthen them in the contrary effects Page 19. Chapter 7. That there is no cause at all why men should make any doubt or question when they see many vngodly men here prosper in the world and diuers godly men liue in pouertie and aduersitie Page 23. Chapter 8. That there is no cause why men should be so much abashed when they shall consider how the enemies of Gods people when they incounter in battaile with the people of God and haue the vpper hand and ouerthrow them Page 27. Chapter 9. Further iustification of the aforesaid Doctrine which the Lord sheweth vs out of his word touching his proceedings with the Children of men against the people of God in our Age. Page 36. Chapter 10. That without contradiction it appeareth by the aforesayd order of the workes of God done among the Children of men that there shall be an after-reckoning made with all the Children of men in the world to come Page 43. Chapter 11. That not all outward prosperitie is asigne that the Lord loueth that
man to whom he sendeth the same Page 47. Chapter 12. That all worldly crosses and tribulations are not a shew or signe that God will refuse that man to whom hee sendeth them Page 50. Chapter 13. That we cannot measure the state of men in regard of God by wealth or pouertie by prosperitie or aduersitie that befalleth them in this world Page 54. Chapter 14. That by all that hath beene said and shewed before wee must learne to liue in the true feare of God and sincere holinesse and more and more practise the same Page 65. Chapter 15. How we may profit by all the workes of God which he doth vnto vs and other men in this world Page 69. Chapter 16. Of the distinct knowledge of these things which God in his word touching the gouernment of this world hath manifested vnto vs being very fit and necessary for the drawing of spirituall profit from the workes of God wrought here among men Page 72. Chapter 17. Of the diligent obseruation of all Gods workes among the Children of men needfull for the drawing of spirituall profit out of Gods workes among vs. Page 76. Chapter 18. How we must compare that which God doth in this world with that which he hath set downe in his Word that we may draw some good fruit from the workes of God for our comfort Page 79. Chapter 19. Of the seuer all fruites that spring from the searching into and finding out of Gods truth and certaintie declared vnto vs in his word and in his workes Page 83. Chapter 20. The conclusion of all wherein is shewed that wee must onely refer our selues vnto God and not forsake a good cause because it seemeth not to goe forward as wee wish it should Page 92. THE BALLANCE OF THE SANCTVARY SHEWING HOW WEE MVST BEHAVE OVR SELVES When we see and behold the people of GOD in miserie and oppression vnder the tyranny of their ENEMIES CHAP. 1. An Introduction to the Discourse of the Doctrine handled in the Treatise MAny men beholding the prosperity of the vngodly and the enemies of the Gospell and perceiuing with what violence and crueltie they oppresse those that fight for and striue to defend the truth are thereby more hardned and become crueller euen in the highest degree And some of them thereupon take occasion with the foole to say in their hearts There is no God Psal 14. 1. Making account that those who most trust and relie vpon God are least regarded of God others take occasion to murmur against God because he ruleth not neither directeth things here on earth according to their wills and desires and with the Israelites say in their hearts The way of the Lord is not equall Ezech. 18. 25. And others there are who begin thereupon to suspect and call in question the truth of Gods word yea to forsake it to reiect it and to cleaue vnto lies saying with Gedeon though in another sence If the Lord be with vs why then is all this befallen vs Iudg. 6. 13. Therein doing and yet they will be esteemed Christians like certaine blind Indians whereof we read who when at any time they are ouerthrowne and destroyed by their enemies are wont to pray vnto and call vpon the Sunne for pardon and forgiuenesse and to acknowledge the cause of their proceedings to be vniust And all this hapneth vnto these blind men by the iust iudgement of God because they refuse to take paynes and to spend some time to read and looke into Gods booke which he himselfe hath made touching the proceedings and course that he hath determined to vse hold with the Children of men here on earth For if they had done so they should soone see and know That there is not any thing done here in the world nor that happneth vnto the people of God which God himselfe hath not foreshewed should come to passe and which with his owne hand long before he set downe in the seuerall Register of those things that are to fall out in the world that when they come to passe wee might know and vnderstand that he had foretold it vnto vs Deut. 31. 19. Iere. 16. 4. Therefore in all such accidents and occasions we must with the Psalmist goe into the Sanctuary of God Psal 73. 17. that in the true Ballance of the Sanctuary which is Gods word diligently pondering and examining all the tribulations troubles and miseries that happen to Gods people wee may truely iudge and aright conceiue therof and so we may continue sincere and without offence till the day of Christ Phillip 1. 10. For it is written Great peace haue they which loue thy Law and nothing shall offend them Psal 119. 165. And this in the Treatise following wee will endeuour so to declare that whosoeuer he bee that readeth and marketh the same with a true and vpright heart he may surely effectually find that to be true which the Prophet witnesseth where he sayth that the wayes of the Lord are right and the iust shall walke in them but the transgressors shall fall therein Hos 14. 9. CHAP. II. That the outward and externall euents of this life happen and fall out almost and in a manner alike both vnto the godly and vngodly SALOMON sayth all things come alike to all there is one euent to the righteous and to the wicked to the good and to the cleane and to the vncleane to him that sacrificeth and to him that sacrificeth not as is the good so is the sinner and he that sweareth as he that feareth an oath Eccl. 9. 2. And to the same end where the Scripture in one place sayth many sorrowes shall be to the wicked Psal 32. 10. in another place it sayth many are the afflictions of the righteous Psal 34. 19. This Iob alledged to his friends who therewith concluded vpon and by the miseries and troubles that had hapned vnto him that he was hated of God Arguing that wee cannot truely iudge of the good will and fauour of God towards men here on earth nor yet of their state in regard of God by that which hapneth vnto them in this transitorie world because that the Lord as Elihu acknowledgeth giueth no account of any of his matters Iob 33. 13. and dealeth most wonderfully with the children of men sometime in one manner sometime in another obseruing no certaine methode and yet doth all thinges righteously yet as it is testified vnto vs that it fareth with the righteous euen as with the wicked and with the sinner as the godly man so it is not to bee vnderstood as if euery godly and euery vngodly man should haue alwaies one and the same portion and state of weale and woe heere in this world for that many godly men heere on earth are subiect to great afflictions and many godlesse men liue in abundance of pleasures and so on the contrarie But the meaning thereof is this that weale and woe shall not onely bee incident to the wicked crew or vnto
of men and wholly vnsearchable He hath his wayes in the Seas Psalm 77. 19. And his footsteps are not knowne and his waies past finding out There is no wisedome nor vnderstanding nor counsell against the Lord Prou. 21. 30. Our goodnesse extendeth not to him Psalm 16. 2. Neither can our wickednesse hurt him Iob. 35. 6. 7. 8. Therefore it fareth so with the workes of God that whatsoeuer God doth it shall bee for euer nothing can be put to it nor any thing taken from it Eccles 3. 14 in such manner as experience teacheth that although those that are most diligent and carefull in their affayres goe forward therewith yet many times euen the most diligent and carefull men faile and are crost in their proceedings so that we may well say with Salomon I returned and saw vnder the Sunne that the race is not to the swift nor the battaile to the strong neither yet bread to the wise nor yet riches to men of vnderstanding nor yet fauour to men of skill but time and chance happeneth to them all Eccles 9. 11. And therefore consider wee the time and the chance which God the Lord hath onely reserued to himselfe Acts 1. 7. so that it dependeth wholly on him ⸪ CHAP. IIII. Why God so ordereth his workes as wee thinke here in this world that in a manner they follow of necessitie and ruleth in such sort that it is commonly and ordinarily found that man by his owne wisedome or power can deither adde thereunto nor diminish any thing from them SALOMON expresly setteth downe vnto vs that God so ordereth his workes and heauenly prouidence to the end that men should feare him Whatsoeuer God doth it shall be for euer nothing can be put to it nor any thing taken from it and God doth it that men should feare him Eccles 3. 14. That is that men should not forsake him nor dispise his workes neither yet cleaue vnto nor depend vpon any man but onely vpon God That the wise man may not glory in his wisedome nor the mightie man in his strength nor the rich man in his riches but that hee that glorieth glorie in this that hee vnderstandeth and knoweth that God is the Lord which exerciseth louing kindnesse iudgement and righteousnesse on earth Ieremie 9. 23. 24. By that which before hath been said touching the admirable and strange workes of GOD wrought and brought to passe among the children of men We are taught first not to trust vpon or vnto our owne wisedome diligence beautie strength friends riches nor any other terrestriall thing whatsoeuer it may bee which yet are many times esteemed to bee fit and necessarie for the bringing of worldly matters to passe and to further our proiects but onely to feare the Lord our God and to remember that hee holdeth a greater hand ouer vs then all those things doe Eccles 5. 8. Secondly before and aboue all things to attend to his good will and pleasure touching the euent thereof as much as in vs lieth and as much as possibly we may in all the meanes and wayes which God setteth before vs and which he will haue the children of men to vse and whereby also he commonly vseth to prosper their actions and to blesse them And herein wee must the rather be specially carefull for that the peruerse children of men who by nature are wickedly bent vse to draw another conclusion from this point of doctrine that all things do in such manner depend on God for they conclude not from therice that therefore aboue all things they must onely depend vpon the Lord their God but on the contrary that they need not therefore refraine from euill doing but that they may still follow after their owne lusts and take their pleasures as long as they can They take likewise further occasion thereby to walke most carelesly and dissolutely here on earth with more greedinesse to commit sinne and wickednesse and desperately to enter into all kind of mischiefe reasoning thus with themselues and saying How can I helpe it seeing all dependeth vpon God my resolution is therefore to lay hold on the time and to take my pleasure while I may Whereas on the contrary they ought rather to learne much more to feare the Lord and call to mind and say that seeing all dependeth on God hew much ought I to feare that God who onely can do good or euill vnto me Yea so would they both thinke and doe if they beleeued that this wonderfull God is also a good God But doing other-wayes they shew thereby that they sollow the nature and steps of the Deuill that expecteth no good from the hands of God This conceite of the vngodly must bee cleane banished from vs and we must remember that all things depend vpon God and therefore so vse the meanes that before aboue all things wee seeke and labor to haue God on our side in euery thing that we doe We must also feare him in such manner that we must hold and esteeme all that God doth to be good right and well done although we cannot see nor perceiue the cause or the reason of his actions A Childe seeth his Father doe many things in the house whereof hee cannot conceiue the reason and yet neuerthelesse he reapeth benefit and fareth the better thereby So must we also 〈◊〉 and often times thinke with our selues thaâ— Gods thoughts are not our thoughts nor our wayes hiâ— wâ—â—es for as the heauens are higher then the earth so his wayes are higher then ours and his thoughts then our thoughts Esa 55. 8. 9. And consequently that although Gods wayes vnto fleshly men seeme not to be right yet we must not with the Israelites say the way of the Lord is not equall Ezech. 18. 25. Nay although God suffer the vngodly to liue in great wealth prosperitie and pleasure here in this world and on the contrary maketh the godly to turne his backe vpon the enemie letting them that hate them spoyle them giuing them like sheepe appoynted for meate and scattereth them among the Heathen selleth them for nothing and doth not increase his wealth by their price maketh them a reproch to their neighbours a scorne a derision to them that are about them maketh them a by-word among the Heathen a shaking of the head among the people so that their confusion is continually before them and the shame of their faces doth couer them for the voices of those that reproch and blaspheme them by reason of the enemie and reuenger Psal 44. 10. c. Yet we must thinke well of the wayes of God must not murmur against him nor say that hee hath wrought iniquitie Iob 36. 23. Neither must we by any meanes thinke or conceiue That God should doe wickednesse or that he should commit iniquitie Iob 34. 10. or that the Iudge of all the earth should not iudge right Gen. 18. 25. or that the wise God that giueth the labourer wisedome to plow his Land
Psalmist witnesseth that God preserueth both man and beast Psal 36. 6. And Iesus Christ himselfe sayth that God maketh his Sunne to rise on the euill and on the good and sendeth rayne on the iust and on the vniust Math. 5. 45. When wee see therefore that the wrath of God is reuealed from heauen against all vngodlinesse and vnrighteousnesse of men Rom. 1. 18. we may thereupon certainely conclude That there is something wanting in men and that for many causes man deserueth punishment for sin which God disliketh Rom. 3. 23. and thereby we may further learne that sinne is the mother of all miseries and that there is nothing in the world which we should with more care caution hate shun and abhor then sinne as the onely thing that moueth our Creator to dislike of vs and maketh all vs that are his creatures abhominable in his sight Secondly God in his word sheweth vs that he hath a care of those that feare him and of such as are godly and seeketh to do them good but how any of vs are made godly and righteous all of vs by nature being wicked and lost sheepe Rom. 4. 3. Ephes 2. 5. Is not at this time to be spoken of and on the contrarie that he hateth the vngodly and powreth out his wrath and indignation vpon them The eyes of the Lord are vpon the righteous and his eares are open to their cry The face of the Lord is against them that doe euill to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth Psal 34. 15. 16. which he sayth he will do when he thinketh good when the dayes of visitation and of recompence are come Hos 9. 7. Exod. 32. 34. Then he will wretchedly destroy those wicked men Mat. 21. 41. And on the contrary when the righteous call the Lord heareth and deliuereth them out of all their trouble Psal 18. 27. Thereby vnderstanding that hee deliuereth them by taking them like a wise workeman out of the furnace of aduersitie when they are sufficiently purified and clensed That is in the time of need Heb. 4. 16. From whence it followeth without contradiction in regard that God is so diuersely affected towards the godly and vngodly man that in that respect when he sendeth one and the like prosperitie and aduersitie both on the godly and vngodly hee doth it not for one selfe same intent nor to one end That which God himselfe witnesseth vnto vs on the one side that whatsoeuer tribulation or misery hee sendeth to the godly man it is for his good and great benefit yea euen the crosses themselues are so for God inlighteneth their darkenesse Psalm 18. 28 and so it falleth out That all things worke for the best to them that loue God Rom. 8. 28. So that the troubles of the godly are vnto them as an entrie into life euerlasting an earnest penny and as it were the first fruites of heauenly ioyes Psal 23. 6. As also the crosses of the godly are vnto them as a precious medicine to heale their soules and a true meanes to prepare the way for them to enter into the kingdome of heauen Acts 14. 22. And in this manner all things are a blessing to the godly For godlinesse is profitable vnto all things hauing the promises of this life that now is and of that which is to come 1. Tim. 4. 8. On the other side whatsoeuer the vngodly indure it is altogether a curse vnto them for God carseth their blessings Matt. 2. 2. So that whether it bee prosperitie or aduersitie it happeneth vnto them it falleth out amisse with them for all things are vncleane vnto them because their mindes and consciences are vncleane Tit. 1. 14 Deut. 8. 15. The aduersity then of the vngodly is a feeling of a preparatiue to euerlasting condemnation an earnest penny and the first fruits of the paines of hell Iud. 5. 7. and their prosperitie is like a poysoned drinke vnto them for by their wickednes the more they abuse their prosperitie the more they spoyle their owne soules and so it become a powerfull meanes to carrie them vnto hell and to the kingdome of darkenesse Apcc. 18. 7. This God openeth vnto vs plainly in his word whereby wee may openly learne and vnderstand that the state of the vngodly whether it bee aduersitie or prosperitie is altogether miserable and on the contrarie that the aduersitie or prosperitie of the godly is a happines vnto them For it is most certain that if the vngodly man doth not in time repent and amend his life at the last hee shall bee sure of after condemnation and the godly man of euerlasting ioy and felicitie as wee haue a manifest example thereof in the state of the rich man and of poore Lazarus Luk. 16. 19. And who seeth not that the rich man for all his wealth and worldly prosperitie was an accursed wretch and that poore Lazarus in his greatest miserie was happie and blessed what man is hee that would not rather choose looking into the end of them both to liue in this world in the state of poore Lazarus then in that of the rich glutton So you see that from these different affections of God both vnto the godly and the vngodly which hee hath shewed vnto vs in his word and by their last ends which thereupon ensue the grounds of the hope and comfort that the godly haue and receiue in the midst of their aduersitie and troubles And the grounds of the feares and miseries which the vngodly are like to fall vnto whiles they possesse worldly prosperity and pleasure But hearken yet further what the Lord himselfe saith vnto his seruants and messengers touching them both Say vnto the righteous that it shall bee well with him for they shall eate the fruite of their doings Woe vnto the wicked it shall bee ill with him for the reward of his handes shall be giuen him Esa 3. 10. 11. Now if wee consider this well and take good heed and earnestly marke the end both of the godly and of the vngodly we shall be throughly perswaded from the doubtfull conceite that wee haue in our mindes touching the workes of God done here vpon earth among men when we oftentimes behold and see the vngodly to prosper so much in this world and the godly liue in pouertie and aduersitie which for that it is a matter of great importance in the next Chapter I will more at large open the same vnto you CHAP. VII That there is no cause at all why men should make any doubt or question when they see many vngodly men here prosper in the world and diuers godly men liue in pouertie and aduersitie THere are two special reasons that moue men to become carelesse and licentious here in the world when they see and behold how it fareth both with the godly and vngodly in this world The first is that many times they see that those that feare God are in great miserie and calamitie and the vngodly prosper
and abound in wealth This many men cannot brooke while they are perswaded that it standeth not with the great Maiestie of the God-head and the Iustice of God to deale in such manner and the reason is because they looke vpon nothing but the outward shew and consider not the end for which God doth it for if in the lest degree they did but thinke and remember that God meaneth well to the godly and that their oppressions are wholesome medicines for their soules the better to prepare them for the life to come And on the contrarie that the prosperitie of the vngodly is like the Qualeâ— to the children of Israel that died while they were in their mouthes then they would presently see and perceiue that they haue no cause to doubt of or to misconster and stumble at the workes of God For to speake the truth who is he that will longer stumble at or thinke it strange to see that God loseth and slacketh the bridle to the children of the world but tuâ—â—reth holdeth in restraineth instantly and suffereth not his children to haue their wills when hee remembreth that the Lord doth it to his children to the end that they may become the more spirituall and better prepared for the kingdome of heauen doe wee not the like in matters of lesse importance continually in our houses to our children wee suffer our dogs that weâ— breed in our houses to runne at libertie loose and vntied and haue no regard what they doe nor how it fareth with them but is it not our manner to looke narrowly to our children to keepe them short to teach and instruct them and why doe we so but onely to bring them vp to all vertuous actions and for their better preferment So that it is to a speciall end that wee haue so great a care of our children which in no wise wee doe intend to our dogges but let them runne where they list The word of God therefore aduiseth vs to cast off all doubts and feares touching the workes of God and to rid vs thereof willeth vs not to looke onely vpon the outward end of the children of men and to consider of nothing else but the course of this present world euen as the state of the rich glutton and of poore Lazarus is set downe and declared vnto vs by Iesus Christ himselfe Luk. 16. So the Apostle Saint Paul warneth vs saying Remember those that haue the rule ouer you who haue spoken vnto you the word of God whose faith follow considering the end of their conuersation Heb. 13. 7. And to the same end Saint Iames sayth Behold wee count them happy which indure you haue heard of the patience of Iob and haue seene the end of the Lord for the Lord is very pittifull and of tender mercy Iames 5. 11. Touching the prosperity of the vngodly who would be grieued thereat when wee marke and thinke vpon their endes they stand vpon slipperie ground and soone fall downe and then comes in the hard and heauie reckonings which they must make at the latter day see the 49. Psalme What is hee that grudgeth at the good that men doe to those that are condemned to die or at the friendship that is shewed vnto them by some when they are led to execution to be broken on wheeles or who would not chuse to passe thorough a troublesome and durtie way to inioy a great inheritance then thorough a faire and pleasant way to goe to execution doe not many honest housholders dislike of swaggering companions that dayly and hourely haunt the best Innes and Tauernes in the Citie and consume their wealth in banket after banket as long as their credits last and doe they not thinke them men of little wisedome or consideration and is it not found to bee so when they make vp their reckonings at home in their houses So it stands with the prosperitie of the vngodly many times here in this world they haue great wealth and abundance but they spend vpon their owne stockes and a hard reckoning followeth after it whereas on the contrary godly men that in this world are kept short and spend vpon their fathers purse whether it be superfluously or otherwise as their father thinkes it good haue no feare of an after reckoning all is freely forgiuen them Thus their ends differ much one from another This when the Psalmist considered although before touching this point of the workes of God how the vngodly prosper and the godly liue poore and miserably hee was somewhat troubled and muttred thereat yet at last hee was perswaded as hee himselfe witnesseth saying When I thought to know this it was too painefull for mee vntill I went into the Sanctuary of God then vnderstood I their end Psalm 73. 16. 17. CHAP. VIII That there is no cause why men should bee so much abashed when they shall consider how the enemies of Gods people when they incounter in battaile with the people of GOD and haue the vpper hand and ouerthrow them YET this is not all that which causeth greatest dislike in the hearts of many men touching the workes of God done among the sonnes of men the chiefest reason consisteth herein that men oftentimes see and behold that not onely many vngodly men liue in great prosperitie and many righteous men in great miserie but that men see and obserue that the vngodly oftentimes oppresse the godly and that when Gods people and their enemies encounter in battaile and fight together many times their enemies haue the victorie and ouercome them This is the point that produceth greatest difficultie and many men cannot be resolued how it should come to passe that the seruantes of the most high God that haue his cause in hand that are iealous of his glory and fight for his truth should be ouercome by those that are Gods enemies that Gods cause should turne the backe and falshood and deceit haue the vpper hand this by many men cannot be conceiued nor considered as it should bee for that as things are brought to passe they see nothing but contrary effects The vngodly are hardened in their vngodlinesse and the godly weepe and mourne all thinges are worse and worse and the name of the Lord by this meanes slandred and euill spoken of and his truth blamed I answer we must needes confesse and acknowledge that these are most profound wayes of God but the Lord also in his holy word hath giuen vs to vnderstand what the meaning is of these his most wonderfull workes and telleth vs that he hath reason so to doe both in respect of the godly and the vngodly and of his people and their enemies and first giueth vs to vnderstand that in these occurrents hee is patient and long suffering Luk. 18. 7. That he is not so hastie as wee are Psal 116. 11. Hee can indure that his cause and his peoples cause should sometime bee hindred and that the vngodly should domineire as if Baal or Asâ—aroth and not the